Bro, I'm not an Undead!

Future Skullius had already bound the Taming Appixel to himself. And thus, when the guidance fiend chimed, to him it designated the name 'potential subjugator' of the Corrupted Deity tamed within its complex array.

The others received similar notifications notifying them about this designation of his and…

"Oh," said Elita, taken aback. "Are our guidance fields synching up? I'm seeing notifications with a tag that reads 'Skullius' over them." She looked at the future Hybrid.

"Me too," said Kenno with a brow raised. The same was true for Aurolio, but he didn't voice it.

"That's my doing," said Future Skullius, still seated on the ground. A hand finally popped out of his nimbus jacket and supported his chin. "Without the guidance field, your designation as spectators will only allow you to spectate my battle with the Deity. But there are Trials that I need to go through before that happens. Now you can spectate that too."

Elita was astounded.

'He has reached the level where he can manipulate the guidance field to that degree?' she thought.

"Alright. Let's begin," said the future Hybrid. When a notification appeared before him, it appeared to the others as well.

[You are about to proceed with the Six Trials designed to augment your chances of subjugating the Corrupted Deity imprisoned in this Treasure. Would you like to proceed with the First Trial?]

Future Skullius gave a subtle, self-mocking laugh at the word imprisoned. Only he could have found this funny at all. Well, him and…

'Ironic, isn't it VOW?' he spoke, but no one by Wyrrim could hear. The Voice of Worlds sighed from a space unknown. Future Skullius heard it.

[It indeed is, Skullius]

'The Wanderer likes his fair bit of irony. Well, this isn't the worst thing in the world,' Skullius said.

[You chose to deal with the Corrupted Deity for yourself]

'Yes. I did,' said Future Skullius and he shook his head and gave his consent to the guidance field.

Everyone else, completely oblivious to the conversation Skullius had had just now, paid rapt attention to the notification that flashed in front of them next.

[The subjugator needs to be familiar with the prisoner to some degree. Please state the name of the Corrupted Deity imprisoned in the Taming Appixel]

Aurolio was the first to frown.

"What? Am I dumb or isn't the name Nunax mentioned in the description of the Taming Appixel?" he said.

Kenno and Elita turned to Skullius instead.

The future Hybrid spent only a second more in silence before saying:

"Jadeenis Konilio."

[Excellent work. You have cleared the First Trial and increased your chances of subjugating the prisoner!]

"What?" Aurolio frowned. "The name was what?"

But it dawned on Elita right then, after eluding her fellow Void user.

"The Trial was requesting the Corrupted Deity's real name," she said. "Nunax isn't their real name after all. Just like Quintess, Boron, Suzamete, and Listafelle aren't the real names of the Deities of Aigas."

Kenno made an O with his mouth while Aurolio narrowed his eyes.

So that's how it was.

But then…

"How did you know the Deity's real name? There's no way you could have just randomly guessed or known it personally," Aurolio said to Future Skullius.

"Yes. I couldn't have known, but the guidance field is an information transmission system that runs through all spaces in the great void and even the three Realities. With enough skill, you can extract all the information about existing places you could ever desire – provided you have a high enough Patronage Rank, of course."

Without allowing for another question, Future Skullius allowed the guidance field to take him to the next Trial.

[The subjugator must meet a certain threshold of strength for the Trials to give them an advantage during the taming process. An unorthodox measurement system will be introduced throughout the Trials and the inevitable confrontation with the Corrupted Deity Nunax.]

[Using AKHASHA's Unit to Ascension Methodium as a reference, in addition to a few other factors, the Standard Unit System will now be employed...]

[The average fresh Divine is rated at 1,000 – 2,500 Standard Units]

[The average fresh Deity is rated at 25,000 – 27,000 Standard Units]

[With that in mind, the Corrupted Deity Nunax is rated at 35,000 Standard Units]

[As the subjugator, your goal is to reach at least 15,000 Standard Units to proceed]

[You have a hundredth of a Consternal – 7.2 minutes – to prepare yourself for an assessment. Please unleash all facets of your strength that might help your Standard Unit rating]

The numbers scared the living and voidliving ghosts out of Elita, Aurolio, and Kenno.

This was the first Elita was hearing of this Standard Unit measurement system, but considering that it judged using the elements of AKHASHA's Unit to Ascension Methodium – the reason why every Divine climbed the ladder of Divinity using AKHASHA units in the first place - made it seem credible.

It likely read everything within a Divine being's Broader Existence, which meant that it could sense the powers of their body and soul too.

It likely also assessed the weapons in their possession and was likely to consider anomalous powers like Null Life, Undeath, and Voided Death as well.

But…

'If the average Divine is judged from 1,000 – 2,500 Units… the disparity between them and a Corrupted Deity like Nunax is…' the former Paladin Champion thought and gave Future Skullius a concerned look.

She had no doubt that he was powerful, but he wasn't a Deity. Even if he had powers that rivaled Deities, especially when considering that facet of Skullius' powers that had been interrupted twice now, she wasn't sure he could reach 35,000 Standard Units.

'But the point is to reach 15,000. Right. But even if he is stronger than that at his best, how is the rest of the power going to be bridged? Does this Appixel give you a temporary power boost?' Elita thought.

She had tried to appraise Future Skullius, but failed, just like Skullius had. The future Hybrid was far above them both.

Aurolio had also tried it and failed. He shared the same sentiment as Elita though.

The disparities here were staggering, and that was with his scant knowledge of everything Divine.

Speaking of deficient knowledge, what even was a Corrupted Deity to begin with?