God-Tier Awakening: The Dead Can Still Level Up

Chapter 37: Authority of Divine

The moment Wuxia’s Soul Power crossed the threshold, a cold voice rang inside his mind.

[Congratulations, Host.]

[Authority advancement threshold reached.]

[Soul Monarch Authority is upgrading.]

[You are beginning to comprehend Death.]

Before Wuxia could react, pain exploded throughout his soul body, but mixed within it was a strange pleasure that made his entire existence tremble.

For a brief moment, every restraint around him disappeared, including the Soul Soldier contracts and even his connection with Xingluo.

He could no longer feel the thirty-meter limit, the soul mark, or the invisible force that had kept him bound to her since his return.

The destroyed lake beneath the Avatar suddenly began bubbling, and the array lines across the lakebed changed direction before pointing toward Wuxia.

[Massive energy source detected.]

[Automatic extraction beginning.]

The entire lake began rotating, forming a vast spiral as water and mana rushed toward Wuxia’s flickering soul body.

The energy surrounding the crimson armor also trembled, and the pieces still moving toward the Avatar slowed before several were pulled away from him.

The armored figure stopped in the air and turned toward Wuxia, but this time, his red eyes did not pass through him, he could see him.

The boss stared at Wuxia’s changing soul body, and the spear inside his hand began shaking as his earlier anger disappeared.

"N̷̛a̸̕r̶͝—k̴̛h̷̕a̸͠—"

The distorted name broke apart before it could be understood, but the fear inside the Avatar’s voice was unmistakable.

"No... no."

The lake continued draining as streams of blue-black energy entered Wuxia, while the pain inside his head became strong enough to scatter parts of his soul body.

[Your existence is synchronizing with Death.]

[Soul storage expanding.]

[Authority strengthening.]

[Soul Power assimilation increasing.]

The figure looked at the unfinished armor surrounding him and then back at Wuxia, before black lightning erupted beneath his feet.

He abandoned the remaining armor pieces and rushed across the lake with only half of the crimson set connected to his body.

The Panther moved to intercept him, but the pressure released from the charge forced its unstable form backward before it could attack.

Wuxia remained above the draining lake, his head lowered while the conflicting pain and pleasure continued tearing through him.

The last streams of energy rose from the lakebed and entered his body, leaving most of the vast lake dry within only a few breaths.

[Energy integration completed.]

[Soul Monarch Authority successfully advanced.]

[Current Authority Level: 1.]

The Avatar reached him at the same moment.

His armored fist tore through the remaining distance, black lightning gathering around it as the half-formed crimson armor increased the force behind the strike.

Before the fist could touch Wuxia, another voice came from inside his soul body.

It was not the system, it sounded like Wuxia’s voice but colder and deeper than anything that had ever come from him. "Those who defy Death shall be denied its mercy."

The approaching fist slowed for an instant, while the boss’s red eyes widened beneath his helmet. "Those who oppose the will of the Divine shall kneel in remorse."

Wuxia raised one hand, his movement looked slow, yet his fingers passed through the lightning and closed around the Avatar’s helmet before the armored fist could reach him.

The crimson plates shattered first, followed by the outer layer of black armor as Wuxia tightened his grip and crushed the figure’s head.

The boss’s body shook violently, but Wuxia’s other hand had already entered the broken helmet without touching the remaining armor.

Inside the Avatar’s mind, only one thought remained.

No, no, no, no... It cannot be you.

Wuxia slowly pulled his hand back and dark threads tightened around something hidden inside the armor, and a black-red soul began emerging from the broken helmet.

The Avatar screamed and grabbed Wuxia’s arm, but his armored fingers passed through the unstable soul body without stopping the extraction.

It cannot be you. You cannot be here!

More of the soul was dragged out, and with every part removed, the armor covering the figure cracked and turned into powder.

The crimson pieces fell away first, then the black armor beneath them collapsed as the body inside disappeared completely.

Wuxia pulled once more, and the Avatar’s entire soul was torn free and the screaming stopped.

The remaining armor scattered into black dust, while the extracted soul twisted between Wuxia’s fingers before being forced into a new form.

A tall armored soldier emerged from the gathered darkness, carrying the same heavy frame and broken helmet as the Avatar, but the red light in its eyes had become calm.

The black spear reformed inside its hand as it lowered one knee in front of Wuxia.

Varkhiel, the Fallen Avatar, bows to Master.

A faint smile appeared on Wuxia’s face, but it carried none of his usual calmness.

The Panther had watched everything from beside Xingluo, and the moment Wuxia turned toward them, it slowly moved backward.

A warning growl escaped its throat as it placed its body between Wuxia and the unconscious Xingluo, Wuxia’s eyes burned with a dark flare.

Cold anger rose inside him at the sight of his own soldier blocking his path and the pressure around his body made the Panther lower itself further.

Before either side moved, Xingluo stirred inside the crater and slowly raised her head. "What... happened?"

Her weak voice reached Wuxia, and the dark flare inside his eyes disappeared at once.

His soul body flickered before returning to its usual translucent form, while the overwhelming pressure covering the lake vanished with it.

The Panther remained tense for another breath, then lowered its head when it sensed Wuxia’s normal presence return.

Several notifications rang inside his mind one after another.

[Soul Monarch Authority Level 1 achieved.]

[Previous Soul Power threshold consumed.]

[Soul Soldier capacity increased.]

[Congratulations. Your first High-Tier Soul Soldier has been formed.]

[First High-Tier Soul Soldier Reward: 1,000 Soul Power.]

[Hidden Quest completed: Defeat the Avatar of Rahk.]

[Quest Reward: 1,000 Soul Power.]

[Avatar of Rahk successfully extracted.]

[Extracted Entity: Varkhiel, the Fallen Avatar.]

[Soul Power Points Extracted: 10,000.]

[Warning: Extracted entity exceeded current Authority restrictions.]

[Forced conversion successful.]

[Varkhiel has advanced into a Mid-Tier Soul Sentinel.]

[Over-Authority Extraction Reward: 10,000 Soul Power.]

[Authority Relic received: Staff of Death.]

Wuxia stared at the panels as they continued appearing, unable to process everything that had happened during those few breaths.

At the same time, golden light erupted around Xingluo inside the crater, and her exhausted body began shining repeatedly as level-up notifications rang inside her mind.

The experience from both Flood Dragons, the Avatar, and the completed dungeon battle rushed into her at once.

[Congratulations. You have reached Level 79.]

[Congratulations. You have reached Level 80.]

The notifications continued without stopping until the golden light surrounding her became bright enough to cover the broken shore.

When it finally faded, Xingluo stared at her panel with widened eyes.

[Congratulations. You have reached Level 86.]

For several breaths, neither of them spoke, Xingluo had entered the dungeon at Level 68, yet she was now standing at Level 86 after barely more than a week.

Wuxia had also gained his first Authority Level, two King Bloodline dragons, a Mid-Tier Soul Sentinel, and an Authority Relic.

But instead of feeling only excitement, his gaze moved toward the Panther, which was still standing protectively near Xingluo.

He remembered the anger he had felt when it blocked him, for those few moments he had not felt like himself and an unexplained hostility had even appeared toward Xingluo before her voice brought him back.

Wuxia remained silent for a moment before pushing the thought aside.

It was probably only the effect of the Authority advancement.

He opened the updated panel, and the new Soul Power requirement appeared before him.

[Soul Monarch Authority: Level 1.]

[Soul Power: 22,000/100,000.]

[Next Advancement: Authority Level 2.]

Wuxia stared at the new requirement, then looked at Varkhiel still kneeling before him and the two Flood Dragon soldiers coiling above the empty lake.

A small smile slowly returned to his face, they had survived.