A Novel Concept - A death a day, MC will live anyway!-Chapter 339: Thaal’s Report

“This necro heart is maybe the best trophy I could’ve hoped for my Karma Gate,” Priam confirmed. “Tracking down a draconic creature with karmic power would’ve been a nightmare, but the fusion between Moonie’s essence and Sphinx’s core is seamless. And that’s not even the most important part.”

“Mmh?”

“According to Thaal, the most crucial aspect of tempering isn’t the trophy’s quality, but what it represents—what it says about one’s Story.”

“What story?”

“The story of every individual. The mark they leave on this universe.” Priam grimaced. “I don’t have all the answers yet, but I’m almost certain this ties into mid-Tier progression.”

“I like a man who thinks long-term,” Jasmine teased the Tier 0.

“Shut up. You have to prepare early if the System’s naming scheme is any clue. Epic, Legendary, Mythic... all of those belong to the lexical field of story, and I’d bet my left nut that’s not a coincidence.” Jasmine didn’t look convinced, so Priam pressed on. “Lamnas told us that one of the Princes of the kingdom ruling the Wandering Islands is on the verge of creating his Myth—it seems to be a requirement for reaching Tier 7. If so, I won’t jeopardize my progression by choosing suboptimal trophies!”

“I’m not doubting your reasoning; I just don’t fully understand what a Story is,” Jasmine admitted. “Or what it has to do with Sphinx’s gift.”

“The necro wyrm’s heart carries… karmic weight. It’s tied to my story in more ways than one.” Priam raised a finger. “Sphinx’s core comes from Back in Time and represents the potential of an alternate timeline where she sacrificed herself for me by invoking a septuple Tribulation. Even better, it’s a testament to our war against Sumstreh, our sacrifices, and our fight for freedom.” A second finger. “Moonie’s essence epitomizes Oasis—my new home.” A third digit. “The necro wyrm’s death is linked to my son’s death and your sacrifice for me.”

“So what you’re saying is... you have a special affinity with this heart?”

“More than that! If Karma is the web that links individuals, then this core is at the crossroads of many of my relationships. It speaks of freedom, struggle, potential, sacrifice, Tribulation, trust… and love.” Priam met Jasmine’s gaze.

The young woman flushed at the reminder of her actions. “Yet, it’s tainted by the Necromoon.”

“The shadow of a Tier 9 is vast, but that entity is distant and indifferent. My instincts tell me that the hatred Seth infused into this necro heart is stronger, but even that can be a good thing. I walk the path to Zenith with my friends, but it’s my enemies that keep me from stopping along the way.”

Priam smiled, proud of his sentence.

“Nothing like knowing Seth plots our deaths ten times a day to keep us motivated,” Jasmine chuckled.

“Life wouldn’t be half as interesting if we weren’t surrounded by psychopaths,” Priam laughed.

With that, he tossed the bloodstained heart into the air and caught it. “All I need now is the perfect resistance and the right environment to complete a new Gate.”

“You mean an enemy who wields a sub-Concept of Karma,” Jasmine grumbled. “Personally, I’m not eager to run into another one of those. That power is straight-up bullshit.”

“Not so much,” Priam muttered, scrutinizing the draconic heart with [Tribulation Hunter]. “A fragment of Vengeance. That was the wyrm’s Concept and the reason this abomination could reflect some of the damage it took back at me.”

“That explains how it tied your fate to that corrupted elf—or mine to your nemesis. It’s a damn cheat code,” Jasmine huffed.

Priam shrugged. “According to Sphinx, karmic powers are just as likely to backfire on the user as they are to harm the enemy—like when she loses a limb if you solve one of her riddles. The wyrm only linked our destinies temporarily. Its power would’ve naturally dissipated if we’d waited a few more seconds.”

“Like we had the luxury to sit around with your Tribulation ready to smite you into oblivion.”

“It played its card at the right moment,” Priam admitted. “But be honest—would you rather fight a master of Pyro or one of Vengeance?”

Jasmine frowned. “Depends. Are they my target or just a guard?”

“Your question proves Vengeance is no better than Pyro or Shadow. Most esoteric powers seem overwhelming until you understand them. Then, it’s all about the circumstance.”

Priam was convinced that all paths led to the Zenith. Some were better suited for certain situations, but no Concept was inherently superior—at least, not within the same Tier.

“So, what now?” Jasmine asked.

“One last thing.” Priam turned toward the corpse of his son—and swore. “Fuck!”

“Hmm?”

“The essence of the Tribulation is gone!” he snapped, furious. To him, absorbing those essences was an easy way to gain affinity with a Concept.

“It disappeared about ten minutes ago.”

“Wait, what?”

Jasmine flashed a radiant smile. “You didn’t think I was dying for nothing, did you? I unlocked [Tribulation Resistance] and [Lightning Resistance]!”

Once the surprise faded, Priam burst out laughing. Sometimes, he forgot he wasn’t the only Homo Elysian—Jasmine shared his racial Talents.

“Good for you. Could you sense its essence?” Priam asked after a moment’s hesitation. Thaal had warned him against revealing that his own [Tribulation Resistance] had mutated, thanks to [He Who Eludes Death], into [Tribulation Hunter]. Despite trusting Jasmine—and [Ciphered Record]—he knew they were probably being monitored by some aloof, bored mid-Tier bastards.

“I could feel the presence of a dying Tribulation in that direction, but it eventually dissipated.” Jasmine bit her lip, looking utterly adorable. “I guess the System reclaims its essences after a while?”

“That, or the remnants of the Necromoon stole it.” Priam grimaced. “Funny to think I came to Proxima to avoid interference, and the undead wouldn’t leave me alone.”

“No rest for the wicked,” Jasmine laughed before glancing at the nemesis’ corpse. “Rose told me you guys cremate your dead?”

Priam hesitated. Would his son have preferred burial? Maybe—but not on some alien planet, in a universe that wasn’t his own.

For the second time that day, Pyro consumed a body. As the flames reduced his son to ashes, Priam felt a hand slip into his.

“I’m sorry.”

Priam remained silent, watching his Concept at work. Now that everything was over, he wasn’t sure how to process this second loss. His son’s last words had implied he might have been conceived before the Tutorial. There was no way to know—unless Victoire was resurrected…

“Are you going to do it?” Jasmine asked, reading his thoughts.

“I don’t know. Becoming a King seems complicated, and that’s the bare minimum for Concepts to agree to act as intermediaries with a Tutorial’s Patron.”

“Even if they’re your Patron?”

“I don’t know about yours, but my sponsor is… well, I don’t think they’ll help for free. Not to mention, the Seven like making our decisions permanent—it’s the only way to forge strong souls.”

“Mmh. You’re dodging the question.”

Priam grumbled. “I have no desire to revive Vic; she’s part of my old life. Plus, I don’t think she’d like this new world.”

“Not to mention she betrayed you.”

“That’s what I thought. Now… Maybe she just did what she had to do to push me through the Tutorial.” Priam fell silent for a few seconds before continuing. “If I can, I’ll bring her back to find out. If she betrayed me, I’ll kill her again. If not, I’ll apologize. I owe her that much.”

Feeling Jasmine’s hand tremble in his, Priam turned to her as the flames died down. “Vic is behind me. I’m now honest enough not to build a relationship on a lie. She might return—but not into my life.”

“Unless she’s pregnant.”

Priam swallowed hard, but his gaze remained steady. “Then we’ll split custody. Abandoning my child would be cowardly.”

Instead of an accusation, Jasmine’s eyes shone with approval. “A child needs loving parents.” She spoke from experience.

“The key is in the word 'loving'.”

A quiet moment passed, then the System cut through it.

Lvl Up: [Virus Resistance] lvl 2

CONST +6

VIT +15

PERC +3

MEM +3

Priam’s grimace didn’t escape Jasmine’s notice. “Any problems?”

“The virus is still attacking my cells.”

“Tell me you won’t lose your dick again.”

Priam gave her a withering look. “I won’t. Without its creator, it’ll be eradicated soon,” he said to reassure them both. “And once it is, I’ll downgrade this resistance to unlock its ideal epic version!” The thought of progress brought a grin back to his face, and he looked at Jasmine with excitement. “Now, if we’re done with depressing topics, I’d like to check my Tribulation report.”

“Oh! Hurry up and open it!”

Account of the Tribulation

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Priam Azura, belonging to the human civilization, primogenitor of the Homo Elysian.

Special notes:

Bonus:

Malus:

Neutral:

Summary :

User tested by a quintuple Tribulation.

Performance:

System report, proposed by Administrator Thaal:

For his second set of Tribulations, Priam Azura chose a quintuple. Dressed in an exceptionally stylish ensemble—note his branded boxers—he triumphed over the first two Tribulations with flair. His foreknowledge—gained through his own efforts—doesn’t detract from his masterful performance. Our candidate exploited his dream to begin training as a mage, even though he could have awakened at any moment. At the end of his studies, he faced a more capable Champion… and utterly humiliated him by reclaiming control over his destiny and stolen Talent. His triumph stemmed from a simple truth: innate talent is nothing before an indomitable will.

Instead of opting for a smooth awakening, the Juggernaut flexed his newly tempered Gate, shattering the nightmare. Retaining the special mutation of one of his meta-attributes, Priam then hunted down his nemesis—empowered by the Necromoon and benefiting from a Champion’s greatest weakness: their civilization. Showing intelligence—if not tracking skill—Priam located his nemesis, who chose to fight rather than flee. Typical of a son seeking his father’s approval…

The ensuing battle was less captivating than the drama. The necro opponents were unworthy of one who had endured the Deluge, yet the Champion hesitated before finding the resolve to kill his progeny. After developing a legendary resistance and reconstructing a flawless body—using a method as gruesome as it was creative—Priam was ready to flex his new dick and upper hand… until a final misstep cost him his Shadow.

In an explosion of rage, Priam ended his set of Tribulations a second before the last one could erase him.

Now that the dust and ashes have settled, one thing is clear: Priam Azura has grown from this ordeal. His childish illusions are gone, replaced by the certainty that the world will exploit his every weakness to break him. The only question remains—will the Juggernaut learn to set his priorities straight and sever the ties that bind him when necessary?

Note: After a free triple Tribulation (see Deluge entry), the next will be the thirteenth.

Final ranking - Tier 0 Tribulations:

The ranking is calculated based on the number of simultaneous Tribulations, their energy, the method of resolving them, and the rewards obtained.

Sector - year: 2 (-1)

Sector - decade: 5 (+2)

Sector - century: 42 (+14)

Sector - eon: 1 842 150 (+746 993)

Sector - All time: 1 842 150 (+746 993)

Universe - year: 8 872 (+1 587)

“...”

“Something wrong?” Jasmine asked, noticing Priam hadn’t checked his rewards.

“Someone beat me. My gut tells me it’s Arnold.” It wasn’t surprising, given the Champion’s bad performance in his ninth Tribulation. Still, the discovery was a hit to the pride.

Jasmine bit her lip before bursting into laughter.

“I don’t see what's so funny?”

Adopting a deep voice, the young woman mimicked a robot. “As expected of the Tyrant.”

After a second, Priam laughed in turn.

Status:

PHYSICAL:

Strength 915

Constitution 1 632 (+8)

Agility 1 256

Vitality 1 676 (+33)

Perception 888 (+4)

MENTAL:

Vivacity (D) 634

Dexterity 787

Memory 985 (+6)

Willpower 1 221

Charisma 894

META:

Meta-affinity (O) 1 103

Meta-focus 633

Meta-endurance 1 122

Meta-perception 558

Meta-chance 678

Meta-authority 555

Potential: 26 673 (+4)

Tier 0

Sun points: 1 143 444

[He Who Eludes Death] charge: OFF. Reloaded in 16 hours 30 minutes 39 seconds.

Concepts:

Bloodlines:

Rewards standing:

[Tribulation]: Two Tribulations pending.

Future Tribulations delayed until:

Time: 29 days 18 hours 31 minutes 27 seconds.

Next thresholds: 12 attributes > 900 / 6 attributes > 1 200 / 1 attribute > 1 800

Tribulations ended and next arc already complete on Patreon if you want to find out what happens next!

/ANovelConcept