He may have awakened a Divine Talent, but it holds no value under the rule of the Strongest Existence in all of the Nexus Alliance.
Under him, there is a Divine Army composed solely of wielders who have awakened Divine Talents. This is the Royal Army, led by none other than the First Prince.
James can easily farm Divine Talents using his System. He can sign out one or two Divine Talents each year, secretly bestowing them upon the children from the Royal Orphanage under the care of the Royal Family.
The orphanage's sole purpose is to nurture children from a young age, regardless of their background. All are treated equally, and no child is left behind. There are a total of four divisions in the orphanage—A, B, C, and D. Each child is allotted to a division based on their results at the age when they are to awaken a talent.
This ensures that only the worthy inherit the talents from him.
However, there is an exception to this rule: if someone has innate physical combat instincts but their weak body cannot keep up with their talent, they are given a special place under the S category, the so-called hidden division, where the Shadows who lurk in darkness reside.
Their sole purpose is to help the Royal Family from the shadows.
The First Minister, after dispatching the troublemaker, looked back at the King and asked, "May I also proceed with the hidden talent awakening?"
Hearing this, everyone fell silent. The hidden talent—the so-called trump card of the Chronos Family—was known by few. It was discovered by none other than James, and after that, the rise of the Chronos Family began.
Though in reality, it was no hidden ability but rather James bestowing a talent card on each of his children and those he deemed worthy in his family tree.
James nodded, and the First Minister, taking a deep breath, began creating another formation.
Meanwhile, James checked his inventory to find a suitable talent for William.
[I suggest something that enhances the growth of his soul.]
[Thanks to that beast-like talent, he now possesses both physical and energy might. The only thing he lacks now is soul might.]
James's system suggested, and James inwardly said, 'Show me all Divine Talents related to soul aspects.'
[Gladly.]
Shadow of the Undead
Crown of Souls
The Nightmare
Soul Forge
Soul of Calamity
[Would you like to expand on any of these talents,]
James nodded and then hsi system expanded and briefly described them.
Shadow of the Undead:
This talent allows the wielder to summon and command shadows of the dead. These shadows are echoes of powerful warriors, mages, and creatures who once lived, now bound to the will of the user. The shadows can fight, scout, or protect their summoner, all while being nearly impervious to physical attacks. The wielder can also use these shadows to blend into darkness, becoming almost invisible and moving undetected.
Crown of Souls:
The wielder of this talent gains the ability to dominate and control the souls of the deceased, forming an ethereal crown that symbolizes their authority over the spirit world. Those under the influence of the Crown of Souls can be compelled to serve, protect, or empower the wielder. This talent also grants the user heightened resistance to soul-based attacks and the ability to drain the life force from others to strengthen their own soul.
The Nightmare:
This talent allows the wielder to enter and manipulate the dreams of others, turning them into terrifying nightmares. Within these nightmares, the user has complete control, able to inflict psychological damage or extract information from their targets. The talent also grants the ability to project these nightmares into the waking world, causing illusions that blur the line between reality and the dreamscape, overwhelming enemies with fear and confusion.
Soul Forge:
With Soul Forge, the wielder can forge powerful weapons, armor, and artifacts directly from the essence of captured souls. Each item crafted through this talent carries unique properties based on the soul used in its creation. For example, a weapon forged from the soul of a fierce warrior might possess incredible strength, while one made from a wise sage's soul could grant the wielder enhanced wisdom or magical prowess. The Soul Forge can also repair and enhance existing items, imbuing them with new powers.
Soul of Calamity:
A supremely powerful necromancy talent, Soul of Calamity allows the wielder to tap into the darkest aspects of death and decay. This talent gives the user control over vast armies of the undead, capable of raising entire battlefields of fallen warriors to serve as unyielding soldiers. The wielder can also channel the essence of catastrophic events, such as plagues or natural disasters, into their necromantic magic, amplifying their power exponentially.
Beyond controlling the dead, the Soul of Calamity grants the user the ability to corrupt the souls of the living, turning allies into enemies and spreading despair wherever they go. This talent also allows the wielder to siphon the life force of entire regions, turning fertile lands into barren wastelands and drawing immense power from the destruction they cause.
["I suggest merging Soul of Calamity and Soul Forge before giving it to William. With this combination, he will be unstoppable in the future,"] the system advised, its voice echoing with certainty.
James, recognizing the strategic brilliance of this suggestion, nodded without hesitation. He activated the Card Merger function of his System, watching as the two powerful talents began to intertwine and fuse within the ethereal interface. Streams of dark energy from the Soul of Calamity mingled with the shimmering light of the Soul Forge, creating a card unlike any other—a card of unparalleled power.
As the merger completed, a new talent emerged: Calamitous Soul Emperor. The card pulsed with an ominous aura, radiating both deathly energy and the creative force of the soul forge.
James held the card for a moment, feeling the weight of its potential, before discreetly passing it to William at the opportune moment.
The First Minister, oblivious to the merger that had just taken place, began the appraisal of the hidden talent. The atmosphere was thick with anticipation, and all eyes were on William. As the ritual reached its climax, a translucent being began to rise from William's body, ethereal and majestic, with a golden crown adorning its head. The being exuded an aura of both dread and majesty, as if it were a sovereign of both life and death.
The First Minister's eyes widened in amazement as he beheld the apparition. He had seen many talents in his lifetime, but none like this. His voice trembled slightly with excitement as he declared, "Prince William's hidden talent: Calamitous Soul Emperor. It is a Peak Divine Talent!"
The declaration sent shockwaves through the assembly. For a moment, there was a stunned silence as the enormity of the announcement settled in. Then, the crowd erupted into a chorus of cheers and praises, chanting William's name with fervor. Citizens who had gathered to witness the event were elated, their voices rising in a unified cry of celebration.
"Prince William! Prince William!" they shouted, their pride in their future leader evident.
Among the guests, however, the mood was far more somber. Dignitaries and emissaries from distant lands exchanged uneasy glances, their faces betraying their dismay. They had come with hopes of assessing the young prince's potential, but what they witnessed exceeded their worst fears. With the Calamitous Soul Emperor talent, William had no discernible weaknesses. This was a talent that could command armies of the dead, forge weapons from souls, and bring ruin to entire kingdoms. The implications were terrifying.
As they gritted their teeth and clenched their fists, they knew that a new era was dawning—one where Prince William, with his unmatched talent, would be a force to be reckoned with. The rise of the Chronos Family, already formidable, now seemed inevitable. And at its helm would be William, the Calamitous Soul Emperor, a ruler who could shape the very fabric of life and death itself.
Not to mention his earlier beastila Spirit, they seems to have seen the Rise of another James, which they never want, Planning and politics already begin from this moment.
The First Minister, still awestruck by what he had witnessed, bowed deeply to William. "Your Highness," he said, his voice filled with respect, "with this talent, you will lead our kingdom to unprecedented heights."
James, standing silently beside the prince, allowed himself a small, satisfied smile. The future had just become much more interesting, and he knew that with William at the forefront, the Chronos Family's legacy would be unshakable.
"I guess, in the future, I can rely on William," James thought, an amused smile playing on his lips. "Though it's not like my other children are any different."
He glanced upward, his gaze distant as his thoughts wandered. "It's almost time to leave this small galaxy and explore the wider world," he mused. "But I'll wait until William, or at least his brothers and sisters, have grown up and fully awakened their potential."