Priam
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Chapter 315: Container Ride
🕑 Added 2024-12-31 00:02:30 +0000 UTCThe holidays are over on my end, and I'm back to writing chapters!
Here's the penultimate (second-to-last) chapter of the year—chapter 316 is coming tomorrow, just in time for New Year's Eve!
PS: Priam Character Sheet (you can thanks the Discord guys!)
*
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 time 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 something? More importantly, what exactly did that first statement mean?
“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 same universe. Priam knew the Concepts manipulated time and space to bring these groups together at key moments in their histories, but had they gone even further? The existence of this center pointed to direct involvement by the System. Had this near-omnipotent entity rigged the game from the start to steer civilizations toward a predetermined outcome?
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 judgment, 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: some 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 phenomenon 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 time to play detective.
“Show me the center. Please.”
His instincts whispered that the shadow was closer to an AI than a sentient elemental, 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 me 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 meters, infinitely adaptable.”
“A cube with edges one hundred meters 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 mean?”
“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?”
“The Arkana Research Center for Shadows and Darkness is designed to enhance its users’ affinity with the aforementioned Concepts. Additionally, tests focus on movement, 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 meant 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 some 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 methods.”
“What rarity?”
“Legendary.”
Priam whistled appreciatively. A Legendary tempering method meant 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] timer again, Priam calculated his next steps. His Tribulations loomed, but first, he had to eliminate the Arkanian leader to acquire an artificial epiphany for [Homo Elysian Predation]. He still had some time until Jasmine extracted the secrets of her former guild’s masters.
Let’s see how the System trains assassins.
*
Before diving into the tests, Priam had spent some time talking with his shadow, studying the test center’s parameters, and requesting a compilation of previous candidates’ runs. His final request had been denied on the grounds that neither [Mental Bridge] nor [Priam’s System] were considered compatible devices with the Arkana Research Center for Shadows and Darkness. Nevertheless, the intelligent shadow had agreed to compile everything into an aether crystal—though it could only present a physical object as a reward.
Unwilling to waste the next hour watching other people’s accomplishments when he could do so from the comfort of home, Priam decided to accept the challenge and begin the tests.
“Bring it on.”
His shadow bowed before transforming. What had until now been a mere consequence of light intercepted by his body became liquid. A pool of dark ink now sprawled beneath Priam.
Deprived of the support of the ground, he was swallowed into the depths of a Concept.
*
“Ah !”
Priam gasped, his eyes snapping open as he scanned his surroundings, ready to defend himself. Nothing lunged at him.
He was standing at the center of the same cube as moments before, its interior now painted black. Numerous flames adhered to the six walls of the chamber, casting multidirectional light onto hundreds of platforms. As a result, shadows of varying intensity danced everywhere.
Frowning, Priam realized he could barely feel the flames generating the light. Pyro was muffled, and so were his other Concepts. His frown deepened as he noted his diminished perception. He was seeing like an ordinary man—not eighty-six times better, as was his norm. Only his Supremacies remained unaffected.
A few simple stretches revealed the extent of the restrictions: his physical attributes were capped at ten. For this test, he wasn’t superhuman—or just barely. A limitation designed to expose my weaknesses?
“Commencing Test One: Container Ride,” a robotic voice announced as a door materialized near the ceiling, aligned with the highest platform. “Objective: reach the exit before nightfall. Restriction of allowed skills.”
As the voice faded, the ambient light dimmed slightly. Within seconds, Priam’s add-on calculated that complete darkness would descend in ten minutes.
The Champion looked up at the platform arrangement before him. It could have been a three-dimensional remake of Mario. Two hundred one-meter-square platforms spiraled up the chamber like the tiny blades of a helix, leading to the exit at the ceiling. The distance and height between platforms varied, making the exercise look challenging.
Priam grinned and sprang into action. The first few steps were awkward, his temporarily weakened body throwing off his coordination, but Micro and [Art of Movement] helped him recover fast. Fifty meters in, he reached the nearest wall and veered right toward the first platform.
The surface was barely half a meter off the ground. A child could have managed the leap. Priam jumped and made it. Then, with a single stride, he reached the edge and planted his foot to propel himself forward. Momentum carried him across four meters of open space to the next platform. Another stride, another leap, and he landed on the third.
After six more jumps, Priam encountered a wall directly in his path. The next platform was tucked into a corner, the course continuing perpendicular to his current direction. Cursing, Priam used his mastery over his body to pivot his landing foot by ninety degrees. A quick but reckless way to instantly change trajectory.
Pain shot up his ankle as it protested the maneuver.
With his supporting foot compromised, the next jump was disastrous. Missing the eleventh platform, Priam plummeted five meters. A shadow on the ground absorbed him.
*
Lvl up: [Karmic Consequence Resistance] lvl 11
CHAR +3
META (Chance) +6
Priam’s eyes opened to a dimly lit cube. His shadow, once more possessed by the test center’s operating system, informed him he had returned to the start.
“I lost?” Priam muttered, massaging his throbbing ankle.
“Yes. Current record: Test One, eleventh platform, twenty-two seconds. Evaluation: poor performance."
“That’s what she said,” Priam growled, grimacing. Despite the seal on his attributes during the test, his performance was disappointing. “My attributes… How?”
“For Test One, the physical attributes of your shadow are restricted to 98.6% of an average Arkanean’s.”
Priam groaned, overclocking his vitality to heal faster. It hadn’t even occurred to him that he wasn’t the one taking the test—his shadow was. Yet the injuries it sustained were mirrored in his body. Failure clearly had consequences, though, from the level-up notification, he was already adapting to this rule.
Analyzing the situation coldly, Priam began strategizing. Boosting the shadow’s strength and agility using the Shadow Concept must be a viable strategy for completing the trial. Too bad it’s not my Concept. What would Jasmine do if she were in my place? Stupid question: she’d just teleport straight to the exit.
Of the three Concepts he wielded, none were permitted during this test. It didn’t matter; Priam had faced worse odds. He thought about his other rivals.
Kazuki would have better mastery over his body, and Arnold would analyze the environment more effectively.
Priam knew what he had to do. Feeling his ankle healed, he addressed his shadow.
“Again.”
*
PSS: for Portal 2 players: this chapter's title is just an easter egg, there’s no grand secret.
Comments
GreatCabbage
Thank you for the clarification
Zaim İpek
This seems like a fun little side-quest. Priam has amazing luck at finding side-quests that give rewards.
Zaim İpek
"Suprematies" typo. Supremacies
Andrew
Thank you!
Luke Scheffe
The tier threes aren’t allowed. The other arkanans are.
M. Kazai
I think this is about why the high Tiers aren't allowed to intervere yet. Because they are a direct Consequence of the Systems interference
GreatCabbage
How are the arkanians not allowed to attack other civilizations? I thought they were currently fighting humanity
Custus
Thanks for the chapter!
Strategist One
Thanks for the chapter!
