Closing his eyes, Priam focused on his Talent. [Concepts Archipelago] was directly linked to his soul, granting him an intimate connection. This connection allowed Priam to gather information and, more importantly, to freely use his world. With a thought, he attempted to open a portal at the center of the enchanted sphere.
Nothing happened.
[Error. A portal is already open.]
Priam grimaced as he read the notification from his add-on. Behind him, his father stood near the portal leading to the Log-a-rhythm clearing. I suppose that was predictable.
[Concepts Archipelago - Gold(Growth)] - A world now lies within you. Its initial paraters of gravity, space and ti allow for life. Its aether structure is exceptional, capable of using any concept fragnt to grow and evolve.
You have the perfect seed. It's up to you to transform it into Yggdrasil.
A world attached to your soul.
You can open a portal into or out of your inner world.
When your body is in your inner world, an anchor is placed in the outer world. Opening an exit portal depends on this anchor.
The Talent's description ntioned a portal leading into or out of his world. One portal, not two. He explained the problem to his father.
I see only two solutions, Alain replied. First: create a portal in the sphere whenever you're not using it for sothing else.
Priam grimaced.
That ans deactivating it whenever I need to go in or out of my world. Not a big problem. However, if I'm not near Log-a-rhythm, it'll be dangerous to open a portal leading to the sphere.
Why?
If I open a fixed portal anywhere after stealing a resource, nothing will prevent a monster from entering my world or a rival from throwing a bomb into it after my departure.
Since his internal world was linked to his soul, Priam wasn't keen on seeing it explode. But in that case, he could only siphon aether when near Log-a-rhythm, significantly reducing the sphere's appeal.
Alternatively, you can use Potential to open a second portal, Alain suggested.
Priam grimaced. Each point of Potential was precious.
I guess I can. I hope it won't be too expensive...
Priam connected to his Potential. After all, this magical resource was ant to bend the rules.
Creating a stable portal between Elysium and another world.
Cost: 1 000 000 POT
Land Owner Bonus (Baron): POT cost -10%
Cost: 900 000 POT
What the hell?!
Priam burst into a bitter laugh as he read the number containing too many zeros. The good news was that he benefited from Land Owner advantages when his anchor was placed in the Log-a-rhythm domain. The bad news was that he didn't have 900,000 POT. Priam cald down and analyzed the situation. Sothing was off. It's too expensive; there must be a good reason.
After pondering for a mont, Priam wondered if there was a connection to one of the elysian laws. Upon arriving in Elysium, he had received several quests. One of them was nad Invasion. Its description implied that this world did not allow fugitives.
Explore other worlds.
Depending on the thod, the laws of Elysium will give you so ti off before they call you back.
I got lucky with [Concepts Archipelago], he realized. His Talent had been created by two System rewards while he was outside Elysium. Moreover, his world was deeply connected to his soul. Without these very specific conditions, there was little chance his Talent would have been accepted by Elysian laws. Priam's draconic instinct whispered that few people must possess an internal world in Elysium.
Spatial pockets or enchanted objects, larger on the inside than the outside, must be common. But a real world? Priam was undoubtedly an exception.
If that's the case, I could use that to my advantage. In Elysium, I should be one of the few who can smuggle. With [Hearthstone] on top of that...
Priam refocused on the present mont. He now knew the cause of the problem and could find a solution. After all, the rift to Valaryth proved that Elysian laws didn't condemn all passages. The rift... Of course!
Creating an unstable rift between Elysium and another world.
Cost: 1 000 POT
Land Owner Bonus (Baron): POT cost -10%
Cost: 900 POT
I'm on the right track. Elysium hated secure, permanent portals leading to other worlds. The laws were there to prevent inhabitants from fleeing. The more dangerous the escape thod, the fewer people could potentially cross, and the less strict the laws. Luckily, Priam didn't want to take people out of Elysium, only aether.
He pondered another wish, imagining a very thin, one-way rift that didn't allow matter to pass.
Creating an unstable one-way energy rift between Elysium and another world.
Cost: 325 POT
Land Owner Bonus (Baron): POT cost -10%
Cost: 292 POT
Priam tried a dozen different formulations, but the Potential cost didn't decrease. The System had understood what he wanted and offered a price. It was expensive, but Concepts didn't haggle.
292 POT, he announced to his father.
That's no small change, said Alain. Are you going to take it?
Priam nodded. You've worked hard and invested your Potential.
When the boat is sinking, you have to jump.
Priam rolled his eyes. His father had been a fisherman for a few years and liked to cultivate the image of an old sailor.
So here's another reason: I just realized that my Talent might be unique here. I obtained this internal world through multiple coincidences. It might be the second thing that sets apart from my rivals. I have to make the most of this advantage.
To be completely honest, there was a third reason. Priam thought it was cool to have a world inside him. A real world, not just a floating island.
He accepted the System's offer.
POT -292
A door, both fictional and real, opened in his soul. A divine flow escaped before rushing into his internal world. Like an avalanche, aether and the supre will of Concepts found a passage. A geyser erupted in the pond at the center of his world.
Alain stepped back, seeing the physical manifestation of Potential. The divine river rose into the air several ters before falling on the wooden sphere like a providential rain. The fluid passed through matter before disappearing.
ntally, Priam felt his Potential take the form of a needle that pierced reality. His soul quivered. The pain was weak, but it confird to Priam that his world could be a weakness.
The needle found an exit at the top of Log-a-rhythm, then disappeared. It had opened a passage, and a tiny rift opened. The next mont, a flow of aether passed through. Flooding the available space, the fluid took the shapes of the sphere. The aether then penetrated the wood and the runes.
Lvl Up: [Aether Perception] lvl 20
TA (PERC) 3
[Aether Perception] has reached level 20. As a rare skill, a bonus is available. Choose one of these three options
Later.
The runes traversed by the aether began to glow. Fifty invisible vortexes, unseen to the naked eye, ford, absorbing the entire essence of the world. Under [Aether Perception], it behaved like any other fluid. The vortexes expanded, attracting all aether present in the wooden ball. Despite the siphons' appetite, the rift continued to produce more energy.
The captured aether then followed current lines to the second rune, where its filtration began. Priam had no idea about the rune's chanism, but the outgoing pure energy was undeniable. The aether entered a third rune, which expelled it into the atmosphere.
Priam was right next to the sphere and felt a wave of energy hit him. The pores of his skin opened, eagerly absorbing the aether as intense as it was pure. [Priams System] updated his data.
[World information:
Aether density increasing. Current density: 0.15 E.]
Priam barely had ti to smile before a new ssage reached him.
[Aether density increasing. Current density: 0.16 E.]
So? Alain asked.
Success!
While Alain smiled broadly, Priam focused on the pollution of the sphere. His Domain detected tiny changes in the wood, confirming their predictions. Priam mobilized his add-on. How long will the sphere hold up?
[Aether siphon.
Pollution - Estimate (reliability: 97%):
Total destruction of the sphere: 12,97 years.
Threatened integrity of the runes: 3,42 years.
Decrease in rune performance: 10% - 1,21 years. 20% - 1,84 years.
Sphere leakage - filtration system breach: 0,45 years.]
This left them with less than six months to find a solution. After that, concept fragnts would corrupt his world. That didn't even account for the Necromoon event starting soon. Might as well deal with the problem as quickly as possible.
First, Priam tried to use [Tribulation Hunter] to capture the concept fragnts polluting his sphere. The unique skill detected nothing. Neither did [Concepts Archipelago]. If these are truly concepts, they are in minute quantities and mixed together... Priam didn't give up, but he realized that he didn't yet have the tools to harvest the concepts present in the aether. Let's try sothing else for now.
Focusing on his Talent, Priam thought of the concept fragnts he had captured. The pond in the center of his world, a remnant of [Mirror of the Soul], began to glow. A drop of perfect white detached from its dark surface. Instinctively, Priam recognized the concept of purity that he had absorbed during his first bath in a hot spring with Claire.
Following a ntal command, the pearly drop headed toward the wooden sphere. Upon contact, it simply disappeared. Visually, the sphere hadn't changed, but it shone slightly under [Aether Perception].
You have gained the skill: [Enchantnt - Rare].
[Enchantnt] - Certain magical operations allow you to modify or confer new properties to an object or being. Modifying or adding an aetheric structure, infusing a concept, or imposing your will with Mastery, the paths to change the world are nurous.
Would you choose nding or Infinity?
TA (AFFI) 1
TA (FOCUS) 1
TA (PERC) 1
His add-on confird that the change wasn't just aesthetic.
[Aether siphon (enchantnt: purity).
Pollution Update (reliability: 97%):
Purification of corruption by the purity fragnt - enchantnt: 90%
Purification of corruption by the sun - radiation: 9%
Total purification of absorbed aether: 99%
Duration of the "Purity" enchantnt: linked to the fragnt.
Exhaustion of the purity's fragnt: 245 days 12 hours 24 seconds.]
The filter system works too, Priam announced as a smile ford on his lips. There were few things more satisfying than a plan unfolding without a hitch. He also had a fond thought for the Phoenix Prince who had left him a sun capable of passively purifying his world.
Perfect. I'll think about a strong room capable of accommodating a Tribulation without destroying your internal world, announced Alain.
Good luck, smiled Priam. It was not only a necessity for his loved ones but also for himself.
Alain crossed the portal again, and Priam found himself alone.
For a few minutes, he watched the aether emanating from the levitating sphere in front of him. Waves of pure aether swept over his island, changing the environnt. Priam wasn't yet able to explain how, but he felt his world changing. The light beca more real, the colors more vivid, and the matter gained texture.
His pond containing his concepts and the passage to his soul greedily absorbed the aether.
Under the impulse of his instinct, Priam threw the wooden sphere - the aetheric siphon - into the pond. Taking advantage of the open portal, he contacted Log-a-rhythm, which confird that Kazuki was still unavailable.
Priam then sat cross-legged, determined not to waste a mont. Before transforming his ridians with the help of Heavenly Dragon, he had progress to make with [Aether Manipulation].
An aetheric Rubik's cube appeared in his hand as Priam recalled the exercises Anatole had given him a week ago. It feels like it's been an eternity...
[Aether density increasing. Current density: 0.17 E.]
Status: (Average value for a Homo sapiens male before integration: PHY 10 / N 10 / TA 0)
PHYSICAL:
Strength 398
Constitution 662
Agility 404
Vitality 538
Perception 584 ( 2)
NTAL:
Vivacity 325 ( 1)
Dexterity 423 ( 1)
mory 133 ( 2)
Willpower 648
Charisma 418
TA:
ta-affinity 336 ( 2)
ta-focus 243 ( 2)
ta-endurance 185
ta-perception 119 ( 12)
ta-chance 216
ta-authority 12
Potential: 554 (-278)
Tier 0
[He Who Eludes Death] charge: OFF. Reloaded in 1 hour 36 minutes 38 seconds.
[Tribulation]: Four Tribulations pending.
Future Tribulations delayed until:
Ti: 176 days 2 hours 9 minutes 51 seconds.
User Comments
0 comments from readers