Chapter 46: Viracocha, the Crimson City
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Chapter 46: Viracocha, the Crimson City
Four kilometers from the portal, standing on a rooftop, Mercury put away his spyglass. Priam had left the Dome. Mercury hoped the Baron would put a spoke in Anatole's wheel. According to his sources, the Cult of the Revenants was prepared for Priam's arrival, but were they really ready? Trained by the Colosseum Supervisor and accompanied by the Lord of the Dome, the Baron was no simple man.
"I don't think anyone was ready for you Priam..." he said. The merchant turned and stared at his guest.
"Especially not you, right Claire?"
The young woman gave him an annoyed look. Mercury too, would have been annoyed if a dozen over-equipped Mercenaries had captured him as he tried to leave the Dome. "What can I do to please Mercury, God of Thieves?" she asked in a neutral voice.
"Not yet," smiled Mercury. "You can start by answering a few questions about the Revenants."
Lvl Up: [Moon Mist] lvl 14,15
PERC +8
CHAR + 4
META (AFFI) +6
Lvl Up: [Bullet time] lvl 7,8,9
PERC +9
Lvl Up: [Divination Resistance] lvl 7
META (AFFI) +3
Lvl Up: [Stealth] lvl 8,9,10,11,12
AGI +5
Lvl Up: [Identification] lvl 4,5
MEM +2
Lvl Up: [Focus] lvl 16,17,18
PERC +3
VIVA +3
DEXT +3
Lvl Up: [Art of Movement] lvl 14,15,16
AGI +3
PERC +3
DEXT +3
Baron, welcome to Viracocha.
Imperious buildings encircled the gate square. The colors were red and black. A hint of gold enhanced the visible flags and standards.
Priam took a breath and his blood began to boil. If the Dome was the city of wealth, Viracocha was the city of war. Sphinx grunted on his shoulder. She had managed to create a miniaturization skill and currently resembled an adorable stuffed animal the size of an adult cat. Viracocha's air seemed to disturb her and she instinctively clawed at Priam's flesh.
"I don't like this city," she muttered. Priam shrugged. The atmosphere of the city was not cruel but rather merciless. After spending almost a day pacing the Dome, stealing from factions and honing his skills, Priam understood. His enemies would know neither his hatred nor his mercy.
Perhaps that was why he found Viracocha just as beautiful as the Dome, despite the colors and the martial atmosphere. The System had created the Domes for humanity, and each city was grandiose. Some were just warmer and more pleasant than others.
"Viracocha is beautiful, but I wouldn't want to live there," Priam confessed. The dome could have been built by an authoritarian regime in the twentieth century. Clean, imperial and inhuman. The Concepts had created domes of various kinds, but Priam preferred the 'Gold, dunes and oases' ambiance of the Dome.
Stroking Sphinx mechanically, Priam realized that her golden coat was tinged with red. In the sky, a blood eclipse had replaced the sun. The dark red light gave a scarlet tint to the young man's skin. What a charming scene.
Priam looked around quickly before noticing a strange detail. Not a single man or woman was visible. However, Priam's keen senses detected the presence of life. To his right, the unmistakable sound of trade could be heard.
This might have sounded reassuring, but Priam frowned. He was outside Viracocha's only portal - a strategic resource and gateway to other cities.
Yet Priam saw no guards, which was strange because Mercury had assured him that Viracocha was in the hands of the Cult of the Revenants. Only fools wouldn't think of protecting a portal that could teleport their enemies into the heart of their base. Priam didn't want to overestimate his enemies, but the Cult couldn't just be full of idiots.
Priam carefully scanned his surroundings for an ambush. He took the opportunity to let out thin threads of mist. If there was to be a massive attack, he intended to dodge it.
The portal sat at the center of an immense square. It was obvious that the System had planned for this to be one of the city's commercial centers - perhaps in a future Reunion. However, few people currently had the means - or the interest - to use it.
The portal was a means of moving quickly from one point to another. Five minutes ago, when Priam had approached the Dome portal, guards belonging to different factions approached him. Unable to disguise his Titles, Priam had simply given his identity and the guards had easily let him pass.
Welcome Baron.
Where would you like to travel?
The cost of travel is free for this first Reunion, given your exceptional performance.
After mentally indicating Viracocha, the portal was activated. Reality beneath the arches blurred, and Priam caught a glimpse of Viracocha's black and red. A dimensional opening had opened - a wormhole? With a single step, Priam had arrived in a new dome.
"What a marvel," Priam enthused, looking back at the portal. "If only I could build one between Elysium and the Moon..."
"Thanks for bringing me here. I'll manage the rest. Good day to you," said Priam, giving a final core to the man whose name he hadn't even asked. After a few obsequious phrases, the merchant finally took his leave. Priam turned to the saleswoman.
"Miss, I'd like to speak to Master Boss. I have here some rare materials, spider silks impregnated with ether, and I'd like to make myself an outfit out of it." Priam had decided that the best way to tempt the craftsman was to present him with an effective way of increasing his skills. For an artisan, this meant working with rare materials and pushing the boundaries of their craft.
"I'll... I'll tell Master Boss right away, sir," replied the assistant after identifying the glands presented by Priam.
Seconds later, the craftsman arrived. Without even taking the time to greet his customer, he rushed to the spider glands. Priam let him snatch them from his hands and analyze them. A passionate craftsman was exactly what he needed.
Priam thought back to the glands he'd brought with him. The Trichonephila Aether clavipes came from Elysium. The second came from a Baron. If Boss was as talented as he was said to be, Priam would soon own the best outfit on the Moon.
Of course, he could have found materials from Viscount. However, Mercury had confirmed that no craftsman would be able to work a Viscount's body before the end of the Reunion. The System wanted to see craftsmen push the limits of their skills, not waste scarce materials.
A few minutes later, Master Boss turned to Priam.
"Thank you for bringing me this piece, young man. I'll put it to good use. As payment, you can choose any piece from my store, and my assistant will answer any questions you may have." The craftsman turned on his heel, the stranger already forgotten. Priam laughed inwardly. This old fart thinks he will steal from me and leave me with a few lousy coins?
Priam accelerated instantly to appear in front of the craftsman. His extreme speed caused a displacement of air and clothes and spools of thread went flying. He wasn't yet comfortable enough with [Kinetic Control] to manipulate air molecules. Fortunately, his skill was level 19. It would change at level 20, and Priam hoped to obtain a legendary skill that would push his limits. Despite his speed, he noticed that Sphinx hadn't moved a bit. Priam smiled coldly at the tailor.
"Let me introduce myself, Master Boss. I am Priam, humble Champion of Mankind. I want you to produce an outfit using this silk and all your expertise," he smiled.
Master Boss froze for a moment before looking at his assistant. She nodded and pulled out a key. Priam followed her with his eyes as she closed the workshop.
"You shouldn't stay there," the craftsman warned darkly. "The Cult of Revenants put a bounty on your head this morning. Millions of people are looking for you, and I don't want fights in my workshop."
Priam was seized with a mirthless laugh.
"Don't worry about the Cult, I'm going to pay them a little visit. It seems they've kidnapped you to work for them, right? I'll set you free as soon as I get my tunic if you accept," Priam said.
Boss shook his head with a sigh. "You don't understand. Revenants are known for resurrecting their members' loved ones. That's why people keep joining them despite their reputation and actions. Who wouldn't want to reunite with a deceased loved one?" asked the craftsman. "Except for the Cult's enemies, all humanity wants you dead: the Revenants offer to resurrect anyone in exchange for your head."
Status: (Average value for a Homo sapiens male before integration: PHY 10 / MEN 10 / META 0)
PHYSICAL:
Strength 119
Constitution 197
Agility 140
Vitality 212
Perception 263
MENTAL:
Vivacity 165
Dexterity 148
Memory 38
Willpower 98
Charisma 105
META:
Meta-affinity 108
Meta-focus 80
Meta-endurance 58
Meta-chance 46
Potential: 184
Tier 0
[He Who Eludes Death] charge: PRIMED.
[Tribulation]: Tribulations are coming.
Time: 27 hours 33 minutes 36 seconds.The inaugural upload of this chapter took place via N0v3l-B1n.
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
Chapter 46: Viracocha, the Crimson City
Four kilometers from the portal, standing on a rooftop, Mercury put away his spyglass. Priam had left the Dome. Mercury hoped the Baron would put a spoke in Anatole's wheel. According to his sources, the Cult of the Revenants was prepared for Priam's arrival, but were they really ready? Trained by the Colosseum Supervisor and accompanied by the Lord of the Dome, the Baron was no simple man.
"I don't think anyone was ready for you Priam..." he said. The merchant turned and stared at his guest.
"Especially not you, right Claire?"
The young woman gave him an annoyed look. Mercury too, would have been annoyed if a dozen over-equipped Mercenaries had captured him as he tried to leave the Dome. "What can I do to please Mercury, God of Thieves?" she asked in a neutral voice.
"Not yet," smiled Mercury. "You can start by answering a few questions about the Revenants."
Lvl Up: [Moon Mist] lvl 14,15
PERC +8
CHAR + 4
META (AFFI) +6
Lvl Up: [Bullet time] lvl 7,8,9
PERC +9
Lvl Up: [Divination Resistance] lvl 7
META (AFFI) +3
Lvl Up: [Stealth] lvl 8,9,10,11,12
AGI +5
Lvl Up: [Identification] lvl 4,5
MEM +2
Lvl Up: [Focus] lvl 16,17,18
PERC +3
VIVA +3
DEXT +3
Lvl Up: [Art of Movement] lvl 14,15,16
AGI +3
PERC +3
DEXT +3
Baron, welcome to Viracocha.
Imperious buildings encircled the gate square. The colors were red and black. A hint of gold enhanced the visible flags and standards.
Priam took a breath and his blood began to boil. If the Dome was the city of wealth, Viracocha was the city of war. Sphinx grunted on his shoulder. She had managed to create a miniaturization skill and currently resembled an adorable stuffed animal the size of an adult cat. Viracocha's air seemed to disturb her and she instinctively clawed at Priam's flesh.
"I don't like this city," she muttered. Priam shrugged. The atmosphere of the city was not cruel but rather merciless. After spending almost a day pacing the Dome, stealing from factions and honing his skills, Priam understood. His enemies would know neither his hatred nor his mercy.
Perhaps that was why he found Viracocha just as beautiful as the Dome, despite the colors and the martial atmosphere. The System had created the Domes for humanity, and each city was grandiose. Some were just warmer and more pleasant than others.
"Viracocha is beautiful, but I wouldn't want to live there," Priam confessed. The dome could have been built by an authoritarian regime in the twentieth century. Clean, imperial and inhuman. The Concepts had created domes of various kinds, but Priam preferred the 'Gold, dunes and oases' ambiance of the Dome.
Stroking Sphinx mechanically, Priam realized that her golden coat was tinged with red. In the sky, a blood eclipse had replaced the sun. The dark red light gave a scarlet tint to the young man's skin. What a charming scene.
Priam looked around quickly before noticing a strange detail. Not a single man or woman was visible. However, Priam's keen senses detected the presence of life. To his right, the unmistakable sound of trade could be heard.
This might have sounded reassuring, but Priam frowned. He was outside Viracocha's only portal - a strategic resource and gateway to other cities.
Yet Priam saw no guards, which was strange because Mercury had assured him that Viracocha was in the hands of the Cult of the Revenants. Only fools wouldn't think of protecting a portal that could teleport their enemies into the heart of their base. Priam didn't want to overestimate his enemies, but the Cult couldn't just be full of idiots.
Priam carefully scanned his surroundings for an ambush. He took the opportunity to let out thin threads of mist. If there was to be a massive attack, he intended to dodge it.
The portal sat at the center of an immense square. It was obvious that the System had planned for this to be one of the city's commercial centers - perhaps in a future Reunion. However, few people currently had the means - or the interest - to use it.
The portal was a means of moving quickly from one point to another. Five minutes ago, when Priam had approached the Dome portal, guards belonging to different factions approached him. Unable to disguise his Titles, Priam had simply given his identity and the guards had easily let him pass.
Welcome Baron.
Where would you like to travel?
The cost of travel is free for this first Reunion, given your exceptional performance.
After mentally indicating Viracocha, the portal was activated. Reality beneath the arches blurred, and Priam caught a glimpse of Viracocha's black and red. A dimensional opening had opened - a wormhole? With a single step, Priam had arrived in a new dome.
"What a marvel," Priam enthused, looking back at the portal. "If only I could build one between Elysium and the Moon..."
"Thanks for bringing me here. I'll manage the rest. Good day to you," said Priam, giving a final core to the man whose name he hadn't even asked. After a few obsequious phrases, the merchant finally took his leave. Priam turned to the saleswoman.
"Miss, I'd like to speak to Master Boss. I have here some rare materials, spider silks impregnated with ether, and I'd like to make myself an outfit out of it." Priam had decided that the best way to tempt the craftsman was to present him with an effective way of increasing his skills. For an artisan, this meant working with rare materials and pushing the boundaries of their craft.
"I'll... I'll tell Master Boss right away, sir," replied the assistant after identifying the glands presented by Priam.
Seconds later, the craftsman arrived. Without even taking the time to greet his customer, he rushed to the spider glands. Priam let him snatch them from his hands and analyze them. A passionate craftsman was exactly what he needed.
Priam thought back to the glands he'd brought with him. The Trichonephila Aether clavipes came from Elysium. The second came from a Baron. If Boss was as talented as he was said to be, Priam would soon own the best outfit on the Moon.
Of course, he could have found materials from Viscount. However, Mercury had confirmed that no craftsman would be able to work a Viscount's body before the end of the Reunion. The System wanted to see craftsmen push the limits of their skills, not waste scarce materials.
A few minutes later, Master Boss turned to Priam.
"Thank you for bringing me this piece, young man. I'll put it to good use. As payment, you can choose any piece from my store, and my assistant will answer any questions you may have." The craftsman turned on his heel, the stranger already forgotten. Priam laughed inwardly. This old fart thinks he will steal from me and leave me with a few lousy coins?
Priam accelerated instantly to appear in front of the craftsman. His extreme speed caused a displacement of air and clothes and spools of thread went flying. He wasn't yet comfortable enough with [Kinetic Control] to manipulate air molecules. Fortunately, his skill was level 19. It would change at level 20, and Priam hoped to obtain a legendary skill that would push his limits. Despite his speed, he noticed that Sphinx hadn't moved a bit. Priam smiled coldly at the tailor.
"Let me introduce myself, Master Boss. I am Priam, humble Champion of Mankind. I want you to produce an outfit using this silk and all your expertise," he smiled.
Master Boss froze for a moment before looking at his assistant. She nodded and pulled out a key. Priam followed her with his eyes as she closed the workshop.
"You shouldn't stay there," the craftsman warned darkly. "The Cult of Revenants put a bounty on your head this morning. Millions of people are looking for you, and I don't want fights in my workshop."
Priam was seized with a mirthless laugh.
"Don't worry about the Cult, I'm going to pay them a little visit. It seems they've kidnapped you to work for them, right? I'll set you free as soon as I get my tunic if you accept," Priam said.
Boss shook his head with a sigh. "You don't understand. Revenants are known for resurrecting their members' loved ones. That's why people keep joining them despite their reputation and actions. Who wouldn't want to reunite with a deceased loved one?" asked the craftsman. "Except for the Cult's enemies, all humanity wants you dead: the Revenants offer to resurrect anyone in exchange for your head."
Status: (Average value for a Homo sapiens male before integration: PHY 10 / MEN 10 / META 0)
PHYSICAL:
Strength 119
Constitution 197
Agility 140
Vitality 212
Perception 263
MENTAL:
Vivacity 165
Dexterity 148
Memory 38
Willpower 98
Charisma 105
META:
Meta-affinity 108
Meta-focus 80
Meta-endurance 58
Meta-chance 46
Potential: 184
Tier 0
[He Who Eludes Death] charge: PRIMED.
[Tribulation]: Tribulations are coming.
Time: 27 hours 33 minutes 36 seconds.The inaugural upload of this chapter took place via N0v3l-B1n.
Chapter 46: Viracocha, the Crimson CityFour kilometers from the portal, standing on a rooftop, Mercury put away his spyglass. Priam had left the Dome. Mercury hoped the Baron would put a spoke in Anatole's wheel. According to his sources, the Cult of the Revenants was prepared for Priam's arrival, but were they really ready? Trained by the Colosseum Supervisor and accompanied by the Lord of the Dome, the Baron was no simple man."I don't think anyone was ready for you Priam..." he said. The merchant turned and stared at his guest. "Especially not you, right Claire?"The young woman gave him an annoyed look. Mercury too, would have been annoyed if a dozen over-equipped Mercenaries had captured him as he tried to leave the Dome. "What can I do to please Mercury, God of Thieves?" she asked in a neutral voice."Not yet," smiled Mercury. "You can start by answering a few questions about the Revenants."Lvl Up: Moon Mist lvl 14,15PERC +8CHAR + 4META AFFI +6Lvl Up: Bullet time lvl 7,8,9PERC +9Lvl Up: Divination Resistance lvl 7META AFFI +3Lvl Up: Stealth lvl 8,9,10,11,12AGI +5Lvl Up: Identification lvl 4,5MEM +2Lvl Up: Focus lvl 16,17,18PERC +3VIVA +3DEXT +3Lvl Up: Art of Movement lvl 14,15,16AGI +3PERC +3DEXT +3Baron, welcome to Viracocha.Imperious buildings encircled the gate square. The colors were red and black. A hint of gold enhanced the visible flags and standards.Priam took a breath and his blood began to boil. If the Dome was the city of wealth, Viracocha was the city of war. Sphinx grunted on his shoulder. She had managed to create a miniaturization skill and currently resembled an adorable stuffed animal the size of an adult cat. Viracocha's air seemed to disturb her and she instinctively clawed at Priam's flesh."I don't like this city," she muttered. Priam shrugged. The atmosphere of the city was not cruel but rather merciless. After spending almost a day pacing the Dome, stealing from factions and honing his skills, Priam understood. His enemies would know neither his hatred nor his mercy.Perhaps that was why he found Viracocha just as beautiful as the Dome, despite the colors and the martial atmosphere. The System had created the Domes for humanity, and each city was grandiose. Some were just warmer and more pleasant than others."Viracocha is beautiful, but I wouldn't want to live there," Priam confessed. The dome could have been built by an authoritarian regime in the twentieth century. Clean, imperial and inhuman. The Concepts had created domes of various kinds, but Priam preferred the 'Gold, dunes and oases' ambiance of the Dome.Stroking Sphinx mechanically, Priam realized that her golden coat was tinged with red. In the sky, a blood eclipse had replaced the sun. The dark red light gave a scarlet tint to the young man's skin. What a charming scene. Priam looked around quickly before noticing a strange detail. Not a single man or woman was visible. However, Priam's keen senses detected the presence of life. To his right, the unmistakable sound of trade could be heard.This might have sounded reassuring, but Priam frowned. He was outside Viracocha's only portal - a strategic resource and gateway to other cities.Yet Priam saw no guards, which was strange because Mercury had assured him that Viracocha was in the hands of the Cult of the Revenants. Only fools wouldn't think of protecting a portal that could teleport their enemies into the heart of their base. Priam didn't want to overestimate his enemies, but the Cult couldn't just be full of idiots.Priam carefully scanned his surroundings for an ambush. He took the opportunity to let out thin threads of mist. If there was to be a massive attack, he intended to dodge it.The portal sat at the center of an immense square. It was obvious that the System had planned for this to be one of the city's commercial centers - perhaps in a future Reunion. However, few people currently had the means - or the interest - to use it.The portal was a means of moving quickly from one point to another. Five minutes ago, when Priam had approached the Dome portal, guards belonging to different factions approached him. Unable to disguise his Titles, Priam had simply given his identity and the guards had easily let him pass.Welcome Baron.Where would you like to travel?The cost of travel is free for this first Reunion, given your exceptional performance.After mentally indicating Viracocha, the portal was activated. Reality beneath the arches blurred, and Priam caught a glimpse of Viracocha's black and red. A dimensional opening had opened - a wormhole? With a single step, Priam had arrived in a new dome."What a marvel," Priam enthused, looking back at the portal. "If only I could build one between Elysium and the Moon...""Thanks for bringing me here. I'll manage the rest. Good day to you," said Priam, giving a final core to the man whose name he hadn't even asked. After a few obsequious phrases, the merchant finally took his leave. Priam turned to the saleswoman."Miss, I'd like to speak to Master Boss. I have here some rare materials, spider silks impregnated with ether, and I'd like to make myself an outfit out of it." Priam had decided that the best way to tempt the craftsman was to present him with an effective way of increasing his skills. For an artisan, this meant working with rare materials and pushing the boundaries of their craft. "I'll... I'll tell Master Boss right away, sir," replied the assistant after identifying the glands presented by Priam.Seconds later, the craftsman arrived. Without even taking the time to greet his customer, he rushed to the spider glands. Priam let him snatch them from his hands and analyze them. A passionate craftsman was exactly what he needed.Priam thought back to the glands he'd brought with him. The Trichonephila Aether clavipes came from Elysium. The second came from a Baron. If Boss was as talented as he was said to be, Priam would soon own the best outfit on the Moon. Of course, he could have found materials from Viscount. However, Mercury had confirmed that no craftsman would be able to work a Viscount's body before the end of the Reunion. The System wanted to see craftsmen push the limits of their skills, not waste scarce materials. A few minutes later, Master Boss turned to Priam. "Thank you for bringing me this piece, young man. I'll put it to good use. As payment, you can choose any piece from my store, and my assistant will answer any questions you may have." The craftsman turned on his heel, the stranger already forgotten. Priam laughed inwardly. This old fart thinks he will steal from me and leave me with a few lousy coins? Priam accelerated instantly to appear in front of the craftsman. His extreme speed caused a displacement of air and clothes and spools of thread went flying. He wasn't yet comfortable enough with Kinetic Control to manipulate air molecules. Fortunately, his skill was level 19. It would change at level 20, and Priam hoped to obtain a legendary skill that would push his limits. Despite his speed, he noticed that Sphinx hadn't moved a bit. Priam smiled coldly at the tailor."Let me introduce myself, Master Boss. I am Priam, humble Champion of Mankind. I want you to produce an outfit using this silk and all your expertise," he smiled.Master Boss froze for a moment before looking at his assistant. She nodded and pulled out a key. Priam followed her with his eyes as she closed the workshop."You shouldn't stay there," the craftsman warned darkly. "The Cult of Revenants put a bounty on your head this morning. Millions of people are looking for you, and I don't want fights in my workshop."Priam was seized with a mirthless laugh."Don't worry about the Cult, I'm going to pay them a little visit. It seems they've kidnapped you to work for them, right? I'll set you free as soon as I get my tunic if you accept," Priam said.Boss shook his head with a sigh. "You don't understand. Revenants are known for resurrecting their members' loved ones. That's why people keep joining them despite their reputation and actions. Who wouldn't want to reunite with a deceased loved one?" asked the craftsman. "Except for the Cult's enemies, all humanity wants you dead: the Revenants offer to resurrect anyone in exchange for your head."Status: Average value for a Homo sapiens male before integration: PHY 10 / MEN 10 / META 0PHYSICAL:Strength 119Constitution 197Agility 140Vitality 212Perception 263MENTAL:Vivacity 165Dexterity 148Memory 38Willpower 98Charisma 105META:Meta-affinity 108Meta-focus 80Meta-endurance 58Meta-chance 46Potential: 184Tier 0He Who Eludes Death charge: PRIMED.Tribulation: Tribulations are coming.Time: 27 hours 33 minutes 36 seconds.The inaugural upload of this chapter took place via N0v3l-B1n.
