Chapter 72: The Final Preparation

Elias did not accurately judge the power of an average Siphon, but he could push the insane growth of his Attributes to the fact that he had a hundred pools and was a level 9 Wisp. What could he say was his talent if he were asked?

Opening his eyes, Elias looked at his body, which had almost completed the healing process: all his teeth had returned with a pleasant snap that sent tingles down his spine, and his skin was flawless. No one would ever believe that a moment before, his body had been battered to the bone, and he had lost his body weight in blood, flesh, and bones.

Still covered in the black blood of the abominable creature he had just killed, Elias could still glimpse all the perfect contours of his body underneath the gore. He would need a long and hot bath after all this.

Elias wondered where his body generated the essence or energy to heal itself when he could not regain his stamina in the same way. He had always had this question at the back of his mind since his body did not seem to draw resources from anything inside of him.

He had suspected that his body drew upon the energy of the floating Lumina around him, which, at the core, was simply vitality, but since he had no way of confirming this speculation, he thought he could only wait until he became a Siphon, and he would be able to tell.

Now, he was already a Siphon and had grown strong, his eyes could see Lumina, and his perception was heightened to the extent that he could see a single speck of dust if he concentrated and if he stood on a high enough position, he believed he would pick out intricate details for miles around him, and yet he could not see how his body was finding its resources for it to heal.

He knew that the answers were there, but he was just not strong enough, and he only needed the time to discover the mysteries behind every question that disturbed his dreams.

All of these thoughts passed fleetingly through his head, as Elias’s thinking speed was clearly much faster, and he appreciated this change, but the question remained: if he was going to be hiding his Elder Talent, Extreme Adaptation, what should he claim to be his Talent?

Glancing down his body, he saw the purple breeches he wore gleaming with traces of golden runes that pulsed rhythmically, as if the material were breathing. Despite the battle he had just experienced, the breeches were in perfect condition, not stained or torn to pieces.

Elias wanted to retrieve it and step out of the portal naked; he was not ashamed of his body or had fragile sensibilities, and if he played it well enough, his nakedness could be used as a form of distraction and shift the attention of others from the things that he wanted to hide.

However, the Ascendant Swarm would be a fundamental part of his life and identity after he leaves this place, and even though he would be hiding their true power, there was no reason they could not be seen as his talent.

He made this decision because there were too many mysteries surrounding his life, and Elias knew that he needed a base for himself to use in order to rise, and if his Ascendant Swarm could be properly researched in the open, it could lead to him being led into places where he could easily have access to secrets.

Elias had read fictional stories of heroes who gained great powers secretively, and somehow they were able to hide all of these powers, and were still able to gain all the information they needed about these clearly extremely special abilities. It was like all the answers they needed fell into their laps, even when they were doing everything possible not to find those answers, but real life was not like that.

If a child wanted to eat with their elders, then they would have to learn to wash their hands. If he wanted to be placed in a position where he could gain power and answers, then he had to be a figure that was deserving of that power.

That meant revealing as many secrets as he was comfortable with, to pull the eyes away from what he considered to be extremely important. Opening a hundred pools of Lumina would draw eyes; having a talent that can be shifted to form various tools and weapons, even clothing, was a powerful talent.

It was a good thing that Elias’ research had shown him a talent that appeared the same as that of his Ascendant Swarm, and that Talent was called [Armament].

This Talent was rare and considered extremely powerful, as the user was very versatile on the battlefield and in everyday situations. They were never without weapons, and truly powerful users with this talent could create complex structures and tools that defied common sense.

Unlocking the Armament Talent and having a hundred Pools of Lumina, and also becoming a Bronze-level Ascendant Candidate, was a great resume for anyone. Perhaps he would not be considered the greatest of geniuses, but his name would still resound all over Stormfall. All of these would be his shield to hide his true capabilities.

Satisfied with this level of preparation, Elias glanced to the side to see that the white void was very close to him, and he had only a few seconds left, but before he stepped through, he checked his present Status one more time.

[STATUS]

Name: Elias (True Name: ??? – Fragment-Bound)

Race: Human (Divine Remnant Hybrid – Pillar of Sorrow Assimilated)

Age: 18 (Chronologically) / Ageless Echo (Spiritually)

Stage: Ascendant Candidate (Bronze Potential – Mutated)

Path: Dual – Miracle / Condemnation (Equilibrium Achieved – Sovereign Balance)

Rank: 9 (Unallocated Points – 0) Level 9 Wisp

Vitality: 2385 / 2385

Stamina: 613 / 613

Lumina Pool: 100 / 100 (Oceans of Lumina)

– Miracle Affinity: 50 Pools

– Condemnation Affinity: 50 Pools

Attributes:

– Strength: 87

– Agility: 104

– Durability: 119

– Perception: 142

– Will: 158

– Esoteric: 180

Titles:

– The Good Hunter

– Late Bloomer

– Vessel of the Hungry (Evolved)

– Fragment Bearer

– Defier of Fate

– Heir of the Pillar of Sorrow

– The Storm’s Heir

– Sovereign of a Hundred Pools

Unique Traits:

– Extreme Adaptation (Elder Talent)

– Ascendant Swarm Symbiosis (Fully Awakened)

– Pillar of Sorrow Integration

– Yseult’s Blood Fragment (Expended – Fate Shell Remnant)

Current State:

– Potential Classification: Reclassified (System unable to quantify)

– Void Spawn Incursion: Active (Countdown [23:45])

– Seed Requirement: 1/4

There were not many changes despite the battles he had fought, except that he had grown to Level 9 as a Wisp and his Esoteric was at a solid 180. Because he was looking at a stripped-down version of his Status Screen, he could not see if Esoteric unlocked an Effect when it surpassed a hundred, and because he was still suppressing his next upgrades, Elias did not want to be distracted by what he may have unlocked when his Esoteric had climbed to become his highest Attribute.

However, after that terrifying battle, Elias knew that it would not be long before Esoteric was placed in the dust.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped through the portal as the white void had shrunken to the extent that it almost touched his skin.

“Ready or not… here I come.”

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