Chapter 685: Opnion
"We understand perfectly, Kayden," Achilles continued without faltering. "I hope we don’t have to enter direct confrontation — it would be a loss for both sides." The mage smiled.
It was amusing how he had grown more than either of the two beside him, not only that, but more than most of the people Kayden had ever known. And yet, in a way, it was expected — Achilles had his soulmate completely fused with him, and he was also a mage specialized in the lines of time.
His potential had always been greater than anyone else’s, and from the very beginning, he had always been pulling the strings. There were a few times in his life when he had made mistakes — but Kayden, Kayden had been his greatest mistake, something he would never be able to forget. The way the boy had destroyed all the lines of time with nothing but his mere presence was utterly insane.
"I understand perfectly," Kayden smiled. "I suppose we say our goodbyes here." He saw no reason to continue talking with those mages, but stopped at the very last second. "Actually, clear one doubt for me before I leave — how are you here at a divine level?"
Atlas and Han were at the divine level — Kayden hadn’t paid much attention to it before, but in the last second, that detail came back to his mind, and he decided to clear it up before leaving. It could be something vital for his future development, and...
"There are some gods in this world. They come in with contracts forbidding them from learning the arts of this place," Han replied. "But that is not our case. We just cannot kill the mortals of this place."
Kayden nodded in understanding. It made a bit of sense, but at the same time, it didn’t. In the end, everything was relative. A fourth-level god bearing a title had once told him that gods could not enter here, but that information had been false — probably that god’s knowledge was not vast enough to know such a thing.
"I see. Thank you for the information," Kayden thanked them properly.
"Master, could you evaluate our strength? Give us some advice?" Han asked. He was at a level far above Kayden, and yet... the image Kayden had left in his mind was beyond insane — Kayden was the absolute peak of his thoughts.
"We can make a trade," Kayden smiled. "I want to know of a god who is not with you and that I can freely kill." Ideas ran through his mind in just a few seconds, and a very specific plan formed.
"As long as you don’t mind attracting enemies from outside," Achilles replied. "Enemies with fourth-level gods among them." Kayden had thought of that...
"That won’t be a problem." The benefits outweighed the drawbacks in many ways — it would be very useful.
"I have the soul of a fourth-level god," Han began to demonstrate his strength. A god emerged from within him, wielding a colossal axe.
The god that emerged from Han was a colossus thousands of kilometers tall, so vast his body seemed to touch the horizon and his shadow covered continents. His axe was larger than entire mountain ranges, its engraved runes glowing like furious suns. Every movement distorted the space around him, as if reality itself had to bend just to endure his existence.
"I greet the master of my master," a voice came from the god. This was far beyond what Kayden had expected — Han had literally managed to give life to the soul he used when he was mortal.
"Pleased to meet you," Kayden gave a slight nod and began analyzing everything he could — every little piece, every centimeter was observed by him. This analysis took weeks that seemed to pass in mere seconds.
The rest of the people simply waited. From time to time, Han would fulfill a few of Kayden’s requests so that he could study him better. It was almost amusing how Han had surpassed him.
"Congratulations, Han. You have completely surpassed me in the mastery of souls," Kayden commented. "But... your path as a monarch has been completely neglected — it is literally rotten for your level. That would be the only criticism I could make of you."
"I abandoned it, Master," Han scratched his head with one hand. "I couldn’t see any more ways to surpass myself through it. Only improving my warrior soul could bring me benefits. I didn’t know what to do as a monarch." Kayden nodded in acknowledgment.
"In the end, the decision is yours, Han. But the opportunity you threw away is far too great to be abandoned like that. Your current strength is, at best, brilliant — you threw away the potential you had for crumbs of power."
Kayden’s words hit Han like a punch to the face — and Atlas as well. Both of them had perfect awareness of their strengths. They were being prepared to take over entire organizations. Their lifespans were minuscule compared to their accomplishments.
Both were just a step away from becoming fourth-level gods. That would simply be insane — they would easily be among the youngest gods in all existence, their strength enough to allow them to probably reach the absolute peak of Atherion and expand their organizations in all directions. But Kayden simply dismissed it as if it meant nothing, as if all their effort had been in vain.
"I am at the top, Master — at the absolute top of this existence. In a short time, I will take yet another step. These were not crumbs." Han replied calmly, and yet...
"Not even you believe that," Kayden shot him a piercing glare. "Don’t lie to yourself. Face the consequences of your actions. Your potential has been cut — you will never be able to reach the peak of this existence."
"In a few trillion years, I will reach the fifth level — the legendary level. I just need to persist. Thoth told me it was possible." Han let a bit more information slip.
"That is not the peak, Han. There are many things beyond that." Kayden pointed at Achilles. "He is one of those who seek to go beyond this — a mage who will certainly not be content with the imaginary peak of the gods. But the choice is yours — your end is yours. You asked for my opinion, and this is it. I would look for other ways to increase my power beyond this. Your obsession with your warrior soul will lead you to a pathetic end."
Han did not know how to respond. He truly had no goals higher than that — to him, the fifth level was the true peak, the place he sought to reach.