Chapter 901 Everyone’s Struggles Are The Same

"No matter what, even if it's worthless to you, Asahi-san, to us, it's priceless!"

Finn spoke with unwavering gratitude. His words struck a comparison between the vast disparities of wealth and privilege, what's trivial to the powerful can be life-changing for the less fortunate.

For Asahi, the divinity he handed out was as insignificant as grass, given his strength. He roamed freely in the vast chaos of the primordial worlds, a level of power far beyond the comprehension of ordinary beings.

The divine essence he gave wasn't obtained from another god in this world, but rather directly extracted from the laws governing this world.

It was an extraordinary feat, though for him, it was nothing more than a convenient gesture.

"Don't get too excited just yet," Asahi continued, his tone measured, "Even if you become gods, remember that not all gods are equal. You'll merely be the weakest among them, and you won't possess a divine office or domain."

He gestured toward Loki, providing a clear example, "Gods like Loki were born of the heavens and earth, granted divine power and domains by the natural order. That makes them inherently strong. Without a divine office, a god cannot wield true divine power. You'll be gods, yes, but your strength will be limited until you can master laws on your own."

In the pantheon of this world, ascension wasn't the end of the journey but the beginning of a more challenging path. While becoming a god opened the door, truly powerful deities required mastery over specific laws and the accumulation of divine power and influence.

Unfortunately, the world's divine hierarchy was already saturated. For a new god to gain a divine office or significant strength, an existing god would have to fall, but it is an exceedingly rare occurrence.

Even so, as Asahi pointed out, the weakest god was still far beyond the strongest mortal. A god's immortality alone set them apart, ensuring their existence and dominance.

Before the gods descended into the mortal world, humanity had neither magic nor methods of cultivation. It was the gods who gifted mortals these tools, enabling them to grow stronger.

Yet, some mortals had always possessed rare and exceptional qualities. These individuals, capable of breaking the limits of humanity, were hailed as heroes.

Heroes overcame the impossible and defended against unimaginable threats, their strength rooted in innate potential rather than divine gifts.

However, heroes were exceedingly rare, and their numbers in Orario could be counted on one hand. For the majority, surpassing mortal limits was unthinkable, let alone challenging the gods.

In other worlds, where cultivation and generational refinement of techniques allowed mortals to eventually match or even slay gods, the rules were different.

Those worlds nurtured defiance and rebellion against divine authority, but in this world, no such system existed.

Here, all power stemmed from the gods. If they left for the heavens, mortals would lose their blessings, and their strength would dwindle to a fraction of what it once was.

Without gods to guide them, mortals had no path to ascend beyond their limitations.

Thus, the idea of god-slaying was laughable. The only conceivable path was through wisdom and negotiation with the gods, or by wielding the power of the gods themselves.

In this context, Finn and the others' potential ascension to godhood marked an extraordinary leap. They might not become the most powerful gods, but they would be unparalleled among mortals.

"Indeed." Asahi concluded, "If you succeed in becoming gods, you will be unmatched among mortals. However, you will also face the restrictions and responsibilities that come with divinity. Even gods born outside the heavens are bound by the divine order."

Loki, listening intently, smirked.

"It's true. We gods were born from the world itself, endowed with divine power, offices, and authority. Among us, there are factions, hierarchies, and rivalries. Don't let the current state of the gods fool you, as even here, where we let loose, there's a pecking order."

"Once these guys return to the Upper Realm, they will all revert to their original selves. Don't underestimate the gods."

Loki chuckled, nodding in agreement. With her children now having such an opportunity, she considered their path to divinity almost guaranteed, a long-standing wish of hers. However, she knew that such developments would inevitably bring more trouble.

Even if just one member of her Familia became a god, it would undoubtedly draw the attention of other gods. Many major gods cherished their children deeply, and Loki was far from being the only one like this.

That said, this method was not something that could be replicated. Even if a god were to split off a portion of their own divinity, it wouldn't help others ascend.

After all, divinity tied to its original owner wasn't the same as unclaimed divinity. Such bound divinity couldn't enable someone else to ascend, and in the human world, gods were not permitted to wield authority directly.

Moreover, separating divinity required gods to expend massive amounts of divine power. So this time, others could only watch as Loki Familia reaped an incredible advantage.

In the end, everyone accepted these gifts, expressed their gratitude to Asahi once more, and immediately began preparing for the tasks ahead.

They needed to grow stronger, to keep improving.

Before, they had no definitive endpoint or clear objective, and they pursued strength for its own sake. But now things were different. With divinity in their grasp and the prospect of godhood within reach, how could they not seize this opportunity?

Especially Ais, who had always been obsessed with pursuing strength. To her, power was almost everything, second only to her companions.

This was understandable, as Ais's family had been killed by the Black Dragon, so her desire to grow stronger was driven by her wish to avenge her loved ones.

If not for the appearance of another world, Ais might have only been able to reach Level 6 at best. How could she have hoped to become the powerhouse she was today?

With the acquisition of divinity, the group was brimming with an almost manic energy, not caring about Loki's opinions. They immediately began preparing for a return to the dungeon and the new world. Having a clear goal, they eagerly moved forward.

"These guys are truly impatient. But that's not a bad thing. If they can become gods sooner, I'll be relieved. That way, our Loki Familia can grow even stronger!

Loki was ecstatic. She was grateful that she didn't have to separate from her Familia. Raising and guiding her children was a laborious process, and parting from loved ones was one of the most agonizing experiences for a deity. Loki had no intention of enduring that kind of pain again.