Even though beings might all be at the demigod rank, in truth their displayed strength varied greatly depending on the domain they had mastered.
Domains such as Daniel’s own Infinite Domain, or those like Time, Luck, and Space, belonged to the highest tier. Even among equals of the same rank, these domains always had the advantage, naturally suppressing others.
Daniel had spoken seriously with Milla about this before. She told him plainly that there was a hierarchy even among domains. Some were exalted, others were considered lesser.
Before one could rise to godhood, it was often necessary to find and claim a divine seat belonging to another domain. Yet the relationship between domains was complex. Some domains contradicted each other, while others complemented and reinforced one another.
Therefore, the choice of a domain was immensely important. In theory, the boundary between a strong domain and a weak one seemed clear, yet in practice it was blurred. Daniel understood it this way, and that was also how Milla had explained it to him. But even she admitted that much of her knowledge was secondhand; her words were for reference, not certainty.
Still, even if the distinction was not absolute, Daniel instinctively wanted to choose devotees from the stronger domains.
He also knew that the time would come to consider carefully the matter of second divine seats—not just for himself, but also for Alice and Charlotte. They would need to find seats suited to them, if they were to keep advancing.
But that was still a matter for the future. For now it was not urgent. He only needed a rough plan, and after sketching it out in his thoughts, Daniel pushed the idea aside and looked toward the present.
In front of him, glowing text appeared.
[Human Advancement Quest][Current Task: Complete the fifth stage of the Human Emperor Trial. (Completed)][Requirement: Sufficient number of vassal races. (Completed)][Requirement: Human Emperor reaches demigod rank. (Completed)][Requirement: Humanity possesses more than five demigod-rank awakeners. (Completed)]
When Daniel cleared the fifth stage of the Human Emperor Trial, the Human Advancement Quest was actually fulfilled.
Instead of rushing into the next stage of the trial, Daniel decided to deliver the quest first.
As soon as he completed it, a brand-new set of notifications appeared. These messages were not seen by Daniel alone—they were projected to all humans and to every vassal race under humanity’s banner.
[Current Level Cap has been raised to Level 300.][Special Reward Obtained: Heart of Cohesion.][Heart of Cohesion Effect: Whenever a human kills a monster, in addition to the normal increase in personal strength, an Exp Drop will form. Exp Drops can be traded or stored. When consumed, they will directly enhance the user’s strength.]
Daniel paused, blinking at the description.
This was... a very unusual reward.
At the highest level cap, grinding monsters normally became meaningless. No matter how many monsters one slew, no further experience could be gained. Countless amounts of potential power were simply wasted.
But with Exp Drops, that waste disappeared.
Now the excess experience would condense into items that could be used by others.
Imagine this: top-tier powerhouses could slay formidable beasts, collect mountains of Exp Drops, and then pass them on to new awakeners. Those novices could consume them and instantly surge forward, their growth soaring like a rocket.
If this system could be widely put into practice, the speed at which humanity’s awakeners developed would increase geometrically.
As Daniel thought through this, a serious look crossed his face.
For the first time, he clearly understood how vast the gulf between tiers of races really was.
Humans were still only a mid-tier race.
When compared to the high-tier races, such as the Angels of Gold and Silver, the difference was like heaven and earth. That race’s weakest members were already over level 200, while humanity’s strongest elites had only just scratched the threshold.
No wonder those angels looked down on them.
Daniel’s curiosity was piqued. If the Human Advancement Quest continued, stage after stage... how strong might humanity one day become? What unimaginable rewards might be unlocked for his people?
Far away, in the Dragon’s Nest, a team of human awakeners fought within an underground labyrinth. They were locked in battle with the dungeon’s final boss.
When the last blow landed and the monster fell, a notification flashed before their eyes.
[Human Emperor Daniel has completed the Fifth Stage of the Human Emperor Trial.]
The adventurers stared in shock for a moment.
Then they smiled in relief.
"Of course. Swift and decisive—that’s His Majesty Daniel all over."
"He only just became Human Emperor, and already he’s entered the trial... and now he’s cleared the fifth stage."
"Same as ever. Same recipe, same flavor. His Majesty Daniel is as terrifying as always."
But before their admiration faded, a massive silver droplet suddenly materialized before them.
It looked like liquid mercury, shining with a metallic sheen.
[Exp Drop (Silver)][Exp: 1.024 trillion]
They gaped at the sight.
"So this... this is what an Exp Drop looks like?"
Their eyes lit up, excitement sparking. They could hardly wait to test it.
"Alright, this labyrinth expedition is finished. Let’s split the Exp Drop among us."
Their voices trembled with eagerness. Humanity had just stepped into a new era.
Meanwhile, Daniel wasted no time. After delivering the quest, he immediately turned toward the next stage of the Human Emperor Trial.
For him, the quest rewards held little personal value. The only thing that truly mattered was the lifting of the level cap. That was essential.
But what mattered most of all, above everything else, was the Star Upgrade Quest. He intended to prioritize completing it.
In the end, all of these quests—Human Emperor Trial, Human Advancement, Star Upgrade—were interconnected. Completing them was not a waste of effort.
And honestly, the Human Emperor Trial so far had been far simpler than he had imagined. He had not even spent much time on it.
That thought comforted him, and he allowed himself a small smile.
The mist before him churned again, roiling like a living thing. Shapes shifted. The whiteness dispersed.
When the fog receded, a new figure appeared before him.
And Daniel froze.
The figure was himself.
The sixth stage of the Human Emperor Trial was a confrontation with his own reflection. A battle against himself.
How utterly cliché, he thought.
Almost out of habit, Daniel activated the Eye of Insight, only to find that it could not pierce the mystery. The copy was veiled in fog, just as he had been when facing other trial illusions.
He frowned slightly, but then shrugged. It was to be expected.
Then the strangest thing happened.
He suddenly felt the flow of time itself shifting around him. The timeline was being rewritten.
The clone had activated a Time Stream.
Daniel’s eyes widened. "You can do that?!"
Without hesitation, he invoked his own Time Stream. Reality twisted, and he was pulled back—back to the moment just before the beginning of the sixth stage trial.