A Novel Concept - A death a day, MC will live anyway!

“Why does my body crave this heart so badly?”

An Eastern dragon appeared above Thaal’s outstretched palm, its sinuous form gliding through a constellation of stars. “Heavenly Dragon... The first of his kind predates our universe. Legend has it that this creature was a prodigy among his species, so exceptional that he survived by devouring the High Tribulation of an enemy.” The holographic image consumed a radiant light, illuminating its scales from within. As the dragon roared in triumph, a thunderbolt powerful enough to vaporize a star struck it. “Having endured the wrath of aether, the progenitor of this draconic branch is said to have evolved to the point of unleashing High Tribulations upon his enemies.”

“The very power the System is so interested in,” Priam remarked.

Thaal smirked, dismissing the dragon’s image with a flick of his fingers. In its place, he summoned a familiar die.

“The survival reward you earned from Kazuki offered you three tempering methods. You selected Heavenly Dragon because you met two prerequisites: a draconic bloodline and a heart capable of housing a Tribulation. Even so, the method is... incomplete. It’s a theory pieced together from legends and other draconic tempering techniques. For that reason, it suggests dragon trophies as ideal catalysts but neglects the potential of High Tribulation essences—though they qualify.”

Priam narrowed his eyes. “Is that the only reason? Or was it a way to steer me away from using High Tribulation essences as trophies for my gates?”

“The System doesn’t need to manipulate you to discourage that,” Thaal replied smoothly. “Do you think you could just stumble upon another aborted High Tribulation?”

“Do they need to be aborted?” Priam countered. “Kazuki’s Tier-Up is scheduled for a few weeks from now.”

“You’d consume the essence of your friend’s High Tribulation during his aether baptism, dooming him to remain Tier 0 for life?” For the first time since he had arrived, Thaal looked deadly serious.

“Loyal to your friends, ruthless with your foes. How refreshingly original,” Thaal scoffed. “Did you see what happened to the Second Terror when it tried to interfere with a Tribulation in the erased timeline? The System’s punishment was violent enough to bring the Tier 1 Prince to death’s door. The laws of aether don’t grant more clemency.”

Priam nodded before recalling an idea. “What about my own Tribulations? The Phoenix called me an idiot when I told it this was the perfect trial to temper my body.”

“Not only is it an excellent idea, but I did the same thing when I was your age. Don’t listen to advice from an overgrown chicken; I remind you that they’re animals stupid enough to eat fried wings. That said, you won’t be able to use System Tribulation essences as trophies. It has to be a High Tribulation.”

Priam wasn’t disappointed as he had already suspected as much. The Tribulations he had stolen from Taishi or Jasmine’s alternate self hadn’t awakened his body like the Deluge’s heart.

The administrator gestured toward the Deluge’s essence. “If you absorb it, you could create an ideal gate—similar to what you’d achieve with a dragon trophy. It’s likely to awaken an alien Concept like Storm, Cyclone, or Maelstrom. You get the idea. I forecast a spontaneous fusion with Pyro or Mist, and an early Tier-Up. You don’t want that.”

If Thaal was telling the truth, absorbing the core was clearly a bad idea. But was the administrator being entirely honest?

“Almost forgot—there’s also a chance the Deluge essence could mutate part of your body into, say, a tempest organ. A boon for many, but you’ve already got a full plate, don’t you? Even at the Seraphic rank, Chimera will struggle to keep you alive if you stack too many divergent powers.”

Priam glanced at his evolving Talent.

[Chimera - Legendary] is ready for evolution. Presence of a catalyst detected.

Use 17 403 POT to trigger evolution?

Nice. Last I checked, it needed over twenty thousand.

“So, to summarize, I should trade it,” Priam concluded.

“If my back didn’t hurt, I’d bow in awe at your unmatched deductive reasoning.” The High Tier had clearly elevated his Patronizing Concept to Tier 8.

Priam examined the orb in his hand. A terrifying storm churned within. Despite Thaal’s arguments, Priam was confident he could harness its power. If he waited until Tier 1 to absorb it, he might fuse Mist and Storm into a devastating Tier 2 Concept. ⱤάŊ𝖔฿Êȿ

But it would be stupid to risk antagonizing the System for a mere ideal trophy.

“The System covets the Deluge’s heart because it’s alien,” Priam mused aloud. “I could agree to trade it for another High Tribulation essence. If it comes from our universe, it would cost it nothing, right?”

Thaal grinned. “I wouldn’t say that, but I can accept this deal. However, remember you must obtain your trophies yourself to forge a solid foundation for your body tempering.”

That had been one of the warnings of the Heavenly Dragon method. The specter of the Second Terror had inhabited the core Priam used to create the gate for [Ciphered Record]. If Priam hadn’t slain the beast personally, its core would have exploded mid-tempering, killing him outright.

“Can’t the System help?”

“It can create a blank trophy, but that only solves half the problem. Without a story tying you to your trophy, your tempering might be flawless, but forging your Myth later will be far more difficult. Immortality is a long way off, but it’s never too early to plan!”

Priam frowned. He had heard these terms before but didn’t fully grasp their significance.

“What exactly does Myth mean? I’ve seen the word in descriptions but don’t understand it.”

“A traditional story, especially one concerning the early history of a person and typically involving supernatural beings or events,” Thaal replied in a robotic monotone.

“That’s the dictionary definition.”

“Yeah. If you want more, pay the Guardian of Secrets. I’m not your father.” Thaal squinted. “I just checked—I’m definitely not your father. So, what did you decide?”

“I’ve got half of Sumstreh’s core. Is it possible to infuse it with the essence of a High Tribulation related to [Free Will]? It must be something pertaining to Soul.”

Priam had a plan to temper that resistance but lacked a suitable trophy. The only memorable opponent who wielded a sub-Concept of Soul was Sumstreh. Though powerful at Tier 4, its core wasn’t considered an ideal trophy—the Fallen wasn’t a dragon.

This would change if the System empowered it with a High Tribulation’s essence.

Thaal reached into the air, and when he opened his fist, half of Sumstreh's core was in it. He had effortlessly breached the Archipelago’s Concept defenses.

“It’s possible. Your story with Sumstreh is intense enough to make it a strong trophy, but it didn’t die by your hand—that weakens your story.”

“What if I kill him after forging the gate?”

The timing of Priam’s next tempering event wouldn’t allow him to kill Sumstreh first.

The administrator nodded. “The timeline doesn’t matter, as long as the story is told. You don’t even have to kill him.”

“Really?”

“Of course. Why brutalize its ego with death when you could simply ask for permission to use its core? Instead of building your Myth on a bloody victory, consider love—a wild night of passion could add a romantic twist to your tale.”

Priam and Thaal stared at each other for a long moment before the warrior looked away. “... I think I’d rather rip his head off with my bare hands.”

“So much violence in you.” Thaal laughed heartily.

“The System taught me everything.”

Priam clutched the alien High Tribulation essence in his hand. Whatever happened, he had struck a good deal. An ideal trophy, tailored from a custom High Tribulation. It was exceptional, but he could do even better.

“Shall we proceed with the trade?” Thaal asked.

Priam shook his head. “To the System, the Deluge’s heart holds more value than a mere local High Tribulation essence. In addition to the custom heart, I want a quintuple Tribulations equivalence—rewards, thresholds, everything.”

“Three, like the original quest.”

“Four.”

Thaal chuckled. “Greedy Priam... One of this universe’s fundamental forces is Karma. That’s why the System values fairness and makes equivalent exchange the heart of its dealings. With a triple Tribulation’s worth and an ideal trophy imbued with a High Tribulation essence tailored to your chosen resistance, you’re nearing the best deal possible.”

“I don’t want to ‘near’ it. I want to reach it.”

“Then you’re down to a minor reward or a trivial question.”

“Hm.”

Priam took a moment to skim through the notes stored in his add-on. Every question he had asked himself since the beginning of the Tutorial was there.

[What is a Story, and how does it connect to the tiering process?

What is a Myth?@@novelbin@@

This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

What does ennobling the mind mean?

How can I evolve stats without a bloodline or a Merit?

How can I build my soul without turning it apocryphal?

How might someone complete a septuple Tribulation?

How are bloodlines created, and what’s their connection to race? What do their different rarities signify? What are the three supreme bloodlines?

How can I free the phoenix from its oaths?

…]

Should he ask Thaal one of these questions to wrap the deal? Or would it be better to request a more tangible reward?

“I was wondering—do Merit points fall under the definition of a minor reward?”

“Ah!” Thaal burst out laughing, his mirth echoing for five full seconds before he composed himself. “Absolutely not.”

“Purifying my bloodlines—”

“Nope.”

“One of the prerequisites for [Ideal Aether Manipulation]?”

“I don’t know what you’re smoking, but I want some.”

“A list of resistances I could unlock?”

“Three alien essences wouldn’t be enough for that.”

Undeterred, Priam carefully framed his next question.

“If there are multiple ways to ennoble the mind, I’d like to know the one that best complements my foundation.”

“Your mentor didn’t teach you that? These phoenixes and their ridiculous oaths…” Thaal sighed, shaking his head. “Become a Prince, and the System will handle the rest. Fine, I’ll give you one more question or reward because you’re starting to tug at my heartstrings.”

“Well, I’d like help unlocking [Probability Manipulation Resistance].”

“Oh.”

At that, the room fell silent for nearly a full minute. Facing a High Tier, such a pause stretched into an eternity, but Priam held firm. Finally, Thaal smiled.

“I assume you want the ideal version.”

“Of course.”

“Sorry, but an ideal resistance far exceeds the value of the Deluge’s heart.”

“I’m pretty sure I already meet three of the five prerequisites.” Priam was thinking about [Homo Elysian Obsession] and [Life is Hard; I’m Harder], along with the probability manipulations he had endured from Esmée before the first Reunion. His timing during that initial death in Elysium had been no coincidence.

“Make that four out of five. Even so, it’s too much for the System.”

For the System... Priam smiled, parsing Thaal’s careful phrasing.

“In that case, how about a wager?”

The Immortal Gambler raised an eyebrow. “Go on.”

Mist coalesced in Priam’s hand, forming into an icy coin.

“I bet it’ll land heads.”

Without waiting, he flipped it. Priam now had enough ideal skills to better understand their prerequisites, and he was sure that winning a bet against the Immortal Gambler would do the trick.

The coin spun through the air before gravity began pulling it back down. All the while, Priam’s eyes remained locked on Thaal’s. The Tier 8 Administrator had said plenty during their conversation, leaving Priam no way to discern truth from lies. However, actions never lied. Priam was certain the Immortal Gambler could rig any bet against a Tier 0. The only question was: would he?

Whether he won or lost, Priam would learn something about Thaal.

Dissipating his clone, Thaal opened his eyes in the audience chamber. Before him, a Tier 5 was petitioning for his Tribulations to be postponed. The Administrator’s laughter abruptly cut the suppliant off mid-argument.

“Your Honor?” asked Saliik, the moderator-scribe. Turning to the tribunal, he announced the session adjourned. By the time the court had cleared, Thaal’s laughter had subsided to occasional chuckles.

“I take it this Viracocha’s request wasn’t the source of your amusement,” Saliik remarked, packing up his materials.

“Sharp. I just met one of the new Champions, Priam from Humanity. He wanted to consume the essence of an alien High Tribulation.”

“Presumptuous.”

“I’d say ambitious. He had the means to do it.”

Saliik frowned. “I haven’t received any alerts from the System.”

“There weren’t any. I think our employer is trying to create a hunter capable of tracking down High Tribulation essences across other universes.”

Despite his title, Thaal rarely knew the System’s true objectives. That didn’t stop him from speculating. If only it could bring an end to these Multiversal Wars...

“I doubt the boy can manage it,” Saliik countered. “Only a heavenly dragon could survive the aether’s wrath after stealing a High Tribulation’s essence.”

For the second time that day, Thaal burst out laughing.

Prerequisites met:

• [Homo Elysian Obsession]

• [Life is Hard; I’m Harder]

• Your time of death was accelerated by probability manipulation.

• Billions of people have bet on your actions.

• You have won a wager recognized by the Immortal Gambler.

You have gained the ideal skill: [Probability Manipulation Resistance - Rare].

[Probability Manipulation Resistance] -Every event has a certain chance of occurring. For example, given enough coin flips in a controlled environment, heads and tails will balance out. However, the universe’s inherent chaos distorts those odds. The placement of your fingers, air currents, the surface texture… until now, your enemies could exploit these factors to influence the outcome of your coin toss. From now on, they’ll have a harder time.

This skill, bolstered by the interest of billions of gamblers, grants inertia to your actions. It synergizes with Micro to block external probabilistic manipulations within your body.

A good gambler backs the best horse. A great gambler never trusts luck. XOXO

META (Chance) +3

“It’s him!” Priam exclaimed upon reading the final line. Looking up, he saw Thaal had already vanished. Around him, the cyclone’s dance resumed.

According to the phoenix, skill descriptions were written by the first person to unlock them—except for unique skills. Yet the end of each description was personalized. Priam now knew exactly who authored his.

Grumbling, he bent to retrieve the icy coin from the ground. Heads, just as he had predicted. The Administrator had chosen to help him.

Just as Priam prepared to dissipate the coin, he flipped it over and froze. Heads again. Both sides were heads! Yet he was sure he had designed one to be tails.

“A great gambler never trusts luck,” Priam mused.

The Juggernaut would remember this lesson.

Status:

PHYSICAL:

Strength 893

Constitution 1 383

Agility 1 173

Vitality 1 179

Perception 858

MENTAL:

Vivacity (D) 599

Dexterity 752

Memory 891

Willpower 1 012

Charisma 653

META:

Meta-affinity 999

Meta-focus 554

Meta-endurance 899 SEALED

Meta-perception 539

Meta-chance 594 (+5)

Meta-authority 343

Potential: 17 599 (+2)

Tier 0

Sun points: 143 444

[He Who Eludes Death] charge: OFF/ Reloaded in 19 hours 26 minutes 3 seconds.

Concepts:

• Breath (T0): 100% / Harmony
• Fire (T0): 100% / Unity
• Pyro (T1): 100% / Half-step Unity
• Mist (T1): 100% / Symphony

Bloodlines:

• Phoenix: 2%
• Dragon: 1%

Rewards standing:

• Colosseum VIP Token
• Fusion Token - Skill (Epic)
• Evolution Token - Skill (Legendary)
• Affinity Token - Tier 1 (30%)
• Alien Concept fragment (7th Terror)
• Talent Token - Upgrade (Seraph)
• Revelation Token - Ideal Prerequisites (Epic)
• Colosseum VIP Token
• Reborn Token - Reset biological lifespan (Legendary)

[Tribulation]: Five Tribulations pending.

Future Tribulations delayed until:

Time: 132 days 19 hours 55 minutes 16 seconds.

Next thresholds: 12 attributes > 900 / 3 attributes > 1 200 / 1 attribute > 1 500

Next arc already complete on Patreon if you want to find out what happens next!

/ANovelConcept