Awakening：The Infinite Evolution of My Talent as a Low-Level Awakener

Once NPCs have enough [Fortune], they can be enhanced into elite or boss forms. Upon completing the aforementioned two enhancements, the NPCs will gain attribute boosts and a significant increase in health, and might even acquire additional skills.

As for how to obtain "Fortune", it varies based on the NPC's identity. For instance, a pirate NPC would need to engage in frequent plundering to become a pirate elite or even a pirate boss.

However, becoming elite or boss-level comes at a price. After completing these enhancements, an NPC can only increase their power by one rank in the future. For instance, a third-class NPC can only advance to legendary, and a legendary NPC can only advance to demigod.

If NPCs want unlimited potential like players, they must forgo elite and boss enhancements.

At this moment, the Constantine before them, as a general, could gain [Fortune] by starting wars!

This explained the fourth prince's panic.

Declaring war on the Divine Mountain Empire on behalf of the Atlantis Empire is a significant event capable of gaining legendary status. Moreover, if Constantine earns sufficient merit during the war, his fortune will also surge dramatically, potentially giving him the opportunity to reach boss-level status!

So, Constantine daring to unleash the Netherworld Rain and break into the consciousness space meant he was here to cause trouble, aiming to pave the way for his legendary and boss transformation.

The fourth prince's threats were meaningless.

In reality, the fourth prince wasn't trying to scare off the enemy with words. He was secretly signaling the other princes to quickly activate a ritual to send everyone back to the temple they had teleported from.

The other princes were not fools either. They had long understood the situation and were ready to use special talismans to take action.

However, to their great surprise...

"Why isn't it working?"

"Titan, what's going on??"

Their faces grew frantic.

The players and NPCs in the room remained in their places.

"Your efforts are futile." a figure behind Constantine said, slowly pulling down the hood of their cloak.

As this person revealed themselves, everyone displayed expressions of extreme astonishment.

"It's you! How is this possible?"

"Elder brother??"

"Why are you...?"

The princes were shocked, as if witnessing something incredibly absurd.

The players and NPCs were equally bewildered.

"What is going on?"

"The eldest prince has been missing for half a day, and now he's mixed up with people from the Atlantic Empire??"

"Is this the next phase of the mission? Does this hidden quest have such high stakes and a third part?"

"I wonder how the rewards and difficulty will be this time?"

The reactions of the NPCs and players were completely different.

The former were extremely confused and terrified, while the latter, though a bit anxious about losing their free resurrection in the mission, felt a thrill of excitement, sensing another opportunity to earn rewards.

"Big brother, have you gone mad? What benefit do you gain from siding with the Atlantic Empire?

You were already the crown prince!" The fourth prince's face was filled with disbelief.

The eldest prince merely sneered, "Crown prince? Ever since that old man decided to pit us against each other, he already had a bias in his heart."

"Our empire's tradition has always been to pass the throne to the eldest son, a custom that has lasted nearly a thousand years. And now, they want to change it."

"Do you believe it's not against me?"

"From the start, this struggle was predetermined. Anyone could become the winner—except for me."

"Moreover..." The eldest prince glanced at Faye and "David." He had personally witnessed Faye's performance in the tournament, and his informants had reported on David's even more astounding abilities.

Both of these talented individuals are in the hands of his good fourth brother, which means that in the empire's future attempts to acquire an A-level arcane skill, the fourth brother will gain the greatest merit.

In contrast, his own prospects had dimmed... even his top recruits were no match for Faye.

Betraying to the enemy nation meant no real loss for the eldest prince...

He couldn't attain the throne by conventional means. So he had to resort to extreme measures.

As the two sides conversed, notifications popped up for all the players present.

[You have forcibly triggered the main quest: Empire's Turmoil (Stage One)]

[Warning: Due to your insufficient rating in the Empire Trial Hidden Quest, you can only participate in Stage One of this main quest.]

"Holy crap!"

"A main quest!"

"Are you kidding me?" The players' first reaction was excitement about striking it rich. Their second reaction was panic.

Main quests were something every player dreamed of, but no second-class player had ever survived one!

This matter was too big, so big that they simply had no ability to handle it.

As for only participating in Stage One, who cared? Surviving was the priority.

At this point, some players used their detection skills, and their faces changed dramatically when they saw Constantine's stats.

"How is this possible? This has to be a joke!"

"A level 133 elite template NPC? Are you kidding me?"

"Who could possibly defeat him? What kind of quest is this?"

"This is practically a death sentence!"

Everyone was stunned!

"Could we have triggered a special storyline?" Some players shouted in despair. [Transcendence] was known for its tight logic, where every quest had a reason for its existence. It wasn't uncommon for players to start what seemed like an ordinary quest, only to have the difficulty spike midway, leading to their demise.

Tasks involving special plotlines were generally reserved for top-tier players of third class and above. For mere second class players like them to be treated in such a manner, it was a bit overwhelming, to say the least...

It was practically a death trap!

Though panicked, the players quickly formulated a clear strategy. Many of them sprinted toward the princes.

The general from the Atlantic Empire and the eldest prince didn't seem to have any intention of stopping the players from running away.

"Your Highness, we can't just sit here and wait to die! Shut down the consciousness space and let us out." the players shouted desperately, unaware that the princes had already tried and failed.

Before the princes could respond, the general from the Atlantic Empire sneered, "Want to escape? Then by all means, run." He flashed a bloodthirsty smile.

The princes explained helplessly. "We've already tried. We can't use the talismans to teleport everyone back."

"We don't need talismans! We need to break through! Staying here means certain death!" the players cried out.

The princes' expressions turned even more desperate.

"This consciousness space doesn't exist in the real world. It was created with no real entry or exit."

"It's a construct of the imagination. We're being affected by the Netherworld Rain, and anyone who dies here will be erased by the Supreme Will."

"This has nothing to do with the consciousness space!"

The "Supreme Will" referred to by the NPCs was the transcendent system.

With the princes' explanation, everyone present felt their spirits crumble.

So there was no hope? Were they just supposed to wait for death?

General Constantine of the Atlantic Empire merely smirked, enjoying the despair in the players' eyes, and clapped his hands.

The figures behind him also pulled down their hoods, revealing their faces.

The princes and NPCs quickly recognized these people.

They were all young generals from the Atlantic Empire, belonging to the same faction as Constantine, and had always advocated for military action against neighboring empires.

Their presence here spoke volumes!

The Atlantic Empire's intent to kill was undeniable!

"Slaughtering all of you doesn't count as declaring war on the Divine Mountain Empire."

"Besides, there's the [Arcane Skill: Mountain]." Constantine smiled, the potential rewards of this venture were immense.

The B-grade arcane skill could allow him to switch his cultivation directly, greatly enhancing his chances of breaking through to the legendary level in the future. Moreover, by slaughtering multiple princes of the Divine Mountain Empire, he could also gain a significant amount of [Fortune].

Moreover...

With Constantine's gaze, the eldest prince laughed heartily, "Everyone, once I ascend to the throne, I will ensure the Divine Mountain Empire declares war on the Atlantic Empire."

"And the resources I promised will be delivered."

This prince had evidently chosen to betray his country to secure the throne.

The other princes and NPCs were furious, their eyes ablaze with anger.

"How dare you..."

"Kill him first!"

They charged at the eldest prince as if they intended to die with him.These people were well aware that under the influence of the Netherworld Rain, anyone who died in the consciousness space would experience true death.

However, Constantine casually drew his sword and blocked their path, stopping the NPCs' furious assault.

At the same time, more spatial rifts appeared in the sky, and soldiers clad in blue and white armor began to emerge.

They shouted, "For the glory of the empire!"

Then, the soldiers drew their weapons and charged at the players and NPCs.

The battle was about to begin!