Chapter 164: Chekhov's gun

The vacations are over! This is Sunday's chapter that I couldn't post because of the holidays. Next chapter: tomorrow! 

*

Hyshana's smile vanished as she beheld Kazuki's condition. She hurried to her husband's side to support him while Priam instructed Log-a-rhythm to prepare a bath of regenerative sap.

Approaching the couple with Sphinx by his side, Priam observed as the hoplites secured the perimeter, their efforts unnecessary.

"It's okay, my love, just a scratch," Kazuki reassured his wife, leaving a trail of blood behind him.

"You look like you've been chewed up by a monster," Sphinx remarked.

"Yeah, seems rather serious," added Priam. The tiny scales on the hoplite warrior were drenched in blood. His right arm hung tentatively by a few tendons, and he moved with a limp. Several bones protruded from his body, and a portion of his entrails was missing. A scar across his face had claimed his nose and one eye. Blood-soaked hair and unsteady balance indicated a head injury. The perfect zombie picture.

Despite all this, Priam sensed a dangerous aura around Kazuki—something indefinable had changed. A pressure reminiscent of Bechar or the necrowolf surrounded him. His soul had changed.

"I'm glad you survived, and I suppose you two have things to discuss. But why not do that in a bath of regenerative sap?" Priam suggested.

Kazuki attempted to nod before grimacing. For the hoplite champion to show discomfort, his injuries must have been as severe as they appeared.

"Why not. However, we need to talk before you descend the stairs behind me," Kazuki replied.

"Deal. Now hurry before you collapse like a poorly assembled IKEA shelf."

Kazuki gave him a puzzled look.

*

"Oh, that feels good," Kazuki sighed in relief as he sank into the sap bath.

"Good. Do you want a nanorobot injection?" Hyshana asked, her voice filled with concern. The hoplites had brought supplies for medical treatment, and each mecha could operate on a hoplite with embedded technology and AI.

"Let's not waste our resources. With my new vitality, I'll be fully healed in two or three days. This sap accelerates my recovery and gives my body the energy it needs to heal on its own."

"Two or three days? That sounds... optimistic," Hyshana remarked.

Kazuki looked at his wife with a sparkling gaze. Despite missing some teeth, Hyshana found him captivating. "I unlocked Micro II," he revealed, shocking his wife. Only a handful had achieved this feat in hoplite history, and none as young as Kazuki.

"Thanks to that, I can feel my body restoring itself. Give me a few hours, and I will accelerate this process. Micro III, here I come!"

"Kazu..." The intensity in her husband's voice brought a smile to Hyshana's face. Even with his horrific injuries, he still thought about training, improving, and surpassing himself. His body had changed, but not his spirit. The teenager who had sworn to become the hoplite Paragon was still there.

"I'll let you rest," Hyshana announced, rising. Kazuki's hand closed around her arm.

"Wait, please. We need to talk."

"... Hurry up, then. I want you to rest, and I don't like leaving my phalanx alone."

Kazuki nodded. "Exactly. Did you bring your Swords with you?"

"A mix of my Swords, your Spears, and three Ishaka’s Shields."

Kazuki's face hardened, and Hyshana continued before he could protest. "He provided the portal that sent us here. He also redirected a lot of resources to upgrade our mechs. I didn't really have a choice. At least, he got competent people. The others are keeping an eye on them."

After a few moments of silence, Kazuki grumbled. "You're the most incredible woman I know for earning the respect of your soldiers. They'll be eating out of your hand in a few weeks... But a cataclysm is approaching. We have barely three days to prepare, and I don't want to fight while watching our own men."

Hyshana nodded. "I'll keep an eye on them, but they're also fighting for the Honor of the hoplite."

Ishaka, the hoplite Supreme General, was power-hungry but not to the extent of betraying his race.

"I know, but Priam is not a hoplite. They might decide to sabotage our agreement."

Hyshana furrowed her brow. "Priam Azura looks strong, but if you've unlocked—"

"First, I will fight none of them. Second, I think I'm stronger than Priam, but it's hard to say," Kazuki interrupted. "In any case, he would slaughter you. I'm incapable of killing him."

"He's that resilient?!"

Kazuki had unlocked Micro II, and the Supremacy was truly terrifying at this stage. The fourth hoplite Grandmaster had appeared four hundred years ago and could tear mechs apart with bare hands. Without the System and at that time, his physical attributes probably didn't exceed sixty. After five Tribulations, Kazuki's limits were hard for Hyshana to imagine.

"He can resurrect. I'm not arrogant enough to think I can defeat death yet."

Hyshana remained silent for a moment before reaching out. Gently, she caressed her husband's chin—the only untouched part of his body.

"Death's obsession. That's the description the System gave me about him. I guess it was literal."

Kazuki gave a faint smile as he met his wife's eyes. "I already know what you're thinking, Shana, but focus on the real enemies, okay? Priam is... he's a friend, and I like his family."

Hyshana opened her mouth in surprise. "A friend? The future Paragon Kazuki, instructor of the Titans, Heart of the people, and Master of the Spear has a friend? An equal?"

Kazuki rolled his eyes. "You're my equal too."

"And you moved heaven and earth to marry me. Should I be worried?" Hyshana teased.

Kazuki burst into laughter before a fit of coughing seized him. He spat, and the sap bath turned red.

"Rest, my love. We'll talk when you're better," Hyshana whispered.

Kazuki nodded with difficulty, looking into his wife's eyes.

"Shana?"

"Yes, Kazu?"

"I'm glad to see you again... Together, this world is ours."

"And you are my world," Hyshana finished, leaning down to kiss her husband.

*

Priam observed the various hoplite mechs. Unlike Kazuki's armor, these were noticeably more massive. More Gundam than mechanized armor...

The suns were gradually rising in the sky, but Priam hadn't yet given permission for his companions to leave Log-a-rhythm. He trusted Kazuki, but not these new hoplites.

Especially after hearing Kazuki's distrust towards some of them.

While stroking Sphinx, who purred in his arms, Priam tried to use his high charisma to gauge the soldiers' attitudes toward him. He still struggled with the attribute, but he remembered Claire's execution. Her aura had allowed him to sense the crowd's emotions. Here, he detected nothing more than a mild apprehension. The trained hoplites focused more on securing the clearing than on him.

Log-a-rhythm's trunk vibrated, and Hyshana emerged. The champion paused, likely giving orders to her soldiers before heading towards Priam.

"Thank you for taking care of my husband," she declared, nodding.

"It was mutual," Priam replied, smiling. He activated his Domain to block the spread of sounds and positioned himself so no other hoplite could read his lips.

"Sorry to start like this, but among your subordinates, which ones are likely to attack my family?"

By asking the question, he admitted to eavesdropping on the conversation between the couple, but he didn't mind. His agreement with Kazuki allowed the presence of hoplite soldiers to organize the joint defense of Log-a-rhythm’s clearing. If their presence was dangerous, the agreement was void. Priam wouldn't take any risks concerning his family’s security.

"They haven't done anything yet, and I plan to discipline them. There will be no troubles," Hyshana promised.

Priam nodded toward Log-a-rhythm. "I respect Kazuki, and I sense that you deserve my respect as well. However, we're talking about my family's security. I don't plan to execute Ishaka's warriors, but I want Log-a-rhythm to keep a close eye on them."

The tree never slept and was linked to Priam's Assistant. The clearing was its domain, and if something slipped past it... Jasmine will be there.

Hyshana observed Priam for a few moments before nodding. "Very well, you're the host. Rest assured, though, at the first sign of disobedience, I'll personally execute the traitor. If you'd accompany me, I'll introduce you."

"Thank you."

Satisfied, Priam followed Hyshana to greet each of the nine soldiers. Hyshana introduced them one by one as Priam greeted them with a smile. From now on, they would coexist.

Despite their abrupt arrival, he was glad to see ten new defenders. Each soldier seemed like a monster solely concerned with killing any intruders. They were hoplite elites and would undoubtedly become terrifying in the near future. At least those who will survive.

No one had died yet, but Priam knew it was the calm before the storm. Elysium was preparing to remove the training wheels. Priam had a bad feeling about the Necromoon event, and his draconic instinct rarely led him astray.

"Any recommendations for the base defense? With the help of my soldiers, we could change the guard towers," Hyshana suggested after they finished their inspection.

Priam gave a sheepish smile. "There are no guard towers. The base is surrounded by an omnidirectional barrier capable of holding off a monster long enough for us to retreat into Log-a-rhythm. The forest watches the surroundings, and the rest of us are training. I'm not sure we can afford to waste time watching trees, but that's a personal opinion."

Hyshana nodded. "This barrier is handy, but I'm almost certain some enemies can become invisible to the forest."

Log-a-rhythm was challenging to deceive now, but a simple tree? Priam thought of Dishnu and nodded.

"It's possible."

"Perhaps we could place cameras, motion detectors, and mechanical traps along the defense perimeter? Our AIs could monitor all of that."

The idea was excellent, and Priam approved. "That's an excellent idea. You might want to discuss these arrangements with my father; he also has ideas to secure the clearing."

"I would be honored to meet your father."

*

Priam gestured towards the trio. "These three," he indicated to Jasmine, who nodded. The young girl leaned towards Mirscella and tapped her arm several times with her finger. Mirscella simply smiled at the assassin, and Priam understood they were using a language akin to Morse code. The fact that Mirscella was aware of potential traitors reassured Priam. With their training in Elysium and their past experiences, he didn't worry much about her or Louis.

It was his father and Rose that concerned him more. Both humans were relatively fragile.

"I was thinking of digging a trench and enchanted palisades. A patrol path could be useful in case we need to repel a siege," Alain said between bites.

"Is there a risk of a siege?" Hyshana asked.

"According to the Guardian of Secrets, the appearance of the Necromoon will drive the local animals insane. The protective dome of Log-a-rhythm might attract them if they're seeking a safe place. Of course, it's hidden by Camouflage, but one can never be too sure."

"Well said. Can we temporarily disable the protection to avoid alerting the animals?"

"It seems like a bad idea, but I didn't have enough coins to know why."

"Hmm... Gallad and Sakura each have runemaster training; they could help you set up defenses."

Alain nodded enthusiastically. "That would be helpful. The deadline to build them is tight, especially if we need to create something for the river..."

An aquatic attack wasn't impossible, after all. The problems were numerous, and Priam was glad his father was there to think about them.

"It's delicious," Sphinx exclaimed, devouring another small cake. The hoplites hadn't come empty-handed, bringing not only survival rations but also alcohol, an equivalent of flour, starches, meat, pastries, and even seeds that seemed to interest Louis.

Before Sphinx and Blueberry could obliterate the cakes, Priam grabbed two in his hand and walked towards Muyri. The former slave had been watching him from the corner of her eye throughout the meal and trembled imperceptibly when he stopped by her.

"For you," Priam said, placing one of the two pastries before her. Without waiting any longer, he stood up and headed towards Log-a-rhythm. The young woman needed time to open up. He smiled at seeing Rose trying to communicate with her.

Arriving in front of Log-a-rhythm, he entered the small infirmary. Spatially separated from the main room, there was only space for Kazuki's bath and a visitor. The hoplite opened his valid eye upon seeing Priam appear.

"I've just woken up, and you're already here."

"Log-a-rhythm warned me. So, how were those Tribulations?" Priam asked, placing the last cake on the edge of the medicinal bath.

Kazuki smiled. "I survived, and I'm much stronger."

Priam smiled, remembering the hoplite's words to his wife. He thought he had surpassed him. With my Conquest Aura, my Fire Concept, and Phoenix Wings, I wonder who has progressed more. I haven't even used up all my Tribulations’ rewards yet.

"Would you be up for a little duel? Well, as soon as you look less like an undead."

Kazuki smiled at the provocation.

"With pleasure." The warrior hesitated for a moment before continuing. "I know a bit more about the Necromoon."

"Really? How?"

"At the foot of the bone stairs is the Skull Temple. It's a kind of mental course to test skulc leaders. If you make it to the end, in addition to the Temple's reward, you gain access to a room that holds some secrets of the skulcs."

"Archives about Elysium?"

"More like a collection of various bones and shiny materials, like the lair of a really poor dragon. I didn't see anything valuable, except for a mural."

Kazuki paused, raised his left arm, and grabbed the cake between two fingers. With a bite, he swallowed it. Apparently, he had already regenerated his stomach. Priam watched him lick his lips, smiling.

"Apart from the trinket pile, there was a large mural that circled the room," resumed Kazuki. "Passing my hand over it, I had a vision."

"About the Necromoon?"

"Indeed. I saw a skulc city. Not just a savage camp, but a civilized city worthy of the descendants of dragons. Millions lived there, mostly Tier 0s and 1s, but also Tier 2s and above. One day, night fell, and the world was covered in crimson. Most Tier 0s and 1s went mad and started attacking everyone. The elites tried to restore order, but it was chaos. There were many casualties. Beasts attacked, creating a breach in the walls. The wounded began to go mad in turn."

Kazuki lowered his eyes to the necrotic mark he had received before Priam's return to Elysium.

"In a few hours, everyone was dead. Only the leader and two shamans were left. Their powers were immense... High Tier 3s or 4s.They were waiting for suns that never rose. Instead, the immense charnel ground began to tremble. Blood rose into the sky to form a portal, and something crossed through."

Kazuki had a somber face as he finished his tale. "The three skulcs tried to quell the terror. Two died quickly, and one of the shamans fled. She must have created the Skull Temple afterward."

"... We knew it would be tough. The Guardian of Secrets is a Tier 6, and I feel that he also fears the Necromoon. But we don't need to destroy it, just survive until the end of the event," Priam reassured.

"We have to prevent it from summoning abominations nearby," grunted Kazuki. "We can't allow mass sacrifices."

Priam nodded.

"There aren't millions of skulcs hidden in the woods, and I took care of the spiders that were nearby. There are no more large groups of monsters around here."

Kazuki shook his head. "There are the rabhorns. We see few on the surface, but thousands are in the tunnels. They must be terrified of the Necromoon. If one of them gets infected..."

All the others would eventually be corrupted. Either they would be sacrificed to summon a terror, or they would attack Log-a-rhythm. The territory of the rabhorns was close, and Priam would bet his two hearts that the System wouldn't let thousands of magical rabies-infected horned rabbits coexist peacefully next to humans and hoplites.

"I'll take care of it," sighed Priam. Killing thousands of rabhorns didn't appeal to him, but he had done worse to survive. He was ready to nip the problem in the bud.

"I'll come help soon."

"Focus on your recovery, I don’t need help anymore to kill rabhorns. By the way, can you tell me what happened to your soul?" Priam asked, getting up to leave. He didn't intend to ask for Kazuki's exact rewards, but he was curious.

"I unlocked Micro II and a bloodline," Kazuki smiled. "My soul... grew, I guess? I feel much closer to the Supremacies and Concepts, but it forced a Tier up. I used one of my rewards to postpone my High Tribulation, but it's coming. In three months, I'll be a Tier 1."

Or dead.

"Congratulations, then," Priam smiled. "But I'm surprised you didn't get the same Tribulation rewards as me. I never had the option to obtain a bloodline."

Both had successfully undergone a quadruple Tribulation, and Priam was surprised that Kazuki had received different choices.

"It has nothing to do with the Tribulations," Kazuki corrected. "If you pass the trial, you can select one of the temple's treasures. I chose a diluted drop of blood from a Titan."

Priam's hearts raced. "There were other drops?"

"There's still sphinx, black taotie, and phantom panther’s blood. Plus the heart of the skulc shaman who created the temple."

*

Status: (Average value for a Homo sapiens male before integration: PHY 10 / MEN 10 / META 0)

PHYSICAL:
Strength 420
Constitution 773
Agility 432
Vitality 666
Perception 652

MENTAL:
Vivacity 359
Dexterity 453
Memory 185
Willpower 706
Charisma 456

META:
Meta-affinity 408
Meta-focus 298
Meta-endurance 239
Meta-perception 170
Meta-chance 228
Meta-authority 15

Potential: 1120
Tier 0

[He Who Eludes Death] charge: PRIMED

[Tribulation]: Five Tribulations pending.
Future Tribulations delayed until:
Time: 173 days 19 hours 47 minutes 53 seconds.