Her status shifted from "Malnourished" to "Sub-Healthy," while "Not Awakened" transformed into "Awaiting Awakening." This meant that with an Awakening Crystal as a catalyst, Field could immediately gain a Chosen One!
"Milord, is something the matter?" Ashina nervously twisted her fingers.
After ten days of feasting on meat, Ashina's attitude toward Field had vastly improved. Before her capture, her life had been harsh, scrounging for wild plants daily. Now, encountering this peculiar nobleman meant daily feasts of meat.
*Such is the life of a wolf,* she mused. *Full of unexpected turns.*
"And this is...?"
"An Awakening Crystal. A treasure that cost me sixty gold coins," Field said, wincing. He only possessed five hundred gold coins in total. "On the annual Day of Awakening, the Empire uses these very artifacts to discover Chosen Ones."
A single crystal could test nearly a thousand people.
"Huh? You truly believe I'm a Chosen One?" Ashina stared, dumbfounded. "Milord... please don't jest."
"Close your eyes. Feel it with your heart. I've received divine guidance; you needn't worry." Field fabricated freely, placing the crystal orb before Ashina.
Ashina didn't truly believe she was Chosen, but she didn't wish to disappoint Field. Their days together had shown her he was a different kind of noble—at least, he treated her well.
The moment her hands touched the crystal, countless blue starlight motes surged forth, coalescing into the ethereal, elegant, and aloof image of a goddess.
"The Winter Goddess, Mistress of Ice and Snow!" The demi-human slaves present recognized her instantly—she was their very faith. "Heavens! Ashina is the Winter Goddess's Chosen!"
*Thud! Thud!*
The slaves dropped to their knees en masse, trembling with fervor, hearts ready to burst with devotion.
Field, witnessing such spectacle for the first time, broke into a sweat, awestruck. *This is true divine miracle.*
The blue starlight condensed into intricate runes. Ashina instinctively reached out. The light gradually receded, finally etching itself onto the back of her hand.
Simultaneously, Ashina's body transformed. She grew taller; her legs became flawlessly sculpted perfection. Her skin now rivaled frost and snow, her expression coolly detached. Crimson eyes radiated an icy aura. Her features refined, her beauty elevated by thirty percent.
Authoritative. Disdainful. Alluring.
Her charm was effortless and innate.
"I... I truly became a Chosen? Milord, how did you achieve this?"
Ashina's mouth formed a perfect 'O', disbelief etched on her face. Reverence for Field now filled her being.
After all, the emergence of a Chosen One held no predictability. Even the Empress of the Holy Griffin Empire had daughters who were merely ordinary.
The other slaves were equally incredulous. *We were all slaves. How, after just days under the lord's... guidance, did she become a Chosen?* They knew of Ashina's recent treatment. They'd assumed Field was merely training a plaything, never expecting he'd actually produce a Chosen One.
A Chosen One embodied divine will.
The slaves began to speculate: Field must be favored by the gods! Instantly, reverence for him blossomed.
"A trifling matter," Field declared, waving a hand with inflated nonchalance, feigning modesty. He then strode before the assembled crowd. "Now, who among you still harbors doubts about our journey north, or opposes my reclamation plan?"
The crowd exchanged uneasy glances. Who would dare?
"Trust me. Fulfill your duties, accomplish the tasks I set, and not only will I grant you freedom, I shall ensure lives of comfort and security," Field proclaimed.
"Please, let us forge a contract."
Ashina took the initiative, recalling Field's earlier promise: she would become the Chosen, aiding him in reclaiming Nightfall Territory.
"Of course. It is destiny," Field intoned, playing the prophet.
The contract was simple. Ashina channeled the power within her runic mark, forming a link with Field. The bond solidified instantly. With the Chosen contract complete, Field produced her slave contract. Though the slave mark had already been purged by her Chosen status, Field followed the formalities. He publicly tore the slave contract to shreds, declaring Ashina a free citizen of Nightfall Territory.
Ashina smiled, raising a hand. Her runes coalesced into a massive black draconic wolf. It leaped from the void, armored scales glinting coldly, its fierce appearance startling everyone.
"This is...?" Field was momentarily stunned.
"A Dragon Wolf. Hmm... likely a steed bestowed by the Goddess," Ashina explained, smoothing her hair with newfound grace. "Additionally, I have mastered numerous combat techniques."
Upon becoming a Chosen, one might acquire strange treasures. Even if a Chosen fell in battle, such artifacts could endure. The Ross family, for instance, possessed a sixth-tier divine lance, inherited from the fallen Chosen known as the "Crimson Rose"—the very origin of their family name, Ross.
Field focused, accessing Ashina's status panel.
> **Name:** Ashina
> **Level:** Tier 1 Chosen
> **Class:** Wolf Cavalry
> **Divine Skill:** Piercing Lance of Deepest Frost
> **Legion Skill:** Frenzied Howl Assault (Boosts charge impact of subordinate cavalry by 100%)
Ashina's combat power had soared. Her draconic mount alone could contend with a Tier 3 Aura Knight.
Empowered, Field's courage surged. *Stepmother? Half-brother? Worthless! Sooner or later, I'll grind them into the dust.*
A smile touched Field's lips. "Now, let us inspect the barracks and the armory."
Nearing the city walls, Field spotted sporadic skull icons moving across his map. "Corrupted monsters are here," he declared, drawing his sword with a rasp. "Aiding local lords in purging corruption is the duty of every Imperial noble."
He ignited the Fog-Dispelling Lamp purchased from the Church. Sacred light instantly banished swathes of grey mist, shielding the slaves from the deadly miasma.
"I sense the Chosen's power," Ashina noted, pointing at Field's golden lamp.
Field blinked. "Undoubtedly. Pity we don't know how the Church crafts these. Pure profiteering—twenty-five gold per lamp, lasting barely thirty days."
Inside the fortifications, Field kept the motley crew of former slaves close. Untrained and forcibly conscripted, sticking together was their best hope.
Ashina gently pushed open the barracks door. Two armored soldier-corpses stood within, weaponless—likely infected by the grey mist before they could arm themselves.
"Kill them!" Field ordered sharply, eyeing their sturdy lamellar armor. "Try not to damage the armor."
"Understood!"
Ashina kicked the wooden door wide open and charged inside in three swift strides.
Becoming a Chosen didn't just enhance physical prowess; it granted mastery of specialized combat arts.