Free Web NovelChapter 397: Chapter 389: Numbered Nirvana Skill! [Borer]
Using a tributary of destiny to interfere with the Active Wormhole’s advancement, steering the evolution of [Bore] in his desired direction, was a significant interlude.
However, Shi Ming was not omniscient.
Therefore, he couldn’t predict whether this interference would ultimately be for the better or worse.
But from his current standpoint, based on all available information, it was the best choice—one that could create new opportunities.
From his vigil these past few days, Shi Ming had come to understand the process of a Holy Hall creature’s evolution into Nirvana.
First, a massive boost in physical strength.
Second, a leap in Spiritual Power.
Third, the shaping of a Nirvana Origin and the mastery of a Nirvana skill.
Once the Nirvana Origin finished forming, the entire evolutionary process was complete. At that moment, the creature would have officially stepped into a new realm, as if reborn, and mastered new powers.
Now, there were only three days left until the Active Wormhole completed its evolution.
Shi Ming’s focus was absolute,
without a hint of complacency.
As for the Endless Ocean beyond the Ice Sea...
The prophesied date of the *Nirvana’s* return was still 15 days away.
The Endless Ocean was currently calm, and research on ’the Net’ was proceeding in an orderly fashion, conducted by the scientists aboard the great ships. Shi Ming was no research expert and couldn’t help much with the specifics; he could only offer his own judgments and information.
Eliminating the threat of the Active Wormhole and using this opportunity to advance to the Nirvana realm was his most important mission.
...
...
...
[The Eye of Destiny reminds you!]
[The Active Wormhole’s evolution will enter its final stage in 1 hour!]
[This is your last chance to execute ’Plan A.’ In one hour, unless you flee the planet, you will inevitably face a Nirvana-level opponent... Though it will be a novice, it is far beyond what anyone at the Holy Hall Tier can compare to.]
[...]
[’Bore’ is taking shape.]
[The Eye of Destiny has seen its nascent form and will share it with you in full.]
Shi Ming’s eyes lit up.
Over the past twenty-odd days, he had already prepared various contingency plans for the possible evolutionary forms of [Bore]!
If he could learn about its nascent form or framework a day in advance, he could use the remaining time to make targeted optimizations!
Words jumped to life before his eyes.
[Bore (Coded Nirvana Skill)]
[Code: 039 (Indicates creation order, not a strength ranking)]
[...]
[The ’Active Wormhole’ can keenly identify the vulnerabilities of concrete things (like the universe, matter, planets) or abstract things (like thought, civilization, love), and can use its powerful Attack Power and Spiritual Power to bore into these vulnerabilities.]
[Its physical body can use 3350 points of Attack Power to drill into a concrete vulnerability, becoming a part of the target.]
[Its consciousness can use 2035 points of Spiritual Power to drill into an abstract vulnerability, becoming a part of the target.]
[The ’Active Wormhole’ can gnaw at its target.]
[Its gnawing causes the target’s structure to distort and collapse. If we set the initial decay value at 1, the effect doubles with each successive gnaw. Different targets have different breaking points, but these are visible to the Active Wormhole.]
[With the power it possesses immediately after evolving, the Seven Holy Halls can withstand 0-2 gnaws.]
[A star can withstand 7 gnaws.]
[Note: If a target is perfect and has no vulnerabilities, the Active Wormhole can expend energy and time to forcibly create one.]
[...]
This was just as Shi Ming had expected.
It was a stacking, exponentially explosive skill. But it was more than that; it had also inherited the essence of the [Carrion Sanctuary], expanding its range of potential targets to encompass anything, be it concrete or abstract.
The universe, stars, the seas,
Life, reason, destiny,
Destruction, love, luck...
Anything that existed as a concept could become a target for its gnawing or corrosion. The more it gnawed, the faster the decay. Once the breaking point was surpassed, the target would collapse. It would only take seven gnaws to destroy a star!
What was even more absurd was,
it seemed it could also be used as a hiding skill.
After boring into the vulnerability of a tangible object, it would become part of the target itself. For instance, if the Active Wormhole were being hunted, it could quickly bore into the interior of a physical object and become nearly impossible to track.
It was completely broken.
Pests are called bugs for a reason, and they’re notoriously hard to catch.
Because the evolution wasn’t complete, this was only the nascent form of [Bore], and also a reminder from the Eye of Destiny to Shi Ming:
’This is the framework of the skill. In a day, it might evolve into something even more perfect. Whether to strike today or tomorrow—that’s for you to decide...’
Shi Ming didn’t have time to think any further.
More information appeared.
[The moment ’Bore’ takes shape marks the beginning of the creature’s Nirvana. The Active Wormhole’s River of Destiny will enter a brief, hazy state of reboot. You will be unable to use ’Destiny Guidance’ to interfere with the flow of fate for the next 24 hours.]
[But the Eye is your best friend.]
[It will still provide you with the necessary help.]
[And one final discovery:]
[When it comes to cosmic skills, speed is absolute. The instant the Active Wormhole completes its evolution may be your best window to attack... Once it gains a deeper mastery of ’Bore,’ all of creation will become its weapon! The difficulty will skyrocket!]
[Do not forget the ’Miniature Wormhole’.]
[...]
The words all vanished.
Shi Ming sank into deep thought. He wasn’t contemplating giving up—that was out of the question. A Nirvana skill with a single-character code was exceedingly rare. How could he just let it slip away?
He was refining his existing tactics.
Over the past 20 days, he had devised 34 different ’contingency plans’ to deal with various evolutionary outcomes.
And while the skill that had just been revealed didn’t perfectly match any of his scenarios, it was extremely similar to one of them.
People say pre-made meals are never good.
But a ’pre-made plan’ could save him an immense amount of time.
...
Time passed, second by second, minute by minute.
The final deadline was drawing closer, irreversible, with no room for hesitation.
Yet Shi Ming felt no emotional turmoil. Once a decision was made, there was no room for hesitation. Besides, though the enemy’s blade was sharp, his own was hardly blunt!
...
[BEEP!]
[The Eye of Destiny reports the time.]
[30 minutes remaining until the new Nirvana-level creature completes its evolution...]
[20 minutes...]
[10 minutes...]
[5 minutes...]
Shi Ming closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, his eyes were filled with a brilliant fiery light.
A searing Magma Sword appeared in his hand. This was ’Abyssal Burn,’ a blade he had retrieved from the Earth Core. It had once been ranked fifth on the List of Wondrous Items before being pushed down to a temporary sixth.
But two days prior, Shi Ming had used the flesh and blood of six Holy Hall Tier beasts, along with his own blood, to perform an ’infinite upgrade’ on it.
Its current ranking was now unknown.
He raised the three-meter greatsword, its magmatic radiance flaring, and plunged it into his own abdomen.
[Commander’s Bane]
[Plunge Abyssal Burn into the abdomen, channeling a five-thousand-year-old torrent of magma and seven types of Holy Hall Power into the body. This transforms the user into a terrifying humanoid weapon, boosting base Attack Power by 500-800 points. This effect can be stacked with other buffs and adds an extreme fire attribute.]
Every cell in Shi Ming’s body was burning.
The Ice Lake in the Extreme North,
began to boil.
