Awakening：The Infinite Evolution of My Talent as a Low-Level Awakener

The high-ranking deity immediately grasped Boris's intention. Though somewhat surprised, they understood the reasoning. The gods of the Orichalcum Nation were rarely known to employ such minor tricks to deal with their adversaries.

Typically, when faced with enemies, they would launch an overwhelming offensive, swarming their target and annihilating them with absolute strength. However, after the Ashen raid, perhaps many gods had started to realize that even at their divine level, strategy and cunning were not entirely useless. At the very least, they had proven effective now, as the arrogant Hades found himself in a dilemma.

This challenge was one he had no choice but to accept. Whether he wanted to or not, he was forced to agree. To decline was not an option. After all, he had boldly claimed he could face five gods of equal power head-on. To then refuse a challenge from a weaker Divine Power-level god would be nothing short of deceit.

At that point, even if the high-ranking deity didn't intervene, other gods would surely take action. They would suppress him, force him to sign a Mark of Servitude, and bring him under the dominion of the Orichalcum Nation.

The high-ranking deity glanced at Boris, a flicker of approval flashing in their eyes. Perhaps, until the royal capital fully merged into this realm, leaving everything in Boris's hands wasn't a bad idea after all.

Boris, sensing the gaze of the high-ranking deity, felt a surge of excitement in his heart. He had only intended to provoke the arrogant and reckless Hades a little. Yet, to his surprise, Hades had fallen right into his trap, losing his composure and giving him an opening.

This was the perfect opportunity to showcase his abilities before the high-ranking deity. Ideally, he could even push Eterna out of the spotlight and take full control of everything himself.

What Boris didn't know, however, was that his delight was mirrored by another—none other than Sterl.

If Sterl had been bluffing, now would indeed be the moment to panic. But the truth was, his confidence was well-founded. He truly possessed the strength to back up his boldness. He had initially been pondering how to demonstrate part of his power. Unexpectedly, this self-assured Boris had practically delivered the opportunity right to his doorstep. It couldn't have been more perfect.

Sterl's gaze fell on Boris's face, his expression brimming with enthusiasm and anticipation. It wasn't hard to imagine what Boris was thinking—likely envisioning how his victory would earn the admiration of the surrounding gods and even the favor of the high-ranking deity.

Chuckling inwardly, Sterl spoke, his tone laced with derision. "Heh, wagers are never one-sided. Since you want to challenge me, what happens if

you

lose?"

Disguised as Hades, he let out a cold laugh and asked with disdain.

"Lose?" Boris echoed, momentarily stunned by the question.

Boris froze for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter. "You think I'll lose? Me? A god with

three divine authorities

! My power far exceeds your imagination! Do you really believe that by relying on despicable tactics like sneak attacks to kill a few worthless Ashen trash, you've earned the right to defeat me? Utterly ridiculous!"

His voice dripped with disdain as he mocked Sterl without hesitation.

In Boris's mind, he had already seen through this so-called Hades. On the surface, he appeared powerful, but in reality, his strength didn't hold up under scrutiny. If Hades truly had such confidence in his abilities, he wouldn't have posed such a question in the first place; he would've simply accepted the challenge outright.

So, Boris was certain: this Hades was nothing more than an imposter bluffing his way through—a liar who was merely barking under someone else's shadow.

But to deceive the wise and mighty Boris? Ha… not a chance! He didn't even need to think twice before declaring, "If you manage to beat me, all my resources and treasures will be yours. Not only that, but I'll also personally recommend you as the supreme commander in the fight against the Ashen. I'll follow your orders without question!"

Sterl couldn't help but laugh inwardly at Boris's offer.

What a generous fool! This is practically a gift.

If Boris was so eager to hand everything over, Sterl thought it only fair to let him showcase a bit of his ability, just so his inevitable defeat wouldn't be

too

humiliating.

Outwardly, however, Sterl fell silent, as if hesitating or uncertain. But to the other gods, this was a clear sign of fear and trepidation. Only Diana, Morette, and the four surviving gods from the Southern War Preparedness Zone stared intently at him. They couldn't believe that someone who had obliterated five Ashen gods in an instant could possibly be a fraud.

Under the slightly skeptical gaze of the high-ranking god, Sterl nodded slowly. "Alright, I accept this challenge."

As his words fell, Boris's excitement grew even more palpable.

Finally, he's taken the bait!

This was his chance to reverse the current order and take control of everything. With this, he could even leverage his contributions in eradicating the Ashen to secure resources from the high-ranking gods—perhaps even ascend to their level himself!

"You better think this through," the high-ranking god warned. "Now that you've accepted Boris's challenge, should you lose, you'll be bound by your agreement and will serve as a permanent enforcer for the Orichalcum Nation."

Though they didn't explicitly mention the term "enslavement," the implication was clear in their eyes. Should Sterl lose, he would face the wrath of the high-ranking gods for his deception.

"Hah, trying to intimidate me?" Sterl sneered inwardly. He saw through the high-ranking god's ploy immediately. Their words were meant to pressure him into revealing his true nature—a transparent trick, boring and petty.

And yet, despite his confidence, a faint unease stirred in his heart.

This kind of emotion was completely unlike what a high-ranking deity, overflowing with divinity, should possess. In other words, even the high-ranking gods were gradually losing their divine nature and regaining their humanity!?

Realizing this, Sterl felt a sense of urgency rising within him. Time was of the essence. He had to complete his task as soon as possible, break through to the Legendary tier, and, with the massive amount of experience he had accumulated, rapidly ascend to demigod status—or even full godhood!

After all, he possessed the radiant-level class Harness the Stars! As long as he reached Level 500, he would instantly obtain the Stellar Divine Authority, becoming a true deity in one fell swoop. With his current third-class power, he could already slay gods in defiance of the natural order. Once he ascended to godhood, how much stronger could he become? At the very least, he would secure a sliver of hope to survive the coming catastrophe.

This was his worst-case scenario. With his cheat abilities and radiant-level profession, he had more confidence than anyone else. Even in the face of catastrophe, he believed he could defy the tide and overturn the situation!

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"A mere piece of trash. Does it even warrant consideration?"

Snapping back to the present, Sterl looked directly at the high-ranking deity and enunciated every word clearly.

The high-ranking deity was momentarily stunned. They had assumed his hesitation stemmed from fear and doubt. But now it seemed that wasn't the case at all. This person, when faced with a challenge, was just as domineering and confident as before!

The other gods' expressions shifted slightly. Could it be that what Morette and the others had said was true? Could this Hades truly possess the Transcendence-tier power at the extreme limits of weak Divine Power?

Thinking it over, Morette was a god with dual divine authorities, one of which was the exceptionally powerful Thunder Authority. In terms of combat strength, Morette ranked among the top eight gods in the Orichalcum Nation. Could such a formidable deity really be deceived by mere illusions?

Seeing the reactions of the gods, Boris felt a twinge of unease, but his overwhelming fury overshadowed it. This arrogant, presumptuous Hades, who had no regard for divine etiquette, still dared to insult him so blatantly!

"Fine! Very well! Soon, I'll crush your head underfoot and tear your mouth apart piece by piece until you understand the cost of disrespecting me!"

The high-ranking deity fell silent for a moment, as if lost in thought. Then, with a wave of their hand, a small space materialized in front of them.

This was not a space they had created on the spot—they lacked the power to do so. Instead, it was an area inherent to the temple itself, designed specifically for gods to cultivate and test various abilities. This space, reinforced by the temple's divine essence, was extraordinarily sturdy. Even a high-ranking deity would find it difficult to break through.

"Since both parties have confirmed their intentions, enter the Temple Space and begin immediately," the high-ranking deity commanded.

As the high-ranking deity spoke, the Temple Space manifested a Portal of Space. Boris snorted coldly and, without hesitation, stepped directly into it.

"Hades... please, be careful..."

Just as Sterl was about to follow, Diana quickly approached him, her face full of concern as she spoke softly.

This scene ignited waves of envy and jealousy among the other gods.

"Why does

he

get the favor of the goddess?"

"Is it because he's good at boasting?"

They muttered inwardly, already plotting to emulate Hades' cold and domineering demeanor later on, hoping to win the favor of goddesses themselves.

Soon after, Morette and the other gods who had been saved by Sterl also approached, one after another, urging him to be cautious.

Seeing this, Boris, standing within the Temple Space, felt his fury boil over. He silently vowed to crush this Hades' dignity beneath his feet and expose his façade for the fraud it was.

Even Eterna couldn't help but frown, sensing his own position under threat. If Hades lost, there was nothing to worry about. But if Hades won… it was entirely possible that he might end up being entrusted with leading the campaign against the Ashen and other indigenous forces.

The fact that Hades wasn't originally a god of the Orichalcum Nation didn't matter. This world operated solely on interests. There were no eternal friends, nor eternal enemies—only eternal benefits.

Hades himself had made it clear: pay him, and he would serve Orichalcum.

More importantly, the situation now was exceptionally dire.

The Ashen's bizarre Shielding Power was something even the high-ranking deities couldn't resolve. Otherwise, they wouldn't have handed out three divine swords—they would've provided a direct solution to eliminating the Shielding Power instead.

In this scenario, where high-ranking gods on both sides were unable to intervene, the Orichalcum Nation desperately needed a powerful figure to eliminate the disparity caused by the Shielding Power.

However, upon deeper reflection, Eterna's worries began to fade. Even if Hades won, his victory wouldn't truly shake Eterna's position. After all, Hades did not belong to Orichalcum and would naturally leave once the war was over.

On the other hand, if Boris lost, Eterna would have no further competitors, and his position would become unassailable.

With this thought, a faint smile appeared on Eterna's face. He glanced at Hades, who was about to step into the Temple Space, and offered him a small nod of goodwill. "Be careful in there."

That was the final straw for Boris, who was now fully inside the Temple Space. He could no longer hold back his rage!

...

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