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

Sterl's heart raced with excitement as he began plotting how to achieve his ultimate goal. If he could succeed, he might rise to become the undisputed number one or two figure within the Nation of Orichalcum. With access to the map module, he could easily set up a trap to decimate the majority of Orichalcum's active forces.

The very thought filled him with exhilaration. His legendary story would be unprecedentedly spectacular, clearing away numerous obstacles for his future ambitions.

At that moment, the oppressive power of the upper-tier god grew even stronger, pressing down on the surrounding gods with an almost suffocating weight.

The next instant, a faintly translucent, slightly blurred figure appeared in the divine hall. This was the upper-tier god. Upon closer inspection, one could see that his form was bound by numerous chains, restricting his power and preventing him from fully descending into the world.

However, with the Heart of Dimensions and his mastery of Space Law, Sterl was acutely aware of every fluctuation in space. He could sense that the chains binding the upper-tier god were weakening ever so slowly. At this rate, it was only a matter of time before they could no longer hold back the full extent of his power.

Eterna began recounting all recent events to the upper-tier god in meticulous detail. After listening in silence, the god paused momentarily before releasing an even more terrifying aura.

"Shielding Power? Nothing more than insignificant parlor tricks unworthy of mention. No one can halt the descent of the Nation of Orichalcum!"

With those words, he waved his hand, and three longswords brimming with devastating energy materialized before him.

"All who stand in the way of Orichalcum shall be annihilated."

His gaze swept across the assembly of gods before finally landing on Sterl.

Sterl felt his heart skip a beat. Had this upper-tier god seen through him? That shouldn't be possible, right?

Fortunately, the god spoke in a calm yet commanding tone.

"Thank you for your assistance. The Nation of Orichalcum has not yet fully fused with this world, and we cannot completely descend at this time. However, once these natives are eradicated, we will grant you any wish you desire."

The words struck like a thunderclap, leaving all the gods visibly stunned.

Such a promise was extraordinary! Any wish? Did that mean even ascending to become an upper-tier god was on the table?

Sterl, maintaining his composed exterior, carefully suppressed the storm of thoughts brewing in his mind. This was an unprecedented opportunity, one that might reshape everything he had planned.

This bold promise from the upper-tier god stirred a wave of jealousy among the gathered deities. Many of them had served the royal city diligently for centuries, even millennia, yet their efforts paled in comparison to the reward being offered to an outsider who had joined less than a day ago.

All because he was powerful?

The stark contrast was hard for many to swallow, especially since most of them doubted whether this so-called Hades was truly as powerful as rumored.

Sterl, however, remained unperturbed. He'd long stopped believing in promises made by gods or anyone else. No matter how grand the offer, it was nothing more than an illusion unless it was already in his hands.

He was certain Eterna had relayed everything Morette and the others had said to the upper-tier god. Sterl also understood their intent—they simply wanted to tie him firmly to Orichalcum's cause.

And yet, something completely unexpected happened.

Sterl slowly rose from his throne, fixing his gaze directly on the upper-tier god before him. His voice was steady and deliberate as he spoke.

"I have no interest in joining your Nation of Orichalcum. As for why I intervened..."

He glanced in Diana's direction. Her initial shock quickly gave way to a flush of red, her heart racing uncontrollably under his gaze.

"...helping Orichalcum isn't out of the question. But I'll need sufficient compensation."

The hall fell into stunned silence.

Even Eterna was caught off guard. Hades was bargaining—openly—before an upper-tier god? Was he insane? Did he not fear provoking the god's wrath and being obliterated on the spot?

The air grew thick with tension. Diana's eyes were filled with worry as she looked at him, already contemplating how she might save Hades and escape if the upper-tier god lashed out. Morette and the others furiously signaled to Sterl with their eyes, trying to dissuade him from pressing further.

They knew Hades was domineering and unyielding by nature. He always acted decisively and never wavered. But this situation was different—this was an upper-tier divine authority. Surely even Hades had to recognize the need for caution.

Yet Sterl's expression remained calm and resolute as he locked eyes with the upper-tier god.

This was his plan.

After careful consideration, Sterl had realized that no other approach would be as effective as directly negotiating with the upper-tier god himself.

It might seem reckless, but in truth, it wasn't. By openly making his stance clear, he was sending the god a message: I am not aligned with any faction. I am a neutral entity, with no strings attached.

His calm confidence wasn't lost on the upper-tier god, who remained silent, seemingly contemplating Sterl's words. The room hung in suspense, the deities holding their breath to see what would happen next.

"I will not join your faction, nor will I pose any threat or hidden danger to you. If you pay me, I will serve you. The greater the compensation, the better the results. I believe that, as an upper-tier god, you fully understand the message I am sending."

As expected, the upper-tier god stared at Sterl for several seconds before slowly speaking. "I need you to prove your worth."

Hearing this, Sterl exhaled a quiet sigh of relief. His guess had been correct. If he had outright declared his intention to join the Nation of Orichalcum, it would have inevitably raised suspicions and concerns. They might have even demanded he sign a soul-binding contract.

However, cooperating as an independent party was different. One side provides payment, the other fulfills tasks. Once Ashen was eradicated, their relationship would end. This transactional approach was exactly what the upper-tier god preferred.

Even Sterl could feel the shifting dynamics of the world. How could an upper-tier god be oblivious to them? The Nation of Orichalcum, in its current state, could not afford any internal unrest.

Yet, to many of the gods present, the exchange sounded as though the upper-tier god was furious. They interpreted Sterl's boldness as arrogance—a lower-tier being daring to negotiate so openly, without even a shred of humility or respect.

"I pulled you out of the fire," Sterl said, his tone calm yet firm. "I ensured that your three War Preparedness Zones were not wiped out. I kept your royal city from being overrun by Ashen. The Ashen gods I killed number no less than ten. What more proof do I need to offer?"

His words left the assembly of gods stunned once again. Was he boasting? Was he seriously suggesting that the Nation of Orichalcum would have crumbled without him? The sheer audacity! No one could verify the truth of his claims, yet he spoke as though the entire nation owed its survival to him.

Before the upper-tier god could respond, several gods, driven by jealousy and indignation, stood up in protest.

"Silence!"

"Hades, how dare you defy the hierarchy! Such audacity! Were it not for your earlier assistance, I would make you pay dearly!"

One of the gods, seated among the core divine thrones, unleashed a wave of oppressive energy aimed directly at Sterl. His aura was overwhelming, his presence comparable to Eterna's. This god also wielded three divine authorities, though his Divine Power fell slightly short of Eterna's level.

The oppressive force roared toward Sterl, the gathered gods holding their breath, awaiting his reaction.

Normally, Boris was already overshadowed by Eterna. But now, with Hades suddenly appearing as a new contender, he couldn't resist the opportunity to act. This was his chance to prove his worth in front of the upper-tier god.

Seeing this, Sterl couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. This is perfect. These gods doubted his strength, and now one of them had foolishly stepped forward to test him.

Sterl shot Boris a dismissive glance and said flatly, "Trash."

There was a brief silence, and then—

Pfft!

Diana, who had been worried about Sterl, suddenly burst into laughter. She hadn't expected Hades to be so blunt, outright refusing to give Boris even a shred of face.

Morette and the other gods exchanged looks, their expressions a mix of confusion and amusement. From their perspective, Sterl wasn't entirely wrong. After all, while Boris wielded the divine authorities of Curses, Desert, and Battle, his overall strength wasn't far beyond theirs.

Against Hades—who had surpassed the limits of minor Divine Power and allegedly annihilated five gods in an instant—it wasn't unreasonable to call Boris "trash."

But to Boris, this was nothing less than an outright insult, a blatant provocation.

Even the upper-tier god frowned slightly at Hades' brazenness. This so-called Hades was clearly powerful, but his arrogance seemed to have no bounds.

As the upper-tier god pondered how to respond, Boris, his face twisting with anger, declared, "I challenge you! As the price for your insult, if you lose, you must sign a contract and become an eternal servant of the Nation of Orichalcum!"

Sterl blinked, surprised by the challenge. Studying Boris more closely, he noticed that the supposed fury in Boris's eyes was far from genuine. Instead, there was a glint of cunning amusement.

Ah, so that's it.

Sterl quickly pieced it together. Boris wasn't acting out of pure anger. He was setting a trap. Having analyzed Sterl's outwardly aggressive and domineering personality, Boris had deliberately provoked him into insulting him first. Now, under the guise of righteous retaliation, Boris could issue a formal challenge. This allowed him to test Sterl's true strength while earning the approval of the upper-tier god.

Realizing the ploy, Sterl's heart tightened. These gods, with their centuries—or even millennia—of experience, were far from fools. He'd need to tread more carefully when dealing with them in the future. Still, he knew that overwhelming strength could shatter even the most intricate conspiracies.

At this moment, everyone else finally realized what was happening—this was actually a conspiracy targeting Hades! Could it be that Boris truly wielded the divine authority over conspiracy itself?

The challenge was issued, and Hades, having acted so brazenly, had no choice but to accept it. Refusing would surely anger the higher gods. If Hades were to lose, the consequences would be disastrous—essentially becoming a slave to the nation of Orichalcum. But if he won, Boris wouldn't suffer a loss either. At the very least, he would earn the favor of the higher gods.

Cunning! Utterly cunning and despicable!

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