Chapter 53: The Totem That Can Foresee the Future

See the future?!

He must truly be mad. To think he had actually believed what the man said earlier—Rody stood up and left without another word. How could anyone predict the future? That was a power reserved for the gods. If one could see the future, what would be impossible to accomplish?

If he could see the future, his father would not have died from something as trivial as a chill, simply because they were half a day too late!

“I know it’s hard for you to believe, but every day I see visions of things yet to come. One by one, these scenes are confirmed, letting me know that everything is real.”

The man shrugged and gave a bitter smile. With a flick of his wrist, his totem appeared—a small, peculiar creature.

Its fur was entirely golden, its head resembled that of a monkey, its body was like a lion’s, and on its back were a pair of massive silver wings. As the wings gently fanned the air, golden fur rippled like waves, dazzling to behold.

“This is my main totem. It’s been with me since childhood. I later discovered, by chance, that it’s a super-grade totem beast,” Allen explained simply.

Super-grade!

That word made Rody’s heart leap. As a Fate Spirit Master, he was well aware that every totem’s potential was inherently limited.

The higher the potential, the greater the chance of evolving into a divine beast.

His own Little Black was only of mid-grade potential; at best, it could achieve ultimate evolution, and that would be its limit.

But super-grade potential meant that, so long as the creature survived and had enough resources, it had more than a fifty percent chance of achieving super evolution!

Rody examined the totem. Its eyes were sharply defined, black and white, not much different from a human’s. In the center of its brow was a tightly closed vertical eye, shrouded in a faint silver glow, making it appear especially mysterious and inscrutable.

“I’ve never seen one like it…” Rody shook his head, but thought little of it. The world teemed with countless species; he had not seen even one percent of them.

“I only gained this ability after it evolved,” Allen continued. “From some ancient texts and legends, I learned that this creature is a Skorfen—a legendary being said to foretell the future.”

Allen saw that Rody was still unconvinced and smiled. “In my dreams, I saw a vast underground forest. At its very heart grew a strange little tree, upon which hung fruits ranging from gray at the base to rainbow-hued at the top.”

As he spoke, surprise flashed across Rody’s face, for the description matched his own experience almost exactly—and he had never told anyone the details of the tree.

“You needn’t suspect I belong to that organization. In truth, I bear them a deep, irreconcilable grudge. If you need more proof, come with me to a place in Stormport. There’s no need to worry—I mean you no harm.”

Clearly sensing Rody’s wariness, Allen added another explanation. Rody pondered for a moment, then nodded. “All right.”

After his main totem evolved, its strength had increased many times over, enough to rival a top-tier second-level Fate Spirit Master. He had little fear of Allen.

“Let’s go, then. Time is short—we’ll talk as we walk.” Allen’s smile grew even gentler, a weight seemingly lifted from his shoulders.

Rody asked, somewhat puzzled, “By the way, why do you trust me so much? Aren’t you afraid I’ll reveal your abilities to others?”

Allen paused, met his gaze, and replied solemnly, “Because you’re a hero.”

Alright, he really couldn’t understand this kind of person. Such thinking was clearly not normal!

Rody shook his head and followed Allen out of the tavern.

…

In Stormport, inside an ordinary restaurant, a man in a silver-gray robe sat by the window. His handsome features and elegant manner drew many admiring glances.

He spread a map across the table, took a casual sip of hot water, and studied the map intently.

The thick sheepskin parchment was covered with black ink sketches of various terrains, mountain ranges, and territories—all clearly marked. It looked much like the maps of his previous life, evidently crafted with great care. No wonder it cost five gold coins.

Stormport was the southernmost city of the Empire, one of its five famed port cities, separated from the Eastern Continent by a boundless ocean.

To the south lay the endless Dusklight Forest and the Vogul Wastelands; only to the north stretched a fertile plain.

“The True God Sect has three branches in Fawn County. The most important is, of course, the underground cavern, where they’re likely now trying to move the Seedling of the Tree of Life. The one I destroyed was merely an assassin branch composed of ordinary people, tasked with killing Fawn County’s lord. It doesn’t really affect their larger plans.”

Charles frowned at the map. After carefully searching his memories, he placed his finger on Stormport. “The third branch is in Stormport’s noble district, run by a minor noble who’s joined their cause.”

The True God Sect was an organization bent on creating a ‘god.’ In the future, they would openly confront the combined might of the two great empires. Their true power was far greater than it appeared, having secretly won over many nobles.

The future events he knew mostly involved major incidents or important figures.

That minor noble died almost as soon as he appeared in the story—just an ordinary man, seeking power beyond his station by siding with the sect.

Members of the True God Sect could use colored pinecones to partially totemize their bodies, granting them extraordinary strength. The price was eternal servitude, and promotion was nearly impossible; at best, they could rival evolved totems.

By contrast, Morent Academy’s research allowed people to continually evolve by fusing the bloodlines of powerful creatures, without such limitations.

“That evolved warrior from Morent has likely arrived as well, though I don’t know where,” Charles muttered, massaging his temples.

His mind was packed with an enormous amount of plot information, and each recall drained his energy, leaving him fatigued.

Within half a month, a battle involving an ultimate totem would erupt near Stormport.

In that battle, Rody and the evolved warrior would be the main protagonists, defeating a third-level Fate Spirit Master despite only being at the second level themselves.

After all, what kind of protagonist doesn’t defeat stronger enemies?

Rody’s main totem would one day be hailed as the King of Totems, possessing overwhelming power and defense—capable of shattering mountains with a single punch.

The other was no less impressive, bearing the most advanced human evolution technology of Morent Academy, the crowning achievement of that era. By a twist of fate, he would also merge with a divine beast’s bloodline, matching Rody in strength, and eventually become the academy’s leading figure.

Their very existence made Charles cautious, wary that, like in a novel, fate would favor them, enabling them to grow stronger through every crisis.

His eyes flickered with uncertainty.

“Perhaps I should find a chance to take out one of the Seven Fated Ones—just to see what happens!”