CHAPTER 353: CHAPTER353-THE FIFTH STAGE

On the communication network,compared to the earlier flood of praise directed toward Daniel,what now filled the network was instead a storm of questions.

Everyone knew that His Majesty Daniel had successfully passed the fourth stage of the Human Emperor Trial. But the problem was—nobody understood how exactly he had cleared it!

From their perspective, it looked as if Daniel had simply exchanged a few casual words with the Guide, and then, just like that, the Guide had announced that he had passed.

Wait a second. In the first three stages, although Daniel also advanced with astonishing ease, at the very least, actual enemies had shown themselves. The battles might have looked effortless on his side, but there was still some confrontation, some display of strength, something the audience could comprehend.

But this? Chatting idly with the Guide and then moving on as though it were nothing—what did that even mean?

For a moment, the internet began to suspect that perhaps the Human Emperor Trial wasn’t as difficult as legend made it out to be.

"Hold on, doesn’t it feel like the fourth stage was even easier than the third?""His Majesty Daniel didn’t even lift a finger, and still he cleared it??""Can anyone explain to me what in the world just happened?""Please, I’m begging for some analysis emperor to appear and break this down for me!"

Then, a chilling thought emerged among the discussions:

"Wait... what if, in the future, the next candidate for Human Emperor has to undergo the same trial? Won’t that mean that in the very first stage, he’ll be forced to face none other than His Majesty Daniel himself?"

This single statement sent a ripple across the entire network. Suddenly, countless voices were expressing their sympathy for the hypothetical next Human Emperor.

After all... throughout the long history of humanity, there had been many Human Emperors. But never—absolutely never—had there been one like Daniel. A Human Emperor who not only surpassed his predecessors but utterly crushed them with overwhelming strength. He was truly unprecedented, unique in all ages.

In Winterhold Castle, inside an orc tavern,Human Emperor Odin lifted another mug of wheat brew and downed it in a single gulp. Yet his expression only grew more sullen.

He, more than anyone else, understood the true difficulty of the Human Emperor Trial. He had walked that path with his own feet, endured those ordeals with his own body.

While he was genuinely relieved—thankful, even—that Daniel had managed to overcome the fourth stage so easily, the contrast only made him feel painfully incompetent. What he had once struggled against, Daniel had breezed through without effort.

Thus, at this moment, Odin’s heart was heavy with bitterness.

The other former Human Emperors felt much the same. None of them spoke, none dared to voice their dismay. Instead, they simply sat in silence, sipping at their cups of wheat brew, grape wine, or tequila-like spirits, letting the burn of the alcohol distract them from their wounded pride.

Now, the Human Emperor Trial moved into its fifth stage.

From this stage onward, the surrounding environment underwent a tremendous change.

Up until now, the trial’s space had been stark and barren—an empty wasteland enveloped by layers of heavy mist. But with the arrival of the fifth stage, Daniel suddenly discovered that everything around him had shifted.

Before him now was a scene he knew all too well.

A wooden desk. A narrow bed.

Daniel froze.

This... this was his own bedroom!

Just two days earlier, he had slept right here. It was the dormitory the academy had specially assigned to him. And if the clock hanging on the wall was to be believed, then he had been brought back to that very morning—the day of the Awakening Ceremony.

Daniel sat upright on his wooden bed, rubbing his eyes as though shaking off sleep. He yawned, exhaustion weighing on his body, and for a fleeting moment it felt as though everything—the abyss, the Angel of Gold and Silver, even the gods themselves—had been nothing more than a long dream.

He sensed that the immense powers he had gained, the abilities that defined his current self, had vanished into thin air. He was once again just a powerless youth.

But then, in front of his eyes, a line of glowing text appeared.

[Talent Exclusive Skill: Divine Arsenal activated. Your current God Rank Skills can be used within this space.]

Daniel blinked in surprise. Then, gradually, a look of realization spread across his face.

So that was it. This space had been layered with an illusion, a reality-bending mirage that clouded his senses. That was why he had felt lost and disoriented a moment ago.

Fortunately, his arsenal of abilities was vast, his mind sharpened beyond illusion. It would not be so easy to ensnare him.

Still... what exactly was the goal of this trial?

Was the intent to force him to live out a sequence of events as an ordinary human, stripped of his power?

But that plan seemed disrupted by the activation of his Divine Arsenal. The illusion had been pierced. The test had become far less convincing, almost childish in its simplicity.

Moreover, in the depths of his soul, Daniel could sense the great Tree of Faith standing tall. That alone meant he still had the ability to traverse planes of existence. If he wished, he could instantly leave for another dimension.

Of course, doing so would almost certainly terminate the Human Emperor Trial altogether, and possibly in failure.

Daniel rose from his bed and stepped out of his room.

He could feel it now: this trial was not about combat or raw strength. It was about his willpower.

If heaven gave him the chance to choose again, would he still walk the same path?

For many, this would be a torturous question. Faced with their past pain and their uncertain future, most would hesitate. Many would falter.

But not Daniel. He had no regrets. No hesitation. No matter what, he would walk this path again. His heart was resolute, his will unwavering.

"Daniel! Daniel!"

Suddenly, a professor’s voice rang out.

"The Awakening Ceremony is about to begin. Hurry and prepare yourself. Return to your class."

Daniel nodded politely, but he did not move. Instead, he simply stood still.

Around him, the world began to flow like a film reel. He saw familiar faces, long buried in memory. Roderick, the one who used to bully him. Other classmates, instructors, acquaintances. The faces of the past.

But Daniel remained motionless. He neither walked toward them nor took part in the ceremony.

After ten or so seconds, the illusion began to crack. The scene before him shattered like a mirror, fissures spreading across its surface until the entire world broke apart.

Just as Daniel had expected.

This stage of the trial was designed to probe the core of the Human Emperor’s heart. Could he remain steadfast? Could he continue leading humanity without wavering, no matter what temptation or regret was placed before him?

Daniel had already given his answer. His heart was firm. His conviction unshakable.

And with that, the trial of this stage ended.

Far away, across the stormy seas, within an ancient ruin,Charlotte had just emerged from its depths.

She had now fully inherited her godhood. Her power had ascended to the level of a demigod.

Charlotte felt a rare lightness of spirit. With her strength so greatly increased, her heart brimmed with anticipation. She wanted to test herself, to see just how powerful she had truly become.

The ruin was surrounded by vast, empty plains stretching beyond sight. A perfect place to unleash her might.

Instinctively, Charlotte raised her hands and invoked the Abyssal Summoning spell—one of the boons granted to her by Lord Crossbridge himself.

And the result shocked her.

This time, the abyssal creatures she summoned included beings of gold rank.

She was stunned.

Normally, even a demigod-rank summoner would be incapable of calling forth monsters of gold rank, let alone abyssal ones—the most troublesome and unpredictable of all.

Yet here they stood before her, one after another, snarling and writhing as they emerged from the void. Not just one, but a whole horde of them.

Could it be that her Abyssal Summoning had been enhanced?

The thought flashed through Charlotte’s mind. She knew her own capabilities well. By her skill alone, this should have been impossible.

No... this was undoubtedly the work of Lord Crossbridge. His hand had reshaped her power, magnified it beyond its natural limits.

Charlotte’s eyes shone with awe and gratitude.

"Praise be to You, great Lord Crossbridge!"