Chapter 402: Mind Ennoblement - Part II

Enjoy!

PS: Priam Character Sheet 
PSS: Discord to say hello and discuss the chappies!

Chapter 402: Mind Ennoblement - Part II

The Seven Concepts were gatekeeping the Zenith. Priam had no other proof than an educated guess, but he was sure he was right. It fit perfectly with the mindset of the powerful: never let anyone surpass you.

“That’s very interesting,” he said at last, “but it’s still a long way off for me. I hope there are other advantages to ennobling one’s mind.”

The Immortal Gambler’s lips curled into a smile. “Other than letting you expand your Domain resolution and walk into any low realm on the eve of a universal invasion?”

Oddly specific…

“Other than that.”

“Other than unlocking [Curse Resistance]?”

One of Priam’s Titles, [Life is Hard; I’m Harder], possessed a Merit that allowed him to gain skills otherwise inaccessible in his current Soul Tier. Even so, one prerequisite was Mind Ennoblement. The fact that a System administrator knew every one of his secrets was more than a little irritating, so Priam simply nodded.

“Other than that.”

“Greedy.” Thaal grinned, teeth flashing white as polished ivory. “Then think about this: where the Heavenly Dragon Body Tempering method lets you integrate eight of your resistances, Mind Ennoblement uplifts your mind… and I’m not just talking resilience, but also attribute evolution. Even if you don’t yet have a compatible bloodline, it’s still incredibly useful for [He Who Eludes Death], right?

The Tier 8’s tone made it clear he wasn’t speaking about the alien Talent, but about Priam himself. The young man barely noticed the nuance; his mind had snagged on the beginning of the statement.

Heavenly Dragon for the body… and Phoenix’s Nirvana for the soul. Did he just tell me to get a third bloodline for my mind? One to boost my Domain?

With that, his three Supremacies would each be supported by a bloodline, balanced perfectly with [Chimera]. An elegant solution, especially when the supreme dragon would soon outpace the high phoenix.

“If you’re still not satisfied, I’ve got one last argument,” Thaal went on, standing up. He grimaced as a wave rolled in to lick at his sand bridge. The structure collapsed. “Those who’ve ennobled their mind find it far easier to discover their Aura with Micro, and to break into Tier 7. And not just because they’re strong.”

Priam sifted through what he knew of the Tier 6 to Tier 7 transition. Not much, other than that the crown Prince of the elves, a Tier 6, was aiming to create a Myth.

“Does it have to do with creating a Myth?”

“Ten points for Oasis,” Thaal applauded. “So, want to learn?”

Priam raised a brow. “That’s why I was here, so…”

“Hide your enthusiasm,” the administrator teased. “Alright, here’s how it works. First, you need a crown. You can craft one with elaborate rituals, Merits, treasures, and so on, but the result will be inferior. If you’re worthy, the universe’s Laws will give you one. Meaning, if you are part of the crème de la crème for your Tier.”

“Which I proved by becoming a Prince,” Priam guessed.

“Right on the money! At Tier 0, in my Sector, there’s only one for every ten billion fighters. Twenty for crafters. So yeah, you’re above a hell of a lot of nobodies!”

Priam’s eyes widened. Those were ridiculous numbers. Pre-Tutorial, humanity’s population had been near that first figure, but most integrated civilizations now enforced strict population controls. Indeed, the System extended average lifespans, and planetary space was finite. Thus, a planet like Earth rarely held more than a billion Tier 0s, the majority being non-combatants. I wonder how many Princes there are in the entire Hope Sector…

“In our universe, the System handles granting the crown. Since I’m Employee of the Month, I get to do the honors,” Thaal said, extending his hand.

A golden circle appeared, and Priam leaned forward. Instinct told him the crown belonged to him as much as Promesse, or any part of his own body.

“It’s so plain,” he murmured.

“That’s just the foundation,” Thaal said with a smile. “It’s waiting for you to define it.” Diamonds and rubies embedded themselves in the gold band. “Will you be a king?” The jewels shifted into leaves, the gold flushing green. “Will you wear the laurel crown of victors and poets?” The leaves fell away, revealing thorns as crimson blood seeped through the metal. “Will the crown of thorns afflict you?” The blood remained, but the thorns lengthened into swords. “Or will you afflict others?” The steel shimmer faded into a golden radiance; the blades retracted, and the band widened into an angel’s halo. The crown shifted again and again, telling a thousand stories before returning to its original form.

“Imposing one’s authority on the world—that’s Domain. The crown is the symbol of that Supremacy,” the administrator said, placing the object above Priam’s head. The golden circle floated a finger’s breadth above his hair.

[Citizen of the Aether - Silver] becomes [Prince of the Aether - Genesis]!

[Prince of the Aether - Genesis] - Temper your body, ennoble your mind, baptize your soul. These three steps bring you closer to the primal and eternal energy that is aether. As a Prince, your mind begins to glimpse Stories, and your clearance level increases.

Priam shivered as his soul, his crown, and his Domain synchronized. The precious spiritual alloy became a ring of fire, then a halo of mist—a temporary form that appealed to the Homo Elysian.

He closed his eyes, probing the changes. As his magical regeneration had increased, a metaphorical mantle draped over his shoulders, and a deep certainty filled him. The aether loved him. The world was proud of him.

The feeling was stronger than when he had earned [Knight of the Aether] before Back in Time. That Talent evolution had been forced through the Ace Merit and had resulted in a suboptimal Mind Ennoblement. Now it was the other way around: [Prince of the Aether] came from a reward granted by the universe, which explained its rarity and power.

The crown thrummed. Through it, his mind Supremacy felt more natural, until it revealed one of its secrets. A new sense was awakening in Priam. Moments ago, his sphere of authority had shown him only matter and aether. Now, his Domain perceived a new force, whose pull was stronger than gravity.

Before he could study it, Thaal spoke again.

“Becoming a Prince is enough to ennoble your mind… but that’s only the beginning. You’ll need to amass many other great deeds to elevate your crown. The fate vision conferred by your crown will help you see in which direction to focus your efforts to confirm your path.”

“My path?”

“You saw the different crowns, Priam. Now, ask yourself: who am I? What provisional Title would my Story bear?”

On another day, Priam might not have known how to answer. Today, crowned with a golden band bestowed by the most primordial Laws of aether, the answer was obvious.

“The Juggernaut.”

“Prove it. Mind Ennoblement is about defining oneself, so write your Myth. Each chapter will shape your crown, which in turn will grant you privileges.”

The administrator’s few words stirred Priam’s instincts, and he understood the rest. By acting as the Juggernaut, he would become the Juggernaut. In doing so, his crown would change to reflect his Story, granting him perks tied to the Myth he was building. Ah, like the Merits of a Title.

“You mentioned a fate vision…” Priam breathed, closing his eyes. Scanning his surroundings, his Domain detected something new. An interaction both fundamental and unknown. His crown translated it for his mind as a whisper. For now, the environment was nearly silent under the presence of the System and Thaal, but he felt enormous potential in this new sense. “Why call it that? The Talent description mentions Story.”

“Ah. At your level, you’ll only see a sliver of the Stories. Something akin to fate. Don’t get bogged down in the details just yet.”

“So it does exist?”

For a man who loved freedom as fiercely as Priam did, the existence of an immutable destiny was unbearable.

“Everyone has a Story,” Thaal replied. The Administrator was no longer smiling. “Some become Myths, echoing through eternity… but most amount to nothing more than gossip. Do you think a protagonist is chosen at birth? That it was written somewhere you’d survive the Impossible Tutorial?”

Priam opened his mouth to answer, only to find a card sealing his lips. A jack of spades. The Administrator wasn’t done speaking.

“Fate exists, and most people are its slaves. They’re born at the bottom of a well and too afraid to climb out. Then the years pass, and their strength withers. But Fate is only a Tier 8 Concept, one under the jurisdiction of Karma. Anyone who seeks the Zenith must rise above such things.” Thaal tapped Priam’s crown. “This will show you the wells others are trapped in, and the handholds to climb out of your own. You understand?”

“... Yeah.”

“Good. One last thing: the Juggernaut isn’t your fate. It’s an ideal—one you can change whenever you wish. Don’t be a victim to fate, nor a slave to your pride.”

The Primordial glanced at his wrist, and a Swiss watch winked into existence. “Time to wrap this up. I told you you’ll need feats to forge your crown. Your Fate Vision will serve as your compass to find your path, and to decode those of others. In another universe, you’d be left to fend for yourself, but the System takes pity on its users. It won’t always list the milestones you need to complete your Juggernaut’s quest, but it will record every great deed the universe recognizes.”

Priam’s HUD bloomed with a new tab, opening on its own.

Mind Ennoblement - Crown of the Juggernaut:
Prince - Low Tier (T0, T1 aether production)

Sphere of authority resolution: 10-5m3

Minor Actions: 0/10
Major Actions: 0/3
Become a Monarch: 0/1

“Of course,” Thaal went on, “if you start down a different path than the Juggernaut’s, that will show up too. Some actions even count toward multiple paths at once. Questions?”

“If I’m reading this right… my basic crown currently lets me create Tier 0 and Tier 1 aether?”

“Yep. Any healthy soul can absorb the ambient aether in their Domain and filter it—an ability capped by their meta-affinity—circulate it at a rate tied to their meta-focus, and store it in their meridians according to their meta-endurance. Works fine in a rich world like Elysium, but not in a magic desert like your old Earth.”

Priam ignored the jab at his homeworld, too focused on drinking in the Tier 8’s words. So far, the Administrator’s lesson matched his own hard-won observations.

“A basic artificial crown can produce Tier 0 aether,” resumed Thaal. “A basic royal crown, Tier 1.”

“How?”

Magic or not, Priam doubted there was such a thing as an almost common, infinite energy source.

“From the narrative force of your Story,” Thaal said, smiling as though that explained everything. “There’s a complex formula factoring in your Domain radius, your crown’s Tier,   your meta-authority… but production is always limited by your meta-affinity. Think of that stat as your mana regen. Anyway—complete ten minor feats, and you’ll be able to produce Tier 2 aether. Three major feats for Tier 3. And that’s not even counting other upgrades I’m not going to spoil for you,” the Primordial added with a wink. “After that, you’ll need to become a Monarch to advance your crown to mid-Tier and refine your path.”

“Fascinating… but I don’t feel any Tier 1 aether in me?”

“You haven’t baptized your soul,” Thaal pointed out. “You’re producing energy you can’t perceive.”

Priam nodded. “Can you define ‘action’?”

“Do I look like a dictionary?” Thaal snorted. “Something impressive that resonates with your Juggernaut identity. A minor action, for example, would be cuckolding the young master of a barbarian tribe before killing his Transcendent father. Any similarity to existing events or characters is purely coincidental after having raided his house and killed his pet.”

Priam laughed. “If that’s minor, what’s major? Killing a Tier 4?”

“Experiencing a Nirvana.” Thaal punctuated the suggestion with a slow, deliberate wink.

“Making Arnold laugh.”

“Stealing Vertex’s snack.”

“Killing Fate—”

*

In the afternoon sky, the sun dipped behind the horizon, soon chased by the moon.

What—

A new day began and ended in the same heartbeat. The celestial dance quickened as waves pounded the shore, dragging away the sand until the landscape itself was altered. Summer’s heat gave way to autumn’s chill, then winter’s bite. By the time flowers bloomed in spring, Priam’s hair brushed his navel.

Is—

Time accelerated again. His skin withered. His breath came short.

Happening—?

A single thought and already Priam was reaching the end of his lifespan. The terminus of his fate bore down on him. Sightless, he felt death’s approach, and his weary body was powerless to evade it. The defiance of his mind meant nothing.

Before the horror could even settle in, the man who might have been the Juggernaut drew his final breath.

*

A force wrapped around him as a deluge of vitality surged into his soul and flesh. Sight returned in time to watch the sun and moon spin backwards across the sky. The river of time flowed back into its bed, and the world rewound.

Boom. Boom.

A double heartbeat rattled through him. Priam checked himself. No wrinkles, no wounds.

“You should watch what you say,” Thaal remarked.

“What—what was that?” Priam gasped, the terror finally catching up. A crushing dread gripped his hearts and squeezed his lungs. Without Micro, he might have vomited.

“The disapproval of a Tier 9.” The Administrator removed his watch and dropped it into the sand with a look of disgust. The battery had been dead for decades. “Good thing I was done with my speech,” he added, watching Priam tremble like a leaf.

The young man barely heard him. His mind kept replaying the moment.

The temporal distance between him and his fate had shrunk fast. Death had caught up. More than the Reaper itself, it was the sheer helplessness that terrified him. How could he keep moving forward, knowing that the mere thought of a powerful being could erase him—

*

Seeing Priam’s mental state degrade, Thaal sighed. “When you come back to your senses, do yourself a favor: don’t try to recall the details. Some things leave scars, and the mind can’t heal like the body. Maybe your Patron can help you.”

One of the noted effects of [He Who Eludes Death] was dampening the shock of its bearer’s demise. Of the fifty-two thousand two hundred and twenty-one days they had lived, the System had returned all but one. Priam’s alien Talent was primed.

Thaal slid a hand into his pocket, drew out a hundred-sided die, and let it fall into the sand. Now half-buried, it displayed a skull crowned with sparks. The Immortal Gambler had just bet on a catastrophe from the heavens.

“An asteroid? Ah, no.”

The afternoon sky turned white. From the edge of the galaxy, a gamma-ray burst struck Europe. In a millisecond, the atmosphere ignited, the continent vitrified, and the planet was sterilized.

Normally, Thaal considered himself fairly chill, but knowing the former admin of Elysium had been eavesdropping irked him. Especially since it was his own fault. By speaking of that entity, he had drawn its attention.

“Well, I feel better now,” the Tier 8 said, surveying the devastation.

Nothing like wiping out a planet to blow off steam. Perhaps he should destroy a few other solar systems to really clear his head? No… let’s not overdo it.

Ignoring the vaporized ocean to his left and the blistering heat, Thaal stooped to pick up his die. He blew the ash from it. Beneath the soot—the only remains of Priam—gleamed ninety-nine other crowned skulls.

A great gambler was an ever better cheater.

*

Status: 

PHYSICAL:
Strength 1 253
Constitution 2 247
Agility 1 652
Vitality 2 163
Perception 994 

MENTAL:
Vivacity (D) 666
Dexterity 985
Memory 1 208
Willpower 1 310
Charisma 1 010 

META:
Meta-affinity (O) 1 446
Meta-focus 900
Meta-endurance 1 677
Meta-perception 871
Meta-chance 1 203
Meta-authority 927 

Potential: 33 825
Tier 0

[Tribulation]: Five Tribulations pending.

Next thresholds: 12 attributes > 1 200 / 3 attributes > 1 800 / 1 attribute > 2 400