Awakening The Only SSS-Rank Class! Now Even Dragons Obey Me Chapter 783: The Next Meal

After the departure of the two individuals, Daniel let out a scornful sneer. Both of them, and particularly the Grand Minister, had clearly assessed the current situation.

Recognizing their inability to match his strength, they opted to retreat rather than engage in conflict.

However, Daniel suspected there might be an ulterior motive at play, a reason more significant than mere fear of him.

"If my memory serves me correctly, Elisira mentioned that the empire is forbidden from attacking the tree," he mused aloud.

While his outward posture remained unchanged, his mind was a whirlwind of activity, meticulously assembling the scattered pieces of information he had gathered.

Individually, these fragments appeared insignificant, yet when viewed collectively, they began to paint a disturbing picture.

Could it be that their hesitation to attack him stemmed not only from an apprehension of his power but also from the prohibition against attacking the accursed tree?

His gaze drifted towards the imposing tree.

"The Divine Prophet…"

He recalled Elisira's voice, the subtle tremor in her tone, and the deliberate pauses she employed – all still vivid in his memory.

"The Holy Empire…"

A structured entity with a central authority, yet it seemed to act as an extension of a higher command, lacking true independence.

"The tree…"

Not merely an entity or a source of power, but something ancient, predating the very existence of the empire.

No one seemed to comprehend the nature of this cursed tree, its purpose, its capabilities, or the threat it posed to the world.

Despite this ignorance, they were compelled to follow orders and eradicate it.

He remembered informing those players earlier that the destruction of this very tree might have been the catalyst for the world's demise, a tree that perhaps held the key to their salvation.

He perceived no malevolence emanating from the tree; quite the opposite, it evoked a sense of kinship and tranquility, as if he were in the presence of something akin to his own nature.

His repeated examinations of the tree only solidified his conviction that it was not an inherently evil entity. In fact, it seemed to subsist solely on the life force of the deceased, remaining completely detached from the living.

This observation alone could serve as a significant clue.

Taking a quiet breath, Daniel shifted his mental focus towards the Divine Prophet.

A woman residing within a sealed sanctuary, her pronouncements claiming direct divine origin.

It was here that his initial skepticism began to surface.

"If she truly communed with the gods, she would undoubtedly have received a solution or aid against the beasts of corruption by now. Yet, this does not appear to be the case."

While concrete evidence was lacking, the probabilities he considered offered no comforting conclusions.

"Either she is incapable…"

"Or that voice… is not what they perceive it to be."

This latter possibility was by far the most perilous.

"If that voice is deceptive, then this entire world operates upon a foundation of falsehoods."

His expression remained impassive, yet his mind churned with uncertainty. What if the Divine Prophet was not a genuine conduit to the divine, but an agent of the corrupting forces?

Such a revelation could explain the world's swift downfall and the devastation of two continents.

The implications of this potential truth were profoundly terrifying for the inhabitants of this world, capable of triggering the complete collapse of their civilization.

"It's not as though I can pass judgment without any substantiation." This matter, while intriguing, did not directly concern him; his interest was purely one of curiosity.

Daniel lifted his gaze, this time allowing himself to truly observe the tree.

Its roots snaked across the ground, its branches contorted unnaturally, and the fruit… it pulsed like a living heart, beating with a distinct rhythm.

Could this tree be a weapon? He remained uncertain, even skeptical, but the possibility could not be entirely dismissed.

Not a weapon for combating the beasts of corruption, perhaps, but rather a tool by which a hero might bring about the world's salvation.

"If this line of reasoning holds true, then the Divine Prophet's aim is to destroy it, thereby preventing anyone from saving the world."

"But if it is a weapon, who was its creator?"

This was clearly not a naturally occurring phenomenon; it bore the unmistakable mark of deliberate design.

Discovering its origin, however, was not an insurmountable challenge. It could have been the work of the world's ownWill, or perhaps deities who genuinely sought to preserve it.

Daniel quietly closed his eyes.

"Let us see how captivating this world can truly be." All the conquered tower floors held significant secrets, with the exception, perhaps, of the very first.

On the second floor, he witnessed the Church of Eternity firsthand, encountered a genuine deity who acknowledged him, and ultimately assumed leadership of the entire faith.

The third floor revealed the power inherent in faith, illuminated the true nature of his potent skill, Fallen Will, and provided him with the invaluable experience of battling a god.

He was eager to discover what awaited him on this current floor.

His focus then turned inward, and he initiated the circulation of his energies.

With his free time now readily available, the optimal course of action was to focus on completing his technique.

Integrating the elements proved to be a complex task. Numerous attempts had been made, and each had ended in failure.

However, significant progress was now evident, with the flows connecting in a far smoother manner than before.

The internal resistances diminished, and a discernible structure began to emerge.

Daniel grasped the underlying reason with perfect clarity. His bloodline, in essence, served as an intrinsic fountain of power, while his race dictated the inherent structure and capacity of that power.

Yet, if these two components were to be harmoniously combined, his strength would not merely increase.

"I can transcend my existing limitations," he mused.

This was no longer a simple enhancement; it represented a fundamental alteration of his very foundation.

Through their synthesis, he could fundamentally redesign the energetic framework of his being, thereby liberating it from the natural constraints imposed by his race's inherent laws.

He would gain the extraordinary capacity to absorb and transmute even incompatible energies into divine power. This profound concept had arisen in his mind subsequent to observing the peculiar abilities of the cursed tree.

If he were capable of forging a novel identity by merging his bloodline with his racial essence, thereby rewriting his inherent racial limitations, perhaps this ambitious goal could truly be achieved.

Admittedly, the path was fraught with difficulty, and the probability of failure exceeded ninety percent. This was compounded by his uncertainty regarding whether his bloodline possessed the inherent capability to facilitate the rewriting of his racial limitations.

For the present moment, however, he had not even attained the ability to achieve a complete fusion. The cursed tree had provided substantial assistance, yet it proved insufficient.

Some unseen force continued to destabilize the emerging structure at the critical final juncture.

He had yet to overcome this persistent flaw, preventing the creation of a technique that could successfully meld the two disparate elements.

"What do you say, will you aid me once more?" he inquired of the tree, a tentative smile gracing his lips.

Regrettably, no response was forthcoming. Just as he was contemplating abandoning the endeavor and returning to his primary objective, two external presences suddenly registered upon his senses.

His eyes snapped open.

This time, their approach was not stealthy; their pressure was direct and undeniable.

The very ground beneath them responded, the soil compacting subtly, and the surrounding atmosphere grew palpably heavier.

In the distance, two figures were gradually drawing nearer, yet their approach was marked by an unusual disjunction. They were not traveling in unison.

Their movement cadences differed considerably, and their auras clashed, suggesting an encounter along the path rather than a joint departure. Nevertheless, they shared a singular commonality: the formidable level of their power, which was far from ordinary.

Daniel, instantaneous upon detecting their presence, assessed their capabilities internally.

If measured against the benchmarks of his own world—

"Half Step S Rank."

They had not yet ascended to the S-Rank, but they were perilously close. In fact, both individuals possessed a greater measure of power than either Jason or Lana.

Daniel regarded them with his characteristic impassivity.

From a distance where their features remained indistinct, one of the approaching figures spoke, their tone imbued with genuine curiosity,

"So… you are the one responsible for this widespread commotion."

A faint smile touched Daniel's lips.

Without averting his gaze from the approaching duo, he spoke with understated quietude, directing his words towards the tree positioned behind him,

"…Your next meal has finally arrived."