Leaning casually against the trunk of Log-a-rhythm, Priam and Alain gazed at the stars. In their hands, two wooden mugs held a golden liquid. Sap.

"A grand vintage," Priam joked, licking his lips. "I would give a lot for some good cheese and a baguette..."

Even in another world, the French remained steadfast in their traditions.

Alain took a sip and sighed in contentment. "For a fisherman like me, it lacks fish."

"I brought silk. We could stretch a net across the river and see if we catch something," Priam suggested.

Alain turned to his son with a smile. "You're clever, you know that?"

"It runs in the family."

They both burst into laughter.

Sipping his sap, Priam looked at the forest. Despite the starry night, the warm wind on his chest, and his father's company, he still had a knot in his stomach. In the firmament, the presence of a crimson moon reminded him of his situation. In six days, a deadly event would unfold. He had to be prepared.

The howl of a predator echoed in the distance, and his father flinched. Priam's mood sank at the sight. Did I make the right choice bringing him? Unlike Priam, Alain didn't have a second life.

"Hey, son?" Alain said without looking at his son.

"Hmm?"

"Are you happy right now?" His father's voice was gentle.

Priam opened his mouth but closed it again. He was usually quite secretive, but his father deserved an honest answer. Priam pondered the question.

Was he happy? Constantly forced to flee, train, and fight for survival, he hadn't even asked himself the question. Yet the answer seemed obvious.

"I think so..." Priam corrected himself. "I'm sure I am. For the first time in my life, I feel... free."

Alain remained silent, and Priam continued. "I think society was imprisoning me. The judgment of others, conventions, traditions. It was subtle, but I was guided toward certain paths. I always loved reading, writing, and building, but school never taught me how to develop those talents. When I think of my younger self... Remember when I helped you plant radishes, Jerusalem artichokes, or potatoes?"

"I remember," his father smiled.

"I loved it. Yet, I knew from a young age that I would never become rich as a farmer."

"It's a beautiful profession, as vital as it is hard," commented Alain.

"Of course, but I was always pragmatic. I had little chance of becoming a famous author or a wealthy farmer, yet I wanted enough money to live comfortably with my future family. I wasn't unhappy, but by following the path laid out for me, I was missing out on my life. Studying science interested me somewhat, but it wasn't a calling."

"Piercing wyverns, is that your calling?" Alain joked.

Priam shook his head. "Killing wyverns, transcending my limits, seeking treasures, and meeting aliens... It's not a calling. It's a life. A life I enjoy."

Alain looked at him for a moment before smiling. "That's all that matters. To your happiness, my son."

Clashing their mugs, they toasted.

Priam emptied his glass in one go. "And you, Dad?"

"Are you worried about your old man?" Alain said in a teasing tone.

Priam just looked at him, smiling.

Alain rolled his eyes. "You worry about nothing. For the first time in twenty years, I feel fit. I sleep well at night, I'm with my son, and most importantly, I don't have to fill out taxes anymore," the old man chuckled. "I love this life, but... I worry about your sister."

Priam was worried too, but preferred not to dwell on it.

"We can't do anything for now."

"That's never stopped a parent from worrying."

Alain stood up and changed the subject. "There are six days left to prepare for the Necromoon. Can I help with something?"

Priam stood up as well and pressed his mug against Log-a-rhythm, which absorbed it. It was time to get to work.

"As soon as Kazuki is on his feet, we'll go gather resources. Our rivals aren't fools; as soon as we start, they'll want to imitate us or strip us bare."

In Elysium, the law of the jungle prevailed.

"Do you really need those resources?" Alain asked.

"I don't need the attributes, but I need the qualitative benefits of some - to increase my compatibility with my second heart, for example. Moreover, every stolen resource is one less for our enemies. And you and the others will need them. I know your tribulation is near."

"It'll be alright, Priam, I—"

"Dad," Priam interrupted. "I'm not going to let you die because you're too proud to accept my help. I will give you magical fruit juice transfusions if I have to."

Alain held his gaze for a moment before sighing. "Bah. Do you need my help?"

"I've thought about it, and I completely underestimated my internal world. I have plenty of ideas to use it in combat - infinite kinetic energy, a free mist reserve, a prison, etc. However, right now, it would be useful to quickly gather resources and keep them secure."

"You really plan to steal all the resources from this forest," Alain understood.

"Of course. But currently, my world is unusable." A tiny floating island in a thirty-meter radius sphere was not very useful. "I'll fill it to make a real world, but I need you to saturate it with aether. You have an idea, right?"

If Priam wanted to increase the density of aether in his world, it was for several reasons. Elysium proved that a high concentration of aether facilitated level-ups, reduced Potential costs, improved plant growth, and so on.

Last but not least, [Concept Archipelago] used some of the ambient aether to increase its volume. Therefore, it was crucial to increase the aether density.

"I have a good idea,” confirmed Alain. “I should be able to enchant a wooden sphere that will siphon aether from a portal placed at its center."

"Why wood?” asked Priam. “Aren't you afraid the material will warp? It would be better with stone."

"You can carve stone?"

"No."

"Me neither. But I know how to work with wood. The hardest part is finding a perfect sphere, but that will be Log-a-rhythm's job."

Mentally, the tree conveyed its eagerness to help.

"I trust you," Priam said. His father enjoyed working with his hands and had already made some wooden sculptures. "You should also build a strong room."

"For your treasures?"

"For you. I don't think triggering a Tribulation in Elysium will be wise soon..."

With a gesture precise and powerful, Priam wedged the tip of Promesse under an enormous stone. He stepped back to press on the shaft, using his spear as a lever to dislodge the rock. Aided by Archimedes' principle, the stone easily detached from the stream bed.

The boulder started to be carried away by the current before freezing in place, immobilized by [Kinetic Control] and Domain. Blindly, Priam swam to the surface, the rock floating behind him. He broke the water's surface before leaping onto the shore. Dawn had not yet broken, and only the stars watched him work.

A few meters away, his father worked on a wooden sphere; Priam left him in peace. With a thought, he quickly opened a portal and arrived on a small island, most of which was occupied by a pond. Closing the passage behind him, he contemplated a world he had neglected.

The Phoenix Sun shone in the dark sky, its light illuminating the entire world: an island floating above the void. The spatial pocket was a sphere with a thirty-meter radius, and the island occupied only a small part of it. Nearly fifty thousand cubic meters of emptiness lay beneath the islet. Void that Priam intended to fill.

An implosion sound echoed. With a single step, Priam found himself at the island's edge, gazing into the void below. Beneath him, a gigantic Sphinx crushed stones similar to the one levitating behind him.

Priam jumped, and the rock followed him like a small dog. He fell from about thirty meters and landed against the border of his world. Under his bare feet, the limit resembled a nearly rubbery film. He could press lightly on it, but its resistance quickly tended toward infinity. Physical force wouldn't allow him to expand his world. Only the ambient aether's pressure could increase this reality's size.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

That was one of the goals of his father's current project.

"I'm bored," Sphinx grumbled, grabbing the rock Priam had just brought. She began to squeeze, and cracks appeared in the hard stone.

"You're the best,” encouraged Priam. “Soon, we'll have filled half of this world, and it will be all ours. You'll have the right to decorate it and plant whatever you want."

These simple words were enough to bring a smile back to his friend's face.

"I’ll plant a cat tree!"

"... You know it's not really a tree, right?"

"Why is it called a cat tree then?" With a sad expression, Sphinx used her phenomenal strength and gravity mastery to reduce the last rock to dust. Thanks to her giant form, Sphinx had crushed a hundred stones in the last hour. A sandy beach was starting to form under her feet, gradually filling the void of the world. She had worked hard.

"... I'll find you a cat tree," he promised, looking with despair at the small amount of sand they had created.

Each stone was about one cubic meter, and if they only used that, they would need fifty thousand to fill the void. Priam shuddered at the thought of fishing so many rocks.

"Let's stop here. We'll finish with soil as soon as we can get out."

Since Kazuki was asleep, Priam didn't want to leave Log-a-rhythm's domain. He also couldn't dig a gigantic hole in his own clearing. While waiting for his father to finish his work, he had thought of using the rocks lying at the bottom of the river.

"I'll help Dad, and you?" he asked.

"I'll see Blueberry!"

Priam grimaced. To empty his world, he had entrusted the Brood Mother's corpse - which he had previously stored here - to the bear. His friend had developed a liking for spider flesh. Now, Sphinx was showing interest. I guess she must find a diet that suits her.

"If you eat this thing, don't stain your mane."

"Promise," Sphinx said, transforming back. She jumped onto Priam's shoulder as he opened an exit. The portal spat them out where Priam had just left, and Sphinx headed towards Blueberry.

Priam shook his head before approaching his father. He was busy inscribing runes on a wooden sphere, skillfully wielding his only tool, a small pick given by Kazuki.

The son sat cross-legged next to the father. Priam observed, impressed, the runes carved into the wood. His father was a manual man and handled the pick with great skill. Priam asked his add-on to check the work.

Alain had taught him the four types of runes he intended to use and their roles. Unlike the runes drawn by Dishnu, the runes provided by the System had a few right angles. The runic alphabet - if it could be called that - was totally different but equally effective. The mere sight of the runes stimulated his mind and meta-attributes.

"Are you sure you don't want to use a ritual?" Priam asked after a few minutes of observation.

"No. I could be wrong, but I think a ritual permanently alters reality - a bit like a divine command. This set of runes will siphon the aether at the center of the wooden sphere, but we can still modify it afterward."

"A ritual is permanent and inflexible. Simple runes are temporary but replaceable," Priam summarized.

"Exactly. I'm almost sure that in a few months, I'll find my current work awful. I don't want to ask Log-a-rhythm to sacrifice its wood for nothing."

"Wise."

The magical tree had been able to create a hollow sphere of one cubic meter. The only disadvantage of this gift was that it would halt Log-a-rhythm's physical growth for three days - the tree having exhausted its surplus life energy.

Suddenly, [Priam’s System] alerted him. Among the fifty runes drawn, about ten seemed problematic.

Lvl Up: [Priam’s System] lvl 10

MEM+2

VIVA +1

"Are you sure about these runes?" Priam said, pointing to the concerned runes.

Alain squinted as he observed the designated rune. "I think so? I asked the System for a specific set of runes. This rune is supposed to filter the absorbed aether. Is there an issue with their shape?"

"No, it’s more like their arrangement."

Four different types of runes covered the surface of the sphere. Sliding his finger over the hardwood, Priam pointed to the most common rune. The size of his hand, it was inscribed dozens of times on the surface of the ball.

"This rune absorbs the aether from the material in which it is engraved. Here, the wood of the sphere," he recited.

It was crucial because the project was to saturate [Concepts Archipelago] with aether.

With this goal in mind, Alain had thought of siphoning the aether from Elysium through a portal. Inside the sphere he was carving, Priam would create a rift. Through osmosis, the aether would pass through the passage, penetrate the wood, and be absorbed by the runes on its surface.

Two other types of runes would filter and then expel the aether into the world. The last type would prevent the aether from returning to the sphere, ensuring a low concentration of aether inside it while Priam's world would fill with fundamental fluid.

"The siphon rune is simple yet elegant," said Alain.

"Yes, it captures the aether and guides it to its exit: the filter rune. That's the one bothering me."

"Why?"

"The aether enters here," Priam said, pointing to the single entrance of the rune. "Then exits filtered through here." His finger pointed to one of the two exits. "To reach the third rune that will disperse it into my world."

"That's right," Alain replied.

Priam focused on the suspicious rune. "What bothers me is that the filtering rune’s second exit is not connected to anything, so where do the impurities go?"

The two men thought for a moment.

"Into the material," grimaced his father. ‘So, the wooden sphere.”

"With effects we can't predict," added Priam.

Alain grimaced. "I don't know what those impurities are, but if the System sold me this rune, it must be important. My wish was very specific: create a sphere to siphon the aether from Elysium into your world."

"We must be missing something."

Priam and Alain began brainstorming to understand the purpose of this purification. The two men shared a horror of the unknown. How could they use a rune whose purpose they didn't understand?

It was [Priam’s System] that found the answer.

[The impurities present in the aether are likely to be micro-fragments of concepts.]

Asking for details, Priam realized that his add-on had based its deduction on recent data: the rift to Valaryth. The Elysium aether rushed into the rift, and Priam had perceived an unknown concept escaping from it. The concept had obviously merged with the aether. That was certainly also the case in Elysium.

"We would need another rune to store these impurities," Priam murmured.

"I exchanged all my Potential for these four," Alain grimaced.

"Or maybe… We might not need that." Priam replayed his last conversation with the Phoenix Prince. "My world can use concept fragments."

"Oh? Do you think you can store those impurities with this power?"

"Maybe, but it doesn't entirely solve the problem. These fragments may not be the only thing filtered by this rune." Priam thought about the influence of the Necromoon. "If the System sold it to you, it's for a reason. I was thinking more of using one of the fragments I collected: Purity."

"Do you think it will work?"

"Only one way to find out."

"It will work, or we'll find something else," Alain smiled, getting back to work. Priam waited an hour, watching his father at work. Finally, with a final precise gesture, Alain finished his sculptor's work. A hundred runes of different sizes now adorned the sphere.

"Ta-da!" Alain exclaimed.

"Splendid! Does it work?"

"I emptied the aether from the center to work in peace, and the runes I traced prevent it from re-entering. So we’ll have to test it," Alain smiled.

"Let's do it now."

Opening a portal, Priam lifted the sphere and transferred it into his world. He appeared on the sandy strip surrounding the pond of his tiny island. Mobilizing [Kinetic Control], Priam levitated his father's creation one meter high. A few moments later, Alain joined him.

"I'm going to link my System to this world to measure our progress," Priam said, connecting to his skill.

[World information: Current aether density: 0.14 E. Radius: 30.14 meters. Energy sources: sun (light, heat, nuclear), host (Priam: gravity, aether, concepts). Gravity: 2 G (Earth = 1 G), Atmosphere: oxygen (25%), nitrogen (70%), unknown (5%).

Concept fragment: purity, mental stamina, sand, mist, steel, vengeance, ?.Inhabitants: 2

Guardian: None

World analysis in progress...]

Lvl Up: [Priam’s System] lvl 11

MEM+2

VIVA +1

"Good," Priam smiled. "Ready?"

"Ready," Alain replied.

"Here we go," Priam murmured.

Status: (Average value for a Homo sapiens male before integration: PHY 10 / MEN 10 / META 0)

PHYSICAL:Strength 398Constitution 662Agility 404 Vitality 538 Perception 582

MENTAL:Vivacity 324 (+2)Dexterity 422Memory 131 (+4) Willpower 648 Charisma 418 META:Meta-affinity 334 Meta-focus 241Meta-endurance 185 Meta-perception 107 Meta-chance 216 Meta-authority 12 Potential: 832 (+4)Tier 0

[He Who Eludes Death] charge: OFF. Reloaded in 7 hours 49 minutes 36 seconds.

[Tribulation]: Four Tribulations pending.

Future Tribulations delayed until:

Time: 176 days 8 hours 22 minutes 49 seconds.