Priam's heartbeat accelerated as he understood. "The Eighth Concept doesn't exist yet. The System wants us to create it."
"Indeed. But it's far from simple; otherwise, my Ancestor wouldn't have faltered," the phoenix replied in a melancholic tone.
Priam held a few moments of silence as a mark of respect. Even though it was just a hologram, the phoenix had been a significant aid, and Priam empathized with its sorrow.
"Regardless, it's premature to dwell on that now. My enemies are drawing near, and I'd like to invest my ten Merit points. Any advice?"
The phoenix flew to a bush, picked a berry, and pecked at it. Its beak evaporated the fruit upon contact, and it sniffed the released gas. Priam blinked in astonishment.
"I'm a somewhat special hologram," the phoenix smiled. Perhaps due to his bloodline, Priam could now discern when a bird was happy. "Well, [Ace] is a no-brainer. The Title is crafted to fill your gaps. [Bloodless] is decent for increasing your meridians count and tempering your body."
"I already have a mythical-grade temperance method," Priam pointed.
"Designed for Tier 0. I'm talking about another tempering. It will be useful for… your bloodlines and Micro."
The phoenix wore an annoyed expression, and Priam understood that it couldn't divulge more.
"Anyway, only the first Tier of [Bloodless] interests you for the ideal upgrade of your kinetic skill. You should save the rest of your Merit points for [Iconoclast]."
Priam recalled the mentioned Merit. [Iconoclast - Gold] - Tier 0: You're beginning to feel your soul.
"I thought it was a trap?" Priam raised an eyebrow. In a previous conversation, the phoenix had warned him that the gods, Viracocha first among them, wouldn't forgive him for choosing this Tree.
"It's a good way to get on the gods' bad side," the phoenix acknowledged. "But I believe you're already on a crusade against the one who captured your friend, right?"
"...He'll pay for it," Priam swore.
"Or you'll die. I'd tell you it's a stupid idea, but I think you're well aware," the phoenix sighed before evaporating another berry. "You should keep four Merit points in reserve, in case the Fallen notices you're not his puppet. [Iconoclast] will help you not get crushed like an insect under the spiritual pressure of a Tier 4."
Priam recalled the helplessness and terror that Viracocha, Sumstreh, and the Guardian of Secrets had stirred in him. The weight of their souls was so heavy before his that he couldn't even defend himself. If [Iconoclast] allowed him to bypass the issue, then it was a must-buy. But not until the last moment.
"They banned this Title because it enables resistance against them," Priam realized. "Motherfuckers!"
The phoenix flew toward the birch and began observing the passifloras. "They do much worse than that: the most powerful clans allow their children to unlock this Title and its Merits. It's quite useful for climbing the Nobility ranks. Another way to widen the gap with the commoners."
Priam gritted his teeth before bursting into laughter. Facing the bird's astonished gaze, he explained, "I love my freedom, and I love pissing off those who look down on me. This Tree allows me to do both at the same time."
"You liked pissing on them too," replied the phoenix.
Priam grinned in amusement. "Okay, you've convinced me. However, is it necessary to take it so early? I fear very little with [He Who Eludes Death], and I'd like to avoid catching a curse from Viracocha."
"You fear very little? If the Fallen dominates your soul with his spiritual superiority - which is quite simple - you'll be trapped in your body, unable even to commit suicide. He'll lobotomize your soul, and that'll be the end of you. And me. And everyone you love."
The phoenix's words struck Priam, knotting his stomach as he envisioned the torment Sumstreh could inflict on his family.
"...If I take [Iconoclast], will I have a chance to harm Bastard?" he asked in a cold voice. Priam liked the name Jasmine chose for the Fallen.
"...Take it." The phoenix couldn't say more, but it was enough for Priam. He would keep four Merit points for the Title. When Bastard fell, Priam didn't plan to watch the fight from afar. Pyro will burn him alive.
"Very well. And for my last Merit?"
Five points in [Ace], one for [Bloodless], and four for [Iconoclast] totaled ten. That was his current Merit points, but becoming a Mist Sage would earn him another point.
"No Merit is useless, but [Weathered] or [Three-Headed Hydra] are interesting. The first will help you unlock ideal upgrades for your resistances more easily. The second will allow you to restore your body and thus your soul. By torturing yourself a bit, you should be able to unlock Domain II at Tier 1."
"I feel like all my progress is made in pain," Priam grimaced.
"As is often the case. But let me tell you that even by agreeing to suffer, most races cannot achieve Domain II at Tier 1. Out of a hundred [Ace]s, only one upgrades this Title to mythic at Tier 1. And believe me, you want that upgrade," the bird said before settling on a ripe, shiny passiflora. In seconds, all that remained were pits.
Priam nodded. "I suspected that Domain was hard to obtain." Kazuki wasn't an idiot, but his rival struggled to attain Supremacy.
"Physical races have an advantage with Micro, those using tools prefer Mastery, and ethereal races have an affinity with Domain," the phoenix explained as it flew to the pond to wash its beak.
It was interesting, but it didn't help Priam choose. He invoked both Merits to compare them.
[Three-headed Hydra - Silver] - Tier 2: When your body is in perfect health, your Vitality accumulates. The subsequent injury you receive will be healed all the faster because your Vitality has accumulated.
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[Weathered - Silver] - Tier 0: Your resistances are even more effective.
"[Three-Headed Hydra] doesn't synergize well with [He Who Eludes Death]."
The hologram lifted its head to respond. "You know you can consume your Potential to change a Merit, right? Ask to reverse it."
Priam furrowed his brows and connected to his Potential.
Editing the Merit of [Three-headed Hydra - Silver]...
[Three-headed Hydra - Silver] - Tier 2: Exchange your lifespan to dramatically increase your regeneration speed.
Validate this change for 1 750 POT?
Priam grimaced at the price. The new Merit suited him well, and he hesitated with [Weathered]. Nevertheless, he had one last question before choosing.
"What about [Horseman of the Apocalypse]?"
Priam liked the Conquest Aura, and he was sure the Title would aid him even more if he managed to succeed in a quintuple Tribulation.
[Horseman of the Apocalypse - Legendary] - Tier 1: Eye of the Conqueror. It's hard to run away from a Conqueror.
"It's an exceptional Title, one you should invest in as soon as you customize your Aura. The catch is that the second Merit is inevitably a mutation of your eye. And you already have one, don't you?"
"Hecate New Moon. Does it ring any bells?"
"None, but it surely has something to do with the Mist and Moon theme of your Reunion. In any case, overlaying two mutations without mastering the first would be foolish. Now, validate your Merits, and let's deal with [Ace]," the phoenix said impatiently. Apparently, the Title was worth the detour.
Priam was annoyed by the response, but it made perfect sense. He remained still for a few seconds, paralyzed by indecision. Which Merit should he choose? Ideal upgrades would be interesting in the long run, but Priam had immediate problems.
Becoming a tank was never a bad idea. Discarding his last doubts, Priam validated the transformation of [Three-Headed Hydra].
A source within him opened, pouring streams of Potential into his soul. The System trembled before updating.
[Three-headed Hydra - Silver] - Tier 2: Exchange your lifespan to dramatically increase your regeneration speed.
POT -1,750
Taking a deep breath, Priam validated two Merits. He had made his decision, and there was no need to linger further. To be patient to achieve the best result was a quality, but he knew that sometimes, you had to go all-in to hit the jackpot.
[Three-headed Hydra - Silver] - Tier 2 ACQUIRED
[Three-headed Hydra - Silver] - Tier 3: The poison in your blood now causes accelerated aging.
[Bloodless - Bronze] - Tier 0: Your blood network transforms into a second set of meridians. ACQUIRED
[Bloodless - Bronze] - Tier 1: Aether flows through your veins, elevating your body. LOCKED - Requires epic-grade temperance.
8 Unused Merit Points.
The effect of the first Merit hit him like a tsunami, and Priam collapsed onto the grass of his world. As his veins pulsed under the influence of divine energy, a wave of indescribable sensations swept through his body. The vigor of a hydra awakened in his blood, and his mind became aware of a new ability. While he still didn't master Micro enough to manipulate his vitality, Priam now felt hidden potential in each of his cells.
The second Merit kicked in. A divine flood filled his veins and arteries, strengthening them to prepare for the passage of aether. Part of the blood network was rearranged, channels redirected to guide the aether where it needed to go.
Priam smiled as he saw his Pathways reconstructed and decided to activate his new ability. All his cells stirred, exchanging the future for the present. His heartbeats intensified, his kidneys filtered more, acidity increased in his stomach, and his brain awakened. Simultaneously, the rearrangement of his body accelerated, new meridians connected to the old ones, working in harmony to obey his commands.
As Micro observed the changes to his body, Priam's hearts pulsed again, sending a mixture of blood and aether coursing through his body.
Priam trembled as he felt his cells vibrate. His body bathed in aether shouted its joy, and his soul quickly joined the symphony.
Lvl Up : [Aether Perception] lvl 40
META (PERC) +3
[Aether Perception] has reached level 40, its maximum level as a rare skill. Depending on your background, one upgrade is available:
[Aether Perception - Epic] - Boosted by META(perception), your soul appreciates aether through your senses and Supremacies. You see the surface of the world.
No future upgrade possible. Potential Cost: 5
image [https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/ABLVV86ntzoD-HJqDVAP1s444IvMXkepEihhSPuBu0d47WxVUUFRguQ_8nYcMN9aBTM0At6gkJAg08bpBWOOTjFiD2hdRWzDPMxaTJPwXFhhfte2683qZMgu-ZEV_BMGNKexI5K87smBQhRzI3lno1TfgEkn=w1181-h295-s-no?authuser=0]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 207 (+3)
Meta-chance 230
Meta-authority 33
Potential: 5 256 (-1 748)
Tier 0
Sun points: 56 753 (+178)
[He Who Eludes Death] charge: OFF. Reloaded in 1 hour 43 minutes 49 seconds.
[Tribulation]: Three Tribulations pending.
Future Tribulations delayed until:
Time: 165 days 2 hours 17 minutes 2 seconds.
Next thresholds: 6 attributes > 600 / 3 attributes > 900 / attribute > 1 200