"So what you an is... you want to assist you?"
"That’s right."
In the blink of an eye, Charlotte understood exactly what Daniel was asking of her.
Even though her body was still trembling instinctively in the presence of a god, she was doing everything in her power to maintain a composed expression.
"If I beco your devotee, will there be any limitations placed on ?" she asked cautiously.
"I’m destined to beco a god myself. If becoming your devotee will strip of that qualification, then I must decline."
Charlotte did her utmost to state her stance clearly, but deep down, her fear only grew stronger.
She understood all too well that the one standing before her—Daniel—could decide her life or death with just a single thought.
To a god, soone like her was nothing more than an insect.
Just as Charlotte was convinced that this exalted being would scoff at her bold condition and reject her outright, a deep and commanding voice echoed in her ear.
"Of course you may."
Hearing that the god had no intention of obstructing her ambitions, Charlotte quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Then, as if a thought suddenly struck her, she took the initiative to ask another question.
"Oh great god, may I ask... how many devotees do you currently command?"
Daniel had no intention of hiding such things from her.
In fact, he had even been honest just monts ago when discussing the subject of godhood.
After all, he wasn’t a god himself yet—how could he possibly know what the requirents were to beco one?
"Besides you, there’s the elf Alice... and my inheritor, Daniel."
Daniel?
Charlotte’s eyes flashed with surprise.
That na again?
"Wait... if I choose to beco your devotee, will I still have the chance to surpass you in the future?" she asked quickly, her tone probing but serious.
The question gave Daniel pause for a brief mont. But he still responded with warmth and gentleness.
"I place no restrictions on the personal growth of my devotees. If you possess the strength, then anything is possible."
Charlotte, like a child with endless curiosity, imdiately launched into another round of questioning the mont she received an answer.
"Then, if I beco your devotee... what do I need to do?"
"Continue to grow stronger. The stronger, the better."
To Daniel, the role of a devotee had evolved.
They were no longer re followers or tools to be used for gathering resources—they were living, breathing, and constantly updating skill books.
There was no longer any point in asking his devotees to provide materials or tributes.
After all, the kinds of materials he needed now were so rare that not even his devotees could possibly procure them—not from the surface world, and certainly not from the abyss.
The further Daniel progressed and unlocked more pages of the God Rank Skill Compendium, the more he discovered that the top-tier skills required materials of terrifying rarity.
So of these items didn’t even exist in the known world.
Because of that, Daniel had stopped relying on his devotees for materials entirely.
What he truly needed now were devotees who could continue to grow stronger—preferably at an alarming rate.
The stronger they beca, the more powerful and diverse the skills Daniel could acquire.
Take Alice, for example. Daniel’s current primary offensive thod was actually a heavily enhanced version of her exclusive skill.
If Alice didn’t exist, Daniel’s output would be significantly diminished.
So in Daniel’s eyes, devotees were no longer just subordinate entities—they were critical sources of high-level skill acquisition.
"With your current strength," Daniel said calmly, "there’s no way you could accomplish the tasks I would assign you."
"Use every second to beco stronger. Only once you’ve grown powerful enough will you be eligible to take on my missions."
"Right now, you’re simply not qualified."
Charlotte’s fists clenched unconsciously.
She was the most powerful mber of the entire blood clan. She had always held an unshakable confidence in her strength.
And yet today... her strength had been dismissed so casually.
The feeling of being looked down upon made Charlotte extrely uncomfortable.
But even she had to admit it—when standing before a god, her current power was laughably insignificant.
"Then tell ," she asked sharply, "if I agree to beco your devotee... what can you offer in return?"
Despite the barrage of questions, Daniel showed no signs of impatience. Instead, he answered with calm composure.
"I can grant you access to God Rank Skills."
"Beyond that, I can also provide you with additional support—such as resurrection."
"If you happen to die out there, I can bring you back."
Charlotte’s eyes widened with surprise at the ntion of resurrection, and a brief glimr of excitent flashed across her face. But she quickly regained her composure and responded solemnly.
"Oh great god, I understand your terms. And now, I am willing to pledge my loyalty to you."
"I, Charlotte, am willing to beco your devotee—provided you grant the strength I desire."
"I also vow to carry out your commands to the best of my ability."
To Charlotte, temporarily submitting to soone stronger wasn’t the end of the world.
What she truly yearned for was power—an unstoppable, unrivaled strength.
So pledging allegiance to a god was, in her eyes, a worthwhile trade.
After all, through this devotion, she could obtain that strength much faster.
No one craved power more than Charlotte.
No one desired ascension more than she did.
And as for Daniel? Charlotte didn’t view him as a master to be revered. She saw him as a conduit—a source of the power she desperately sought.
Still, despite that, Charlotte was fully willing to execute the tasks Daniel gave her.
This was, at its core, a transaction.
Daniel would provide her with strength—and in exchange, she would complete his missions.
Charlotte had long since accepted the idea that power ca at a cost.
If not for that conviction, she wouldn’t have co to the Infinite Divine Temple in the first place, hoping to beco a god’s believer.
And the mont she accepted, a glowing prompt appeared before Daniel’s eyes:
[You have gained a new devotee. Total number of devotees: 2]
[You have acquired the following skills: Ascension Summon, Sacrificial Ritual Circle, Blood Transfer...]
Seeing the list of new skills, Daniel’s lips curled into a slight smirk.
Surpass ? Do you think it’s that simple?
Charlotte had no way of knowing that her exclusive skills had already been learned and mastered by Daniel.
Worse still, because of Daniel’s unique bonuses, he could wield Charlotte’s own skills with greater power and efficiency than she ever could.
"All points maxed out," Daniel muttered.
He felt no resentnt toward Charlotte’s proud and challenging attitude.
On the contrary, he was quite pleased.
He wanted Charlotte to maintain her fiery drive.
Because the stronger she beca, the more powerful Daniel would beco as well.
With such a diligent and determined devotee, perhaps it was ti to give her so proper guidance.
Daniel wasn’t concerned about her catching up to him.
What he did worry about was the possibility of getting a lazy, unmotivated devotee instead.
Even the most gifted follower would be useless if they lacked drive and strength.
All they would offer him were basic and low-tier skills.
So yes—he preferred soone like Charlotte.
Soone ambitious.
Soone who would stop at nothing to grow stronger.
Because the stronger Charlotte beca...
...the stronger he would beco too.
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