Facing the roaring threats from his opponents, Daniel remained silent. Instead of responding, he chose to act decisively.
For individuals like these, Daniel felt no need for mercy.
“Please! Spare me! I know countless secrets, many treasures that others have no knowledge of! Only I know their true locations!”
As Daniel showed no signs of relenting, preparing to make his move, the chief of the Dragonscale Bank began to plead for his life.
However, Daniel gave no chance for negotiation.
He unleashed his mind power, initiating a soul search on all five of them, extracting information directly from their souls.
The spell he employed was a relatively low-tier soul search magic, one that caused immense pain to those subjected to it.
Of course, this was intentional.
Daniel wanted these individuals to experience the kind of suffering they had inflicted on others—especially the torment endured by the serpent over the past millennia.
In Daniel’s eyes, this was only the beginning.
Through the fragmented memories of his captives, Daniel uncovered a wealth of knowledge: the life events of these individuals from their earliest recollections, the awakening of their magic patterns, their ascension as mages, and their eventual acquisition of the 5-Element Treasure, said to have fallen from the God Realm.
Every step they took to ascend to their peak was laid bare before him.
Yet amidst these revelations, Daniel also stumbled upon unexpected truths.
His gaze fell upon the lone female among them.
Anticipating his reaction, the woman spoke with calm resignation, her voice weak yet unwavering:
“Yes, I was the one who killed your father.”
Her composure reflected a readiness to face her fate. Daniel’s soul search magic had ravaged their souls, leaving all five individuals with the full knowledge of their inevitable end.
For the woman, however, there was an added weight: she had killed Daniel’s father. It was a crime that left her no path to redemption.
Her only regret, as she confessed internally, was failing to eliminate Daniel at the same time.
“If only I had wiped out everyone at Crossbridge Academy, you wouldn’t have the chance to stand here today,” she muttered bitterly.
But Daniel wasn’t entirely convinced that his father’s death was a random or isolated event.
There were threads of evidence suggesting that someone in the God Realm had orchestrated a trap along the Sacred Time River using that very incident.
The more he uncovered, the more complex the web became.
“Perhaps even if you had killed my predecessor,” Daniel thought to himself, “I would have found another way to arrive in this world.”
Such contemplations, however, were not Daniel’s immediate priority. After a fleeting glance at the woman, he addressed all five captives:
“Next, let’s take a closer look at the countless atrocities you’ve committed over these millennia.”
With that, Daniel vanished, taking the five with him.
Daniel reappeared in the Voidland, his familiar surroundings enveloping him.
“You’ve returned, child. How goes the collection of the 5-Element Treasure?” The enormous serpent greeted him with its deep, resonant voice.
“It’s all here,” Daniel replied, producing the five artifacts. “And I’ve brought these five along as well.”
Five figures appeared, kneeling weakly before the serpent. The sight elicited nothing more than a sigh from the ancient creature.
“I’ll handle your business first,” the serpent said.
“Don’t you plan to settle your score with these five?” Daniel asked, his tone curious.
“In truth, I hold no grudges against them. They were merely misguided children. I leave their fates in your hands. Now, hand me the 5-Element Treasure.”
With a nod, Daniel produced the five treasures, each radiating immense power derived from the rule of 5 Elements. As the serpent inspected them, it motioned for Daniel to follow.
The serpent led Daniel to an expansive, desolate area. Its massive form moved with an air of solemnity as it spoke:
“In the God Realm, there are many beings capable of wielding such power. Their strength varies greatly, but their goals are often aligned.”
The serpent’s words were a clear warning. Any attempt to use the treasures would likely attract a formidable adversary.
“Their ultimate goal is to consume this world. If you proceed, you must be prepared to face such a threat. Are you ready?”
“Is there no other way?” Daniel asked, sensing the serpent’s sincerity and reluctant to see it perish.
“You still don’t understand,” the serpent replied gently. “I died long ago. Because of you, this world’s new Will of World is gradually being born. I cannot stand in its way; my death is inevitable.”
The serpent’s voice grew softer, laden with both peace and resolve.
“Meeting you before the end and assisting you is my greatest honor. This world is extraordinary… You must uncover its truths on your own. My role has reached its conclusion.”
With that, the serpent fell silent, and the five treasures began to orbit its colossal frame. A glowing magic array appeared, drawn out of thin air.
“Do not interfere. Just wait,” the serpent’s voice echoed telepathically. It seemed concerned that Daniel might try to intervene.
The 5-Element Treasure possessed a latent mechanism, one the serpent was now activating to ensure their intended purpose unfolded. As the serpent poured its original essence into the treasures, its once-imposing presence began to fade.
The treasures, in turn, emitted radiant beams of light, forming the shape of an altar. This was the Final Convergence Altar, a bridge to the God Realm.
The serpent’s body grew fainter, its life force nearly extinguished.
“Child, this world is now yours to protect. Thank you…”
These final words were followed by the serpent’s complete disappearance, leaving behind only an oval-shaped egg imbued with faint traces of life. This was the new Will of World the serpent had spoken of.
Carefully, Daniel cradled the egg. It was fragile yet filled with infinite potential—a symbol of the world’s rebirth. With the Tree of Origin taking root at various nexus points, Daniel knew it wouldn’t be long before the egg hatched.
As the altar stabilized, a powerful energy began to emanate from it—an unmistakable aura belonging to the God Realm.
The five captives, still recovering from Daniel’s soul search, trembled at the sensation.
“What… What is this energy?” one of them stammered.
“It feels similar to what we sensed when we first acquired the treasures,” another replied. “But why is it happening now? Is Daniel… entering the God Realm?”
The prospect of ascension stirred both awe and dread in their hearts. For millennia, their goal had been to ascend to the God Realm while avoiding becoming insignificant within it. They had planned to siphon their world’s original essence to strengthen themselves for the journey.
But now, they watched in stunned disbelief as Daniel’s actions unfolded before them. What stood before Daniel wasn’t the legendary Gate to the God Realm, but an intricate altar bathed in five distinct hues.
“Could it be that when one’s power is strong enough, even the method of ascension becomes this extraordinary?” one of them whispered.
As the altar pulsed with divine energy, the path to the God Realm began to take form—unique and unlike anything they had ever imagined.