Priam
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Chapter 304: Last Stop Before Proxima
🕑 Added 2024-11-29 04:51:40 +0000 UTCEnjoy!
PS: Priam Character Sheet (you can thanks the Discord guys! Come say hello.)
*
Jasmine was mumbling in her sleep when Priam entered the igloo.
âMore chicken... No, no vegetables, I donât like them...â
âNice to see not everyoneâs fighting the same battles,â Priam chuckled.
He closed the shelter behind him and shivered. Maybe it was the purification of his Phoenix bloodline, but the cold always grated on him. With his constitution and [Cold Resistance], it wasnât a threatâjust a nuisance. The chill had a way of sneaking past his defenses.
âJasmine,â he whispered, crouching beside her. From her shadow quilt, pale arms and legs poked out. She had probably just finished regenerating them. If everything had gone according to plan, he was no longer the only one with [Axolotl or Hydra]. âWake up.â
âMmh?â Her messy hair framed a single drowsy eye as she yawned and smiled. âYouâre here.â
âIâm here.â
âGood. Let me sleep a bit longer... Itâs still dark outside.â
âThe storm outsideâs blocking the sun, remember?â Priam glanced at the timer for [He Who Eludes Death] before adding, âDawnâs near.â
âIâm still tired,â she mumbled, yawning again. âI waited for your Achievement before crashing.â
âWhy so long?â
âStress chased sleep away,â she murmured, a trace of drool on the corner of her mouth.
â...â
She hadnât slept until she was sure Priam was safe. Worry had outweighed exhaustion. âGo back to sleep,â he said, brushing her hair gently. âIâll make something to eat.â
A contented smile graced her lips as she nestled her head onto his lap. Moments later, her breathing evened out, soft and steady.
It took Priam five minutes to extricate himself from her grasp without waking her.
*
âDid you find a lingerie store in the eye of the cyclone?â
A few hours later, Jasmine was fully awake, raising an eyebrow at him. Draped in a shadow-woven dress that clung to her curves like a second skin, she radiated her usual lethal charm.
âNah. I ran into a System Administrator,â Priam explained, flipping a slab of meat on the makeshift grill. Usually a fan of French breakfastsâhot chocolate or coffee with a pastryâhe was broadening his horizons today by sampling what amounted to yeti bacon.
âUnless he gave you that boxer, Iâm not seeing the connection.â
âHe did give me this boxer,â Priam groaned. âI think he was angling for free advertising for his brand. Every mid-Tier who divines me will get an eyeful.â
âWould you prefer they saw your junk instead?â
Priamâs only response was a grunt. âThis Administrator... Iâm starting to think he keeps tabs on me. He even spices up the descriptions of my skills and Titles for his own amusement.â
He recalled the quirky annotations in his skill logs and wondered just how much Thaal knew about him. Some of the details predated the Tutorial. Had the System been keeping files on all its prospective users even before integration?
âSo heâs watching you like The Truman Show?â
âYeah. Waitâhow do you know about that?â Hearing pop culture references from Jasmine threw him off.
âRose told me,â Jasmine laughed before adding, âThough I gotta admit, itâs hilarious that a Tier 8 got so fed up with you strutting around naked he crossed worlds just to gift you underwear.â
âThatâs not the only reason he came!â A shadow of doubt crept into Priamâs mind. Thaal had claimed the matter was beneath him. âAt least, I hope not...â
âWell, at least he has tasteâit suits you. Give us a spin?â
Without quite knowing why, Priam complied.
âYup, makes your butt look great,â Jasmine declared. âThough itâs gonna make practicing [True Sight] harder for me...â
âThatâs your skill to pierce illusions, right?â
âYeah, it works against all kinds of visual barriersâshadows, mist, flames. Super handy when my targets try to disguise themselves.â
Priam stayed silent, cheeks flushed, focusing on the sizzling meat. All this time, sheâd been able to seeâŠ
*
Hail pelted Priamâs skin without leaving a mark. The weather in the second zone could level cities, but it wasnât enough to faze him anymore. Recent level-ups had made the stormâs outskirts a mere inconvenience.
Lvl Up: [Cold Resistance] lvl 8, 9, 10
CONST +3
VIT +6
Lvl Up: [Shear Resistance] lvl 2, 3, 4
CONST +21
META (Endurance) +6
Lvl Up: [Sun Steel Body] lvl 16
CONST +6
META (Endurance) +3
âYou got so many rewards, and I got nothing!â Jasmine grumbled.
âYou didnât even make it to the eye of the Deluge,â Priam pointed out, floating above the icy water. âIn fact, you hitched a ride with me to get to the fourth zone. Objectively speaking, you donât even deserve Valarythâs rewards.â
âEveryoneâs got their own travel style. You like trudging through snow; I prefer lounging in your shadow. Same destination, different means.â
Despite missing the Systemâs quest, the lazy woman had still reaped Valarythâs gifts. Not bad for a few hours hidden in Priamâs shadow.
âBy the way, whyâd you ask to enchant Sumstrehâs core with [Free Will]? Wouldnât the seventh Terrorâs core have worked just as well? It had a strong mind affinity, perfect for bolstering your resistance.â
Thaalâor rather the Systemâhad agreed to infuse Sumstrehâs core with the essence of a compatible High Tribulation for a Soul gate. Still, Priam already had an ideal trophy worthy of [Free Will]: the seventh Terrorâs core. The reason he hadnât chosen the essence of another gate as his reward was simple.
âHonestly, I thought about itâit was the easy option. Our chat made me reconsider. Thaal might be eccentric, the words of a Tier 8 carry weight. He seemed to emphasize the concept of Story, implying a connection between Myth creation and immortality. I think he was referring to Tier 7.â
âIsnât it a bit early to worry about that?â
âThe farther ahead you plan, the fewer dead ends you hit,â Priam replied, braving the gale-force winds. âIâd rather prep for Tier 7 now than discover later that a shortcut I took closed crucial doors.â
âFair point. Still not seeing how that ties to Sumstrehâs core.â
Priam grinned. âLet me recap my history with the seventh Terror for you: it hunted me while I was playing fish, Titus saved my ass, and a few weeks later, I blew up a volcano to crack its lair before killing it with ease.â
âBarring the volcano, thatâs... surprisingly mundane,â Jasmine conceded.
âEven the volcano was more because I like explosions than anything else. On the other hand, Sumstreh nearly enslaved me, took my friend, and forced me to live for weeks in fear of saying its name. I had to rewind time to reach it, and its shadow still looms over my path!â By the end of his rant, Priam was practically shouting. He calmed down before continuing. âItâs even because of Sumstreh that I chose [True Will], the ancestor of [Free Will]. That bastard made me fight for my freedom, and its core is the natural choice. The only thing stopping me from selecting its core as a trophy was that it wasnât draconic. Now that both are ideal, thereâs no doubt: my story with Sumstreh eclipses that of the seventh Terror.â
If Priam wasnât a perfectionist, no one was. Taking strength from his enemies to build his foundation appealed to him, but he wanted the best. Whether in terms of Tier, danger, story, or affinity with [Free Will], the Fallen who had tried to strip him of his freedom was the obvious choice.
âIt was just a casual question, no need for a lecture.â
âYouâ!â
*
The veil of hail, rain, and wind finally parted. Priam blinked as sunlight warmed him again. He took another step, leaving the Deluge behind, and shook himself like a dog.
âFinally out of there. Not looking forward to going back.â As he said it, Priam realized it was a lie. While the weather had been hellish, the skill experience was great. Was he a masochist to want to endure such hell to grow stronger?
âYOU!â
The ocean a hundred meters ahead exploded in a massive geyser. A manâa Rhem, Priam corrected himselfâlanded with the force of a bomb, creating a crater of water around him. With a powerful kick, the stranger launched himself toward Priam.
The Homo Elysian raised Promesse to make the man stop before colliding with him.
âIs there a problem?â he asked in Rhem, the language of the sea.
âWho are you, invader?â demanded the stranger, unaware that a shadow blade hovered less than a centimeter from his jugular.
âPriam of Elysium.â
âA spawn of the System,â spat the Rhem. âWhat are you doing in this sacred place?! Is the storm raging because of you?! Donât lieâI heard the thunder.â
âThat was me,â Priam confirmed.
Before the Rhem could respond, a second warrior arrived, surfing the waves as though he commanded them. Scarred from head to toe, the newcomer was familiar.
âTitus.â
âPriam? Youâve returned⊠What are you doing here?â
âIf you mean Valaryth, Iâm training. If you mean the Deluge, I wanted to test it,â Priam replied, gesturing toward the colossal storm swirling in the distance. âThe rewards are just as impressive as I was told.â
âTest theâ Is he mocking us?â the first Rhem asked Titus, his tone brimming with disbelief.
âIâm not sure.â
âWhat do you mean youâre not sure? Isnât he your friend?â
âNot really,â Titus and Priam answered in unison. The young man elaborated, âBut I donât see why youâd question my word. The Systemâs Achievement is undeniable proof.â
âYeah, as if Iâd trust that monster whispering in my ear.â
âOh?â Priam tilted his head, intrigued.
âWe Rhems reject your System,â Titus explained, noticing Priamâs gesture.
âOh?â Interesting⊠âSorry, I didnât realize the Deluge was sacred to you.â
âItâs only sacred to a few stubborn warriors,â Titus dismissed with a wave of his hand. âTo most of us, itâs just a massive storm that kills those who confuse courage with arrogance. Its only merit is imprisoning our enemy.â
A knot tightened in Priamâs stomach. âWhat do you mean?â
âThatâs Rhem business. It doesnât concern you,â spat the first warrior.
Priam frowned, his gaze shifting to Titus.
âGooruâs rude, but heâs right,â Titus admitted.
âMy instincts say otherwise. It does concern me: youâre talking about a Terror.â
The Rhems fell silent, their expressions unreadable. Priam reached into his inner world through a portal, retrieving the core of the Seventh Terror. âRecognize this?â
âThat draconic affinityâŠâ Gooruâs voice faltered.
âSo it was youâthe volcano,â Titus realized. âI searched everywhere for the culprit.â
âI like explosions,â Priam confessed.
âYou⊠You want to doom us all?!â Gooru shouted, his anger unrestrained.
Priam frowned at the Rhemâs outburst. âI thought they were your enemies?â
Titus raised a hand to calm his companion, then explained. âWe donât kill the four weak Terrors to avoid provoking the strong three. Even though the eldest sister is indisposed, the other two are dangerous.â
âThe death of the Seventh will enrage them, and there will be casualties,â Gooru predicted darkly. âBecause of you. The Atlantis Council will demand your presence.â
Priam winced as he realized the ripple effects of his actions would harm others. It was a bitter truth, but something far worse loomed.
âWhen you say the First Terror is indisposed⊠Is she imprisoned beneath the Deluge?â
The silence that followed spoke louder than words.
Shit.
*
Priam departed after assuring Titus he would return soon. Meeting Valarythâs leaders was necessary, but not before completing his quintuple Tribulation. For now, his personal power was paramount to his survival. If the second Terror is a Tier 1 Prince, what about the first? Without its essence, the Deluge would eventually dissipate, and Priam suspected he would soon have his answer. Until then, he needed to grow stronger.
As for the rest⊠I could inform the Rhems of the passage between Valaryth and Elysium. Itâs the least I can do after unleashing a titan on them.
âYou didnât tell them the Deluge would disappear,â Jasmine pointed out as the outpost came into view.
âWhatâs the point? The storm wonât vanish immediately, and I donât want to become their enemy.â
âItâs not really your fault; you couldnât have known.â
âPeople who lose everything will still look for someone to blame.â
âWhy not the System? It gave you this quest.â
âTheyâll want a scapegoat they can punish,â Priam clarified. âItâs pointless, but cathartic.â
âIf theyâre determined to find someone, theyâll pick you anyway. Youâre an invader, after allâŠâ
âNot if I give them someone else first,â Priam mused, landing lightly on the roof of his outpost. He greeted Myuri and the artisans before stepping through the portal.
In Oasis, the situation was relatively calm. Corrupted attacks were dangerous, but everyone had grown accustomed to them. His father and Rose were still embroiled in their respective Tribulations, so Priam sought out Kazuki. The hoplite stood in the clearing, organizing the departure. Each mech present hauled a wooden crate filled with samples of Elysiumâs flora and faunaâa request from the hoplite scientists.
âCongratulations on your High Tribulation,â Kazuki greeted him, the wind whispering Priamâs arrival.
âThanks. Congrats on regrowing your arms and legs. Did you unlock [Axolotl or Hydra]?â
âIndeed. Now, my wife will stop feeding me with a spoon.â
âIâm heartbroken I missed that.â
Kazukiâs lips twitched into a faint smile before he asked the inevitable. âSo, itâs decided? Youâre triggering your quintuple on Proxima?â
âI trust our civilizations more than I trust the Terrorsâor our rivals,â Priam confirmed. At least, I can beat the shit out of them if they try something funny.
âVery well.â Kazuki turned to the convoy. âWe have been waiting for you. Anything you need to pack?â
âJust my boxers, Promesse, and my inner world,â Priam grinned. âI travel light.â
âCheater,â his shadow muttered.
Kazuki nodded and signaled Hyshana to activate the Hearthstone. A portal opened before her.
âProximaâbattlefield of civilizations.â With those words, she stepped through, followed by half her subordinates and Kazuki.
Ready to face his Tribulations, Priam left Elysium.
*
Status:
PHYSICAL:
Strength 893
Constitution 1 422 (+39)
Agility 1 173
Vitality 1 322 (+12)
Perception 858
MENTAL:
Vivacity (D) 599
Dexterity 752
Memory 891
Willpower 1 012
Charisma 653
META:
Meta-affinity 999
Meta-focus 559
Meta-endurance 915 (+13)
Meta-perception 539
Meta-chance 594
Meta-authority 429
Potential: 27 621 (+18)
Tier 0
Sun points: 1 143 444
[He Who Eludes Death] charge: OFF. Reloaded in 15 hours 48 minutes 50 seconds.
Concepts:
Breath (T0): 100% / Harmony
Fire (T0): 100% / Unity
Pyro (T1): 100% / Half-step Unity
Mist (T1): 100% / Symphony
Bloodlines:
Phoenix: 3%
Dragon: 1%
Rewards standing:
Fusion Token - Skill (Epic)
Evolution Token - Skill (Legendary)
Affinity Token - Tier 1 (30%)
Alien Concept fragment (7th Terror)
Talent Token - Upgrade (Seraph)
Revelation Token - Ideal Prerequisites (Epic)
Colosseum VIP Token
Reborn Token - Reset biological lifespan (Legendary)
Minor skill Epiphany
High Tribulation essence (Soul Tailored - Sumstrehâs half core)
Seed of Potential
Trophy Compass
[Tribulation]: Five Tribulations pending.
Future Tribulations delayed until:
Time: 132 days 16 hours 18 minutes 3 seconds.
Next thresholds: 12 attributes > 900 / 3 attributes > 1 200 / 1 attribute > 1 500
Comments
Ardenn Eriksen
Jasmine has quickly become my favorite character. Love the banter between her and Priam.
HJSecond
The 5 fundamental loading conditions an object experiences? Compression, tension, shear, bending and torsion. He has sun steel body for compression and shear resistance for shear but he is still missing 3.
Doubleline
I don't remember but I just assume it is similar to damage types in Warframe. Impact Puncture Slash, Energy and Elemental damage.
Antoine Shannon
Wait question In Chapters were he was thinking of either getting Kevlar tissue or the experience of someone who is gone through 8 tribulations He was speaking with the Phoenix about five or so universal things that cause damage or shape matter I donât know But what were they? Does anyone know what those 5 things were? Itâs been on my mind
Lucas
:)
Stefan Landshut
often and constantly :)
Lucas
Thx for the chapter. Can someone tell me the release schedule for chapters pls.
James Skinner
Thanks for the chapter!
Shadow Korosu
Maybe they have higher thresholds because of their heightened importance? Once we see Meta-Affinity cross into 1,000 maybe it'll finally be considered a milestone for it, and if there's no milestone even at that point then it's likely that the Meta attributes just don't have milestones.
James Faulkner
Or just trigger it over an enemy city after using Jasmine to sneak in lmao
Derze
âYou got so many rewards, and I got nothing!â Jasmine grumbled.â Thank you Priam(A). And we are off to Proxima! Yay
Dungeonborn
I think they never were sys notifications but observations of Priam or his addon
_mori
Despite his efforts not to hoard rewards, heâs doing it again đ. Jk. I get that most of these will disappear in a short timespan. And some need the right moments to maximize their benefits. Is the minor skill epiphany going to be for kinetic or mist? Going into a tribulation with so many rewards and even some knowledge of the tribulations is going to be something else. And after the tribulation, Priamâs strength will skyrocket. Tempering, tribulation essences, tribulation rewards.
Zaim Ä°pek
Yay! Tribulation time! This ought to be very interesting.
Custus
Thanks for the chapter!
Luciaron
Hopefully his tribulations kill fewer bystanders this time but I am hyped
Halfcrzy
Ha ha..feels like I just got slapped from the recent comment on the old chapter. Thanks for the chapter
Disclancer
Tyftc! Slight tangent, but am I right in saying we're not seeing milestone notifications for priams meta-stats? Does this mean they don't have them in the same way? I only ask as meta-authority is the only one below 500 now and i was wondering if passing the first milestone in all stats would be significant đ€
brennon Petersen
Tftc!
Andrew
Thank you!
James Faulkner
Tftc!
