Priam
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Chapter 147: Gimme All Your Blood
🕑 Added 2023-11-24 18:22:58 +0000 UTCSorry, I meant to post yesterday but the chapter was getting too long. I cut it in two. I'll post 148 by noon tomorrow. I'm planning to post chapters 149 and 150 this weekend, so it'll be a big week!
Enjoy!
*
Kazuki squinted as he observed most of the warriors deserting the village. They must have found Priam. Don't die.
Having infiltrated the village's confines, Kazuki had concealed himself in a building. The simple wooden hut was as basic as it was sturdy. Inside, eight layers of dried herbs were spread across the floor. The skulls lived in makeshift barracks.
Kazuki had experienced trenches full of corpses that smelled better than this dormitory. The stench was unbearable. Seizing the opportunity of lowered security, the hoplite left his hiding spot. Naturally, he headed towards the village center. The runic menhir was so massive that it would have to be stolen by Priam, but there could be other treasures. Moreover, if his rival faced one of the Bosses, Kazuki refused to be left behind.
He maneuvered through about fifty assorted shanties before reaching the enclosures. Bovine-like creatures grazed peacefully on straw inside. The skulcs kept their food supply within the village, presumably to protect it from predators. Kazuki waited for a moment before checking behind the enclosure. An empty space, the pond where the menhir stood, and other shanties.
Nothing of interest at first glance, but on closer inspection, Kazuki saw a hole.
A few meters to the left of the menhir, a pit descended into the ground. Kazuki looked left and right. The village now seemed deserted. Without hesitation, he emerged into the open and started running. For an uneasy second, Kazuki sprinted with nothing to hide behind before jumping into the hole.
It descended into darkness at a gentle slope, and Kazuki stopped just at the entrance. He listened. Nothing.
Satisfied and curious, he ventured into the tunnel. His senses were alert, searching for traps or signs of life. Fifty meters further and about five meters underground, Kazuki stopped. The path forked. On his left, a thick curtain of braided vines concealed a room. On his right, darkness. An uncomfortable odor of excrement and blood emanated from there.
The right path could lead to the females' quarters. The warriors were all males, but their description mentioned mothers and a rapid gestation period. No females were visible in the camp; one didn't have to be a genius to understand that they were probably herded underground. The monstrous way they were treated didn't make them martyrs - Kazuki was fairly certain they would try to tear him apart with their teeth if they could. However, treasures wouldn't be found in that direction.
Kazuki turned to the vines. He carefully pushed them aside with his spear before stepping into a room illuminated by a few luminescent crystals.
In the center of the room, an albino skeletal skulc was mating with a female. She must have weighed several tons. Her grotesque belly moved, the thin skin revealing the presence of a multitude of skulc fetuses. Without arms or eyes, the creature couldn't live alone. Female skulcs were nothing more than egg layers.
In the list of things that should be burned with a flamethrower, this thing ranks just behind mosquitoes.
Kazuki suppressed his disgust and focused on the white skulc. The act of copulation was not pleasant. The monster chanted in rhythm with its thrusts, and Kazuki squinted. The Shaman - Kazuki would bet his hand on it - was preparing a ritual. Certainly a way to shorten gestation or strengthen the fetuses.
[Symbiosis]. Without waiting any longer, Kazuki-Knightmare launched an attack.
*
Priam felt the ground tremble beneath his feet. An explosion had just occurred in the distance. [Echolocation] calculated the epicenter: the village. The second Boss must have found Kazuki. Or the other way around.
A deep sound caught Priam's attention. The wind fell silent, and no skulc spoke. The only sound was Skull's raspy breath. Priam locked eyes with the Tier 1 and lost his nonchalance. For the first time since his father's accident, his smile faded. A sign of concern, tension, or concentration.
Sometimes all three at once.
The Boss was powerful. Too powerful. Priam's supernatural instinct told him that his chances of victory were slim. But not impossible. After all, he had his breath, his spear, his internal world, and...
Skull disappeared.
Priam felt a disturbance in his mist, then a movement in his Domain. His add-on automatically activated [Kinetic Control].
Skull's fist struck his chest.
The world flipped. Sky, earth, blue, white, incomprehension. Pain.
Priam was thrown backward with terrifying force. A second later, his body collided with a huge fir tree and split it in two. The impact woke him, and Priam absorbed his kinetic energy to stop.
Or rather, he tried.
Lvl Up: [Erosion Resistance] lvl 31,32
META (END) +6
His meridians were on fire, and the epic skill refused to activate. Carried by his momentum, Priam's body exploded two more trunks before a third stopped him. The impact shook the tree, causing a snowfall that buried him.
Lvl Up: [Star Iron Body] lvl 33,34,35
CONST +9
[Star Iron Body] was the evolution of [Blunt Resistance]. Proof of the severity of the blow, Priam was rewarded with three levels. For a few moments, he remained leaning against the fir tree, dazed. The snow numbed his body and mind.
Then a wave of pain arrived, as strong as it was salvific. He had to react.
What—What just happened?
[Priam’s System] answered the question.
[Summary: Skull's Attack (Unique Skulc - Tier 1).
Detected Debuffs: Disruption of your immediate perception.
Combat Synthesis:
Punch to the sternum.
Automatic activation of [Kinetic Control]: Attenuation of received kinetic energy.
Note: Energy too significant: overwhelmed meridians - cessation of the skill.
Flight: 53 meters.
Damage detected by [Diagnostic]: cracked sternum, nine broken ribs, pierced lungs, internal hemorrhage, temporary alteration of the cardiovascular system (damaged left heart).
Conjecture on Skull's status:
Strength > 1500
Agility > 1000
Constitution > 1000]
Priam swallowed hard as he read the system's report. This simple movement made him grimace in pain. On the verge of fainting, he used Micro to force his left heart to return to a normal rhythm. The organ revved up like an old engine before restarting laboriously. I'm in bad shape. But why isn't Skull taking advantage of his advanta—.
His instinct screamed, and Priam straightened up. Ignoring the pain signals from his body, he leaped using a kinetic charge. The next moment, the trunk of the fir tree that had sheltered him exploded. Apparently, the Boss wasn't planning to wait for the hero to regain his senses. Poor sport.
Grimacing in pain upon landing, Priam looked ahead. At the spot of the first attack, Skull was juggling a few rocks, a bored expression on his face.
"Nog grob drazzak. Me saash yu fasz," he said in a haughty tone.
Priam didn't speak the skulc language, but he was almost sure the Boss had just insulted him. Did the monster find him weak? A surge of anger welled up in Priam. How dared this creature scorn him?
A fit of coughing shook Priam. Spitting blood, he triggered the power of [Three-headed Hydra].
[Three-headed Hydra - Silver] - …
Your vitality allows you to restore any body part as long as you have the time and energy. You can regenerate a limb or organ once a day, extremely quickly. Your blood is already poisonous, so this Title increases its lethality.
His chest trembled as his bones regenerated and found their place. Torn muscles were restored, and his heart regained a normal rhythm. Only his damaged meridians testified to the violence of the attack he had just endured. Fortunately, [Healing Meridians] was already at work.
[Healing Meridians] - Your meridians use a tiny fraction of the aether that flows through them to regenerate over time.
Priam fell to the ground in a crouched position. Though not at his best, he already felt capable of using his skills. It was good news because Skull seemed fed up with waiting. With a flick of the wrist, the Boss propelled one of the rocks he held in his hand. A cone of air formed in front of the projectile as it broke the sound barrier.
Priam shifted slightly to dodge the attack. The speed of the rock decreased as it brushed past him - Domain and [Kinetic Control] taking their toll. There is no small savings.
The projectile's course ended in a geyser of blood: one of the watchful spectators had just lost an arm. Priam shook his head upon hearing the cry.
What a waste. Why attack one of his subordinates? The reign of fear? Someone truly powerful didn't need that in this world.
The injured skulc fell to his knees, and one of his neighbors beheaded him. It’s the law of this new world. Priam felt neither hatred nor pity for the skulcs. He had to kill them to be rewarded. He needed that reward to survive. In this world, the weak had no say, and Priam wanted to speak.
He wanted to shout.
The skulcs stirred at the death of one of their own. Some drew their swords but froze when Skull roared. The Champion was his prey.
Priam smirked as his draconic instinct roared.
"You're not even a chapter in the book of my life," he growled. "Just an obstacle I have to conquer."
Skull understood he was being provoked. The moment Priam saw the muscles in the Boss's thighs contract, he acted.
[Focus], [Battle Flow], [Sixth Sense], [Emotional Discipline], [Diagnostic], [Kinetic Control], [Battle Footwork].
Never before had Priam triggered so many skills simultaneously. His meridians trembled as he stood ready.
Priam blinked, and Skull seemed to teleport. Despite Micro, despite his perception and agility, and despite his active skills, Priam struggled to keep up. The skulc arrived on him in less than a second. [Dodge].
Priam used all the information from his skill and a kinetic charge to dodge the deadly attack. It was barely enough - Skull's fist seemed homing. A second blow followed. Domain slowed it down, allowing Priam to step back. Invoking Promesse, he charged his spear with kinetic energy to block Skull's third strike. His meridians aflame again, Priam maintained an impassive face.
He no longer felt anger, fear, or pain. He was focused.
Blocking the fourth attack dislocated his shoulder. [Human Anatomy] and [Kinetic Control] allowed Priam to reset it instantly. Skull smiled, revealing his sharp teeth, and headbutted Priam.
Lvl Up: [Star Iron Body] lvl 36,37
CONST +6
The impact made him fall to his knees as his skull cracked. Another attack like that would kill him. Domain detected a kick, and his add-on forced Priam to merge with the mist.
This ethereal state allowed his mind to refocus. Using his mental faculties to analyze the real-time combat, he had to face the truth: he was utterly outclassed.
Skull was four times stronger and twice as fast as him. His technique was prodigious, and his skills blurred Priam's senses. Every attack looked like a feint, and a mistake meant death.
His chances of victory were slim. Infinitesimal even. Skull was so strong and fast that he trampled all of Priam's certainties. How could the colossus move so fast without causing significant air movements? Without taking off with every step?
Priam reappeared behind the colossus. A thrust from Promesse bit into the boss's leg. The spear collected only a single drop of blood before Skull turned. His fist hit the ground as Priam disappeared into his mist, creating a crater.
Should I flee? His chances of victory were slim, and he was sure he could surpass the skulc before long.
A fir tree hid his reappearance. A scream shook its needles as Skull roared in rage. The Boss probably didn't appreciate playing cat and mouse. Priam barely heard it. Despite his headache, his gaze couldn't tear away from Promesse. A red, almost black, blood gleamed on its tip. That vision was hypnotizing.
Without thinking, Priam brought it to his mouth and licked the liquid. His instinct left him no choice.
A spasm shook him. Priam widened his eyes as he felt the warm blood flow into his trachea and reach his stomach. Before he could even think of vomiting, the blood disappeared, absorbed by his body.
Your draconic heart becomes more compatible with your body (+1%).
New compatibility assessed at 80%.
Update : [Tribulation Wyvern Heart - Silver(Gold)] - …
The Dragon’s second gift... Delayed until compatibility exceeds 90%.
VIT +20% (30%)
Attribute evolution... Delayed until compatibility reaches 100%
Priam froze. Without [Focus] and [Emotional Discipline], he would have burst into laughter. Change of plan.
There was no more talk of fleeing. He had to win. The System's reward became secondary. Priam wanted the powers of a dragon. I should be able to defeat him if I go all out.
Priam's superhuman brain sought a way to win. A possibility.
[Sixth Sense] activated, and Priam smiled.
It was time to step up. It was time to conquer.
*
Status: (Average value for a Homo sapiens male before integration: PHY 10 / MEN 10 / META 0)
PHYSICAL:
Strength 401
Constitution 689 (+18)
Agility 426
Vitality 540
Perception 619
MENTAL:
Vivacity 340
Dexterity 437
Memory 140
Willpower 657
Charisma 440
META:
Meta-affinity 353
Meta-focus 261
Meta-endurance 191 (+6)
Meta-perception 128
Meta-chance 216
Meta-authority 15
Potential: 599 (+14)
Tier 0
[He Who Eludes Death] charge: PRIMED.
[Tribulation]: Five Tribulations pending.
Future Tribulations delayed until:
Time: 175 days 20 hours 57 minutes 59 seconds.
Comments
John Isaac Mahaffey
I believe you meant Skulcs.
John Isaac Mahaffey
End of second paragraph: "The skulls lived in makeshift barracks."
Blightdad
No better motivation than greed😈
PriÀm
Corrected, thanks!
Andrew
Thank you!
omri tal
In the second paragraph you wrote Priam instead of Kazuki, "Having infiltrated the village's confines, Priam had concealed himself in a building."
HJSecond
I wonder if the conquest merit tree is going to come into play next chapter.
Ekko
Looks at the picture of Skull: ...Dragonblood is one hell of a Drug Also, if he can kill that guy, maybe he can use him for the Heavenly Dragon Technique
