Lvl Up: [Frozen Meditation] lvl 5,6,7,8
PERC +4
WILL +8
Lvl Up: [Focus] lvl 28,29,30
PERC +3
VIVA +3
DEXT +3
POT -42
You have gained the skill: [Hoplite Language - Rare].
[Hoplite Language] - Finally, you're becoming trilingual. If your high school Spanish teacher knew you spoke Hoplite better than you ever spoke Spanish, what would she say? Nothing. She died during her Tutorial. ...
I've ruined the mood. A tip to make amends: learn more languages. Special bonus if it doesn't use sound signals.
MEM +2
DEXT +1
Forty-nine minutes later and at the cost of a net loss in Potential, Priam could now speak Hoplite. He knew he'd been lucky. Just like French - his native language - or English, this language was a fusional one. Meaning, they combined concepts into a single word.
For instance, the Hoplite had greeted him with the word "Geka Eaz". "Gak-" was the verb for "challenge to a duel" and the suffix "-a" represented both first-person singular agreement and present tense.
Thus, "Geka" meant "I challenge you to a duel." Which, for a warrior society like the Hoplites, was simply a formal greeting. The structure of both languages being close, Priam - thanks in large part to [Eidetic Memory] - had managed the feat of absorbing the alien language in less than an hour. If the language had been agglutinative, like Finnish or Turkish, it would have taken him several hours. Learning an analytical language like Chinese would take him a day or two.
It was both a short and long time. With his mental abilities, Priam knew he could have done better. After all, he was supposed to think twenty-eight times faster than an average human. Unless Vivacity didn't work exactly like that?
Priam felt himself thinking much faster than he could before, but not twenty-eight times. Moreover, he didn't always think at the same speed, depending on his actions or... his surroundings. My social interactions are restraining me, he realized.
His mind prevented him from fully unleashing the power of his brain when he was just talking. For example, if he tried to speak twenty times faster to his father, Louis or Mirscella, they wouldn't understand a thing. In the same way, Priam couldn't discuss multiple things at once. Besides, human language wasn't suited for that kind of feat.
So, to remain a sociable creature, Priam unconsciously limited himself. This can't go on.
As he was devising a plan to learn how to harness his attribute's full potential, the Hoplite interrupted him.
“Mnele w ploy w gurt Eaz.” Priam looked up at the Hoplite and translated. 'You can't help but think, biped.'
Clearing his throat, he looked the Hoplite in the eyes. "Don't call me Eaz. I'm human," he responded in Hoplite.
Eaz referred to a hypothetical species resembling a Hoplite. Any intelligent biped could be named that. The word held no pejorative or racist connotation, but many aliens were Eaz. Besides, Priam wanted to forge a connection with the Hoplite. It was harder to betray someone whose name you knew than a stranger.
"I'm Priam," he introduced himself.
"Kazuki, Champion and Heart of the Hoplites," Kazuki replied, tilting his head. "I'm impressed, you speak my language without an accent."
"Dexterity and Micro help," Priam replied with a shrug. There was a reason why [Hoplite Language] granted him Dexterity. "I think I've understood quite a bit from watching those movies, but I need confirmation. How do you feel about our previous..."
Priam hesitated on the word. The Hoplite language had many ways to refer to a fight. All were nuanced and left little room for interpretation. Here, it didn't make things easier for Priam.
If he wanted to indicate he had fought poorly or that he was then a beginner, "Encobt" or "serious combat between a child and an adult" was the proper term. However, he had managed to defeat the Hoplite. If he thought Priam was insulting him, he would be compelled to avenge his honor by attacking. At least, that's what the movies he had seen implied.
That wasn't what Priam wanted.
I could use "Mothol". "Combat between two unknown warriors" described the situation fairly, but the Hoplite could argue that there hadn't been a fight. There had been a chase, and Priam had turned the tide when his opponent had lowered his guard in the face of Priam's pathetic resistance.
"Narey," Kazuki completed. "A Fight for survival. You won't besmirch my honor by presenting the truth. Besides, you're a human. You don't know our traditions, and you defeated me. It would be uncouth for me to reproach you with harsh, but just, words."
Lvl Up: [Hoplite Language] lvl 2
MEM +2
DEXT +1
Priam nodded. Kazuki seemed to be a level-headed Hoplite, which was pleasant.
"You're right to be cautious," the Hoplite added, plucking a few strands of grass from the ground. "Some won't hesitate to challenge you to a duel. After all, you speak our language and... you're strong," he acknowledged.
The remark caught Priam's attention.
"When will I have the pleasure of meeting other Hoplites?" he asked suspiciously.
"Sooner than expected, I suppose. They're opening a portal here."
"What?!"
The news caught Priam off guard. The Hoplites could already open a portal to Elysium? How? Certainly by trying to reach Kazuki or with the help of coordinates. If they try to reach him...
Priam's eyes hardened. He had no desire to see millions of Hoplites arrive near Log-a-rhythm. It would not only endanger his family but also himself. Should I kill him now?
Kazuki smiled coldly. "You should refine your bloodlust into kill intent and learn to master it. I can clearly sense your hostility - which, by the way, is unfounded."
Priam relaxed slightly. The Hoplite invasion was unlikely to be triggered in the next few seconds. Moreover, Kazuki must have had a reason for informing him of this. After all, he wasn't obliged to notify Priam. Hoplites abhorred lies, but not to the extent of revealing their military secret to an opponent.
Forcing himself to stay calm, Priam asked, "What do you mean by that?"
"The portal was programmed using a special object, a Hearthstone. I see that you recognize the name," Kazuki remarked. Indeed, Priam owned the same object. But how had Kazuki understood this? Priam was sure he hadn't moved - and Micro was monitoring his heart rate.
If it wasn't his body that had betrayed him... He can't read my thoughts, but he can project his own, Priam remembered. Domain and [Mental Manipulation] show no reaction, so he must simply be observing my spirit. Priam made a note to find a defense against this.
After methodically laying out the plucked grass by his side, Kazuki began weaving them together. "They briefly lent me the object, and I synchronized it with this clearing. Then it disappeared. I suppose they'll activate it when they're ready," he said, shrugging.
Priam took a deep breath to regain control.
"Why my clearing?"
"I pass by here regularly to rest, hoping to find you here. You have an object that belongs to me," Kazuki said, an indescribable glint in his eyes. "I was here when the Hearthstone appeared, and as I had little time to synchronize it..."
Priam recalled the pendant that held a voice recording. He must be talking about that... But there was something more important. Priam wanted to confirm something. "If I understand correctly, you're not its owner."
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
If that were the case, the portal would be created, whether Kazuki was alive or not. Damn.
"According to [Scrutinize], my wife owns the Hearthstone." For the first time, the Hoplite's smile seemed tender. This sight reassured Priam. A man - or a Hoplite - who cared for his family was someone who could be reasoned with. "She must have given me synchronization rights."
"And after that, the object just disappeared. How convenient..."
Kazuki closed his eyes and fell silent for a moment. Even his weaving was paused. A few moments later, he opened clear eyes on Priam.
"You're insinuating that I'm lying. It is the first time you've insulted me. I'll forgive you for this, this time, because you don't know our customs. If it happens again, my honor will force me to attack you. To insult the Heart of the Hoplites is to insult our entire civilization."
The human and the Hoplite exchanged a long look. Priam knew nothing of this race, and the Hoplite might be cultivating an image of an honorable warrior to lower his guard. The movies he had watched could have been created by an AI for propaganda purposes. To give him a false image of his opponent.
Or maybe Claire had made me too wary. His sharp instinct told him that the Hoplite was what he appeared to be. An honorable Champion... and a lost one.
"Sorry. Among humans, lying is common. If I'm so mistrustful, it's because I've been betrayed, and I avoid repeating my mistakes."
Kazuki nodded. "A commendable mindset." Seeing Priam's concerned expression, he added, "I told you all this because I don't like using your property without your permission. It's against my honor. However, my death will not change anything."
"... I appreciate it." It was the truth. Not being in a shonen, Kazuki and Priam weren't best friends after exchanging blows. It was mostly honor that had prompted the Hoplite to reveal that there was the equivalent of a bomb in his backyard, and Priam was almost grateful for it.
What's done is done. Now, what does it imply... Priam massaged his temples, pondering the Hoplite's revelation. Some of his thoughts went to his father, Sphinx, and the others residing in his internal archipelago. Even if I ally with Kazuki, too many Hoplites would put them in danger...
"How many Hoplites will come?" he finally asked. Maybe Kazuki would keep the information secret, but there was a chance...
Kazuki burst into genuine laughter. "Are you afraid of an invasion?"
Hearing Kazuki laugh was surprising. In the movies he had seen, he hadn't heard a single joke. The Hoplites almost seemed to be humorless.
Priam let Kazuki laugh to his heart's content. The Hoplite eventually calmed down and apologized with a bow. "I'm sorry. Know that I didn't mean to insult you. The mental pressure must have been stronger than expected... If a unit of ten people comes through, it will already be a lot," he reassured him.
Priam felt a surge of relief. "So few?"
Kazuki's face grew serious. "... Elysium has become dangerous."
Priam furrowed his brows before understanding. For him, Elysium had always been dangerous. In contrast, the first week should have been a walk in the park for the Hoplite Champion. If he had encountered them, Kazuki could have destroyed the ant colony and the spider horde.
"What do you mean by that?" Priam asked.
"... I now fear for my life." While continuing to weave his blades of grass, Kazuki gestured to the surroundings. "Don't you find anything different?"
Intrigued, Priam analyzed the surroundings. The leaves of the trees were slightly redder. Log-a-rhythm seemed to have grown. The wind was gentle this afternoon, and Priam thought his father would appreciate the place. With the nearby stream, it would be perfect for fishing. Suddenly, Priam put himself in his father's shoes, and his eyes widened.
"It's pleasant! The temperature has dropped." Priam focused again before arching an eyebrow. "And gravity has increased?"
The first change was good news - his father could withstand a temperature of 40°C. But gravity had increased significantly. It was hard for Priam to estimate because he didn't know his own body well enough, but gravity must be roughly five times higher than Earth's. If gravity increases, he won't even be able to leave the [Concepts Archipelago]...
Kazuki nodded gravely. "The days are getting shorter, the heat is decreasing, and the gravity is increasing..."
Before leaving, Priam had already noticed that the days were getting shorter. A change of season was, of course, natural, but there was nothing simple in Elysium. Three suns in the sky - two plus a Phoenix, Priam corrected himself - made calculating the seasons complicated.
"Autumn is coming," he joked halfheartedly.
Kazuki gritted his teeth. His hands trembled as he finished his work. A crown?
"It will be harsh then. I avoid straying too far from your tree when night falls now."
"How come?"
"It's as if some protection had disappeared as soon as you left. More and more powerful monsters are approaching. Some are... sick." The warrior hesitated momentarily before showing Priam the underside of his forearm. A grass bracelet concealed a part of it, and Kazuki removed it gently.
A dark mark lay behind it. Looking at it, Priam felt his stomach twist. Curiosity outweighed mistrust, and he moved closer.
Less than two meters from Kazuki, Priam stopped. His eyes saw the wound very distinctly. Black and cracked, it pulsed slowly. As if…
"The wound is alive?"
Kazuki quickly finished his new grass crown - his bracelet - and concealed his wound with it.
"No, it's just... Corrupted. I'm healing slowly," he said. "A mutant tiger injured me. Since then, I avoid going out at night."
"But you have impressive vitality." Priam had a hard time understanding. He had seen the Hoplite's face dissolve and the skin of his hands tear. A few minutes later, nothing remained of those wounds.
"This wound is cursed," the Hoplite spat. Seeing Priam's furrowed brows, he added. "Maybe not cursed, but it's tenacious. It fights against my vitality and tries to corrupt me. I've doubled my vitality in a few days, but it's not helping much."
"Doubled your vitality?!"
"I unlocked [Necro Resistance - Epic] a few minutes after the infection. I channeled my Potential into it. Right now, my body is gaining ground, but it's a long process."
"If the wound had been bigger..." Priam let his sentence trail off, and Kazuki nodded darkly. The Champion would have died.
An image of his sick father came to Priam, and he gritted his teeth. Sphinx and Blueberry would have a chance to survive, but the slightest scratch would kill a human. For a moment, Priam regretted bringing him along.
No! He rebelled against resignation. This new world was full of dangers, but as long as they could face them together, it was worth it.
A glance at Log-a-rhythm reassured him. His family would be safe. Turning to Kazuki, Priam questioned him.
"So, what do you expect from me?"
The Champion gave him a long look before responding. "I'd like to retrieve my pendant. It has sentimental value to me," he admitted.
Priam didn't hesitate for a moment before agreeing. "Very well." He turned to Log-a-rhythm and raised his voice. "Pendant, please."
A primal intelligence brushed his soul. The tree's leaves quivered in greeting, happy to find their master again. At least, that's how Priam chose to interpret it. Some questions assaulted Priam, and he understood that Log-a-rhythm had a bunch of notifications waiting. I'll see you soon.
A few moments later, a branch stretched towards Priam and deposited a medallion in his hand. Priam observed it for a moment before offering it to the Hoplite. Kazuki gave him a grateful look as he retrieved his pendant.
Priam smiled inwardly. He could empathize with someone searching for their family. Of course, he could have traded the pendant for a resource or information, but his interlocutor was a Champion. Gaining the favor of one of his rivals was the best reward possible.
For once, emotions and pragmatism agree.
"I appreciate it, Priam," said Kazuki, bowing deeply.
"I shouldn't have taken it from you in the first place. I apologize," Priam replied, slightly embarrassed by Kazuki's extreme politeness.
Silence fell between the two rivals. Priam sensed Kazuki's hesitation and chose to wait. His instinct whispered to him that the Hoplite had something to ask. He had already thought of compensation.
In the end, Kazuki broke the silence.
"I may have a proposition."
Priam grinned. Me too.
image [https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/ABLVV86ntzoD-HJqDVAP1s444IvMXkepEihhSPuBu0d47WxVUUFRguQ_8nYcMN9aBTM0At6gkJAg08bpBWOOTjFiD2hdRWzDPMxaTJPwXFhhfte2683qZMgu-ZEV_BMGNKexI5K87smBQhRzI3lno1TfgEkn=w1181-h295-s-no?authuser=0]Status: (Average value for a Homo sapiens male before integration: PHY 10 / MEN 10 / META 0)
PHYSICAL:
Strength 318
Constitution 451
Agility 308
Vitality 466
Perception 534 (+8)
MENTAL:
Vivacity 288 (+3)
Dexterity 357 (+5)
Memory 76 (+4)
Willpower 477 (+10)
Charisma 410
META:
Meta-affinity 252
Meta-focus 186
Meta-endurance 164
Meta-perception 77
Meta-chance 207
Meta-authority 12
Potential: 966 (-24)
Tier 0
[He Who Eludes Death] charge: PRIMED.
[Tribulation]: One Tribulation pending.
Future Tribulations delayed until:
Time: 179 days 23 hours 35 minutes 11 seconds.