Chapter 156: To build the future

Chapter 156: To build the future

Trees of Merit:

[Land Owner - Silver] - Tier 0: You can instantly create a building (Tier 1) on your Land - from a list provided by the System.

12 Unused Merit Points.

"I've struck a deal with the Guardian; I must create a Forum," Priam declared.

Alain nodded. "Then let's start there. We'll figure things out as we learn more about this Forum."

Refusing to dwell on what he could have purchased with that Merit point, Priam confirmed the Land Owner selection.

[Land Owner - Silver] - Tier 0: You can instantly create a building (Tier 1) on your Land - from a list provided by the System. ACQUIRED

[Land Owner - Silver] - Tier 1: Link your Land to the System's Local Network.

11 Unused Merit Points.

Frowning at the second Merit, Priam realized that the Local Network was likely a form of internet. If so, he'd have to invest in it later. History had proven that it was impossible to thrive without this revolution.

But there was something more intriguing. In the recesses of his mind, Priam sensed a new option. He clicked on it.

Land Owner:

Buildings:

Log-a-rhythm (Tier 0)

Menhir of Secrets (No. 37,458 - Tier 6)

One Free building (Tier 1):

Donjon (Silver)

Portals (set of two, 30 km)

Baron Manor (200 m - Comfort)

Underground Base (100 m - Fortified)

Tower (30 m - Gold - Self-defense)

Protective Enclosure (2000m - Reinforced)

Training Room (200m - Reinforced)

Temple (200 m - Priest presence required)

Ziggurat (200 m - Decay)

Tribulations Chamber (Reinforced)

Aether Pillar (Silver - Abundance)

Aether Well (Silver - Conduction)

Power Station (choose one energy form)

Forum (600m - Attraction)

Fountain (50 m - Attraction)

Inventory (100 m - Time Freeze)

Marketplace (200 m - Merchant Presence Required)

Workshop (200 m - Choose Profession)

Guild Hall (200 m - Representative Required)

Library (400m - Material/Digital/Mental Interface)

Theater (400m - Comfort)

Bathhouse (200m - Relaxation)

Sewer (3 000m - Purification)

Laundry (60 m - Purification)

Road (10 000m - Reinforced)

School (400 m - Silver)

Hospital (200 m - Abundance of Life)

Stable (200 m - Abundance of Life)

Fields (400 m - Abundance of Life)

Sphinx Throne (5m - Shiny)

The list extended, but Priam couldn't identify the other words. In a universe with an infinite array of races, many buildings likely served purposes unknown to him.

Priam read the list to his father before sharing his conclusions. "Aside from the Forum, I'm interested in the Donjon, the Aether Pillar, and the Aether Well. I don't know what they do, but they seem cool."

Alain chuckled. "We could ask the Guardian, but it would cost us. Personally, I find it intriguing that the System offers a Tribulation Chamber. We'll need to build one ourselves. The other buildings are only useful in a town of at least a thousand people, and I could build most of them myself."

Priam wasn't sure their camp would exceed twenty people. Elysium was too perilous to accommodate a large group. "Yeah, summoning sewers might not be useful."

"Easy to say when you're not the one digging dry toilets," commented Alain.

Without hesitation, Priam confirmed the Forum. He had no desire to be involved in constructing facilities that would be useless to him. Thanks to [He Who Eludes Death], he no longer had this kind of problem.

The System asked where he wanted to place the building, and Priam turned to his father. Alain had selected a location on the forest edge, about twenty meters from Log-a-rhythm.

Without fanfare, as if not to alert nearby monsters, the Forum materialized. The grass was replaced by a rectangular space, thirty by twenty meters, just big enough for a small market. On the ground, the forum consisted of a mosaic of ochre and white stones. Sweeping his eyes over the place, Priam instantly grasped that the pavement formed a giant rune.

"Attraction," revealed the Guardian of Secrets, approaching. "It's a potent rune that draws people and wandering merchants."

"Is that why you wanted it?" Priam asked.

"Of course. I have quotas to meet, you know? Spending millennia answering to stupid animals, bloodthirsty beasts, and Skulc tribes is bad for my career."

"I can imagine. Do you want to attract my rivals here?"

The Guardian hesitated for a moment. "Not just them."

Priam narrowed his eyes at the evasive response. "If this thing is going to attract people here, I'd prefer to know. Otherwise, I might have to destroy this rune. My family's safety comes first."

An attack from rivals could be devastating, but Priam was confident he could repel most of them. However, if a local or monster became aggressive, it would undoubtedly lead to a massacre.

"You promised to build me a forum," the Guardian pointed out.

"That's what I did. Now I can destroy it."

"... I love clever people as much as I hate them," sighed the Guardian. "Fine, just this once, free information. This rune only attracts neutral or friendly people here. Merchants, adventurers, pilgrims,... I'll leave the rest to your imagination."

I want to retrieve the conquering aura that sliced through everything in its path.

The mist lazily stretched, indifferent to his desire. Using his will, Priam amplified his aura. Louis cautiously stepped back as he saw the misty halo condense. The tree branches froze, and the wind fell silent. Priam, focused, barely noticed these changes. Damn. His aura increased, but not its sharpness. Promesse was more imposing but not sharper.

Drawing on his memories, Priam recalled the last exchanges of the battle. The formidable power that had allowed a Tier 0 to defeat a Tier 1. Nothing changed.

Without losing heart, he then remembered his desire to win, his rage to conquer. Like a force of nature, he had crushed his opponent. [Eidetic Memory] made him travel through time, and Priam's mind synchronized with his past fury. A boiling anger engulfed him.

A click happened.

The golden hue of his aura disappeared, replaced by a bone-white color. A moment later, the halo merged with the blade of his spear. Priam, a murderous expression on his face, advanced and struck. His weapon effortlessly sank into an oak that would have stopped a shell. In a world-ending crash, the tree collapsed. The enemy was dead.

The sound of a twig snapping echoed behind him, and Promesse arced. Its tip stopped an inch from Louis's face.

"There's no enemy, boy, just me," the old man said with a gentle voice.

Short of breath, Priam lowered his spear, dispersing his aura. His rage receded, and his heart rate stabilized.

"Sorry," he murmured after several seconds.

"No problem. Your technique is interesting, but you have to control it, not the other way around."

"I... You're right. Sorry again." Priam had nearly killed his father's friend and had no excuse.

Louis shrugged, smiling. "It's nothing, I told you. You attacked so fast I didn't even have time to wet myself."

Priam blinked before bursting into laughter.

"What was that, by the way?" Louis asked, heading toward the trunk. "It looks like my Mastery, but..."

"An aura that uses my charisma," Priam explained. "Your Mastery uses your will. There's probably a connection between the two, but I don't know more. I still need to train."

"Mmm." The old man seemed lost in thought, crouched next to the stump. "Well, the cut is pretty clean. Your arm trembled a bit at the end, and your aura wasn't uniform."

Priam leaned over the stump, and his Domain confirmed Louis's words.

"I'll take care of wood cutting from now on," Priam decided. The marks would allow him to measure his progress.

"After all this, we could compare your aura and my Mastery if you want," Louis suggested.

"With pleasure. But first, the wood."

They had enough resources to build the cabins. Priam loaded a trunk onto his shoulder and levitated the other two with his Domain. Slowly, he headed toward Log-a-rhythm.

Louis rode one of the trunks.

Hyshana swore upon receiving a priority notification. The Hoplite Champion was enjoying a warm bath for the first time since the Tutorial.

Annoyed, she validated the communication using her ocular implant. Sound only.

Ishaka's image appeared in front of her. Only the head of the Supreme Hoplite General emerged from his mech. A new armor, Hyshana noted.

"What brings me this displeasure?"

Ishaka rolled his eyes. "We're allies for now, Hyshana, so let's at least be polite."

Before Hyshana could tell him to go milk pigjahbs, the general continued. "Our scientists have just finalized the bomb. The mechs will be ready the day after tomorrow. Your soldiers?"

"Ready as well," Hyshana replied, clenching her fists. They were nearing the goal. "The day after tomorrow, are you sure?"

"Sure. The mechs are almost good, we are just reinforcing electromagnetic protections. Kazuki mentioned three suns, and that increases the risk of EMP. In thirty hours, you'll have the green light."

"Perfect."

"When do you plan to leave?"

"In thirty hours."

With those words, Hyshana cut the signal and stepped out of her bath. She still had a few hours to train.

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

PHYSICAL:

Strength 419

Constitution 724

Agility 432

Vitality 547

Perception 642

MENTAL:

Vivacity 352

Dexterity 444

Memory 182

Willpower 706

Charisma 450

META:

Meta-affinity 374

Meta-focus 264

Meta-endurance 208

Meta-perception 147

Meta-chance 219

Meta-authority 15

Potential: 1062

Tier 0

[He Who Eludes Death] charge: OFF. Reloaded in 3 hours 8 minutes 9 seconds.

[Tribulation]: Five Tribulations pending.

Future Tribulations delayed until:

Time: 175 days 3 hours 41 minutes 22 seconds.

Next thresholds: 12 attributes > 400 / 6 attribute > 600 / 1 attribute > 800