Chapter 254: Forgot about something?

[: 3rd POV :]

Daniel slowly stood from his seat and looked around the Grand Hall.

His calm gaze swept across every ruler before a faint smile appeared on his face.

"Now everyone."

"I am sure all of you have been curious about my appearance and why I have changed."

The rulers exchanged glances with one another.

Truthfully...

They had been curious from the very moment Daniel returned.

His appearance had changed noticeably.

His hair had become longer.

His eyes carried an ancient brilliance unlike before.

Even the aura surrounding him felt completely different.

It no longer resembled someone who had merely become stronger.

It felt as though his very existence had evolved into something higher.

Daniel chuckled softly after noticing their expressions.

"To make a long story short..."

"I received an incredible upgrade."

"That is probably the simplest way I can describe it."

He shrugged his shoulders helplessly.

"The explanation itself is rather complicated."

"So I will save it for another time."

The rulers nodded in understanding.

Even if they wanted to know more, they could tell Daniel was not hiding the truth from them out of distrust.

Rather...

It simply was not the right time yet.

Daniel continued.

"For now, I have something much more important to do."

His expression gradually became serious.

"I would like every one of you to gather your family members."

"Bring the people you trust the most."

"Whether they are your children, siblings, spouses, trusted retainers, or those closest to your hearts."

"Tell them all to gather inside the Main Hall."

A brief silence followed.

The rulers blinked in confusion.

Daniel smiled mysteriously.

"Once everyone has arrived..."

"There is something I would like to announce."

His words immediately sparked everyone’s curiosity.

An announcement?

One important enough to summon not only the rulers but also their closest families?

Even Melira looked at him curiously.

"Daniel..."

"What exactly are you planning?"

Daniel only smiled.

"Mother, you will know soon enough."

"I promise all of you will like it."

The mysterious confidence in his voice only made everyone even more curious.

From the very beginning...

They had wanted to ask Daniel about his transformation.

There were simply too many questions lingering in their minds.

What exactly happened during his battle?

Why had his appearance changed?

Why did his aura feel so different?

What kind of power had he obtained?

However...

For some strange reason...

Whenever they tried to ask...

Their instincts stopped them.

It was not fear.

Nor intimidation.

It simply felt...

Wrong.

As though some unseen force instinctively warned them not to pry into something far beyond their current understanding.

Eventually, most of them simply chose to remain silent.

Still...

Despite not asking...

Every single one of them had reached the same conclusion.

"He became stronger..."

That single thought echoed silently within everyone’s mind.

Not just stronger.

Something far beyond that.

Daniel had never been someone they could compare to ordinary geniuses.

Every time they thought they had finally caught up to him...

He would take another impossible step forward.

At this point...

None of them were even surprised anymore.

Instead...

They had simply accepted it as something uniquely Daniel.

Demon King Xereth laughed loudly.

"Hahaha!"

"I have absolutely no idea what you are planning."

"But if it is coming from you..."

"I am already looking forward to it."

Beast King Kaelgor grinned.

"I suppose there is no point asking any further."

"You clearly intend to surprise us."

Dragon Empress Sylthara smiled elegantly.

"You certainly know how to build anticipation."

Melira shook her head helplessly.

"My son has become quite secretive."

Daniel laughed awkwardly.

"It is not that."

"I simply want everyone to hear it together."

Golden King Aurelius stood gracefully from his seat.

"In that case..."

"We shall gather everyone immediately."

One after another, the rulers rose from their seats.

Without hesitation, they prepared to carry out Daniel’s request.

Although none of them knew what awaited them...

Not a single person questioned his decision.

Their trust in him had already reached a point where explanations were unnecessary.

If Daniel believed something was worth doing...

Then it was.

Soon afterward, the rulers left the Grand Hall to summon their respective families and trusted companions.

The once lively hall gradually became quiet.

Only Daniel remained behind.

He slowly exhaled before closing his eyes.

A familiar voice echoed within his mind.

[: Host... it seems you already have a plan.]

A faint smile appeared on Daniel’s face.

"Of course."

"There are many things that need to change from this point onward."

His golden eyes slowly opened again, carrying a confidence that seemed capable of overlooking the entire Universe.

"And it all begins today."

Daniel remained seated inside the now quiet Grand Hall.

The rulers had already departed to gather their families, leaving him with a rare moment of silence.

He leaned back slightly and rested his chin against one hand.

His thoughts continued racing.

There were still many things he needed to organize after everything that had happened.

The evolution of Mika’s World.

The next conquest.

The Bearer of Singularity.

The Scroll of Edict.

The Absolute Edict bestowed by the Will of the Universe.

One by one, Daniel mentally arranged everything according to priority.

Then...

A thought suddenly crossed his mind.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"System..."

"Did I miss something?"

The System immediately responded.

[: What are you talking about? :]

Daniel tapped the armrest of his chair thoughtfully.

"No."

"I have just been thinking."

He paused briefly before continuing.

"Logically speaking..."

"I have already established my own force."

"We have our own world."

"Our own rulers."

"Our own people."

"Our own objective."

He looked toward the ceiling as though organizing his thoughts.

"If that is the case..."

"Can I officially give it a name?"

For several seconds, the System remained silent.

Then it answered.

[: Under normal circumstances... :]

[: A Faction according to the standards of the Universe cannot simply be named because someone wishes to do so. :]

Daniel listened attentively.

[: Every recognized Faction must first receive acknowledgment from the Will of the Universe. :]

[: There are many ways to achieve that recognition. :]

[: Some Factions earn it through achievements that shake the Universe. :]

[: Others obtain it through overwhelming fame that exceeds the required threshold. :]

[: Once either condition has been fulfilled, the Will of the Universe officially records their existence, allowing them to bear a recognized name. :]

Daniel slowly nodded.

"So there are requirements."

[: Correct. :]

[: However... :]

The System suddenly laughed.

[: None of those requirements really apply to you anymore. :]

Daniel raised an eyebrow.

"Oh?"

[: Host. :]

[: You have already surpassed both conditions by an absurd margin. :]

[: You have performed feats that even the Will of the Universe could not predict. :]

[: You altered the fate of an entire world. :]

[: You received the path of the Bearer of Singularity. :]

[: You even negotiated directly with the Will of the Universe itself. :]

[: If those achievements cannot establish a Faction... then nothing else can. :]

Daniel could not help smiling.

"When you put it like that..."

"I suppose it does sound rather excessive."

[: Rather excessive? :]

[: Host, you have completely shattered the normal standards of the Universe. :]

[: At this point, trying to compare you with ordinary beings is meaningless. :]

Daniel chuckled softly before asking another question.

"Then what should I do now?"

The System became thoughtful.

[: Honestly... :]

[: It seems the Will of the Universe exhausted too much of its strength earlier. :]

[: It probably forgot one very important step. :]

Daniel blinked.

"What step?"

[: Asking you to register your Faction. :]

Daniel was momentarily speechless.

"...It forgot?"

[: Considering it sacrificed most of its energy and even a large portion of its life force... :]

[: I think we can forgive it this once. :]

Daniel laughed helplessly.

"I suppose that is fair."

The System continued.

[: My suggestion is simple. :]

[: Ask the Will of the Universe directly. :]

[: Your Faction already exists in every practical sense. :]

[: You already possess followers. :]

[: You already possess territory. :]

[: You already possess authority. :]

[: The only thing left... :]

[: Is official recognition from the Will of the Universe. :]

The System paused briefly before adding with amusement.

[: Although... :]

[: If I had to guess... :]

[: It has probably already recognized your Faction internally. :]

[: It is simply too exhausted to complete the formal process. :]

Daniel nodded slowly.

"That sounds reasonable."

He stood from his chair before looking upward.

Even though there was nothing above him except the ceiling of the Grand Hall...

He knew exactly who he was addressing.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"All right."

"If that is the case..."

"Then I might as well ask."

He took a slow breath before speaking calmly.

"You there..."

"Will of the Universe."

"Can you hear me?"

For a brief moment...

Nothing happened.

The surroundings remained completely silent.

Then...

A familiar voice echoed directly within his soul.

Unlike before, the voice sounded noticeably weaker.

Yet it still carried the boundless majesty of the Universe itself.

[: We have heard you...Daniel Valenhardt. :]