Chapter 329: Tribulations are amazing—If you survive them

A big chapter for my dear readers, enjoy!
PS: Priam Character Sheet (you can thanks the Discord guys!)

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[Chimera - Legendary] is ready for evolution. Presence of a catalyst detected.
Use 1 POT to trigger evolution?

Ideal upgrade available for [Kinetic Control - Epic].

Prerequisites met:

• Transfer more than 30 MJ of kinetic energy in under three seconds.
  

• Steal the heat from a molecule until it reaches absolute zero.
  

• Raise the temperature of an object (with a volume greater than one-thousandth of a cubic meter) by 5 000 Kelvin.
  

• Simultaneously control the trajectory and velocity of ten objects with precision.
  

• Pyro Unity.
  

Ideal Upgrade unlocked :
[Kinetic Sovereignty - Legendary] - Potential Cost: 720

Alone in his protective bubble, floating kilometers above Proxima’s atmosphere, Priam smiled. [Kinetic Control] was the first skill he had consciously chosen to create. More than a mere gift from the System, it represented the sum of the scientific knowledge he had acquired over the first two decades of his life. It embodied his passion for understanding the world and physics. [Kinetic Control] had ensured his survival against Kazuki and secured his victory against his first Baron.

Pyro was a force of destruction, Promesse a weapon destined for legend, and Breath a power that could jump Tiers. Yet, the true cornerstone of Priam’s arsenal was his mastery over kinetics—a skill he had neglected for far too long.

“No more.”

Priam hesitated for a fraction of a second, fully aware that the number of legendary slots in the fourth layer of his soul was limited. Five, maybe six at best.

“A shame for my tempering, but I need an offensive skill.” Without further delay, Priam confirmed his choice.

You have selected the ideal skill [Kinetic Sovereignty - Legendary]
POT -720

[Kinetic Sovereignty] - Absorbing a blow, amplifying a punch, levitating weapons… These are the crude applications of [Kinetic Control], tools to help lesser fighters scrape by another day. Most who wield this power never evolve beyond the stage.
You are cut from a different stone.
Through relentless manipulation of the kinetic energy around you, you have stumbled upon the principle of thermal agitation: manipulating the motion of matter on a microscopic scale—by slowing it down or accelerating it—enables freezing or heating. Your scientific background whispers that the laws of physics hold deeper secrets still.
This skill grants you sovereignty over the kinetic energy of matter at both the microscopic and macroscopic levels.
"If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency, and vibration." —Tesla. (Hopefully in a non-sexual way.)
PERC +9
META (Focus) +9
META (Perception) +9

Priam inhaled deeply as the epic rune shifted stratum, embedding itself alongside [Ciphered Record]. The layer closest to his soul trembled upon receiving it, then the System merged his accumulated Potential with his experience, refining the rune’s structure. Its surface tripled in size before the sigil stabilized.

Priam flexed his new skill, widened his eyes, and then burst into laughter. A terrifying surge of energy coursed through him. Even without delving into the manipulation of fundamental particles, his skill had undergone a qualitative leap in how much kinetic energy it could absorb and redistribute in an instant. He felt like he could take on a titan with his bare hands.

A second laugh shook Priam as the thought crossed his mind—that day might not be far off.

His gaze dropped to the clouds shrouding Arkana. His grin thinned into something sharper. I hope you’re ready, my dear Nemesis.

Excitement burned in his chest, but Priam forced himself to calm down. Rushing into battle was a good way to die. There were still things he needed to address before leaving the protection of the mythical shield that had safeguarded him through his two mental Tribulations.

“I’m not the novice I once was,” he muttered before rereading his skill description. The author—or authors—implied that he had only taken the first step on a long path. His scientific background agreed.

Reaching absolute zero was impressive, but it was just the beginning. 

“At the other end of the temperature scale, there’s plasma…” Priam mused. With Pyro Unity as an ideal prerequisite to [Kinetic Sovereignty], he had a bridge to the fourth state of matter. From there, controlling the movement of electrons was within reach—paving the way for electricity!

A smirk tugged at his lips as he pictured himself juggling lightning. He would need to multiply his attributes to wield it properly, but the idea was viable.

His analytical mind kicked into overdrive, listing fundamental particles of interest. He assessed the feasibility of manipulating massless photons to create lasers, and the plausibility of splitting or fusing nuclei to dominate matter itself. Of course, Pyro was only a Tier 1 Concept, meaning those abilities were beyond a low-Tier being. Still, the power of a god was almost within his grasp…

Lvl Up: [Free Will] lvl 30
WILL +6
CHAR +3

The notification snapped Priam out of his reverie, and he frowned. The Tribulations weren’t over, yet his mind was already wandering into non-urgent theoretical speculation.

With his constitution having long since surpassed a thousand points, Priam could sense the stimuli affecting his resistances. Reaching out to [Free Will] through the gate in his right eye, he quickly found the culprit behind the level-up.

A searing flame burned at the edge of his soul space, stirring his emotions. Attaining Unity with a Concept was a trial he had mostly bypassed—smothering it under a dream, then burying it beneath two Tribulations. Now, he had to face the consequences of his unorthodox breakthrough.

Priam studied the nova critically. The storm had passed, but it had left behind waves he would have to learn to navigate. Unity with a Concept meant he could draw more from it, but the influence went both ways. Right now, Pyro was restless, fanning the flames of Priam’s passions.

“Addon, notify me if my actions start seeming… impulsive.”

[Command registered.]

Only half reassured, Priam withdrew from his soul space. Unlike most of his chains, he had shackled himself to Pyro willingly—he couldn’t exactly complain about the consequences. At least the new gate helped [Free Will] temper the Concept’s urges.

The pun made him smirk as he pulled up a System report.

[Pyro - Concept] – A fragment of a shattered Concept from an Eighth Throne Candidate. Let its creator’s failure be your stepping stone.
You still master the Fire Concept.

• Affinity – Your connection now grants you insight into Pyro and allows you to manipulate it.

• Harmony – Your aether fuels your flames, increasing their tenacity. Nothing can withstand them.

• Symphony – Your flames burn with fury. When destruction is your aim, ruin comes easily.

• Unity – Your soul is entwined with primal fire. In exchange for aether, so is your body. NEW

• Bonus (Pyro Sage + Unity) – Nirvana possible. NEW

  
  Your Fire Concept is ready to evolve to Tier 2… Error: Soul Tier too low.
  
  Lvl Up: [Fire Champion Physique] lvl 29,..., 33
  VIT +15
  CONST +15
  META (Endurance) +15
  
  “Primal fire, Nirvana, and probably an ideal prerequisite for [Fire Champion Physique]… Guess I haven’t been slacking after all,” Priam laughed, contemplating whether or not to summon Pyro. He changed his mind, realizing that his first communion with the Concept should take place during an epic battle. As it happened, an opponent of that caliber was waiting for him below…
  
  A sharp pang in his right eye dulled his excitement, drawing his attention to his right eye. Hecate's New Moon was still struggling against the new gate and the pain made Priam growl.
  
  “Some mutation this turned out to be,” he muttered, confirming Chimera’s evolution. Time to show his curse who was the boss.
  
  The equivalent of an adrenaline rush surged through his veins, making him tremble as liquid fire coursed through his body. The sensation vanished as quickly as it had come, and Priam smiled as different parts of himself were fixed.
  
  Talent upgraded! 
  
  [Chimera - Mythic] - Your body, mind, and soul now better accommodate conflicting elements. Your biological, mental and spiritual systems will adapt to many changes. You may now possess two low-grade bloodlines.
  
  His body had been a battlefield for too long, strained by the clash of hostile components forced to coexist. Like a puzzle with ill-fitting pieces jammed together, the constant tension had taken its toll, creating problems everywhere.
  
  The mythic Talent reshaped everything, allowing his physique to breathe easily for the first time in ages. No longer a war zone, his flesh was no more torn between opposing bloodlines. Priam exhaled, feeling a fatigue he hadn’t noticed finally fade. Even though he could adapt to many things, the absence of an unpleasant sensation was always welcome.
  
  “I haven’t felt this relieved since my tinnitus vanished!”
  
  Priam blinked, rubbed his eyes, and then grinned as he realized the curse inhabiting his eye had finally gone dormant—without blinding him. Even better, he detected a new mental lever leading toward the mutation. Was the mythical rarity of [Chimera] allowing him to summon Hecate's New Moon without consequences?! The Colosseum’s final reward—the perfect fight against Clock—hinted that [Chimera] could be actively used. Maybe…
  
  Priam shook his head as he felt Pyro’s influence stir. A new ace up his sleeve was always welcome, but now wasn’t the time to test it.
  
  Refusing to waste another second, Priam checked his next notifications.
  
  You have gained the high skill: [Mental Bridge - Epic]...
  [Mind Bridge] detected. Merging lower skill…
  
  [Mental Bridge] – By weaving aether and inscribing the correct runes, you can create a stable connection between your mind and another. Conceived in a moment of panic and influenced by the secrets of the Necromoon, this skill allows for the transmission of thoughts and for measuring your willpower against that of your target.
  Be careful not to think of anything compromising while the link is active. Your partner might read your surface thoughts and decide you’re a pervert.
  Dick, tits, ass. Your grandma twerking on your little cousin’s face.
  META (Affinity) +3
  META (Perception) +3
  META (Authority) +3
  
  Priam grimaced at the final line. Fortunately for him, his aphantasia prevented him from vividly visualizing things, shielding him from disturbing images.
  
  “Whoever wrote this description belongs in a padded cell,” he muttered, swiping to the next notification.
  
  Title won!
  
  [Rune Creator - Bronze] - You have discovered a pattern capable of influencing aether without System assistance. More specifically, a Tier 0 rune—a two-dimensional character capable of affecting aether at the first level.
  Most holders of this Bronze Title stumble upon it by serendipity. You, on the other hand, exploited a dream persona and a sub-system.
  Congratulations, you cheating bastard.
  META (Chance) +10%.
  
  Lvl Up: [Runic Language] lvl 8,..., 21
  META (Affinity) +42
  
  There had to be a way to attach emotion to text because Priam could feel the author's pride radiating through the description. Was Thaal, one of the System’s administrators, encouraging users to find loopholes? Apparently so.
  
  The story behind the Title was simple: when Priam had been trapped in his dream, his add-on had tried to help. Exploiting the Tribulations’ struggle to keep Priam fully immersed in the dream state, the AI had implanted a rune into his memory during a brief awakening. Inside the nightmare, the System had been forced to recognize the achievement and validate the Title.
  
  “And if it had no issue reclaiming the false Merit I spent in that dream, I get to keep the Title,” Priam grinned. He wasn’t about to complain about an extra Merit Point. “Speaking of Merit…”
  
  Trees of Merit
  
  [Rune Creator] - Tier 0: Sharpens your perception to detect certain natural aetheric patterns.
  
  Unused Merit Points: 9
  
  Priam scowled at the Merit’s effect. It was the kind of double-or-nothing gamble he hated. On one hand, it could prove invaluable in his study of aether’s mysteries—after all, researchers and engineers had been copying nature since the dawn of humanity. On the other hand, the absence of numbers irritated him. If this Merit only granted him a usable rune once every decade, he would be at a net loss. As an Ace, Priam had enough Potential to trade for hundreds of runes.
  
  This was the kind of question he would have asked Wang Lin, but the colonel had sidestepped the topic. Either he wasn’t willing to hand over all his Guild’s secrets to an outsider, or the Tribulations had imposed limitations within the dream. Even with that, Priam wasn’t too upset; he still made out like a bandit. 
  
  The Juggernaut dismissed the notification, hoarding his new Merit point while trying to convince himself that his hesitation had nothing to do with the next message.
  
  Bloodlines:
  
  

• Phoenix: 3%
  

• Dragon: 2% (+1% via [Free Will]’s gate)
  

As expected, the purity of his draconic bloodline had increased by one percent. Every tempered gate using Heavenly Dragon brought him one step closer to true dragonhood. The percentage might look small, but deep down, the Juggernaut could feel the difference. His draconic abilities and Talents had all strengthened in a holistic way. 

Even better, his second heart now pulsed with renewed vigor. The organ almost seemed... eager to evolve.

Suppressing the urge to let out a draconic roar, Priam scrolled down, pleased to see [Nightmare Resistance] and [Shooting] among his newly acquired skills. The latter’s usefulness was debatable, but he could always fuse it later. As for the former, he had a feeling it would be pivotal one day. 

“As if any resistance could ever be useless,” he chuckled. “Speaking of resilience…”

META(endurance) exceeds 1 000 points. Second milestone reached. Congratulations!

The effect of the first threshold was simple: it strengthened the resilience of his meridians. According to Wang Lin, the second threshold was far more crucial.

"If you try to affect another’s body with a skill, you’ll feel a kind of resistance," the colonel had explained. "An individual’s aether naturally repulses foreign aether."

"Like oil and water refusing to mix? Or magnets repelling each other?"

"Both, and neither. But you get the idea. In practical terms, Micro, Domain, certain Masteries, bloodlines, Concepts, and Mind Ennoblement reinforce this effect, ensuring that your body and mind remain your sanctuary. The second threshold of META (Endurance) alters your aetheric signature and code, making it even harder for external aether to influence you. In short, an enemy will have a much tougher time teleporting your organs out of your body."

"But it’s still possible," Priam had noted. "If META (Endurance) makes it harder to be affected, then there must be an attribute that helps bypass that natural resistance, right?"

"META (Authority)." 

Priam smiled, recalling the colonel. Wang Lin had done his best to help him for two weeks, providing a structured and comprehensive education on the nature of aether, as well as exercises ensuring steady progress. The kind of knowledge his phoenix mentor’s oath had forbidden him from sharing.

“That might just be the greatest gift of my Tribulations,” Priam mused, reflecting on his newfound mastery over aether. He knew he was talented, but even a genius couldn’t compete with training optimized over millions of years. He had entered this dream as a warrior and was emerging as a mage. The evolution of META(Affinity) played no small part in that.

Status:
Meta-affinity 1 095 (Oneiric)

“An impossible evolution?” Priam chuckled. That’s what Wang Lin had claimed. A dream evolution wasn’t supposed to manifest outside a System-induced nightmare. The mage recalled the final moments of the Tribulations when [Tribulation Hunter] had stolen their essences to support the transition between dream and reality. Even so, the evolution should have naturally unraveled, yet Priam could feel [Chimera] hard at work, coaxing this new element to stay.

The colonel would have been shocked to learn of his temporary disciple’s feat, but Priam had never doubted. Breaking the impossible was the Juggernaut’s way.

“Even if it’s not exactly useful yet.”

Compared to the harmony he had felt with aether in his dream, Priam now felt clumsy. Clearly, his new evolution only unleashed its full potential when he was dreaming. A complication for someone who couldn’t be asleep and awake at the same time.

“Not that it'll be a problem for much longer. Addon?”

[Draconic Vivacity: You possess multiple (two) streams of thought, each powered by 94% of your vivacity. Base: 74% +20% from Chimera.]

Two parallel thought processes, each running at 94% capacity—one of Priam’s trump cards. Now he just had to figure out how to sleep with one of them. I wonder what will happen when going beyond 100%...

The notification list was coming to an end, and Priam grinned as he spotted the final entry.

[Tribulation]: None coming.
Next thresholds: 12 attributes > 900 / 3 attributes > 1 200 / 1 attribute > 1 500

“Now that I don’t feel the System breathing down my neck, I guess I can get back to grinding skills!”

Closing his eyes for a moment, Priam unshackled his Potential. The attribute boost from [Fallout Boy]—a Title he had sealed at the end of Back in Time—was accompanied by a flood of level-ups. All the skills related to strength and agility that had gained experience while sealed vibrated as the System acknowledged his progress.

Lvl Up: [Priam’s System] lvl 15,…,22
VIVA +24
MEM +24
META (Authority) + 24
Lvl Up: [Phantom] lvl 5,...,10
AGI +36
DEXT +18
Lvl Up: [Balance] lvl 18
AGI +1
DEXT +2
Lvl Up: [Hoplite Parry] lvl 8, 9, 10
STR +9
Lvl Up: [Hoplite Slash] lvl 21, 22
STR +6
Lvl Up: [Battle Flow] lvl 39
PERC +1
DEXT +2
Lvl Up: [Battle Footwork] lvl 31, 32
AGI +4
DEXT +2

[Tribulation]: Three attributes above 1 200 were detected in Tier 0.
A Tribulation is coming.
[Tribulation]: One attribute above 1 500 was detected in Tier 0.
A Tribulation is coming.
Time: 30 days.
Next thresholds: 12 attributes > 900 / 6 attributes > 1 200 / 1 attribute > 1 800

“Thirty days! I guess once you’ve survived ten Tribulations, the System starts giving you a little more prep time…”

His add-on had earned its levels after guiding his host through a solo tempering. [Phantom] was benefiting from Priam’s newfound ability to cut enemy attention with his Aura, while the rest of the upgrades stemmed from his training with the Mercenaries in the dream.

A faint smile played on his lips as Priam recalled those moments. Maya, Luc, Wang Lin, Lasha… It was strange to think that these people barely knew him, while he had come to see them almost as friends. One day, we’ll meet.

From Elysium to Sector Hope, the distance should have made any reunion impossible, but Priam knew, deep down, that their paths would cross again. When that time came, he would thank the two Tier 5s for their lessons.

“Maya, Luc… We’ll see each other at the next Reunion. But for now…”

Priam unfolded his arms from around his body, shifting out of his fetal position to stand. Stretching his limbs, he checked the time remaining on Proxima and smiled—he had dreamed for just over four hours.

Conditional freedom time remaining: 2 hours 15 min 37 seconds.

“More than enough time to hunt down my Nemesis,” he said, shattering his shield with a flick of his wrist. “After the nice rewards I got from two mental Tribulations, I can’t wait to take on the physical ones.”

His Domain and magical senses swept the area. Spotting a runic alarm left behind by his Nemesis, Priam disabled it with ease before letting gravity take hold.

After a few seconds of freefall, the Champion decided this was far too slow for his taste. Four hours of sleep had left him itching to stretch his legs. Summoning two phoenix wings, he called upon his new kinetic skill to launch himself toward the planet. The sheer acceleration from [Kinetic Sovereignty] was so intense that the air around the Juggernaut ignited.

Bathed in flames incapable of burning him, Priam let out a roaring laugh. 

“Fear me, for this time, I’m the hunter!”

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A hundred kilometers away, a group of fleeing Arkanians was putting as much distance as possible between themselves and the apocalypse. Cradled in her mother’s arms, a young girl blinked and pointed toward the sky.

“What’s that, Mama?”

The woman turned toward Arkana and smiled. “A shooting star, sweetheart.”

“In broad daylight? And that bright? Fat chance,” a nearby soldier muttered, squinting. “That looks like an orbital strike. I’ll bet you anything our city won’t be standing once that thing hits the ground.”

Refusing to take the bet, the group picked up their pace even more.

*

Status: 

PHYSICAL:
Strength 915 (+22)
Constitution 1 582 (+132)
Agility 1 256 (+62)
Vitality 1 468 (+100)
Perception 877 (+12) 

MENTAL:
Vivacity (D) 631 (+32)
Dexterity 784 (+24)
Memory 961 (+43)
Willpower 1 200 (+9)
Charisma 794 (+6) 

META:
Meta-affinity (O) 1 095 (+56)
Meta-focus 630 (+10)
Meta-endurance 1 092 (+22)
Meta-perception 558 (+17)
Meta-chance 667 (+35)
Meta-authority 494 (+41) 

Potential: 27 197 (-614)
Tier 0

Sun points: 1 143 444 

[He Who Eludes Death] charge: PRIMED.

Concepts:

• Breath (T0): 100% / Harmony

• Fire (T0): 100% / Unity

• Pyro (T1): 100% / Unity

• Mist (T1): 100% / Symphony

Bloodlines:

• Phoenix: 3%

• Dragon: 2%

Rewards standing: 

• Fusion Token - Skill (Epic) 

• Evolution Token - Skill (Legendary)

• Affinity Token - Tier 1 (30%)

• Alien Concept fragment (7th Terror)

• Talent Token - Upgrade (Seraph)

• Revelation Token - Ideal Prerequisites (Epic)

• Colosseum VIP Token

• Reborn Token - Reset biological lifespan (Legendary) 

• Minor skill Epiphany

• Seed of Potential

• Trophy Compass

[Tribulation]: Two Tribulations pending.
Future Tribulations delayed until:
Time: 29 days 23 hours 59 minutes 14 seconds.
Next thresholds: 12 attributes > 900 / 6 attributes > 1 200 / 1 attribute > 1 800

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Don't think I missed a reward or a notification, but it's not impossible. I'll edit it tomorrow to add the new status!