Chapter 204: Water Of Life! Pocket Store! Master's Conquest!

Death—a word shrouded in secrecy among the living, the end that awaits all life. Even gods, it seems, cannot escape it forever; the ancient god of the underworld serves as a reminder of that. 

But Novak was left speechless by the final power granted to him by the Abyss. 

No matter the form of death, he would be resurrected in flawless condition within the Abyss Well. 

What kind of power was this?

Even the gods would be powerless to truly kill him.

He looked at the final words describing his new power—'absolute priority'. 

And now, everything became clear.

Previously, he had encountered two other so-called "absolute priority" skills: one was the cooldown for the Hourglass of Time, allowing him to reverse time, and the other allowed him to restore himself fully while in the Abyss. It was, in fact, the conflict between these two powers that had enabled him to pass the Abyss Trial, a feat that would have been impossible without the Hourglass.

Now, the Abyss Master's most profound blessing stood out to him above all: his resurrection would always have 'absolute priority'!

The 'Abyss Master' role didn't explicitly enhance Novak's combat ability, yet every skill seemed powerful beyond comprehension.

One ability, the 'Blood of the Abyss', allowed him to wield the strength of multiple bloodlines simultaneously—solving his ongoing dilemma over which bloodlines to strengthen within himself. With this power, he no longer had to choose.

Another ability, the 'Power of the Abyss', meant that in the Abyss, he was virtually untouchable. As long as he didn't actively harm other Abyss Lords, no opponent could lay a finger on him. And he could travel freely between realms and the Abyss whenever he wished.

Then, there was the ability of infinite leveling. As he progressed through the Abyss layers and beyond, his potential was boundless. Unlike other beings who would eventually reach a cap and be forced to seek godhood, Novak was free from such restrictions. The Cosmic's limits applied to others, but not to the master of the Abyss. 

Just how far would his strength and attributes scale if he could truly level without limit? Novak could hardly fathom it.

He blinked slowly, finally shaking himself from the shock. Turning, he noticed Zogwort watching him intently, his small eyes wide with curiosity. As Novak returned to focus, Zogwort immediately spoke up.

"Well? How does it feel—the power of the Abyss Master?" 

Novak pursed his lips, unable to find words, but Zogwort quickly responded, realizing his oversight.

"My apologies, friend. I didn't mean to pry into your abilities or authority. It's just that, among the gods, the Abyss is a forbidden power—one that I can't help but find intriguing…"

Novak smiled. "Your Excellency Zogwort, you don't need to apologize. I'm not offended, but the power of the Abyss is strange and unique, even to me. It's difficult to put into words."

Zogwort nodded knowingly. "I understand, I understand. Well then, in the spirit of friendship, how about a drink?"

With a flourish, Zogwort uncorked a bottle and poured out two glasses of crystalline wine, offering one to Novak with a smile.

Water of Life, Imperial Consort Version (S)

[Item - Elixir]

>Upon drinking, all attributes +50 points, grants life protection, dramatically boosts recovery speed, provides an experience bonus, and increases burst rate by +30%. Lasts a considerable duration.

Not bad.

Zogwort, the god of trade, had clearly invested generously.

Novak didn't mind Zogwort's change in demeanor one bit. After all, people only seek true friendship when you're strong and valuable. Before, even with Novak's promising talent, he was only a worthwhile investment for Zogwort, not an equal. But now, with Novak's dual professions—both the Scourge Of Life and the Abyss Master—he held enough influence within the Abyss to earn respect, even from the gods.

For Zogwort, the Abyss was an untapped treasure trove of potential trade.

With the water of life in hand, Novak downed it in a single gulp. A surge of vital energy radiated through him, and beyond its power, the elixir's taste was indescribably exquisite.

In this grim and chaotic Abyss, neither Novak nor Zogwort seemed bothered. They both understood that befriending one another was a mutually profitable venture. Though Zogwort's time was limited, he lingered for over an hour, exchanging casual talk with Novak. Beneath the surface, however, Zogwort had one clear objective: establishing a Goblin Chamber of Commerce in the Abyss.

But there was no rush.

While the Abyss Master's power was extraordinary, Novak needed time to fully understand and master these new abilities before committing to any long-term alliance.

Zogwort, patient and perceptive, didn't press the issue. After presenting Novak with a final gift, he took his leave.

Pocket Store

[Special Item]

>Produced by the Goblin Chamber of Commerce, this pocket store allows its owner to connect with Zogwort at any time, access rare items, and purchase exclusive goods.

Amused by this latest gift, Novak pocketed it, then closed his eyes and focused. In an instant, he teleported to the first level of the Abyss, standing before the Well of the Abyss.

One of the Abyss Master's professional powers required that he conquer each layer of the Abyss himself. The task felt daunting; while Novak had completed the Abyss Trial—an achievement even the true gods hadn't managed—it was the avatars of the Demon Lords he had defeated, not the Lords themselves.

Each of these Demon Lords was unyielding, powerful, and violent. Earning their submission would require careful tactics, not brute force alone—even the Abyss itself seemed to demand it. And some of these Lords wielded god-like power.

The conquest conditions seemed straightforward, yet complex. To conquer a layer, Novak needed to be recognized by the corresponding Well of the Abyss, a feat he'd performed repeatedly during the Abyss Trial: he would need to defeat each current Demon Lord and assume their place. But unlike the existing Demon Lords, Novak could become the lord of all levels of the Abyss, gaining ultimate control over each plane.

For layers without demon lords, however, the process was far simpler.

Like the first layer.

Standing before the Well, Novak extended his hand. A strange pattern glowed from his palm, searing itself into the well. For five long minutes, a multitude of demons sensed his presence, but none dared intervene.

Then, the familiar, eerie voice of the Abyss itself echoed in his mind:

"The Great Master of the Abyss has conquered the first layer of the Abyss World! You now hold supreme authority over this interface and have gained the right to name it. All attributes +1."