"Warning: Detection of True God-level power fluctuations! Immediate precautions required!"
A blaring alarm echoed throughout a colossal planet-class battleship—so vast it could overshadow an entire metropolis of millions. Inside, countless elegant and slender Luminous beings scrambled in panic, their movements resembling frightened animals. Voices filled the halls—calm, frantic, and commanding—yet all tinged with barely concealed fear.
This reaction was natural for a civilization that had previously clashed with divine beings. They understood the terror of divine might all too well, having both witnessed and suffered from the destructive power of gods.
"Where is the source of the True God-level fluctuations?"
"Report: It's coming from World Gate #0072."
"What's the situation there? Didn't we send a squadron to that location?"
"Yes, sir. The local observers reported the presence of a powerful interdimensional lifeform."
"And now we've detected a True God-level signal? Get in contact with the squadron immediately! I need a report on what's happening there."
"Sir, we've lost all contact with them."
"Hmm..." Instead of reacting with anger to the grim news, the fleet's supreme commander remained calm. Facing a True God, such losses were expected.
"Commander, what are your orders?"
"We'll observe for now. We'll decide whether to retreat based on the situation."
"Shouldn't we attempt to rescue the lost squadron?"
"Rescue? Against a True God? Don't be absurd. We're just a vanguard force; we don't have the means to fight a being of that level."
"Understood."
The Luminous fleet, now on high alert due to the sudden appearance of godlike power, held its position cautiously. Fortunately for them, the fluctuations subsided shortly after.
Still, after extensive deliberation, the fleet sent an unmanned reconnaissance probe to investigate the area where the power surge had occurred.
What they found left them stunned. The interdimensional gate that once stood like a pillar connecting two realms was gone. In its place lay nothing more than a perfectly ordinary stretch of ocean, with no trace of the gate's existence.
"Teacher! You—"
The serpent-bodied Earth God, Li, stared in shock as the golden radiance surrounding the world gradually retracted into Muria's chest. Now able to move again, Li spoke up hastily.
"I've neutralized the threat for you. For the time being, that civilization won't bother you again," Muria replied calmly.
Having released the full power of his true form for the first time in this world, Muria had severed the naturally formed spatial connection between the two realms.
"But how will I return now?" Li asked anxiously. Although he was still awestruck by what he had just witnessed, his main concern was finding a way back home. His most cherished responsibilities—the things that drove him to strive and fight—lay in an ordinary world far removed from this one.
"If you can ascend to True Godhood, finding your way home will be easy," Muria said with a teasing smile. He admired how, despite undergoing a profound transformation, Li had remained true to his original purpose.
"That's not easy at all," Li muttered, his expression falling. By now, he had a rough understanding of what it meant to reach the level of a True God.
"For you, it's certainly not simple. But it's also not impossible. At your current pace, you won't take too long to reach that stage," Muria reassured him.
Muria surveyed the vast, independent world before him and confirmed that no other gods currently existed here. Perhaps there had once been deities, but they were long gone.
With no divine competition or suppression, Li—already wielding considerable power—would only need time to conquer and dominate this underdeveloped world.
"Teacher, isn't there another way? You severed the gate; you must be able to send me back," Li asked cautiously, his tone filled with hope.
"Why should I send you back? This world is safe for you and offers opportunities to grow stronger in a short period. Your home world, on the other hand, is fraught with danger. You'd face constant threats there with little chance for progress."
"But my mother and my girlfriend are still there. I can't just abandon them," Li argued.
"Are they helpless infants who can't take care of themselves?" Muria scoffed, shaking his head. "You're worrying needlessly."
"Please, Teacher! Just let me return once! Even if you plan to keep me here afterward, at least let me explain things to them so they won't be worried," Li pleaded.
Before his tribe, Li was an awe-inspiring guardian deity. But in front of Muria, he was like a child, his eyes filled with desperate supplication.
"If you don't want them to worry, stop wasting time here and go do what you need to do," Muria replied coldly. His voice carried an unusual harshness. He understood that mortal attachments were both precious and dangerous for gods. Such bonds could prove fatal in certain circumstances.
"Please, Teacher!" Li persisted, unwilling to give up.
"Your stubbornness is really irritating," Muria sighed.
"Does that mean you'll help me?" Li's face lit up with hope.
"When did I say that?" Muria snorted, his form shifting from a golden dragon to a humanoid figure. With his hands clasped behind his back, he continued, "Li, I'm your teacher. It's my responsibility to guide you, but I'm not obligated to cater to your every whim. I'm not your parent. If you want my help, you'll have to offer something that piques my interest."
"Something that interests you?"
"Exactly. Think carefully. You've seen my true form—do you really have anything that could entice me?" Muria gave him a playful smile, clearly enjoying the challenge.
Li hesitated for a moment before responding decisively, "Yes, I do!"
"Oh?" Muria raised an eyebrow.
"Three months ago, I led my tribe to conquer a chain of islands. On one of them, I found the remains of an ancient god. I'm willing to offer those remains as payment for your help," Li declared firmly.
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