Consecutive, Horrifying Breakthroughs

As the sky slowly healed itself and was restored, the natural energy slowly regressed before returning to a more normal state.

Following the Forest Master's attack, an illusion of countless forests had appeared at his back, multiplying his power many times over.

However, Gilgamesh's attack was far too terrifying.

With the miniature Divine Ones' within him, he already possessed access fundamental power that governed the dimension he was currently in.

In theory, he was potentially as powerful as all four the actual Divine Ones combined.

His only limiter was his cultivation base.

The Forest Master's staff was blown out of his hand, and the arc of light struck his chest, instantly creating a gash that stretched from his shoulder to his abdomen.

Blood sprayed out of the wound, and he fell from the sky, only recovering enough to halt his descent when he was a few feet from the ground.

Gilgamesh had come out on top in the end.

Little Feather cheered jubilantly while the disciples of the sect slowly regained the ability to function normally.

They all stood up and watched in silent awe as the Forest Master struggled to remain hovering in the air.

"That sword strike..." The sage-like Guardian was dumbfounded.

All around him, Guardians were rattling their brains, trying to find some way to explain what they had seen.

Dragon Guardian's eyes had already rolled up into her head-- she was passed out on the floor with her tongue lolling out of her mouth.

There was a small puddle of liquid between her legs as she lay on the roof of the Tower.

"Gilgamesh is now the strongest in the world. There is no debate." The Fatty Guardian tossed his turkey bone, utterly shaken.

"Not even Emperor Forsaken could last more than ten seconds in a fight with out Master. Gilgamesh, who is still in the Condensation stage, has defeated him."

Suddenly after saying this, the sage-like guardian started laughing bitterly as he looked up at the sky with profoundly sorrowful eyes.

"This world- reality- existence itself! None of it makes sense to me anymore. "

"I, Philosopher Guardian, have trained all my life to attain some semblance of power. Yet, what worth is there in that?"

Philosopher Guardian dropped to his knees, silently weeping. "Power cannot be called power... unless it has faced Gilgamesh and won..."

The Guardians heard his words and were silent; they could not find words to say.

The disciples in the sect had more or less all bore witness to this fight.

While most of them did not exactly have a good idea of who the Forest Master really was, they held an ingrained respeft for him as the Sect Leader.

Even so, Gilgamesh had won over their hearts completely. He was inspiration, while he was also the crusher of motivation.

Many people lost their will to continue on their cultivation journeys when they saw that fight- even a handful of Guardians.

Gilgamesh became the pinnacle in their eyes.

As his chest violently rose and fell, Gilgamesh put away his sword and allowed himself to descent.

His vision blurred slightly as a dreadful headache gripped him, and he put a hand over his face as he landed, stumbling.

The Forest Master also slowly landed, and within the space of the Proving Ground, they looked at each other with differing emotions.

The Forest Master's expression was pained, but respect grew in his eyes.

Gilgamesh had always regarded the Forest Master as nothing. In his eyes, the Forest Master was now less than nothing.

"You are indeed powerful. As your cultivation base rises, you will be able to defeat me with ease."

The Forest Master breathed, and the natural energy of the forest rushed to him, aiding in his recovery.

Though the bleeding stopped, his wound showed no signs of healing. The energies that had caused it would not be easily dealt with.

"I hope you can forgive me for pretending to attack your little sister. I did this all so I could measure the scope of your power."

"And ask for your help."

Gilgamesh furrowed his brows and took a few breaths to settle himself.

As he did so, he immediately employed the energy gathering method and the Obscure Spark.

His power slowly swelled.

"You see, my parents were killed by a being that calls itself the Abysmal Beast. It fled to a world far from here, and has joined the ranks of an army belonging to that world's ruler."

"Now that I know you are powerful enough, I want to request your h-" The Forest Master's voice quieted down when he sensed something.

Right before him, Gilgamesh was utilizing his improved energy gathering method and the Obscure Spark to return to his peak while also preparing to enter the Fifth Level.

Feeling the surge of true energy, the Forest Master was unable to continue speaking.

Gilgamesh's rate of cultivation, despite the huge amount of energy his body contained, was astronomically fast!

In a few minutes, he had recovered completely and immediately pushed his energy toward the fifth meridian.

In that moment, the sky rippled and the world quaked as a thunderous bellow descended from above.

Everyone looked on with bated breath. A terrifying tribulation was about to descend!

A 13-colored cloud was beginning to appear in the sky, but Gilgamesh snared at it with the most disdainful and conceited look on his face.

"I'm not in the mood for your bullshit. Do better next time!"

Hearing Gilgamesh's words, the Forest Master, disciples and Guardians were dumbfounded.

Who was he talking to? The tribulation?

Much to their surprise, before the tribulation could fully form, it was eradicated and reduced to nothing.

This time, many people's minds and understanding of reality was shattered. They no longer dared to have opinions.

Gilgamesh was too domineering.

The Forest Master was struck by a wave of weakness, and he fell on his ass as his eye twitched.

'He... sent the tribulation away? That was shaping up to be a Void Tribulation, something only Ascenders should face.'

'Yet, he just sent away!? What kind of power does his inherent nature possess!?'

Gilgamesh smoothly entered the Fifth level of the Condensation stage, but he did not stop there.

He pushed himself to the limit, no longer caring about anything else. In his mind, he kept replaying the Forest Master's words.

If cultivation was holding him back, he would simply advance!

With greater speed than ever before, Gilgamesh power rose by leaps and bounds.

560,000 cycles.... passed!

He sensed his sixth meridian, and did not hesitate to attack it!

The veil of space shattered, and the image of countless worlds, stars and galaxies appeared, emitting terrifying pressure on all the world.

Under this pressure, weaker-willed individuals instictively fled.

However, it was such a terrifying pressure that the Guardians, the Forest Master- and even the distant Old Patriarch- had to step in to keep everyone safe.

Yet, even they could barely handle the pressure coming from this new tribulation.

Not only them, but across the entire world panic and chaos were already beginning to ensue.

Despite the fact that they were no where close to Gilgamesh, they could all feel the might of this tribulation.

This was the paramount power of the Heavens. They had no choice but to cower under it.

Even the planet itself was on the verge of coming apart.

One had to understand, though... that this tribulation was not even focused on anyone of anything but Gilgamesh!

Gilgamesh growled as he saw 16-colored clouds emerge from the image of the endless cosmos, and the pressure was instantly reversed.

"Are you mocking me!? You're still not good enough!"

The tribulation was scattered by the power of Gilgamesh's inherent nature, and the power of Heaven vanished.

The Sixth level of the Condensation stage... reached!

Just when people were starting to breathe easy again, Gilgamesh struck fear into their hearts with another tribulation.

He surpassed 1,120,000 cycles, and broke through to Seventh level!

This time, cracks started spreading out from under him, running off into the distance, showing no signs of stopping.

From beneath the world's surface, bright, red hot magma was already beginning to rise, indicating just how terrifying this new tribulation was.

Under this pressure, Gilgamesh actually took a step back and spat up blood, but he was only more enraged by this.

He did not care that he was causing worldwide terror and destruction. All he cared about now was advancing.

As the latest tribulation took shape, the world's sky could no longer exist.

An all new sky appeared above them, containing a massive singularity that emitted terrifying light.

It alone seemed to encompass all of reality, and exuded a power that appeared to contain infinity.

The Forest Master turned to look at his uncle, and his uncle turned to look at him. Unable to even speak under this terrifying tribulation, they transferred their thoughts with great difficulty.

"Uncle, does this image not look familiar to you?"

The Old Patriarch frowned, "It does... It looks just like the image that was revealed that day..."

"The day that Rose descended..."

Gilgamesh, on the other hand, instantly recognized what this singularity was.

It was a universe. He had seen many of them before, though not exactly of the same quality or likeness.

Below that universe, souls would feel as though they were about to be extinguished.

This was the terrifying effect of coming under the pressure of the very universe one existed in.

Gilgamesh looked toward Little Feather, and split some of his focus in order to shield her.

Then, he cast his eyes upon the universe above him, and felt that it was disgusting to look at.

"What is this glorified piece of glowing dogshit doing floating in my sky? Get out of here!"

Before that singularity could even expend the power necessary to create Gilgamesh's tribulation clouds, his aura spread out and his eyes glowed.

"Not even this is enough. Begone!"

With no other choice, the tribulation began to recede.

However, the sky was not restored. The image of the glowing universe, floating in a boundless, black space remained.

Then, an explosion rocked reality, and the world beneath Gilgamesh's feet quaked again.

Looking closely, it was possible to see a tiny white speck shooting out from the image of the universe.

With speed far beyond that of light, that speck broke through a kind of barrier and shattered the entire illusion.

Once that happened, all that remained of Gilgamesh's tribulation was a breach in space.

As for the speck, it had revealed itself to be a woman, clad in the glory of all-powerful light.

Gilgamesh glared at her.

"Come on, Gil. Don't look at me like that. I was the only one that believed in you, you know."

Hearing this, Little Feather stuck out her tongue.

The Old Patriarch and the Forest Master suddenly felt uneasy. Although she looked a lot different now, the aura was undeniable.

Andromeda, the Sovereign of the Universe, had descended as a result Gilgamesh's tribulation!