Chapter 297: Best Birthday Gift Ever!

As promised, the second chapter of the day! Read here Chapter 296
Happy birthday to all those born on November 6th (like me haha)!

PS: Priam Character Sheet (you can thanks the Discord guys! Come say hello.)

*

Priam closed his eyes, summoning every sense to scan the typhoon looming ahead. His Mist Concept painted a picture of a torrential rain descending like a storm of bullets, each drop laced with danger, a brutal reminder of his first Tribulation. He pushed deeper, before grimacing as [Ideal Aether Perception] failed to pierce the wall of clouds before him. The ambient aether density was too high.

Should I go straight in? Priam wasn’t a coward, but he wasn’t foolish enough to take unnecessary risks.

Taking a step back, he assessed the towering steam monolith before him, craning his neck skyward until it almost strained—if that were even possible with his agility. The cloud seemed to rise endlessly. Time to gain some altitude. Unfurling his wings, he propelled himself upward with kinetic mastery, soaring for nearly a full minute before reaching the apex of the colossal, mutated cumulonimbus. The vaporous mass stretched nearly thirty kilometers high, twice the height of any Earthly counterpart.

“Woah…” Priam was impressed by what he saw... and a little terrified.

The dark gray, almost black cloud top was saturated with aether in maddening quantities. Massive currents surged toward its core with an apocalyptic fury. Lightning as wide as skyscrapers crackled through the monstrous cyclone multiple times per second. The chaos above was way worse than at sea level.

As Priam felt curiosity tugging him closer, his instincts screamed a warning.

Storms had always both awed and terrified him. To him, they were nature’s raw power and majesty made manifest, a natural purge born of special conditions, resetting the balance. He saw them as nature’s righteous anger—not against any one person, but against something deeply out of sync. But this deluge was different; it wasn’t here to restore climate balance. It was here to destroy. The sight alone set every hair on his body on end. Something’s wrong…

Priam looked higher, frowning. At this altitude, the sky should have faded from blue to black, the air thinning as he reached the edge of space. But no. He wasn’t on a planet, yet the laws of physics here were warped, too different to be untouched by magic.

“There’s something off about this fragment of the world,” he murmured, flapping his wings harder. Propelled into the air, he kept rising, determined to test the limits of this fragment’s physics.

Moments later, the deluge was a rumbling, dark mass beneath him. Aether continued pouring into it, a tangible flow Priam could see with his meta-perception. The energy arched in the air, like a siphon drawing in the world’s essence, feeding the tempest.

Another kilometer up, Priam noticed himself slowing. He was still flying at supersonic speed, yet the cloud below seemed no further away. Eventually, he stalled mid-air. Confused, he poured more aether into his ascent, hoping brute force would overcome the spatial block.

To his surprise, it worked. Rising another meter, he understood he was leveraging [Space Resistance]. His body possessed a unique dimensional identity that allowed him to partially ignore the quicksand-like pull of space. Collecting resistances had its advantages.

If his constitution had been unsealed, his skill would have progressed quickly, letting him push further. But reality didn’t deal in “ifs,” and neither did Priam. Just centimeters from his face, he could see the aether rushing toward the typhoon below. Then—nothing. As if energy simply ceased to exist beyond it; as if reality itself had abandoned that space. This was at odds with the bright blue sky he could still see above. The truth dawned on him: he was facing an illusion, a realistic painting on a dimensional ceiling.

Priam extended his hand, touching the edge of Valaryth’s realm. 

Title won!

[“To the Ends of the World!” - Silver] - A fragment of the world, depending on its rules, can take many forms. While the depths of Valaryth 84 seem nearly limitless, and its ocean’s surface appears endless due to its non-Euclidean geometry, its sky is capped. At the level of a void vortex, it is exactly thirty kilometers high.
You have reached the edge of a world. Now, all that remains is to gain the means to pierce a dimensional bubble… and perhaps obliterate Valaryth 84 in the process; a small price for the satisfaction of your boundless curiosity.
META (Chance) +10%
META (Authority) +10%

Valaryth's Ocean’s reward: Level up [Ideal Aether Perception] x5; 

Lvl Up: [Ideal Aether Perception] Lvl 20,..., 24
META (AFFI) +15
META (PERC) +30

“Ah!” Priam grinned as he read his new Title and rewards. Like corrective lenses or a hearing aid, the five level-ups sharpened his aether perception. His sight, hearing, and even smell sharpened, allowing him to differentiate energy currents with a precision he had only dreamed of. It was like gazing into a river and seeing not just the broad flow but every micro-current, every whirlpool, with hints at the chaotic phenomena yet to come. Further mastery would eventually let him anticipate the effects of his own skills.

With his hand pressed against the dimensional boundary of Valaryth, he could tell it was solid. That reassured him; Priam didn’t need the Title description to realize that breaching it would unleash catastrophic consequences. A single flaw would pop the protection like a soap bubble, plunging this world fragment into a devastating spatial storm.

There was only one thing left to do. Priam descended toward the ocean, diving beneath the surface to confirm the presence of a colossal siphon. The vortex swallowed seawater, which vanished into the depths with a fury that could pulverize any submarine.

A lazy school of fish swam around him, skirting the deadly currents yet never crossing them. Occasionally, blood, shredded flesh, and broken bones spewed from the whirlpool, quickly devoured by the local fauna. The rule was clear to all: venturing into the vortex meant death, but beyond that boundary lay safety.

Air or sea, this storm was lethal. Best to face it on the surface.

Decision made, Priam hovered just above the water, advancing until he reached the invisible border. The calm around him stood in stark contrast to the chaos awaiting within. He moved forward.

*

The typhoon was a literal hell of water. As his hand breached the storm, rain assaulted him, pelting his skin like needles. With his constitution, even bullets couldn’t harm him, and the rain fared no better.

A grin spread across Priam’s face as he took a step forward, letting the deadly deluge wash over him. His misty garments disintegrated under the vengeful tempest, and he opened his eyes. All around, millions of raindrops cascaded from the sky, each capable of tearing through a rhino's hide—yet they couldn’t even scratch his eyes.

With [Shear Resistance] and [Sun Steel Body] as his defense, it was as expected. Truth be told, Priam found the storm’s intensity almost relaxing. Deadly to a human, this onslaught felt like a vigorous massage to him. Even the thunderous sound of raindrops slamming against the ocean was comforting. A nostalgic memory of nights spent listening to the rain’s lullaby against his skylight rose within him.

He glanced at the tranquility outside, then at the water’s surface, churning and distorted by the storm, masking the destructive vortex beneath. Letting go of his kinetic energy platforms would have pulled him under in seconds.

His instincts and aether perception whispered that the Tribulation’s secret lay in the deluge’s heart, and Priam moved forward without hurry. Five kilometers later, he came upon another wall of rain, as dark as a stormy sea, and passed through it without pause.

First zone of the Deluge cleared. Valaryth's Ocean’s reward: Level up [Shear Resistance] x5…
Seal detected. Progression delayed. 

The rain intensified, each drop hitting like a bullet. Forget harming an animal; this storm could wear down tank armor in minutes. If only his constitution weren’t sealed, his resistances would be skyrocketing by now.

Priam glanced skyward, as if daring the deluge itself. Show me your worst.

The storm responded with an avalanche of water, forcing him to summon every ounce of strength just to stay upright. Yet his grin didn’t waver. Despite the storm’s fury, his skin remained untouched, unchanging. His physical attributes and resistances were sufficient that he didn’t even need to defend himself actively. Truly a Juggernaut.

Round two hadn’t come close to breaking him, and with that, Priam moved forward.

The third zone was a deadly mix of wind and rain. The clouds churned overhead, whipping up gales that raged at speeds of over five hundred kilometers an hour—three times faster than what was needed to tear an unanchored man from the ground. His eidetic memory whispered that this storm was as violent as those on Jupiter or Saturn.

The trial was so grueling Priam figured he could temper his Matter gate in it. All he had to do now was decide which resistance to focus on. Smiling, he strode into the third zone and braced himself, as if stepping into a cosmic blender.

Second zone of the Deluge cleared. Valaryth's Ocean’s reward: Level up [Shear Resistance] x10…
Seal detected. Progression delayed. 

Gusts clawed at his skin, and the wind stole the air from his lungs before he could breathe it in. He could break the world record for holding his breath if he had to, but didn’t see much point. For the first time since stepping into the deluge, he activated [Kinetic Control]. Instantly, his Domain became a sanctuary, a bubble of calm where only the faintest breeze existed. Rain rolled off the edges of his authority’s boundary, unable to touch him.

Priam frowned as he realized he had physically fought the typhoon for nothing. With his kinetic mastery, he had little to fear—

The deluge roared in anger, and in the next second, a lightning bolt crashed down on him with the wrath of divine judgment. The world faded as he fell unconscious.

*

“The Terrors are waking, one after the other,” Gooru grumbled. “Killing the seventh was beyond reckless.”

“You know that wasn’t my call,” Titus muttered. “And could you let me get back to report without all the stalling?”

“The gates of Atlantis only open twice a day, and your bad mood won’t change that.”

“I was planning to use the military entrance…”

“Ha! Retired or not, you’re dreaming if you think that—”

A flash lit the sky on their right. Even through the thick curtain of rain, they saw a distinct column of electricity strike somewhere in the third zone of the Deluge. The two Rhems shared a glance. Someone had entered the trial and used magic to shield themselves.

“What fool—?!” growled Gooru.

“Doesn’t matter, we need to move!”

“They’re dead, and you know it.”

Anger and sorrow mixed in the soldier’s voice. Rhems were few and far between; he couldn’t fathom one of their warriors throwing their life away.

“If we don’t hurry, the vortex will take the body. Would you deny them proper rites? Would you deny their tribe a body to grieve?” Titus shot back. Without another word, the Rhem leader leaped from the ship, running across the water toward the Deluge. Swearing under his breath, Gooru followed.

*

Priam opened blind eyes to the world. His sight and hearing hadn’t survived the strike, but ironically, his sense of smell remained, and he could catch the sharp scent of charred meat.

The warrior rarely lost consciousness—it took a severe shock to both spirit and brain for it to happen—but the lightning had done just that.

“When you’re done napping, you mind getting up? My shadows won’t hold out much longer.”

“Jasmine?!”

He regenerated his vision thanks to [Three-Headed Hydra]’s daily heal and found himself within a cocoon of shadows.

“You followed me?” He wasn’t angry, just irked he hadn’t noticed his shadow was occupied.

“Let’s just say hanging around in the Oasis without limbs gets boring fast. If I hadn’t been here, you’d be swept away by the underwater vortex. A little thank you wouldn’t kill you.”

“Thanks.” No sooner had he uttered it than the shadows dispersed, exposing him once again to the pelting deluge. He cursed as the raindrops battered his raw flesh. The lightning hadn’t been kind, and his skin was closer to charcoal than dermis. Ignoring the pain, he triggered his rapid regeneration by burning lifespan. Once his tanned skin was regenerated, he let the storm massage his battered body.

“Was I out for long?” he asked, noting he was back in the second zone, where the wind was relatively tame. Just enough to uproot a tree or two.

“Long enough for me to start worrying about my willpower; the shadow cocoon isn’t cheap. A minute more and I’d have had to drag you out of there. What happened?”

Priam shrugged. “I think this Tribulation doesn’t allow skills.”

“You’re using [Kinetic Control] right now just to float.”

“Defensive abilities,” he clarified, remembering the lightning strike.

The fact that rules existed for the Tribulation was surprising, but less so than the damage he had just taken. Priam’s constitution neared that of a Tier 2, the same Tier as the warrior responsible for this High Tribulation. Consequently, the lightning bolt could have killed the candidate caught ‘cheating’ with a defensive skill. The zap wasn’t a warning; it was a punishment, and if not for his heat resistance, he would have been reduced to ash. [Fire Champion Physique] had saved his life, but it wasn’t resistance to electricity, so the damage was still severe.

In fact, without one of his latest evolutions, his hearts might have seized from the electric surge—a surefire way to die, even for him. Electrocution either burned vital organs or paralyzed the heart and lungs, and he was lucky his body was resistant to both. [Fire Champion Physique] had made him resilient to burns, and his recent agility upgrade had bolstered him against electrical paralysis.

Agility exceeds 1 000 points. Second milestone reached. Congratulations!

The progression of [Phantom] had allowed him to cross this critical threshold, and his attribute had evolved accordingly. Instead of transmitting information through electrical impulses via nerves, his brain now used aether. The primordial fluid replaced electricity in his nervous system, making it immune to rogue electric signals that could lock up his muscles. If that’s not a perfect prerequisite for [Electricity Resistance], I’ll eat my hat.

Reflecting, Priam realized that even without specific resistance, he was fairly durable against lightning. If his constitution weren’t sealed, this storm would be the perfect training ground to unlock [Lightning Resistance].

“I’m surprised you survived that thunderbolt. If I hadn’t hidden so deep in your shadow, I’d be dead.”

The comment sent a chill down his spine. “Are you okay?!”

“I’ve got five holes in my stomach, but I’ll live,” she replied, her tone overly dramatic. “I made the mistake of peeking out to see the Deluge myself and caught five drops. FIVE. I don’t get how you can stand there under this death deluge and shrug it off.”

Priam glanced up at the sky. The downpour hammered down like a deadly waterfall while the howling wind seemed determined to scalp him.

“Because I’ve got four times your constitution and ideal resistances. Too bad I can’t push them any further…”

“I’m not so sure about that. The System just upgraded the quest. Whatever its origin, enduring a Tribulation counts for our record.”

He skimmed his interface for a second to find the update.

Valaryth Quest: Invasion I - Pseudo Alien Tribulation. 

Retrieve the heart of the Tier 2 High Tribulation ‘Deluge’ for the System.
Reward: Reward of a Triple Tribulation, plus validation of the following thresholds: 12 attributes > 600 / 6 attributes > 900 / 1 attribute > 1,200
Difficulty: Mythic

Priam read the reward twice before accepting that it wasn’t a mistake. The System was offering him a dangerous but wildly lucrative opportunity.

A grin spread across his face. He had never backed down from adversity.

“Best birthday gift ever!”

*

Status:

PHYSICAL:
Strength 893 SEALED
Constitution 1 199 SEALED 
Agility 1 169
Vitality 1 136
Perception 858

MENTAL:
Vivacity (D) 599 SEALED
Dexterity 752
Memory 891 SEALED
Willpower 1 004
Charisma 648

META:
Meta-affinity 999 (+19)
Meta-focus 551
Meta-endurance 887
Meta-perception 502 (+41)
Meta-chance 556 (+33)
Meta-authority 315 (+29) 

Potential: 17 840 (+15)
Tier 0

Sun points: 143 444

[He Who Eludes Death] charge: PRIMED

Concepts:

• Breath (T0): 100% / Harmony

• Fire (T0): 100% / Unity

• Pyro (T1): 100% / Half-step Unity

• Mist (T1): 100% / Symphony

Bloodlines:

• Phoenix: 2%

• Dragon: 1%

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)

[Tribulation]: Five Tribulations pending.
Future Tribulations delayed until:
Time: 133 days 15 hours 22 minutes 22 seconds.

Next thresholds: 12 attributes > 600 / 6 attributes > 900 / 1 attribute > 1 200

*

I advise you to read the reward several times. There’s a reason why Priam is so happy.