Saint Sage Ascension Technique

<Void>

Noah stared at the Void expressionlessly. He returned to the Void after dying. His trait would soon activate and….

Noah's hell would begin anew.

{The technique you used, who taught you that?} asked Hepius.

"An old man back in my world taught me a lot of things. That technique was one of those."

Noah could recall everything he learned like the back of his hand. Camping, Hunting, Basic Crafting, Survival Skills, Combat Techniques, Information Gathering, Human Psychology.

{That technique was… incomplete.}

"Maybe? The old man used to say that he would teach the core of the technique after I passed the test. He never took any test though." answered Noah. Idle chatter served best to distract himself.

After all, the number of times Noah could resurrect was limited. This resurrection might be his last. Noah couldn't afford to lose, no matter what abomination waited for him after his resurrection.

Hepius remained silent for a few moments. He spoke eventually.

{Child, your world had mana. That 'Heavenly Demon Technique' of yours was meant to be used with mana.}

Hepius added.

{It is strange. You are saying there was no mana in your world when the technique proves otherwise. And mana isn't something that can be hidden from public eyes….}

A notification interrupted Hepius.

[ Erebus has activated skill 'Death Steal' ]

Noah's surroundings warped before he could understand the situation.

[ You have been revived ]

Noah activated his skills and prepared to fight. However, he was shocked to see what was in front of him.

"Why am I here…?"

[ Ding! Your injuries have been transferred to Erebus ]

[ Death Steal: Revives a target by transferring the damage to the caster. The target must have lower total HP than the caster. After using the skill, the caster's HP will be locked for 30 minutes. Cooldown: 180 days. ]

[ Erebus Lvl.100, HP: 580/1000 (Locked) ]

[ Locked HP: The HP won't increase or decrease. ]

Several notifications appeared before Noah.

Noah couldn't believe it. His trait could be countered…?

—

[ Directionally Challenged ] (Legendary, Chaotic Evil)

"You are talented enough to be lost on an empty road."

Trait Effect: When inside Void, you will be pushed out through a random exit.

Trait Flaw: Your surrounding area will temporarily experience 'Corruption' after your Tier ascension succeeds.

—

Noah suffered for countless lives because he could never revive in a safe place.

"I was able to revive in the same location." Noah exhaled deeply and clenched his fists. "I can do it. If Erebus can do it, then there is a possibility I can control my trait."

Inside the most secure prison, under the sea, in the sky, amidst a war. Noah's trait would revive him in random locations and he would soon die there.

If Noah could control his trait, his greatest weakness would become his strongest strength.

"..." Erebus nudged Noah, waking Noah out of his stupor.

Erebus was carrying a broken tentacle. The shadow giant spoke, "Drink. Regain strength."

Erebus didn't expect words of gratitude for saving Noah. He was injured, yet he ignored those borrowed wounds. Noah understood Erebus' intentions and vowed to show his gratitude through actions and not words. He took the tentacle and bit into it.

[ You are absorbing the blood of a powerful species for the first time. Hidden Effect of Bloodline Skill 'Blood Drain' will activate. ]

[ Absorbing stats ]

[ Divine Aura +10, Vitality +10, Perception +15 ]

[ You are drinking blood. Your Blood Hunger is vanishing. Your blood is being enriched with the blessing of the world. ]

The Blood Hunger had caused Noah's blood mana level to decrease and he thus couldn't break the Lv.50 limit.

Mana, the blessing of the world, flowed in Noah's veins, rushing through his body.

Noah's muscles bulged. A soothing sensation that decreased the burden over his spirit accompanied the sudden burst of strength.

[ Congratulations, you have broken through the level 50 limit. ]

[ You have level… ]

[ You hav... ]

[ Yo... ]

An enormous force exploded from Noah. Soon after the shockwaves created by the explosion disappeared, Noah felt his body changing further.

Noah's blood carried mana to every cell of his body. His strengthened organs roared when the enriched blood flowed into them, generating higher output.

Noah's metabolism increased, his muscles became denser, and his senses improved. His reinforced skeletal structure acted as the foundation for his rebirth.

The previous breakthroughs combined into a single unit and pushed forward.

[ Congratulations, you have broken through the level 75 limit. ]

[ You have level… ]

[ You hav... ]

[ Yo... ]

[ Current Level: 100 ]

[ You have used "Saint Sage Ascension Technique" to break your level cap. Additional stats will be awarded. Dexterity +10, Perception +30, Vitality +20 ]

[ You have used "Saint Sage Ascension Technique" to break your level cap. Additional stats will be awarded. Strength +35, Endurance +20, Vitality +25 ]

[ +500 free AP, +250 Skill Points ]

A more powerful force burst forth from Noah. He had been fighting without rest for a long time. The mental and physical burden on Noah had been immense.

Tempering – the level 75 limit – was bearing immense mental and physical burden. It thus didn't take Noah long to break the level 75 limit.

Noah felt as if he had gone through a rebirth. The notifications continued.

[ You have reached the peak of Tier 1 (Level 100) ]

[ Tier Ascension Quest will be issued ]

—

[ Tier Ascension Quest will be issued ]

1. Defeat 5 Demigods (0/5 Completed)

2. Become a Monarch (Incomplete)

3. Learn the skill 'Blood Manipulation' and reach peak Tier 2 the skill mastery (0/2 Completed)

4. Completely master the First Chapter of the Heavenly Demon Technique (Incomplete)

5. Repair 'Zeus Thunderbolt' (Incomplete)

6. Create a Ki core and attain Spirit Emperor Physique (0/2 Completed)

7. Clear the Asura-ranked Dungeon, Parthenon (1/5 Completed)

[ Until Tier Ascension Quest is completed you cannot level up. ]

—

The bursting strength calmed and flowed into Noah.

Noah read the quest. His eyes moved at the only objective he had somewhat completed. He was reminded of his immediate goal. Completing Stage-2's Hidden goal.

"What do you think is happening in Stage-2?" Noah asked Hepius.

The sudden appearance of a Demigod and his assault had to be related to the hidden objective.

Noah recalled all the out-of-place facts he had noticed. The soldiers who attacked Paris and Helen when they were escaping. Helen targeting Noah during the hearing. And finally, Kraken's appearance and it was fused with Paris.

{Someone kidnapped Paris. They must be the same people behind those soldiers you encountered in the beginning.}

Hepius spoke solemnly.

{They used necromancy to revive Kraken and fused Paris with Kraken to give him an ego. But there must be a reason why they chose Paris…}

"Looks like you are thinking the same as me." Noah spoke loudly. "Why don't you stop hiding? You can also answer if my guess is correct."

No one stepped out.

"Erebus, kill him if he doesn't reveal himself in 5 seco…"

"Wait!" Shadow revealed himself.

Noah's shadow shook and Shadow jumped out of it.

Shadow was staring at Noah in disbelief. He had seen Noah return from death – a realm of gods.

"Your answer…?" Shadow eked out a few words to end the silence.

"It's Odysseus." spoke Noah.

"...Why do you think so?" Shadow questioned while holding daggers in both hands.

Noah's deduction was simple. Paris' ego combined with Kraken and Kraken was brought to kill Noah, so Paris was chosen because he wanted to kill Noah.

Why did Paris want to kill Noah?

In Paris' eyes, Helen cheated on Paris with Noah.

Someone was targeting Noah. They used Helen to create discord between Noah and Paris. It seemed their goal was to eliminate Noah.

But 'Imperial Physician Noah' was never targeted in such an aggressive way, at least until Noah possessed him.

The person was targeting Noah because they noticed Noah had possessed the Imperial Physician or because they were upset that Imperial Physician Noah had been hiding his strength.

Calculating the timing of events, only three people met Noah, recognized his actual strength, and had the time to plot everything.

Achilles, Odysseus, and Helen.

Achilles wasn't the one targeting Noah while Helen was a caged princess. If she had the resources to revive a Demigod, she wouldn't have trouble escaping Nelio.

Only a single choice was left.

Odysseus.

Thud!

Suddenly, Shadow bowed, "Please stop my king."

"Why should I do that?" answered Noah.

The Stage-2 Hidden objective was related to Odysseus' goal. Noah had reasons for helping Odysseus, not stopping him.

Shadow raised his head and stared at Noah with a resolute expression, "Because he is walking down the wrong path."