Chapter 55: Chapter55-Completion of the Seventh Stage Task
Of course, having no independent thought or will was not necessarily a bad thing.
Beings like this would fully commit to executing his orders without deviation, ensuring absolute obedience and eliminating any possibility of insubordination.
This aligned perfectly with Owen's vision for these ghosts.
After all, these ghosts were his external battle force, meant to wage war beyond his domain.
When not assigned to the battlefield, they would patrol the underworld.
For such roles, independent thought was unnecessary—they only needed to follow commands.
Appointing the Ghost Captain
"Let me grant you the divine position of Ghost Captain—make sure you manage these ghosts well."
Owen activated his divine power, channeling a stream of divine points into the strongest of the newly formed ghosts.
Immediately, the Ghost Captain's form expanded, becoming twice the size of a normal ghost.
Threads of ethereal soul energy extended outward, forming an invisible connection between him and the other ghosts.
His aura rapidly surged to tier-2 beginner, making him far superior to the tier-1 ghosts around him.
Then, Owen pointed a finger, summoning a Hellish Artifact he had long prepared.
A streak of dark light flashed across the void and landed in the Ghost Captain's grasp.
As the light faded, a skull-shaped black box materialized in his hands, emanating a distorted, eerie spiritual resonance.
This was the Hellish Artifact, Necromancer's Box.
As the Ghost Captain firmly gripped the Necromancer's Box, a thick wave of deathly energy erupted, instantly elevating his power to tier-2 advanced!
Even the other ghosts near him, though not directly empowered by the artifact, experienced a boost—their strength rose two entire sub-ranks, reaching tier-1 advanced.
Seeing this, Owen nodded in satisfaction.
Then, he expended 100 divine points, expanding the underworld, stretching its borders outward.
Ultimately, the underworld now covered the entire Howling Cavern, giving his spectral army a massive domain.
Expanding the Underworld
With the expansion completed, the Ghost Captain led his spectral troops toward Howling Cavern, their eerie procession leaving a frosted trail of deathly energy in its wake.
Meanwhile, outside the temple, Thomas suddenly opened his eyes, feeling an extreme chill radiating from within the divine grounds.
When he turned to look, his pupils contracted sharply.
He saw 22 spectral figures marching forth, emanating a mechanical, soulless coldness, bound for Howling Cavern, freezing the land as they moved.
Nearby, Tommy, who had been waiting patiently outside the temple, also snapped his head up, his eyes locking onto the ghost squad emerging from the temple's depths.
These beings were neither fully physical nor entirely ethereal—their very existence seemed to blur reality.
And the cold aura surrounding them was so intense that even Tommy, a tier-4 awakener, felt his heart race involuntarily.
The sheer pressure radiating from them made it hard to breathe.
"This... what is this?"
A ghost legion marching in perfect formation—what kind of divine power was this?!
Ghosts were supposed to be fleeting, unstable souls that naturally faded over time.
But these ghosts were entirely different.
They were highly organized, deeply condensed, and infused with an overwhelming divine presence.
He was shocked.
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These ghosts had marched out of the temple—directly under Deus Initium's command!
What kind of entity was Deus Initium, to command such deathly legions?
"This... this Deus Initium is truly beyond comprehension."
Tommy took a deep breath, his reverence deepening.
Until today, part of him still harbored doubt—was this just some powerful entity masquerading as a god?
But now, he had no doubt left.
This wasn't any ordinary being.
This was a true divine entity—one worthy of worship.
Strengthening the Infernal Envoys
Meanwhile, within the divine sanctuary, Owen assessed his latest expenditures:
Expanding the Underworld cost 242 divine points.
It was a heavy investment, but necessary.
Shifting his attention, he looked toward Mia and Ethan, his Infernal Envoys.
Among them, only Mia had reached tier-3 peak, while Ethan had stalled at tier-2.
The other Infernal Envoys were still unofficial recruits, awaiting confirmation of their true status.
"If I've already empowered the ghosts, I should strengthen you as well."
Owen's voice rumbled across the underworld, carrying the undeniable authority of a deity.
"Mia, Ethan—you have both performed well. I have seen your efforts."
"From this moment forth, Mia shall ascend to the rank of Infernal Envoy, reaching tier-3."
"Ethan shall advance to tier-2 mid."
"Continue serving well."
As he spoke, beams of divine energy streamed from Owen's hands, merging into Mia and Ethan.
Instantly, their aura surged—Mia ascended to tier-3, while Ethan rose to tier-2 mid.
They immediately knelt before his divine form.
"Thank you, Deus Initium, for your divine grace!"
Their voices trembled with fervent devotion, feeling overwhelmed with gratitude.
Standing nearby, Tommy stiffened.
He had just watched two individuals break through decades of progress in mere moments.
He himself had struggled for years to ascend to tier-4, enduring endless hardship...
And yet, before his eyes, these two people had transcended decades of effort—just because Deus Initium willed it so.
A deep, unsettling realization filled him.
If he had been wasting his time training, while others simply prayed for divine favor—what was the point of struggling?
Bestowing the Infernal Envoys with Power
Owen shifted his focus to the 12 Infernal Envoys-in-training.
If they were to fulfill their roles, they needed more power.
Luckily, Owen had already prepared for this.
Summoning 12 distinct Hellish Artifacts, he imbued each one into an Infernal Envoy.
Immediately, the 12 trainees surged from tier-1 beginner to tier-2 beginner.
As divine energy coursed through them, their forms solidified, their souls now etched with infernal power.
One after another, they knelt in worship.
"Deus Initium! Deus Initium!"
Grateful beyond words, they offered fervent prayers, overwhelmed with exhilaration.
For them, receiving divine favor was the ultimate honor.
Meanwhile, those still awaiting promotion burned with determination—if they proved themselves, they too would be chosen.
Mission Completed: The Seventh Stage
Ten days later...
As Owen casually placed another Hellish Artifact for sale, a notification suddenly appeared before him.
[Congratulations, you have completed the Seventh Stage task.]
His eyes glowed.
"5000 devotees... not easy, but finally achieved."
A deep wave of emotion surged within him.
He still remembered when he first arrived in this world, struggling to survive.
Yet now—he had ascended beyond mortal concerns.
He was no longer a mere survivor.
He was a god—worshipped by thousands.