Chapter 278 - Experiencing Death

Han Wu stood on a small boat that rocked steadily in the vast ocean. Suddenly, a powerful wave slammed into it, overturning and sinking the vessel. He plunged into the water and instinctively tried to summon his Divine Points to save himself. No matter how hard he concentrated, he could not access his Divine Points, nor could he activate his Nine Martial Castes to save himself.

He knew how to swim and was quite skilled, but his efforts proved futile. He struggled for over three hours before his stamina gave out, and he sank beneath the ocean’s surface. He felt seawater fill his lungs with agonizing clarity before he asphyxiated. He died.

In the next moment, Han Wu jolted awake, and a screen materialized before him.

[Would you like to experience death again?]

His body and mind recoiled. He had just faced the finality of drowning, so vivid it had convinced him he was truly dead. Tentatively, he extended his senses into the Death Aspect within his body. He realized his understanding of death had deepened significantly through the harrowing ordeal.

Han Wu grasped the essence of the training ground. No amount of secluded cultivation could bring true comprehension of death. The most direct, brutal path was to confront and accept it. Only then would the Divine Aspect acknowledge him as its rightful owner.

Determined to earn that recognition, Han Wu clenched his teeth and chose to face death once more. This time, he was a pirate. A bullet tore through his chest and pierced his heart. The sharp pain and the rapid fading of his consciousness deepened his understanding once again.

He decided to endure it again, and this time he was hanged on the gallows. The floor dropped out from under him, and the noose snapped tight around his neck. He couldn’t draw a single breath. Ultimately, he succumbed to asphyxiation.

Han Wu woke and immediately dove back into the simulation. He repeated the process many times, experiencing countless kinds of death—drowning, burning, electrocution, piercing wounds, blood loss, poisoning, falling from great heights, disease, and more. Each method of dying increased his comprehension of death.

More importantly, with every experience, he grew calmer in the face of death. Fear no longer gripped him; instead, he sought out new ways to die. He lost track of how long he repeated the cycle until he reached a point of full acceptance. Death was not an end but a status affliction that was maddeningly difficult to overcome.

After experiencing death countless times, he unlocked the peculiar Divine Skill of the Death Aspect. It required few Divine Points and demanded little intense focus. Its sole criterion was simple: the user and the target shared sensations throughout the Death Divine Skill’s duration. If Han Wu used it to hang his targets to death, he would feel the suffocating grip of the noose tightening around his own neck. Its effect ended only when one of them fully accepted the status ailment of Death.

This captured the essence of the Death Divine Skill. It functioned as a single Divine Skill and many at once, since death came in countless forms. When used correctly, the user would become the embodiment of death. However, a single misstep would mean the user’s own demise. It was a terrifying double-edged sword.

Han Wu admitted that the Death Divine Skill felt like self-mutilation, but its power was undeniable. He fully merged with the Death Aspect and prepared himself to merge the fifth one, the Darkness Aspect.

The Darkness Aspect was also Rank 5. It did not match the Death Aspect’s strength, but it remained powerful. Because the God King of Death and the God King of Darkness were allies, Han Wu gained access to a training ground that accelerated his understanding of darkness itself. The requirement was simple: immerse fully into the darkness.

Two months passed before the door to his chamber finally creaked open. A shadowy figure emerged. Wherever he walked, others instinctively parted to make way.

At his post, the Elder had been passing time in quiet boredom when he suddenly sensed a chilling, deathly silence. His body tensed as he turned to see the shadowy figure.

“Holy... Son...” The Elder’s voice shook. He had sensed the unmistakable aura of the God of Death radiating from Han Wu.

The God of Death was a direct subordinate of the God King of Death. Han Wu was still just a Demigod, and the gulf between them should have been immense. So how could he possibly carry such an aura?

Han Wu approached the receptionist and held out the card. “Should I return this to you?”

The receptionist’s body trembled when she saw Han Wu, and her words barely escaped through her chattering teeth. A veil of darkness obscured Han Wu’s face, and she couldn’t see his expression.

Han Wu locked his gaze on her, and she felt as if her soul would be consumed. Even as a God, resisting the pressure in his gaze proved nearly impossible.

“No... No need, Holy Son... This is... your authority,” she stammered, forcing the words out with great effort.

Han Wu frowned in confusion.

Did she see a ghost? Do I look like one? But how could that be? I was only in the training ground for a short time.

The Elder stepped forward and bowed respectfully. “Holy Son, I suspect you’re still confused. Allow me to explain.”

“Speak.”

The Elder looked at Han Wu and felt goosebumps ripple across his skin. He quickly lowered his head. “Holy Son, it appears you have fully absorbed both the Death Aspect and the Darkness Aspect. You also seem capable of merging them seamlessly.

“I believe you may still be uncertain about how to wield them, so I’d like to suggest a brief round of battle training. The God King of Darkness is currently waging war against the God King of Light.

“With your status, you can join the battlefront. Not only will you earn merits, but you will also gain valuable combat experience with your new powers. It’s a chance to accomplish both at once.”

Han Wu frowned. “How long have I been locked up?”

“According to the Divine Civilization’s calendar, two months and three days.”

Han Wu sighed in relief. The invitation to the Hell Civilization remained valid for another month. He still had twenty-seven days to grow accustomed to his powers. “Fine. Take me to the battlefront.”

The Elder nodded and led the way. Many disciples watched from a distance, secretly marveling at how terrifying Han Wu’s uncontrolled presence was. He resembled a miniature God of Death.

Han Wu was soon brought to the battlefield.

The one overseeing this section of the front lines was a seasoned Vampire God. He immediately sensed the familiar power of darkness and death emanating from Han Wu. Anyone who could wield both powers wasn’t someone to be trifled with. Even the vampire understood that much. There was a chance Han Wu was the prodigy nurtured by both the Darkness and Death factions.

Hmm... Is he a genius sent here to gain battlefield experience, earn some merit, and return to base as a future leader? I’d better make sure he stays alive.

Even though he was talking to a God, Han Wu made no effort to lower his voice. “Let me enter the battlefront.”

“No problem. Let me assign you to the battlefront so you can handle those pesky armies of the Light faction.” The Vampire God opened the gates and led Han Wu onto the battlefield. To prevent any mishaps, the Elder followed closely behind.