Chương 153: Chapter 149: Soul Harmonization

Jasmine treaded cautiously as she entered the eye of the cyclone. Moving with light steps, she embraced every shadow and tree, advancing while scrutinizing her surroundings. The remnants of the battle proved that she was in danger if any of the protagonists were still able to fight. It had been nearly an hour since the ground last trembled, and the dissipating clouds hinted at a subsiding storm. Most assassins favored the cloak of darkness, finding solace in shadows.

Rain and clouds had often been Jasmine's allies, but not this time. The misty dome that veiled the skulc forest was an artificial creation. She wasn't foolish enough to play on someone else's turf. However, time was of the essence. According to the Founder, there were two types of assassins: those who spent months meticulously crafting perfect conditions and those who seized opportunities. Jasmine didn't have months, and the opportunity was too good to pass up.

Her two rivals were separated and oblivious to her presence. The assassin had thus decided to infiltrate the mist dome. I made the right call, Jasmine concluded as the mist gradually lifted. Hidden behind a mound of earth, she observed her rival on the brink of death. Covered in blood - both his own and that of the skulc leader - he lay unconscious. And naked. The fight must have been fierce for his clothes to be utterly destroyed. The assassin approached cautiously. Was it a trap?

Had he truly traded his life for that of his opponent, or was he waiting for her approach to strike? Given his injuries, the latter seemed unlikely. His body appeared to have plummeted from a hundred stories. He was losing so much blood that it was a miracle he still breathed. Jasmine remained vigilant. Her rival's heartbeat resonated powerfully. Her gaze naturally shifted to the skulc's body. The Tier 1 Elysian monster was an impressive specimen with thick, resistant skin.

Without a Mastery, piercing it would have been a nightmare. It was the kind of adversary Jasmine detested - too large for a dagger or a short blade to reach its heart. The gaping ribcage exposed a devoured heart. The black, energetic blood coagulating on her rival's lips provided all the information she needed. He had defeated the skulc and then ate its heart. Probably a barbaric and grotesque technique to assimilate the skulc's power. Without wasting any more time, Jasmine unsheathed a dagger.

Activating her Mastery, she stealthily approached before piercing her rival's heart. The blade sank effortlessly, destroying the vital organ as her Supremacy obliterated his spirit. Glancing at her quest, Jasmine furrowed her brow. Quest: At the Top of the World An assassin has no friends. A slayer shows no mercy. The Nightwalker has no rival. Be the last Rival standing. Rivals alive: 9/10. Reward: True Wish Difficulty: Primordial What the hell?

A few hours after arriving in Elysium, her quest had updated, revealing the fall of one of her rivals. Since then, the count hadn't changed. With this rival's death, her quest should have displayed eight out of ten. Jasmine squinted before studying the corpse. Breathing, blood flow, residual electricity, spiritual presence - all the traces indicated he was dead. Jasmine knew her business; assassination was her trade. The System, however, seemed to disagree. Let's see about that. It became personal.

Be it the living, the undead, mutants, hiveminds, or curses - all had met their end beneath her blade. Jasmine began by piercing the dead man's brain before injecting a concoction of poisons into his body. The quest remained unchanged. Undeterred, she engraved a banishment and an exorcism runes onto the rival's forehead with the dagger. Still nothing. She dug in her pockets for a small vial of acid to dissolve the body. A few minutes later, only a solvent puddle remained. With a gesture, she set it ablaze.

It burned within seconds, leaving only a handful of ashes on the ground. Glancing at her notifications, she gritted her teeth. The System stubbornly refused to acknowledge the rival's death. Damn it. Jasmine swiftly rose. In her training, she had been ingrained to leave the scene of an assassination promptly, even more so if she wasn't responsible for the death. Surveying the surroundings one last time, she spotted a tiny skull next to the ashes of her rival.

The bone was fluorescent and contained a substantial amount of aether. At least I didn't come here for nothing, she thought as she picked it up. In the next moment, she leaped into a shadow and vanished. Congratulations, you are dead! Your Talent [He Who Eludes Death] brings you back to life once a day. Number of deaths: 16 Synergy detected with your talent [High Human adaptation] and your Titles [Three-Headed Hydra] and [Weathered].

Your body and spirit are rebuilt and will be more resistant to what killed them: CONST +11 WILL +3 [Dodge] has reached level 20, its maximum level as a common skill. Depending on your background, three upgrades are available: [Swift Dodge - Rare] - General upgrade. No future upgrade possible. Potential Cost: 5 [Untouchable - Rare] - You've dodged bullets, punches, and raindrops. Future upgrades possible. Potential Cost: 10 [Matrix Dodge - Rare] - You dodged before your enemy even moved.

You eliminated an enemy with agility exceeding 1500 while in Tier 0. Impressive. High upgrade potential. Potential Cost: 20 POT -20 You have selected the skill [Matrix Dodge - Rare]. [Matrix Dodge] - The best dodge begins before your opponent attacks. Decode nature. Understand your enemies. Discover yourself. You were force-fed the red pill. There's no turning back.

AGI +2 DEXT +1 Lvl Up: [Hemorrhage Resistance] lvl 17, 18, 19 VIT +3 Lvl Up: [Erosion Resistance] lvl 36, 37 META (END) +6 Lvl Up: [Moon Mist] lvl 56 PERC +4 CHAR +2 META (AFFI) +3 Lvl Up: [Spirit resistance] lvl 8, 9, 10 WILL +9 Lvl Up: [Poison Body] lvl 14, 15 CONST +2 VIT +2 META (END) +2 Lvl Up: [Acid Resistance] lvl 3,..., 9 CONST +7 Lvl Up: [Divination Resistance] lvl 19 META (AFFI) +3 Lvl Up: [Star Iron Body] lvl 40 CONST +3 [Star Iron Body] has reached level 40, its maximum level as a rare skill.

Depending on your background, two upgrades are available: [Astral Steel Body - Epic] - General upgrade. No future upgrade possible. Potential Cost: 5 [Deep Space Iron Body - Epic] - You've proven your body's toughness by traversing deep space. Future upgrades possible. Potential Cost: 80... Decision postponed. [He Who Eludes Death] charge: OFF. Reloaded in 19 hours 13 minutes 4 seconds. [Tribulation]: Five Tribulations pending. Future Tribulations delayed until: Time: 175 days 19 hours 46 minutes 17 seconds.

The moment Priam felt the cool breeze on his skin, he merged with his mist. A part of it lingered above the ravaged forest, offering Priam a clear overview. Skull was dead, and no other skulc had approached since. The battle had been cataclysmic for the nearest trees, and a slightly more distant part of the forest still raged in flames. Dishnu must already be on the way to extinguish the fire. In a misty swirl, Priam materialized next to Skull. The monster was dead and he was alive. He had won.

"I won!" laughed Priam. Seconds later, he calmed down.

"No Title, eh? Too bad." Nodding respectfully to his fallen adversary, Priam analyzed the body. His last attack had been devastating; Skull's torso had more or less vanished. Only his heart had... Priam shuddered, recalling his last conscious moments. An irresistible hunger had compelled him to devour the raw heart of his foe. The act had made him stronger and more complete - Priam felt it deep within him - but the memory disturbed him.

Because of [Eidetic Memory], Priam remembered vividly his animalistic behavior as he bit into the vital organ. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

"What's done is done," he muttered after a deep breath. Priam wasn't too arrogant to think he could become powerful without a few sacrifices. Devouring the raw heart of a monster didn't cross his moral boundaries. His gaze shifted to the colossal trench behind the body. Priam had to sacrifice his meridians to create such incredible destruction. Few superheroes from his childhood could boast of creating hundred-meter-long rifts in the ground.

"Maybe I should shout ' Bankai' next time I launch this kind of attack..." Turning his gaze inward, Priam smiled. His kinetic reserves had increased, and his meridians were in perfect condition. [He Who Eludes Death] remained his best Talent. The mist trembled, revealing a shining Promesse. Each of his deaths restored and reforged his bound spear. Thin white streaks reminiscent of his Conquest aura now adorned its shaft. The weapon was as beautiful as it was deadly. A notification flashed.

Completed Quest: The Green Menace As expected from the [Reaper], you've once again massacred a village. Well played! Reward - Depending on your participation: 424 kills = POT +424 Bonus: Kill the Skull. Reward: Skull Key"Nice!" exclaimed Priam. The quest's completion proved that Kazuki had done his part. The Shaman and the other skulcs were dead. That wasn't the only good news waiting for him. Consumption of a fragment of draconic bloodline... Your draconic heart becomes more compatible with your body (+12%).

New compatibility assessed at 92%. Title Update: [Tribulation Wyvern Heart - Silver(Gold)] - Your second heart has the power of a wyvern, a distant descendant of the Dragons. That alone would be impressive, but it also possesses a [Tribulation Dragon] affinity. While not unique, this affinity is exceedingly rare and creates a mighty heart. Only your body's extreme adaptability allows you to accommodate this organ without perishing. The power of the Dragons now flows through your veins.

Their bloodline awakens in you. Their power strengthens you. Be careful to remain the master of this power. The Dragons' first gift is an innate instinct for destruction and creation. The Dragons' second gift is an exceptional affinity for their element. NEW VIT +20% (30%) Attribute evolution... Delayed until compatibility reaches 100% He had 8% left before upgrading his Title to Gold and acquiring the accompanying Merit. Moreover, the evolution of his attribute intrigued him greatly… New Talent!

[Tribulation Affinity - Seraph] - Your soul harmonizes slightly with the Tribulation Concept.... Errors: [Tribulation Wyvern Heart - Silver(Gold)]'s rarity is too low to manipulate a Seraph Affinity. Your soul is too weak to accept this harmonization. Recommended Level: Tier 7 or equivalent. Current Level: Tier 0 (Pseudo Apocryphal). Suggestion: Harmonize your soul with a sub-concept of Tribulation. New harmonization possible with each Title upgrade. Priam blinked several times as he read his notifications.

There was a lot of information at once, but he focused on the most crucial. In a rare moment of cooperation, the System was warning him that his new Talent could have dire consequences. One didn't need to be a genius to understand that a Tier 0 soul couldn't withstand a Tier 7 Concept. If he attempted it... Priam's instinct told him that all his problems would vanish. Permanently. Even if [He Who Eludes Death] managed to restore his soul - which wasn't guaranteed - the harmonization would destroy it again.

"That leaves me with only one solution." Priam opened his eyes and accepted the System's assistance. Knowing that he had more or less stolen this affinity, he was surprised that the Concepts provided such after-sales service. Unless it's in their interest... Soul Harmonization: Current Level: Tier 0 (Pseudo Apocryphal) Your soul has already been modified by the following Concept: Mist (Harmony - Tier 1 - current affinity: 32%). Harmonization will increase your natural affinity by 20% for Tier 0 and 10% for Tier 1.

Choose a second Concept compatible with your soul: Tier 0: Ice (25%), Vapor (21%), Iron (34%), Air (42%),... Motion (48%), Fire (84%), Light (78%),... Emotion (22%),... Puzzle (24%),... Luck (18%),... Volume (45%),... Measure (33%),... Breath (89%),... Tier 1: Glacier (12%), Cloud (21%), Steel (22%), Dioxygen (21%),... Kinetic (29%), Heat (46%), Combustion (37%), Shadow (21%),... Love (7%),... Logic (15%),... Stochasticity (11%),... Geometry (19%), Tempo (8%),... Will (17%),...

Or increase your current harmony: - Mist (32%)"Whoa..." For the first time, Priam had an exhaustive list of concepts. By scrolling through the pages, Priam calculated that the list contained at least millions of Concepts. Most were noted in French, but some were written in English, Hoplite, or Rehms. There seemed to be an infinity of concepts, and no language had an infinite number of words. The vast majority of concepts simply appeared as question marks.

Focusing on each word or question mark, Priam instinctively sensed what they referred to. Some concepts were extremely strange, like the one defining the fear felt by an otter struggling to find food. The simple fact that this Tier 1 concept was compatible with his soul was weird. For several minutes, Priam simply scrolled through the options, expanding his horizons. Quickly, he realized that their number fluctuated constantly. Some appeared while others disappeared.

This must mean something about the concepts in general and their affinity with my soul. After ten seconds, Priam couldn't contain his thoughts, and a flood of questions arrived. His current affinity with the mist concept was 32%. Was that high? What was the purpose of affinity exactly? Maybe unlocking and understanding a concept more quickly? Evolving or improving a concept? Could they exceed 100% affinity? What was the difference between a Tier 0 and a Tier 1 concept? They seemed linked.

"Most importantly, what does apocryphal mean?!" he exclaimed. He was almost angry with himself. It was his soul, his identity, and he didn't even understand it. So many questions and so few answers. Observing his options, Priam understood that he absolutely needed to acquire knowledge. Increasing his attributes and leveling up his skills wouldn't be enough to overcome his Tribulations. If he wanted a chance, he had to create it. This list could help him.

Instructing [Priam's System] to count and classify the different concepts, Priam closed the notification. He would come back to it soon, but it wasn't a choice he wanted to make lightly. The mist concept had imposed itself on him during his Tribulations, but it didn't really resonate with his path. Priam desired more affinity with his second concept. Using Domain, he searched for his second reward next to the corpse. Skull had been an impressive opponent, and the Skull Key promised to be interesting.

His smile disappeared quickly. Where was this key? Priam mentally scanned his world, spotting Muyri sleeping near the pond, but he couldn't find his reward. A moment later, his add-on activated. His system had recorded the signals sent by his mist and his Domain just before his death. A woman had stabbed him, simultaneously destroying his heart and spirit. A rival? But why—. Priam caught himself. The answer seemed obvious. Why face Skull when you could directly retrieve the reward?

At least she couldn't steal my Potential or the reward for the Shama—. Fuck! The ground beneath Priam's feet cracked under the power of his leap. Kazuki was in danger.

Status: (Average value for a Homo sapiens male before integration: PHY 10 / MEN 10 / META 0) PHYSICAL: Strength 419 Constitution 724 (+28) Agility 432 (+3) Vitality 547 (+7) Perception 637 (+5) MENTAL: Vivacity 341 Dexterity 444 (+1) Memory 140 Willpower 673 (+16) Charisma 450 (+4) META: Meta-affinity 371 (+7) Meta-focus 261 Meta-endurance 208 (+8) Meta-perception 131 Meta-chance 219 Meta-authority 15 Potential: 1091 (+437) Tier 0 [He Who Eludes Death] charge: OFF. Reloaded in 19 hours 9 minutes 2 seconds.

[Tribulation]: Five Tribulations pending. Future Tribulations delayed until: Time: 175 days 19 hours 42 minutes 15 seconds.