I Died and Became a Noble's Heir-Chapter 412: SS Talent

The God of Death’s burning eye sockets swept across Jack’s companions, taking in their various states of shock and awe.

His massive armored form radiated power that made the very air feel heavy, pressing down on mortal souls like a death trap closing in.

Rhys’s legs had given entirely out. Only Father Caelen’s supporting arm kept the elf prince from collapsing entirely onto the black stone platform.

His winter-ice eyes were wide with terror and disbelief, his mind struggling to process that he was standing in the actual presence of a deity—not a chosen one blessed by divine power, but an actual god.

"A... a god," Rhys stammered, his voice barely a whisper. "We’re standing before an actual god. The real—"

"Yes, yes, actual divinity in the flesh, very impressive, try not to wet yourself," the God of Death interrupted with casual irreverence that somehow made the situation even more surreal.

His attention shifted to Pho and Loryn, both of whom remained in deep bows. "Oh, for the love of— you two know better. Get up already."

But the demons didn’t move; their deference was absolute, despite the god’s dismissive tone.

Jack watched this exchange with narrowed eyes, then made a decision. His voice cut through the tension like a blade.

"Stand up."

Pho and Loryn’s heads lifted slightly, confusion evident in their postures.

"I said stand up," Jack repeated, his tone carrying absolute authority despite addressing beings far older and more powerful than himself. "All of you. As long as I’m here, you don’t kneel to anyone. Not to gods, not to kings, not to anyone."

"Jack," Father Caelen’s voice carried a gentle warning. "This is the God of Death himself. Surely some respect—"

"Is earned, not demanded," Jack finished, his red eyes never leaving the armored figure before him. "And if this god has answers I need, then we’re having a conversation between equals. Not supplicant and deity."

The platform fell silent. Even the distant sounds of lava flowing down impossible mountains seemed to quiet, as if the entire realm was holding its breath.

Then the God of Death laughed.

The sound was like distant thunder rolling through a graveyard, deep and resonant. He was genuinely amused by the situation.

His massive shoulders shook with mirth, the crimson veins in his armor pulsing brighter.

"Oh, I like you, lightning boy. I really, really like you." He gestured broadly with one gauntleted hand. "Draven told me you had stones, but I didn’t believe him until now. Please, everyone, do as the man says. Stand up. We’re all friends here."

Pho and Loryn rose slowly, their blank and purple eyes studying Jack with new appreciation. Father Caelen helped Rhys to his feet, though the elf prince still looked like a strong breeze might knock him over.

Jack didn’t waste time on pleasantries. "Who is Ereb?"

The God of Death’s burning eye sockets fixed on Jack with sudden intensity. "Straight to the point. No small talk, no feeling out the conversation, just diving right into the deep end." He crossed his massive arms. "You sure you want these answers, kid? Sometimes ignorance really is bliss."

"I’ve been ignorant for eighteen years," Jack’s voice carried cold fury barely held in check. "Someone tried to kill me when I was six years old. Valdoren was about to tell me who, and then a god silenced him permanently. I’m done being kept in the dark."

"Fair enough." The god’s tone shifted, losing some of its casual humor. "But before I answer, you need to understand something. The god you’re asking about? He’s old. I mean old old. Primordial. He existed before the current pantheon, before most of what you’d recognize as civilization, back when the cosmos was still figuring out basic concepts like ’light’ and ’dark.’"

"I don’t care how old he is," Jack growled. "I want his name."

The God of Death was quiet for a long moment, his helmeted head tilted as if weighing options. Finally, he sighed...

"You and Draven," Jack pressed, his patience exhausted. "You’re both hiding too much. No riddles, not half-truths, not ’you’ll understand when you’re older’ bullshit. Answers."

Another pause. Then the god nodded slowly.

"His full name is Erebus. Primordial God of Darkness. One of the first entities to emerge from the cosmic void, embodying the fundamental concept of shadow and the absence of light." The god’s voice carried weight, as if speaking the name itself had power.

"He has a... complicated history with Draven. They have problems that go back millennia. Problems that apparently extend to trying to murder six-year-old children."

"Why?" Jack demanded. "Why would a primordial god care about killing me?"

"That, I genuinely don’t know," the God of Death replied, and something in his tone suggested he was telling the truth. "Erebus operates on scales and timelines that make my long-term planning look like impulse decisions. If he wanted you dead, it was because you represented some threat to plans that were probably set in motion before your ancestors were born."

Jack’s hands clenched into fists, red lightning crackling between his fingers. He opened his mouth to ask another question when a system notification appeared in his vision.

[QUEST COMPLETE: Learn Who Tried to Kill You]

[Objective: Discover the identity of the entity that orchestrated the assassination attempt on your life]

[Status: COMPLETE]

[Assassin Identified: Erebus, Primordial God of Darkness]

[Calculating Rewards...]

[REWARD UNLOCKED]

[Martial Talent: S → SS]

[Magical Talent: S → SS]

[Your natural aptitude for both physical combat and magical manipulation has evolved]

The power hit Jack like a tidal wave.

His body convulsed as it started to change. Energy rippled through his very essence. It wasn’t painful, but it was intense.

Every cell, every nerve, every fiber of his being was being restructured, enhanced, elevated to a level that shouldn’t be possible.

Red lightning exploded from his body in a sphere of crackling energy. The discharge was so powerful it scorched the black stone beneath his feet, leaving a perfect circle of char marks.

The electrical storm radiated outward in waves, and everyone on the platform felt it. A pressure wave of raw potential that made their teeth ache, and their souls recognized something had just changed.

Rhys staggered backward, his eyes wide. "What... what is that?"

"Power," Pho breathed, his blank white eyes fixed on Jack with something approaching awe. "Pure, unfiltered potential being integrated into his core. I’ve never felt anything like this from a mortal."

Father Caelen’s prayer beads clicked rapidly as he worked them through shaking fingers. "The young master is ascending. Not to divinity, but to something close. Something that bridges the gap between mortal and divine."

Loryn’s purple eyes gleamed. "SS-rank talents. Both martial and magical. There are legends of beings able to ascend past their limitations."

The God of Death watched with arms crossed, his burning eye sockets bright with interest. "Well, well. Looks like the cosmos itself just decided you’re worth investing in, lightning boy."

Jack stood at the center of the lightning storm, his body trembling as the transformation completed.

When he finally looked up, his red eyes blazed brighter than before, and something had shifted in his presence.

"That," the God of Death said appreciatively, "is going to make things very interesting."

Jack took a deep breath, forcing the power to settle, and pulled something from his storage. The Black Token materialized in his palm, its surface drinking in light.

The God of Death went very, very still.

Then his gauntleted hand came up and slapped against his helmeted face with a sound like a bell being struck.

"Oh, you have got to be kidding me." His voice carried equal parts disbelief and frustration. "Please tell me you didn’t... Jack. Jack. Why do you have Erebus’s Coin?"