Odin nodded heavily, his eyes fixed on the open ground before him.

"Daniel, Your Majesty, I'm ready!"

Daniel had chosen this place deliberately — a wide, barren plain where no distraction could interfere with the trial.

As Odin initiated his God Rank Trial, a massive shadow coalesced in front of him.

The air thickened with divine pressure, and a dark figure slowly took form.

Daniel's brows furrowed slightly.

"…A Divine Chosen?"

He hadn't expected this.

During a God Rank Trial, each candidate faced a unique test of their heart and will — but for a Divine Chosen to appear here?

That was unusual.

It reminded Daniel of his own ascension, when he had once obtained what was called the blood of a god.

Back then, he had thought it represented divine purity — but now, seeing this, he couldn't help but scoff inwardly.

That so-called "god's blood"?

Its power wasn't even on par with a true demigod.

But Odin's opponent was entirely different.

The Divine Chosen that appeared before him radiated genuine power — the kind that could only come from one who had transcended mortal limits.

Daniel activated Psychic Perception, his mind brushing lightly against Odin's heart, and in that instant, he understood everything.

This being — Auxis — was not a random illusion.

He was the very nightmare that had haunted Odin's childhood.

Back when Odin was still a child, weak and powerless, he had lived under the constant fear of a Divine Chosen's domination.

That terror had buried itself deep within his soul, shaping both his will and his reason for protecting humanity.

Now, that shadow had returned, reborn as the manifestation of his inner fear.

[Divine Chosen — Auxis]

"Daniel, Your Majesty," Odin said slowly, his grip tightening on his sword. "You don't need to stay here. I have to face this one myself."

Daniel said nothing — only watched quietly.

Auxis stood across the field, his grotesque frame glistening under the dim light.

The body was warped and swollen with muscle, its skin seeping green blood that glowed like liquid poison.

His presence alone seemed to make the air tremble.

He was a reflection of Odin's past — everything he had once feared, everything he had sworn to surpass.

The God Rank Trial, Daniel knew, wasn't about power.

It was about resolve — whether one's heart was truly strong enough to become a god.

Only by confronting one's inner demon and destroying it could one truly ascend.

And Odin… had already stepped beyond his old fear.

Now, as he faced the monstrous figure from his past, he felt no terror.

Only the steady, burning anticipation of revenge.

"Very well," Daniel said softly. "This battle is yours."

He took a step back, folding his arms. "And congratulations, Odin — you'll soon be the first of humanity to reach Fake God."

Then he vanished, leaving Odin alone beneath the darkened sky.

...

Meanwhile, far to the north, in Winterhold Castle, snow drifted gently from the gray sky.

Inside the great hall, Charlotte bounced lightly beside Daniel, her long twin braids swaying with each step.

She was wearing a black Gothic-style dress, the frilled layers fluttering as she moved, her crimson eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Daniel, Your Majesty," she asked, tilting her head, "is Alice really planning to stay here?"

Daniel nodded. "Yes." Then, glancing at the little blood clan girl beside him, he asked, "So what about you? What's your plan?"

Charlotte pursed her lips, pressing one finger thoughtfully against her chin.

After a few seconds of serious contemplation, she said earnestly,

"I don't want to stay here. The ancient era is boring. If it's possible, I'd rather follow you, Daniel, Your Majesty. Being near you will help me grow much faster than training alone."

She lifted her eyes and added with a serious tone, "You know how summoners are — our biggest problem is finding the right creatures to summon. Without proper guidance, progress is slow."

Daniel nodded slightly.

He wasn't truly a summoner himself, though one of his God Rank Skills happened to belong to that category.

Even so, he respected her logic.

Since Charlotte had made up her mind, he saw no reason to stop her.

Besides, his own mental perception confirmed what he suspected — in this timeline, the strongest summoner barely reached demigod rank.

Keeping Charlotte here would be a waste of potential.

If she truly wanted to ascend, she'd need to find other divine thrones within her field — at least a Fake God-level or even Demigod Rank summoning domain to fuse with her own.

"Alright," Daniel said finally, "if that's what you want, I won't stop you. Walk your path with determination, and don't look back."

Charlotte's crimson eyes flickered with light.

She clasped her hands in front of her chest, looking both relieved and excited.

To Daniel, whether it was Alice or Charlotte, both had earned his respect.

They were not merely followers — they were devotees of gods, each representing the peak of their own kind.

It was natural that they refused mediocrity.

They yearned to stand as gods themselves.

Daniel supported that wholeheartedly.

He wanted to see more gods emerge among the races bound to humanity — elves, blood clan, and beyond.

As long as they acknowledged their allegiance to the human race, it made no difference which bloodline ascended first.

Yet he also knew the truth — the path to godhood was cruel.

Even prodigies like Laeve, who once stood on the same level as Aurelia, had never succeeded.

And Aurelia herself, though she had attained godhood, bore with her a shadow — an imperfection.

The Filth of God, those twisted remnants of her divinity — could that truly be called normal godhood?

And then there was Kartora, the enigmatic Time Goddess.

Even now, Daniel wasn't certain whether she had truly reached godhood or existed in some strange state beyond it.

The puppet version of her he'd encountered in the past had given him an uneasy feeling, as though she straddled the line between deity and echo.

Yes, the path to becoming a god was a bridge of thorns — a narrow, perilous road where even the greatest could fall.

Talent, effort, will, and sometimes sheer luck — all had to converge perfectly.

But Daniel believed.

If gods could be born from any race, then surely, one day, more gods would arise from humanity too.

After all, he was living proof that it could be done.

Charlotte, despite her bright demeanor, was far from carefree.

Deep inside, she was anxious — afraid that her chosen path might be wrong, that she might never reach the divine summit.

Yet, in her heart, there was one constant: her longing for Daniel's protection, his approval, and perhaps even his affection.

Unlike Alice, whose independence was absolute, Charlotte was more like a proud little princess — confident and sharp-tongued, yet soft and obedient in front of those she admired.

And Daniel — with his composed bearing and gentle confidence — was more dazzling than anyone she had ever known.

If only he could become my blood servant…

The thought flashed through her mind, and she immediately shook it off, her cheeks flushing pink.

That was a fantasy she dared not let escape her lips.

Daniel was far beyond her reach — not just in strength, but in every conceivable way.

"Daniel, Your Majesty…" Charlotte blinked her ruby-red eyes, her voice soft and sweet. "Will you help me?"

Daniel looked down at her.

Her expression was so sincere, so expectant, that he couldn't help but smile.

"Help you? That's not impossible," he said, placing his hand gently atop her head and ruffling her hair.

"But remember, Charlotte — there are some things you must grow strong enough to do yourself. My help will always be limited."

Charlotte's eyes sparkled like twin stars.

Her face lit up with delight, and she smiled from ear to ear.

"Thank you, Daniel, Your Majesty!" she said brightly, her voice carrying both excitement and a trace of shy admiration.

And in that moment, under the soft winter light of the castle's grand hall, the little blood clan girl's heart throbbed with new resolve — and something else she dared not name.

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.