Chapter 193: The Eighth Concept

Chapter 193: The Eighth Concept

Priam stood quietly, observing his inner world. [Concept Archipelago] was a sphere with a radius of thirty-six meters, its borders leading to... nothing. While his birth Universe was infinite, with boundaries in perpetual expansion, his own world was more like a bubble existing in an incomprehensible space. The only certainty he had was that tearing this bubble would condemn the world.

Leaning over the spiritual pond, his world's fulcrum, Priam contemplated the various treasures he had amassed. Fragments of Concepts, Tokens, the aether-siphoning sphere he had built with his father, and the Moon Wyrm's egg. Despite the aether currents caressing it, the latter showed no signs of hatching.

Below, aether flowed out of the enchanted sphere and dispersed into the world. Some was absorbed by the flowers and bushes planted by Louis, or by the two trees transplanted a few days ago. A glance confirmed the magical birch was producing passiflora again, and the maple was thriving.

The remaining aether pushed the boundaries of the bubble, gradually expanding the size of the world.

[Concepts Archipelago]

[World information:

Current aether density: 0.61 E>0.69 E.

Radius: 34.12>36.87 meters.New novel chapters are published at novelhall.com

Concept fragments: purity, mental stamina, sand, mist, steel, vengeance, ?.

Inhabitants: Priam, phoenix trainer.

Features:

Aether siphon (Enchantment: purity).

Nurturing soil (silver) T2

Betula passiflora (gold) T1

Aetheric Sugar Maple (silver) - T1

Tribulations Chamber (gold) - T0

Phoenix Sun (?) - ?

Guardian: None]

His system had finished analyzing his world but couldn't identify the Tier of the sun. The item humbled its owner; a mere fragment of a phoenix Prince's soul had enough power to create a star, however small. It shouldn't have existed due to its low mass, but the phoenix Prince's Concept made it possible. I wonder what his Concept was? Perhaps Star...

Despite his colossal progress, Priam was far from being able to defeat such an opponent. Yet, karma would one day force a confrontation.

The sight of the sun heightened the urgency he felt deep within. With the announcement of his new Title, [Ace], tribes and Sumstreh would soon be knocking on his door. Keeping cards close to his chest could be wise, as demonstrated in his encounter with Sumstreh, but the Fallen wouldn't give him a second chance if he discovered the deception.

It was time to transform his potential into power. Priam opened his pending notifications.

[Kinetic Control] has reached level 60, its maximum level as an Epic skill. Natural evolution to the Legendary Tier requires a connection with a Concept or Supremacy. Three upgrades are available:

[Kinetic Domination - Legendary] - Prerequisites: Domain, [Physique - Forces], [Physique - Energies], [Erosion Resistance].

You neglect subtle kinetic applications to concentrate on power. Shock and heat become your weapons. You sow destruction on the battlefield. Future upgrades possible. Potential Cost: 180.

[Chemical & Kinetic Control - Legendary] - Prerequisites: Pyro Concept (Affinity), Domain, [Physique - Matter].

Pyro grants you an affinity with thermal energy. Domain allows you to finely manipulate particles. You can now catalyze or halt certain chemical reactions. Future upgrades possible. Potential Cost: 180.

[Thermal & Kinetic Control - Legendary] - Prerequisites: Pyro Concept (Affinity), Domain, [Physique - Energies], [Physique - Matter].

Your affinity with thermal energy and Domain enable you to manipulate thermal agitation as well as the movement of molecules and atoms. In your Domain, absolute zero coexists with plasma. Future upgrades possible. Potential Cost: 180.

A disappointed smile played on Priam's lips. He expected the absence of an ideal upgrade, as Pyro was more focused on combustion than thermal mastery. His Concept was only loosely compatible with kinetic energy, his skills identity. Nevertheless, Priam wished for an ideal upgrade.

[Kinetic Control] was the first skill he created, based on his scientific knowledge and dreams. As versatile as it was powerful, it could target macroscopic objects and microscopic particles. The limitations imposed by lack of Potential had gradually disappeared. Today, Priam could manipulate the temperature of an object or attack an enemy several kilometers away by throwing his spear.

"I wonder if I've reached the power of a railgun..."

[Promesse launched by Micro and charged with [Kinetic Control] has an energy of 8 MJ. Recently, the energy of this attack hasn't evolved much.

Analysis: Your physical strength accounts for 0.4 MJ, with a gesture optimized by [Spear Throw]. The remaining energy (7.6 MJ) comes from kinetic augmentation. It is advisable to improve this aspect to increase the energy contained in your attack to reach the level of a railgun (32 MJ).

Current limits:

The kinetic energy transfer from [Kinetic Control] is not instantaneous. To increase the amount of energy imparted to your weapon, you need to increase the transfer duration (thus the size of the Domain) or the transfer speed (the level or rank of the skill).Increasing the speed of kinetic energy transfer comes with meridian stress. You can reinforce them by increasing the level or rank of [Erosion Resistance] or tempering your meridians. You can increase your number of meridians with the first Merit of [Bloodless], thus dividing the intensity of the aether flow in each parallel pathway.]

"...Interesting," murmured Priam.

"What's interesting?"

The Homo Elysian smiled as he saw a small phoenix descend from the sun.

"My system just pointed out weaknesses in one of my skills. That, plus the upgrades suggested by the System, gives me ideas on what to attempt to unlock an ideal upgrade."

"Show me all of that."

"Except for Pyro. It holistically strengthens Fire. It gives you a solid foundation to create a Tier 2 Concept. I only know of one other Concept of the same kind."

Priam didn't bother asking which one; he had enough on his plate for the moment.

"So, I can merge any Concept with another?"

"Of course not. Merging two Concepts that belong to the same Grand Concept is simple. Likewise if they're two Tier 0 Concepts. But at higher Tiers, things get complicated. Some Concepts are compatible, and others are not. The soul needs to take a certain form to understand certain Concepts, preventing it from understanding others."

"... If I choose my Concepts poorly, there might be no possible fusion," Priam understood. "That's why Grand Concepts can't merge. Order and Chaos are heterogeneous."

"More like no Concept can contain them," corrected the phoenix.

"But then, can I get stuck?" Priam imagined choosing two Concepts whose evolutions were mutually incompatible. He would be trapped, forced to forget one Concept... "Can you even erase a Concept?"

"Now that's a creative way to commit suicide," grimaced the phoenix. "Concepts influence you as much as you influence them. The only way to delete a Concept is to modify your soul. You wouldn't be the same person anymore. The solution is much simpler: create your own Concept. If you think the world should be different, it's up to you to change it."

Priam's heartbeat accelerated as he understood. "The Eighth Concept doesn't exist yet. The System wants us to create it."

Status:

PHYSICAL:

Strength 557

Constitution 860

Agility 552

Vitality 840

Perception 714

MENTAL:

Vivacity 505

Dexterity 587

Memory 385

Willpower 998

Charisma 615

META:

Meta-affinity 423

Meta-focus 350

Meta-endurance 299

Meta-perception 204

Meta-chance 230

Meta-authority 33

Potential: 7 004

Tier 0

Sun points: 56 575 (+212)

[He Who Eludes Death] charge: OFF. Reloaded in 2 hours 22 minutes 17 seconds.

[Tribulation]: Three Tribulations pending.

Future Tribulations delayed until:

Time: 165 days 2 hours 55 minutes 30 seconds.

Next thresholds: 6 attributes > 600 / 3 attributes > 900 / 1 attribute > 1 200