Chapter 168: Down the rabbit hole

Chapter 168: Down the rabbit hole

Congratulations, you are dead! Your Talent [He Who Eludes Death] brings you back to life once a day.

Number of deaths: 18

Synergy detected with your talent [High Human adaptation] and your Titles [Three-Headed Hydra] and [Weathered]. Your body and spirit are rebuilt and will be more resistant to what killed them:

CONST +6

WILL +12

Merging notifications with the Assistants Log:

Lvl Up: [Phantom] lvl 14,15,16

AGI +9

Lvl Up: [Intimidation] lvl 5,6,7

CHAR + 9

Lvl Up: [Erosion Resistance] lvl 38,39

META (END) +6

Lvl Up : [Kinetic Control] lvl 51,...,55

VIVA +10

DEXT +15

META (FOCUS) +20

Lvl Up: [Spirit resistance] lvl 13,14

WILL +6

Lvl Up: [Manipulation Resistance] lvl 14,15,16,17

WILL +12

Lvl Up : [Poison Body] lvl 15,16,17

CONST +3

VIT +3

META (END) +3

Lvl Up: [Solar resistance] lvl 2,3

CONST +4

VIT +2

Lvl Up: [Phoenix Wings] lvl 8,9,10,11

META(FOCUS) +8

META(END) +4

Lvl Up: [Battle Flow] lvl 13,14

PERC +2

DEXT +4

Lvl Up: [Priams System] lvl 27,28

MEM+4

VIVA +2

Lvl Up : [Aether Perception] lvl 31,...,35

META (PERC) +15

Concept Update:

[Fire - Concept] - You have touched on a Tier 0 Concept.

Destroyer, Creator, Liberator.

Affinity - Your connection now lets you grasp certain truths about Fire and manipulate it.

Harmony - The only fuel your flames need is ambient aether.

Symphony - You can store your flames within you.

Unity - Your soul is entwined with fire. In exchange for aether, so is your body. NEW

Bonus (Fire Sage + Unity) - Access to the Fire Domain. NEW

Your Fire Concept is ready to evolve to Tier 1.

[Infantile Phoenix Metabolism - Rare] has reached level 40, its maximum level as a rare skill.

Prerequisites met:

- Phoenix Bloodline

- Fire Unity

- Fire Sage

- Total immolation by draconic flames

Ideal Upgrade unlocked :

[Fire Champion Physique - Epic] - The Sage immolated his soul, mind, and body on the altar of the Fire Concept. Ideal upgrade potential. Potential Cost: 320

You have selected the skill [Fire Champion Physique - Epic].

POT -320

[Fire Champion Physique - Epic] - Forged by draconic flames, your body has transcended its potential by drawing from your bloodlines. Tempered by Fire, your physique acquires some qualities of your Sage soul. You are immune to Tier 0 flames.

Hey, you're hot!

VIT +3

CONST +3

Every second, he hoped to see Sphinx's portal appear. While likely impossible to target in death, he had resurrected since. The fact that Sphinx wasn't already there boded ill.

Descending slowly with [Kinetic Control], Priam carefully observed his surroundings. Far above him, the faint glow of the cave illuminated the area as he studied the walls using his Domain. Priam finally concluded that they were artificial, the rock having been carved by some kind of acid. Of course, there must have been a plethora of obscure concepts capable of producing the same result.

After about fifty meters, Priam's feet touched the ground. The tunnel continued in one direction. The walls, now completely smooth, reflected every sound. The silence was heavy, disturbed only by Priam's breathing and the beating of his hearts.

Five minutes later, a large double door appeared in front of him. Priam approached and frowned as he noticed that his Domain did not penetrate the material. Before he could study it further, the right door opened slightly. Clearly, he was expected.

Feels like I'm entering the Boss's room...

With this thought, Priam wore a somber expression. Despite his enhanced attributes, he had to sacrifice his life to defeat the tyrannical rabhorn. A second boss would make short work of him.

Standing before the partially open door, Priam hesitated to enter. Without [He Who Eludes Death], he took great risks.

At the thought of his death, he clenched his fists. He didn't want to die. He wasn't a hero, just someone who had been lucky and made rational decisions to survive. He had taken risks to secure a better future, but it was always calculated. Passing through this door wasn't a pragmatic decision.

Yet, he knew he wouldn't leave without Sphinx.

Priam relaxed his fists before smiling. At the end of the dark tunnel awaited a creature of several tons with sharp fangs and cutting claws. She was his best friend, and she needed him.

Without further delay, Priam entered. The atmosphere changed, as if he had stepped into another world.

As the door closed behind him, Priam whistled, impressed. Before him lay a gigantic underground grove. An artificial sun illuminated a bucolic landscape of about two hundred meters in radius. Tall but spaced-out trees populated the area, while lush, grazed grass covered the ground. A river circled the miniature ecosystem.

Without waiting, Priam jumped over the river and headed towards the first trees facing him. Reaching a hundred meters, the titans exuded a noble and ancient aura. I wonder if I could transplant them into Log-a-rhythm's domain

Surreptitiously, Priam picked up some pine cones, needles, and dead branches, storing them in his world. Suddenly, as he tried to pluck some lively leaves from a low branch, he saw a white flash. Twenty meters away, a rabhorn observed him, its mouth full of grass.

Priam froze, recognizing a tyrannical rabhorn. The Tier 2 broke eye contact before resuming grazing. Priam released the leaves before moving away slowly. It only took him a few seconds to detect other rabhorns. The closer he got to the center of the grove, the more numerous they became. Soon, he couldn't turn his head without seeing one.

Yet, none attacked him.

The trees finally thinned, and Priam emerged into a clearing. He stopped at the edge of the woods, on guard. In the center stood a leafy shrub. Its spirituality immediately aroused Priam's suspicions. Its branches were covered with giant fruits and flowers. Despite the absence of wind, its violet leaves moved synchronously. An evil aura emanated from it.

At the foot of the tree lay the corroded skeleton of a massive rabbit - or a rabhorn that had lost its horn. Alive, the creature must have been the size of an elephant.

Next to it, Sphinx trembled with rage as a dozen rabhorns frolicked on her. Priam swallowed, seeing some specimens more terrifying than tyrannical rabhorns. We have no way to win. But that didn't mean they couldn't escape. Helped by his add-on, Priam began to devise a plan.

"It's useless."

On Priam's right, a young woman had suddenly appeared on a log. Sucking on some kind of corn cob, she smiled at Priam. Except for her golden eyes, her physique seemed modeled after Rose's.

"Arent you a dirty spy?"

Priam was willing to bet that the stranger's appearance was not random. She had taken on the guise of a human so that Priam wouldn't be on his guard. A crude manipulation at first glance, but also a subtle one. The stranger thus announced that she had access to Log-a-rhythm's domain.

Rose had never left the base, yet she had been spied on. His tree would have warned him if the young woman had escaped its surveillance. Unless, like Dishnu, the stranger could confuse Log-a-rhythm and manipulate Rose. In any case, it was a catastrophe. The stranger knew him, but the reverse was not true.

The mysterious woman shrugged. "A spy? More like a curious girl. I don't have much else to do."

"Priam!"

Sphinx suddenly stood up, knocking over some rabhorns that fell to the ground in cute poses. Her friend shrank and ran into Priam's arms. He was relieved to see that she was okay.

"She lied to me," she spat towards the stranger. "She said you were here, but there are only uncooked rabbits."

Some rabhorns squinted before returning to grazing. Seeing the Tier 3s so passive worried him deeply. More than anyone else, Priam knew their cruel nature.

"The liar doesn't order the rabbits. I think it's a trap," said Sphinx telepathically.

Priam was of the same opinion.

"Yeah, let's withdraw for now."

"I'm afraid I can't allow that."

Upon hearing the voice, Priam and Sphinx trembled. An aura more intense than even Viracocha's had just invaded the grove. His eyes turned toward the glowing skeleton resting under the tree.

[Identification]

[Sumstreh - Tier 4 - Earl] - ?

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

PHYSICAL:

Strength 420

Constitution 794 (+19)

Agility 446 (+14)

Vitality 680 (+12)

Perception 654 (+2)

MENTAL:

Vivacity 371 (+12)

Dexterity 475 (+19)

Memory 190 (+5)

Willpower 750 (+44)

Charisma 470 (+14)

META:

Meta-affinity 408

Meta-focus 326 (+28)

Meta-endurance 256 (+17)

Meta-perception 187 (+17)

Meta-chance 230

Meta-authority 15

Potential: 6086 (+4962)

Tier 0

[He Who Eludes Death] charge: OFF. Reloaded in 16 hours 49 minutes 14 seconds.

[Tribulation]: Five Tribulations pending.

Future Tribulations delayed until:

Time: 173 days 17 hours 52 minutes 27 seconds.

Next thresholds: 12 attributes > 400 / 6 attribute > 600 / 1 attribute > 800nove(l)bi(n.)com