Chapter 211: Against All Odds

Chapter 211: Against All Odds

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

Number of deaths: 21

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

VIT +6

[Pyro - Concept] - Natural Affinity +5% (73%).

[Supremacy - Domain] - Sphere of authority radius: +0.5 meters (3.0 meters).

Lvl Up: [Revelation Resilience] lvl 7, 8

MEM +6

META (Affinity) +6

META (Authority) +6

Lvl Up: [Aura Resistance] lvl 4

CONST +3

META (Endurance) +3

META (Authority) +3

Lvl Up: [Fire Champion Physique] lvl 2, 3

VIT +6

CONST +6

META (Endurance) +6

[Tribulation]: Three Tribulations pending.

Future Tribulations delayed until:

Time: 162 days 6 hours 2 minutes 52 seconds.

Next thresholds: 6 attributes > 600 / 3 attributes > 900 / 1 attribute > 1200

[He Who Eludes Death] allowed Priam to wait up to half an hour before resurrecting. A time during which his soul was disconnected from reality. This period of invincibility was sometimes helpful to him.

Today, he chose to resurrect a second after his death.

A few flames flickered as Priam regained consciousness. Reunited with his Concept, he used the perception of fire to perceive the world.

The combination of his Breath and Pyro had created a pyrotechnic tower that assaulted the sky. At the center of the blast, a sphere of authority pushed back the flames, creating a blind spot for his fire sense. Priam materialized one of his eyes to obtain a visual signal.

With her body greatly burned, breathing difficulty and tortured by the infernal heat, Eleha did not look proud. Her feline form seemed to suffer from multiple fractures, and her right front paw had been torn off at the shoulder. She must have managed to turn at the last moment, absorbing the majority of the explosion with her former limb.

Focusing, Priam perceived some bone fragments, fur tufts, and blood drops carried by the firestorm. He had seriously injured his opponent, but she was far from dead. Too bad.

Growling, Eleha began to rise, using her Domain to protect herself from Pyro. She looked around before transforming back into humanoid form. Nude and bloody, she began to hobble away from the inferno.

A few meters away, Priam spotted Kazuki. He had activated his temporary invincibility to escape the explosion but was not out of danger. Obviously, Eleha intended to finish the job. Over my dead body.

In a fraction of a second, Priam became aware of everything around him. Kazuki, the Forum, the ambient aether that belonged to him, the immense pillar of fire at his disposal and Eleha, alone and wounded. He saw a possibility. Perhaps it was time to seek out a new Achievement.

Flexing his Fire Concept, Priam drew the flames to him. The cloud of fire stopped its expansion before compressing rapidly. A colossal amount of thermal energy rushed toward him as he connected to his Potential. It was not the time to conserve resources.

POT -50

Reforming his body at the edge of Eleha's Domain, Priam summoned Promesse in his right hand and two wings of fire on his back. As the burning gases finished condensing around him, forming a miniature nova, he activated [Kinetic Control].

In an instant, all the thermal energy created by his suicide attack was absorbed as kinetic energy. The amount of energy passing through his meridians caused their destruction, and his second set—the blood network activated by [Bloodless]—took over. All combustion ceased, and the incandescent air disappeared to reveal Priam, naked and angry.

If he had not been a Fire Champion, if the flames had not originated from him, and if he had not used Potential, it would have been unimaginable. However, these improbable conditions were met, and Priam achieved the impossible. Feeling the kinetic ocean churning within him, he understood it was worth it.

Deploying [Aether Manipulation] and aided by his Potential, Priam took control of the aether he had condensed with his Breath. He did not intend to waste any resources. Using his formidable will, he gathered the primordial fluid into a sphere that he placed at the tip of Promesse.

Noticing the disappearance of the infernal column, Eleha froze before starting to turn in his direction.

Before she could establish a defense, Priam overloaded his wings and dashed forward. The phoenix skill almost teleported him, preventing the Tier 3's Domain from stopping him before he was in close combat.

Lvl Up: [Phoenix Wings] lvl 12, 13, 14

META(Focus) +6

META(Endurance) +3

Guided by Spear Mastery and his Potential, Priam channeled the first skill the phoenix had taught him. [Tribulation: Piercing Spear].

Mobilizing all his vivacity and the help of his System, Priam began to weave a drill around Promesse’s tip with the aether from his Breath. In a fraction of a second, aided by his Potential, skill, and new aether proficiency, he finished preparing the skill. Conquest Aura and Spear Mastery resonated, adding a piercing quality to the drill.

Lvl Up: [Tribulation Piercing Spear] lvl 13, 14, 15

STR +3

AGI +3

DEXT +3

POT -50

Priam looked up at Eleha. Rage distorted the Tier 3's face. A wave ran through her body, which suddenly accelerated to put itself on guard. With her last arm, Eleha slashed, cutting through the air. A white halo covered the dagger, promising death. If he were hit, Priam would die. He had to flee, he had to plead, he had to...

"FUCK YOU!" he yelled as [True Will] and [Aura Resistance] broke the mental constraint.

"I am Vysharratjekto, from the Snaherts tribe."

"Laepa, from the Gaeserts."

"...Priam, Oasis's Lord and Champion of humanity. What do you want from me?"

The tone was rough, but Priam was annoyed. Leaving his retreat, he had seen his friend get beaten up by an unknown Tier 3. He had died helping him, and his mythical mutation was splitting his skull.

The man coughed. "Perhaps you could deactivate your suppression skill? On the Dragon laws, I give you my word that I won't take advantage of that to harm you or your loved ones."

Deep inside him, Priam knew that Vysharratjekto shared his bloodline. Swearing on draconic laws certainly had dramatic consequences.

Priam deactivated Hecate New Moon with a grimace. He couldn't keep it for long, and its activation had a terrifying price. The backlash was immediate: dizziness and blindness.

Simultaneously, the wound was transferred to his soul, which trembled. His perception of the aether blurred, and Priam focused on the perception offered by his Concepts and his Domain to orient himself.

"Thank you. We wished to get to know our new neighbors and—"

"I'd like access to the Auctions," Laepa cut in. "Some of my brothers and sisters are in a coma, fighting necro corruption, and we're looking for elixirs to help them."

A growl drew Priam's attention. His invincibility off, Kazuki was staggering. "I can sympathize, but we'll talk about that when my friend feels better," Priam replied, rushing over. "How are you feeling?" he asked, offering his hand.

"Happy because today, I sharpened my spear," the hoplite replied, accepting Priam's help. Two streams of blood flowed from his pierced thighs. "I see that you made her pay for her arrogance."

"I would've finished the job if they hadn't intervened," Priam growled, supporting Kazuki.

"I would've killed you, you little shit!" Eleha exclaimed in French. With her head squashed on the ground, it was hard to take her seriously.

Laepa pressed harder, and blood flowed from the mad eyes of the Aelbes. "I'll keep an eye on her. I brought along an apprentice Shaman; she can speed up his healing," she added.

"Thanks," Priam replied before addressing Eleha. "If you want to try something stupid, remember that you represent your tribe. Even if you can survive an H-bomb, I'm not sure your whole family could pull off the same feat. Think about the safety of the weaker ones," he said, pointing to the Tier 0 Aelbe. Priam felt dirty saying these words, but the safety of his loved ones was his top priority.

The five warriors looked toward Log-a-rhythm. There, the apprentice shaman Aelbe was yelling at the other two Tier 0s, unaware that one of her locks had just fallen to the ground.

Eleha paled upon seeing a shadow dagger pressed against her pupil's throat.

Status:

PHYSICAL:

Strength 582 (+19)

Constitution 904 (+11)

Agility 561 (+6)

Vitality 860 (+20)

Perception 719

MENTAL:

Vivacity (D) 516

Dexterity 593 (+4)

Memory 471 (+9)

Willpower 1 036

Charisma 631

META:

Meta-affinity 560 (+7)

Meta-focus 364 (+6)

Meta-endurance 377 (+16)

Meta-perception 258

Meta-chance 230

Meta-authority 66 (+9)

Potential: 9 785 (-65)

Tier 0

Sun points: 138 716 (+2 794)

[He Who Eludes Death] charge: OFF. Reloaded in 5 hours 23 minutes 59 seconds.

[Tribulation]: Three Tribulations pending.

Future Tribulations delayed until:

Time: 162 days 5 hours 57 minutes 12 seconds.

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

Posted on RoyalRoad and Patreon /ANovelConcept)