Chapter 125: Tempering Die

Chapter 125: Tempering Die

The System must have heard his question because it responded.

You've just left the Concepts Universe.

Location: Valaryth - fragment 84.

A fragment of a world destroyed in a war won by the Concepts.

First Quest Update: Invasion I

You entered Valaryth through a Micro Rift. This 84th fragment roams outside the Concepts Universe.

Retrieve the World Key.

Reward: Variable.

Difficulty: Legendary

You can't leave Elysium indefinitely.

Calculation of your conditional freedom time:

Your Tier is lower than the Tier of the world.

No secure passage opened between this world and Elysium.

Opportunity detected. Would you like to use it?

As Priam read the term "conditional freedom," anger welled up within him. Was Elysium nothing more than an expansive prison? It was too early to dwell on it. Yet, no matter the size of his cell, his freedom was still violated.

The opportunity seemed intriguing, and Priam had no desire to waste it on an unknown world.

"I won't use my opportunity."

Conditional freedom time granted: 60 days.

Priam grumbled as he reviewed his notifications. They ultimately explained very little. He had sixty days to find a key. I'll be long gone by then, Priam thought, eyeing the rift that had spat him out. He congratulated himself for not spending Potential to open it.

Firstly, Arnold could have followed him. Priam had died when crossing the rift. If Arnold wanted to follow, he'd have to expend Potential to create a secure passage. Priam would have time to escape.

Secondly, the System could have locked the passage behind Priam, preventing him from retreating.

Of course, the rift remained dangerous, but Priam felt confident he could make the return journey safely. That is, by dying once instead of twice.

Without further ado, Priam assessed his situation.

The sun beat down, but his resistances shielded him from such discomfort. He had five hours to kill before he could return - twenty-nine if he wanted to return with [He Who Eludes Death] almost primed.

How could he occupy this time? By improving his abilities and surviving, of course!

I should bring Mirscella out. Let's just make sure she would be safe.

First, Priam checked if the environment was suitable for human life. He took a deep breath and immediately frowned. According to [Poison Body], [Asphyxie Resistance], and [Diagnostic], the oxygen level in the air was nearly 50%. It wasn't problematic in itself, but it would change some things. Forest fires must be terrible here...

Local gravity was double that of Earth, and the weather was clear. Reassured that he wouldn't die in the next few seconds, Priam quickly inspected the rift at his feet. It resembled its twin in the Brood Mother's cave, about forty centimeters long, emitting a phenomenal amount of aether that dissipated into the environment.

Priam approached, enveloping the rift in his Domain. A smile crept onto his face as he analyzed it. The violent influx of aether triggered a kind of chain reaction, destroying the local atmosphere and releasing an unknown concept. A concept that seemed almost familiar...

Before Priam could further study the rift and the concept, a terrifying scream echoed. The city behind him was inhabited.

The air vibrated with the power of the scream, and Priam plunged into the water. Diving beneath the waves, he quickly distanced himself from the beach. The physical attributes of a creature capable of such a cry far exceeded his own. With all his advantages, Priam might be able to defeat the owner. Or maybe not.

If he had to fight, Priam preferred to start the battle with [He Who Eludes Death] primed.

The water was cold, but it didn't bother him. With a few strokes, Priam moved away from the shore. A second scream rang out, closer.

Taking one last breath, Priam disappeared underwater.

Despite the microalgae and sediments, the water was clear for the first twenty meters. Assisted by his perception, Priam delved into the depths. [Asphyxia Resistance] allowed him several minutes underwater.

Lvl Up: [Swimming] lvl 4

STR + 1

At about thirty meters underwater, his Domain sensed a faint shockwave. Priam was willing to bet that the screamer had reached the beach. Something - or someone - had sensed his arrival and tracked him.

Priam prepared for battle. The thing came from the city, betraying a terrestrial origin, not an aquatic one. Would it risk changing environments?

Rather than diving deeper, Priam remained static about thirty meters deep. The combination of Domain and [Kinetic Control] theoretically allowed him to fight quite easily underwater, but he wasn't specialized in this type of combat either.

Above all, he had no experience using Promesse underwater. Yet another thing to learn...

The surface of the water trembled, and Priam prepared to surface. He had fled underwater to hide, but if there was to be a fight, he preferred it in the open air. The only point of staying underwater was to discourage his opponent.

One second passed, then two. The water remained calm. Mentally counting, Priam observed every vibration that reached him. Nothing.

At two hundred, his lungs began to burn, and he decided to ascend.

Breaking the surface of the water, Priam scanned the beach. It was empty, but enormous claw marks were present in the sand. Priam hesitated for a moment between returning to the shore or exploring the seabed.

On one hand, a terrifying monster, on the other, the unknown... [Eidetic Memory] kicked in, unearthing a recent memory. Specifically, it was a conversation with Mercure.This chapter was first shared on the Ñøv€lß1n platform.

The merchant had provided him with a list of easily obtainable Titles. Among them was a diving record. Mercury's document mentioned a Bronze Title and a Silver one. Priam was almost certain there were more.

A smile on his lips, Priam decided to once again push his limits.

Lvl Up: [Swimming] lvl 5

STR + 1

Priam wasn't afraid of the water. He had grown up near the Atlantic Ocean and had surfed. If he had to sum up his feelings for the sea in one word, Priam would choose respect.

Swimming in the depths of this new world, Priam set aside his concerns. The marine world welcomed and cradled him. As he ventured away from the coast, life revealed itself. Alien-like seaweed and fish with vibrant hues provided an unprecedented backdrop. Priam spotted some nearly invisible eels and multicolored sand grains. Globefish expelled gas bubbles that leisurely rose to the surface. When Priam attempted to breathe in one, he burst into laughter like a fool for nearly a minute.

Following this experience, he decided to steer clear of the fauna and flora, and kept moving away from the coast. Quickly, he reached a hundred meters. An incredible feat for a human, but not impossible. [Eidetic Memory] reminded him that the absolute record was 133 meters - in unassisted free-diving. One hundred meters was a milestone, and the System seemed to agree.

The method includes:

The creation of a passage for the circulation of the aether inside the body.An explanation of the optimal aether circulation: pattern, velocity, repetition, and density.A list of resources to accelerate or catalyze the tempering process.

The method being of "Mythical" quality, the user is assured of reaching the perfect tempering for Tier 0 without any penalty or hidden risks for Tier 1.

Caution: Due to the quality of the method, the tribulation during the Tier evolution will be extremely dangerous.

The fire crackled, and the wind brought Priam a puff of smoke. Rolling the die between his fingers, the young man grimaced. Maybe he should have returned the die to Kazuki. That would have been a chivalrous behavior.

Priam hadn't survived by being chivalrous. He intended to repay the hoplite for his help, but those were two different things.

Domain activated the die, which glowed before melting in his hand. Priam grimaced as he felt a cold lava flow through his veins. The first time, he had collapsed to the ground. This time, he remained seated, content to follow the progress of the die with Micro.

Host scan.

Race: High Human (Tier 1)

Presence of multiple skills enhancing the effects of tempering.

Concept, Bloodline, and Affinities detected

Three optimal tempering methods compiled.

Note: The method used at Tier 0 is crucial for the rest of your journey.

Mist King (Mythic - Unique) - The Mist obeys you. Invisible, it comes and goes without anyone's consent. You have no master. Mist King modifies your meridians to create a crown. What kind of King will you be?

Meridians's fulcrum: Brain.

Increases your affinity with the Mist.

Increases your affinity with Domain.

Death Lover (Seraph - Unique) - You court death without ever getting too close. You are as much its champion as its enemy. Death Lover modifies your meridians to create an altar. Sacrifice your enemies there.

Meridians's fulcrum: High Human Heart.

Your soul strengthens.

Increases your affinity with Domain.

Heavenly Dragon (Seraph) - You possess the bloodline of mythical Dragons and a Tribulation. No one should be freer than you. Heavenly Dragon modifies your meridians to create seven gates. Your hunting trophies strengthen you.

Meridians's fulcrum: Heart of Tribulation.

You assimilate your Tribulation.

Increases your affinity with Micro.

Choose wisely.

Status: (Average value for a Homo sapiens male before integration: PHY 10 / MEN 10 / META 0)

PHYSICAL:

Strength 345 (+6)

Constitution 599

Agility 344 (+25)

Vitality 493 (+3)

Perception 554

MENTAL:

Vivacity 300

Dexterity 374

Memory 100 (+1)

Willpower 598

Charisma 418

META:

Meta-affinity 295

Meta-focus 225

Meta-endurance 167 (+1)

Meta-perception 84

Meta-chance 216

Meta-authority 12

Potential: 1107 (+8)

Tier 0

[He Who Eludes Death] charge: OFF. Reloaded in 3 hours 52 minutes 42 seconds.

[Tribulation]: Two Tribulations pending.

Future Tribulations delayed until:

Time: 178 days 4 hours 25 minutes 55 seconds.