"No freaking way."
The sacred sacrifice was complete, and the rewards were beyond what Adam could have ever imagined. He could hardly believe the system messages that were flashing before his eyes.
*You have sacrificed [Ibex, Level 18]. Applying sacrifice modifiers. Applying sacred modifiers. Calculating…13400xp rewarded*
*+72 sacrificial points*
*You have received Soul orb (Tier 1)*
*+1 in constitution*
*You have unlocked the concept: Mountain(rare) for your cult*
*You have received…*
A rush of elation coursed through Adam as he noted his rewards – an extra point to his constitution and the unlocking of the Mountain Concept for his cult. His lips curved into a wide grin, satisfaction and anticipation mingling in his heart.
It was like he'd stumbled onto a treasure trove. He could already envision himself conducting sacred sacrifices, his attribute points piling up, giving him an edge that few others possessed. The thrill was undeniable.
Sure, there were other ways to garner attribute points – consuming rare potions, ingesting special herbs, and the like. But these methods posed their own difficulties and limitations, often allowing only a few uses before they lost their effectiveness.
“Can it really be this simple?" Adam mused, his eyebrows knitting together, "There must be a catch.”
Traditionally, each tier had a cap on the amount of attribute points one could acquire in a certain way. But sacred sacrifices? This was an entirely new avenue for empowerment. It felt like a shortcut in the complex labyrinth of leveling.
Now, Adam didn't need to exhaust himself in the hunt for rare items to enhance his attributes. All he needed was a beast suitable for a sacred sacrifice. This method was a direct, more convenient path to power.
And as this realization hit him, he couldn't suppress the triumphant smile that took over his face. It was a thrilling prospect - one that promised a world of opportunities.
The thoughts of potential consequences began to haunt Adam. He shook his head in an attempt to clear his mind. The unknown 'catch' was a concern, but the allure of free points was irresistible. He'd take what he could get, and deal with the drawbacks as they came.
These attribute points were more than just numbers - they were his lifeline. They bolstered his ability to survive in a world where might was the currency of survival. The hunger for more was a flame that refused to die down.
Yet, as if to quench his burning ambitions, reality struck.
He was too worn out to undertake another sacred sacrifice right away. It wasn't just a physical exhaustion he felt, but a mental fatigue that gnawed at him.
The intensity of the sacred sacrifices had left him in dire need of rest. The enticing power it promised would have to wait. He needed rest.
And the issue of bait wasn’t helping either. He had run out of the painstakingly crafted bait, and making more would require more of his blood.
Even his high Constitution attribute couldn't fully compensate for the blood he had already sacrificed. That's why he still looked paler than usual.
The system notifications chimed again, drawing Adam's attention to the available skill upgrade. Having reached level 15, he could finally upgrade his last remaining tier 0 skill.
He could also pick an entirely new skill but was too tired to look through his options, he wanted to pick one when he next entered the Dreamverse.
His eyes flickered over the system prompt, looking over his last remaining tier 0 skill - [Charge], he clicked upgrade.
[Sacrificial Surge I](Common)(Tier 1): By harnessing a surge of Sacrificial Points, you tap into a wellspring of enhanced power with Sacrificial Surge. This skill enables you to overcharge your other abilities, pushing them beyond their limits for increased potency. As you invest more Sacrificial Points, the surge intensifies, empowering your attacks, fortifying your defenses, or amplifying your support to allies.
However, be cautious, as the immense power of Sacrificial Surge may also unleash a potential backlash, taxing your own vitality and leaving you momentarily vulnerable.
Skill upgrade mission: (0/3) Invest three sacrificial points. Reward: [Sacrificial Surge II]
Adam studied his new skill, [Sacrificial Surge I]. His heart beat with excitement as he imagined all the ways he could use it. It could make him stronger in fights, tougher in defense, and more helpful to his allies.
He thought, 'This isn’t just a skill, it's a tool. But it's risky. Using it could hurt me, but isn't every powerful thing dangerous?'
Adam felt a surge of power as he looked at his vast pool of sacrificial points. He knew they could give his new skill, and others, a significant boost.
'This changes everything,' he realized. This new skill made him feel ready. It made him feel powerful. He knew he could handle whatever came next. His smile said it all - he was satisfied with his new skill. Despite feeling tired, he felt eager for what was to come.
His [Ritual Mastery I] skill also evolved, upgrading to its II equivalent. The feeling was indescribable. He just knew, deep within his bones, that he could now conduct even more complex rituals.
Adam decided to spend his four free attribute points; 2 into intelligence, 1 into wisdom and the last into charisma.
Adam brought up his status.
Name: Adam Emmanuel-Amin
Age: 8
Race: Human (Earthling)
---
Title/s: Dream child, Awakened
Trait/s: Immortal, Sole Weapon Bond
Talent: Immortal Dream Cult
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
---
Health points (HP): 432/470
Stamina points (SP): 303/330
Mana points (MP): 250/250
Sacrificial point(SCP): 338
---
Class: Soul Sovereign (Tier 1)
Level: 15
Xp to next level: 28640
---
Attributes:
Strength: 30
Dexterity: 30
Constitution: 47
Endurance: 33
Intelligence: 25
Wisdom: 40
Charisma: 62
Attributes available: 0
---
Skills:
[Soul-Piercing Strike III] (Common)(Tier 1)
[Aura of Alacrity I] (common) (Tier 1)
[Ritual mastery II] (Common)(Tier 1)
[Soul Severance III] (Common)(Tier 1)
[Faithforged Armor II](Common)(Tier 1)
[Enthralling presence I] (Common)(Tier 1)
[Vortex of Devotion II] (Common)(Tier 1)
[Sacrificial Surge I] (Common)(Tier 1)
The sight of his updated status brought a surge of exhilaration to Adam. He was astounded at how far he'd come. The sacred sacrifice had not only allowed him to level up but had also placed him well on his way to reaching level 16.
Despite the excitement, exhaustion caught up with him. "Time to sleep," he said, stifling a yawn. He looked towards the cave entrance of his mountain sanctuary, noticing the soft glow of dawn peeking through. His time in the dreamverse was almost up.
Allowing his eyes to flutter closed, he welcomed the calm embrace of sleep. The day had been long, filled with new discoveries and victorious moments. With a sigh of contentment, he succumbed to his fatigue, waiting to greet the new day with renewed vigor.
---
As Adam left the dreamverse, he found himself in his own room on Earth. He let out a tired yawn and pushed himself out of bed, still feeling a bit sleepy.
He knew it wouldn't be long before his parents, Annabelle, and Stella would be up and about.
Walking into the kitchen, he picked up a snack to eat while he waited for the others to wake up. He yawned again and tried to step around the heaps of food on the floor. His dad seemed to have gone a bit overboard with stocking up for the end of the world.
"Did dad clear out a whole shop?" Adam thought out loud, laughing a bit. He knew his dad had been buying lots of food, but this was more than he expected.
Smiling, he sat down on a stool by the kitchen counter and started eating his snack. He was looking forward to the new day.
While eating, Adam saw his tablet and remembered that he wanted to learn more about Lord Dawson and his cult, Children of the End. He knew that he would have to face them at some point and he wanted to be ready.
Right now, his secret was safe and he had an advantage. But the more time people spent in the dreamverse, the less of an advantage he would have.
He started searching for information on Lord Dawson. Since Dawson was famous, there was a lot of information available, especially now that the cult was getting more attention because of the apocalypse.
As Adam looked through the details, he learned new things. He found out there were many types of cults.The Children of the End, it seemed, was a classic example of a doomsday cult - a group harboring an unwavering belief in an impending apocalypse.
Wanting to know more, Adam started to dig deeper into the life of Lord Dawson.
"Wait, his actual first name is Lord? I thought it was a title."
His journey began from humble beginnings, punctuated with hardship and struggle. Born in an underprivileged neighborhood and later navigating his way through university, Dawson's tale was both complex and compelling.
Yet, the authenticity of these stories seemed shrouded in mystery, almost as if they were carefully crafted narratives by skilled marketers. This left Adam speculating about the true persona behind the public figure.
Dawson, it appeared, had an uncanny knack for persuasion.
A myriad of celebrities, esteemed in their own fields, were now under his sway. Even some influential politicians had been drawn into his web, their names linked to the Children of the End.
The cult's reach was far and wide, suggesting a deep-rooted network with a stronghold on key societal figures.
Rumors and scandals seemed to follow in the cult's wake. Tales of ex-members being harassed and silenced, whispers of shady transactions, and other dubious activities painted a concerning image.
Most of these incidents conveniently disappeared from the public eye, the cult's influence evident in their ability to control the narrative.
As he sifted through the information, Adam's brow furrowed in concern.
The Children of the End's influence was extensive, their power unnerving. It left him contemplating his own resources - the collective influence of the Emmanuel and Amin families.
They were influential in their own right, but would it be enough to challenge the might of an entrenched cult? Adam was left with more questions than answers as he continued his research.
Adam was pulled from his thoughts by the sound of voices.
His parents, Melissa and Yusuf, trailed by Aunt Annabelle and Stella, descended the stairs and filed into the kitchen.
Stella greeted him with a quick wave before taking a seat.
Melissa looked disgruntled, her eyes rolling dramatically as she said, "Can you believe her? Almost getting Yusuf killed. Who in their right mind let her be the healer?"
Adam's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "What happened?" he asked.
Yusuf sighed, rubbing his forehead. "We had a nasty fight. Got ambushed by some wolves. One of them managed to break our line, attacked me." He paused, a shudder running through him at the memory.
Melissa quickly stood, rushing to comfort him.
Adam's fists clenched at his sides. "What about the Hive Unit? Why didn't it help?"
Annabelle spoke up, her voice soft but steady. "Actually, it did. The moment things got too dangerous, it stepped in, wiped out all the wolves instantly."
Stella then chimed in, a grimace on her face. "It was Matriarch Emmanuelle. She picked the healer class but refused to heal uncle Yusuf. Said he needed to toughen up, that a small injury like that wasn't life-threatening."
Adam felt a mixture of guilt and anger.
His grandmother was stubborn, but he hadn't thought she'd go so far as to risk his dads life out of sheer pettiness.
With an attempt to dissipate the heavy atmosphere, Yusuf offered a light-hearted remark, "I think it's time for some coffee, don't you think?" He gave a small smile, hoping to ease the tension.
Melissa eased her grip around him, pulling back slightly to study his face. Her voice softened, concern lacing her words. "Are you okay, Yusuf?"
He gave a reassuring nod. As he turned to start the coffee, Melissa shifted her attention to Adam, her tone taking on an edge of frustration. "Adam, why did you invite your grandmother into the cult? She almost got your dad killed. What made you think it was a good idea?"
"I didn't have a choice," Adam defended, shaking his head. "She already knew."
A wave of confusion washed over the room, all except for Annabelle, whose eyes glimmered with understanding.
"But how?" Melissa pressed.
Adam's voice was low, nearly a whisper. "She knew about Dr. Taylor. She had the therapy notes, from before I was even born."
A loud crash cut through the tense silence, drawing everyone's attention to Yusuf, who had dropped a cup in shock.
"I knew it!"