Giant God Tribe Education (2)
Deep darkness had settled over the night. To prepare for tomorrow, I was about to down an advanced mana potion. The gods were brimming with anticipation, and so was I. What on earth would happen if I took this thing? I was already at the Grand Master realm. And not through any enlightenment, but thanks to the treasures I'd hauled out of the Tower of the Gods. If I'd chased after some epiphany instead? Who knows. I probably never would've reached Grand Master in my lifetime.
But now, I was about to take it one step further. Grand Master? Nah. I was aiming higher—maybe even the Legendary Master realm the gods kept yapping about. What would that feel like? Guess I'd have to experiment to find out.
"Looks just like poison."
It wasn't blue anymore; now it shimmered black, mixed with swirling colors. Pop the cork, and an overwhelming power bursts out. Skipping the intermediate potion means instant death. In other words, no risk of croaking right now.
Gulp, gulp!
Bitter as hell. Felt like poison sliding down my throat, but soon an enormous force spread deep into my body.
"Ngh!"
Whoosh!
A surging power erupted. My body floated up, sucking in mana from all directions.
Boom!
I shot into the air, forming an upper dantian. Well, calling it that was polite—it was more like a third mana core. Located in the brain, it devoured mana on a scale that dwarfed the ones in my heart and lower dantian.
"My lord!"
The knights came running. Rommel and the others must've sensed my breakthrough; they immediately went on alert.
"No one enters this area!"
"Yes, sir!"
This time, no agonizing hwan-gol-tal-tae transformation like before. Wouldn't wanna relive that nightmare. Soon enough, the mana core formed perfectly in my brain, and the circuits linking to it cleared right up. Yeah, "cleared" fits better here. Finally, I'd absorbed every last drop of mana.
"My lord! Are you alright?"
"Of course I am."
"Congratulations on your ascension!"
"Congratulations!"
"No big deal."
"No big deal? You've surpassed Grand Master—no rival on the continent can touch you now!"
The obligatory bootlicking, of course. And it wasn't wrong. Only hitch was Odin's champion warrior. The last one went down in one hit, but maybe Odin reinforced this next one?
Creeeak.
I opened the terrace door. Time to test this power.
Boom!
One leap, and I could fly for thirty minutes straight. The potion didn't just boost my mana—it expanded my vision, my brain cells, letting me pierce the essence of mana itself. Meaning I could wield it way more efficiently than before. Flying over thirty minutes when I could barely manage ten before? Proof positive. Hone it further, and I might fly indefinitely. Swoosh!
And at insane speeds, too. Get more proficient, and maybe I could cast spells with intent alone—like dragons with their dragon tongue. Before I knew it, I'd crossed into the Forbidden Zone. Never been this far. Always wondered what lay beyond.
A massive mountain range blocked the Forbidden Zone's end. Civilization flickered on the other side, but that range—and the monster lands—kept the eastern and western continents apart.
Perfect test target.
Rumble rumble rumble!
Gathering mana, the heavens and earth flipped like creation itself was remade. Only possible by tapping not just my internal mana, but every scrap of external mana available.
And then, in an instant—
Swoosh! Boom!
The air quaked. A deafening tear, and one massive peak of the range vaporized. Dust rained down; even I was slack-jawed at the crumbling mountain.
Rumble!
I slammed the ground. An earthquake split the earth wide, and something shifted deep in the continent's plates—scarlet lava spewed forth.
The gods' thrilled voices rang out.
Demigod realm, huh. Yeah, humans would've called this a god's descent and groveled in awe. I could already picture the masses freaking out.
This was plenty. I could handle the Giant God Tribe without breaking a sweat and minimize our casualties. If they still wouldn't submit after this? Oh well. Wipe 'em out.
Next morning. Ahead of the clash of the century, the territory buzzed with debate. Could the lord really take down 50,000 Giant God Tribe warriors?
Folks figured no way. Especially the new admins who hadn't seen my true power—they griped that letting the tribe hole up here would cause massive damage.
"Vice Minister! What if the lord loses?"
"Disaster."
"Specifically?"
"They're 1.5 million strong. Our territory's got 300,000. Give 'em autonomy and an army? They could build power here and topple the empire!"
"What?! Isn't this a huge blunder by the lord?!"
Murmurs!
The vast plain—a natural basin—filled with gathering crowds. Hillsides packed with spectators. Many blasted the lord's "blunder" and mismanagement, but none dared say it outright. His rule had improved for commoners lately, but high officials still got zero mercy. No point sticking your neck out and dying for it.
"Giant God Tribe warriors!"
"Whoa!"
One-handed massive axes, round shields gripped tight. No formations, but their overwhelming physiques silenced everyone.
Then the lord appeared—alone. Yawning, zero tension. What the hell was he banking on?
The lord bellowed:
"Giant God Tribe, you ungrateful bastards! Come to the empire, follow empire law—yet you dare demand autonomy from me? Today, I'll prove how stupid that is and how weak you are!"
From the opposite side, Giant God Tribe chieftain Kalton's voice boomed:
"Lord! Your arrogance pierces the heavens! We're not weak—we'll crush you today and claim our freedom!"
"Come at me, you weak-ass punks!"
"Charge! For freedom!"
"Raaah!"
The enraged horde surged like a tidal wave, poised to sweep the territory. As eyes turned—
Rumble rumble rumble!
The world remade itself. Mana visibly funneled into the lord. Even non-mana users felt the intangible energy pouring in.
And in that moment—
A colossal thunderbolt crashed from sky to earth. Lightning ringed the Giant God Tribe, carving craters in a massive circle around them.
"......"
The lord unleashed inhuman power. Lattis and everyone gaped in shock.
Boom! Rumble rumble!
I used God's Fist, but now I could control the thunder. Mana encompassed the five elements; drawing thunder's essence wasn't hard.
As it descended, the gods went wild.
God of Destruction and Regeneration Mahadev has sponsored you with 125,000 Karma.
Goddess of Love Venus has sponsored you with 128,000 Karma.
Goddess of Wisdom Bibian has sponsored you with 130,000 Karma.
Goddess of Music and Arts Savitri has sponsored you with 180,000 Karma.
God of Blacksmithing Vulcanus has sponsored you with 250,000 Karma.
Mahadev has gifted you a Shop Use Voucher (1 time).
Whoa, overkill gift. First time hitting seven figures in karma gifts, plus a shop voucher. I'd been thinking I could use one—perfect timing from the gods. They really wanted me to unify the continent and boot Odin's crew for good.
Anyway, time to finish what I started.
"Hah!"
I turned the area around the Giant God Tribe into hell. Filled the massive craters with water, turning them into deadly swamps amid the lightning.
I expanded the craters steadily.
"Huff! The craters are shrinking! Tighten the ring!"
"We'll all die!"
Rumble rumble!
Hell on earth. Terrifying thunder flashed overhead, encircling 50,000 Giant God Tribe warriors.
If I got ruthless, I could electrocute the lot right here. A little water from above would seal it. Light shock instead?
Whoosh!
Had Minerva sprinkle some rain. Then channeled thunder over it.
Crackle crackle!
"Gaaahhh!"
"Aaaahhh!"
What pandemonium. Thrashing, screaming—hard to tell if these were mighty Giant God Tribe warriors or routed rabble.
I amplified my voice:
"Listen up, you shits! Admit defeat now, and you live. Refuse? I'll exterminate every last one of you and the Giant God Tribe from my territory!"