Chapter 59: A Bear-Able Decision
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Chapter 59: A Bear-Able Decision
Priam mobilized all his energy reserves. He had no extra life and no intention of dying now. The attack was coming too fast for him to dodge. I'll have to tank it.
With all his senses alert and [Focus] redoubling its efforts, Priam waited for the last moment. The claws were closing on him, and Priam momentarily thought about his death. Blueberry possessed titanic power, capable of tearing through an Abomination's protective cage. With its new buff, Priam was unlikely to fully absorb the blow.
To absorb the attack without being cut in half, Priam had several ideas. [Kinetic Control] enabled him to absorb the kinetic energy of an object moving in relation to him. For example, he couldn't currently absorb the kinetic energy of the Moon's rotation because the satellite was immobile in Priam's frame of reference. Even if he could have, such a quantity of energy would have instantly reduced his body to rubble.
If he couldn't cheat like that, then only one solution was left. Priam would simultaneously absorb the Viscount's energy and instantly release it in the opposite direction.
Theoretically, if he absorbed 40% of the attack and instantly released this kinetic energy back into his claws with a vector in the opposite direction, he could cancel 80% of the attack! He could thus survive the attack.
Better still, if he absorbed more than 50% of the attack, then it would be the bear taking the damage. It was Priam's objective. Blueberry was just a Viscount, and he intended to win this fight. Of course, the timing had to be perfect. A fraction of a second too early, and Priam would miss Blueberry's claws. He'd just push air out of the way, creating an unnecessary gust of wind. A fraction of a second too late, and the monster's claws would already be halfway into his torso.
Now!
It all happened in a split second. Priam waited until the last moment to use his skill. After all, it was better to wait too long than not long enough. Placing his arms in front of him, he waited for the pain to warn him. Finally, Blueberry's left paw touched him. [Kinetic control].
On the first use of his skill, Priam felt liquid fire coursing through his veins. Blueberry's attack was so swift and his mass so imposing that the monster developed an insane amount of energy. The lines of blood traced across the monster's body seemed to increase its strength still further. Priam's meridians were being damaged by the aether flowing through them. The kinetic energy absorbed at every moment was enormous.
Keeping his skill active, Priam activated a second instance. [Kinetic Control]. Instantly, Priam expelled the energy he was continuously absorbing. More meridians began to burn, and Priam screamed.
Apparently, each meridian had a precise role. There also seemed to be an analogy between the system of veins and arteries and that of the meridians. Some meridians led the aether from the outside to the inside, while others made the reverse trip.
Lvl Up: [Erosion Resistance] lvl 18
META (END) +6
As Priam screamed, Blueberry's claws penetrated his right arm, biting into his skin and flesh. Priam's muscles were harder and denser than steel, and [Kinetic Control] tried to repel the Viscount's claws. Yet they advanced inexorably, slicing through Priam's arm. His shredded muscles slowed down Blueberry. Priam connected to his Potential for a moment and redoubled his efforts. Blueberry's claws decelerated until they reached the bone.
POT -3
Priam's frame was too strong, and Blueberry's attack had lost all speed. Priam activated [Kinetic Control] a third time. Some of the stolen kinetic charges propelled him backward. With his mass relatively low, Priam flew off. Blueberry now towered over the young Viscount, and he didn't want to be crushed under the beast's weight.
Lvl Up: [Cut Resistance] lvl 6,7
CONST +2
Lvl Up: [Perforation Resistance] lvl 8,9
CONST +2
Priam landed several meters away in an uncontrolled somersault. Before he could stop, he felt an immense pain piercing his side. I'm hurt!
The wound inflicted by the wolves a few days earlier had healed, only to be replaced by Nemea's own. No sooner had he healed that damage than a new, more serious injury was inflicted.
Straightening his head, Priam saw that Blueberry's claws had broken. The creature had invested more in Strength than in Constitution. The bear seemed stunned, observing its own damage. Priam took the opportunity to drop to his knees before diagnosing his flank.
A deep but clean gash was visible. Priam was no expert in human anatomy, but he was no fool. With his Vitality and Constitution, he should have been able to breathe easily. Yet his breathing was labored and painful. I must have punctured my right lung.
Looking at the ursid's intact claws, Priam understood. They were curved. Even blocking most of the damage with his hands and skills, the tips of the claws had penetrated his flesh and right lung. Priam regretted for a moment that it hadn't been the left lung. It was smaller and therefore transmitted less oxygen to his body.
Priam's Vitality was already beginning to heal him, but the process would be long. He had noticed that at one hundred points and then two hundred, his Vitality had received a qualitative boost. But rather than increasing his regeneration speed, this boost allowed him to heal things that a human couldn't heal. For example, after the sniper's attack destroyed his lower jaw, he could feel some of his teeth growing back.
Currently, Priam had twenty-eight times the Vitality of a human. He didn't know whether the System increased his regeneration speed linearly. If it did, it would take about a day to heal him. The tribulations would come before...
"Moreover, there's no guarantee I won't be injured again," Priam winced. He took a quick look at his arms. The claws had bitten severely into his right arm, but the bone was intact. This kind of injury would cripple him briefly, but he could still throw his spear, which was the most important thing.
He struggled to his feet, leaning on his weapon. He had to heal quickly. For that, he had little choice. He could use one of the treasures he'd stolen from the Revenants. Unfortunately, only one treasure could heal him, and he intended to use it during the Tribulations.
But I have another possibility...
Priam backed slowly into the trees. The boreal forest around him was coniferous and quite humid. The presence of water prevented a fire hazard. But once the fire started, the conifers made excellent fuel. [Infant Phoenix] can heal me by absorbing flames.
While Blueberry was still contemplating its claws, Priam grabbed a gourd and emptied it on a nearby tree. It had come from one of the Crater guards he'd just killed and smelled of strong alcohol. Priam didn't know whether it was rum, vodka or some other ethanol-based beverage, but he did know that a match would be enough to create a nice flame.
Priam didn't have a match, but he had something better. He had grenades.
As he picked up a grenade, Priam looked up. Blueberry was watching him.
"You're strong for a human," growled the beast in English.
Priam's eyes widened as he heard the bear speak. He knew the monster was intelligent but didn't think he was intelligent enough to speak.
"Are you surprised? I don't see why not. We also gain Memory, Vivacity and Willpower from our skills. After a certain threshold, the System suggests a quest we instinctively understand. Those who succeed can awaken and become truly sapient. Alternatively, they can choose to remain beasts and benefit from attribute bonuses."
"It's going to create problems if most animals gain intelligence...," Priam winced. Many humans would refuse to hunt animals gifted with speech. But worse than that, if these animals could communicate, nothing would stop them from gathering together and ganging up on humans. Given the power of Orthos, Nemea and now this Blueberry... Humanity will have a hard time surviving.
"Are they all smart?" he asked.
The bear shook his head. "Almost all the beasts are wild. It's thanks to the Earl's aura and power that they obey. Without the Earl, they'd be nothing more than animals, fighting over a few resources..."
Priam nodded. It was reassuring for humanity. But if this Earl can dominate so many beasts, he must be mighty...
Suddenly, Priam frowned. "Why didn't I notice that grove before?"
Blueberry shrugged in a very human way. "It's protected by the Jubokko."
"The Jubokko?" replied Priam.
"The Earl will explain if you need to know about it."
Blueberry stepped forward again, breathing heavily.
"Enough wasted time. Let's go meet the Earl. It's almost time for his meal, and you wouldn't want to leave him hungry, right?" The beast's laugh was cruel and Priam rolled his eyes. This kind of phrase wouldn't be enough to scare him.
Fixing his eyes on the grove's center, Priam felt his pain flowing back, for he had a purpose.
You may be hungry, Earl, but I'm thirsty for freedom...
Status: (Average value for a Homo sapiens male before integration: PHY 10 / MEN 10 / META 0)
PHYSICAL:
Strength 148
Constitution 255 (+4)
Agility 158
Vitality 284
Perception 289
MENTAL:
Vivacity 174
Dexterity 177
Memory 40
Willpower 274
Charisma 141 (+3)
META:
Meta-affinity 135
Meta-focus 98
Meta-endurance 87 (+6)
Meta-perception 32
Meta-chance 114
Potential: 1394 (+5)
Tier 0
[He Who Eludes Death] charge OFF. Reloaded in 14 hours 25 min 25s
[Tribulation]: Tribulations are coming.
Time: 18 hours 45 minutes 19 seconds.
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
Chapter 59: A Bear-Able Decision
Priam mobilized all his energy reserves. He had no extra life and no intention of dying now. The attack was coming too fast for him to dodge. I'll have to tank it.
With all his senses alert and [Focus] redoubling its efforts, Priam waited for the last moment. The claws were closing on him, and Priam momentarily thought about his death. Blueberry possessed titanic power, capable of tearing through an Abomination's protective cage. With its new buff, Priam was unlikely to fully absorb the blow.
To absorb the attack without being cut in half, Priam had several ideas. [Kinetic Control] enabled him to absorb the kinetic energy of an object moving in relation to him. For example, he couldn't currently absorb the kinetic energy of the Moon's rotation because the satellite was immobile in Priam's frame of reference. Even if he could have, such a quantity of energy would have instantly reduced his body to rubble.
If he couldn't cheat like that, then only one solution was left. Priam would simultaneously absorb the Viscount's energy and instantly release it in the opposite direction.
Theoretically, if he absorbed 40% of the attack and instantly released this kinetic energy back into his claws with a vector in the opposite direction, he could cancel 80% of the attack! He could thus survive the attack.
Better still, if he absorbed more than 50% of the attack, then it would be the bear taking the damage. It was Priam's objective. Blueberry was just a Viscount, and he intended to win this fight. Of course, the timing had to be perfect. A fraction of a second too early, and Priam would miss Blueberry's claws. He'd just push air out of the way, creating an unnecessary gust of wind. A fraction of a second too late, and the monster's claws would already be halfway into his torso.
Now!
It all happened in a split second. Priam waited until the last moment to use his skill. After all, it was better to wait too long than not long enough. Placing his arms in front of him, he waited for the pain to warn him. Finally, Blueberry's left paw touched him. [Kinetic control].
On the first use of his skill, Priam felt liquid fire coursing through his veins. Blueberry's attack was so swift and his mass so imposing that the monster developed an insane amount of energy. The lines of blood traced across the monster's body seemed to increase its strength still further. Priam's meridians were being damaged by the aether flowing through them. The kinetic energy absorbed at every moment was enormous.
Keeping his skill active, Priam activated a second instance. [Kinetic Control]. Instantly, Priam expelled the energy he was continuously absorbing. More meridians began to burn, and Priam screamed.
Apparently, each meridian had a precise role. There also seemed to be an analogy between the system of veins and arteries and that of the meridians. Some meridians led the aether from the outside to the inside, while others made the reverse trip.
Lvl Up: [Erosion Resistance] lvl 18
META (END) +6
As Priam screamed, Blueberry's claws penetrated his right arm, biting into his skin and flesh. Priam's muscles were harder and denser than steel, and [Kinetic Control] tried to repel the Viscount's claws. Yet they advanced inexorably, slicing through Priam's arm. His shredded muscles slowed down Blueberry. Priam connected to his Potential for a moment and redoubled his efforts. Blueberry's claws decelerated until they reached the bone.
POT -3
Priam's frame was too strong, and Blueberry's attack had lost all speed. Priam activated [Kinetic Control] a third time. Some of the stolen kinetic charges propelled him backward. With his mass relatively low, Priam flew off. Blueberry now towered over the young Viscount, and he didn't want to be crushed under the beast's weight.
Lvl Up: [Cut Resistance] lvl 6,7
CONST +2
Lvl Up: [Perforation Resistance] lvl 8,9
CONST +2
Priam landed several meters away in an uncontrolled somersault. Before he could stop, he felt an immense pain piercing his side. I'm hurt!
The wound inflicted by the wolves a few days earlier had healed, only to be replaced by Nemea's own. No sooner had he healed that damage than a new, more serious injury was inflicted.
Straightening his head, Priam saw that Blueberry's claws had broken. The creature had invested more in Strength than in Constitution. The bear seemed stunned, observing its own damage. Priam took the opportunity to drop to his knees before diagnosing his flank.
A deep but clean gash was visible. Priam was no expert in human anatomy, but he was no fool. With his Vitality and Constitution, he should have been able to breathe easily. Yet his breathing was labored and painful. I must have punctured my right lung.
Looking at the ursid's intact claws, Priam understood. They were curved. Even blocking most of the damage with his hands and skills, the tips of the claws had penetrated his flesh and right lung. Priam regretted for a moment that it hadn't been the left lung. It was smaller and therefore transmitted less oxygen to his body.
Priam's Vitality was already beginning to heal him, but the process would be long. He had noticed that at one hundred points and then two hundred, his Vitality had received a qualitative boost. But rather than increasing his regeneration speed, this boost allowed him to heal things that a human couldn't heal. For example, after the sniper's attack destroyed his lower jaw, he could feel some of his teeth growing back.
Currently, Priam had twenty-eight times the Vitality of a human. He didn't know whether the System increased his regeneration speed linearly. If it did, it would take about a day to heal him. The tribulations would come before...
"Moreover, there's no guarantee I won't be injured again," Priam winced. He took a quick look at his arms. The claws had bitten severely into his right arm, but the bone was intact. This kind of injury would cripple him briefly, but he could still throw his spear, which was the most important thing.
He struggled to his feet, leaning on his weapon. He had to heal quickly. For that, he had little choice. He could use one of the treasures he'd stolen from the Revenants. Unfortunately, only one treasure could heal him, and he intended to use it during the Tribulations.
But I have another possibility...
Priam backed slowly into the trees. The boreal forest around him was coniferous and quite humid. The presence of water prevented a fire hazard. But once the fire started, the conifers made excellent fuel. [Infant Phoenix] can heal me by absorbing flames.
While Blueberry was still contemplating its claws, Priam grabbed a gourd and emptied it on a nearby tree. It had come from one of the Crater guards he'd just killed and smelled of strong alcohol. Priam didn't know whether it was rum, vodka or some other ethanol-based beverage, but he did know that a match would be enough to create a nice flame.
Priam didn't have a match, but he had something better. He had grenades.
As he picked up a grenade, Priam looked up. Blueberry was watching him.
"You're strong for a human," growled the beast in English.
Priam's eyes widened as he heard the bear speak. He knew the monster was intelligent but didn't think he was intelligent enough to speak.
"Are you surprised? I don't see why not. We also gain Memory, Vivacity and Willpower from our skills. After a certain threshold, the System suggests a quest we instinctively understand. Those who succeed can awaken and become truly sapient. Alternatively, they can choose to remain beasts and benefit from attribute bonuses."
"It's going to create problems if most animals gain intelligence...," Priam winced. Many humans would refuse to hunt animals gifted with speech. But worse than that, if these animals could communicate, nothing would stop them from gathering together and ganging up on humans. Given the power of Orthos, Nemea and now this Blueberry... Humanity will have a hard time surviving.
"Are they all smart?" he asked.
The bear shook his head. "Almost all the beasts are wild. It's thanks to the Earl's aura and power that they obey. Without the Earl, they'd be nothing more than animals, fighting over a few resources..."
Priam nodded. It was reassuring for humanity. But if this Earl can dominate so many beasts, he must be mighty...
Suddenly, Priam frowned. "Why didn't I notice that grove before?"
Blueberry shrugged in a very human way. "It's protected by the Jubokko."
"The Jubokko?" replied Priam.
"The Earl will explain if you need to know about it."
Blueberry stepped forward again, breathing heavily.
"Enough wasted time. Let's go meet the Earl. It's almost time for his meal, and you wouldn't want to leave him hungry, right?" The beast's laugh was cruel and Priam rolled his eyes. This kind of phrase wouldn't be enough to scare him.
Fixing his eyes on the grove's center, Priam felt his pain flowing back, for he had a purpose.
You may be hungry, Earl, but I'm thirsty for freedom...
Status: (Average value for a Homo sapiens male before integration: PHY 10 / MEN 10 / META 0)
PHYSICAL:
Strength 148
Constitution 255 (+4)
Agility 158
Vitality 284
Perception 289
MENTAL:
Vivacity 174
Dexterity 177
Memory 40
Willpower 274
Charisma 141 (+3)
META:
Meta-affinity 135
Meta-focus 98
Meta-endurance 87 (+6)
Meta-perception 32
Meta-chance 114
Potential: 1394 (+5)
Tier 0
[He Who Eludes Death] charge OFF. Reloaded in 14 hours 25 min 25s
[Tribulation]: Tribulations are coming.
Time: 18 hours 45 minutes 19 seconds.
Chapter 59: A Bear-Able DecisionPriam mobilized all his energy reserves. He had no extra life and no intention of dying now. The attack was coming too fast for him to dodge. I'll have to tank it. With all his senses alert and Focus redoubling its efforts, Priam waited for the last moment. The claws were closing on him, and Priam momentarily thought about his death. Blueberry possessed titanic power, capable of tearing through an Abomination's protective cage. With its new buff, Priam was unlikely to fully absorb the blow.To absorb the attack without being cut in half, Priam had several ideas. Kinetic Control enabled him to absorb the kinetic energy of an object moving in relation to him. For example, he couldn't currently absorb the kinetic energy of the Moon's rotation because the satellite was immobile in Priam's frame of reference. Even if he could have, such a quantity of energy would have instantly reduced his body to rubble.If he couldn't cheat like that, then only one solution was left. Priam would simultaneously absorb the Viscount's energy and instantly release it in the opposite direction.Theoretically, if he absorbed 40% of the attack and instantly released this kinetic energy back into his claws with a vector in the opposite direction, he could cancel 80% of the attack! He could thus survive the attack.Better still, if he absorbed more than 50% of the attack, then it would be the bear taking the damage. It was Priam's objective. Blueberry was just a Viscount, and he intended to win this fight. Of course, the timing had to be perfect. A fraction of a second too early, and Priam would miss Blueberry's claws. He'd just push air out of the way, creating an unnecessary gust of wind. A fraction of a second too late, and the monster's claws would already be halfway into his torso.Now!It all happened in a split second. Priam waited until the last moment to use his skill. After all, it was better to wait too long than not long enough. Placing his arms in front of him, he waited for the pain to warn him. Finally, Blueberry's left paw touched him. Kinetic control.On the first use of his skill, Priam felt liquid fire coursing through his veins. Blueberry's attack was so swift and his mass so imposing that the monster developed an insane amount of energy. The lines of blood traced across the monster's body seemed to increase its strength still further. Priam's meridians were being damaged by the aether flowing through them. The kinetic energy absorbed at every moment was enormous.Keeping his skill active, Priam activated a second instance. Kinetic Control. Instantly, Priam expelled the energy he was continuously absorbing. More meridians began to burn, and Priam screamed. Apparently, each meridian had a precise role. There also seemed to be an analogy between the system of veins and arteries and that of the meridians. Some meridians led the aether from the outside to the inside, while others made the reverse trip.Lvl Up: Erosion Resistance lvl 18META END +6As Priam screamed, Blueberry's claws penetrated his right arm, biting into his skin and flesh. Priam's muscles were harder and denser than steel, and Kinetic Control tried to repel the Viscount's claws. Yet they advanced inexorably, slicing through Priam's arm. His shredded muscles slowed down Blueberry. Priam connected to his Potential for a moment and redoubled his efforts. Blueberry's claws decelerated until they reached the bone.POT -3Priam's frame was too strong, and Blueberry's attack had lost all speed. Priam activated Kinetic Control a third time. Some of the stolen kinetic charges propelled him backward. With his mass relatively low, Priam flew off. Blueberry now towered over the young Viscount, and he didn't want to be crushed under the beast's weight.Lvl Up: Cut Resistance lvl 6,7CONST +2Lvl Up: Perforation Resistance lvl 8,9CONST +2Priam landed several meters away in an uncontrolled somersault. Before he could stop, he felt an immense pain piercing his side. I'm hurt! The wound inflicted by the wolves a few days earlier had healed, only to be replaced by Nemea's own. No sooner had he healed that damage than a new, more serious injury was inflicted. Straightening his head, Priam saw that Blueberry's claws had broken. The creature had invested more in Strength than in Constitution. The bear seemed stunned, observing its own damage. Priam took the opportunity to drop to his knees before diagnosing his flank. A deep but clean gash was visible. Priam was no expert in human anatomy, but he was no fool. With his Vitality and Constitution, he should have been able to breathe easily. Yet his breathing was labored and painful. I must have punctured my right lung.Looking at the ursid's intact claws, Priam understood. They were curved. Even blocking most of the damage with his hands and skills, the tips of the claws had penetrated his flesh and right lung. Priam regretted for a moment that it hadn't been the left lung. It was smaller and therefore transmitted less oxygen to his body.Priam's Vitality was already beginning to heal him, but the process would be long. He had noticed that at one hundred points and then two hundred, his Vitality had received a qualitative boost. But rather than increasing his regeneration speed, this boost allowed him to heal things that a human couldn't heal. For example, after the sniper's attack destroyed his lower jaw, he could feel some of his teeth growing back. Currently, Priam had twenty-eight times the Vitality of a human. He didn't know whether the System increased his regeneration speed linearly. If it did, it would take about a day to heal him. The tribulations would come before... "Moreover, there's no guarantee I won't be injured again," Priam winced. He took a quick look at his arms. The claws had bitten severely into his right arm, but the bone was intact. This kind of injury would cripple him briefly, but he could still throw his spear, which was the most important thing.He struggled to his feet, leaning on his weapon. He had to heal quickly. For that, he had little choice. He could use one of the treasures he'd stolen from the Revenants. Unfortunately, only one treasure could heal him, and he intended to use it during the Tribulations.But I have another possibility... Priam backed slowly into the trees. The boreal forest around him was coniferous and quite humid. The presence of water prevented a fire hazard. But once the fire started, the conifers made excellent fuel. Infant Phoenix can heal me by absorbing flames.While Blueberry was still contemplating its claws, Priam grabbed a gourd and emptied it on a nearby tree. It had come from one of the Crater guards he'd just killed and smelled of strong alcohol. Priam didn't know whether it was rum, vodka or some other ethanol-based beverage, but he did know that a match would be enough to create a nice flame. Priam didn't have a match, but he had something better. He had grenades. As he picked up a grenade, Priam looked up. Blueberry was watching him. "You're strong for a human," growled the beast in English.Priam's eyes widened as he heard the bear speak. He knew the monster was intelligent but didn't think he was intelligent enough to speak."Are you surprised? I don't see why not. We also gain Memory, Vivacity and Willpower from our skills. After a certain threshold, the System suggests a quest we instinctively understand. Those who succeed can awaken and become truly sapient. Alternatively, they can choose to remain beasts and benefit from attribute bonuses.""It's going to create problems if most animals gain intelligence...," Priam winced. Many humans would refuse to hunt animals gifted with speech. But worse than that, if these animals could communicate, nothing would stop them from gathering together and ganging up on humans. Given the power of Orthos, Nemea and now this Blueberry... Humanity will have a hard time surviving."Are they all smart?" he asked.The bear shook his head. "Almost all the beasts are wild. It's thanks to the Earl's aura and power that they obey. Without the Earl, they'd be nothing more than animals, fighting over a few resources..."Priam nodded. It was reassuring for humanity. But if this Earl can dominate so many beasts, he must be mighty...Suddenly, Priam frowned. "Why didn't I notice that grove before?"Blueberry shrugged in a very human way. "It's protected by the Jubokko.""The Jubokko?" replied Priam."The Earl will explain if you need to know about it."Blueberry stepped forward again, breathing heavily. "Enough wasted time. Let's go meet the Earl. It's almost time for his meal, and you wouldn't want to leave him hungry, right?" The beast's laugh was cruel and Priam rolled his eyes. This kind of phrase wouldn't be enough to scare him. Fixing his eyes on the grove's center, Priam felt his pain flowing back, for he had a purpose. You may be hungry, Earl, but I'm thirsty for freedom...Status: Average value for a Homo sapiens male before integration: PHY 10 / MEN 10 / META 0PHYSICAL:Strength 148Constitution 255 +4Agility 158 Vitality 284Perception 289 MENTAL:Vivacity 174Dexterity 177 Memory 40 Willpower 274 Charisma 141 +3META:Meta-affinity 135Meta-focus 98Meta-endurance 87 +6Meta-perception 32Meta-chance 114Potential: 1394 +5Tier 0He Who Eludes Death charge OFF. Reloaded in 14 hours 25 min 25sTribulation: Tribulations are coming.Time: 18 hours 45 minutes 19 seconds.
