Priam had no illusions: a mid-Tier divination expert could probably still scry him without him even knowing, let alone stop it. However, even they would now receive far less information than before.
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âThis is weird,â came a feminine voice.
Opening his eyes, Priam found himself nose to nose with Jasmine. âYouâre way too close.â
The assassin stepped back with a mischievous smile. âOops.â
He noticed she had changed clothes. Her sleek, sporty bodysuit had been replaced with a shadowy cocktail dress, dark as night. Made of shadows, it wasnât restricting her movements in the slightest, but announced a shift in her mood. The sadness from earlier had been replaced by playfulness.
âWhatâs weird?â asked the part of Priam not constantly analyzing his surroundings.
â[Identification] is throwing an error, and my shadows are struggling to detect you.â Jasmine frowned. âEven my Domainâs having trouble pinning down your outline. But my eyes can see you, my ears can hear you, and my nose can smell you.â
âJust say I stink.â
âNo, you smell like... a mix of smoke and nature, maybe?â
[Ciphered Record] was masking Priamâs Akashic signatureâwhatever that meant. It was expected that the resistance would block [Identification], but the fact it could also scramble the senses granted by a Domain or Concept was fantastic news.
âA skill truly worthy of its legendary status,â Priam smirked, sealing his Memory. Just one level-up of his new resistance, and he would trigger a sixth Tribulation. A stupid way to die.
âThink I could get the same resistance?â
Priam pondered for a moment, then shook his head. âIt would definitely help an assassin like you, but I donât know how to make it happen. Without the Sector Hope administrator's intervention or âBack in Time,â I wouldnât have even met the prerequisites for it.â As Jasmine pouted, Priam had an idea. âYou could declare your Achievements? That would fulfill some requirements.â
âAnd ruin others,â Jasmine replied, shaking her head. âIâm an assassin. Some of my skills rely on me staying under the radar. Itâs already bad enough being a Champion without drawing more attention. Iâll just wait until I hit other ideal prerequisites. Iâm sure there are similar resistances out there for people like me.â
âI wouldn't do that if I were you,â interjected the phoenix.
âMost ideal skill prerequisites involve putting yourself in serious danger,â Lasha explained, her sultry voice making every word feel like a secret promise. âIf you refuse to level up your abilities and take risks, youâll eventually die. The only workaround is to downgrade a skill, but that costs a ton of Potential. Thereâs a reason only one in ten million people has an ideal skill.â
âPriamâs got ten of them,â Luc pointed out, leaning against a balcony railing. Below, a sprawling metropolis stretched outâskyscrapers made of ice stood alongside stone trees. This extravaganza of wonders could have been the capital of a civilization, but it was the exclusive property of Lasha. The young man had almost been impressed until he remembered he would soon be rich enough to buy it all. All it took was for Priam to keep defying the impossible.
âPriamâs an anomaly. Most descendants of mythical clans have fewer ideal prerequisites.â
Luc grimaced. Even with the nearly two million contribution points he had withdrawn, he wasnât rich enough to ask the Mercenaries to grant him that many ideal skills. Priam was a freak of nature.
âI figured some ancient clans would have more than ten ideal skills.â
Lasha, the manager of the Mercenariesâ Casino, let out a laugh. Luc knew she was teasing him, but her laugh was so charming he let it slide. The fact that she charged him normal rates for their lessonsâwhen, as a Tier 5, she could have multiplied the price a thousandfoldâwarmed his heart.
âYou underestimate the jealousy of the nobles and the powerful,â the stunning elf finally replied. âFew of them are willing to raise a generation stronger than themselvesâafraid theyâll be replaced. Of course, there are exceptions, but those prodigies often meet an untimely end... or live long enough to become monsters themselves.â
âAnd us?â
âUs?â
âThe Mercenaries.â
Lasha gave him a surprised look, then playfully mocked him. âYou think youâre a prodigy in danger?â
âNot really; no one would dare mess with your boyfriend.â
âYou havenât won your bet yet,â Lasha responded, her hair stirred by a nonexistent breeze.
âItâs only a matter of time.â
âI hope soâŚâ Her words made Lucâs heart race. âTo answer your question, the Mercenaries were founded by people who aim to reach the Zenith. This competitive spirit and our strict rules prevent the slaughter of our geniuses. Thatâs why weâre one of the most powerful factions in the universe. PlusâŚâ Her gaze darkened. âA multiversal war is brewing. Now more than ever, our faction is looking to create powerhouses.â
Luc swore he would be one of them. He would bet on every opportunity until he hit the jackpot.
âSo, about ideal skillsâanything else I need to know before making my choice?â he asked eagerly.
Lasha raised two fingers. âFirst, having an ideal skill saves you a prerequisite when upgrading it.â
âThe rich get richer, and the poor get poorer.â It was true, even for a gambler like Luc.
âA universal truth. Second, a legendary ideal upgrade doesnât require a connection to a Supremacy or a Concept. That means you can get a skill thatâs outside your usual build.â
Luc raised an eyebrow. He already had plenty of skills that had nothing to do with his Luck Concept.
âYou might not see the appeal now, but think ahead,â Lasha advised. âUnless youâre an absolute genius, youâll only master one Concept at the same Tier as your soul. At Tier 5, youâll get an evolution of your Luck Concept, and all your skills will center around that. Itâll limit your ability to min-max your stats, but it worsens. Imagine you run into a nemesis whoâs resistant to Luck-based tricksâyouâll be stuck throwing epic-tier fireballs at them. Not sure thatâll cut it. But if youâve managed to get ideal upgrades, those fireballs will be Legendary, maybe even Mythical. Enough to surprise an enemy who thinks theyâve cornered you.â
âJust Mythical?â
âAfter that, getting prerequisites that donât align with your Concept is a nightmare.â
A gong rang, and Lasha clapped her hands together. âBreakâs overâback to training.â She pulled a coin from her pocket. âIf you guess right, you get to choose the next lessonâs focus.â
With a flick of her thumb, she sent the coin spinning through the air. Luc watched it, aware that with more perception and vivacity, he could simulate its fall and predict the outcome. But that wasnât his style.
âTails,â he called before it hit the ground. When the coin settled on the thick carpet, he smiled. His Luck was progressing fast, and he couldnât wait to see the world through his Conceptâs Unity.
âItâs getting too easy for you. We need something harderâŚâ Lasha grumbled before smirking. âNext time, youâll have to guess the color of my underwear.â
âYouâre not even wearingââ Luc stopped mid-sentence. Too late.
âOh? And how do you know that?â
The phoenixâs explanation about ideal skills had cleared things up for Priam, but he had one last question.
âOne of the tribe shamans hinted that multiple ideal upgrades exist for the same skill. Is that true?â
âIt is,â the phoenix confirmed, âbut each prerequisite pushes the skill in a specific direction. If you choose an ideal upgrade for [Moon Mist] before uniting with Mist, you will alter its nature.â
âWhy is that a problem?â Jasmine asked. âItâs kind of redundant with his Concept.â
âA skill uses aether, while a Concept mainly drains mental endurance,â the phoenix reminded her. âIâm sure you see the value in tapping into two different resources. Additionally, [Moon Mist] loses flexibility as it gains power. By combining both, you can create mist three times faster while tapping into two sources. Plus, level-ups grant attributes that strengthen your Concept.â
For a brief moment, Priam thought about creating a skill to manipulate fireâPyro consumed a lot of mental stamina. A glance at his stats convinced him to drop the idea. Tribulations ensured no one could possess too many powerful skills.
âInteresting as all this is,â Jasmine yawned dramatically, âI donât think youâve spent a single reward yet.â
Priam laughed and opened his reward list, eyeing his Tokens. Fusion, Evolution, Affinity, Talent, and Revelation. He would use them all soon, but the most pressing was the one that could upgrade a Talent to seraphic rank.
[Talent Token - Seraph Rarity] - Choose one of your Talents from the list and evolve it to seraphic rarity.
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Note: Talents are etched into the soul. Upgrading by multiple rarity levels may negatively impact the user.
List: Ultimate Sensory Memory, Promesse, Chimera, Spectral Familiarity, Hoplite Warpath, Blessing of Viracocha, He Who Eludes Gods.
âSince I turned back time, I've been wondering which Talent to upgrade to Seraphic rank,â Priam said, summoning his bound weapon. The spear gleamed, catching the light from the artificial star glowing overhead. âPromesse could be upgraded with the help of a master blacksmith and some rare metals. Out of my remaining Talents, only [Chimera], [Hoplite Warpath], and [He Who Eludes Gods] interest me. Got any advice?â
âRead me their descriptions,â the phoenix replied.
[Chimera - Bronze] - Your body can cope better with the simultaneous presence of opposing elements. Your biological system will adapt to many changes.
[Hoplite Warpath - Gold] - Enhances your talent for physical violence.
[He Who Eludes Gods - Gold] - Your soul belongs to you. You are now unique. The one and only Priam Azura.
Priam finished reading, and the phoenix took a moment before speaking again. âThe Token will upgrade one Talent to Seraphic rank. If that rank doesnât exist for the Talent, the Token will create it. As Hoplites are still a new civilization, [Hoplite Warpath] doesn't have a Seraphic rarity. It might improve your ability to fight... or give you some negative result.â
Priam frowned, clearly unimpressed. âScholar and warrior, sure. Bloodthirsty brute? Hard pass.â
âA wise choice,â the phoenix agreed. â[He Who Eludes Gods] is a powerful option, but by far the most dangerous. I canât go into details, but I strongly advise against it.â
The oath of his mentor was sometimes frustrating, especially for someone as curious as Priam. âI would appreciate some context.â
The phoenix glanced at Jasmine, hesitating.
âSheâs my Shadow now,â Priam reminded him. He didnât fully understand what that entailed yet, but he was sure she would never betray him. Ever.
âI recommend not spreading this knowledge: some have an interest in keeping the masses ignorant...â The phoenix paused, his voice dropping. âThere werenât always minor godsâTier 5s like Viracocha. Eons ago, in another universe, a special being used the power of faith to carve his own path to the Zenith.â
Priam hung on every word. The Zenith was the peak of existence, synonymous with omnipotence and omniscience. Not even the Seven had reached it.
âThis event altered the laws of aether itself. Since then, He has ruled over His universe, with His pantheon leeching off countless others. Our universe is shielded by the Concepts, but many are not.â
Sitting cross-legged, his back straight and his muscles keeping him balanced, Priam mulled over the phoenixâs words. The three Supremacies, the Concepts, and now the power of faithâhe now knew five ways to reach the Zenith. According to both the phoenix and the Empress, [He Who Eludes Gods] and celestial souls were tied to the power of faith. Claiming such a Talent would make him a sworn enemy of the gods.
âIf we piss off the wrong gods or leave this universe, weâll have High Tiers chasing us down,â Jasmine summarized. âThatâs not great for our lifespan.â
âItâs far worse than that,â the phoenix added darkly. âIf a major god captures you in their Divine Kingdom, not even death will free you. Your soul will be their plaything until they die... which could take a while, since theyâre Immortals.â
âFine, letâs avoid what might provoke the wrath of the gods.â For now. âWhat about [Chimera]?â
â[Chimera]...â The phoenix stiffened, almost imperceptibly, but Priam caught it with his supernatural senses. His eidetic memory confirmed itâhis mentor had shuddered. â... is a Talent rarely offered by the Concepts. Nevertheless, itâs both ancient and potent. It will synergize with [Homo Elysian Obsession] and mediate the conflict within your bloodlines.â
âWhich conflict?â
âYou didnât think you could accept two noble bloodlines without consequences, did you? The only reason I let you devour the wyvernâs heart was because of this Talent. Once the purity of those bloodlines increases, theyâll start to clash. [Chimera] is a way to keep the two beasts inside you from tearing you apart."
âThen why hesitate? Seems like an obvious choice.â
Priam extended his hand toward the pool, and a medallion floated out. Its colorâa mesmerizing blend of turquoise and goldâwas almost as captivating as its texture. Closing his eyes, he could have sworn he was touching liquid, yet the metal under his fingers was solid. The illusion undoubtedly stemmed from its spiritual properties.
âDo you have a death wish?â
Priam tore his eyes from the Token and gave his mentor an exasperated look.
âIâve always hated those passive-aggressive remarks. Iâm more receptive when people say things directly without trying to humiliate me in the process.â
The phoenix and his pupil locked eyes until, finally, the bird looked away. âIâm afraid my patience is running thin. Weâll finish this later.â
âBecause of [Chimera]?â Priam pressed as the phoenix started to leave.
âKeep your secrets,â Priam said to the phoenixâs silence. âBut if you want me to save your original, maybe you should ensure I donât die doing something dumb." The phoenix froze. âWhatâs wrong with this Token?â
His mentor was clearly wounded by his memories, but Priam wasnât going to wait for the bird to emerge from his melancholy. He had things to do, and time waited for no one.
âThe Token isnât the problemâyou are,â the phoenix finally said without turning back.
What are you, my ex?
Priam recalled the earlier exchange between the bird and Jasmine and groaned. âJumping six ranks between Bronze and Seraphic would damage my soul, right?â
âOr worse. Donât make the same mistake I did.â
Priam's mind flashed to his previous upgrade of [Eidetic Memory]. He had almost died trying to handle power beyond his capacity. If even the System felt obliged to include a note to warn him, it was certainly necessary.
âSo what do I do? Sell the damn Token?â
âA two-rank jump is already risky. With [He Who Eludes Death], you can try for threeâno more. You need to get [Chimera] to Legendary rank before you use that Token.â
With a raging cry, Priam stood and hurled the Token back into the pool in frustration. âFuck! Whatâs the point of giving me a useless reward?â
The phoenix finally turned to face him. âIt was a reward meant for a Champion capable of contributing to the downfall of Bastard. Is that what you did?â
Priam froze. Only Sphinxâs sacrifice had made Sumstrehâs death possible, and he knew it. His sole achievement had been surviving a few minutes against the Fallenâs blind rage and wounding the first layer of his soulâa minor injury, given Sumstrehâs origins.
âI donât deserve this reward.â
âOf course you donât. The System likely intended for you to face Sumstreh at Tier 1, right before the second Reunion. With several months of preparation, the Token would have been perfectly suited to your progression. You were clever using Back in Time, but you will still have to work a bit to make the most of this reward. At least, you have a bloodline purification.â
âOne of [Ace]âs Merits can boost [Chimera] to Silver,â Priam thought aloud. âI need two more ranks... The Colosseum?â
âWave seventy-five will get it to Gold,â the phoenix confirmed. âAs for the Legendary upgrade, starting your body tempering should do the trick. It will purify your draconic bloodline, which will compete with the phoenix one. [Chimera] will react to prevent an internal war, and with some Potentialâand possibly a deathâyou should be able to stimulate its evolution.â
âSounds like a plan,â Priam said, opening his Merits.
Status:
PHYSICAL:
Strength 807
Constitution 1 187
Agility 948
Vitality 1 130
Perception 828
MENTAL:
Vivacity (D) 599
Dexterity 690
Memory 891
Willpower 987
Charisma 648
META:
Meta-affinity 945
Meta-focus 444
Meta-endurance 804
Meta-perception 443
Meta-chance 379
Meta-authority 285
Potential: 17 872
Tier 0
Sun points: 1 000 650 (+41)
[He Who Eludes Death] charge: PRIMED
Concepts:
Breath (T0): 100% / DormantFire (T0): 100% / UnityPyro (T1): 95% / SymphonyMist (T1): 100% / SymphonyBloodlines:
Phoenix: 1%Dragon: <1%Rewards standing:
Fusion Token - Skill (Epic) x2Evolution Token - Skill (Legendary)Affinity Token - Tier 1 (30%)Alien Concept fragment (7th Terror)Bloodline Purification (+1%)Talent Token - Upgrade (Seraph)Revelation Token - Ideal Prerequisites (Epic)[Tribulation]: Five Tribulations pending.
Future Tribulations delayed until:
Time: 152 days 0 hour 44 minutes 14 seconds.
Next thresholds: 12 attributes > 600 / 6 attributes > 900 / 1 attribute > 1 200
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