Ethan stepped out of his office and called the chauffeur, already on standby, to drive him and Jessica to their first destination—a seafood restaurant named “Ocean’s Bounty.”
The place had once been a local favorite but had seen its customer base dwindle over the last year. Now, Ethan was determined to turn its fortunes around.
As they settled into the luxurious car’s backseat, Ethan seemed unusually serious, his gaze fixed intently on his phone screen. Feeling his focused mood, Jessica kept her thoughts to herself and didn’t dare interrupt him.
But Ethan wasn’t just browsing his phone; he was exploring something more important. He had opened his Skill Panel, a feature he hadn’t visited. His fingers tapped through the options, and he felt excited.
Ethan had upgraded the Cooking skill to Master level, which cost him 17 Ascension Points. The moment he made the upgrade, a torrent of culinary knowledge and techniques had surged into his mind.
Every cut, flavor combination, and technique had been seared into his consciousness in a split second. Thankfully, now that his attributes had reached the realm of the Ascendants, he no longer experienced the excruciating pain he used to feel when flooded with new information.
Ethan scrolled through the Skill Panel and noticed something new—a tab that hadn’t existed. The title above it read “Divine Skills.” Intrigued, he tapped on it, and a list of skills unfolded before him.
Only three skills were available, but each had a description that caught his attention. They were clearly not ordinary skills; they were something beyond the norm, something truly exceptional.
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[Divine Skills]
1. [Culinary Divinity] (30 Ascension Points)
Description: This skill grants the user the Tongue of the Divine, an unparalleled sense of taste and intuition in culinary arts. The user can discern the finest nuances in flavor, instantly identify ingredients, and even predict how a dish will taste before it’s cooked.
Unlocking this skill also grants the knowledge to create dishes that could be considered heavenly, making every meal a masterpiece. Requires Cooking Skills at the Master’s level.
2. [Combat Genius] (100 Ascension Points)
Description: Enhances the user’s combat capabilities to a superior level among Ascendants. All user’s current attributes are multiplied by five, granting unparalleled speed, strength, endurance, and agility for an Ascendant.
This skill provides an intuitive mastery over any weapon and combat style, making the user a formidable opponent on any battlefield. Additionally, it grants a heightened sense of spatial awareness, allowing the user to precisely anticipate movements. Requires Master-level proficiency in at least ten combat-related skills.
3. [Business Genius] (50 Ascension Points)
Description: Bestows a deep, instinctive understanding of complex market dynamics, business strategy, and negotiation. The user gains enhanced cognitive processing, allowing rapid financial trends, investment opportunities, and competitor behavior analysis.
This skill equips users with near-flawless negotiation tactics, making efficient and precise business maneuvers and strategic decisions. It is perfect for navigating the intricacies of high-stakes business environments.
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Ethan’s eyes widened as he read through the descriptions. These skills were on another level compared to anything he’d seen before. They weren’t just enhancements—they were transformative.
He noticed something interesting; these Divine Skills were directly tied to the challenges he was currently facing. The Culinary Divinity skill would help him with the restaurant mission; Combat Genius aligned with his need for protection and security, while Business Genius perfectly fit his ambitions with NovaTech and Ridge Rovers FC.
However, the points required were staggering, and he had limited Ascension Points. After unlocking the Cooking skill to Master level, he only had 36 Ascension Points left, which meant he could only afford one of the Divine Skills right now.
He hesitated momentarily, considering his options, before deciding that the most immediate challenge was the struggling restaurants. Helping them would elevate BiteWave’s reputation and secure its mission rewards.
“Culinary Divinity”—it was the perfect skill to unlock now.
He tapped the screen, confirming his choice, and a warm, almost ethereal sensation immediately washed over him.
It felt like his senses had sharpened, especially his sense of taste. His mind filled with even more knowledge about cooking—he could now visualize the taste of any dish just by reading the ingredients.
He could instinctively feel what a dish needed to reach perfection, and his ability to guide struggling restaurants to culinary greatness had just been enhanced tenfold.
Ethan also noticed a message in the corner of his Skill Panel.
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“More Divine Arts will become available as you progress. Keep exploring.”
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He understood now that these skills were not random; they were tied to his current path, and he had to earn them.
Ethan felt a newfound confidence surge as the car rolled toward Ocean’s Bounty. He now had the Tongue of the Divine. This ability would make him the ultimate food critic and culinary guide. No matter what challenges lay ahead with these restaurants, he was ready to face them head-on and turn them into success stories.
He closed the Skill Panel, his mind already brimming with ideas on approaching the upcoming mission. With a calm smile, he pocketed his phone and looked out the window as the city streets rushed by, knowing he was just getting started.
The car pulled up in front of Ocean’s Bounty, a seafood restaurant once beloved by locals, now hidden away in a quieter part of Novan City.
Despite being miles away from the ocean, the restaurant’s façade was built to evoke coastal charm. Its weathered wooden panels and nautical-themed decor hint at a time when the place was buzzing with diners.
However, the building’s rustic exterior shows signs of wear—a faded sign swinging gently in the breeze, paint chipping along the edges of the window frames, and small cracks running through the once-pristine brickwork.
Ethan could feel the air of neglect hanging over the place, a subtle but persistent reminder that its glory days were long past. It was clear that the restaurant had struggled to maintain the image it once had, and the lack of foot traffic in the surrounding area only underscored how far Ocean’s Bounty had fallen from its former status.
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