Exiting Log-a-rhythm, Priam blinked to adjust his eyes to the change in brightness. Despite the soft light emitted by the phosphorescent sap, the tree's interior remained relatively dark.
Once his misty pupils contracted, Priam turned towards the stairs leading to the Skull Temple. One of the prizes intrigued him greatly: the heart of a Skulc Shaman, a descendant of dragons. A few days earlier, Skull's heart had helped Priam assimilate his own bloodline. Could that of a Tier 4 Shaman possibly elevate his Title to Legendary? If so, his Breath and instincts would beco formidable.
"Maybe it's the solution to pass my Tribulations... But not now," he murmured.
The temptation to devour the Tier 4 heart was there, but Priam harbored no illusions. It wouldn't happen anyti soon.
The reason was simple: he had just unlocked Micro I; Micro II was still a distant goal. According to Kazuki, the temple was a trial designed to grasp the second stage of the Supremacy. The ntal course created an avatar with limited attributes, and finishing it without Micro II was nearly impossible.
"Perhaps with epic or legendary movent skills or special talents, but otherwise... I don't see how," the hoplite had confided.
[Art of Movent] and [Battle Footwork] being of rare rank, Priam knew he had no chance of quickly completing the trial. Not for now.
Even if he could improve his Supremacy, did he want to? Kazuki had unlocked Micro II, and the System had initiated the countdown for his High Tribulation. Priam was pretty sure that the Titans' bloodline had nothing to do with it. This ant that advancing Supremacy to Stage 2 triggered a soul evolution. At least, that was his theory.
Micro II transford the soul, and a High Tribulation was triggered to baptize it. Priam couldn't afford to jump to Tier 1 already. He wanted the strongest possible foundations at Tier 0 to catch up to his rivals and all the other monsters inhabiting this universe.
So, finishing the temple was out of the question, but that didn't an he couldn't assimilate his draconic bloodline. He just needed to find another descendant of theirs. The Guardian of Secrets would assist in that.
Moreover...
"Jasmine?"
"Hmm?" replied the ntal voice of his subordinate. His Assistant relayed his thoughts to Log-a-rhythm, which communicated them to the assassin's assistant.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm reassuring Myuri while my shadow keeps an eye on the three suspicious hoplites."
"Perfect. When you can, I want you to go down the bone stairs. They lead to a temple that will help you unlock Micro II. Train, but avoid unlocking the second stage of Supremacy, okay?"
"Okay."
"Perfect. By the way, don't leave Log-a-rhythm domain until I'm back," Priam said before disconnecting.
Satisfied, he allowed himself a smile. When Jasmine would have exhausted Tier 0's possibilities, she could fetch the heart for him. It's nice to delegate for once!
Above him, the rustling of leaves warned him an instant before Sphinx leaped onto his head.
"Is Kazuki okay?" his friend asked.
"Hes fine," Priam smiled. "I have to train, or hell beco stronger than !"
"I'm coming with you," Sphinx announced.
Priam hesitated for a mont before nodding. If he couldn't unlock Micro II, he might as well deal with the rabhorns. The creatures used narrow burrows, and Sphinx could easily dislodge them with her small size.
"I'm going to slaughter so poor little rabbits, are you sure?"
Sphinx's eyes sparkled, and she licked her lips. "I'm even more sure now."
Poor rabhorns.
Priam and Sphinx headed towards a group in the center of the clearing. Alain, Hyshana, Mirscella, Rose, and two other hoplites brainstord about the defenses to build. Nothing united a group better than a shared project and a common enemy.
"... A silk net to cover the river," Alain suggested. "To prevent aquatic creatures from ambushing us."
"Excellent idea, but we need strong silk," pointed out one of the hoplites.
"I have what we need," Alain smiled.
"Mirscella?" Priam interrupted. "Can we talk?"
Mirscella nodded and apologized to the group before walking away with Priam. Arriving near the river, Priam turned to the thief.
"Your Tribulations are coming soon, right?"
"In a few hours," shrugged Mirscella.
"I'm going to thin out the rabhorn population to avoid a massive attack during the Necromoon. If you plan to use the Tribulations Chamber, now's the ti."
Mirscella pursed her lips, and Priam inwardly grimaced. She had decided to avoid the topic with others, probably out of fear. Louis and Kazuki had defied the statistics, but Tribulations remained terrifying. Despite exceptional talent and two Supremacies, the two warriors had ended up with serious injuries.
Mirscella only had Micro.
"You're afraid of death."
Mirscella shot him a dark look.
"What does an immortal know about death?"
"It wasn't an accusation; I'm afraid too. I got my Talent because I refused to die. Today, I respect it, but it doesn't terrify ."
"I'm not terrified," Mirscella spat. Priam knew she wasn't angry with him but with herself.
"Then prove it. Rember why you ca to Elysium."
Alain, Blueberry, and Sphinx had followed Priam, and Louis had followed Alain and Mirscella. The forr thief had co to surpass herself, to write her legend. It was ti to close the prologue.
Mirscella looked him straight in the eyes, and Priam held her gaze. He had too much respect for her to look away.
"You're a bit young to be so wise."
"Barely younger than you," Priam replied. His answer elicited a smile from the thief.
"Well, youre right, I'm scared. The countdown keeps ticking, and I only think about running away. I asked the Guardian of Secrets for a solution, and since then, I've been hesitating."
"What?!"
Mirscella flashed a sad smile. "The simplest is to sacrifice all my Potential to leave the System. I could still learn Supremacies, and High Tribulations would remain relevant."
Leaving the System. Abandoning Titles, Talents, Potential, skills, quests and Tribulations.
"I suppose that's an option for so," Priam said. "But the terror of Tribulations can't make forget the freedom that the System lets glimpse."
"What freedom?" Mirscella asked with a bitter voice. "The freedom to fight, to face ever more obstacles until you die? If freedom exists, it belongs to Tier 10. Do you seriously think you'll make it that far?"
Priam shook his head, smiling. "Freedom is not a trophy. For , it's a way of life. My future is infinite, and I look at it with hope. Despite the stress, I love my current life."
In a way, Priam was already free.
"I see." Mirscella sat in the grass, looking at the clearing and the river flowing nearby. The old woman seed lost in thought, and Priam and Sphinx respected her silence. After a few minutes, she stood up, an inscrutable expression on her face.
"All right, a round trip to the Tribulations Chamber, please."
"Now?"
"My double Tribulation starts in a few hours. No point in waiting longer."
With a small smile, Priam opened a portal to his world.
Good luck.
"Thank you. See you later."
The portal closed behind Mirscella. The young man then turned to the trees.
"You heard her like I did."
"She'll make it," ca Louis's voice. "She's stronger than she thinks."
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
The old man jumped from the tree before trotting towards Priam. "Could you let into your world? I have... so gardening to do."
"Gardening?" Priam raised an eyebrow.
"You brought back so trees and shrubs, and the hoplites gave seeds. If you're ever far from here, a vegetable garden and an orchard could be useful."
Without further comnt, Priam let Louis into his internal world. If the old man wanted to be close to his loved one, it wasn't for Priam to oppose it.
"Adults are complicated," Sphinx sighed adorably. "They never say what they think."
"Not everyone," Priam smiled.
"Yes, so are too dumb to co up with good lies."
"Others are just honest."
"Then they're children."
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