Chapter 82 | The Strange Man
Chapter 82: 82 | The Strange Man
"It has been centuries since we have seen a newly ascended deity..." The figure raised its voice. "Come now. Reveal yourself. Let us see your true appearance."
Andrew’s face darkened. Reveal himself? Impossible.
Whether the being outside was a Saint, Demigod, God, or something worse, letting his identity be seen would be like signing his own death warrant.
The moment powerful beings learned a newborn god existed, they would crush him before he could grow.
"Now need. I shall take my leave."
"Wai—"
Without hesitation, Andrew canceled Godscion Bestowment.
"BANG!"
The heavenly realm shattered immediately and his consciousness shot downward violently.
In the next second, he opened his eyes back in Heaven’s Domain, still sitting on the giant tree branch. Cold sweat covered his forehead. His breathing was ragged. "That was close..."
His instincts still screamed danger.
Immediately, he reached for his face and equipped the Ten thousand Face Ghost Mask. The dark mask spread like liquid across his features. Then he activated its concealment ability.
"Phantom Dominion!"
His aura vanished completely.
Andrew stayed on the branch without moving. Minutes passed.
Nothing happened. No presence approached.
Slowly, he let out the breath he’d been holding.
His breathing was still unsteady as he sat there. Even though nothing had happened, the tension in his chest wouldn’t fade. His instincts still prickled.
His Danger Sense kept tingling violently. That told him one thing: the danger hadn’t passed yet.
Andrew’s expression turned grim. He reached toward the mask and called out internally, "System."
A cold mechanical voice answered. [Yes, Host.]
"Upgrade this mask." He paused. "Upgrade it to Mythic Grade."
The system responded.
[Analyzing target item... Legendary Grade Equipment Detected: Ten Thousand Ghost Face: Upgrade Path Found. Advancing to Mythic Grade requires 15 Investment Points.]
Andrew’s face stiffened. Fifteen points. He’d been saving those for something important, to make weapons and prepare for future battles. Spending them now hurt. But right now, his life came first. He clenched his fists and gave the order. "Do it."
Instantly, the mask in his hand trembled. Its dark surface twisted like it was alive, melting and reforming.
What appeared no longer looked like a simple mask. It now resembled a real face but not human like.
It looked like the face of an ancient demon god. Unnaturally perfect features, sharp cheekbones, long eyes, smooth pale skin, and faint black patterns crawling across it like living veins.
A notification appeared.
[Upgrade Successful.]
[Legendary Grade Ten Thousand Ghost Face Mask has evolved.]
[New Item Obtained: Mythic Grade Artifact — Face of Thousand-Faced Illusion Demon God.]
Andrew stared as another panel opened.
[Name: Ten Thousand Ghost Face]
[System: Sealed by system to match Player’s weak body]
[Grade: Mythic Tier]
[Information: A forbidden relic created with the Face of the Thousand-Faced Illusion Demon God. Legends claim even the Heavenly Dao failed to uncover its true master.]
[Passive Effects:]
1. +10 Agility, +10 Perception, +10 Intelligence
2. Face of the Thousand-Faced Illusion Demon God — Freely alters face, body structure, voice, aura, race, soul signature, bloodline signature, and biological presence.
3. Dimensional Veil — Exists between dimensional layers, causing conventional detection, tracking, appraisal, and lock-on abilities to fail.
4. Divine Concealment — Conceals the wearer from all beings below the demigod Realm.
5. ??? [Sealed]
6. ???? [Sealed]
7. ?????? [Sealed]
[Active Skills:]
1. Phantom Dominion — Enter a ghost-like state. Footsteps, breathing, scent, killing intent, mana fluctuations, and life force completely disappear for 10 minutes. (Cooldown: 24 Hours)
2. Mirage Manifestation — Creates up to 20 perfect afterimages with 50% strength that mimic every thought. (Cooldown: 30 Minutes)
3. ??? [Sealed]
4. ???? [Sealed]
5. ?????? [Sealed]
6. ????????? [Sealed]
Andrew’s pupils contracted. "...What the hell..."
Without wasting a second, he pressed the mask against his face. The artifact liquefied on contact, fusing into his skin.
In that instant, his whole perception shifted. His body shivered. It felt wrong—or maybe empty. He could still see Heaven’s Domain around him. The trees were there. The wind blew. The distant forest stood unchanged. But at the same time, everything had changed.
Andrew felt like he no longer existed in normal reality, like he’d stepped halfway into another dimension. His vision split. On one side, he saw the normal world. But overlapping it was another world—a gray, twisted place filled with endless fire. Dark crimson flames erupted across the sky. The atmosphere was heavy, violent, ancient.
He understood. He was standing between worlds. Half in the mortal realm, half inside a demonic plane, a place where two dimensions overlapped without touching.
Neither realm could see him. The mortal world couldn’t sense him. Whatever lived in that infernal realm couldn’t sense him either.
Andrew’s eyes widened. ’So this means... I can actually walk through the Demon Realm without being noticed...’
He cut the thought off.
’No. Impossible.’
ven if the artifact allowed it, he’d never dare. Demons weren’t ordinary. Everyone knew the truth: even Level 50 Ultras would die instantly against a real demon. They were stronger, faster, infinitely more dangerous.
He forced himself not to look too deeply into the hellish dimension overlapping his own. Instead, he waited. One minute, five, twenty, one hour.
Suddenly, his body went rigid. Space directly ahead split open. A man stepped out of the void. Andrew’s pupils shrank violently.
The man was shirtless, showing a lean but terrifyingly powerful body.
Around his neck hung a monk-like prayer necklace of large beads. But the most horrifying part was the tattoos. Red runic markings covered every inch of his skin—neck, chest, arms, stomach, back.
They weren’t ordinary tattoos; they moved. Andrew watched in frozen horror as the runes squirmed like living things crawling under his skin. Even worse, tiny human-like figures were trapped inside the symbols, walking endlessly within the red markings like prisoners.
The man stepped forward, the void itself warping around him. He spoke casually. "Hm..." He looked around. "He’s not here?"
Andrew didn’t dare to breathe or even move.
The man closed his eyes. A terrifying, invisible pressure spread outward. The space trembled as the man scanned the entire forest.
’Didn’t they say noine can enter beginner village?’
Andrew was truly panicking.