Chapter 99: Ghostly Hospitality

Chapter 99: Ghostly Hospitality

Lvl Up: [Art of Movement] lvl 21,5,26,27

AGI +3

PERC +3

DEXT +3

Lvl Up: [Iron Marathon] lvl 6,7,8

AGI +9

Lvl Up: [Kinetic Control] lvl 34

VIVA +2

DEXT +3

META (Focus) +4

Lvl Up: [Broad-spectrum vision] lvl 3,4,5

PERC +3

Lvl Up: [Moon Mist] lvl 41,42,43,44

PERC +16

CHAR +8

META (AFFI) +12

Lvl Up: [Aether Manipulation] lvl 4,5,6,7,8

META (PERC) +5

META (AFFI) +5

META (FOCUS) +5

Congratulations on creating a new skill: [Mask - Epic].

[Mask - Epic] - To wear a mask is to disguise your identity. Conceal your face to change roles and transgress the forbidden. Each user has a different intention when donning a mask. What's yours? Do you really know?

Remember, a mask is a mask, so don't be fooled.

WILL + 3

CHAR +3

META(CHAR) + 3

Congratulations, you've unlocked a new META characteristic: Authority.

Lvl Up: [Mask] lvl 2,3,4

WILL + 9

CHAR +9

META(CHAR) + 9

Three days later

Priam glared at Diamond. The latter had the good sense to look embarrassed.

"Am I really going to have to wade through this?" asked Priam.

"You know, maybe it's good for your immune system..."

"Shut up."

According to Diamond, the last room was behind the grate on their right. It was recessed about two meters from the entrance to a tube. The cylinder itself was two meters in diameter. The grate was standard in appearance, made of silvery metal with bars about eight centimeters apart.

The trouble was, its metal was indestructible. At least, [Tribulation Piercing Spear] hadn't left a single mark on it. This one must have been special because even his Domain couldn't penetrate it. The concrete of the tube was less solid, but Priam had calculated that it would take him several hours, spamming skills, to create a passageway.

Rather than waste their time, the two thieves decided to slip between the bars. Diamond's Talent allowed him to transform his body into a kind of rubber. He looked like Luffy. If he'd never become king of the pirates...

"Do I have something on my face?" asked Diamond.

"... Not yet. Well, let's go," decided Priam.

If the Earl was reluctant to teleport through the grate, it was for a good reason. The Dome's sewage system congregated in this room. The brown pool in front of them then flowed into the tube they had to cross. It was almost a fantasy theorem: sewers always harbored treasures. And mostly shit.

Swimming in human excrement was not one of Priam's priorities. Especially as Alberto Boss was putting the finishing touches to his next costume. The craftsman had grumbled as he had taken Priam's new measurements.

Anyway, Priam was naked under his coat of mist. As usual.

After another second's thought, Priam decided not to turn his fog into ice. Spending Potential for nothing displeased him greatly. Am I really saving a few points of Potential, risking being covered in shit?

The answer was yes. Every point of Potential was precious, especially in Elysium, where skill creation was almost free. Ill craft a flying skill to reward me

If Priam was less than a day away from the end of the Reunion, wondering whether he would dive into poo, it was because he'd finished most of his other obligations. The last Abomination had died by his hand, and Seraphine had fled to the other side of the Moon. Priam had hesitated to hunt her down with Sphinx's help, but had preferred to spend time with his father. If the apocalypse had taught him anything, it was that life was fragile. Not everyone could be resurrected.

A good example was Claire. The young woman's public execution was scheduled for the last hour of the Reunion. The aim was twofold: to attract certain Revenants and set a precedent to encourage the rest of humanity to fight this menace.

Of course, he hadn't forgotten to practice, or to use Anne's blueprint. [Mask] was an extremely interesting skill...

Priam refocused on the present moment. There was no point in waiting any longer. Sighing, he straddled the mist. Appearing as far down the tunnel as possible, he found himself suspended above the torrent. With one hand on the side of the tube and the tip of Promesse on the other, his balance was somewhat precarious. A few tiny drops leaped in his direction from time to time due to the speed of the flow. [Moon Mist] then manipulated a mist net to keep them away from Priams body.

Without wasting any time, Priam concentrated on his mist perception. Two more teleports brought him to the end of the tunnel. A waterfall was waiting for him.

The tube opened onto a vast well. Rotting water poured into the darkness, and even Priam's perception couldn't feel the bottom of the abyss.

When playing video games, Priam was the kind of person who explored every square centimeter of the map. In real life, the stench of shit told him he didn't want to know what was down there. His draconic instincts remained silent, and that sealed the deal.

"It's up there," said Diamond cheerfully. The thief gamboled in the fetid torrent, smiling, and Priam chose not to comment. He looked up and saw a ladder hanging from the wall of the well.

One teleport later, Priam found himself on the ladder. Climbing nimbly, he quickly reached the top of the shaft. A closed trapdoor barred his way, and Priam chose to wait for his companion.

Lowering his eyes, he watched Diamond ascend. The old thief was impressive. The tube protruded from the wall and advanced a few meters into the void. Diamond grabbed the top of the cylinder and hoisted himself up. Walking quickly up the tube, he began to climb the flat surface of the shaft. Yet Priam's eyes found no imperfections. His hands stuck to the surface...

Seconds later, Diamond reached the bottom of the ladder and began to climb rapidly. Arriving just below Priam, he looked up at the trapdoor.

"... I see. And the ghosts?"

"The virus corrupts minds and bodies," Malbius explained. For those who have unlocked their minds, the virus allows them to survive. To hunt.

"Is there anything left of the original host?"

"Hardly anything. Memories and instinct. Barely an echo," the monster lamented.

A second handcuff gave way. Time was running out. Priam tried another question.

"So the System didn't give you a chance? A doctor as brilliant as you must have had a clue about a treatment, right?"

Malbius swaggered. "Of course! I'm the only one who managed to retain some intelligence."

"Impressive! How did you do it?"

"I poisoned my master, revealed Malbius. He was our most powerful warrior, and the System rewarded me with Legendary Completion! My reward was an affinity with the Depths."

"That's... brilliant," said Priam, returning the smile. "By the way, didn't you take the opportunity to secure one of your master's treasures? A Moon Key."

The penultimate handcuff dropped, and the monster screamed, shaking the walls. "That's a lot of questions," Malbius remarked, frowning.

"This is the last one," Priam winked.

Malbius chuckled. "The last one, yes... I think you mean his Hearthstone. My master still has it. He wears it like an amulet," Malbius shrugged.

The last handcuff gave way, and the monster smashed the table, throwing itself in the air. Splinters of wood flew across the room. Priam's cloak of mist contracted, and several tentacles intercepted the projectiles.

"It's time to..." Promesse didn't wait for Malbius to finish his sentence before piercing his head, covered in the aether threads Priam had just woven.

The ghost blinked, before laughing. "That was rather rude. Now, die!"

With a swift hand movement, the ghost scratched Priam's arm. [Kinetic Control] felt no mass and let the attack pass. The wound burned Priam. Behind him, the bony monster pounced. Priam tried to teleport, but a Domain prevented him. The teleportation failed, and he turned, attacking the physical monster. The tip of Promesse ricocheted off the bone plates. Barely slowing down, the abomination raised its arm and brought it down on Priam. Simultaneously, Malbius attacked again.

[Kinetic Control]. The skill worked this time. Catapulted backward, the monster smashed through a wall before ending up in the corridor. Priam's back was burning. Swearing, he threw himself far from his opponent, glaring hatefully at Malbius.

According to his Domain and [Eidetic Memory], the phantom's fingers had become coated with a layer of aether at the moment of the attack. The aether had dispersed after the nails had penetrated several centimeters into his body. At no point had the ghost regained corporeality.

Malbius transformed. His features lost all benevolence, veins shot through his skin and his color changed to red and black. Skeletal fingers twisted towards Priam. The next moment, with a grimace of hatred on his face, it attacked again. Priam tried to parry, without success. His main attacks were physical, and his Domain only served to cancel out the ghost's own Domain.

"Priam, we've got a problem," says Diamond from outside.

"I know. There's a fucking untouchable ghost here," Priam replied, dancing to dodge the attacks. "Do you have a Mastery?"

"... No, I just have Micro. But I think my problem is bigger than yours..."

Malbius screamed as he threw himself at Priam, who barely dodged. The ghost was highly agile and fast. So fast, that he went right through the wall. The next instant, he reappeared, his eyes consumed with rage.

Priam's back and arm were beginning to itch furiously. A smile split his face. I'm about to add a new resistance to my Pokdex!

"Don't get touched, Diamond! And what's the big deal?"

The thief appeared in Priam's field of vision, behind the ghost. Pointing to the hole caused by the catapulted monster, he sighed, "We've got a monster, eight haunted suits of armor and quite a few ghosts on our ass."

Priam turned around briefly, almost getting hit in the jugular by Malbius. Behind him was a veritable army.

"Time to farm [Depths Resistance]..."

PHYSICAL:

Strength 236

Constitution 373

Agility 294 (+16)

Vitality 370

Perception 485 (+17)

MENTAL:

Vivacity 280 (+2)

Dexterity 331 (+6)

Memory 70

Willpower 421 (+15)

Charisma 366 (+30)

META:

Meta-affinity 234 (+17)

Meta-focus 178 (+9)

Meta-endurance 119

Meta-perception 76 (+5)

Meta-chance 198

Meta-charisma 12 (+12)

Potential: 5865 (+52)

Tier 0

[He Who Eludes Death] charge: PRIMED

[Tribulation]: No Tribulation pending.

Future Tribulations delayed until:

Time: 180 days 21 hours 47 minutes 43 seconds.