Too expensive.
The System could be such a prick sotis. Before the update, it only let Mithras access general-purpose information for free. Locking even Destiny Data behind a paywall. After the update, things improved a lot. With Mithras now being able to see the nas and classes of Destinies for free and access a wider range of info.
But he still had to pay for the spicy details. And in plot-sensitive cases like this one, the cost could quickly get out of hand.
Aurelian and Hakim had no doubt beco the most recurrent nas on Mithras' list of troublemakers, but the situation had not reached the point that he'd squander a billion Ero Points just to find out the details of their background.
"Ero Points are so hard to mass produce, to this day I can only afford the cheapest tyrant-class items, and only one at that. Who knows when I will need to buy the solution to my problems?
But the Lord is worried…so we do have to figure this one out ASAP. Let's just not be wasteful. Especially when…alternatives do exist," Mithras whispered, and dispelled the status screen, extending his right index at the starry sky.
Having consud and refined the souls and Abominations of the Five Kings, Mithras had access to their knowledge and mories as well. Hadubrangr's blood also provided a respectable info boost. But if that knowledge and mories were enough to figure out Hakim and Aurelian's secrets, Hadubrangr wouldn't have gotten overthrown by "His Greatest Mistake."
Sothing was missing here, but with the third Holy Sacrant, Mithras could connect the missing dots…and find out about 99% of all he needed.
[Holy Sacrant: Golden Revelation]
The third sacrant kicked in, pulling out all the info and mories regarding the Fylkirs from Mithras' brain. Golden strands of mist rotated Mithras' skull, runic characters taking shape and shifting into symbols of the Old Tongue as the tide of mories shed with the Golden Revelation to reconstruct the Fylkirs' past—first and second generations combined!
This trick also worked on the present and future but with lesser chances of success. Even Sucuria's past wasn't left behind. But for now, Mithras ignored it, focusing on Aurelian and Hakim.
The Revelation crystallized, becoming an ancient palace of large sangria walls that bled fountains of blood onto trembling gray statues. In the deeper corners of the massive palace, Odoacer faced a midwife, trembling like a death row inmate before the inevitability of his execution.
"The empress…has passed away? Here? How? How could my wife possibly die from childbirth? Why are you telling sothing so stupid? Bring an Inversion Specialist, a Blood-Slting Artist, a Necromancer, anyone!
Just bring soone and resurrect her! Or are you so incompetent that you cannot even do sothing that simple?!" Odoacer snapped, but barely had the words poured out that a hoarse and mildly disturbing voice echoed in his mind—nailing down his hopes.
'My Chosen, please restrain your grief. This…transcends the limits of your Empire. There is nothing you can do. Nothing to reverse or resurrect, for this death is my will. Accept it and move on with the poise and dignity of an august monarch,' the Weaver said, the cold and ruthless words making Odoacer's heart pound at breakneck speed.
But a mont later, it all cald down, a piece of the Fylkir's humanity going away with it.
"It's fine…the next one will raise him. So long as he's fine. How is…my prince?" Odoacer asked, causing the poor midwife to shiver as she tried her best to co up with words that wouldn't get her beheaded.
"About that…it was originally twins but…only one survived. The one who killed the other, the empress…and every single person present under Blood Longevity.
That cry…how can a baby's cry be so monstrous? Your Majesty…please save us! That thing is not your child! It's the Devil! The Devil!" As she recalled the horrifying events she'd borne witness to, the midwife broke down, dropping to her knees and begging Odoacer to smother that evil spawn!
The King of Kings' response was imdiate, his fist dropping like a hamr, crashing into the midwife's skull and silencing her forever.
'Be not afraid. They died because they were not worthy to witness the glory of Aurelian's birth.
Aurelian is your child's na—the invincible blade that will sweep through the Spiritual World and Higher Planes for you. With him to lead your armies, the Empire shall remain…forever victorious!
Sadly, that invincibility…does co with undesirable conditions. Never try to remove Aurelian's mask. He was born with it and will die wearing it. I'm warning you for your sake. Only the mbers of the Triuirate can remove Aurelian's mask—and neither one of us will.
Aurelian will suffer, more than anyone in this world, the Lord included, and through that suffering…achieve eternal greatness.
For what is greatness, if not the nonstop challenge of pain and suffering? Aurelian will stand at your right, Trajan at your left, and together…you will rule the universe…as the new Triumvirate!
On that glorious day, my final creation will be complete at last! And the Lord…mine forever!
Hahaha...hahahaha!' A peal of screeching laughter erupted in Odoacer's mind, going on and on as the Fylkir ambled towards his child. In the gore-soaked delivery room, a newborn lay on top of bloodied sheets, pinching their dead mother's toes with soul-shredding cries.
The cries had no effect on Odoacer, who picked up his newborn child with an unusual look, staring at the sun-shaped golden mask that covered the baby's face with an almost psychotic intensity.
"Octavian…Manfred…Claudius…all garbage. All weak! But you are different. You will engrave the words…Emphyria, za'hak muk'bal…in the annals of all worlds!" Odoacer burst into laughter, raising the blood-stained Aurelian at the waxing moon!
The Hadu bloodline was both the strongest and most unusual of the seven. Its mbers all exceptional in one area, but unbearably weak in another.
To this day, Mithras and Odoacer are the only two exceptions. And so, of Odoacer's original four princes, one was a transcendent strategist but a miserable Guru, another, a generational warlock, but a tragic templar. The third, a masterful statesman, and a factual cripple.
Little did Odoacer know that Aurelian was no different. Just that their weakness and infirmity…didn't affect their battle prowess.
Various events succeeded before Mithras' eyes, culminating in a battle at the Mausoleum of Evil between the duo of Odoacer and a now-adult Aurelian with a trio of colossal dragons led by the previous Dragon King.
Nine gargantuan corpses crowded the scene. Seven demigods, two minor gods, slain with no hope of rebirth!
Aurelian led the vanguard, gifting the Dragon King a severe injury and giving Odoacer the opening to deal the final blow! The remaining elder dragons were no match for the duo, dispatched not long afterward.
But while Odoacer ca out of this event the undisputed ruler of the Purple Dawn, taking control of the Sanctuary with the Weaver's help and forcing the Holy Balmaria to stay out of the Empire's business for tens of thousands of years to co, Aurelian sustained disastrous soul injuries—cursed by the previous Dragon King to relieve the existences of those they killed, in the past, present or future…while getting intoxicated 24/7 by the thirst for blood and conquest!
The curse almost broke Aurelian, but for reasons that Mithras was now privileged to know, Hakim saved Aurelian from the worst-case scenario—paying a steep price in the process.
Shapur, Trajan and Odoacer now faced the two Fylkirs in a coma. Shapur focused on Hakim, while the imperial brothers flanked Aurelian.
"Aurelian saved his Emperor. Hakim saved Aurelian. I owe the two a priceless debt and will therefore reward them with a priceless gift:
Life!
Both will be given Immunity and allowed to rampage at will for as long as they do not exceed the limits of what the Empire can shoulder. When they do exceed that limit and commit a Transgression, I will put them in Stasis and revoke their Immunity," Odoacer said, shocking Trajan, who didn't expect his brother to make such an absurd and unreasonable move.
Trajan's worries were later proven correct. For if before, Aurelian was just a cold and unfeeling general, the day their eyes opened again, a monster had awoken—sweeping through the Blood Aristocracy with a voracious thirst for blood and souls!
The Golden Revelation shifted here, bringing Mithras to the scene of Hakim and Aurelian's souls floating in…the Mausoleum of Evil!
Both faced an ancient stele, but while others in their shoes would see nothing but that idle monunt, Mithras and the two could see a tall and imposing figure that sat cross-legged on top of the stele, tied by adamantine chains that kept their powers suppressed.
A mane of raven hair sprawled at the figure's back, and as Mithras' eyes connected with them, facing their bestial pair of golden and scarlet eyes, he shook—gawking in confusion.
"Huh, huh…isn't that…?" Mithras spoke his thoughts, but as that one critical info he'd been trailing here was about to get uncovered…
"Hey…" A beauty spoiled the vision, breaking Mithras' focus with her lodious…but oh so mischievous voice.
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