Chapter 225: The Million Dollar Question

Chapter 225: The Million Dollar Question

Despite [Ideal Aether Perception], Priam had no clue how his soul connected to the System. However, his connection with Log-a-rhythm was visible through his meta-perception. It wasn't a direct link between him and the tree—like the mental bridge the Necro Envoy had created to telepathically communicate with him, for instance—but more of a resonance between his aether and the tree’s.

Like a radio antenna, Log-a-rhythm emitted aether waves synchronized with Priam's energy. His soul caught them, and then the System linked their statuses, allowing him to oversee the tree's growth.

Log-a-rhythm:

Features:

Abundance - Life II

Abundance - Aether I

Protection III

Tribulation Resistance II

Secret Passage I

Land Owner II

Camouflage II

Guardian of the Forest V

Mighty roots I

Necro Purification V

Natural Growth IV

Necro Resistance III

Rot Resistance II

Measurements:

Ceiling Height: 3 meters.

Interior Area: 55 m2 (+8, due to Log-a-rhythm's growth)

Status:

Current POT: 5 055

Passive gain: 100 (+250) (+40) POT/day.

(+250 POT/day: bonus - Guardian of the Forest V)

(+40 POT/day: bonus - Natural Growth IV)

(+2 712 POT from miscellaneous plant samples & legacy seed)

Available Themes

Primo (100 000)

Tal Quercus (10 000)

Nature (1 000)

Cocoa (500)

Sequoia (1 000)

Tea (500)

Abundance - Life III (2 500)

Abundance - Aether II (1 000)

Protection IV (5 000)

Tribulation Resistance III (2 500)

Secret Passage II (500) (-500)

Camouflage III (2 000) (-500)

Attraction I (500)

Underground I (300) (-200)

Comfort I (500)

Volume I (500)

Water Control I (500)

Land Owner III (2 000) (-500)

Protective Barrier V (25 000)

Guardian of the Forest VI (24 500) (-300)(-200)

Mighty Roots II (1 000)

Root network - Plant Intelligence I (FREE)

Root network - Plant Control I (FREE)

Necro Purification VI (25 000)

Natural Growth VI (25 000)

Necro Resistance IV (5 000)

Rot Resistance III (2 500)

Time: 48 days since creation

Priam smiled upon seeing his tree's status. His own progression was ridiculously fast, but as a human sponsored by a Patron and willing to risk his life, that was expected. On the other hand, Log-a-rhythm was a plant, and the plant world took its time to flourish compared to the animal kingdom.

Yet, within a few months, the tree had managed to become Oasis's true cornerstone. Its sturdy trunk had shielded Priam upon his arrival in Elysium, and the security of its spatial pocket had allowed him to sleep peacefully.

"I'm going to check on Log-a-rhythm," Priam announced.

"Don’t forget to train."

"Speak for yourself. We'll see who kicks whose butt in a month."

"Deal," Kazuki said with a fierce smile.

Nodding toward the hoplite couple, Priam rode his mist to perch on a branch of his tree. While Oasis's defenses concerned all its inhabitants, Log-a-rhythm's growth was a personal affair. His mental, genetic, and aetheric bond with the tree was so intimate that he hesitated to share its secrets with others.

Rereading the status, Priam first selected the two offered features. Plant Intelligence and Plant Control relied on Oasis's root network. Thanks to Guardian of the Forest V and Mighty Roots, the cost of both enhancements decreased by seven hundred Potential points, making them free.

Root network - Plant Intelligence I ACQUIRED

Root network - Plant Control I ACQUIRED

The Seven descended to upgrade Log-a-rhythm. Closing his eyes, Priam placed a hand on the bark to feel the difference.

Something had changed in the communication between Log-a-rhythm and its subjects. Plant Intelligence made it easier to understand the feedback from different trees. A side effect of the enhancement was that a camouflaged enemy would now have a harder time evading vegetation surveillance.

Satisfied, Priam asked his tree to test Plant Control. Log-a-rhythm's trunk vibrated slightly while a tiny earthquake shook Oasis; every root in the territory had vibrated in unison. The feature allowed control over a tree's growth—be it its trunk, leaves, fruits, or even roots. Due to the lengthy development of plants, they could take hours, even days, to obey. It was a power more utilitarian than offensive.

Priam's attention couldn't be everywhere at once, and as soon as it withdrew, the runes began to dissipate. He had to jump from one to another to fix them. If this continues, the mental bridge will break!

Gritting his teeth, Priam mobilized all his mental faculties, [Focus], and even his Potential to hunt down and correct every mistake. Eve's aether was poisoning him, corroding his meridians, but Priam refused to fail. As he continued repairing the runes, he focused on [Aether Manipulation], learning from his errors, increasing his speed, and mastering the fluid. All it took was for the link to function for a fraction of a second for...

POT -22

"What... ? Who?"

For a moment, all the runes aligned and resonated, transforming the aether of both rivals, translating their thoughts.

You have gained the skill: [Mind Bridge - Rare].

[Mind Bridge] - Your aether resonates with another's. The safeguards you've put in place are remarkably optimized. Generations of geniuses refined it before their heirs fell to the Necromoon.

Such an intimate link can convey more than just words.

Don't listen to the doctors; hearing voices in your head is a good thing: it means you still have a head.

META (Affinity) +2

META (Perception) +1

Acknowledging his success, the System fixed the skill on the second layer of Priam's soul. It diverted his aether, incorporating the runes as soon as the mind bridge was created to stabilize them. His attention could finally relax, and Priam stifled a sigh of relief as he felt his headache recede.

Lvl Up: [Mind Bridge] lvl 2

META (Affinity) +2

META (Perception) +1

Pain gave way to elation as he realized he had succeeded. Exploring the arcana of magic and manipulating the world through his aether was fascinating. Feeling proud, he focused on the knowledge that came to him through skill.

As Priam was given a translation of the runes and a brief explanation of their synergy, his breathing quickened. The skill’s origin was alien. Created and optimized by entities from another universe, the ritual was eye-opening.

"Priam?"

"Eve," Priam replied, refocusing.

Lvl Up: [Mind Bridge] lvl 3

META (Affinity) +2

META (Perception) +1

"A mental link?" Despite her injuries, his rival didn't lose her focus. "These runes synergize marvelously... I find it hard to believe that Sumstreh could have dominated your soul with your aether proficiency."

It was the moment of truth. Priam had thought long and hard about the conversation he needed to have with Eve and what he could glean from her. His rival had half-stated that she was only partially controlled by Sumstreh. Either it was a trick from Bastard or the Fallen's weak point. Only one way to find out.

"Sumstreh didn't dominate my soul," Priam said, observing the ambient aether. At the slightest attempt at communication, he would kill Eve.

"... This is the first time my instinct has failed me. Do you have any proof?"

Opening his interface, Priam selected the last quest he had received.

Quest:Fallen

Once a God, now a Fallen.

Will they who fell by arrogance repeat their mistake?

Kill Sumstreh, the Fragmented Rabbit.

This is a shared quest.

Do you want to share this quest with "Eve"?

Looking at Eve, Priam hesitated for a second before sending her an invitation. His rival's body froze for a moment.

"Oh."

"Yeah. Now, the million-dollar question: why should I keep you alive?"



Status:

PHYSICAL:

Strength 620

Constitution 979

Agility 608

Vitality 916

Perception 760

MENTAL:

Vivacity (D) 516

Dexterity 622

Memory 657 (+5)

Willpower 1 077 (+26)

Charisma 646 (+15)



META:

Meta-affinity 665 (+11)

Meta-focus 385

Meta-endurance 432

Meta-perception 304 (+4)

Meta-chance 230

Meta-authority 114 (+3)



Potential: 14 150 (-9)

Tier 0



Sun points: 762 364 (+209)

[He Who Eludes Death] charge: PRIMED.

[Tribulation]: Five Tribulations pending.

Future Tribulations delayed until:

Time: 160 days 10 hours 56 minutes 12 seconds.

Next thresholds: 12 attributes > 600 / 6 attributes > 900 / 1 attribute > 1 200