Chapter 8 The Goddess's Gift

She had gone from being malnourished to a state of sub-health, but her unawakened status had changed to "pending awakening." This meant that with the use of an awakening crystal, Field could immediately gain a Chosen One!

"Sir, is something wrong?" Aishna nervously fidgeted with her hands.

After ten days of eating meat, Aishna's attitude toward Field had improved significantly. Before she was captured, her life had been miserable, scavenging for wild plants to eat. Now, under the care of this peculiar noble, she was feasting on meat every day.

Such is the unpredictability of life.

"What's this?"

"An awakening crystal, a treasure that cost me sixty gold coins," Field said, wincing at the expense. He only had five hundred gold coins to his name. "Every year on the Day of Awakening, the empire uses these to find Chosen Ones."

A single awakening crystal could test nearly a thousand people.

"Wait, you really think I'm a Chosen One?" Aishna was stunned. "Uh... let's not joke about this."

"Close your eyes and focus. I've received divine guidance, so don't worry," Field lied through his teeth, then placed the crystal ball in front of Aishna.

Aishna didn't believe she was a Chosen One, but she didn't want to disappoint Field. After spending so much time together, she felt that Field was a very different kind of noble—at least he treated her well.

The moment her hands touched the crystal ball, countless blue starlight particles surged out, coalescing into the ethereal image of an elegant and cold goddess.

"The Winter Goddess, ruler of ice and snow!" The demi-human slaves immediately recognized her, as she was their deity. "Heavens! Aishna is the Winter Goddess's Chosen One!"

"Thud, thud—"

The slaves immediately dropped to their knees, trembling with excitement, ready to offer their hearts.

Field was also witnessing this for the first time, sweating profusely from the excitement. This was genuine divine intervention.

The blue starlight gathered into strange runes, and Aishna instinctively reached out to touch them. The light gradually condensed and finally etched itself onto the back of her hand.

At the same time, Aishna's body underwent a transformation. She grew taller, her legs becoming perfectly proportioned and flawless. Her skin was now as pale as snow, her expression cold, and her crimson eyes radiated an icy aura. Her facial features became more refined, her beauty increasing by thirty percent.

She exuded dominance, disdain, and allure.

Her charm was natural and effortless.

"I really became a Chosen One... Sir, how did you do it?"

Aishna's mouth hung open in disbelief, her eyes filled with awe and reverence for Field.

After all, the appearance of a Chosen One was completely unpredictable. Even the daughter of the Holy Griffin Empire's empress was just an ordinary person.

The other slaves were equally incredulous. They were all slaves, so how had Aishna, after just a few days under the lord's guidance, become a Chosen One? They knew about the treatment Aishna had received these past few days. They had thought Field was merely grooming a plaything, but he had actually produced a Chosen One.

A Chosen One was the will of the gods.

The slaves began to speculate that Field was favored by the gods! Instantly, they too began to revere him.

"Just a small feat," Field said, pretending to be modest while basking in the glory. He then strode forward and addressed the crowd, "Now, who still has doubts about our journey to the northern frontier or opposes my expansion plans?"

The crowd exchanged glances. Who would dare?

"Trust me. As long as you do your jobs well and complete the tasks I assign, I will not only grant you freedom but also ensure you live a life of comfort and plenty," Field declared loudly.

"Please, let me form a contract with you."

Aishna took the initiative, recalling that Field had mentioned using her as a Chosen One to expand Nightfall Territory.

"Of course, it's destiny," Field said, playing the part of a prophet.

Forming the contract was simple. Aishna channeled the power from the runic mark on her hand, creating a link with Field, and the contract was sealed.

After the contract was formed, Field took out the slave contract. Although the slave mark had already been cleansed by the Chosen One's purifying power, Field went through the motions anyway, publicly tearing up the slave contract and declaring Aishna a free citizen of Nightfall Territory.

Aishna smiled warmly. With a wave of her hand, the runes transformed into a massive black dragon-wolf, which leaped out of the void, its body covered in jagged, gleaming armor, startling everyone.

"What's this?" Field was a bit confused.

"A dragon-wolf, probably a mount gifted by the goddess," Aishna said, smoothing her hair with a graceful gesture. "Also, I've mastered many combat skills."

After becoming a Chosen One, one might receive strange and powerful artifacts. Even if a Chosen One died, these artifacts could be preserved. The Ross family, for example, possessed a sixth-tier divine lance from a fallen Chosen One known as the "Crimson Rose," which was how the family got its name.

Field opened Aishna's status panel.

**Name:** Aishna

**Level:** Tier 1 Chosen One

**Class:** Wolf Cavalry

**Divine Skill:** Frost Piercing Lance

**Legion Skill:** Howling Charge (increases the impact force of cavalry under her command by 100%)

Aishna's combat power had skyrocketed. Her dragon-wolf mount alone could rival a Tier 3 aura knight.

With this newfound strength, Field's confidence soared. His stepmother, his brother—they were nothing! Sooner or later, he would crush them underfoot.

Field smiled. "Now, let's go inspect the barracks and armory."

As they approached the city walls, Field noticed scattered skull icons on his map, and these icons were moving.

"There are some corrupted monsters here," Field said, drawing his sword with a sharp ring. "It is the duty of every imperial noble to help local lords eradicate corruption and pollution."

He lit a fog-dispelling lamp purchased from the church. The holy light immediately dispersed large patches of the gray mist, ensuring the slaves wouldn't be poisoned by the deathly haze.

"I can feel the power of the Chosen One," Aishna said, pointing to the golden lamp in Field's hand.

Field blinked. "No doubt. It's a shame we don't know how the church makes these. It's a pure profit industry—one lamp costs 25 gold coins and only lasts 30 days."

Inside the fortress, Field didn't let the ragtag group act recklessly. Instead, they moved as a unit. These were just slaves who had been forcibly recruited, with no military training. Staying together was the best option.

Aishna gently pushed open the door to the barracks and saw two armored soldier-corpses. They weren't carrying weapons, likely having been infected by the gray mist before they could arm themselves.

"Kill them!" Field ordered fiercely, eyeing the sturdy armor on the corpses. "Try not to damage the armor."

"Understood!"

Aishna kicked open the wooden door and rushed in, covering the distance in three quick steps.

After becoming a Chosen One, not only did one's physical abilities greatly improve, but one also gained mastery over specialized combat techniques.