Severely weaken the target’s time perception and combat ability; the explosive power is directly proportional to the duration of the mark.
Warning: This ability originates from the instinctual skills of the Time Hound; please carefully consider the consequences when using it.
Seeing this, Ron suddenly broke out in a cold sweat.
Large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, soaking his collar.
His hand started to tremble involuntarily, as a deep fear surged from the depths of his heart.
"So... this is not just a hunting mark, but a timed bomb!"
It turns out that the lead hound did not just leave a simple tracking mark before leaving.
It also planted a "time bomb" on him that could explode at any moment.
No wonder he had felt a strange sense of unease since the battle ended, like something was sticking in his back.
Now he finally understood—it was an instinctive warning of danger from the depths of his soul.
"Time Chaos Effect..."
Ron carefully contemplated the terrifying aspect of this attack.
Time perception is the foundation of all extraordinary beings’ combat abilities; once caught in time chaos, it is equivalent to losing the most crucial judgment capacity in battle.
The timing of attacks will become completely disordered, defensive reactions will be severely delayed, and even basic movement might become problematic.
In high-level battles, even a delay of tenths of a second can determine life or death.
And the impact of "Time Chaos" is far from being so simple.
"I must remove this mark as soon as possible..."
He quickly formulated a plan in his mind:
"Consult with Professor Yutel, or contact Record Officer Gould. As seasoned historians, they should have experience dealing with such time pollution."
Although the pocket watch has now mastered the ability of pheromone marking, theoretically it should be able to remove its own mark.
But Ron dared not attempt recklessly, in case an operation failure causes an accidental detonation, the consequences would be unimaginable.
It’s more prudent to seek professional help.
However, from another perspective, this newly acquired ability is indeed very valuable.
"For me now, I don’t need this marking ability temporarily."
Ron objectively assessed:
"After all, I currently don’t have any opposing targets that require long-term tracking."
But the potential value of this ability is enormous.
In the Wizard World, many enemies possess powerful escape methods, and traditional tracking spells are often countered by various countermeasures.
Yet, pheromone marking, an instinctual skill of Time Hounds, clearly possesses greater stealth and persistence.
"The Awakened in the Abyss... and the Apostles..."
Cold light gleamed in Ron’s eyes as he began contemplating specific scenarios for the use of this ability:
"Especially those who like to engage in plots, if we could leave a mark on them..."
Just as he was immersed in the analysis of his new ability, a violent vibration came from the storage bag again.
The Paradox Dice started acting up again!
"What’s going on? Didn’t I just use it?"
Ron suspiciously took out the polyhedron, finding it exuding a stronger paradoxical aura than before.
The blood-red infinity symbols on its six faces were spinning at an unprecedented speed, almost forming a blurred red glow.
Even more bizarre, the dice began actively drawing the magic power from his body.
The "Devouring" trait’s radiation field, generated after advancing in the Star Eater’s Ravings, was forcibly activated by some power.
Surging magic power rushed toward the Paradox Dice like a tide, so fast that it made Ron feel panicked.
"Stop! Stop now!"
He tried to cut off the output of magic power, only to find he had completely lost control over his internal energy.
The sensation was like an invisible black hole, madly devouring his life energy.
In just a few seconds, nearly ninety percent of his magic power was extracted.
His entire being instantly became weak and powerless, his face pale as a sheet of paper, his legs so weak that he could hardly stand.
"What exactly is..."
Before he could finish speaking, the Paradox Dice suddenly burst into dazzling light.
The light was interspersed with countless tiny runes and patterns, seemingly alive as they moved in the air, eventually all converging onto the silver pocket watch.
The surface of the pocket watch began to tremble violently, with its internal mechanical structure emitting a crisp "click" sound.
It was the sound of some new mechanism being activated.
As the final rune merged into the dial, the process finally concluded.
The Paradox Dice returned to peace, but the infinity symbols on its surface had turned a deep black, as if absorbing some indescribable power.
And the changes in the silver pocket watch were even more noticeable.
A brand-new hand appeared on the dial, completely black with a blood-red tip, like a drop of coagulated blood.
When Ron’s consciousness once again immersed in the pocket watch, a message that shocked him appeared:
[New ability awakened: Predation]
[Predation: Actively devour time from other individuals, producing the following effects based on the degree of usage:
Junior: Devour target’s memory fragments Mid-level: Devour target’s skill experience and knowledge reserves
Advanced: Devour target’s life time and lifespan Ultimate: Completely devour the essence of the target’s existence, acquiring everything including talents and abilities
Notice: The usage of this ability will produce unpredictable consequences, please use cautiously]
Reading this description, Ron’s breath became rapid.
The terrifying extent of this ability had already far exceeded his imagination.
From devouring memories to ultimately completely seizing another’s existence... this was almost equivalent to some form of "life plunder."
If he could master this power proficiently, he’d be able to directly acquire knowledge, experience, or even talent abilities from enemies.
The efficiency of growth in this manner far outstrips any traditional cultivation method.
"This really is..."
An excited flame burned in Ron’s eyes, as if he saw an unprecedentedly powerful path ahead.
He wouldn’t have to spend decades honing skills, nor take risks searching for precious materials; with "Predation," he could quickly acquire any desired ability.
But this excitement lasted for only a short time.
Rational thinking soon took over, as a deep uneasiness started spreading in his heart.
"The trait of the Paradox Dice..."
He recalled the words the King of Absurdity had once said:
"Everything I give you will bring corresponding troubles. The greater the help, the higher the price."
Such a powerful ability could not possibly be without cost.
And given the dice’s behavior of forcibly drawing his magic power, this price might be more terrible than he imagined.
"What is the cost of using the Predation ability?"
This question hung over him like a cloud.
Ron tried to recall the process just now, attempting to find some clues.
The Paradox Dice had drained nearly ninety percent of his magic power, which in itself was a huge consumption.
But what worried him more was the fact that this extraction process was completely beyond his control.
It’s as if the dice had its own will, capable of "requisitioning" his power at any time.
"If every use of the Predation ability requires such a tremendous cost..."
He dared not think further.
Even more terrifying was the phrase in the ability’s description: "will produce unpredictable consequences."
With the trait of the Paradox Dice, these "unpredictable consequences" might be more dangerous than the ability itself.
Perhaps using the Predation ability simultaneously also makes him into some "preyable" entity?
Or perhaps the act of devouring others’ essence would cause irreversible changes in his own essence?
The more Ron thought, the more uneasy he became, and that excitement had completely vanished, replaced by deep concern.
He carefully put away the pocket watch and sealed the Paradox Dice once again.
"I must find an opportunity to consult Professor Yutel in detail."
As a seasoned historian, Yutel, with his vast knowledge, may be able to provide some explanation for this bizarre ability.
At the very least, he needed to understand the risks and costs involved to decide whether he should really use this power.
Moonlight filtered through the window lattice onto the floor of the Meditation Room, creating dappled shadows.
Ron sat on the cushion, gazing at these changing shadows, his heart a mixture of emotions.
Great power lay before him, but the price was an unknown abyss.
This contradictory feeling reminded him of an ancient saying from the Wizard World:
"Every piece of power has its price; the key is whether you are willing to bear the consequences of that price."
And now, he didn’t even know what that price was.
This unknown was more terrifying than any clear threat.