[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-starting-from-the-apocalypse-i-alone-severed-ete":3,"chapter-starting-from-the-apocalypse-i-alone-severed-ete-starting-from-the-apocalypse-i-alone-severed-ete-chapter-57":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Starting from the Apocalypse, I Alone Severed Eternity",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2312439,4518,"Chapter 57: Fate Contract: The Lucky Hunter","starting-from-the-apocalypse-i-alone-severed-ete-chapter-57",57,"\u003Cp>Taimora smiled, her cold expression melting like ice: “Mortal, your future self will thank you for today’s decision.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi also smiled: “Madam, I think so too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both held secret thoughts, yet their smiles were utterly sincere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Taimora’s hand, golden light shimmered, and a gray sheet of paper floated before her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The paper was the size of an A4 page, covered in arcane runes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taimora spoke calmly: “This is the drafted Fate Contract. If there are no issues, sign it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi was about to say he was illiterate, couldn’t read, and that the script on the contract was Divine Script—only a deity could understand it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Taimora simply flung the contract toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fate Contract detected.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Would you like to spend 1000 Survival Points to translate and notarize it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A stream of data from his attribute panel flashed before his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi paused, a thought stirring in his mind: the deity clearly understood the attribute panel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But 1000 points? That’s far too much!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi had only accumulated 1500 Survival Points since he began killing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just to translate and notarize this contract would cost 1000 points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d lose two-thirds of his total at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After thinking it over, Fang Shi decided to agree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Taimora was a benevolent deity, alignments can shift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could a mortal fathom a deity’s heart? What if she fell?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the embodiment of Luck, Taimora naturally had countless followers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her alignment and doctrine were shaped primarily by her own nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if she were a demon god, she’d never lack followers, nor would she be bound by them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike some deities whose divine portfolios carry clear alignment biases, explicitly codified in their doctrines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their followers are chosen only from corresponding alignments—they cannot arbitrarily shift alignment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, if alignment shifts, followers flee, and the backlash of faith would be devastating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Fang Shi had every reason to ensure the fairness of this Fate Contract.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Madam, do you have Survival Points? Could you spare me some?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I need Survival Points to sign the Fate Contract—I’m just a mortal, I can’t sign without them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taimora gazed deeply at Fang Shi, saying nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A stream of golden light flowed toward Fang Shi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You have received 1000 Faith Points.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Detected: no Divine Core. 1000 Faith Points converted into 1000 Survival Points.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that enough?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“More than enough,” Fang Shi nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t that he wanted more—the Lady of Luck hadn’t even asked how much; she gave 1000 points outright, proving she understood the attribute panel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi didn’t know how much 1000 Faith Points were worth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But from Taimora’s unhesitating gesture, he could infer she was determined to seal this contract.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You have spent 1000 Survival Points.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fate Contract translated.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fate Contract notarized.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After verification, imprint your consciousness onto the Fate Contract to complete the signing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi re-examined the Fate Contract. The text hadn’t changed, yet he now understood it—as if he’d been granted Tongue of Languages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was stranger than Tongue of Languages: he didn’t just grasp the basic meaning of the Divine Script—he understood its origins, allusions, slang, even the underlying rules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This eliminated any possibility of contractual ambiguity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It gave Fang Shi the illusion that he could wield astonishing power through the Divine Script alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet sadly, the moment he shifted his focus away from the contract,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>all memory of the Divine Script vanished, leaving only the translated meaning behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This comprehension of Divine Script disappeared entirely, like a reflection on water or a dream dissolving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi couldn’t help but marvel: this was worth every point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With such a convenient translation function, he could even dare to sign contracts with demons and devils.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as he remained cautious, he’d never be tricked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After an hour of meticulous study,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi considered countless possibilities, ensuring not a single clause held a flaw,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>then imprinted his true name onto the contract with his consciousness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This process included carefully inspecting the contract’s ornamental borders, guarding against hidden clauses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also strictly limited the execution timeline, preventing the Lady of Luck from delaying payment for a hundred years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, he left no loophole unexamined, exhausting every brain cell he’d gained from his rebirth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Madam, it’s done.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi tossed the Fate Contract back to Taimora.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taimora took it, waved her hand, and a rushing sound like a waterfall echoed from the heavens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi looked up—the sky revealed a colossal river, blotting out sun and stars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in his consciousness, the river was even grander.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed as boundless as the multiverse, immeasurable and vast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each drop of water was the life of a sentient being.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each ripple was the trajectory of all things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the manifestation of Fate—the River of Fate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far more majestic than the river Taimora had summoned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It bore all life, flowing endlessly along its course, unstoppable and unchangeable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything seemed inevitable. Everything was destiny.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shhh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Fate Contract became a streak of light, cast by Taimora into the River of Fate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, Fang Shi understood: Fate had acknowledged the contract.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had inscribed the contract into the trajectories of all beings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must be fulfilled—even if you personally refuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fate will show you what coincidence means, what destiny means.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if Taimora perished, any demand she issued before death would remain binding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The executor would become the River of Fate itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would weave a new destiny, imposing punishment upon Fang Shi under a chain of conditions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or rather, the River of Fate had always known the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every action Taimora and Fang Shi had taken was already within Fate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, they were merely going through the motions—enacting the future in the mortal world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a fate. A destined destiny.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unless one transcended Fate, all beings were encompassed within it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But who could transcend Fate? Even the gods were swept within its current.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi fell silent, then smiled: “Madam, you should now fulfill your end of the contract.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since signing the Fate Contract, Taimora’s face had worn a mysterious, inscrutable smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mortal, this is the reward I grant you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She withdrew a sphere of chaotic, indescribable color and tossed it to Fang Shi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is Primordial Force from the Age of Chaos. Absorb this force, and you will gain Primordial Force Resistance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As for your second reward, which skill do you wish to upgrade?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi answered without hesitation: “I choose Lightning Reflex II.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why Lightning Reflex II? Because upgrading it again would grant the Epic skill Lightning Reflex III.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reaction speed would rise from +3 to +7—equivalent to adding 14 points of Agility to reaction speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a massive qualitative leap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Fang Shi tried to train it himself, he had no confidence he could raise Lightning Reflex to Level 3.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even legendary Qiangzhe  only elevated their primary skills to Epic rank; most remained below Epic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi wasn’t even first-rank—he couldn’t possibly train a skill to Epic rank. That was pure fantasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taimora didn’t care. The Fate Contract was sealed; no turning back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even she would pay a price if she broke the Fate Contract.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That is the punishment of a shattered divine throne and the eternal slumber of the Star Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as Taimora isn’t stupid, she knows to choose this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, even if Taimora does not pay, in the upcoming adventures,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi will inevitably acquire these rewards by chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Taimora knows exactly which specialties Fang Shi possesses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi’s request to upgrade Lightning Reflexes caused no surprise whatsoever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Lightning Reflexes already exists, and upgrading it consumes far less divine power than generating an Epic specialty from nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“【Lightning Reflexes III】: Your reaction speed has far surpassed that of a human. (Reaction Speed +7)”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Taimora’s divine power took effect, Fang Shi felt his body begin to change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The nerve fibers within him thickened, while simultaneously branching into countless finer subdivisions, integrating into the most minute regions of the tissue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some nerve fibers even began fusing with various cells, forming a unified whole where each contained the other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The result was a more streamlined myelin sheath structure, with Schwann cells and Ranvier nodes operating with greater efficiency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A single thought turned, swift as lightning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this the world as seen by a Speedster?” Fang Shi thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, in his perception, everything around him moved with excruciating slowness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The faint breeze from nowhere, the dust motes in the air, Taimora’s casual gesture of brushing her hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything resembled a film slowed down tenfold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the changes were not limited to this—Fang Shi was horrified to discover his perception range had sharply diminished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most obviously, his vision: he realized he had become nearsighted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Distant scenes grew blurry, as if veiled by a thin gauze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other four senses were harder to compare in the labyrinth, but Fang Shi was certain their range and precision had also decreased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s going on? An Epic specialty has compressed my perception? That shouldn’t happen?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Fang Shi puzzled over this, Taimora in the slow world suddenly smiled faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But strangely, the speed of her smile matched that of the normal world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mortal, do you now feel the world as seen by the strong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As one evolves, the world perceived by the transcendent grows ever faster.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When one ascends to the divine throne, a moment becomes eternity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taimora spoke at a normal pace, yet in the normal world, her words flew by at blinding speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ordinary mortals could not make out a single syllable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi instantly understood: it was not his perception that had declined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rather, with his reaction speed increased, he had become aware of too much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His brain could not process it all, so it passively blurred the excess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had not been obvious before, because he had not yet reached his brain’s processing limit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, the Epic-level Lightning Reflexes had boosted his reaction speed by the equivalent of eight points of Agility—his brain had simply crashed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had assumed that, aside from mages, other classes did not need to focus on Intelligence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed not that they didn’t need it, but that they had not yet reached the limit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others received stat bonuses upon class advancement, so Intelligence and Agility would not diverge so drastically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had prematurely acquired an Epic specialty while still at zero level, naturally causing this awkward phenomenon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi adjusted slightly, and his perception finally returned to the normal world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under these conditions, his brain would consciously filter out objects moving at extreme speeds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This did not interfere with daily combat or life in normal state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Madam, for your guidance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taimora smiled: “Mortal, this is part of the path of transcendence. You would have understood it soon enough without my guidance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then, farewell. I believe that one day in the future, you will not disappoint me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the golden light on Jiang Xian’s body faded, Taimora departed the Trial Tower entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A shrill, piercing female scream rang out—Jiang Xian, regaining control of her body, let out a cry of pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She frantically patted and explored her own body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ignoring Fang Shi’s presence before her, she even pulled down her pants to look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sight caused another scream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A deity’s alteration of reality is never simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xian had truly transformed from a youthful boy into a beautiful girl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She dared not believe it, touched herself with her hand—and of course, found nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop screaming,” Fang Shi said coolly. “It’s just a gender change. What’s so special? You can use Permanent Transformation later to revert it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under Fang Shi’s calm gaze, Jiang Xian calmed down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, Taimora had not blocked Jiang Xian’s consciousness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She remembered everything that had happened and understood that the man before her was someone who could bargain with deities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You must have chosen Ranger as your class, and your patron deity appears to be the Lady of Luck.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Take a good look at your stat panel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xian, in her state of despair and sorrow, mechanically obeyed Fang Shi’s instruction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when she looked, she was stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Agility and Strength increased by two points each; Constitution, Perception, and Intelligence each increased by one point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most importantly, Charisma rose from 12 to 16.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A total of eleven full stat points gained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, her level-1 Ranger class had become level-1 Lucky Hunter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The new class also granted a new specialty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“【Lucky Shot】: When attacking with bows, crossbows, or other ranged weapons, your shooting modifier increases by +1.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This specialty’s effect was simple: automatic shot correction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this specialty, even a laid-back hunter could hit the target.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sometimes, shooting casually might prove more accurate than aiming intently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, it was a god-tier specialty for archers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this was merely level-1 Lucky Hunter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xian was no fool; she quickly grasped the implications.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this specialty, even if she couldn’t track the Firewing Bird’s flight path, she might still land a headshot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But her excitement faded quickly, replaced by despair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This had been bought at the cost of her own… little brother. The price was too high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon learning of Jiang Xian’s stat changes, Fang Shi mused: “It seems the Lady of Luck intends to make you a Chosen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young man—no, young lady—work hard. I have faith in your future.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After we clear the Infinite Labyrinth, don’t leave yet. Wait for me—I’ll take you to a human settlement.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xian’s eyes lit up, then dimmed again as she murmured: “What’s the point of leaving? My little brother won’t come back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi was speechless: “Didn’t I just tell you? You can use Permanent Transformation to revert it. Did you not hear me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xian perked up slightly: “What is Permanent Transformation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“An eighth-circle spell, usable by a level-15 mage,” Fang Shi said coolly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, he did not tell her that while eighth-circle transformation spells are permanent, they can be undone by Anti-Magic Fields or Dispel Magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, hearing the good news, Jiang Xian finally smiled happily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Combined with her current appearance, she looked beautiful and adorable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you. You’re such a good person.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Thank you to Bookworm00100 for two Moon Tickets.\u003C\u002Fp>",2358,"2026-06-20T12:43:33.559Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","871762f42ec785c9768c1ec80bd17cca1499b4e65bb50bef91d0cbc3375e19a7","starting-from-the-apocalypse-i-alone-severed-ete-chapter-58","starting-from-the-apocalypse-i-alone-severed-ete-chapter-56",109,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstarting-from-the-apocalypse-i-alone-severed-ete-cover.jpg"]