Jacob lifted his head slowly, his face pale and battered from when the Dark Legion Guards picked him up from a brothel where he was planning to spend the rest of his meaningless life after leaving his family.
His eyes held a mix of anger, confusion, and something close to resignation. He didn’t speak at first, only stared at Kent as if trying to measure the sincerity behind his words.
He is angry, for one. But that was all: just anger.
Now, however, he heard something he never thought he would hear from the second most hateful person he had met.
Daisy Ashland is first by the way.
For a moment, there was silence. The weight of the question hung in the air, pressing on his rational mind. He could make a decision now that would change his life.
Finally, Jacob broke the silence.
“And if I refuse?” he asked, his voice hoarse but steady. He wasn’t about to act arrogant despite resolving himself to death days ago.
Yet death doesn’t want him, it seems.
Kent crossed his arms and tilted his head slightly. “Then I’ll release you,” he said plainly. “You’ll be free to go wherever you want. I do not need someone unwilling to follow me.”
Jacob’s eyes narrowed. “Why not just kill me, then? It would solve all your problems.”
Kent gave a faint smirk. “I don’t have a reason to kill you. You’re not a threat to me, Jacob. But you could be an asset if you choose to be.”
The words seemed to catch Jacob off guard. He blinked a few times, his shoulders slumping slightly as he processed the offer.
“You’ve already taken everything from me,” Jacob said bitterly. “What’s left for me to serve you for?”
Kent’s expression hardened, his voice colder now.
“That’s up to you. You can keep clinging to your grudge and die with nothing, or you can find a new purpose. I’m offering you a chance to rise above what your family made you—a chance to stand for something real.”
The prison fell silent again. Jacob’s hands clenched into fists, the chains around his wrists rattling softly. His breathing was uneven, but he held an expression that said he wasn’t stupid to do anything stupid.
“I’ll do it,” he said at last.
Kent nodded a faint hint of approval in his eyes. “Good then. You won’t regret your decision.”
When Kent responded to Jacobs’s declaration, the tower came to life.
[Requirement Met…Servant Tower Awakening]
[You have unlocked the Servant Tower. You must become a Root Grandmaster to awaken it fully]
[Servant Tower]
— You can add people willing to serve you to your servant tower.
— People added to the tower cannot betray you, nor can you betray them.
— You will inherit a part of their soul strength as their trust in you grows.
— You will earn a part of their spiritual Qi as they cultivate.
[Note: All other benefits will be added when you awaken the tower fully]
***
[You have added the first person to your servant tower. Name: Jacob Ashland. Trust Level: 12%]
[Your first servant has inherited a True name: Krex-Nithal (Locked)]
[First Servant: Jacob Ashland]
[Cultivation: Level 9 Root Master]
[True Name: Krex-Nithal]
**
< True Name: Krex-Nithal >
+ The Undying Cockroach +
— In the Age of Ash, long before the rise of kingdoms, a humble insect survived the wrath of the Sunstorm, a divine calamity that scorched the land and extinguished all life it touched.
— Legends speak of a cockroach that refused to die, crawling through fire, poison, and crushing darkness.
— Curious about its defiance, the gods bound its essence into a True name—Krex-Nithal.
— This name granted eternal resilience, embodying the insect’s undying spirit, and was whispered through the ages, coveted by warriors and immortals alike.
— Those who wield it inherit the cockroach’s resilience, marking them as one who treads the line between life and death. They won’t die easily.
— The Forgotten Codex records that Krex-Nithal was gifted to the first mortal hero who slew a chaos wyrm, surviving countless battles and becoming a legend, but his story ended mysteriously.
— His body was never found, and it’s said the name now drifts in the void, seeking a worthy bearer.
***
<Tower, what is a ‘True Name,’ and how does it make a difference?> Kent asked.
A True Name was something he was not familiar with. It looked good at a glance, but he felt he shouldn’t have known about it.
[A True Name is what binds one’s essence and being. A True Name is their life, and once it is proclaimed, one can take control over the person or beast. True Names are the person’s free will, in a way.
However, a True Name is also a person’s strength. Those with True Names are destined to grow and soar to the skies. True Names bestow special traits and aspects upon them.
In your first servant’s case, he had invoked the True Name of the undying legendary cockroach.
Of course, in your hands, it’s a blessing to them. You will know more when you fully awaken the tower. But to ease your emotions, knowing his True Name won’t make you his slave master.
Of course, you will have control over him, but in a good way.
The tower holds mysteries that will take you millennia to not even unravel the surface. So, for now, relax and let the various towers awaken before you make any decision on whether to invoke the name or not.
But you don’t have to worry, considering it’s locked. To unlock it, he would have to reach an 80% Trust level.]
<I see. Thanks, Tower.>
Kent calmed down a bit. He hated slavery, and knowing this, he felt like he was about to strip Jacob of his free will. But for now, he could only wait and learn more later.
Kent went on with the rest of the messages.
[You have unlocked a new skill; Fateful Servant]
[Skill Name: Fateful Servant]
[Grade: Divine]
[Rank: SSS]
[Effects: Passive]
— Undying Will: Grants the servant immortality as long as their master lives. To a certain extent, they can die when under a powerful attack.
— Enhanced Potential: Unlocks the servant’s latent abilities, exponentially boosting their growth and combat prowess.
— Fate Link: The master can share senses, energy, and life force with the servant.
[Note: This skill taps into the Trust level of the master and the servant. The higher the trust level, the more powerful the effect of the skill]
***
‘Tsk, from where I stand, this bastard has all the benefits. I only hope he becomes useful in the future.’ Kent chuckled inwardly but didn’t hate the turn of events.
First, he had earned a boost to his already robust soul strength. Now, he knew that regardless of the tower he awakened, he would gain a part of their soul strength, which, in a way, delighted him.
Second, he would gain some of his Spiritual Qi as he cultivated. One can say the tower is spoiling him rotten, But he knew better.
He now had Unity, Lilian, and Jacob as his Spiritual Qi banks. Since Li Hua had yet to reach the cultivation age, she couldn’t contribute.
But that was also fine. Kent could already see a future where he wouldn’t have to think about cultivating. All he would be doing was sleeping with women and growing strong.
Well, he was a dual cultivator, so in a way, he was cultivating even through sex. But he will also receive spiritual qi from those connected to him.