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Chapter 583: Ah, It Smells So Good!
After confirming that Yaya had smoothly begun her evolution, Matthew finally felt at ease and carefully reviewed the upgraded Level 3 "Power of Fate."
Divine Feat - Power of Fate LV3.
Upgrade Requirement: Demigod Body LV5, 1 billion Power of Fate.
Passive: See through the essence of all things in the world, displaying them in a data format. Current limit—Demigod Tier!
Active:
Fate Observation:
Consumes Power of Fate equal to the target's class level/challenge level ×10 to probe the trajectory of their fate.
Fate's Choice.
Consumes Power of Fate equal to the target's class level/challenge level ×10 to preemptively activate fate events.
Passive:
String of Fate: For every person saved or killed, gain the corresponding amount of Power of Fate.
The world is ever-changing; change is fate!
The more detailed ability classification allowed Matthew to selectively prepare.
In the past, to conduct observation, he had to use Fate's Choice to see more hidden fate paths.
Now that they are separated, although the Power of Fate may be consumed more rapidly, Matthew had more options.
After all, if he were in the middle of intense battle, having to activate Fate's Choice...
It could increase the difficulty of the war, cause more losses, or lead to greater danger.
If he were in peak condition and the territory was safe,
He could preemptively activate fate events to eliminate hidden dangers.
The more flexible choice allowed Matthew to operate better.
Of course, the greatest benefit of the enhanced Power of Fate was the significant upgrade in data display.
Matthew could now observe demigod-level items, units, and individuals.
He could also obtain more information from previously analyzed objects.
Matthew turned to look at the newly obtained bit of divinity, which no longer held any sound, consciousness, or thought.
Matthew could vaguely sense that once he fully absorbed the divinity—
That divinity would gradually absorb his thoughts and take on the imprint of his mind.
Thus allowing him to connect with others who share the same train of thought...
Matthew could now feel that divine power he used or consumed.
His body could only recover a small part within a day.
Most of it came from the loyal praise and admiration of the people in his territory.
After obtaining two points of divinity, he could feel the whole process more clearly.
If Matthew wished, he could now build statues, engrave portraits, and create emblems within the territory—beginning his path to godhood.
However, Matthew was very clear that merely becoming a god could still not change the future.
After all, far too many gods had fallen in the future!
Yaya's body transformation was somewhat slow.
Although her talent was powerful and her accumulation of knowledge quick, her soul's depth and experience still needed further growth.
Yaya viewed power as a goal in pursuit of its limits.
But "power" was only a tool—a method to solve problems.
The more one delved into it, the slower the comprehension and digestion.
This was also why many beings, once becoming gods, needed a long time to complete their physical and mental transformation.
If poorly digested, they would become slaves to power—driven by it and becoming blind prisoners to strength.
Just like many of the "insane" gods!
It was precisely Matthew's deep understanding of the essence of power, combined with his memories and experiences from two lives, that helped him better comprehend the essence of gods with the help of data display.
He took a long breath and glanced at Yaya's state.
"It will take 50 million Power of Fate for a perfect evolution."
Thinking this, Matthew decisively walked over to Yaya and woke her up.
Facing Yaya's puzzled gaze, noticing the faint golden glow in her eyes, Matthew calmly said:
"No need to immerse yourself too deeply—just let your body rest well. We can continue our adventure."
Yaya understood what Matthew meant—to temporarily give up on digesting the Demigod Body and let her body slowly adapt.
Though slightly confused, Yaya nodded without hesitation.
Matthew would never lie to her!
Moreover, he always made her stronger!
Yaya didn't ask any more questions—instead, she closed her eyes expectantly.
Compared to dull digestion and sleep, she preferred adventure and delicious food.
When the time came, she'd just sleep soundly like before and everything would be resolved.
That was the tacit understanding between Matthew and Yaya!
Returning to his avatar, Matthew carefully surveyed the surroundings. Finding no changes or attacks, he smacked his lips a bit disappointedly:
"Still so cautious..."
As her mind cleared, Yaya cheerfully shook her head.
No one was chirping in her ears—this feeling was just too good.
She sniffed the air, glanced at the pit of charred flesh and ashes, and said gloatingly:
"To give birth to divinity must have taken years of accumulation. Now that we've taken the fruit, they're probably jumping in fury."
Matthew recalled the various cults and couldn't help but lick his lips.
It wasn't that there were no leads, but rather too many suspects.
All kinds of bizarre and monstrous beings would soon make their appearance.
Matthew and Yaya scanned the frozen valley, spotting many different monsters.
Giant apes with four arms that could throw blocks of ice spikes.
Huge burrowing worms traveling through snow with gaping maws taking up half their body.
Wraiths resembling ice element crystals, casting swathes of sharp ice spikes at any time.
What interested Yaya most were the black-clad figures lurking near the woods.
They moved around cautiously.
Despite wearing black, they could hide well in the snowy valley—such unique stealth ability earned Matthew a new Special Feat.
Both Matthew and Yaya knew these people weren't ordinary, but catching these obvious cannon-fodder sentries was pointless given the mastermind's caution.
They both clearly understood that future battles on this continent would be intense and spectacular.
And that was exactly what they wanted to see!
Only in dangerous places could stronger soldiers and adventurers be forged.
Yep, the tool-people must grow stronger quickly!
Not just for themselves—but for the territory!
......
Crack!
The swinging axe struck squarely on the mutated wyvern's head.
The most valuable head was chopped off and stored in a sealing box temporarily.
With so many mutated wyverns, swift processing was needed to save more gold coins.
Liana carefully tallied the loot and various magical materials.
For the many uncertain parts on the wyverns, she uniformly froze them.
If you know, you know. If not, then freeze it.
Bay Territory always valued practicality and respected professionals doing professional work.
Just like the priests casting healing spells—under the direction of Bay Territory medics, they carefully treated the injured.
Why were they so cooperative?
Because the more they learned and the more knowledge they gained, the greater the "blessing" from the Goddess of Magic!
The Goddess of Magic was in Bay Territory. Two miracles in a single year already proved the point!
Elio bit her lip while reading the final casualty report.
"172 dead, 246 severely wounded..."
This was the highest death toll Bay Territory's army had suffered since its formation.
Even during an attack from over 100,000 Wokou pirates, Bay Territory only lost 78.
Although over 1,000 were wounded, they all survived.
Most had recovered, and the rest entered the pre-enhancement training process.
Though Matthew felt heartache, he didn't blame Elio. Instead, he calmly said:
"Don't blame yourself. They died for the territory. Their deaths were meaningful."
"Our job is to live up to their sacrifice, take care of their families, and accumulate more experience and preparation."
Elio gathered herself, nodded resolutely at Matthew.
Elio had pulled herself together and seemed more clear-headed.
She asked herself and believed she had done her best, without any selfish desires causing unnecessary sacrifice.
Every soldier's sacrifice was worth it!
Still, Elio would remember this lesson and prepare for more enemies and dangerous situations.
In future battles, she would continue to lead soldiers to victory—and help more survive.
Whoosh!
Blazing flames consumed the fallen soldiers' bodies.
Once the city was built, they would be transported via the newly built super teleportation array back to Bay Territory.
After a territory-wide broadcasted farewell ceremony, they would be laid to rest in the Martyrs' Cemetery.
Yudala's eyes showed sadness. She covered her lips, forcing herself not to make a sound.
Rika patted her shoulder and said firmly:
"We did all we could. His sacrifice won't be in vain."
Blinking hard and suppressing her sorrow, Yudala suddenly asked:
"Why did we even come out here? Wouldn't it be better to just stay in the territory?"
It was a serious question—but not unusual in Bay Territory's culture.
Still, it reflected Yudala's mental state.
Rika smiled slightly, not offering comfort, but said with calm confidence:
"Hey, weren't you paying attention in class?"
"Because if we don't grow or progress, one day we'll become someone else's prey!"
"Remember Annie? Didn't she want to stay home peacefully? She was a long-lived elf..."
"Population keeps increasing. Arcane technology keeps advancing. Even battle strategies and enemies evolve..."
"If we don't prepare in advance, can we defend our homeland in the future?"
Hearing Rika's words, Yudala's gloom gradually faded. Her gaze firmed, as if she had matured.
She turned to Rika, whose eyes gleamed with complexity, and asked:
"Your family hasn't come yet? Did they run into trouble?"
Looking slightly heavy-hearted, Rika helplessly shook her head and said:
"The staff at the office have contacted them."
"They're currently divided, still hesitating and debating. They're not like your family—willing to embrace new things..."
Yudala blinked, suddenly inspired. "Once we finish this mission, we'll probably get over a month's leave. Want to visit them?"
Rika looked at the rising sails and the faint magical glow, then nodded expectantly:
"Sure. If words can't solve it, fists will."
Glancing at Rika instinctively, Yudala shrank her neck slightly.
Was that how Rika's family expressed affection?
Seemed even more extreme than Commander Elio's family...
Evening approached.
The sun slanted westward.
The slightly yellow sunset poured over the shimmering sea.
Layers of seawater rolled forward, gently lapping at the shore.
One by one, tall figures stared in panic at the approaching steel magic warships.
Each had thick horns, wore animal hides and coarse linen, and held crude fishing tools.
Their bell-sized eyes were filled with panic and vigilance. They shouted to the children and women:
"Leave the shore quickly! Go back! Inform the chieftain—warships are here again!"
They were minotaurs!
Unlike the savage, bloodthirsty, beast-like minotaurs of the Underdark, these had intelligence—and had even developed fishing and language.
They seemed to have experienced encounters with warships—and not good ones—hence their heightened alertness.
But Bay Territory's steel magic warship ignored their caution.
It barreled forward, bearing battle scars crudely patched up.
Under the minotaurs' panicked gaze, the Bay Territory ship docked.
Fully armed marines landed swiftly, establishing a defensive line at record speed.
Under the stunned gazes of the minotaurs, towering iron golems stood silently by the shore.
Soon, the minotaurs witnessed what felt like a miracle.
Towering city walls rose from the ground!
Stone after stone stacked upward.
Compared to the distant sky-piercing peaks, this human-built marvel struck the minotaurs with an indescribable awe.
The minotaurs were terrified. Whoever wielded such power—regardless of race—could easily destroy them all.
Panic spread.
Many minotaurs wanted to flee this sacred land they had lived on for over a decade.
Yet the white-bearded minotaur chieftain said only a few simple words and dispelled those thoughts:
"You want to face the bugs of the Ten-Thousand Mountains?"
"Or the undead monsters of the Underdark?"
"Or do you think you can return to Icewind Valley?"
The young minotaurs shuddered, recalling deep-seated fears.
And so, they watched the Bay Territory personnel from afar.
Watched them build a massive city in just a few days.
Amid inexplicable envy, endless worry surged within.
The minotaurs feared that the growing number of Bay Territory people might seize their last foothold.
Until day five—
The completion of city walls, docks, turrets, and anti-air towers.
Bay Territory's troops and staff finally disembarked from the warship and entered the continent of heroes, settling in Warrior City.
Their construction work was not done. It had just begun.
Factories that need to be built.
Large-scale military camps.
The city's underground sewer system.
The city's outer moat and roads.
Docks that require deepening and expansion.
Numerous tasks turned the soldiers into construction workers, tirelessly working.
On the walls of Warrior City—
Elio withdrew her gaze from the observing minotaurs and asked the helpless Gater:
"How many of them are there? Are they aggressive? What area do they control?"
Gater, who had hoped to show off his skills, found this reconnaissance task unchallenging and directly listed all the intelligence on the minotaurs.
"Their number is around 65,000. They usually live by fishing and farming and occasionally hunt."
"Their aggression isn't particularly strong—it's more a defensive instinct."
Gater recalled how he had appeared before the minotaurs alone several times without provoking any attacks.
This made him highly suspicious of how the minotaurs thought.
How did these seemingly dull and honest minotaurs survive on such a perilous continent?
The plains in front of Warrior City were full of giant spiders and small sub-dragon lizards—far more aggressive than the minotaurs.
Of course, just because the minotaurs weren't overly aggressive didn't mean they were pushovers.
Gater smacked his lips and murmured with emotion:
"Minotaurs inherit the Warrior class legacy. Their strength is quite solid. Even wielding crude weapons, their challenge level is around 10."
"However, due to the singularity of their legacy, they don't have many attack methods and therefore pose little threat to us."
"Also, their recent crop yields haven't been great. The explosion in sub-dragon lizard numbers has severely damaged their farmlands..."
"But they're afraid to approach Warrior City, and the harvests from distant fishing trips are scarce. They're now in a food shortage dilemma..."