"BLAHHHHH!"
Sphinx rolled in the grass, repulsed by its taste. As Priam watched her, a mory resurfaced in his mind. At age four, he decided to sample so grass in a park. Before his parents could stop him, he had stuffed a handful into his mouth. All kids had a great sense of timing to cause before they could be stopped.
[Eidetic mory] reminded him of the taste of the grass - a kind of raw salad. He had promptly spat it out on the ground - who liked salad at four? - before searching for an earthworm. Fortunately for him and the potential protein source, he found nothing. A child's body was resilient, and he hadn't fallen ill. He would later learn that most grass species were edible.
In the background, his parents, too busy arguing, had not noticed a thing.
As if sensing that she was no longer the center of Priam's attention, Sphinx had gotten up. She seed torn between sulking and being concerned. Was Priam upset that she had disobeyed?
A reassuring smile lit up Priam's face as he approached and took her into his arms.
"Blue grass tastes awful," Sphinx whispered in his ear.
"That's because you're a sphinx. Rabbits like it," Priam replied. To divert her attention, he gave her a bowl of fresh sap. A few monts later, the adorable creature had forgotten the taste of the grass and was lapping up the contents of the bowl.
"Kazuki, et Sphinx, my best friend. Sphinx, this is Kazuki, the Hoplite Champion," Priam introduced Sphinx to the hoplite who was stowing his lance. Lips full of sap, Sphinx gave a big smile.
"A child?"
"I sense the judgnt in your voice from here, but I'm pretty sure she could give you a run for your money."
Upon hearing these words, Kazuki's deanor changed. "Nice to et you, noble Sphinx," he said with a nod. The hoplite seed to respect strength.
Sphinx emptied the bowl before sniffing in Kazuki's direction. Tilting her head, she blinked her eyes. One of her ears twitched cutely.
"I sense your karma rumbling," Sphinx declared.
Kazuki looked at Priam, who shrugged. "What does that an?" Priam asked.
Sphinx abandoned the empty bowl and leaped onto Priam's shoulder. A second jump allowed her to reach his head. Perched like an oracle on a promontory, she proclaid:
"Clad in power armor, you march to the fight,
Spear in hand, under a grim, starless night.
In the grimdark future, where all hope seems lost,
Youre the Hoplite's wrath, at a terrible cost."
For a few seconds, the spectators remained dumbfounded. Instead of admitting his incomprehension, Priam decided to applaud. After all, there were so nice rhys in there. He smiled as he heard Sphinx purring.
Suddenly, Priam stopped. "Is that a prophecy?" he worried.
He hated prophecies. Most were just self-fulfilling paths. Above all, he refused to have his destiny written in advance.
Sphinx shook her head. "Karma doesn't create prophecies. At least, I think so" She seed to be searching for her words. "The karmic weight on his shoulders is imnse. I think my bloodline inspired ?"
Sphinx didn't sound very sure. Priam scratched her head to reassure her. "Don't worry. If you knew everything, life would be dull."
If a mythological creature specializing in karma manipulation couldn't say more, Priam decided he wasn't the best person to dwell on it. Kazuki didn't seem to agree.
"What do you an? Is my civilization in danger?"
Sphinx brushed the question aside with a sweep of her paw. "Perhaps. If so, there is only one solution."
"Which one?" Kazuki asked. All his attention was focused on Sphinx, and he didn't notice the bear struggling to erge from the portal Sphinx had opened behind him.
"Beco stronger!" Sphinx declared.
"..." Silence greeted her declaration before Kazuki respectfully nodded.
"A simple but eternal truth. Such is the path of the Hoplite. Thank you for reminding ."
Sphinx nodded solemnly, and Priam suppressed a smile. There was sothing amusing about seeing a hoplite over two ters tall seriously listening to the advice of a child sphinx. In one final groan, Blueberry slumped into the clearing, and Kazuki turned towards him.
"You humans don't all look the sa," he comnted.
"What? He's not a human. Blueberry is a bear, Priam replied, before turning to the bear. "And he shouldn't be here. You were supposed to wait for my signal before crossing, he added in English.
Blueberry grumbled as he got up. "But Sphinx"
Is a child. Are you?
... Sorry.
Priam sighed. "What's done is done." He turned to Kazuki and switched to hoplite.
"Blueberry. A loyal friend."
Kazuki smiled. "Kazuki, Champion of the hoplites, pleased to et y
A brief cry cut him off. Priam turned abruptly to the portal. Alain had just collapsed in front of the portal. A feeling of horror washed over Priam as he saw the old man convulsing, face down on the ground.
He teleported next to his father. Using [Kinetic Control], Priam lifted him and leaped toward Log-a-rhythm.
Lvl Up: [Frozen ditation] lvl 9
PERC 1
WILL 2
Kazuki, one hand on his father's chest and the other against his face, was deep in concentration. He remained perfectly silent while his scales changed color slightly. A symbol of focus, the warrior's discipline was awe-inspiring. The hoplite took several seconds to master his skill but was now able to make Alain breathe easily.
By his side, Priam felt both relief and sha. According to Log-a-rhythm, a strange portal had opened in the hoplite's soul. Priam was fairly sure Kazuki was consuming his Potential to master his skill.
Forty-six seconds. Forty-seven. They had to find a solution without delay. In Elysium, every blade of grass was special. There had to be a fruit or a rock that could save his father!
Alain's forearm trembled faintly. Despite [Emotional Discipline], Priam felt an almost physical pain in seeing it. What could be worse than watching a loved one suffer while being powerless to help?
Lvl Up: [Emotional discipline] lvl 7
WILL 3
"Do you know of a resource that could help him?" he asked Kazuki. "Either directly or by allowing to enhance Log-a-rhythm to increase the potency of its sap?"
Kazuki hesitated before shaking his head. "Not one you can gather on your own. And it may not be necessary. I feel like he's breathing slightly easier."
The announcent had the effect of an electric shock on Priam. His Domain covered his father, and [Human Anatomy] tracked his vital signs. Using [Eidetic mory], he compared the current situation with his initial scan.
Priam's eyes regained a glimr of hope upon discovering that his father's constitution and vitality had slightly increased.
"I think his racial talent is fighting against the bleeding. He's gaining resistances, and his attributes are helping him withstand the damage!" Priam exclaid. Maybe all hope wasn't lost!
"If your racial talent helps you fight against bleeding, how did he get injured in the first place?" Kazuki asked, furrowing his brows.
Priam shook his head. "Sorry, I explained poorly. [Humanity adapts] allows us to adapt, not to directly resist. If he survives long enough, he'll develop a resistance to asphyxia and bleeding."
His fathers body could then heal itself. Log-a-rhythm's sap would provide the nutrients for nourishnt. They just had to wait and...
"I'm not going to be able to hold out like this for much longer," Kazuki admitted through gritted teeth. "If your father isn't able to breathe on his own within an hour..."
"If it's a matter of Potential, I'm ready to..."
"I'm not trying to conserve my Potential. The problem is that I'm going to run out of aether. Despite the ambient density, my regeneration can't keep up."
It was a race against ti. Priam clenched his fist. "Please... Give the location of the resource that could help."
"You'll die in vain. Even if you make it, you'll bring a calamity back here."
"Damn it!" shouted Priam.
Taking a deep breath, he cald down. "Then there's only one solution. We have to remove the blood to relieve the brain."
"You are a doctor?" Kazuki asked.
"Not yet." Closing his eyes, Priam selected his rewards. Humanity had received ten skill points, and it was ti to use them.
Lvl Up: [Human Anatomy] lvl 12
M 10
A surge of information reached his brain, and Priam welcod it by unlocking his Potential. He would have only one chance and no possibility of turning back. Activating Micro and [Focus], Priam entered the zone.
His Domain scanned his father's brain, mapping the damaged area. His Vivacity monitored the changes and devised plans. [Kinetic Control] and [Moon Mist] activated to form ice scalpels. The silence was disturbed only by his father's breathing.
Two hundred ninety-nine. Three hundred.
"Let's do this," Priam decided.
The operation began.
Status: (Average value for a Homo sapiens male before integration: PHY 10 / N 10 / TA 0)
PHYSICAL:
Strength 318
Constitution 451
Agility 308
Vitality 466
Perception 535 ( 1)
NTAL:
Vivacity 288
Dexterity 357
mory 87 ( 11)
Willpower 488 ( 11)
Charisma 410
TA:
ta-affinity 252
ta-focus 186
ta-endurance 164
ta-perception 77
ta-chance 207
ta-authority 12
Potential: 983 ( 17)
Tier 0
[He Who Eludes Death] charge: PRID.
[Tribulation]: One Tribulation pending.
Future Tribulations delayed until:
Ti: 179 days 22 hours 59 minutes 57 seconds.
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