Nesserre Era, year 129, March.
Western Continent, Eastern Coast.
This region had just been brought under the rule of the Nesserite Empire, still brimming with savagery and danger.
The Sewington Council of the Nesserite Empire issued a pioneer summoning order, and nobles from all over responded, setting off a wave of grand pioneering.
Many younger sons and later successors of noble families were compelled to embark on perilous journeys to establish new frontiers.
A breeze swept through, dispersing the hazy mist and revealing a road filled with muddy puddles.
A convoy of over a hundred people progressed slowly along the winding road.
The poor road conditions significantly slowed their travel speed.
With each step, the foul-smelling sludge was squeezed aside, stubbornly clinging to the soles and making the boots heavier.
After a few dozen steps, the soles would accumulate a thick layer of mud, forcing people to slow down and clean it off; otherwise, they would quickly become exhausted after only a short distance.
Fortunately, the members of the convoy were veterans and had long become accustomed to such roads, and their movements to clean the mud from their boots were quite skilled, which allowed them to maintain a slow and steady pace.
Most of them were young adults dressed in light coarse clothes, mentally prepared for a long trek.
They pushed ten fully-laden wooden carts, providing assistance to the hardworking draft horses.
In the center of the convoy, ten soldiers clad in leather armor, with a touch of worry and uncertainty about the future, surrounded a carriage.
Engraved on the door frame of the carriage was the family crest of the White Magic Tower, which was also stained with specks of mud.
This was the emblem of the Serl Family, a caster noble family well-known on the Karl Plains, yet unfamiliar on the Eastern Coast.
A faint stench wafted into his nostrils, and Matthew looked out the window with a somewhat dazed expression.
Matthew was a transmigrator, and before crossing over, he had been playing a game called "Arcane Emperor."
His kingdom was under siege by the gods, on the verge of collapse.
In his final act of despair, he initiated a "destructive spell," taking along the most detestable Death God Yeg, Great Evil God Losanda, and Goddess of Destiny Taiji in mutual destruction.
The melancholic Matthew expected to enter the new character creation screen as his kingdom fell, but instead, he transmigrated into the world of "Arcane Emperor" and became Matthew Serl.
Matthew gained the memories of Matthew Serl, but discovered that the reason he had been reborn in his body was that his physical form had once died.
Dead from poison!
In a state of soul, Matthew Serl, not resigned to his untimely demise, used a mysterious magical tool to pray to the river of fate for a chance to start over.
Fate played a joke on him.
Matthew Serl did get a fresh start, but the price was his soul!
Over the following days, Matthew came to terms with the fact he had crossed into this world and was constantly absorbing memories, ensuring he didn't reveal any flaws.
Because this is a dangerous world filled with magic, dragons, elves, dwarves, deities, and many other fantastical creatures.
Evil spirit possession or soul usurpation was not uncommon; high-rank professionals like spellcasters or priests could detect that Matthew's soul was an outsider!
So, he had to be very careful!
Of course, there was another important reason Matthew had been hiding in the carriage these past days, trying to save his own life!
To prevent another "suicide" from death!
Fortunately, inside this carriage was fitted with a space spell, which was large enough to accommodate a bedroom for rest, with fully equipped facilities, allowing Matthew to comfortably live and sustain himself within.
It was today that Matthew successfully absorbed all the memories and completely merged with this body.
At the same time, Matthew also took control of the legacy left by his predecessor.
Matthew Serl was 18 years old this year.
His father was Count Serrel, Andre Serl, a Level 18 Semi-Legendary Arcanist.
His mother was from the Eastern Empire and returned to the Eastern Continent after giving birth to Matthew.
Matthew Seth was originally a prodigy with astonishing talent.
At the age of 2, he could perform simple spells
By the age of 6, he had become a Level 1 Arcanist.
He was a super-genius, renowned alongside Kalsath of the Karl Family!
Matthew Serl should have become a top-tier power in the Nesserite Empire like Kalsath—the Great Arcanist!
But just one month after his "prodigy" reputation spread.
An enigmatic assault severely wounded Matthew Serl's soul, robbing him of the chance to advance his professional level!
Before he could soar to greater heights, he had already tragically fallen!
In the days that followed, Matthew Serl and the Serl Family tried every means and used various methods to heal the injury to his soul, all to no avail.
Gradually, Matthew Serl lost the full support of his family and became the "eternal Level 1 Arcanist."
Despondent, he grew up to the age of 18 without fanfare.
Under the protection of his family, his greatest contribution might have been to leave behind a few heirs.
Just when Matthew Serl was in despair, a mysterious person came to find him.
The mysterious person claimed he could heal Matthew Serl's soul and immediately proved his skill by healing a professional with a fragmented soul, restoring their sanity and giving them hope for raising their professional level.
Matthew Serl naturally couldn't refuse such "help" and, without hesitation, he followed the other party's guidance and became a Pioneer Lord.
The reason Matthew Serl gave outwardly was: to contribute to the Serl Family's pioneering mission and to try a different path.
After enduring countless praises and mockeries, Matthew Serl left his family with unspeakable hope and the laughter of others.
He was now to travel hundreds of kilometers eastward, ready to head for the territory agreed upon with the mysterious person—Bay Village!
There, Matthew Serl thought he would embrace rebirth, but the mysterious person who had been following him suddenly disappeared.
The next evening, Matthew Serl died of poisoning, a half-drunk vial of poison beside him, with a "suicide note" considerately written out.
The poisoner's preparation was so thorough that the handwriting, almost indistinguishable from the real thing, even shocked the "awakened" Matthew.
Matthew spent decades in "Arcane Emperor."
From an ordinary Mage, he grew into a Level 39 Great Arcanist, owning a Magic Kingdom with vast experience and knowledge.
He conquered countless strong foes, hunted dragons, slaughtered demons, defeated a Demigod Lich, and even brought down deities.
He knew and controlled many methods of resurrection, but none were as strange as what Matthew Serl had experienced.
He smelled a very familiar scent.
The scent of conspiracy!
"Who wants me dead?"
"It can't be the other heirs of the family, for though they are foolish, they are not idiots. There's no need to lay hands on a non-threat like me."
"Nor should it be an accomplice of the mysterious person..."
"Judging from the abilities shown in my memories, the person is at least a high-rank professional. It would be unnecessary for them to go through such troubles to kill me."
"Could it be that the person wanting me dead is related to the attacker from when I was six years old?"
"And they even arranged the aftermath so completely, more 'filial' than even one's own son!"
For the past few days, Matthew had been carefully thinking, covertly observing every person in the caravan, identifying some suspects, but he dismissed them as threats.
"Crack," a sound echoed.
Followed by the whinnying of a workhorse.
Matthew snapped out of his thoughts, clutching the Magic Wand in his hand, then slowly released it, his dark eyes flashing with a hint of coldness:
"Oh? It's coming again?"
"It seems like the other party can hardly wait."
"Since they did not choose to attack directly, it means they must have concerns. That gives me a chance to live..."
The unknown danger and the dire situation did not crush Matthew but instead gave him the thrill of returning to a bloody battle.
"Come on, let me see who wants to kill me!"
"And who will be whose prey!"
The members pushing carts outside cursed under their breath and stopped in their tracks, glancing over anxiously.
Indeed, trouble arose. A wagon wheel had sunk into a mud pit, nearly flipping the draft horse pulling it.
Fortunately, the cargo was securely tied and didn't fall onto the muddy road, as no one wanted to taste black bread with the stench of mud again.
"What are you waiting for? Get moving and bring some stones to fill it in, then lay a layer of crushed stone over it, and finally compact it down with a roller. Don't think about slacking off!"
"Elder John? Where did you run off to? Come and have a look!"
Butler Ralph was not pleased, and he started to direct the emergency repairs immediately.
Elder John patted the workhorse's neck and straightened its mane, calming the long-whinnying workhorse.
After big rocks were placed in the mud pit, followed by smaller stones, Elder John directed some young men to use pry bars to lift the wheel.
At the same time, he hauled on the workhorse's reins to help it exert force, dragging the wagon stuck in the mud pit out.
Butler Ralph glanced anxiously at the sky and said to Elder John with an impatient tone:
"Do pay close attention. If there's any problem with the road, you can forget about lunch!"
Bending down for a closer look, Elder John's face crinkled with deeper wrinkles as he shook his head and continued:
"The axle is cracked; it needs fixing before we can move on. It'll likely take two hours."
"Two hours? Then we won't make it to Sweet Water Town by noon. No, that won't do!"
Shaking his head abruptly, Ralph was displeased, and after bending down to examine the gap in the cracked axle, he gritted his teeth and approached the carriage in the center of the convoy.
Butler Ralph suppressed his somewhat nervous thoughts, tapped gently on the carriage door, and said softly:
"Young Master Matthew, there's a problem with one of the wagons up front; it needs a two-hour repair."
"Should we continue to Sweet Water Town? That way, we can arrive by noon and have lunch with Baron Carlisle."
Just as Matthew was about to push the door open, a flash of light passed through his field of vision, and a familiar interface appeared before his eyes.
"Fate's Choice activated, choose to leave (Misfortune 5), choose to stay (Fortune 4)."