Of course, the greatest change was the Talent "Daytime Hunt".
"Daytime Hunt: The unique talent of Battle Pattern Breathing Technique has merged with your soul; when you are in daylight, sunshine, or similar environments, you will gain an all-attribute bonus of +0.2, and your physical strength, energy, and injury recovery speed will increase by 10%. You can also choose to consume 10%-100% of your physical strength to execute an agility-based attack with a bonus of +0.1 to +1; when you stand still and complete a 3-second charge-up, you will gain an additional +0.1 to strength and agility; when you fully activate Daytime Hunt and use the 'Sprint' skill, your agility boost will stack, and in the next attack, you will gain an extra +0.1 agility bonus (lasting for one attack only)!]
Physical strength, energy, and injury recovery speed increased by 5%.
"Daytime Hunt" successfully stacked with "Sprint".
There was also the extra effect of an additional +0.1 to the next attack when using maximum consumption.
Jason felt satisfied with this.
However, his brow furrowed upon seeing the note that it lasted only once.
Given his talent, even with 100% consumption of physical strength, he would still have the strength for an attack.
In Jason's view, just one time was far too little.
If it could occur a few more times...
I could be even faster!
With this thought, Jason's eyes brightened.
Then, he returned to his focused state from before.
Hunting and further altering "Daytime Hunt".
Meanwhile, in the depths of the Sanctuary in Ang City, there was an air of solemnity.
The war had ended a week ago.
With the Sanctuary's utter defeat, the Night Owl Court demonstrated its might to the entire new century, especially when some discovered that many of the Sanctuary's people had vanished without a trace, leaving only a handful of unimportant members left, a sense of fear involuntarily rose within them.
Everyone thought this was the Night Owl Court's retribution.
The Night Owl Court offered no explanations.
They needed such misunderstandings to buy time.
They needed an opportunity to rise anew.
They were pleased by such misunderstandings.
Indeed, they were fanning the flames from the shadows.
Aio. Kite excelled at such tactics, and the entire Kate Family was exerting their strength to muddle the waters further while starting to seize the Sanctuary's remaining wealth.
For an entire week, Aio. Kite did not rest.
He was busying over these matters.
Similarly, the old butler Dar. Kate and the youngest child Mondy. Kate had no rest either.
The busyness would continue.
But today, they took time out, dressed appropriately, standing here with somber faces.
Dibala and Shiba did the same.
Both were wrapped in cloaks, wearing nocturnal masks and standing quietly.
Aio. Kite stepped forward, and three stood side by side.
He refused the invitation from three old friends and simply stood in the corner with his mask on, his eyes filled with sadness as he gazed upon the tombstone.
The death date engraved on the tombstone was YA90.9.22, the day Jason disappeared, but his son insisted Jason was still alive, so the date was erased.
No one knew, so it was replaced with question marks.
Thus, the tombstone appeared rather comical.
Especially when paired with the words below—
Aras: We'd agreed to practice together.
Kuya: I still wanted to invite you for a meal.
Esther: I firmly believe you will return.
Edmund: Fate? I'm prepared to break it now.
The four who were closest to Jason wrote their own words below.
This made the tombstone look even less solemn.
If any serious words had to be forced, there would be only one—
The great Night Owl, forever Claw 13.
Avent murmured softly.
Finally, he shook his head.
Edmund and Esther stood shoulder to shoulder, the latter's insistence meant there were no bouquets at the funeral, only a meeting and conversation after a great battle.
Under the gaze of "Jason".
This was Esther's request.
"What are you planning to do?"
"Learn swordsmanship, get married, have children."
Esther answered succinctly.
Learn swordsmanship to become stronger.
Get married to leave no regrets.
Have children, just in case.
No further explanation needed, Edmund instantly understood Esther's thoughts.
"I heard Miss Jennifer is quite good?"
Edmund tried to lighten the mood.
"Very capable, and she has a sense of justice, too."
After nodding, Esther turned his head towards Edmund and asked, "What about you?"
Edmund, who initially wanted to lighten the mood, fell silent at this question.
He couldn't face the question with humor.
Because it was under the gaze of "Jason".
A man who died in his stead.
After a full two seconds, Edmund took a deep breath and began to speak slowly.
"I will relentlessly pursue everything I can accomplish, learn all that I can. If talent is lacking, I will make up for it with a hundredfold effort and time. Believing in the 'great' brilliance and always ready to bestow 'hope' to the successors. When I reach the end, I want to tell Jason with a smile that this unceasing struggle was indeed the never-before-felt freedom—until the moment of farewell, it is for those freed from this world."
With that, Edmund looked back at the "tombstone".
It was Jason who taught him through actions to break fate.