Reward: Perfect fight (Clock the Cursed).
Select one of the abilities that could have defeated your opponent.
Observe how you could have defeated him in the most optimal way.
Aether ManipulationKinetic ControlPyroSpear MasteryChiraBlue letters flashed across his vision, and Priam laughed, dark humor slipping through his exhaustion. He had just torn out his own eyes, yet sohow he could still read the rewards options. Whatever thod the System used to project its interface didn’t need eyes as a dium.
As the laughter faded, a deep sigh took its place, and Priam settled onto the ground. Despite the death of its creator, Clock’s curse still clung to him, restricting his vitality and so of his resistances. His stump—where his hand had once been—bled sluggishly, and his mind, already battered by ntal strain, was slow to process.
Yet the blue light of the System refused to let him rest. It demanded his choice.
Reading over the options again, Priam realized that they allowed him to witness how he could have taken down Clock in an optimal fight.
“But what does ‘optimal’ an?” he muttered. “Quickest victory? Minimal energy? Least risk?”
The possibilities were endless, and only one way would reveal the answer. However, his instinct whispered that a reward this advanced would be worth it. Odds were, he could shape the aning of “optimal” to his advantage.
Among the five options, he first evaluated Pyro. His connection to the Concept was nearing Unity; even if he hadn’t reached the pinnacle yet, it would suffice for now. Plus, his maxed affinity with the Concept allowed him to convert future purification opportunities into proficiency, a trick that had recently brought him to the very threshold of Unity. Eliminated.
Then ca Spear Mastery. Priam grimaced, thinking of Prosse. Without his bound weapon, this choice held less appeal. And even with Prosse, Priam wasn’t arrogant enough to ignore the truth—he wasn’t a prodigy with the spear. Sure, it was his best long-range option, and he needed it to level his Mastery, but he would have to specialize elsewhere to truly shine. Gone. If I ever want to see a perfect spear fight, I’ll just watch Kazuki.
[Kinetic Control] was a tougher decision. It was his first self-created skill and had been his bread and butter for ages. Even now, he used it daily and barely grasped its full potential. To redy that, he had devised a training routine over the last two weeks, aiming to incorporate it into every movent, even the smallest ones. It was a challenge, demanding a precise touch; he had to account for the resistance of every part of his body.
The goal was for the skill to enhance his physical abilities at any ti—multiplying his strength, absorbing shocks, dispersing forces, and boosting speed without tearing himself apart. The practice offered him insight into his body, his movent skills, and his kinetic mastery.
At epic-rank, [Kinetic Control] was capable of beating Tier 3 opponents, which presaged a bright future if he could unlock its ideal upgrade.
Two questions remained. By witnessing perfect execution of the skill, could he emulate it to achieve the ideal upgrade? Almost certainly. Should he? No.
Clenching his fist, Priam brushed this choice aside. His pride might be a flaw, but he was certain he could master this ability on his own. He understood the physics behind it, and his reinforced ridians could support the strain. The only limitation was his cognitive capacity—perfectly enhancing his body ant focusing on hundreds of muscles, tendons, and bones, each with its own limits and strengths. His dragon-augnted vivacity and add-ons helped, but there was still room for improvent. Even if he witnessed a perfect use, he couldn’t replicate it fully just yet.
That left two contenders: [Aether Manipulation] and [Chira]. One skill with primordial potential and a Talent on the brink of becoming seraphic.
Priam weighed the pros and cons. His mythic eye mutation seed controllable with [Chira] and might be a weakness against a curse-wielding foe. He used the Talent passively, but the option’s presence suggested that active use was possible—powerful enough to defeat a Duke. Maybe I haven’t fully grasped the potential of my bloodlines. Then again, mastering aether could take to the Zenith.
Paralyzed by indecision, drained from the curse and blood loss, Priam struggled to think.
“Aether is the foundation of everything,” he mused. “However, if there’s a chance to ta Hecate New Moon and my bloodlines…can I pass it up? No one will teach better than the System… But then, maybe there are ways to secure an ideal prerequisite for [Aether Manipulation]. It bugs that this primordial skill is just a high-tier upgrade… And why the hell am I talking to myself?!”
Groaning, Priam massaged his temples. Magic versus mythos. Both choices were extraordinary, but he could only pick one. Ultimately, a single question settled it.
Would he follow a well-worn path with the bloodlines or blaze his own with the infinity of aether?
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