Hero

Taelan Fordring

Level 10

Race: Nephalem (Partially Awakened)/Human

Class: Paladin

Health: 100%

Mana: 100%

Faction: Alliance/Lordaeron

Combat Rating: Weakling

...Fine!

All his specific numerical values were gone; health and mana were now displayed as percentages. All skills had been consolidated into a single "Skills" tab, while the abilities brought forth by his talent awakening were integrated into a brand-new tab: Power of Nephalem.

Within the Diablo skill tree, he had lit up five skills: Mortal Strike, Strength, Prayer, Contempt, and Holy Bolt. The "Life Skills" tab had also vanished. Only Hammer of Justice remained, sitting lonesomely under "Other Skills."

Taelan Fordring then tapped on the newly generated Power of Nephalem tab. A massive change had occurred; all text descriptions were gone. It had become an independent space. In the center stood a giant tree reaching into the clouds. On its trunk, the values 5/30 were displayed—this was his current World Power. It acted like a scale, indicating the tree's height. The ground was divided into two halves with the tree as the center: one side labeled "Supernatural Abilities" and the other "Basic Abilities." They acted like the roots of the tree, representing its thickness. A crude thatched hut sat beside the giant tree; this was the Level 1 Nephalem's Hut!

The human talents previously under "Other Skills" had been moved to "Supernatural Abilities," which now included two new abilities: Energy Perception (Basic, Passive) and Mental Lock. Both were branched abilities awakened based on Occultism. The "Basic Abilities" were divided into three categories.

The first category, "Knowledge," contained three skills, all recently acquired:

Occultism (Intermediate)

Advanced Mathematics (Basic; you have a bizarre yearning for mushroom-shaped explosions, though it is a pity you are not a mage.)

Ysera's Dream Meditation (Basic)

The middle category was "Combat Skills," covering the combat abilities he had learned and mastered, including Parry, Block, Weapon Mastery, and Evasion.

The third was "Life Skills":

Language Proficiency: Chinese (Advanced), Common Tongue (Advanced), Thalassian (Intermediate; this is thanks to the System master! You illiterate fool!)

Wilderness Survival: Your perception is increased by 3 points.

Fishing (Basic)

Gourmet (Grandmaster)

(A citizen of the Great Foodie Empire! The three women have taken good care of you!)

Three women? Right, his mothers from both lifetimes and his tutor!

"Ding! You guessed wrong! Truly: rotten wood cannot be carved, and walls of dung cannot be plastered! You lonely bachelor!"

...It's acting up again!

World Power 5 corresponded to a skill on the giant tree: Nephalem. Clicking it would reveal the specific description.

Nephalem: Hero Template, Energy Resistance, Awakened Skill Tree.

(You are a noble Nephalem; no one can make you yield! You shall eventually master the ultimate power of the world!)

World Power 30: Retribution, Affinity.

Retribution: After each attack, you deal an additional 10% of that attack's damage as true damage!

Affinity: Handsome! (Nothing more to say!)

Higher up, the tree branched into three limbs: Mystic Mastery, Absolution, and Coercion. However, they were all in red text and not yet activated. Furthermore, Mystic Mastery was at the bottom while Coercion was the highest, clearly requiring different World Power values to unlock. Above that was a layer of mist, obscuring the tree's canopy.

This integrated tab was significantly simpler and clearer, far better than the previous mess where various abilities were piled together!

His paper doll displayed the equipment he had obtained, including Blessing of Tirion Fordring, Eye of Violet, Janice's Blessing Pendant, Infantry Leggings, Gentleman's Belt, Knight's Shortsword, and Lordaeron Standard Shield. It seemed the System's funding had finally arrived!

Furthermore, the Dragon Codex had transformed into a Holy Tome, hanging directly at his side. He was now a proper paladin who carried a book! When he had first seen the paladin Maraad flipping through a book while casting spells, he had thought it looked incredibly cool!

Unfortunately, while others' books were filled with knightly creeds and Holy Spells, his book was packed with energy, mysteries, and meditation techniques between every line of text! It had absolutely nothing to do with the Holy Light's creed.

After sorting through his items and understanding the changes to the System, Taelan Fordring opened the Holy Tome and began to meditate! He was finally able to read the book! It contained an ancient meditation technique called Ysera's Dream Meditation.

As for why the consort of Alexstrasza the Life-Binder would possess Ysera's meditation technique, Taelan did not know. But that did not stop this technique from being exceptional. It not only greatly accelerated mana recovery and increased his maximum mana, but it even granted Taelan experience points to level up. It gave Taelan a feeling of cultivating immortality!

Perhaps this was the reason Malfurion spent so much time sleeping in the Emerald Dream! Now, Taelan was addicted to meditation every day. Because Level 12 was not far off! He would soon welcome his first core skill: Zeal.

Once he learned this skill, he could apply for the Initiate Paladin test. After passing, he could go to Light's Hope Chapel to receive further instruction, improve his combat skills and Occultism level, and prepare for the future Orc incident!

Only when a fledgling bird leaves the nest can it spread its wings and soar.

While Taelan Fordring meditated, his tutor Solarian was writing a letter. She first wrote a magical letter to Prince Kael'thas, which would be delivered directly via magic.

In the letter, she detailed the progress of their business. In just one short month, she had established the company. Using her teleportation magic, she had transported the first batch of goods to Hearthglen and hired five employees: a low-level mage apprentice as a salesperson, three young girls as servants responsible for cleaning and stocking, and a retired veteran as a gatekeeper. Every day, she spent the morning teaching Taelan Thalassian and its language, the afternoon working part-time as a salesperson at the shop, and the evening returning to teach Taelan Fordring Occultism.

She found that in just one month, she had adapted to life in this new home. Aside from when he was performing official duties, Tirion Fordring was a carefree man. He was loving and never interfered in her affairs. Karandra was a mother who, while a bit nagging, was kind-hearted. Her biggest flaw might be spoiling her child, along with "domestic violence"! Old Fordring had been subjected to Karandra's domestic violence several times for taking their son hunting.

Taelan Fordring was a self-disciplined and intelligent child. His talent for magic was excellent; in just one month, he had mastered a language and Occultism. Moreover, Solarian suspected that Taelan had already mastered Energy Perception, a prerequisite for becoming a legendary spellcaster. Without it, no matter how many spells you learned, you could never ascend to legend. In other words, this child of such a young age was already a "hero"! Furthermore, one of the Prince's advisors had told her that this child was known in the Dalaran mage circles as the "Light of the Holy Light!" He was a natural-born spellcaster.

His strange Holy Spell could not only harm enemies and cause explosions, but it could also heal allies. It was an incredibly powerful and unique skill.

After using magic to send the letter to the Prince, she picked up a quill, preparing to write a private letter to her friend Liadren. This letter would be sent to Quel'Thalas along with a shipment, carried by a newly appointed dedicated courier.

Seeking recommendation votes and monthly tickets! Thank you all! Comments are welcome!

I am someone who quite enjoys communication. I personally love reading the Records of the Grand Historian! Alas, my writing skills are poor, and I cannot produce text that satisfies myself!

Furthermore, due to my carelessness, there are many mistakes! I recently purchased a copy of the Shuowen Jiezi Zhu. After reading it, I feel like an expert myself! An expert at making typos!

Friends who enjoy history or games are welcome to add me. Let us communicate more!