CHAPTER 347: CHAPTER347-STRIKING WITHOUT HESITATION

Yes—there was no mistake.

The entrance to the Human Emperor’s Trial was located right at Castle Mington.

For Daniel, this place could not have been more familiar.

After all, he had once lived here for more than ten years.

The Royal Academy itself was situated within Castle Mington, and countless of his youthful memories remained tied to this place.

Yet now, as he once again set foot in Castle Mington, a strange sense of dislocation welled up inside him.

It was a feeling that everything familiar had become unfamiliar, that though the structures and stones remained, the people, the roles, and even the atmosphere had changed.

Although, in reality, only two days had passed since he last stood here, to Daniel it felt as though decades had gone by.

Time had reshaped his heart.

After steadying his breath, Daniel walked forward and turned his gaze toward the glowing portal.

A series of lines instantly surfaced before his eyes.

[Human Emperor’s Trial][Identity confirmation in progress... Identity confirmed. You possess the authority to participate.][This will be your very first attempt at the Human Emperor’s Trial. The entire race will be observing.][Do you wish to immediately enter the underground labyrinth?][The rewards of the trial will be distributed to the whole of humanity, determined by the degree of completion.]

Daniel did not hesitate in the slightest.

He immediately chose to accept and enter the trial.

At the same time, a brand-new announcement appeared before the eyes of every human across the race.

[Human Race Announcement: Human Emperor Daniel has entered the Human Emperor’s Trial.]

[Current Progress: Stage One]

Nor was it only the humans who received this notification.

In fact, every single race across the continent of myriad races saw the same announcement, for they were now all vassals of the human race.

The moment the notification was broadcast, the communication networks of the continent exploded into a frenzy.

"What the—?! If I’m not mistaken, the celebration hasn’t even ended yet, right?"

"You’re not mistaken. I’m literally at the celebration grounds right now—it’s still going on!"

"Wait... so His Highness Daniel—no, I should say His Majesty, the Human Emperor—he’s already diving straight into the trial? Is he really that diligent?"

"Of course he is! Hasn’t His Majesty always been known for his tireless effort? Honestly, I’m not surprised. What shocks me is that even after ascending to the position of Human Emperor, he’s still acting with such decisiveness and speed."

"Hah! If I were the Human Emperor, I’d definitely take some time to enjoy myself first."

"And that’s precisely why you will never become the Human Emperor."

"But wait, what even is the Human Emperor’s Trial? I’ve never heard of it before."

"Yeah, me neither. I don’t understand it, but it certainly sounds like something extraordinary."

"Heh, on this topic, I can speak with authority. Old timers like me still remember the days when Human Emperor Odin attempted the Human Emperor’s Trial."

"That’s right. If my memory serves, Odin only made it as far as the second stage."

"What? Just the second stage? That’s a bit... underwhelming, isn’t it?"

Some scoffed at the notion, but others immediately corrected them.

"You young people don’t understand at all. Do you have any idea how impossibly difficult the Human Emperor’s Trial really is? Let me tell you—the level of difficulty is so extreme that ordinary individuals wouldn’t even make it past the very start of Stage One."

"That’s true. Human Emperor Odin was already unbelievably powerful in his time!"

"Exactly. The third stage of the Human Emperor’s Trial? It’s simply not something a human could complete."

While the continent erupted into debate, Daniel himself remained unaware of these discussions.

And even if he had seen them, he would not have paid them much attention.

For Daniel, only one thing mattered right now: the trial itself.

At that moment, he suddenly felt a whisper of warning from the surrounding mist.

The sensation made him realize something profound.

If he willed it, he could completely shield the entire process of his trial from observation.

Not a single soul would be able to witness what transpired within.

But Daniel chose not to do so.

The main reason was simple: he felt no need to hide.

In fact, allowing others to see him undertake the trial might even serve as a powerful source of inspiration for his people.

For the humans, watching their emperor stride boldly into danger could only become a rallying point, a spark to ignite pride and loyalty.

To Daniel, this was also an opportunity to establish his authority—to display his strength openly and cement his image as an unshakable leader.

As for exposing his hidden cards?

Daniel was unconcerned.

If he truly needed to use a trump card, he could always shroud it in mist and erase it from sight.

With that thought, he began to observe his surroundings.

The environment was deceptively simple: a vast, barren expanse stretching endlessly, devoid of landmarks.

On all sides, dense fog curled and billowed, forming an unbroken wall of gray that sealed the area.

Then, from within that mist, a figure gradually emerged.

Daniel’s eyes narrowed.

He recognized the figure instantly.

It was none other than the former ruler of humanity—Human Emperor Odin.

Using his Eye of Insight, Daniel quickly confirmed what he was seeing.

The man before him was identical to Odin in every possible way.

His attributes, his statistics, his powers—everything matched perfectly.

The only certainty Daniel could grasp was that this was not Odin’s true body.

And yet, strangely, this duplicate seemed to carry fragments of Odin’s memories.

At that instant, a new line of text appeared before Daniel’s vision.

[Current Objective: Defeat the Former Human Emperor.]

Across from him, Odin gazed calmly into Daniel’s eyes.

"Daniel," he said in a steady voice, "I am truly pleased that you have become the new Human Emperor. But do not think I will go easy on you within the trial."

Daniel inclined his head respectfully and answered, "I understand. You need not hold back."

"Good," Odin replied. "Then let us begin."

A deafening boom shook the air.

And in the very next instant—Odin’s body shattered into fragments.

Destroyed utterly, in a single move.

Far away, within Winterhold Castle, a small, somewhat shabby tavern bustled with the sounds of merrymaking.

Here sat Odin himself, now freed from duty, raising a large mug of dark ale.

He drank heartily, celebrating his long-awaited retirement.

"Ahh... after so many years, I can finally relax," Odin murmured with contentment.

His mind drifted lazily as he considered what to do with his newfound freedom.

Perhaps he could indulge in the charms of different races’ women?

He had heard rumors that among the orc clans, there was a tribe of goat-women who could offer... a rather unique experience.

Just as Odin’s thoughts wandered, a notification suddenly flickered across his vision.

"Hmm? Daniel, that impatient boy—he’s already diving into the Human Emperor’s Trial?"

Odin chuckled, taking another deep sip.

"Well, that’s fine. I can watch and see how far he’s come."

"Stage One, is it? He should be able to handle that. It might be a little difficult for him, but..."

His thoughts froze mid-sentence.

"Wait. What—?!"

Odin gagged and spat his beer out in a messy spray.

He stared at the message before him in disbelief.

Daniel had ended the fight in an instant.

One strike—just one strike—was all it had taken.

Odin had been blown apart without even the chance to resist.

"This... this is a complete one-shot kill!" Odin stammered.

His mouth twitched uncontrollably, his expression a mix of disbelief and reluctant admiration.

Daniel truly had not held back in the slightest.

He had gone straight for the decisive blow.

At that moment, Odin’s emotions were a storm.

Astonishment, bewilderment, and even a hint of unease swirled together.

No matter how he thought about it, he could not understand how Daniel had already grown so powerful.

He had always known the boy was strong—unusually strong.

But never, not once, had he imagined that Daniel’s strength had reached such terrifying heights.

Now, the truth was undeniable.

Daniel’s rise had far surpassed his expectations.