Awakening：The Infinite Evolution of My Talent as a Low-Level Awakener

As time passed, the Motherform's soul continued to collapse at an alarming rate. At its core, the swirling gray energy began to emit a bright glow, desperately attempting to reassemble the fragmented soul.

But with its balance already shattered by Sterl, and the Will of Hell's relentless interference compounding the chaos, even the high-energy nature of this gray force was powerless to reverse the damage.

The Motherform's soul and body were tightly bound, existing as a single unified entity. Only when the soul was intact could it sustain the body's regenerative capabilities and maintain its existence.

Now, with its soul disintegrating, its physical form began to rapidly deteriorate. The Motherform's body shrank visibly, and copious amounts of silvery-white liquid sprayed from its collapsing frame. Despite its relatively modest size, the amount of liquid it exuded was vast—enough to form a small lake.

Sterl, unwilling to let anything go to waste, waved his hand and collected the liquid in its entirety.

After all, this was no ordinary secretion—it was a special substance created by the Motherform through the consumption and transformation of vast quantities of matter. Though Sterl didn't yet know how to use it, he reasoned that it might one day serve as a valuable resource.

As the flow of liquid dwindled, the Motherform's aura grew increasingly feeble. Cracks began to appear across its body, resembling the fractures of a shattered porcelain figurine.

Then…

Boom!

Without any final struggle, the withered body of the Motherform exploded violently, sending fragments of flesh and tissue spiraling into the bottomless abyss it had once created through its devouring.

As for its soul, the moment the last of the souls it had stolen from this layer of Hell were freed and returned to the world's natural cycle, the Motherform's own soul lost its foundation. It began to rapidly dissolve, unraveling into nothingness.

Even the gray energy at its core, once so formidable, vanished without a trace, dissipating silently into the void.

"Wait a minute—this can't go to waste either!"

Sterl suddenly halted, noticing that the Will of Hell had withdrawn its influence, ceasing its interference with the Motherform's soul.
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Now able to perceive the soul's true form, Sterl saw it clearly for what it was—a bizarre, grotesque creature. The Motherform's soul was shaped like a small worm, its surface covered in dense, bristly hairs. Beneath the hairs, however, wasn't skin but countless minuscule eyeballs, each more disturbing than the last. The sight of it was far more unsettling and horrifying than the body it had previously inhabited.

At that moment, the worm-like soul was curled into a tight ball, shrinking and melting as if it were wax exposed to extreme heat.

Sterl acted immediately, decisively activating Phantom Purgatory and dragging the soul into his domain.

Though the soul was now weak, Sterl could clearly sense its exceptional quality. In fact, its essence surpassed even that of the Silver Moon Wolf God, making it an invaluable prize.

Though minuscule in size—barely one percent of a normal soul—the worm-like soul stood in stark contrast to the bloated and cumbersome soul Sterl had faced earlier. Unlike the vast, fragile essence of the Motherform's collective soul, this diminutive fragment radiated a mysterious resilience.

Instinct told Sterl that this soul might hold immense potential. Without hesitation, he decided to eradicate its will and convert it into his puppet.

The Soulforge Fire roared to life, engulfing the worm-like soul in searing flames. Surprisingly, the soul displayed no resistance or struggle, remaining eerily still, as if resigned to its fate.

What shocked Sterl even more was the result. The same Soulforge Fire that could obliterate 20% of the fusion monster's soul in a single strike could barely inflict 10% damage on this fading worm-like fragment.

"What level of soul is this?!" Sterl's eyes widened in disbelief.

Yet, the more resistance it showed, the more its value became evident.

After a brief pause to recover his soul energy, Sterl resumed his efforts, relentlessly unleashing the Soulforge Fire. Over the course of more than a minute, he executed Phantom Purgatory ten times in succession. Finally, just before the worm-like soul could fully dissipate, Sterl succeeded in annihilating its spiritual will, leaving behind a soulless puppet under his control.

"Unbelievable…" Sterl exhaled deeply, his spirit noticeably fatigued. The soul had been on the verge of destruction, yet it withstood ten applications of Phantom Purgatory—a feat that defied logic.

Despite the effort, Sterl felt a sense of satisfaction as he successfully refined the soul into his possession. As for the unique properties of this fragment—the true core of the Motherform's soul—Sterl had no answers for now. However, since it was now his puppet, he could study it at his leisure.

Turning his attention downward, Sterl observed the ground beneath. With the silver-white liquid cleared away, a massive, gaping chasm was revealed. The enormous void was jagged and sinister, as if the earth itself had been violently torn apart.

If left undisturbed, this abyss would likely remain for millions—perhaps tens of millions—of years, slowly expanding over time. Yet, Sterl had no interest in the consequences of its existence. It was not his concern.

As for Boris and the others, they stood frozen in place like statues, their minds blank as they stared in stunned silence at Sterl.

The shock they felt was indescribable. The Motherform's unleashed power had been so overwhelming that it had warped the very fabric of space and time. From their perspective, all they saw was the terrifying creature charging at their master with devastating force. Then, in an instant, the scene froze, and when reality resumed, the once-unstoppable Motherform had simply… exploded before their eyes.

The incomprehensible swiftness of Sterl's victory left them paralyzed with awe, their thoughts unable to keep pace with what they had witnessed.

Next came the scene of the Motherform gradually collapsing, melting, and ultimately falling into the abyss.

Meanwhile, their master, who had been their source of concern, remained as calm as ever, his expression serene, his aura undisturbed, and his body completely unharmed—just as he had been moments earlier.

"Is… is the master truly not a disguised Great Divine Power?"

After what felt like an eternity, the God of Wind Whisper was the first to break the silence, stammering as he spoke.

This statement immediately resonated with everyone present.

They weren't mere mortals, ignorant of the distinctions between power levels. To mortals, anyone beyond the legendary tier was indistinguishable—a walking calamity in human form. But as bona fide gods themselves, they could clearly gauge the creature's true strength.

The Motherform had possessed power comparable to a High Divine Authority, capable of rivaling or even annihilating other High Divine Authorities. It was a terrifying existence beyond most comprehension.

And yet, such a monstrous being had fallen so quietly, so unceremoniously, at the hands of their master—like a bubble bursting in the air.

Despite being gods who wielded Divine Authority, comprehended Laws, and possessed vast knowledge, they couldn't begin to unravel the enigma that was their master.

It was as if he was shrouded in an impenetrable mist—a mystery they could only observe from afar, unable to truly comprehend his essence.

If not for the fact that, as Sterl's followers, they could sense his core nature with precision, confirming that he wasn't even a god but a third-class being, they might have truly mistaken him for a Great Divine Power hiding in the lower realms.

But for someone of the third class to display strength rivaling or surpassing that of a Great Divine Power? That was far more terrifying than any Great Divine Power could ever be.

The realization sent a chill down their spines. Compared to the Motherform they had just witnessed, it seemed their master might be the true monster.

Yet, fortunately for them, this terrifying being was their master. In an instant, their unease was replaced by a profound sense of security and reverence. Their hearts steadied, filled with unshakable faith and admiration.

Their emotions, of course, did not escape Sterl's notice.

As their master, he could sense every fluctuation in the thoughts and feelings of his followers. Boris and the others' growing awe and devotion were as clear to him as daylight.

He hadn't expected this unexpected series of events to leave such a lasting impression on his followers, elevating him in their minds to the level of a Great Divine Power.

But that was fine. Though his followers were already absolutely loyal to him due to the Follower Marks, genuine, self-initiated zeal and adoration were far more valuable than mere compelled loyalty.

Sterl allowed a small, satisfied smile to tug at his lips.

Moreover, having a group of gods revere him to such an extent—almost to the point of worship—was undeniably satisfying.

Sterl allowed himself a faint smile before turning his gaze toward the area behind the peculiar Motherform.

Not far away, a silver-white portal rimmed with faint gray energy was slowly shrinking.

As a wielder of the Space Law, Sterl immediately understood its nature. This was some form of spatial transportation mechanism—the means by which that bizarre creature had arrived in this world.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

From the portal, he could sense traces of the Space Law, though they were faint. Far more prominent was another mysterious force—an unsettling energy he was all too familiar with.

"These creatures can wield powers akin to the Space Law, allowing them to open a Portal of Space, and… it's even more covert and domineering than the Space Law itself," Sterl thought to himself, analyzing the phenomenon.

This energy, which he had directly experienced, could corrode even the absolute defense barrier acknowledged by [Transcendence]. It was little wonder it could also breach space.

Its invasive nature was so overwhelming that even a world's Will likely couldn't seal it. This explained how Hell had been invaded so thoroughly.

Staring at the portal, a reckless impulse surged within Sterl. Behind this gateway lay the world of these monstrous beings. If he traveled through it, wouldn't he uncover the truth about their origins?

But Sterl quickly dismissed the thought.

A single Motherform had nearly pushed him to the brink. Who knew what terrors lay on the other side? If he ventured into their domain and encountered even a handful of similar Motherforms, it would spell his doom.

Without hesitation, he focused his mind and unleashed Destructive Light, aiming it directly at the portal.

The gateway trembled and began to shrink more rapidly, seemingly abandoning any plans for further invasion.

Seeing this, Sterl exhaled softly. His greatest concern had been the possibility of more powerful entities arriving in retaliation—what if defeating the "child" led to the appearance of the "parent"?

After all, a Motherform had been destroyed here. If he were the mastermind behind the invasion, he would undoubtedly send an even greater force to exact revenge.

Fortunately, for reasons unknown, no such retaliation seemed imminent. Sterl continued to bombard the portal with attacks. After a few moments, the gateway collapsed entirely, leaving no trace behind—not even on the soul level.

Only then did Sterl allow himself a sigh of relief.

The journey had been fraught with unexpected twists and turns, but at last, everything was resolved.

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