No wonder Adrian Cross was over the moon.
A one percent chance—one in a hundred—and he'd hit it dead center.
His Lucky Clover had evolved straight from a Gold-tier trinket into a Sanctuary-grade treasure, the kind of leap that made even the oldest gods bite their tongues.
He turned the glowing clover between his fingers, its four leaves gleaming with divine radiance. The soft aura pulsed like a heartbeat, resonating faintly with his divine core.
Unbelievable, he thought, grinning. I really pulled it off.
His gaze slid sideways toward the long-legged, sharp-tongued goddess who'd sold it to him. Amery Stan stood there still, arms folded beneath that same intimidating chest, watching him with a mix of confusion and disbelief.
Adrian chuckled inwardly. No wonder she's lucky. The ancients didn't lie — fortune favors the fierce.
Without a shred of hesitation, he crushed the clover between his hands. A warm, golden current surged into him, threading through his divine veins like liquid sunlight.
> [System Log]: You have used Sanctuary-rank treasure: Lucky Clover. Hidden Luck +20!
Adrian exhaled sharply as the energy settled. His whole being seemed lighter, sharper, more aware.
He clenched his fists, excitement flickering in his eyes.
If my theory's right, my Infinite Evolution success rate just skyrocketed.
Based on the data he'd gathered from his previous life, a Sanctuary-level item typically amplified attributes by at least one and a half times. That meant his 1% chance could jump to 15% for a double-tier upgrade—and even a slim 1.5% chance of a triple-tier surge.
"Fifteen percent double… one-point-five percent triple…" he murmured. "That's not luck. That's power."
A grin tugged at his mouth. "If I can find the Lucky Holy Fruit, the god-tier version, I might as well start writing my victory speech."
Amery tilted her head, studying him curiously. "You seem awfully happy for someone who just dropped fifty thousand faith."
Adrian shrugged. "You could say I'm… investing in my future."
Her expression softened slightly, though her tone stayed casual. "Since you're not completely broke after that, why don't we add each other as friends? You never know when another good deal might pop up."
Her reasoning was simple. A man who could casually hand over fifty thousand faith-power without blinking wasn't an ordinary Blue Star demigod. There might be other opportunities down the road — and Amery wasn't the kind of woman to let fortune slip away twice.
A prompt chimed in Adrian's vision.
> Player Amery Stan has sent you a friend request. Accept?
"Of course," he said, smiling. "If you ever find treasures related to luck, contact me first. I'll always be interested."
And, honestly, adding a stunning, long-legged goddess to his friend list wasn't exactly a loss.
"Deal," she said simply, returning his grin.
Adrian nodded once, turned, and began to walk away. His figure soon vanished into the dazzling chaos of the divine city.
For a moment, Amery just stood there, blinking. Then realization struck like lightning.
"Wait—!" She slapped her forehead hard enough to make her hair bounce. "You absolute idiot, you didn't even ask for his name!"
She pulled up her friends list in a hurry. Only one name glowed there.
[Adrian Cross]
Her jaw dropped.
"Adrian Cross!? The Adrian Cross!?"
Her voice rose an octave. "No wonder he looked so calm when he dropped fifty thousand faith! Oh gods—" She pressed a hand over her mouth, eyes wide with giddy disbelief. "I just sold a treasure to the Adrian Cross. I even have him on my friend list! Mabel's going to explode when she finds out."
She giggled, half covering her face, her whole body shimmering as her avatar began to fade.
"Lucky day," she whispered, and then she was gone — logged off, leaving the marketplace a little emptier, and one god a little luckier.
---
Meanwhile, Adrian had already left the plaza behind.
His next destination wasn't another trade hub or temple—it was a tavern, tucked in the shadow of Chaos City's outer ring.
If his memory was right, this was where a certain hidden mission began — the one tied to the Gnoll Priesthood.
He pushed open the tavern doors. The scent of divine flame liquor and starwood smoke drifted out. Inside, only a few scattered figures sat at tables—most of them NPC gods or early-stage demigods too broke to afford proper sanctuaries.
He walked straight to the bar, where a hunched, gray-haired old man polished glasses behind a row of blazing bottles. The light flickered across his hollow eyes, and Adrian felt a chill run through him.
"Bartender," he said evenly, "two glasses of Flameburn."
The old god glanced up, surprised. Adrian lifted his hand, motioning to pour one for both of them.
"Your treat?" the old man rasped, voice hoarse but steady.
"Please. Drink with me."
Among gods, appearances meant everything. For one to choose an old avatar was rare — unless there was a reason.
Adrian knew there were only two possibilities.
Either the god enjoyed the appearance of age.
Or their divine source had been damaged beyond repair, their vitality bleeding away.
And this one — this wrinkled, dying being — was no ordinary tavernkeeper.
He was Ocaso, the God of Gnolls.
Once, Ocaso had been a nine-turn demigod — a legend of his kind. Now, he lingered at fifth-turn, fading fast.
"New god," Ocaso said slowly, eyes narrowing. "You know me?"
Adrian met his gaze calmly. "How could I not? Among those who hold the Gnoll Priesthood, your name is spoken with reverence. I am Korrhaz the Bloodfather," he said, using his divine alias with a respectful bow, "and I'm honored to meet the great Ocaso."
A faint smile tugged at the old god's lips. "Heh. You know how to flatter an old man. But you… you've already begun to shape your own priesthood, haven't you? Not bad. Not bad at all."
"I still have much to learn, senior," Adrian said smoothly. "I was hoping to seek your wisdom."
He gestured toward the bartender again. "Another Flameburn, please."
Each glass cost two thousand faith-power — steep, but worth the investment. This meeting wasn't about liquor. It was about opportunity.
Ocaso lifted his glass and drank deeply, the liquid burning bright as it went down. A murmur of laughter rippled from a nearby table.
One of the other old gods grinned. "Ocaso, this one's got manners. Maybe it's time you took an apprentice."
The words hung in the air.
Adrian's eyes gleamed faintly. There it is.
Ocaso's expression shifted. He studied Adrian for a long moment, then nodded slowly. "Korrhaz the Bloodfather," he said, his tone low and deliberate, "I have a task for you. A task only one with true potential can handle. Are you willing to accept it?"
A system chime rang softly.
> [Hidden Quest Triggered: "The Faithful in Peril"]
Quest Giver: Ocaso, God of Gnolls
Objective: Defeat the enemies harassing Ocaso's followers.
Reward: The Gift of Divine Authority — bestowed by Ocaso himself.
Adrian bowed his head with solemn precision. "I am willing, Senior Ocaso. It would be my honor."
Ocaso smiled faintly. "Good. You've heard the rumors, then — my strength wanes. My followers have been hunted by creatures of the underworld, and I am too weak to defend them. Help me, and you shall have my blessing."
Adrian nodded gravely, though inside, his mind was spinning like wildfire.
Because he knew the truth.
Ocaso the Fraudster. That was the name the community had given him in his last life.
This "hidden mission" wasn't salvation — it was bait.
The dying god didn't want help. He wanted souls. Specifically, the authority cores of newly-born gnoll demigods, which he could devour to patch his shattered origin.
Back then, countless players had accepted this quest, lured by promises of divine rewards. One by one, they vanished — their priesthoods devoured, their avatars erased from the game permanently.
Only later did the truth spread: NPC gods could lie. They could deceive, manipulate, even kill.
The day that revelation broke, Eternal Ascendancy stopped feeling like a game — and started feeling real.
But this time, Adrian was ready.
If Ocaso wanted to cheat him, then he'd turn that greed right back on the old god.
Your priesthood and divine power… I'll take both.
Keeping his expression composed, he said politely, "Understood, Senior. Send me your coordinates, and I'll dispatch my followers to handle it."
Ocaso nodded, seemingly pleased. "Good. Prepare yourself. I will contact you in three days."
Their divine sigils flared briefly, sealing the agreement.
Adrian rose, offered a final bow, and turned toward the door.
As he walked away, Ocaso watched him go, the cloudy depths of his eyes flickering coldly. A shadow rippled faintly behind the old god — the whisper of hunger.
---
Back in his own divine domain, Adrian sat cross-legged on the edge of a floating stone altar, eyes closed, mind clear.
He replayed every moment of that meeting in his head, every word, every shift in tone.
Ocaso was dying, yes — but dying gods were the most dangerous. Desperation could turn even saints into monsters.
He would prepare accordingly.
Before facing the god of gnolls, he would sharpen his strength until no deception could touch him.
Because in the Endless God Realm, the line between hunter and prey was paper-thin — and Adrian Cross had no intention of being devoured.
He smiled faintly to himself.
Round two, Ocaso. Let's see who outplays who this time.