CHAPTER 389: CHAPTER389-AN EXCITED MALKAR

We... the human race?!

Daniel froze for a moment.

Then an odd expression flickered across his face.

He truly had not expected Malkar’s shift in identity to happen so quickly.

The former Emperor of the abyss, once so proud of his position, was now embracing humanity as if it were his own people.

Daniel coughed lightly and replied,

"If that’s how you understand it, then... that’s wonderful."

Malkar gave a sheepish smile.

He was embarrassed, but also brimming with awe.

After all, humanity was far stronger than he had ever imagined.

Originally, he had thought that if humanity possessed a few hundred million Demigod Rank individuals, that would already be the absolute peak.

The very limit of his imagination.

But now... now he realized how laughably narrow his view had been.

The truth overwhelmed him.

Humanity’s Demigod Rank population had likely already surpassed tens of billions.

Perhaps even more.

And what unsettled him most of all was the fact that even newborn infants of the human race, children who had not yet undergone the Awakening Ceremony, already possessed attributes higher than his own.

Daniel’s earlier words, the promises, the descriptions of humanity’s strength—Malkar now understood them differently.

They had not been exaggerations.

If anything, they had been conservative.

It was only after truly joining humanity that Malkar saw the truth.

Daniel, for his part, did not bother correcting him.

Whether Malkar misunderstood or not was irrelevant.

So long as he caused no trouble for humanity, Daniel had no reason to explain further.

"All right," Daniel said calmly, "I’ll grant you special authorization within the human race.

Make sure you accept it."

A prompt appeared before Malkar’s eyes.

[Human Emperor Daniel grants you racial transfer authority. Do you accept?]

[After transfer, you may lead your own kind to become a vassal race of humanity.]

Malkar didn’t hesitate for even a second.

He chose to accept immediately.

At the same time, he knelt down before Daniel, his vines bowing low.

"Thank you, Your Majesty Daniel, great Emperor!"

In the next instant, Malkar’s entire being changed.

His state shifted dramatically.

For the first time, he was officially accepted as a vassal of humanity.

A glowing line of text appeared before him.

[Congratulations. You have gained the recognition of Human Emperor Daniel. You may now enjoy all the current bonuses granted to the human race.]

[You have received Humanity’s Blessings: 1, 2...]

Light surged into Malkar’s eyes.

He realized then that becoming a vassal meant far more than mere protection.

It meant sharing in humanity’s blessings.

It meant power, tangible and overwhelming.

In the next moment, he felt it.

His attributes, every value that defined his strength, began skyrocketing at a frightening pace.

So this... this was what true power felt like?

For a time, his mind reeled, intoxicated by the sudden surge.

But eventually, Malkar calmed himself.

He looked at Daniel with newfound reverence shining in his gaze.

"Your Majesty Daniel, about the abyss..."

"You don’t need to worry about that," Daniel interrupted softly.

"I’ll take care of it."

Relief washed over Malkar.

The burden he had carried for so long vanished in an instant.

Daniel glanced at him once more, his tone casual yet decisive.

"By the way, I’ve also removed the curse buried deep in your soul.

Without it, you will no longer be controlled by desire.

From now on, you have genuine freedom.

You can explore this world however you wish."

"Thank you!" Malkar’s voice trembled with gratitude.

Only now did he realize something shocking.

For ages, he had carried a curse without even knowing it.

A weight shackled to his soul, tugging his will and twisting his desires.

Now it was gone.

For the first time in his life, he felt light.

Truly light.

It was as though he had walked burdened for centuries, and only now were the chains broken.

Satisfaction filled his heart.

For once, his choices felt right.

If he had any regrets left, it was only that he had never seen the true sun—Apollo—with his own eyes.

The Dark Star Jarvan shone, yes, but its glow could not compare.

It was only a pale shadow of the real thing.

Yet even that thought quickly faded.

Something else suddenly occurred to him.

If what he had heard was true, then every human awakener received a Gold-rank pet for free.

Which meant... shouldn’t he, too, be eligible?

The only question was... where was Winterhold Castle?

Excitement surged in his chest.

Malkar could hardly wait.

...

After dealing with Malkar, Daniel vanished without a word.

There were far more important matters awaiting him.

In the very next moment, Daniel’s figure reappeared in the abyss.

This time, he arrived in Sarko’s territory—specifically, in what had once been Sarko’s palace.

No, not "Sarko’s" anymore.

That palace now belonged to Daniel.

"Sarko. Long time no see."

The voice struck Sarko like thunder.

He shot up from the velvet sofa, startled.

At once, his expression flipped, transforming into a mask of flattery.

Because only moments earlier, he had seen the announcement.

Daniel had officially become the Emperor of the abyss.

That meant the man before him was no longer just a powerful stranger.

He was now Sarko’s direct superior.

Sarko didn’t know how Daniel had achieved it, nor did he care.

For him, what mattered was simple: Daniel was strong enough to make anything possible.

Every act, every miracle, seemed normal when it came from him.

And deep down, Sarko harbored another thought.

Across the abyss, he was the first to have met Daniel.

The first to serve at his side.

Surely, that meant something.

Surely, it earned him favor.

Even if that meeting had been only yesterday.

"Ah—long time indeed, Daniel bro—" Sarko stammered, then corrected himself quickly, "No, no, Your Majesty Daniel!

What brings you here today?"

Daniel nodded faintly.

Then, without preamble, he asked:

"Tell me, Sarko. Where did your luck come from?"

The question stunned Sarko.

He blinked, caught completely off guard.

His mind reeled, and a memory rose to the surface.

A memory Daniel, through his insight, could see as clearly as if it were his own.

[Sherlock.]

Yes.

It was Sherlock who had transferred some of his luck to Sarko.

The reason why remained uncertain.

But it was clear that Sherlock had done so deliberately.

Of course, as a devotee of the Goddess of Luck, recovering his fortune was not a difficult matter for Sherlock.

He hadn’t sacrificed much.

Daniel’s eyes narrowed.

He activated Mental Deduction, threads of possibility unraveling before him.

He realized something unnerving.

Had he not encountered Sarko upon entering the abyss, things might have unfolded entirely differently.

The path, the events, perhaps even his survival, would have shifted in unpredictable ways.

Back then, he had been weak, unable to see the layers of fate entwining his steps.

But now, looking back, he wondered:

Had everything been predetermined?

Was it fate at work again?

"No," Daniel muttered inwardly.

"I will not remain a prisoner to destiny.

I will find a way to step outside this cycle."

His strength had grown.

He had the power to alter outcomes.

He could shape the future with his own hands.

A decision crystallized in his heart.

Daniel reached into his pocket and drew out a coin.

A small, ordinary coin, yet it gleamed ominously in his hand.

He smiled, eyes narrowing with playfulness.

"Sarko," he said softly, "how about a wager?

This little thing... I think you’ll enjoy it."