Chapter 170: The Kill List

Chapter 170: The Kill List

A few hours earlier.

Priam couldn't make a move without Sumstreh reading his thoughts in advance, but his Assistant might be exempt. Otherwise, it would be game over.

The add-on would open the gate to the Fire Domain, attempting a Nirvana before drowning the host's soul in [There is no Heaven]. Priam would not become a puppet.

The general artificial intelligence possessed a personality copied from the host and could analyze emotions and actions. Priam was too proud to become a slave. The only reason for his cooperation was that he believed he could escape one daythanks to his system.

When his host activated [Focus], [Priam's System] instantly understood it was his turn to play. The role of [Focus] was to prevent Priam's thoughts from wandering and thus conceal the existence of his add-on from the Tier 4.

The AGI began to formulate a plan. The initial conditions were terrible: Priam had no way of defeating a Tier 4 at the moment. Therefore, a groundwork had to be laid for the future. The first thing to do was to conceal his abilities, system, and status. If Sumstreh obtained this information, he would leave him no way to escape. The attribute difference was too significant to outsmart Tier 4.

Falsifying information was easy as the AGI had complete access to Priam's memory through [Eidetic Memory]. With altered memories, the host could lie while being convinced he was telling the truth. Of course, he had to be unaware of his own ability to lie; otherwise, he and Sumstreh would have doubts.

Thus, Priam must not suspect the existence of the Assistant. There was only one way to do that.

Mentally, the add-on connected to Concepts Archipelago. The various rewards Priam had earned were stored in the pond at the center of the world. The host had plans for them, but the situation demanded drastic actions.

The system activated one of the Tokens obtained at the end of the quadruple Tribulation.

Fusion Token - Epic skill used.

Choose two epic or lower-rarity skills to fuse.

[Incorporation of [Mask - Epic] into [Priam's System - Rare]]

Fusion of [Priam's System - Rare] - lvl 28 and [Mask - Epic] - lvl 5.

...

[Priam's System - Rare] was upgraded.

Lvl Up: [Priam's System] lvl 29,...,36

MEM +16

VIVA +8

As an Assistant, the AGI didn't truly have emotions. If it did, it would have been satisfied. By spending Potential during the fusion, it had observed it and gained valuable information about [Mask]. The skill was holistic, potentially capable of masking an individual's presence, status, karmic link, aethereal code, genetic code, and even the soul. Each of these options allowed leveling up the skill to level sixty. If the host wanted to use all these aspects, a higher rarity was required.

The System only needed one of these aspects. As an Assistant, it shared the attributes of its host, except for its soul presence. Now, it could hide this flaw.

The satellite orbiting around Priam's soul blurred for a moment before disappearing. The evolution had been instantaneous, and his system could now benefit from the properties of the camouflage skill. For added safety, the Assistant stopped its orbit and concealed itself near the flame symbolizing the Fire Concept. The satellite could hide in the Fire Domain in case of emergency.

While Priam spoke, the add-on continued its work. Simultaneously, it modified the host's Status using [Mask] and rewrote all his memories. Not just recent ones, but even the old ones. The host was as intelligent as he was suspicious. He would notice if his actions or memories seemed inconsistent with his personality. By reading his thoughts, Sumstreh would understand the deception.

After saving a copy, the Assistant modified Priam's memories, giving him a more generous and malleable image. His recent memories were slightly tweaked to conceal his Tokens' disappearance or certain skills' existence. The false god had to think Priam was harmless.

Of course, these modifications were complicated by the rival's existence. She had been spying on them for some time, and the Assistant had to be careful about what to modify. There could be no inconsistency between Priam's Status and the enemies' observations. If Priam was to reveal his talent for resuscitation, his add-on had to pervert it to avoid tempting the god's avarice.

The rewards from his quadruple Tribulation were given to Prometheus, portraying Priam as altruistic in line with his desire to save Sphinx. The second Legendary Achievement was concealed; Priam believed he had used flames given by the Phoenix to defeat Tier 2. Having used subterfuge, the System would not have validated his victory.

The add-on then began monitoring the false god's actions. Depending on what the Tier 4 had in mind, it had to be flexible.

When the false god's consciousness entered Priam's soul to convert him, the Assistant activated another Token, a reward from his quadruple Tribulation.

Token - Legendary Skill used.

Choose a skill to upgrade to Legendary rank:

Note: This forced upgrade will not result in any Titles or Achievements. No Potential or attributes will be granted for unearned levels.

[Manipulation Resistance - Rare].

[Manipulation Resistance - Rare] is ready to evolve to epic rank. Two high upgrades are available to you.

[Strong Will - Epic] - A divine consciousness attempts to fracture yours. You resist head-on. High upgrade potential. Potential Cost: 160

[Resilient Will - Epic] - A divine consciousness attempts to fracture yours. You bend to bounce back. High upgrade potential. Potential Cost: 160

[Resilient Will - Epic].

POT -160

[Resilient Will - Epic] is ready to evolve to Legendary rank. Two high upgrades are available to you.

[True Will - Legendary] - Facing the divine assault, your will adapts. You evolve, searching for who you are. High upgrade potential. Potential Cost: 360

[Sacred Will - Legendary] - Facing the divine assault, your will purifies yourself. Your sacred aura influences others. High upgrade potential. Potential Cost: 360

[True Will - Legendary].

POT -360

[True Will - Legendary] - Born human in a world poor in aether, you have lived a life of ups and downs. Betrayed by some, loved by others, you've forged a dreamer's character. When the apocalypse occurred, you welcomed it with open arms.

Since then, you have moved through life without taking the time to question yourself: Are you still the same?

Experience has reshaped you but also purified your will. Move forward with confidence, true to yourself, and pursue your dreams. This skill will not let you forget your identity.

Living according to your true will is the assurance of never having regrets.Visit no(v)eLb(i)n.com for the best novel reading experience

WILL +18

CHAR +9

A Legendary skill increases your affinity with certain concepts. Your experiences will decide which ones.

A Tier 0 is limited to five legendary skills. A Tier 0 cannot advance a skill to Mythic rank.

Each rank multiplied the number of attributes gained by three. The Assistant had thought of using the second Legendary Token to improve [Frozen Meditation] but reconsidered. Too many Legendary skills, and Priam would be overwhelmed by Tribulations. A sure way to die.

Spending Potential, the Assistant recorded the modifications of the false god while the host resisted manipulation with all his might. Quickly, the broken consciousness of the host went into hibernation. A few seconds later, the divine will withdrew, leaving behind a complex ritual. A succession of runes woven with solid light trapped the host's soul.

ve nodded, thoughtful.

"Pleased to meet you, I'm Ophia!" ve exclaimed cheerfully. She had taken on the appearance of a pretty young woman who would have surely charmed Louis if he hadn't been in Priam's world worrying about Mirscella.

"Everyone, meet Ophia, an ally who took care of the vermin while I faced the Tier 2," Priam announced with a fake smile.

Due to the System announcement to humanity, Rose and Alain knew he had dealt with Tier 2 alone. It was a flaw in his story an announcement indicated a Legendary Achievement and rewards Priam had concealed but as long as they didn't mention it, ve wouldn't know.

While his rival introduced herself, Priam locked eyes with Kazuki.

A quick glance toward Log-a-rhythm, and the hoplite nodded subtly.

"I'll fetch Blueberry before he destroys our supplies," the hoplite grunted, disappearing into the tree.

Priam ordered his tree to transmit a message to Kazuki. If some had to remain in the dark for their own safety and Sphinx's, his rival had to know the truth. He wasn't the only one.

"Jasmine?"

"Yes?"

"Don't change your attitude and act as if nothing happened. 'Ophia' is an enemy who thinks I'm under control. Observe her every move and find her weaknesses. You're the best assassin in your world, aren't you?"

"... The best Tier 0. Why?"

Priam internally raised an eyebrow while continuing the oral discussion. There was probably an interesting secret about Arkana, Jasmine's civilization, but it wasn't urgent. As he recounted his adventures and explained Sphinx's absence, he continued telepathically.

"I want ve dead. Not right away, because I have information to squeeze out of her. Be careful not to let her realize anythingwe'll all die otherwise."

Before dying, ve would tell Priam everything she knew about Sumstreh. Sphinx's rescue depended on it.

"You're the boss. Can I know why?"

"If she realizes something, her boss will be informed upon her death, and he's an end-game monster."

"No, why does she have to die?"

Priam's stomach twisted with anger.

"... Sphinx isn't in a dungeon. She's being tortured because of ve."

Priam's anger was so great that he let it traverse the link. He was surprised when a similar anger came back with Jasmine's response.

"This bitch is so dead."

Upon hearing Jasmine's reply, Priam smiled genuinely for the first time in a long while.

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

PHYSICAL:

Strength 420

Constitution 794

Agility 446

Vitality 680

Perception 654

MENTAL:

Vivacity 383 (+12)

Dexterity 475

Memory 218 (+28)

Willpower 832 (+82)

Charisma 499 (+29)

META:

Meta-affinity 408

Meta-focus 326

Meta-endurance 256

Meta-perception 201 (+14)

Meta-chance 230

Meta-authority 15

Potential: 3427 (-2659)

Tier 0

[He Who Eludes Death] charge: PRIMED.

Necromoon Event: 2 days, 17 hours, and 49 minutes.

[Tribulation]: Six Tribulations pending.

Future Tribulations delayed until:

Time: 172 days 19 hours 32 minutes 26 seconds.

Next thresholds: 12 attributes > 400 / 6 attribute > 600 / 3 attributes > 800