Translator: CinderTL
So far, among the transcendent professionals Roland had encountered, Monen was undoubtedly the most powerful.
Yet now, when Roland fought with all his might, he even slightly surpassed the Monen of old.
It was precisely because he had reached this height that Roland more deeply understood the vast disparity between transcendents.
Even within the Transcendent Realm, an insurmountable chasm could still separate individuals in strength.
If this was the case for transcendents, what of the Gods?
Corellon, whom he encountered in Eversong Forest, was merely a crippled false god, likely possessing not even one-tenth of a true God's power.
Even so, that battle had repeatedly driven him to the brink of despair, and he had only barely emerged victorious by exhausting all his strength.
And yet, those researchers of the Crystal Era dared to try and touch this forbidden domain—
A sudden suspicion surfaced in Roland's mind.
Could the fall of the Crystal Era have been a disaster brought upon them by these researchers provoking the Gods?
After a moment of contemplation, Roland lowered his head to continue examining the records concerning the "Divine Corpse Fusion Device."
Unfortunately, the text read more like a project introduction and recruitment notice.
It merely provided a brief description of the device's basic principles and operational logic, while the rest of the content focused on the required personnel and their numbers.
After studying the text for a long time without gaining any more substantial information, Roland shook his head gently and turned to Galvis to ask if there were any other findings.
The bard shook his head helplessly, indicating that this was all they had.
Seeing that the clues had come to a dead end, Roland had no choice but to temporarily set the matter aside.
The subsequent voyage was smooth and without incident.
Perhaps because the shell ship had been traveling in the Astral Plane for a long time, only briefly returning to the physical world to recharge when necessary, the strange Ashborn they had encountered before had always failed to trace their whereabouts.
The ship sailed steadily along the beacons drawn by Bronson, and the distance to Silverglow City was gradually shortening.
However, this tranquility did not let Roland lower his guard.
As they drew closer to their destination, the surrounding scenery became increasingly desolate.
Not only were there no traces of any life, but even the ruins of the Crystal Era, common in other regions, were becoming increasingly scarce.
This land seemed like a primitive wilderness that had never been touched by civilization.
Faced with such an abnormal sight, although Roland had doubts in his heart, in the absence of reliable intelligence, he chose to devote his energy to the ancient texts he had brought back from the Imperial Academy and read them attentively.
"The Path of the Forest Walker is far more than just precise archery or skilled stealth."
"A true Forest Speaker must learn to listen to the breath of all things and understand the rhythms of nature."
"When the breeze brushes the treetops, when the stream kisses the pebbles, when the morning light pierces the forest mist—these are all the whispers of nature."
At this moment, Roland held the very tome he had previously lent to Avril for her studies: Path of the Forest Speaker: The Covenant Between Forest Walker and Nature.
Thanks to the elf girl's innate talent, combined with her existing foundation in the [Ranger] class, she had mastered the book's essence in just a few days. All that remained was to hone her skills through practice.
Thus, Roland reclaimed the tome, hoping to find a revelation for his own [Ranger] class change.
Compared to the previous volume, Way of Ancestral Spirits and Fury—The Barbarian Class-Change Ritual, this book's prose was clearer and more concise, detailing the three core requirements for becoming a Forest Walker—that is, a Ranger.
The first was to master [Life Perception].
The ancient text described it thus:
"A true hunter observes with the heart, not the eyes. Even with eyelids closed, one must sense the fall of every single leaf within a ten-step radius."
The second was to become fluent in [Wilderness Speech].
"A Forest Speaker must not only listen but also know how to respond. They must establish a resonance with the beasts of the earth and the birds of the air, understanding their warnings and whispers."
As for the final requirement, it was to comprehend the [Natural Step Rhyme].
"Each step should resonate with the earth, letting your footprints become a gentle breeze and your figure blend into the forest shade."
After reading the entire text, Roland fell into deep thought.
The Path of the Forest Walker described in this tome from the Crystal Era bore a subtle yet significant difference from the Ranger class he knew in his own time. It emphasized resonance with the energy of the entire natural environment rather than mere combat techniques.
Life Perception and Natural Step Rhyme aside, what about this Wilderness Speech—
Wasn't this exactly the [Animal Companion] trait he had gained upon taking the [Hunter] class?
In fact, one could say that the [Animal Companion] trait was even more powerful than the Wilderness Speech described in the book.
"So... I've already fulfilled one of the three requirements for the [Ranger] class?"
With this realization, Roland's gaze focused more intently on the section regarding Life Perception, and he began attempting to mobilize his senses according to the book's guidance.
His first few attempts were unsuccessful.
When he deliberately extended his spirit outward as instructed, his surroundings only grew more blurred. Black Wind's steady breathing, the rustle of Joe moving between the beams, and even the thin flow of Astral Plane energy outside the shell ship—all became distorted and warped under the strain of his overexerted perception.
He quickly realized the problem.
Just as the book had stated:
"Perception is like cupping a spring of clear water: grasp it too tightly, and it slips away; hold it gently, and it remains."
After adjusting his breathing, Roland stopped trying to "force" his detection. Instead, he allowed himself to gradually "merge" with his surroundings.
Thanks to his Mental attribute—a staggering seven thousand points—combined with numerous traits and additional bonuses, his perception already far exceeded that of any ordinary person. For him, this process required only the slightest of adjustments.
Slowly, he began to capture the faint pulses of life in the environment.
The slow growth of moss in the crevices of the shell, the dormant and awakening spores floating in the air.
In a sudden instant, as if a string had been tuned to the perfect pitch, everything became clear.
When he closed his eyes again, the life trajectories within a ten-step radius manifested in his mind like a star map.
Without sight, he could "see" the temperature change at Avril's fingertips as she turned a page in the next cabin. He could feel the rhythm of Galvis's quill scratching against parchment. Even each touch of astral dust against the shell ship's hull rippled through his senses with crystalline clarity.
This perception was different from before. It wasn't mere detection, but a profound resonance.
He could not only pinpoint the location of every living being but also sense their current state.
Calm, focused, or faintly uneasy.
Just then, a line of dazzling golden text materialized in his field of vision.
[Skill Acquired: Life Perception, Current Level: Lv.1]
Roland's eyebrows arched slightly as he stared at the golden text.
It seems that with the blessing of my previous classes, learning the skills required for other extraordinary professions has become much easier.
At that moment, the golden text flickered again.
Host has mastered skill: Life Perception Lv.1
Host possesses trait: Animal Companion
Analyzing compatibility between skill and trait—
Detecting Natural Resonance Rate—
Evaluating energy frequency synchronization—
Frequency Match: 87%—
Threshold Met
Conditions Satisfied
Advanced Class Available for Job Change: Ranger
So easy... Wait!
A flash of joy crossed Roland's eyes as he watched the text jump, but it was quickly replaced by a flicker of confusion.
[Ranger]... is an advanced class?
(End of the Chapter)
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