After safely reaching the Tier 13 True God realm, Eric Thaloria opened his eyes, feeling the unimaginable surge of power flowing through every fiber of his being.
He could sense the very fabric of reality bending to his will. The world seemed smaller, more manageable, as if he could reshape it with a mere thought.
The breakthrough had been flawless, and now he stood among the gods, far beyond the reach of ordinary mortals or even high-tier mages.
But before he could fully savor this newfound strength, the mana-rich forest around him began to blur, its vibrant trees and glowing leaves fading into nothingness.
The ground beneath him dissolved, and in an instant, the tranquil forest vanished.
The next moment, Eric found himself standing in the grand throne room of the royal castle of Thaloria, his ancestral kingdom.
He immediately recognized the familiar ornate columns and tapestries that adorned the walls.
The gleaming floors reflected the golden light streaming through the grand windows. But it wasn't the sudden change of scenery that caught Eric's attention—it was the seamless ease with which it happened. One moment, he was in a secluded forest, preparing for his breakthrough, and the next, he was back in the heart of his kingdom.
There had been no warning, no fluctuation of mana, nothing to indicate the shift. The transition was effortless, as if the rules of space and time meant nothing.
Eric's mind quickly processed what had just occurred, and a sense of awe settled in. This wasn't the doing of some random magic. It was a clear demonstration of power—one that he could not resist, even with his new-found strength as a True God.
It could only be the work of one being: the Prophet.
In that instant, Eric realized that the Prophet had orchestrated this entire scenario, pulling him from one location to another without even a flicker of resistance. The Prophet had the ability to bypass even his Tier 13 True God defenses, a feat that no ordinary entity could accomplish.
But instead of feeling alarmed, Eric's reverence for the Prophet deepened.
He stood quietly in the throne room, contemplating the implications.
The fact that the Prophet had this level of control, even over a being like him who had just reached a godly realm, spoke volumes about his true power.
The Prophet's influence extended far beyond the boundaries of what Eric understood, and while others might have felt fear or rebellion at such a display of dominance, Eric felt only respect.
He had always known the Prophet was powerful, but now, after experiencing this firsthand, his respect grew into something closer to reverence.
Eric bowed his head slightly, a gesture of acknowledgment. The Prophet hadn't needed to say a word—this was his way of reminding Eric that, no matter how strong he became, there were powers far beyond even Tier 13.
Yet this revelation didn't weaken Eric's resolve. If anything, it solidified his loyalty. He understood that following the Prophet was the key to unlocking even greater truths about the universe, realms of power he hadn't yet imagined.
With a newfound sense of purpose, Eric stood tall in the royal castle, knowing that his journey was far from over.
He had achieved the unimaginable, but the Prophet had shown him that there was still much more to learn, far more to conquer.
Standing in the grand throne room of the Thaloria Kingdom, Eric Thaloria let his emotions settle.
The quiet magnificence of the room felt strangely intimate after the extraordinary events he had just experienced. His heart still pounded with excitement—he had ascended to a realm that few could even dream of. Tier 13 True God.
The power that coursed through his veins now made him feel as if the very laws of the universe were malleable, at his command.
Yet, the real question lingered in his mind: What does this newfound power truly mean?
Eric clenched his fist and felt the surge of divine energy ripple outward, a reminder of his godly ascension.
He knew that the power he wielded could easily reshape continents, tear through dimensions, or even obliterate armies with a mere flick of his wrist.
The throne room felt stifling, unable to contain the magnitude of his strength. His eyes gleamed with the thought of testing his power, pushing it to the very limits of what it meant to be a True God.
But then, a realization hit him—there was no one in the Grand Magus World who could even come close to challenging him.
No mage, no creature, no ancient artifact in this world could measure up to the strength he now held.
His mind quickly sifted through potential opponents, and with each passing thought, he dismissed them.
The most powerful mages in the world, even those at Tier 12 High God, were no longer his equals.
His eyes shifted to the open sky through the castle windows, contemplating what lay beyond.
The constellations.
Now that he had ascended to Tier 13, Eric could feel something beyond the veil of the physical world.
The constellations, celestial beings of great power, were no longer distant concepts. He could sense their presence, like faint beacons of divine energy scattered across the universe.
And he could feel their strength. A new awareness unfolded in his mind, giving him insight into their power levels.
Out of the hundreds of constellations that filled the night sky, at least 60 of them were within his grasp.
He could defeat them—no, he could obliterate them if he desired. The thought thrilled him, a newfound confidence swelling within.
But as his mind reached further, a weight pressed down on him, growing heavier the more he searched.
The remaining 40 constellations, while distant, radiated an immense and terrifying pressure.
These were no ordinary beings—they were at least at the level of Tier 14 God Kings or even Tier 15 God Emperors. Just the thought of their overwhelming power caused Eric to pause.
If the pressure he felt from them was this intense from afar, facing one of them directly would be a battle unlike anything he had ever experienced.
Eric's excitement momentarily gave way to caution.
He had ascended to a realm of power that allowed him to challenge the stars, but there were forces in the universe that still dwarfed even a True God like him.
The God Kings and God Emperors were not opponents he could take lightly.
The universe was vaster than he had imagined, with layers of power stretching far beyond his current reach.
But this realization didn't diminish his desire to test his limits.
In fact, it fueled him. If 60 constellations were within his reach, then so too were the remaining 40, eventually.
His ambitions soared higher, driving him to push beyond Tier 13, to someday confront the God Kings and God Emperors that loomed above.
With a smirk, Eric turned his gaze upward. The stars had never seemed closer.