The biting winter wind howled between the towers of Blackrock Fortress, whipping up fine snowflakes that lashed against the cold stone walls.
Inside the castle, however, the lights were on and the fireplaces were burning brightly, dispelling the last chill of the year.
However, Lind's mind was not entirely immersed in the atmosphere of the transition between the old and the new at this moment.
He dismissed everyone and sat alone in the deepest, most secluded room of his study.
On the heavy oak table, only a specially made alchemical lamp was lit, its deep blue light steadily illuminating the tabletop and reflecting the turbulent thoughts in his deep purple eyes.
The end of the year marks the day the system is launched.
This became almost the most important and mysterious ritual in his life.
The first four halos—the life-giving "Activation," the penetrating darkness "Brightness," the deconstruction that analyzes all things, and the Shadow Abyss that connects with the Shadow Abyss—each completely changed the trajectory of his destiny, becoming the cornerstone for him to establish himself in the chaotic world and plan for the future.
He had long been secretly anticipating what new and revolutionary power the system would bring him on the first day of the year.
Linde took a deep breath, his mind sinking into the depths of his consciousness, and silently recited:
"Open the system."
A familiar light screen unfolded in my consciousness, simple and cold.
The option symbolizing "acquiring a new halo" was clearly displayed in the very center.
"Acquire the halo."
Linde resolutely chose that option.
There was no expected flow of light, no tremor of surging energy.
The system interface flickered only briefly, like a projection with a poor signal, before stabilizing again.
But what appeared in Lind's consciousness was not the name or description of the fifth halo.
There was only one short, abrupt, and even somewhat final message:
[Halo acquired. Halo enhancement points +1.]
"..."
Linde was stunned.
A tremendous sense of astonishment instantly gripped him, as if he had thrown a powerful punch only to hit nothing.
He subconsciously checked the information again, but the cold text remained stubbornly there.
"It's over? That's...it's over?"
Lind muttered to himself, his brows furrowed, and disbelief gleaming in his purple eyes.
This was completely different from the scenario he had rehearsed countless times.
Based on his speculation using existing clues, the Halo System must have acquired new power through some means—most likely by "intercepting" or "stealing" it from the gods of the continent of Til.
He had assumed this would be a continuous process until he mastered the power to rival or even surpass the gods.
Now, the system is announcing in an almost brutal way: all types are exhausted, only enhancement remains.
"Something is better than nothing?"
A self-deprecating smile tugged at the corner of Linde's mouth. It felt like expecting to find a gold mine, but ending up with only a pickaxe for mining.
Although the "pickaxe" (enhancement points) itself contains great value, the psychological gap is hard to avoid.
He recalled the last time he enhanced the [Bright Aura]—using the divine blood of Luciaos, the Lord of the Light Veins.
The enhancement was astonishing, not only greatly increasing the intensity and range of the light, but also endowing it with the sacred properties of dispelling deep darkness and purifying negative energy. It even resonated faintly with the power of faith, greatly consolidating his status as a "chosen one of the gods".
“Enhancement points…” Lin De’s gaze slowly moved between the four halo icons on the system panel, each flashing with a different light.
This time, the choice is in his hands, and the outcome of that choice will directly affect his future path.
He first ruled out the [Shadow Abyss Aura].
The power of this halo is the most bizarre and powerful, directly connected to the unfathomable dark origin of the Shadow Abyss.
Strengthening it might allow him to borrow more of the power of the Shadow Abyss, or even obtain some kind of "proxy authority".
But the risks are equally enormous.
The power of Shadow Abyss is corrosive and uncontrollable; he is far from fully understanding its nature, let alone mastering it.
Rushing to strengthen oneself is likely not to gain power, but rather to invite disaster, or even be assimilated by the Shadow Abyss. This is tantamount to drinking poison to quench thirst.
The Bright Aura has already been enhanced once, and its effects are significant and stable.
It is more of a supplementary and symbolic force, providing the power of light on the battlefield, boosting morale, and reinforcing the sacred image in the hearts of the people.
Further enhancement will most likely involve increasing its power or range, or bestowing upon it new "divine" properties.
While there has been some improvement, it is not the breakthrough point he urgently needs right now.
His real hesitation lay in his two most frequently used and practical auras: the "activation aura" and the "deconstruction aura".
The "Activation Aura" is one of the cornerstones of his power.
It brought life to the land, creating an "oasis miracle" in the dead of winter and winning him the hearts of the people; it accelerated the growth cycle of plants and animals, providing a continuous supply of food and resources; it may even have a potential catalytic effect on the repair of the steel sky and the technological revival of the Zedu civilization.
Strengthening it has an almost immediate effect—it could be an exponential expansion of the activation range, covering the entire Blackrock Territory or even further? It could be an increase in activation intensity, allowing crops to mature even in the dead of winter, or instantly reviving dying plants?
It might even... endow the power of activation with some deeper "shaping" or "evolutionary" characteristics?
This will undoubtedly greatly promote the development of the territory and even solve some of the biomaterial problems needed for the repair of the Steel Sky.
The "Deconstruction of the Halo" is an extension of his wisdom and an amplifier of his power.
It allows him to see the essence of matter (material, state, function, notes), to be indestructible (decompose matter), and to glimpse the past (traverse the past).
This power, originating from the goddess of magic, Tiolantis, and intercepted by the system from the depths of the magic network, has unfathomable potential.
What would strengthening it bring? Linde fell into deeper thought:
A deeper level of analysis? Beyond the surface of matter, directly analyzing energy structure, spell models, and even fragments of laws?
A broader tracing? Not only can we see the past of an object, but also trace the remaining fragments of the thoughts of its maker and user?
Even... glimpsing vague fragments of the future? (Although the likelihood is extremely low)
A more refined decomposition? From the decomposition of macroscopic matter down to molecules and atoms, and even annihilation at the energy level?
Or perhaps... a deeper connection to the magic network? After all, it originates from the core of the power of the god of magic.
After the enhancement, will he be able to access the magic network energy more directly and efficiently? Or even... bypass certain limitations of the magic network? This would be of great significance to his research on the Zedo runes and the core device that drives the Steel Sky.
A new dimension? For example, "reconstruction" during parsing? Or... "simulation"?
Lind's fingers tapped unconsciously on the table, making a rhythmic, soft sound.
The only sounds in the secret room were the faint crackling of the lamplight and his own breathing.
Two options, two paths: [Activation] represents a stable, visible, and enormous benefit that acts on the real material world, which can directly accelerate the foundational construction of his "Star Forging" plan.
【Deconstruction】represents deeper mysteries, a stronger thirst for knowledge, and a potential breakthrough that overturns the existing power system, providing him with a sharper "key" to decipher ancient technology and confront the gods.
Time passed little by little.
The faint cheers of the people celebrating the new year drifted from outside the window, making the silence inside the room seem even more somber.
Finally, Linde's gaze became sharp and resolute.
He raised his hand, his mind sinking into the system panel, landing on the [Deconstructed Halo] icon, which was composed of countless intricate runes and geometric light paths.
"Strengthen the [Deconstruct Aura]!"
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