Chapter 163: Divine Specialization: Fate
As Matthew's hand began to emit a growing light,
Tai Ji sensed the impending threat of death and let out desperate cries:
"No, I was wrong! I admit my mistakes!"
"I still have value! I know countless secrets! I know the power behind fate…"
"…"
She begged for her life while struggling madly. But seeing that Matthew remained unmoved, she couldn't help but roar in fury:
"You foolish mortal! Stop this at once!"
"Don't you want to know what you're missing out on?!"
Tai Ji's voice grew smaller and smaller, fading as Matthew wielded the power of time.
Her existence gradually faded into nothingness, disappearing into the depths of Matthew's soul!
And Matthew's soul began pushing forward through time.
One month.
Two months.
Three months!
At that point, Matthew hadn't yet arrived in this world.
He was still drifting through the river of time, enduring its dreadful cleansing and destruction.
The terrifying forces tore at Matthew's soul, battering him relentlessly.
Everything around him became a blur, a swirl of fleeting colors.
In the past, such a force would have shredded his fragile soul to pieces.
In fact, if it hadn't been for Tai Ji's desperate will to survive, using the last of her power to shield him from the crushing tides of time,
Matthew would never have made it into this world alive!
Now, though Matthew was still suffering greatly,
The time power within his soul protected him from harm.
As long as Matthew remained resolute, he would only experience the pain of time's passage.
But Tai Ji wasn't so fortunate.
Once again, Matthew "pulled" her out from the depths of his soul.
Under her terrified gaze, Matthew withdrew the time power that had enveloped her.
Before Tai Ji could lunge at Matthew and burrow back into his soul,
Her remaining fragments were immobilized by the immense force of the river of time.
Then, without mercy, time itself ripped Tai Ji apart, tearing her into pieces.
"No…!"
The echo of her beastly roar became Tai Ji's final words.
Watching as Tai Ji was obliterated, Matthew, enduring the agonizing pain, slowly reached out.
He grasped the last remaining thread of her essence and watched it disappear into the river of time.
Afterward, an indescribable exhaustion and suffering overwhelmed Matthew.
He barely had enough strength to grab some paper and scribble down a few instructions, then threw it out of the chamber.
Then, Matthew slowly closed his eyes.
Along with Yaya, whose body was also undergoing changes, they both fell into a deep sleep.
On Matthew's smooth forehead, a faint glow appeared, flickering in and out of sight!
...
It was unclear how much time had passed.
Matthew regained awareness.
He tried to enter a meditative state but realized that there was nothing around him—not even himself.
Suddenly!
A flash of light appeared.
A bolt of thunder cracked across the heavens, followed by a deafening roll of thunder.
Torrential rain fell in torrents, with ripples forming in the water from the splashes. Matthew saw a surge of crimson below!
Gurgle...
Gurgle...
Gurgle...
Boiling lava spewed forth from the mouth of a volcano.
The molten rock rushed with an intense heat from the earth's core, clashing violently under the sea.
As the molten rock was cooled by the water, it turned into cold iron slag. Thick smoke rose, breaking through the water and tearing through its layers, entering the open sky.
At some point, Matthew's earlier worries vanished, and he calmly watched the world shift and change.
The raging thunder, the surging sea, the billowing black smoke, the unbearable heat.
Every moment brought new changes to the world—every second a different view.
Time moved ever forward!
With a newfound sense of clarity, Matthew began to "see" more of this barren world's "transformations."
Some were far beyond his expectations, sparking his amazement.
Others confirmed the memories in his mind, bringing a smile to his face.
The evolution of all things, the birth and origin of life.
The once desolate world slowly filled with vitality, and life blossomed, radiating ever more beautiful light.
Matthew slowly opened his eyes. He could now "see" not just time, but all things in the world!
And he could also see himself—everything was still there!
The data display was still functional.
His Arcanist abilities were unchanged.
Only his body had undergone significant changes.
He had grown taller, now reaching 1.9 meters.
Though he felt some hunger, his physique was much more imposing.
Matthew could feel the immense power hidden within his now stronger body.
The power of the Candle Dragon!
Time!
And something entirely new on his attribute panel!
Name: Matthew Ser
Race: Human
Age: 18
Height: 1.9 meters
Profession: Level 6 Arcanist (0/20,000).
Talent: Candle Dragon Bloodline LV2, All Attributes +2, Maximum Health +10, Master of Time, Reverser of Time.
Specializations:
Divine Specialization - Power of Fate LV1 (0/10,000,000).
Passive: Insight into the essence of all things, presented in a data display.
Active: Consume Fate Power to view fate's branches!
Fate Power: 1,600. Every time you save or kill someone, you gain corresponding Fate Power. The world is ever-changing, and change is fate!
Note: The Fate Power of an ordinary person is 1.
Low-tier professionals have a Fate Power of 10 × their class level.
Mid-tier professionals have a Fate Power of 100 × their class level.
High-tier professionals have a Fate Power of 1,000 × their class level.
Extraordinary… 10,000 × their class level.
Legendary… 100,000 × their class level.
Advancement: Each LV1 advancement requires Fate Power equivalent to the same level's total Fate Power × 10.
For example, advancing low-tier specializations, skills, bloodlines, or legacies requires the Fate Power of a low-tier professional of the same level × 10.
Extraordinary Specialization - Candle Dragon Body LV1, Intelligence +3, Affinity with Fire Elements, Fire Spell Damage Taken -10, Fire Spell Damage Dealt +10!
...
Spells:
...
Arcanist Legacies:
Super-tier Legacy: Flesh - Specialization Analysis LV4.
Super-tier Legacy: Weave - Activated Grant LV1.
Attributes:
Strength: 12 → 14, Modifier +2
Dexterity: 14 → 16, Modifier +3
Intelligence: 25 → 30, Modifier +10 (Regenerates 3 mana per minute in meditation)
Constitution: 15 → 17, Modifier +4
Perception: 18 → 20, Modifier +5
Charisma: 16 → 18, Modifier +4
Luck: 1 → 2
Spell Attack: 10.
Spell Defense: 4
Physical Attack: 3.
Defense: 4.
Health: 40 + 10 + 6/56 (Constitution ×2 + Class Level), Light Injury.
Mana: 300 + 60/360 (Intelligence ×10 + Class Level ×10).
Abilities:
Knowledge: 198 → 225 (Legendary).
Meditation: 158 → 185 (Quasi-Legendary).
Magic Item Crafting: 122 → 125 (High-tier).
Alchemy: 99 → 105 (High-tier).
Perception: 106 → 148 (High-tier).
Deception: 105 → 115 (High-tier).
Leadership: 101 → 105 (High-tier).
Evasion: 86 → 105 (High-tier).
Persuasion: 75 → 95 (Mid-tier).
Life Bond: Time Dragon.
Evaluation: Rapidly developing boss!
The biggest change on the attribute panel was that his Legendary Specialization - Fate's Choice had evolved into a Divine Specialization - Power of Fate!
Experience points, skill points, and fate coins had all been unified.
Matthew understood clearly that Tai Ji had used the fundamental similarity between the three energies to secretly siphon off Fate Power, growing stronger in secret.
Now, the Fate Power was his!
He discovered that nearly all his abilities, including the Divine Specialization itself, could be enhanced with Fate Power!
As Matthew read to the end of the panel, he froze for a moment, a smile on his face.
Time Dragon!
Yaya was no longer just a dragon beast?
She had become a true dragon!