Chapter 183: Six True Gods?
"Great and Most High King, Almighty and Majestic Father!"
"Time bends to Your authority!"
"The abyss is Your throne!"
"Virus and plague are Your servants!"
"Your divine fire illuminates the heavens and worlds, spanning countless cosmic dimensions!"
"Your reflection appears at both the beginning and the end of the river of time!"
"Your existence is both creation and destruction! It is continuation and cessation!"
"Let all beings across the multiverse recite Your name in unison and become Your most loyal followers and children as You ignite the divine flame and ascend to godhood..."
An infinite chorus of voices resounded in his ears.
Throughout the endless universe, beings from all realms prayed in reverence.
They awaited the moment when he would lift the divine fire, forge his godhood, and take this monumental step.
Even the gods sang in praise, admiration—some even in fear.
The Dark Mother knelt at his feet.
At this moment, he was the very center of the heavens, the multiverse.
He was the focal point of countless gazes.
Such an overwhelming scene was irresistible to any being.
Even Novak.
And yet, amidst the grandeur, Novak's expression remained calm. He stretched out his hand, and a mental shockwave formed a protective barrier around him.
Three flying swords hovered in perfect formation, guarding his body.
With swift precision, they pierced through the illusion that blended reality with falsehood.
Great splashes of blood erupted, cascading into the void.
The vast, illusionary scene—this grand vision of the infinite universe—shattered like fragile bubbles, dissolving into nothingness.
The Plaguebringer armor, having been destroyed in the endless battles before, had long since fallen apart. Now, the black-light virus tendrils barely clung to his form, providing a makeshift cover.
Novak cast a glance at the massive creature before him.
A beholder, Lord of the 215th floor of the abyss: the Demon Lord of the Beholder Tribe, Salisbury-215.
Novak had already faced death three times in battle against this foe.
Now, for the fourth.
His tattered flying swords sliced through the enormous eye at the heart of the beholder's form.
"Human, I can see that you delight in all this," the beholder said, its voice carrying the insidious weight of its mind-shattering demonic tongue. "Why not savor it more? Once you are assimilated by me, you can forever swim in these exquisite fantasies!"
Novak didn't rush to kill the beholder.
Though Salisbury had taken his life several times before, Novak had long since unraveled the creature's abilities and tricks.
As a demon lord commanding over two hundred floors, Salisbury lacked raw destructive power. Instead, it ensnared its victims in the most beautiful, enchanting worlds, blurring the line between reality and illusion, until the prey was swallowed whole.
That was its true ability.
The main reason Novak couldn't break free, despite knowing Salisbury's abilities, was that the world the beholder created was too real.
It was impossible to distinguish illusion from reality.
And who wouldn't be tempted by the dream of becoming a god?
But on his fourth attempt, Novak finally chose to shatter that dream.
Looking at the massive Beholder Lord before him, Novak smiled faintly.
"Actually, I could've killed you long ago."
Salisbury was momentarily startled, its enormous pupil focusing intently on Novak.
"Oh? Then why now?" it asked.
Salisbury believed Novak had only just realized the difference between the illusion and reality.
But what Novak meant was that he could have killed the beholder on their second encounter. This illusion never had the power to sway him.
He still offered an explanation, though.
"I wanted to see and experience more," Novak said. "Otherwise, I might actually lose my mind in this endless abyss."
These words reflected his true feelings.
The illusion provided a strange relief, offering a fleeting sense of purpose in the abyss where every effort seemed futile, where the end was nowhere in sight. Even though it was all fake, it gave him the strength to keep pushing forward.
But Novak wanted to make that feeling real.
"Interesting human," Salisbury said. "If this were not a trial of the abyss, but my domain, I would have loved to meet you properly. It's a pity... that this is where it ends."
Novak raised an eyebrow, eyeing the beholder warily.
He wasn't particularly moved by the praise from this terrifying creature, which might already be near godhood. But what did Salisbury mean by that? Did the beholder have some final trick up its sleeve? And even if it did, could it be used in this trial?
There shouldn't be any reason or chance for that... right?
Salisbury seemed to sense Novak's caution, and a faint smile appeared in its massive eye.
"Don't misunderstand," Salisbury said. "I know I'm doomed. In fact, I can tell you that there won't be many abyss lords left after this."
Even if a few remain, they'll be no stronger than those you've already faced. They won't pose much of a threat to you.
There are only six who can truly challenge you."
Six?
For the first time, an indescribable joy appeared in Novak's eyes.
While it was impossible to fully trust Salisbury's words, Novak couldn't help but glimpse a sliver of hope.
After all, the beholder had no reason to lie. It had no knowledge that Novak could restart from a previous point, and this wasn't privileged information anyway.
Salisbury, unconcerned with Novak's excitement, paused for a moment before continuing.
"Reaching this point in the abyss trial is remarkable, but this is where your journey ends. Why? Because those six, they are True Gods!
Although they haven't fully ignited the divine flame or obtained godhood, make no mistake—any true god, even stripped of their powers, is far beyond what a mere human like you can overcome."
The beholder blinked its enormous eye, then rolled it dramatically as it added, "But it hardly matters. The abyss trial won't give you a chance to retreat. So, interesting but unfortunate human, prepare to face true death."
True death? I've faced it countless times already!
Novak silently scoffed but felt his spirits lift as he watched Salisbury's shadow slowly fade into nothingness.
[Level 215: Beholder Fantasy Maker Salisbury-215 has been slain! You have passed the trial of the 215th level! You may now recover for 1 minute.]
The minute flew by. Novak took a deep breath and prepared himself once more.
[Empty. No demon lord currently occupies this layer of the abyss...]
[Empty. No demon lord currently occupies this layer of the abyss...]
The announcement repeated several times, each time signaling an empty abyss layer.
Then, finally, a voice echoed ominously.
[Currently, the Abyss Lord of the 279th floor: Baphomet, Lord of the Minotaurs and Beasts, condenses a Level 10 phantom. Prepare for the trial!]