New high upgrade available for [Aether Manipulation - Rare].
[High Aether Manipulation - Epic] - In your hands, aether changes shape and state. Rune weaver, core forger, and probe hunter, you break your chains, refusing mediocrity.
High upgrade potential. Potential Cost: 160
Priam hesitated, his smile vanishing. Despite the phoenix's warnings, he was reluctant to accept anything less than an ideal upgrade for such a fundamental skill.
"Show me," the phoenix demanded, seeing the young man frozen.
"Huh? Oh."
Priam opened his mouth, and a white orb the size of an eye emerged. He caught it in his hand and cleared his throat, feeling as if heâd just coughed up a chicken egg.
"Looks like a core," he noted, rereading the upgrade description. Core forger...
During the first Reunion, most of the monsters heâd killed had this kind of aether orb inside their bodies. Since returning to Elysium, Priam had seen them less frequently.
"I would be kind enough to call it a core prototype," corrected the phoenix. "A core is made of solidified aether, but itâs much more than that. Firstly, all the âparticlesâ of aether that make up a core are organized in specific patterns. Here, you used brute force to make an abomination." Priam smiled, recalling his classes on crystallographic structures. The bird grasped the crystal. "And most importantly, a core contains runes."
"Like the skill runes on my soul or EsmĂ©eâs rune that produces light?"
The bird smiled. "Exactly. The System creates these runes in our souls, but itâs an advanced technique; itâs only natural for a few species, such as the dragons or the unique race native to this universe. The rest had to figure out another way..."
Seeing his mentor leave the explanation hanging, Priam tried to fill in the gaps with his knowledge.
"... The monsters and races populating this universe arenât native. Before this, they didnât have the System and had to store their skills differently. I assume they used cores?"
The phoenix nodded. "Let me use the phoenixes as an example. Our ancestors created solid aether cores and engraved essential skill and Talent runes on them. As a hatchling grew, their core would give them a huge advantage over other races: in addition to having runes refined over generations, they could cast their skills instantly. Thatâs one reason we ended up dominating our universe."
"Impressive." Betting on future generations, the phoenixes had become powerful enough to dominate an entire universe. It confirmed that he should steer clear of this warlike race. "If I understand correctly, the Systemâs advantage is that the userâs runes remain available even if they lose their core or body. The coreâs advantage is the ability to transfer skills to others?"
"The System encodes the soul with terrifying precision, allowing it to fix an impressive number of skills. This makes the technique superior," the phoenix acknowledged. "Cores rarely contain more than a few powerful skills or Talents. For example, the core my mother passed on to me contained only one ritual."
Priam nodded. The system was superior for finely encoding tiny runes. It was the difference between nanometer-sized transistors made by machines and the first-ever transistor, which measured a centimeter.
"It mustâve been a powerful ritual."
The flames that made up the phoenixâs feathers flared toward the ceiling as the bird laughed. "If you reach the ninety-fifth wave of the Colosseum, youâll see it..."
Priamâs hearts raced. "I canât wait."
For a few moments, the past and present geniuses stared at each other before the phoenix offered a warning.
"Be careful, the two techniques arenât exclusive. Nowadays, cores are used to amplify a skill already inscribed in the soul. An epic skill is powerful, but when it resonates with its enlarged rune written in an attuned core... The result can surpass even a Legendary skill."
Which explained why some continued to use cores. It made sense, but Priamâs pride pushed him to ask one more question.
"How do monsters create a core? I struggled and think I have quite a few advantages..."
The phoenix lifted one of its wings, counting on its feathers. "Several methods are used: awakening of a bloodline, consuming rare resources, using a System reward, or simply using [Aether Manipulation - Epic]."
"During the first Reunion, I encountered boars with this kind of core, and they didnât have access to that sort of thing."
"The System gave humanity a fully equipped Moon and a Tutorial. Why wouldnât monsters be partially tempered to balance the scales?"
Hearing the phoenix's words, Priam's eyes widened. "Tempered?!"
"Oh, you didnât get it? Tempering a body means transforming it so it can host a fulcrum. Most of these are cores."
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Priam stood still for a moment before letting out an amused sigh. "I hadnât made the connection," he admitted. The next moment, a smile lit up his face. If the phoenix was right, Heavenly Dragon was about to create a mythical fulcrum of draconic nature while also strengthening his body. Letâs beat those Tribulations!
The Necromoon was shining high in the sky as Priam emerged from Log-a-rhythm. The treeâs foliage and the giant runes covering Oasis filtered its light, and Priam smiled, finally seeing natural light. After two days of ultra-intensive training, he needed fresh air to make good decisions.
As he stretched, Priam spotted movement above him. Jasmine danced among the branches, darting in all directions, redirecting her body at the last second with an agility Priam envied. Besides being a stealthy assassin, she was quick enough to escape some Tier 3s. Sheâs nearing Micro II.
Suddenly, Priam lost sight of her. The next second, he nearly jumped when a hand landed on his shoulder. fÉŸeeweÉnŃłveÉ.com
A smile spread across his face as he turned to find Jasmine behind him, her cat-like eyes gleaming with amusement. Neither Domain nor [Ideal Aether Perception] had detected her.
âNot bad,â Priam complimented. âWithout our link, I wouldnât have sensed your presence. Howâd you do it?â
He couldâve asked the sub-system implanted in her soul space, but that wouldâve been disrespectful. Jasmine had gradually earned his trust.
âI passed through your shadow. My Concept bypasses your Domain and camouflages my aether. [Homo Elysian Predation] dulls your instinct, and here I am!â
Priam nodded. He appreciated Obsession more, despite its flaws, but the second racial Talent of Homo Elysians was terrifying in combat.
âFinished your training?â Jasmine asked.
âNever,â Priam laughed. There were always new things to learn and perfect. âI needed to ponder some things. Iâve unlocked a possible upgrade for [High Aether Manipulation] but... Iâm hesitant.â
âWant to talk it over while we grab a bite?â
Priamâs eyes drifted to her hips. How could she be so slim while eating so much? Noticing the sheen of sweat covering her body, he understood. Iâm not the only one training hard.
âSure. Want to rinse off first?â
âWith your mist? How kind of you to offer,â Jasmine smiled.
Priam rolled his eyes, amused. With a thought, he summoned a cloud around Jasmine and condensed its heart to create a swirl of clear water around her body.
As his mist penetrated her clothes to outline her figure, he felt his cheeks flush. Like him, Jasmine dressed with her own Concept! Imitation was flattering, but Priam shared the sensory feedback of his mist. He had gotten used to muting the sensory input from his Domain when near the women of Oasis, but his mist revealed everything about Jasmine.
Trying not to think too much about his subordinateâs naked body, Priam dried her by retracting his mist along with the sweat it had absorbed. Fire Concept briefly warmed Jasmine, and then he dispersed the cloud that had somewhat protected her modesty.
âThatâs really handy!â Jasmine exclaimed, now changed. She looked stunning, dressed in a shadow corset and a skirt that reached mid-thigh.
âTalking about my misty shower or your shadow clothes?â Priam raised an eyebrow. The young woman knew exactly what she was doing.
âBoth. Iâll admit, I was skeptical about the benefits of nudism at first, but yesterday a Tier 2 necro exploded in my face, sending bone shards everywhere.â Jasmine smiled at Priamâs worried expression. âDonât worry, the outfit Hyshana gave me stopped some of it, and with a Sun pill and some regenerative sap, Iâm back on my feet. Anyway, after some tests, I realized my Shadow Heart can give my Concept a certain physicality. My new shadow clothes are tougher, better looking, and provide extra security if my Domain doesnât detect an enemy.â
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Jasmine punctuated her sentence with a twirl that lifted her skirt and Priam looked away a second too late.
âI'm flattered that you're flirting with me, but you know Iâve got another woman in mind,â he said, reaching the barbecue. âHey, Blue!â
âHey,â replied the bear with a toothy smile.
âBlueberry told me you turned down her marriage proposal. So, I guess I still have a chance,â Jasmine smiled, grabbing a skewer. âUnless you forbid it?â
âI refuse to enter into a marriage of convenience,â Priam grimaced, taking a skewer offered by the bear. âYou're not my slave, and I'm not in a relationship with anyone, so you do whatever you want as long as you respect me. But you know Iâm not comfortable dating my own subordinate.â
âMost people donât mind,â laughed Louis, approaching. âIs it snack time already?â
âWeâre celebrating Priamâs return,â Jasmine exclaimed, helping herself again. âWell, it's my excuse to eat at least. Is this Bambi meat?â
âFawn. Venison is the tenderest meat available,â said Blueberry, turning the skewers still cooking above the fire. âI understand Jasmine: you're the only young man of her kind around here. If there were a pretty she-bear nearby, we'd make more noise than a horde of undead.â
Priam ignored his furry friend's last remark before replying, "I don't want to be a default choice."
Jasmine shook her head. "Blueberry projects his issues onto others. I've known thousands of people in my life, and you're the only one I feel like flirting with. I want you."
The intensity in the young woman's eyes unsettled Priam. She was serious.
"At worst, you could take two females," said Blueberry.
Once the surprise wore off, Priam burst into laughter. âNope, not my style. I grew up tossed around by my parents' rough divorce. As a teenager, romantic stories shaped my view of love... It may be unrealistic, and it doesnât depend solely on me, but I want my marriage to be happy and exclusive.â
âItâs not just up to you.â Louis's knees cracked as he sat down. âEven if you find the perfect partner, life often intervenes...â Seeing the othersâ looks, he shook his head. âI wasnât talking about Mirscella, but my first wife. We met young, and our love was intense. Initially passionate, it transformed over the years into a solid, mature relationship.â
âWhat happened?â Jasmine asked.
âShe died of complications giving birth to our first child. At that time, I was at war, and I never got to say goodbye to her...â
âMy condolences,â offered Priam, echoed by Jasmine and Blueberry.
âItâs in the past,â Louis smiled before biting into a piece of skewer. âDelicious. Finished your training?â
âNot yet,â Priam repeated. âIâm hesitating between accepting a high upgrade or aiming for the ideal one. It bugs me not to have a perfect foundation. When I see the difference between what I can do now and what I could do at the beginning... It could really make a difference.â
âCanât you deconstruct the skill later?â Louis asked. âIâve been able to do that for some skills. Then you could get a better upgrade. Itâs not like youâre lacking Potential.â
Priam grimaced. â[High Aether Manipulation] isnât just any skill. The Concepts will deeply modify my soul during the upgrade; canceling it will be expensive. If I reach Tier 1 before changing itâand given whatâs coming, thatâs likelyâthe change in Soul Tier will further transform my soul. Downgrading this skill would cost around twenty thousand Potential points according to the phoenix.â
âHoly shit!â
âDamnâŠâ
Louis grimaced as he served himself another piece. âThatâs pretty prohibitive.â
Priam nodded. He knew he could gather that many Potential points, but it meant missing out on other ideal upgrades.
âOsiris and Seth both have [High Aether Manipulation],â Jasmine mentioned after a few seconds. âAnd theyâre really skilled. The prerequisites for [Ideal Aether Manipulation] must be serious.â
âDomain II, three evolved meta attributes above a thousand, and advanced aether mastery.â
The revelation created a new silence.
âYou donât stand a chance,â Louis finally declared.
âIâve been thinking of some ways toââ
âElysium and its forests sometimes remind me of war,â the old man interrupted. âWinning a tough battle without losing men is impossible, and if a general tries, heâll only make things worse. Every venture involves sacrifices; itâs up to you to choose which ones...â
Louisâs words brought a memory to the surface of Priamâs mind. When heâd learned chess, heâd quickly beaten his entire family. Years later, teaching the game to his little sister, sheâd asked why he was better than her.
âYou try not to lose any pieces while Iâm not afraid to make sacrifices if it brings me closer to victory,â young Priam had said.
The ability to sacrifice what it took to win... Even his own life. That was the reason why Priam had conquered the Impossible Tutorial.
The young warrior raised a cup of sap toward Louis. âIâve progressed so much lately that I thought the basic rules didnât apply to me anymore. Sometimes, you have to sacrifice things to advance... Thanks for reminding me of some truths before the Tribulations do.â
âMy pleasure,â the old man smiled, grabbing another cup to toast.
You have selected the skill [High Aether Manipulation - Epic].
POT -160
[High Aether Manipulation - Epic] - Precious crystal, ever-changing liquid, elusive gas, aether has many faces. Shaped by Concepts and obeying the Supremacies, reality rests on this fundamental energy. This skill allows you to dive into the heart of the matrix and modify its code.
Are you ready to reforge Creation?
To build a staircase to the Zenith?
To impose your dream on the world?
META (Affinity) +3
META (Focus) +3
META (Endurance) +3
Perched on the highest branch of Log-a-rhythm, Priam smiled as seven infinite consciousnesses descended upon him.
Dimension, Karma, Energy, Matter, Chaos, Order, and Soul graced him with their presence, and the horizon rose to engulf the world. Only the Necromoon remained, hanging stubbornly in the firmament.
Priamâs ego trembled as the seven Concepts revealed to his soul abilities it hadnât yet realized it possessed. Each in turn guided the spark that represented Priam, unveiling new secrets without altering it directly.
To stand a chance of becoming the eighth Concept, every user of the System had to stay clear of the Seven.
When the horizon released the sky, Priam shivered before checking the cooldown of his Tribulations. Not even a second had passed between the arrival and departure of the Grand Concepts. His own system hadnât detected anything, and Priam shook his head. The power of the entities at the top of this universe was beyond comprehension.
âWell?â Jasmine asked while tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
Rather than explaining, Priam decided to demonstrate his new abilities. He extended his hand, and a rune of light appeared. Formed by his aether, it was the size of a marble and transformed the ambient energy into light. Flexing his new power, Priam concentrated his aether and organized it. The fluid solidified as each particle bonded with its neighbors.
A few moments later, the rune had become crystalline. Priam surrounded it with a protective sphere and attached two wings so thin they were translucent. Inscribing two kinetic runes he had found on Roseâs turrets, the young aetherist studied his creation before handing it to Jasmine.
The young woman received the gift as if it were a treasure. In her cupped hands, a winged sphere reminiscent of a Golden Snitch projected light, joyfully flitting through the air. Its glow cast soft shadows on the young woman's face.
âA pretty shining butterflyâŠâ
âFor you.â
âFor me?â
Priam smiled, hearing the tremor in her voice.
âYeah. It might light up your cabin at night.â
Thanks to Log-a-rhythm, Priam had noticed Jasmine often slept near the campfire. At first, he thought she was sensitive to the cold, but then he realized the assassin just liked falling asleep with a bit of light. I don't think I'm the right person to comfort you at night, but I hope this gift will help...
âThank you,â Jasmine murmured, standing cautiously. âI'll set it upâŠâ
Priam stayed behind, gazing at the sky, proud of himself. With his new skill, he felt capable of wonders with aether. The description had talked about reforging Creation and it had barely exaggerated.
But before changing the world, he could change himself. It was time to temper his body.
Priamâs draconic heart quickened.
Status:
PHYSICAL:
Strength 707
Constitution 1 105
Agility 614
Vitality 1 040
Perception 760
MENTAL:
Vivacity (D) 552
Dexterity 622
Memory 781
Willpower 1 134
Charisma 661
META:
Meta-affinity 728 (+4)
Meta-focus 394 (+3)
Meta-endurance 594 (+4)
Meta-perception 319
Meta-chance 274
Meta-authority 183
Potential: 13 451 (-157)
Tier 0
Sun points: 681 475 (+549)
[He Who Eludes Death] charge: PRIMED
[Tribulation]: Five Tribulations pending.
Future Tribulations delayed until:
Time: 157 days 16 hours 56 minutes 4 seconds.
Next thresholds: 12 attributes > 600 / 6 attributes > 900 / 1 attribute > 1 200