Awakening

Dragonblooded Sorcerers were a typical kind of Sorcerer. Over time, they would naturally awaken Dragonkind's innate abilities, along with many related Spellcasting abilities. In the end, by strengthening their dragon bloodline and replacing their original human bloodline, they would become even more powerful Half-Dragons. That was why Dragonkind was often considered the source of Sorcerer inheritances. They did not need to learn anything; from the moment they were born, much knowledge and many memories were stored in their minds. As their strength increased, they would gradually awaken various memory Spells and related knowledge from their days as Wyrmlings.

That was incredibly powerful!

Dragonkind's genetic traits had always been a secret many Wizards wanted to study. If they succeeded, they could use them to raise descendants who, like Dragonkind, would awaken inherited memories over time. Soren had once accepted such a mission in the North, and its target had been an adult White Dragon.

Once it was confirmed that Vivian possessed the talent of a Sorcerer, a new question arose.

"What is her innate Charisma?"

The earlier a Sorcerer awakened their talent, the stronger it generally was. Under normal circumstances, they would only begin awakening around adolescence. Such Sorcerers usually had around 16 points of Charisma, and it was rare for one to have less than 15. When Sorcerers awakened their abilities, it meant that their natural affinity had begun affecting the energy around them. When certain special events caused major emotional fluctuations, they would awaken their first 0-level Spell.

At the same time, they gained the ability to manipulate external energy!

It was rather complicated.

For instance, newly born Wyrmlings among Dragonkind had to grow into Young Dragons before they could awaken their abilities and master their first Draconic Spell!

Sorcerers were much the same. Only upon reaching adolescence could they awaken their first 0-level Spell.

Therefore, every year earlier represented a higher level of Sorcerer talent. Roughly speaking, for every year earlier they awakened, their estimated base Charisma increased by 1 point. In other words, if awakening at thirteen with 16 points of Charisma was the standard, then a Sorcerer who awakened at twelve would have 17 points of Charisma, while one who awakened at eleven would have 18.

Vivian was eight now.

That meant her innate Charisma should have been 20 or 21!

"How was that possible?!"

Soren's face revealed an utterly shocked expression as he muttered, "Wouldn't that mean she was born with the God-Blessed Sorcerer template?"

"She might even be able to advance into a Favored Soul in the future!"

But exactly how much was it?

A troubled look appeared on Soren's face, as though he was frustrated by his inability to determine Vivian's attributes.

Attributes were extremely important to one's personal strength. Only with sufficiently high attributes could one possess greater power when raising one's class level, and they often determined one's ultimate limits. Before obtaining a Demigod Divine Rank or mastering Divinity, the strength of a Class Holder after entering the Legendary Domain was largely determined by their early base attributes. At that point, at least one attribute had to reach 25, and if possible, the second attribute had to be raised to 25 as well!

"Damn it!"

"Why didn't I have my old scouting ability anymore?"

Soren rubbed his head in frustration. Players used to possess scouting abilities that allowed them to inspect the attributes and strength of others. Although they could only obtain vague approximations depending on the skill's level, that would have been enough for him to judge Vivian's innate attributes. But now, it seemed that no one in the entire world besides him possessed attributes, so naturally there was no possibility of scouting anyone.

However.

At that moment, a row of information suddenly appeared:

"Scouting ability activated!"

"Perform data calculation on the target creature?"...

"Pay 300 points of Soul Energy!... The target's base attributes can be converted and calculated as data!..."

"More extensive data calculations will consume more Soul Energy!..."

Three hundred points of Slaughter Experience?

Wasn't that price far too high?

But after Soren glanced at Vivian's dazed expression, he still gritted his teeth and chose to pay!

It was only three hundred points of Slaughter Experience. At worst, he could kill a few Gnolls later and earn it back.

But Vivian's innate attributes still had to be clarified, because she might possess talent even more astonishing than Soren's!

"Begin data calculation!"

Soren's vision suddenly went dark, and pain surged through his mind. Immediately afterward, countless 0s and 1s began flashing through his thoughts. The sensation was like when he had first lain in bed for over half a month: the moment he woke up, endless streams of data flooded in, leaving his entire body unable to move. Even the slightest movement would send powerful electric currents coursing through him.

A row of information appeared:

"Data calculation successful!... Consumed 300 points of Soul Energy!..."

"Target data as follows!..."

"Name: Vivian."

"Race: Human."

"Age: 8."

"Attributes: Strength 5, Dexterity 9, Constitution 6, Intelligence 16, Wisdom 18, Charisma 21."

"Other: Unknown."

"Target creature is a minor. Primary attributes will increase significantly over time, while secondary attributes will increase slightly over time!"

"Base attributes will stop growing after adulthood."

21 points of Charisma!

It was one point higher than the extraordinary 20 points of Charisma Soren had expected.

Vivian also possessed an astonishing 18 points of Wisdom. No wonder that Young Female Cleric of the Lord of Morning had said she possessed unusual talent and might become a Cleric.

Wasn't that obvious?

With 18 points of innate Wisdom, becoming a Cleric would be as easy as eating and drinking.

"Big brother?"

The little girl seemed to notice the trace of pain on Soren's face. She immediately grabbed his hand in worry and asked anxiously, "What's wrong?"

"Are you feeling unwell again?"

The streams of data before Soren's eyes gradually faded away. Perhaps because he had seen so many 0s and 1s, he had grown somewhat accustomed to them.

He smiled and stroked Vivian's little head. "I'm fine."

"But."

"My Vivian will become an incredible Legendary figure when she grows up!"

"Maybe she'll even become a breathtaking beauty!"

21 points of innate Charisma.

18 points of innate Wisdom.

16 points of innate Intelligence.

Those were only her attributes as a minor. Based on Soren's past experience, primary attributes would increase by more than 5 points after adulthood, while secondary attributes would increase by 1 to 3 points. In other words, even if Vivian did nothing, she could easily take up any Spellcasting Class in the future, while possessing talent growth far beyond that of ordinary people. So long as she wished, she could multiclass as anything—a Wizard, Cleric, Sorcerer, Druid, Shaman, and so on.

Her talent surpassed Soren's by countless miles!

The little girl still only half understood Soren's words, but that did not stop her from smiling happily. Blinking, she asked, "Big brother."

"Are you praising me for being pretty?"

Meanwhile.

In a concealed underground chamber somewhere in Amber City, the faint blue flames on an altar suddenly flickered. Then, amid the bursting flames, a pitch-black figure appeared at the center of the altar. His form seemed to devour light itself. Though the flames shone upon him, nothing could be seen—only a pure, dark phantom.

"High Priest!"

The fallen followers guarding the altar dropped to one knee. The leading Red-Robe Priest bowed and said, "Why have you come in person?"

"Has My Lord delivered a new Divine Oracle?"

The black figure on the altar was not a physical entity. He looked more like some sort of energy projection. He glanced coldly below and said in a deep voice, "The first Godsbane has awakened!"

"The Prophecy has gone awry. My Lord's will did not descend upon the Godsbane."

"The first Godsbane awakened Divine Power on his own!"

"Pass on my orders."

"Find him at any cost!..."

"Awaken the sleeping Dread Knight!..."

"Send them out."

"Crush every ant that stands in our way!..."

"I want to see the first Godsbane return to his original path and awaken completely amid despair and Fear!..."

The dark figure gradually faded away, but a trace of madness appeared on the Red-Robe Priest's face. He licked his lips and looked toward the eight Marble Coffins surrounding the altar. Countless intricate patterns were carved upon them, like some powerful seal. He swept a Cruelty-filled gaze across those below the altar and sneered, "Go find enough sacrifices now!"

"Tomorrow at Midnight, we will hold the ritual to awaken the Dread Knight!... This city will be destroyed before dawn arrives!..."

"Fear will be everywhere!"