In the Land of Abundance, one of the most unique regions of the Land of Origin, the seasons never failed to bear fruit.

Crops grew year-round, and the creatures that lived here never knew hunger.

The land itself pulsed with a gentle rhythm of life, as if the soil carried the essence of creation.

The First Human Emperor wiped the sweat from his brow, lowering the long sword he had been using to clear the field.

After much effort, he and the second-stage participants of Project Hope had finally secured a fertile region suitable for habitation.

This land was not only ideal for survival — it was also perfect for the expansion of their people.

For a long time to come, this would be the heart of their civilization.

As he admired the flourishing fields, a ripple of spatial distortion suddenly appeared nearby.

Before he could react, light flashed — and Daniel stepped out from the distortion, his presence commanding and composed.

"Daniel, Your Majesty!" the First Emperor straightened instantly, surprise flashing in his eyes. "Why have you come personally?"

Daniel placed a firm hand on his shoulder, his expression calm but urgent.

"Time's short," he said quickly. "Come with me."

Without further explanation, he activated Flashback, pulling the First Human Emperor through time and space.

In the blink of an eye, they arrived within the ruins of an ancient temple.

The First Emperor blinked in confusion but immediately sensed the significance of this place.

His aura flared instinctively — the ruins were filled with divine resonance.

His level had already reached 500, which meant he, too, was eligible to undertake the Fake God advancement ritual.

But unlike Odin's straightforward combat trial, the First Human Emperor's challenge was… different.

He was required to face a Fake God in battle — to endure their full might, fight them head-on, and, most importantly, survive.

Victory was not mandatory. Survival was.

Under normal circumstances, this task would be nearly impossible.

The gap between a demigod and a Fake God wasn't merely large — it was cosmic.

But when the First Human Emperor saw who his opponent was, his face went pale.

Kartora.

The Time Domain Goddess, her aura rippling through every atom of existence.

She didn't even need to move; just standing there, she distorted the flow of reality itself.

The First Human Emperor could feel the air around him tighten like a vice.

His instincts screamed at him to flee.

When Kartora's killing intent burst forth, he nearly leapt behind Daniel for cover.

From his perspective, she wasn't merely powerful — she was a walking calamity.

Her very presence could shatter him to dust.

But despite the terror gnawing at his chest, he drew his sword.

His hands trembled slightly, yet his eyes were resolute.

He knew full well that if Daniel didn't interfere, he'd likely be obliterated within seconds.

Still, he refused to retreat.

Then, just as Kartora's divine aura reached its peak, a voice echoed in his ear.

"Is that enough?" Daniel asked.

The First Human Emperor froze — then quickly realized what Daniel meant. He exhaled and nodded vigorously.

"Yes. That's enough."

The next moment, Daniel gripped his shoulder again, and both of them vanished from the ruins, reappearing somewhere far safer.

For Daniel, the goal had already been achieved.

The Emperor had faced a Fake God's killing intent head-on and survived.

That was all the trial required.

After that, Daniel continued his work — assisting countless demigod-ranked human awakeners with their advancement rituals.

It soon became apparent that only a handful could complete their ascensions within a single day.

Most would need far longer.

Many advancement missions required specific relics, inherited powers, or deep realizations of one's domain essence.

Some even demanded enlightenment under impossible conditions.

But Daniel refused to abandon anyone.

He spent every moment helping, advising, and guiding his people through their trials.

By the time night fell, an entire day had passed.

Meanwhile, Odin's Balance Domain finally dissipated, its glow fading from the battlefield.

Everything had gone exactly as Daniel predicted.

As Odin's domain entered cooldown, his advancement task was officially complete.

He had slain two thousand demigods — a feat that took an entire day of ceaseless battle.

By the final hours, Odin's fatigue was palpable.

Most of his abilities were on cooldown, and his long-duration skills had already been expended.

As a result, he had been forced to rely on pure physical combat.

Each swing of his sword had grown heavier. Each breath burned hotter.

His efficiency dropped sharply, but he never stopped.

He fought through exhaustion, striking until the last demigod fell.

Daniel could have helped him — he had plenty of ways to reset cooldowns or concoct potions that restored energy instantly.

But he deliberately refrained.

Because Odin, one day, would stand beside him as an equal.

He needed the battle experience — the instinct born only through struggle, not shortcuts.

When the final demigod perished, Odin stumbled backward and collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily. Sweat drenched his robes.

Only then did he realize how utterly drained he was.

His body ached, his hands trembled, and his mind swayed between exhaustion and triumph.

Physical fatigue could be cured with a potion.

But the mental exhaustion — the toll of prolonged divine combat — couldn't be dispelled so easily.

"Thank you… Daniel," Odin managed between breaths.

His voice was hoarse but filled with genuine gratitude.

This day had not only elevated his strength — it had refined his entire understanding of combat.

Every clash had honed his instincts, stripped away hesitation, and hardened his will.

He knew that the training Daniel had given him was something no one else could replicate.

Originally, Odin had planned to hunt demigods one by one — a process that might have taken him years to complete.

But with Daniel's help, he had achieved the impossible in a single day.

At this point, Odin was convinced — Daniel wasn't merely powerful.

He was beyond reason, an anomaly that defied the logic of gods themselves.

Daniel simply waved his hand dismissively. "You don't need to thank me. Rest for now."

He smiled faintly. "Once you've recovered, begin the advancement ritual. You've earned it."

Odin nodded, still catching his breath.

Daniel's tone grew slightly more serious. "Remember — even after completing the ritual, there's still the God Rank Trial. Passing it is the only way to truly ascend to Fake God rank."

From demigod rank onward, every ascension came with a trial of divinity.

It wasn't merely a ritual; it was a test of essence, will, and comprehension.

The trial was the final gate — the last proof that one was worthy of stepping into godhood.

Without passing it, even if the ritual succeeded, the transformation would remain incomplete.

No shortcuts existed anymore.

No tricks, no artifacts, no outside help.

From this level onward, raw strength and understanding were the only keys to ascension.

Daniel looked at Odin, his expression soft but firm.

"Odin, are you ready to face the God Rank Trial?"

Odin slowly rose to his feet.

His body trembled slightly, but his eyes shone with determination.

He looked up at Daniel and nodded once, without hesitation.

"I am."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.