Turning Chapter 903

Chapter 903

"So... what exactly do you need from me?"

Gloe's abilities belong to the Jung Division. While most members of the Jung Division lack significant combat power, there are cases where even seemingly frail powers can become more threatening than anyone else's.

Kanna, the current Deputy Commander of the Jung Division, had once possessed negligible combat skills and a frail body. However, through persistent training, she had managed to find the best combination to utilize her abilities in combat.

Her method involved reading information instantaneously during battle to discern the enemy's combat style and attack patterns, then dodging and exploiting their vulnerabilities. Although this required incredible speed to read information and counterattack, Kanna had honed this technique through relentless physical training until Yuder deemed it useful.

In reality, Kanna usually supported other members who excelled in combat, as this was more advantageous. Nevertheless, should a moment come where she needed to fight directly, this power would undoubtedly become a useful weapon.

Gloe, like Kanna, had also honed her powers in a similar yet distinct manner for combat use. Unlike Kanna, Gloe lacked sufficient strength to defend herself, and having her abilities known across the continent led her to encounter many who sought to kidnap or eliminate her.

Just by giving a card reading, she could bestow a blessing akin to foresight that protected her subject. It was no wonder that many a power-seeker coveted such a gift. Had Yuder not intervened, Gloe might have ended up in the Sun Palace, serving Emperor Katchian for life before even experiencing life as a Cavalry member.

Having faced countless life-threatening situations and grown through real combat, Gloe could then use her once-per-day ability multiple times and manipulate the blessings in her cards in various ways. Moreover, her power to conjure intangible cards saved her life in critical moments.

And there was another aspect to her power.

She could invert the meanings contained in the cards, bringing fortune to allies and misfortune to foes – a unique combat strategy.

This would become the famous specialty of Gloe, who would later acquire the surname Marshel, becoming Gloe Marshel.

‘It was because of this power that Gloe, despite her young age and weak physical capabilities, could maintain her position as the Deputy Commander of the Jung Division for so long…’

Now, Yuder needed that power.

"In my opinion, it might be possible for you to 'decide' how to apply the other meanings of the cards to a subject. I wish for you to exert that power on someone."

"...Just apply the other meanings? I haven't used my power in that way before, I'm not sure... I've never even thought about it... It might not be possible. I don't think it will work..."

Gloe hesitated and shook her head.

Yuder, looking directly at the anxious and intimidated Gloe, shook his head in return.

"No, it will be possible."

"Why are you so sure...? You're not me, Commander’s assistant."

"Of course, I'm not you, but that doesn't mean I'm unaware of your abilities. I'm confident there is no one better at understanding the abilities of an Awakener than myself."

This was a well-known fact among the Cavalry members. Gloe, having been accepted into their ranks, would have heard of Yuder's reputation from the other members and was likely aware of this aspect.

"Yes, I've heard that you have been of great help in developing the abilities of others. They say once you see an ability, you understand it better than the user themselves... I'm not sure if that's true, though..."

"There's no need to doubt, it's true indeed. This flower vase can vouch for that."

From a distance, the flower vase chimed in again. However, this time, Gloe did not react much to his words.

"But my, my power is unique. It's not like I can bestow any blessing I wish at will... It took a lot of practice to use it even once a day."

"Look at that."

"Pardon?"

"You managed to use a power that originally wasn't possible once a day through practice, right? With more practice, you could use it ten times a day. And what's ten? You could make it dozens of times. Perhaps you could even use the power without the cards."

"What are you talking about... That's impossible."

It will be possible. You just don't know it yet.

"You say you achieved using it once a day through practice, so why claim other things are impossible? You haven't even tried them yet."

"Do I need to try to know that?"

"Of course, you don't know. How could you? How can you be so sure? Shall we make a bet? In a year's time, whether you can use your ability more than ten times a day?"

Gloe opened her lips in response to Yuder's emotionless answer, then hesitated and closed them again.

'She must lack confidence. Just scared and therefore quick to say it can't be done.'

Gloe already knows that the meanings contained in her cards are not singular. Probably the same in her previous life. Yet, it took her years to apply them deliberately as an attack against enemies... due to her lack of self-confidence.

But Yuder, who had already seen how she could develop, held a clear certainty. That was the difference between him and Gloe.

"Gloe. You already know all the meanings your cards hold. Then, isn't it possible that the reason why the power is only manifesting in blessings is not because 'it was always like that,' but because you have 'chosen' it to be so?"

Yuder emphasized certain parts of his speech. Gloe blinked her shadowed eyes, looking at Yuder's face as if she couldn't understand.

"...But I... I don't remember choosing... My power, it was just like that from the beginning."

"There is nothing that is 'from the beginning.' Some choices are made unconsciously, following familiarity. Like deciding which hand to extend when picking something up."

If an Awakener lacks confidence in their power, the power does not serve its master. If you can't believe that you can grasp an object in front of you, trembling and reaching out aimlessly, can you really achieve your goal?

Stretching out your arm, opening your hand, and picking up and bringing back an object – even such a simple and natural task becomes difficult without confidence. It was the same with abilities.

Gloe, having listened to Yuder's explanation, remained silent for a while. Then, taking a shaky breath, she lowered her head.

"...If I can use that power, who is the person I should use it on?"

The corners of Yuder's lips faintly lifted.

"The person currently beneath our feet, underground. Unnecessarily stubborn, but appears to know quite a bit."

"Underground, that means... there's a prison, isn't there?"

"Correct."

"Use my power on someone imprisoned... What exactly are you planning to do? I don't quite understand... I'm not sure if my cards have such a negative power that could be used in that way, and even if they do, there's no guarantee it will work as desired..."

"It's simple. When you use your power to bestow blessings, the recipient gets the 'necessary' blessing, right? Likewise, when the opposite force is exerted... something akin to a curse."

"Could it be...?"

Gloe took a deep breath as she seemed to finally understand.

"Do you mean to create conditions from the outside that would allow a specific type of power to manifest?"

"Your understanding is commendable."

What if the environment was manipulated in advance for the recipient of Gloe's card to be in physical danger? If the card's power manifested as a blessing, it would protect the body, but if it turned the other way, it might result in wounds that wouldn't heal or even worsen.

Yuder remembered the various powers of Gloe's cards.

Among them, he was targeting just one.

'Truth.'

The nature of blessings varied greatly. Uncovering certain truths could be a blessing to allies and a curse akin to a nightmare for enemies.

Gloe, in her current life, had likely never used that card. The individuals she had helped with her card readings were mostly those in physical danger.

However, in her past life as the Deputy Commander of the Jung Division, Gloe had achieved significant results in interrogations using the card of truth. While she was not as unparalleled as Kanna in gathering information, the power of truth called forth by her card was special in a different field from reading information.

The person Yuder now intended for Gloe to use her power on was none other than Aton, the leader among the southern merchants and a spy-cum-priest sent by them. Both Kishiar and Yuder had met this man before. Initially, Aton showed some emotional disturbance, but he had not revealed any meaningful information about the impending disaster.

'An incredibly stubborn bastard. Damn him.'

Yuder recalled Aton's face from when he had visited him alone before Kishiar's recovery.