Priam pulled aside the pavilion curtain and stepped inside. He raised an eyebrow at the sight of a dozen tables scattered around the Auction Altar. Each display case held no more than two or three items, all under glass domes. Compared to the overflowing market Ymir had shown during Priamâs first visit, things had certainly changed.
âLord Azura, itâs always a pleasure to welcome you to my humble establishment.â
Priam smiled at the sound of Ymir's melodious voice as he approached with his graceful stride. The merchant clasped his hands in a ritual greeting, and Priam responded with a genuine smile.
âMerchant Ymir, the pleasure is mutual. I see youâve redecorated?â
The elf smiled faintly, glancing behind him. âMy mercantile instincts tell me that the tribes youâve made deals with will soon arrive to trade.â
âReally?â
âIndeed. Rather than offering a familiar bazaar, I thought it would be interesting to break the mold. I asked Miss Rose to help renovate the place, and she introduced me to minimalism.â
Priam grimaced at the sight of the twenty or so items in the vast space. âIâve never been a fan of that movement. When everything is neutral and bare, you lose the soul of the place.â
âWhen there are too many items on display, the buyer is paralyzed by the sheer number of options,â Ymir smiled. âWith fewer choices, I can guide my potential clients to the items that suit them, increasing both my sales and the allure of this place. Thatâs what matters.â
âOn that, we agree.â Thanks to Oasisâs commission on Auctions, Priamâs fortune was tied to the merchant's. âI was wondering if you could take me to EsmĂ©e?â
âThe princess awaits you,â Ymir smiled, leading Priam to the back of the pavilion. He pulled a bell and slid open a door. Priamâs mouth fell open in surprise. Last time, the door had led to a garden with an impressive variety of plants. Today, it opened to a small room. EsmĂ©e, seated at a desk, stood and curtsied upon seeing him.
âDuke Priam, Iâve been expecting you. Please, come in.â
Her charming smile contrasted with the formality of her words, and Priam found himself smiling back.
âPrincess EsmĂ©e.â
âIâll leave you two,â Ymir announced, exiting and closing the door behind him.
âDo you like the apartment?â Priam asked, looking around. The furniture belonged to Ymirâs collection, but EsmĂ©e had certainly chosen it herself, revealing much about her personality. The decor was minimal, and aside from a few plants, a desk, and a bed, the only notable feature was a thick, plush rug.
âYes, thank you so much!â EsmĂ©e exclaimed, burying her bare feet in the carpet. âThis rug is incredibly softâŠâ
Priam had to suppress a smile at his rival's childlike expression. He wiggled his toes in the fibers and had to admit she was right.
âItâs definitely softer than the grass outside.â With the three new artisans, Oasis had no more free cabins, and the interior of Log-a-rhythm wasn't suitable for the Moon Wyrm's mutation. When Ymir had offered to rent his guest room, Priam had immediately accepted. âHonestly, the rent is not expensive.â
At least, not for a Tier 0 capable of wiping out entire hordes of undead.
âYmir is too shrewd to overcharge his Lord,â EsmĂ©e smiled. âThough I donât understand why you refuse to let me pay for it myself.â
âAnd miss the chance to make you my debtor? No way,â Priam joked before explaining. âYouâre my guest, so itâs my duty to house you; thatâs how I was raised. By the way, do you have everything you need? I donât see a bathroom.â
EsmĂ©e pointed to the sliding door through which Priam had entered. âI just have to think of the bathroom before opening the door, and the pavilion connects me there.â
âReally?!â
Priamâs curious mind made his hand move before he even thought. The door began to open before EsmĂ©eâs hand blocked it.
âI didnât have time to tidy up,â the young woman blushed.
Out of the corner of his eye, Priam saw a small room with a wooden floor and a sink with a single bar of soap. Nearby, a clothes rack was drying some clothes and underwear. He closed the door, pretending he hadn't seen anything.
âSorry, I acted without thinking.â
Esmée lowered her head, and Priam noticed the tips of her ears were red.
âJasmine told me the egg is about to hatch?â Priam asked, trying to change the subject.
âHuh? Oh, yes, itâs already starting to stir. I had to play music to calm it.â
Priam raised an eyebrow as Esmée reopened the door. The bathroom had vanished, replaced by a small room with dark wooden walls. The gentle music of an invisible wind instrument created a serene atmosphere.
Priamâs gaze ignored the ambiance, focusing on the egg in the center of the room. Levitating about a meter off the ground, seven white spheres orbited around it like a miniature planetary system. This was possible thanks to an incredibly complex ritual covering the available space; tens of thousands of runes, most smaller than a grain of rice, formed the systemâs matrix.
Assisted by his add-on and [Ideal Aether Perception], Priam tried to understand what was happening. Each rune was linked to ten others, exchanging, transferring, encoding, and modifying aether at high speed. His add-on was proficient at solving two-body problems but incapable of simulating the behavior of thousands of interacting runes. After a few seconds, Priam had to admit that while he had made monumental strides in understanding the aether alphabet, EsmĂ©eâs creation was beyond his capabilities.
âWhat exactly is the purpose of this ritual?â Priam disliked admitting his ignorance but hated staying ignorant even more.
âItâs a statistical manipulation ritual,â EsmĂ©e explained in a professional tone. âThese seven spheres each come from famous Moons and are infused with certain Concepts related to the Moon Concept. The genes, aetheric code, and soul of a creature have a non-zero chance of mutating when they come into contact with a Concept. I manipulate these chances to force positive mutations.â
âSo my Moon Wyrm will have properties from these Moons?â
EsmĂ©e shook her head. âEven with this ritual, which Iâm very proud of, I canât do that. What I can do is increase the eggâs affinity with Concepts superior to the Moon Conceptâbreaking the power ceiling your Moon Wyrm can aspire to. You seem disappointed?â the princess observed.
âIâŠâ Priam grimaced. âI didnât mean to sound rude, but it just seems like a very complicated ritual for a few affinity points.â
It was evident that the effort behind the ritual had been titanic, but the announced results didnât impress him.
âYou say that as if itâs easy, but boosting a soulâs natural affinity with a Concept is a nightmare without a Token or Merit. It requires an epiphany, a Concept Baptism, or the consumption of legendary resources.â
âThere are other methods,â Priam pointed out. He had personally used at least three others, and EsmĂ©eâs ritual was a fourth.
âThey are very rare, otherwise the Sun Shop wouldnât sell Tier 0 Concept Baptisms for a quarter of a million points. Those Concepts are Tier 5s, unattainable for us Tier 0s, and there are seven of them.â
Priam nodded before freezing. If the Sun Shop used the numerical progression it employed in its price calculations, a Tier 4 Concept Baptism could only be bought by a Tier 3 user and cost ten million Sun points. Multiplied by sevenâŠ
âWow! Itâs that expensive to unlock a Wyrmâs potential?!â
EsmĂ©e seemed pleased that he finally appreciated the significance of her ritual. âAn adult Moon Wyrm dominates Tier 4. However, it suffers from the same weakness as all naturally powerful creatures: itâs difficult for it to rise above its station.â
âI thought draconic creatures didnât have that kind of problem?â
âNatural ones, maybe, but this one is a creation of the System, so it doesnât get the full benefit of its draconic bloodline. Aydan asked Father for information, and from what he found, my brotherâs Sun Wyrm is limited by its base Concept. The Soul Tier cannot exceed the Tier of the Concept it embodies or the stage of its Supremacy.â
âIf I understand correctly, since its atavistic progression is a dead end, you have to mutate its core Concept to give it a future? As my Moon Wyrm will be limited by the Tier of the Moon Concept.â
âThatâs what Empyrean scientists think. However, its core Concept hasnât mutated; itâs still Moon. What Iâve done is point out several paths to Tier 5 Concepts. At adulthood, it will have a chance to evolve, but itâs not a certainty. You may have to further enhance its affinitiesâand that will cost much more than today because changing an adultâs destiny is more complicated than changing a childâs.â
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Priam watched the egg spin, illuminated by the vibrant runes. âMakes sense. In any case, thank you for what youâve done.â
âI always uphold my end of the bargain,â EsmĂ©e smiled. âYou should step forward; the song is ending.â
Priam entered the room as the music softened. The runes around him dissipated into aether, which re-entered the princess's body.
Priam approached the egg and placed his hand on it. As if waiting for this moment, the shell cracked, and the top exploded, revealing a curious head. Two heterochromatic eyes, one white and the other black, fixed on Priam before the creature fully emerged.
A fusion of serpent, worm, and dragon, the creature was no more than twenty centimeters long. Powerful muscles lay beneath scales the same color as its eyes. Some scales changed color in real time, as if the wyrm hadnât yet decided what it wanted to look like. It floated slowly towards Priam.
âHello there,â the young man smiled, extending his hand gently. When his fingers touched the wyrm, it froze before coiling around his wrist like a monochrome bracelet. Priam felt his connection with his Holy Guardian strengthen. This bond was different from the one he shared with Log-a-rhythm. Less natural, it seemed artificial. Perhaps because this creature isnât quite naturalâŠ
[Identification]
[Moon Wyrm (Mutated) - Tier 0 - Holy Guardian IV (T0)] - The Space Terror. Like the different phases of the Moon, this descendant of the Dragons is capable of changing its hunting methods. As elusive as the New Moon, as powerful as the Full Moon, it knows how to adapt to slay its prey.
This one is a clone created by the System to protect a Noble's territory. Its growth depends on its bloodline, opportunities, and the ritual binding it to its territory. Immune to the Necromoon curse, it is also resistant to the Necro Concept. Its artificial nature and connection to the System exempt it from Tribulation.
Evolution condition to Tier 1:
Consuming draconic essence or a compatible Concept fragment accelerates its evolution. Number of available resurrections: 4
Natural affinity:
(Moon): 90% (50% (base) + 40%)
(?): ?%
Maximum potential: Marquess (Prince)
âSheâs beautiful,â EsmĂ©e murmured behind him.
Priam nodded absently, gazing at his wyrm. He had a decision to make.
Each Gate of the Heavenly Dragon required a trophy, and this Moon Wyrm was a draconic creature aligned with the Moon Concept. In theory, its power was perfectly suited to [Revelation Resilience]. Yet, he hesitated to sacrifice a creature that looked at him with innocent eyes.
ââŠYouâll defend Oasis in my absence, wonât you?â Priam smiled, gently scratching the tiny wyrmâs head.
The creature chirped, making both rivals smile. Priamâs heart softened. My path to the Zenith will be bloody, but killing innocents who rely on me⊠Thatâs not me. Besides, it wouldnât really be a trophy, would it?
Esmée's POV
âYou want my help to locate the Terrors of Valaryth?â
Sitting at the edge of the couch, EsmĂ©e watched her rival play with his new pet. He didnât seem bothered by sharing the sofa with her. If her brother had seen them like this, heâd have surely called her a tramp. Or maybe not; he is too afraid of Priam to open his mouth.
âPlease,â Priam replied, looking at her. His wyrm, feeling neglected, chirped to grab his attention. The young man smiled before continuing, âThe ocean is too vast for me to waste time finding them.â
âYou possess a draconic bloodline different from theirs; theyâll come to you,â EsmĂ©e pointed out.
âSome Terrors are too powerful for me. I want to be the hunter, not the prey.â
EsmĂ©e filed that information away. It had been a while since sheâd divined Priamâs exact status, but she knew he was one of the most adaptable rivals and the second hardest to kill. If he wasnât deterred by a Tier 3 necro legionnaire but preferred to avoid these Terrors...
âAre they that dangerous?â
âHard to say without a real fight, but my instincts tell me theyâre the most dangerous opponents Iâve ever faced. Almost,â his brows furrowed before he shook his head, dispelling a thought. âIn any case, theyâre extremely powerful and possess a very pure draconic bloodline.â
âTrapped for millennia in a ruined world, unable to Tier up, they push the limits of whatâs possible at Tier 1,â EsmĂ©e understood.
âWhich makes them perfect trophies,â Priam added with a grin. âBut only if I can find them.â
EsmĂ©e tucked a strand of white-gold hair behind her ear. âIâm willing to helpâŠâ As she said it, her royal training kicked in. âBut what do I get in return?â
The question barely left her mouth before she regretted it. What an idiot! Heâs going to think I see our relationship as purely transactional.
âMy gratitude?â Priam winked.
EsmĂ©e felt butterflies in her stomach. âOkay.â
Priam seemed surprised before returning a genuine smile. The wyrm took advantage of the silence to start exploring the couch. Esmée extended her hand and was surprised when the creature approached to sniff her with its forked tongue. It must have found her scent pleasing because it began to slither up her arm, tickling her in the process.
âShe likes you,â Priam observed.
âI like her too. Sheâs cool to the touch; itâs refreshing,â the princess marveled, stroking the wyrm.
A comfortable silence settled before Priam broke it. âYou know, if you need help, you can ask me.â
â...I could use help with my Tribulations,â she admitted after a few seconds of hesitation.
Her rival shot her a surprised look. âI donât think I can interfere with the System yet.â
âThatâs not what Iâm asking,â EsmĂ©e reassured him. âMy way of fighting is more that of a strategist or general than a soldier: I use the world to fight my Tribulations for me. The trouble is, Elysium is dangerous.â
âYou want to trigger them in Valaryth instead of Elysium,â Priam realized. âNo problem. Is that all?â
âIf a dangerous variable appears, I would like your help to fend it off. Iâll have my hands full with my Tribulations without worrying about the Terrors.â
Of course, Esmée planned to take precautions, but she knew better than anyone that fate could be fickle.
âI donât really mind, but is that allowed by the System?â
âItâs my way of fighting, so yes. During my first Tribulation, I turned my enemies into shields by placing them between me and the danger,â EsmĂ©e revealed, scratching the wyrm to their mutual delight.
âYour first... Youâve only passed one Tribulation so far?â EsmĂ©e nodded. âBut then, how many are you triggering this time?â
âLike you, five.â
As a reward for her first Tribulation, Esmée had simply chosen to delay her other Tribulations by a month. She would face them soon, but even the most powerful would be only her sixth Tribulation. Compared to Priam, who was up to nine, she was relatively confident.
Priam scrutinized her before smiling. âItâs a good plan but why not go up to six?â
Esmée observed her rival's teasing eyes.
âYouâre only joking half joking, arenât you?â
âIf I were in your shoes, I think Iâd try it,â Priam admitted. The prospect of a title higher than mythical would have made him greedy.
âI don't have any shoes,â EsmĂ©e pointed out, wiggling her toes. She had taken them off to enjoy the softness of the carpet.
âThat's the first thing I noticed.â Priam grimaced at his own words. âWait, that's not what I meant!â
Status:
PHYSICAL:
Strength 707
Constitution 1 105
Agility 773
Vitality 1 040
Perception 766
MENTAL:
Vivacity (D) 570
Dexterity 656
Memory 842
Willpower 1 163
Charisma 692
META:
Meta-affinity 799
Meta-focus 409
Meta-endurance 617
Meta-perception 339
Meta-chance 274
Meta-authority 216
Potential: 13 607
Tier 0
Sun points: 1 480 545 (+1 639)
[He Who Eludes Death] charge: PRIMED
[Tribulation]: Five Tribulations pending.
Future Tribulations delayed until:
Time: 153 days 15 hours 12 minutes 30 seconds.
Next thresholds: 12 attributes > 600 / 6 attributes > 900 / 1 attribute > 1 200