Free Web NovelChapter 396: Chapter 388: Forging a Nirvana-tier Skill
Inside the Ice Lake, the Active Wormhole sealed itself off.
In the silence, it continued its evolution.
It was completely unaware that an eye, seemingly existing in a higher dimension, was relentlessly spying on it.
The Eye of Destiny.
The [Daily Intel + Occasional Reminders] provided by the Eye of Destiny gave Shi Ming a god-like perspective, allowing him to clearly perceive every change in its body and all noteworthy details.
The one who knows you best is "yourself"?
But right now, the one who knew the "Active Wormhole" best was Shi Ming!
Unfortunately, up to this point, although Shi Ming had benefited greatly from observing the wonders of a creature’s advancement, he hadn’t yet noticed the transformation into a Carrion Sanctuary. The current evolution was still limited to the numerical level—mainly changes in attribute strength.
...
Day 13.
[The Active Wormhole has undergone a phased transformation!]
[Through this tempering, its body has been the first to step into the Nirvana Tier. This advancement in tier has drastically increased its four stats—Attack Power, Physical Strength, Endurance, and Defense Power—raising it from the Peak of the Holy Hall to the Nirvana Tier!]
[It is an extremely specialized beast...]
[Its evolutionary path is locked onto Attack Power.]
[The Eye of Destiny has accurately detected its current stats. These values will continue to rise throughout the advancement process but will no longer experience major leaps.]
[Attack Power: 3,314]
[Physical Strength: 639]
[Endurance: 213]
[Defense Power: 854]
Shi Ming frowned.
’So lopsided?’
’Over three thousand base Attack Power???’
’And only over two hundred base Endurance? That’s a nearly fifteen-fold difference?’
Different beasts had different focuses and strengths, after all.
A normal S-rank sea beast’s five core stats were usually around 150 points. For humans, the number was typically half that, or even lower. This wasn’t just because the human body was inherently no match for powerful sea beasts; it was also because a human’s awakening time and potential had yet to be fully unlocked. Although they might have S-rank potential, they weren’t on the same starting line as sea beasts that could live for centuries, or even longer.
At the Holy Hall Tier, taking the Great Black Heaven Dragon for example, each base stat averaged around 400 to 500.
This was a threefold increase compared to S-rank, a feat also attributable to "race, lifespan, and foundation." As for Holy Hall-tier humans, Shi Ming had never met one and lacked the data to support any analysis. Besides, he himself was an outlier and couldn’t be used as a typical example.
An increase of three to four times from the Holy Hall Tier to the Nirvana Tier was within Shi Ming’s expectations. However, he had previously guessed that a Nirvana-tier beast’s Attack Power would be around 2,000 at most. Yet this Active Wormhole had reached 3,300 through natural evolution alone?
Its Physical Strength and Defense Power, however, were only slightly higher than that of an ordinary Holy Hall-tier Sea Beast.
And its Endurance was barely over 200?
’It really is a specialized fighter. All its points went into Attack Power.’
’A glass cannon.’
’In that case, it’ll be easier to counter.’
’Perhaps if I find the right opportunity, I can use the tenfold power boost to instantly shatter its defenses and kill it in one blow?’
However, this thing clearly hadn’t finished evolving. Its current state wasn’t a complete Nirvana Tier, and the origin of its [Carrion] ability hadn’t even taken form yet. Not even the Eye of Destiny could predict its effects.
...
Day 15.
Shi Ming received new intel.
[Following its physical breakthrough, the Active Wormhole’s Spiritual Power has also entered the Nirvana Tier.]
[Spiritual Power: 1,993]
[Do not worry. It cannot sense your presence yet. As the owner of the Eye of the Divine, your application of Spiritual Power is still rudimentary. You are limited by the bottleneck of the Holy Hall Tier and cannot tap into this treasure, but the standing of the Eye of the Divine is not on the same dimensional plane as the beast.]
Shi Ming breathed a sigh of relief.
’Good. I can keep watching.’
...
Day 21.
[The Active Wormhole’s advancement has entered its final stages.]
[The Nirvana-tier skill "Carrion" is beginning to form.]
[The skill’s origin is enveloped deep within the layers of the Wormhole, like a newly forged creation in the process of being born. The Active Wormhole can slightly alter the skill’s direction according to its own will. This is the final moment, and the most critical one.]
Shi Ming’s eyes lit up.
’The Active Wormhole can manipulate it according to its own will?’
’If that’s the case... then why can’t *I* be the one to manipulate it?’
Hiding in the shadows, Shi Ming once again used Destiny Navigation. He found, however, that all the branches were indistinct, the information extremely vague. This didn’t mean the navigation had failed. The reason was likely that shaping the skill could take a dozen hours or even longer, while Destiny Navigation could only interfere with the next 60 minutes of the future.
But there was still room to maneuver.
[Branch 1: High Attack... Bonus, Mixed Attack]
[Branch 2: Instant Death..., Massive Backlash...]
[Branch 3: Gradual Influence, Silent... Hunt]
[Branch 4: Devouring Gnaw, Deprivation...]
[...]
[Branch 9: Exponential... Explosion, Stacking]
[...]
Shi Ming now understood. Evolving one’s own skill origin was like forging a personal divine weapon. As its master, the Active Wormhole had room for adjustments. Although it couldn’t decide too many details before the weapon was complete, it could make a rough blueprint.
’Excellent.’
’But now, it’s about to lose that right.’
Or rather, it still possessed the right, but Shi Ming would be exercising it on its behalf.
This was extremely important.
Shi Ming, who was lying in wait here, would inevitably have to fight the Nirvana-tier Active Wormhole. Regardless of whether this new skill was powerful or weak, its first target would most likely be Shi Ming himself.
Therefore, the choice he made now was critical.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say this was the most important outcome of his stakeout these past few days.
’A high attack bonus... This thing’s Attack Power is already high, and it’s an expert at finding weaknesses. Even if I enter my Indestructible State, it could still find a loophole. In a way, it’s a perfect counter to me.’
’Instant death effect, massive backlash...’
’No good.’
Branch two was the first one Shi Ming discarded.
Whether he had to face it as an enemy or wield it himself in the future as the master of [Carrion], it was not a good option.
’The silent hunt isn’t bad.’
’But its direction overlaps with Fallen Sanctuary. Maybe Fallen Sanctuary could also evolve to the Nirvana Tier in the future? After all, it came from me; I obtained it through fusion.’
’Exponential explosion...’
’Now that’s a good direction.’
Judging from the simple words, this was likely a skill similar to the Demon Sword’s "Eightfold Wall Great Saber." The damage would be average at first, but then it would keep doubling—from 1 to 2, 2 to 4, 4 to 8—until it stacked to a terrifying level.
Most importantly, once the two of them started fighting, it would give Shi Ming a window of opportunity to face the Nirvana-tier "Carrion" skill directly. He could use that window, before "Carrion" stacked to a terrifying power level, to find his chance!
’This is the one!’
A glint flashed in Shi Ming’s eyes, and the branch of destiny was fixed in place.
The great river continued to flow.
Inside its cocoon, the Active Wormhole, as if following its own will, continued to forge its "skill."
