Reborn with Infinity Skill Points, I Enslaved All Universes-Chapter 88 --Meeting Gift

Though Daniel had used [Mist] to conceal his presence and suppress his aura, it didn’t render him truly invisible.

That was why Sarko had still been able to detect him.

Seeing Daniel remain silent, Sarko spoke again, his voice emanating directly into Daniel’s mind with psychic clarity.

"From your scent, I can tell you are a creature of the surface. But..."

"There’s something strange about you. Something... I’ve never encountered before."

"And currently, you’re holding something that belongs to me—my personal collection."

Daniel paused for a moment, raising an eyebrow. He immediately activated [Eye of Insight] and scanned the surroundings.

[Abyssal Core Vein]

Grade: 1

Ownership: Sarko

A realization struck him—the entire mine was claimed.

He experimentally tried to store a nearby Abyssal Core in his backpack. Unsurprisingly, the attempt failed. The system rejected the action outright.

The resource node had an owner—and unless Sarko granted permission, Daniel wouldn’t be able to pocket a single crystal.

Technically, there was another option—defeating Sarko and claiming ownership by force.

But that idea was... premature at best, suicidal at worst.

At the moment, killing Sarko was out of the question. freēwēbηovel.c૦m

Which left only one possibility: stealing.

If Daniel could smuggle the Abyssal Cores up to the surface, wait out the three-day cooldown period, and reclaim them after their owner tag expired, they would then be his to keep.

But stealing wasn’t ideal—not because of morality, but because it was far too inefficient.

Besides, Daniel had already considered a flaw in that plan. If he were to bring any Abyssal Core with him while using [Flashback], the item would teleport with him—but the cooldown timer wouldn’t reset, and it’d remain uncollectable.

So practically speaking, that method was worthless.

...

Meanwhile, Sarko was also evaluating Daniel, his gaze sharp and analytical.

What surprised him the most wasn’t that Daniel had intruded into his domain, or even that he hadn’t retreated. No—the shocking part was that Daniel showed no fear.

Even more baffling: Sarko couldn’t read Daniel’s status at all.

And that only meant one thing—Daniel was a being of equal or greater tier.

Possibly stronger.

After all, they were standing deep within the Abyss, where Sarko should have held every advantage. Abyssal influence suppressed foreign powers, weakening non-native creatures. Even seasoned surface elites would be diminished under these conditions.

Yet Daniel remained unreadable.

That was incredibly abnormal.

And as if that weren’t enough, Sarko hadn’t forgotten the strike Daniel had launched earlier. Even though he had evaded it with Phasing, the sheer power in the attack had shocked him.

It was a probe, clearly not Daniel’s strongest move. And yet Sarko had instinctively calculated: had he not phased in time and taken the hit directly, he would’ve been injured.

Not grievously, perhaps—but the fact remained.

At his level—Tier 250, an Abyssal King—being injured by a casual strike was nearly unheard of. Not even his fellow lords could typically harm him in a single move.

And so, in that moment, Sarko made a strategic judgment.

If a real battle broke out between the two of them, even if Daniel didn’t kill him, Sarko would be severely wounded—possibly fatally.

That single calculation was enough to kill any thought of aggression in Sarko’s mind.

"I’ve heard that on the surface, there are many other races," Sarko said calmly.

"But it’s such a distant place. Even for me, reaching the surface is no easy feat."

"Still, I’ve acquired some information from travelers over the years. If I’m not mistaken—you’re from the Human Race, yes?"

"You seem quite interested in my mineral vein."

Daniel met his gaze, already guessing Sarko’s train of thought. With a steady tone, he replied:

"You’re right. I am human."

"And yes—I’m very interested in your Abyssal Core vein."

He didn’t try to hide it. Instead, he openly observed the rich lode of Abyssal Core crystals embedded in the walls of the cave.

"I need a large amount of Abyssal Cores," Daniel continued, "and if possible, I’d like to trade for them."

His voice was even, confident, devoid of pretense. Meanwhile, his eyes scanned Sarko’s talents via [Eye of Insight]:

[Name:] Sarko

[Talent:] Dark Gambler (SS Rank)

[Talent Specialization:] Power of Contracts, Defiance of Consequences, Fortune Seizure, Forced Pact...

Descriptions:

Defiance of Consequences: Even when breaching a contract, you will suffer no permanent backlash. You take only half the usual penalty and avoid fatal injuries.Fortune Seizure: After forming a contract with any lifeform, if they fail to fulfill the terms, you will absorb their luck stat.Forced Pact: You can initiate binding contracts against any creature weaker than yourself. In doing so, you must temporarily forfeit certain advantages.

Daniel’s expression darkened slightly as he finished reading.

He hadn’t expected this.

An Abyssal King with a Talent Trait—just like an Awakener.

And not just any talent, either.

The entire build revolved around gambling. All the specializations played off the concept of risk and reward, contracts and consequences, fate and manipulation.

It was dangerous—absurdly dangerous.

He could use contracts to leech luck, avoid death penalties, and force pacts onto the unprepared.

A truly busted trait.

Most alarming of all, Sarko wasn’t just strong—he had leverage, a suite of rules that bent the game in his favor.

Daniel’s mind spun with possibilities. He knew that anyone showing this much friendliness without provocation likely had an ulterior motive.

Still, it was better to let things play out.

Sarko, meanwhile, was visibly delighted.

"To think a noble guest from the Human Race would descend so far into the Abyss..." he said, eyes glinting with interest.

"Since you’ve shown sincerity, and you’re so fascinated by Abyssal Cores—why don’t we keep things simple? I have no desire for conflict."

As he spoke, Sarko raised a hand.

The surrounding cave walls began to tremble, and moments later, a cascade of dark crystals broke free from the stone and floated through the air, gathering in his palm like glowing shards of midnight.

"Here," he said, "are 5,000 Abyssal Cores."

"A small gift to honor your arrival."

"And also... a wagering stake for the game I hope we’ll play."

Daniel’s expression remained calm, even as he accepted the offering without hesitation.

Free gifts? Why not?

With his God Rank Skill [Flashback], he could exit the Abyss instantly if needed. The skill didn’t care whether he was in combat or not—it could be activated at any time, with a single thought.

If things turned sour, Daniel would be gone before Sarko could even blink.

Which meant... this gamble?

It was one he could afford to take.