Chapter 127: Priam’s System
Invisible doors swung open, letting the Potential surge within him. Priam felt the fluid course through his body, then his mind, and finally his soul. It was the seat of his Domain and mist concept, yet Priam struggled to fully grasp it. Thankfully, the Potential allowed him to ignore this.
The divine fluid flowed into his soul, enfolding it before crystallizing. Priam grinned as he observed the outcome.
Beneath the protective sphere woven from mist concept and Domain, a satellite now orbited around his soul. About ten times smaller than the latter, it traced a circular trajectory for a few moments before teleporting elsewhere, following a new orbit. Its physics were strange, somewhere between a moon and an electron. At the crossroads of the infinitely large and the infinitely small
Though the Potential had already receded, Priam still sensed the presence of this newfound entity. His own sub-system!
Priam noted that it was the first time a skill had materialized in a physical form. The satellite was pure black.
You have created a skill, congratulations!
New skill: [Priams System - Rare]
[Priams System] - A kind of add-on integrated into your soul. Your system is a complex computing unit you will have to code yourself. Its proximity to your spirit and soul enables a symbiosis. Its enhancement is tied to the power of your mind, your code's optimization, and your soul's density. It can devour Potential to evolve. A highly intriguing skill, with its only limits being your own. Massive potential for evolution.
Better than Windows Vista.
MEM +2
VIVA +1
Beneath the Phoenix sun, Priam grinned. The skill description was remarkably positive. The more he contemplated it, the more he believed he'd made a good calculation. Pun intended.
He effortlessly connected to his new skill and found it utterly blank. Everything was yet to be done. It was akin to having powerful hardware but needing to code the software alone. The possibilities were limitless, but it required knowledge that Priam didn't possess.
Fortunately, there was a way, albeit costly, to remedy this.
[Priams System]
Potential required to code your personal system.
30: Calculator - basic data computation
100: Operating System - calculation and result prediction
300: Basic Artificial Intelligence - Machine & Deep learning
1,000: Artificial General Intelligence - Second thought
3,000: LOCKED
10,000: LOCKED
"What a Potential sinkhole..."
Priam grumbled at the thought of all the Potential he could have saved by coding his system himself. Unfortunately, he suspected that even the world's best programmer, specializing in AI and equipped with [Eidetic Memory], wouldn't have saved more than 300 POT. Which was already quite a feat.
Priam needed a potent and practical skill. The higher tiers were locked, undoubtedly due to missing prerequisites. The skill hinged on his mental attributes. They were impressive... for a Tier 0. The 1,000 POT option was tempting, but Priam lacked the resources. Even if he did, he wanted to keep some Potential in reserve. It could be the difference between life and death.
For a moment, Priam thought of Arnold and the other AIs surely populating this new Universe. With just one skill, he was about to catch up to the advantages these races might have over him. The skill demanded a hefty amount of Potential, but it was a gamble. If he didn't bet on it, it would be useless.
Full of confidence, he selected Basic Artificial Intelligence. [Priams System] disconnected, and Priam felt it tremble. Silvered veins with geometric angles surfaced on the black sphere before it stabilized. Then it reconnected to his soul, updated.
POT -300
The sub-system was ready to operate. With a thought, Priam began downloading the data from the Heavenly Dragon into the skill.
Instantly, weakness washed over him. He felt as if his thoughts were moving in slow motion. His memory was almost entirely occupied by the process. Priam dropped to his knees a few moments later, overcome with nausea. He hastily canceled the transfer.
Catching his breath, he considered the situation. The data volume was staggering, and [Priams System]'s storage capacity was too limited.
I need to change this...
Priam aimed for a program that would assist him in real time, not a skill that required manual data input. That would be a lengthy and arduous task, not to mention the strain on his mental attributes. Priam wanted to mod his consciousness, not burden it.
Pensively, he surveyed his inner world, pond, sun and captured concepts. A world linked to him. Priam's eyes widened. Could it be...? With a thought, he attempted to link [Eidetic Memory] to [Priams System]. It worked without a hitch.
Naturally, the Talent connected to the skill, allowing it access to all the information it would require. Instinctively, Priam configured the skill's memory as RAM and his [Eidetic Memory] as non-volatile memory. The add-on would need it to perform calculations without disturbing Priam.
Satisfied, he sent an instruction to his new skill. Compile Heavenly Dragon and give me a summary.
Instantly, the skill activated. Priam felt it working in the background, without needing his attention. He had enough computer knowledge to understand it operated in a manner similar to artificial intelligence coded by humanity. His skill lacked emotion or consciousness but was far more advanced than simple software.
Thanks to machine learning, it could grasp certain concepts without his aid. It remained limited since its intelligence wasn't general and depended on Priam's mental attributes. Nevertheless, it should be perfect for summarizing a tempering method.
Lvl Up: [Priams System] lvl 2
MEM+2
VIVA +1
Ten minutes later, the skill ceased its calculations and presented its findings.
Heavenly Dragon: Three-part method for body tempering.
I) Reorganization of meridians.
Their purpose is to circulate aether within your spiritual body. Just as blood sustains the physical body, this circulation strengthens your spirit. Everyone possesses a set of meridians at birth or thanks to [Touched by Aether]. This reorganization aims to optimize your meridians and their structure.
Various methods exist to refine meridians: medicines, treasures, resistances, bloodlines, Titles, and Talents.
Advice: Employ a hybrid approach. Enhance the rarity of [Aether Manipulation] to manipulate your meridians, then use treasures or resistances to fortify them.
II) Anchoring of meridians.
Since meridians are spiritual, they need to be materialized. Heavenly Dragon has seven gates. Each requires a tempered anchoring using elements or concepts and a trophy. The more vigorous the tempering, the sturdier the gate. In the long run, the completed gates will refine your aether and body, eliminating impurities.
It's up to you to choose the elements for your different gates. Example: for the first gate, you shall bathe in flames/lightning/poison/
Advice: Consult the help section to choose your elements and trophies. An epic resistance is the minimum requirement for anchoring a gate.
III) Edification of the fulcrum.
Finalization of the structure. Same principle as the gates, but it requires Legendary tempering and a trophy of draconic origin.
Outcome: Once the method is completed, your Tribulation will be tamed by your fulcrum. Assimilation and enhancement of the quality of your draconic bloodline. Assimilation of your second heart. Augmentation of your physical attributes. Possibility to request a rank up.
Lvl Up: [Priams System] lvl 3,4
MEM+4
VIVA +2
Priam burst into laughter as he read the summary of the Heavenly Dragon. The benefits of this method were astounding. He was doubly thrilled. His new skill had not only fulfilled its mission but also extrapolated relevant information. For someone with no education on aether, it was a godsend.
Smiling, Priam stood up. It would take him a few calm days to elevate [Aether Manipulation] to epic rank. While waiting to return to his base, he could begin his improvement. Seven epic resistances and one legendary resistance were the minimum required by the method. Could he do better?
Sensing his new skill inactive, Priam gave it some tasks. He linked [Human Anatomy], [Diagnostic], and [Priams System]. Based on my past experiences and my current body, create a training regimen to optimize my resistances. Then, review my fights and point out my mistakes. Same goes for my training.
His add-on got to work while Priam opened a portal to Valaryth.
Outside, the sun was still low, promising a radiant day. Mirscella stretched out with the help of a shrub, a concentrated look on her face. Without further ado, Priam gathered his resolve and leaped from the island's edge. The water's surface parted beneath his flawless dive.
Deciding to work on his breath, he swam away from the island in apnea.
Lvl Up: [Priams System] lvl 5
MEM+2
VIVA +1
Lvl Up: [Asphyxia Resistance] lvl 7
VIT +2
META (END) +1
Lvl Up: [Swimming] lvl 8
STR + 1
Lvl Up: [Friction Resistance] lvl 8
AGI +1
Lvl Up: [Star Iron Body] lvl 25
CONST +3
[Tribulation]: One attribute above 600 was detected in Tier 0.
A third Tribulation is coming.
Time: 177 days 14 hours 12 minutes 26 seconds.
Twenty minutes later, a profound darkness enveloped Priam. He had plunged to a depth of two hundred and fifty meters before coming to a halt for two reasons. Firstly, he felt an uncomfortable pressure crushing his chest. [Star Iron Body] and his constitution battled against the pressure, but it was becoming bothersome.
His second concern was more serious. At this depth, the water absorbed all light, leaving him blind. Only [Aether Perception] could still aid him, but he wasn't accustomed to using the skill. To make matters worse, its level was so low that Priam wasn't sure if he could differentiate between an animal and an algae.
Yet dangerous predators lurked in the depths, and he needed to be able to spot them. How do they detect me?
The question was pertinent, and [Eidetic Memory] sprang into action. Delving into his memory, it unearthed fragments of knowledge. Sharks had a keen sense of smell. Some denizens of the depths detected the electric fields emitted by their prey or predators.
If he could, Priam would have growled. It was as interesting as it was useless. He had a keen sense of smell but couldn't breathe underwater. Similarly, creating a skill capable of measuring an electric field would be costly without the proper organ.
Just as he was considering focusing solely on [Aether Perception], a final memory reached him.
He must have been four years old and was visiting a natural history museum with his parents. He remembered standing in front of the skeleton of a dolphin. Like many children, he had a skewed view of the mammal; his parents hadn't taught him about the darker habits of these sometimes ruthless animals.
Curious, Priam had wanted to touch the skeleton, but his father had stopped him. To divert his sons attention, Alain had translated the explanatory panel covered in unknown symbols. Letters. It hadn't mentioned the animal's drug-addled habits but had reported something interesting.
"Dolphins navigate using echolocation," his father had read. "Based on the principle of active sonar, this ability allows them to detect prey or obstacles several hundred meters away. This sonar also enables them to attack prey from a distance by generating a strong acoustic pulse that disorients or even stuns them."
"They're incredible," Priam had replied. He hadn't understood it all but had gazed at the skeleton with admiring eyes. His mother had then called him over to see a whale specimen, and the child had promptly forgotten about the dolphin and its sonar.