Priam hesitated as he re-read his notification. A Tier 1 race could benefit from two additional racial Talents. Apparently, causing a genocide was one way to earn one. Priam swallowed hard, grasping the weight of this information.
Bechar pointed out that [Humanity adapts] was a potent talent. How many humans would die to allow a fortunate alien to obtain it?
The competitive part of his brain was thinking of sothing else. It had taken him fifty thousand lives to earn this privilege. It was a staggering number. Was this an absolute threshold or a percentage of the total population of a race? Did this number vary based on Tier or the rarity of the race? Priam couldn't fathom killing fifty thousand dragons to gain a powerful Talent...
Diamant acknowledged him briefly as they exited the sewers. Priam returned the gesture with a wave. He wanted to stay on good terms with the thief. Despite his lead, he couldn't be the best at everything. You never knew when you needed a skilled thief.
His notification blinked, urging him to make a choice. [Spectral Familiarity] didn't seem to resonate particularly with his path. If he committed another massacre - which was bound to happen - could he replace it, or was it a permanent choice?
Priam posed the question to the System, which ignored him. Disheartened, he tried another approach.
"Bechar?"
Yes? The shapeshifter's voice resonated in his mind, and Priam smiled. If the System was a crush that liked to ghost, Bechar was that dependable friend you could always count on.
"After a massacre, the System offers a second racial Talent. Can I then delete it?"
You can either remove it with Potential or overwrite it with a new option, replied the shapeshifter.
"Why would I want to remove it?" Priam wondered.
If you have to et the king with his races Talent, it won't look good.
"Put that way... Thanks for the info. I'm heading to the Colosseum."
The popcorns ready.
Without further thought, Priam accepted the System's offer.
[Spectral Familiarity - Bronze] - Increases your familiarity with immaterial creatures.
[The Reaper - Bronze] - You have directly slaughtered over 50,000 beings of the sa race. If they weren't responsible for the death of your parents, perhaps they were fundantally evil? If not, you're a psychopath.
Fortunately for you, the System will never judge you!
(Thats a lie.)
As you sense fear and doubt in your enemies, your instincts sharpen, allowing you to discover their every weakness.
When the prey fears the hunter, it's already dead.
Strolling through the Do, Priam smiled as he read his latest notifications. The effect of [The Reaper] was more qualitative than quantitative. To know its exact capabilities, he would have to test it in a real situation. But in practical terms, as soon as an opponent began to doubt his victory, Priam could capitalize on this feeling to defeat him.
Rereading the description, Priam saw two direct consequences of this kind of Title. Firstly, he would have to be careful to control his emotions and thoughts during a fight. Skills such as [Emotional Discipline] would beco important...
Secondly, the System rewarded violence - at least among fighters. If all you had to do was kill fifty thousand humans to get an inferior version of [Humanity adapts]... This was terrible news. According to Bechar, the racial Talent of humans was particularly powerful. So will hunt us... and most of my kind are not ready.
Watching the people stroll down the street, Priam felt a twinge of sadness. Many were dying unnatural deaths. Revenants, Tribulations, future wars against other civilizations... So many threats to humanity.
A ball rolled to his feet. Instinctively, Priam kicked at it, sending it back in the direction of so children having fun in the street.
"Thank you, sir!"
Priam smiled as he heard the laughter. In his opinion, humans were born as pure creatures. Sotis soiled by life, it was always possible to regain his purity. Or so he hoped...
Looking at the children at play, Priam sighed. They were not yet masters of their destiny. They needed parents to guide them. They needed protection from the horrors of this new Universe. Priam - and a few other humans - was the only barrier between humanity and many ruthless monsters. It will be up to to protect them.
Despite everything, Priam was lucid. He was no hero. He wasn't a shield. But I could be a spear.
He shook his head. Now was not the ti to think about that. His father wanted to talk to him before he left, and Priam knew it would be the ti to face up to his responsibilities. But for now, he had to concentrate on the present. He had to get the World Seed.
"Champion, the fight was amazing!"
Surprised, Priam turned around. One of the children had recognized him and was waving at him. Surprised for a mont, Priam smiled and gave a thumbs-up. A second child turned and frowned in concentration. Her face lit up a mont later, and she ran towards Priam.
"It's the CHAMPIONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!"
Priams laugh stopped as he watched a score of children charging at him. Their attributes were weak, but the intensity of their passion was terrifying.
... I could run away?
Priam stepped forward as the arena doors opened. Facing him, the sandy slab was the sa. Unlike last ti, the stands were closed to the public. He had agreed to pay a Baron's core to privatize his fights. A colossal sum for so, but Priam was rich.
Well, rich for a human.
The reason for privatization was obvious: he intended to give his all in the coming fights and didn't want recordings or spies observing and analyzing his abilities. The only spectator Priam allowed was Bechar.
A professional fight review was an excellent opportunity.
The heavy door closed behind him. Priam decided that it would not open until he possessed the World Seed.
The gong rang. A gate lifted, letting a wild boar onto the field. Priam smiled.
"To think that a week ago, these kinds of beasts seed powerful to ..."
The animal took just one step into the arena before Prosse spilled its brains onto the fine sands of the Colosseum. The first wave was already over.
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