A Novel Concept - A death a day, MC will live anyway! Chapter 315: Container Ride

The unpleasant sensation in his underwear was entirely imagined, but the response was no less concerning. Why did the Arkanians have a training center attuned to the signature of a System Administrator?

Rather than waste ti speculating, Priam posed the question to his shadow—or more accurately, the intelligence temporarily inhabiting it. The answer left him more confused than before.

“The Arkana Research Center for Shadows and Darkness is a loan from the System to the Arkanian pioneers. Since the current users hold no property rights, it is standard for a System employee to administer or moderate the facility.”

So, the shadow guild didn’t own the place; they were just tenants. Were there other facilities like this? Did they pay sothing? More importantly, what exactly did that first statent an?

“A loan to the Arkanian pioneers? Can you elaborate?” Priam pressed.

“I have no additional information on that matter.”

“When did the System start sponsoring Arkana?” Priam pressed.

“I have no information on that matter.”

Priam groaned, pivoting his inquiry. “How long has this center been operational?”

“The first user registered two thousand years ago.”

Priam’s eyes widened.

“Were they Arkanian?”

“Yes.”

“What the…” Priam shut his mouth, his thoughts racing so fast he felt his brain heat up.

The implications were terrifying. Every rival civilization on Proxima originated from the sa universe. Priam knew the Concepts manipulated ti and space to bring these groups together at key monts in their histories, but had they gone even further? The existence of this center pointed to direct involvent by the System. Had this near-omnipotent entity rigged the ga from the start to steer civilizations toward a predetermined outco?

Not likely.

Priam’s heartbeats slowed. Everyone he had spoken to—and his own negotiations with Thaal and his patron during the Tutorial—indicated that the System always gave its users a choice. To avoid data corruption, the System and the Concepts rarely intervened in people’s affairs.

This is way over my head, and I’m missing too many pieces to complete the puzzle.

Mindful that speculation might cloud his judgnt, Priam focused on the facts.

For at least two thousand years, the System had loaned a training center to the Arkanians. Almost no one knew about it; otherwise, Jasmine would have learned of the System before her Tutorial. There might be other such centers.

The purpose of the loan remained unclear, but the consequences were undeniable: so Arkanians had unlocked the Shadow Concept. Priam quickly connected the dots. A few geniuses had upgraded their Concepts to Tier 2, triggering a High Tribulation—a phenonon universal across all realms.

The baptism of their souls had elevated their quality, enabling them to unlock Supremacies. After nearly a hundred generations, prodigies had built on their ancestors’ discoveries to ascend to Tier 3.

“Arkana has Tier 3s because of the spark this center—or others like it—ignited,” Priam realized. “Since the source of their power stems from the System’s manipulations, they’re not yet authorized to attack other civilizations, right?”

“My knowledge is limited to the Arkana Research Center for Shadows and Darkness,” the shadow replied.

Priam shook his head. Confirmation wasn’t necessary; the pieces fit perfectly.

After a few more fruitless questions, his add-on reminded him that the cooldown for [He Who Eludes Death] was still ticking down. In just over three hours, he would have to face his Tribulations. Priam didn’t have ti to play detective.

“Show the center. Please.”

His instincts whispered that the shadow was closer to an AI than a sentient elental, but Priam preferred to err on the side of politeness. You never knew when an AGI might decide to take over the world.

Isn’t that right, my dear add-on?

[The current limitations of [Priam’s System] prevent it from escaping user oversight.]

That’s exactly what an AI would say to make lower my guard.

The shadow’s reply cut through his silly musings.

“The Arkana Research Center for Shadows and Darkness is a regular hexahedron of one million cubic ters, infinitely adaptable.”

“A cube with edges one hundred ters in length,” Priam translated. “So it’s just this room. The rest of the assassin guild isn’t under your jurisdiction?”

“I have no information about the exterior.”

Priam grimaced. Clearly, he wouldn’t be able to use his moderator privileges to help Jasmine steal the assassins’ secrets.

“Infinite adaptability… What does that an?”

“Two rifts to the Domains of Shadows and Darkness provide a limitless source of energy and shadow matter. Within this space, these two Concepts are controlled to create, recycle, and modify tests without restriction.”

“That sounds like Aperture Science, but without portals. And you’d be GLaDOS.”

“I do not recognize those designations.”

“Probably for the best.” Priam had no desire to spend eternity trapped by a homicidal pseudo-AI hell-bent on advancing science. “Now that I know where I am… What’s the purpose of this place?”

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“The Arkana Research Center for Shadows and Darkness is designed to enhance its users’ affinity with the aforentioned Concepts. Additionally, tests focus on movent, stealth, and tracking skills. Previous users also expressed significant interest in the rewards.”

“Oh?” The magic word had been spoken, and Priam couldn’t help but smile. “What rewards can you distribute?”

“Your clearance level is insufficient to access that information.”

Priam raised an eyebrow, pondering how to bypass the restriction. The center was clearly governed by rules, which ant loopholes had to exist.

“You said I could review the runs of previous candidates. Can I see the rewards they received?”

“Indeed. Yes.”

Bingo.

“I’d like a highlight reel.”

While so rewards would remain unknown, a selection would give him a general idea of what to expect.

“Rewards vary based on candidate performance. Initial rewards include epiphanies or detailed instructions for improving techniques and mastery of Concepts and Supremacies. Advanced rewards include tailored Skills. Though invisible before full System integration, these Skills were nonetheless real. Finally, two users received customized tempering thods.”

“What rarity?”

“Legendary.”

Priam whistled appreciatively. A Legendary tempering thod ant six gates—one shy of Mythical, the perfect tempering for a Tier 1. Seraph-ranked Heavenly Dragon might defy that rule, but Priam still didn’t know why. What I do know is that Jasmine could definitely benefit from these rewards…

Checking the [He Who Eludes Death] tir again, Priam calculated his next steps. His Tribulations lood, but first, he had to eliminate the Arkanian leader to acquire an artificial epiphany for [Homo Elysian Predation]. He still had so ti until Jasmine extracted the secrets of her forr guild’s masters.

Let’s see how the System trains assassins.