Jasmine fixed her gaze on Priam, awaiting his judgment. Her large eyes, framed by long black lashes, seemed deceptively innocent. I wonder what's going through her mind, Priam thought, furrowing his brows. He could feel his hormones reacting to the allure and charisma of the femme fatale. [Priam’s System] triggered Micro, preventing his brain from producing unnecessary chemicals.

Instantly, Priam regained rationality and thanked his high charisma. Without this attribute, Jasmine could have persuaded him to let her go.

That wasn't going to happen.

Jasmine was an assassin. Her raison d'être was to kill. That's what her description indicated, and Priam had experienced it firsthand. She had tried to kill him. She had maimed Kazuki. If he released her, she would be skilled enough to track him, lurking in the shadows, waiting to strike. Priam had enough reasons to be paranoid without adding an assassin to the list.

So, it was a fact; Jasmine was dangerous, both to him and his family.

Priam's gaze hardened. He couldn't let her go. He had to eliminate this threat. The obvious solution was to kill her - hoping the Necromoon wouldn't resurrect her.

But was there a way to turn the situation to his advantage? A way to deal with Jasmine permanently while benefiting from her skills?

The seed of an idea sprouted in Priam's mind. If he was right, he would have a new trump card.

"Attack me, and you die," he declared, lifting the young woman. She didn't understand his language, but his tone spoke for him. If she was qualified to be one of his rivals, she would understand. If not, too bad for her.

Priam activated [Kinetic Control], immobilizing the assassin. Thanks to his Domain, he would sense the activation of any skill. That would be the death sentence for Jasmine. Kazuki nodded, positioning himself beside the assassin, in her blind spot.

Pain shot through Priam's body, meridians and mind. The priority was to get rid of the menhir before it destroyed his inner world.

"Let's go."

Different biomes of the forest passed by; fir trees giving way to a jungle, then to oak and birch woods. Priam and Kazuki ran as fast as they could, mindful not to draw attention to themselves. Time was of the essence.

Suddenly, they crossed an invisible border, and the air changed. Log-a-rhythm’s domain extended this far.

Smiling, Priam veered off before charging into a tree. Secret Passage. A portal opened, spitting him out in front of Log-a-rhythm.

Night was falling in the clearing, and it was dinner time. As their arrival was heard, everyone - except Blueberry - turned, surprised. Their absence was supposed to last six days, and they were returning after just seven hours.

"Priam!" exclaimed Alain, rising with a grilled fish in hand. "Is everything okay?"

"Hey Dad. Well, Kazuki has a problem."

The hoplite raised his forearm, now sporting a stump instead of a hand, and Louis swore.

"And her?" Mirscella pointed to Jasmine.

"An assassin who tried to kill us. Twice."

Mirscella sniffed. "A rather poor assassin, then."

During the conversation, Louis had approached the prisoner. "I'm proud of you, Priam. You go out for a few hours to harvest trees and return with a pretty girl in tow."

"Two girls," Kazuki corrected. "And he almost brought back a third."

Louis looked up at Priam. "You need to teach me your technique, son," he smiled before flinching. Mirscella had placed a hand on his shoulder. Coincidence or not, her fingers sank into the elder's skin.

Rest in peace old man.

Priam shrugged before grimacing. "Sorry, but we'll talk later. I have an emergency."

His inner world was in an unstable state, threatening to explode. Priam quickly opened a passage beneath the menhir. He placed its exit five meters above ground, in the center of the clearing. Under gravity's effect, the heavy stone fell from the sky, shaking Log-a-rhythm and the surrounding trees. Priam sighed in relief as his portal closed.

Without wasting time, he ordered his add-on to scan his world.

[Concepts Archipelago][World information:Current aether density: Current Density: 0.56 E>0.61 E.Radius: 30.78>34.12 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, ?.Inhabitant: MyuriFeatures:Aether siphon (Enchantment: purity).Nurturing soil (silver) T2Betula passiflora (gold) T1Aetheric Sugar Maple (silver) - T1]Guardian: None

Note:

Spatial damages detected: the dimensional fabric stretched to accommodate the Menhir of Secrets (No. 37 458). Mending time: 5 days 12 hours 17 minutes 34 seconds.

World analysis in progress...]

Priam widened his eyes before bursting into laughter. The presence of the menhir had brutally pushed the limits of his world. This artificial and rapid growth had nearly destroyed it, but what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. The radius of his world had gone from 30.78 meters to 34.12 meters. It might not seem like much, but translated into surface area, it was a 23% increase.

Smiling, Priam turned to his loved ones. "Behold the Menhir of Secrets. Inside lives some kind of sage who can answer almost all your questions. Be cautious, though; he trades his answers for yours, so don't burn all your credit."

"Hmm, let's see if he finds answers to my questions," snorted Sphinx.

"You can complete quests to earn those credits," added Kazuki. "But... you'll see."

"Avoid trading your movie memories with him, don’t forget to negotiate, and if you ask interesting questions, share the answers, okay?" Priam added.

Everyone nodded in silence. Each had questions to ask. Priam looked at Rose, whose gaze resolutely fixed on the menhir, and opened his mouth. Hesitating, he eventually closed it. She had the right to know.

While a debate erupted about which questions to prioritize, Priam headed towards the campfire. His father had set up some logs around a cooking station. Blueberry was finishing the skewers, a grin on his face.

"Hey."

"Hmm," the bear replied with a mouthful.

"Don't you have any questions to ask?"

The question elicited a laugh from the bear, who swallowed in one gulp. "Someone's gotta take care of the fish. Plus, I sense you have questions for two."

Priam smiled. "I'm naturally curious."

"I'm not. I was a wild animal not too long ago, you know? You humans have a talent for adapting, but not me. Give me time, and my questions will come. For now, I prefer to enjoy life and intelligence without worrying too much about tomorrow. Like Baloo."

"Baloo?"

"Rose told me about a bear in one of your stories. He says it takes little to be happy. I'm trying to follow his example."

Priam smiled; he had always loved The Jungle Book.

"Does it work?"

"As long as I have food and a comfortable place for a nap," the bear growled, spitting out some fish bones. "And you? What are you going to do with this female?"

Priam turned his head towards Jasmine, still paralyzed. "She has assassin skills. Despite what Mirscella says, I think she can be useful. The problem is, I trust her as much as I trust Claire."

"Isn't she the girl you beheaded in public?"

"The very same," confirmed Priam.

"Don’t tell me you return to kill her before us?"

"No, I came back so you could eat her."

"Really?!" Priam could hear the hope in the bear's voice.

"Nope."

Grumbling, Blueberry walked away. The bear had questions he had to find answers to himself.

In silence, Priam joined Kazuki, who was waiting by the river.

"Are you going to use the Skull Key now?"

"No point in wasting time."The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

"... Be careful," Priam said, extending his palm towards Kazuki. In his hand rested the miracle pill that would have cost his father's life. The hoplite had the necessary vitality to use it to regenerate his hand.

Kazuki received the treasure in silence. His black eyes locked with Priam's misty ones. Both knew that facing a quadruple Tribulation without the best preparations was madness.

"Thanks. What about Jasmine?" the hoplite asked.

"I think I've found a use for her."

"You want to farm her survival rewards?" teased Kazuki.

Priam shook his head. "No, that was stupid of me. You triggered a Tribulation to escape Log-a-rhythm, and she could do the same. With Potential, she might find another way. All these risks for a treasure... I was foolish."

"Ignorant," Kazuki corrected.

"It's even worse. I was thinking more about..."

Priam spent the next few minutes explaining his plan to Kazuki. The hoplite's eyes widened.

"Do you think you can do that?"

Priam shrugged. "Theory doesn't forbid it."

"I'd prefer death," Kazuki decided.

"Not everyone is a hoplite."

"True. Here," Kazuki said, opening his hand. An eye lay there.

"Holy fucking... What is that?"

"An emergency ocular implant. It contains a cutting-edge hoplite AI. You should use it to upgrade your system. It'll give you a better chance of executing your plan."

Priam stared at the hoplite for a moment before taking the metal eye. Both knew it might be the last time Kazuki and he were talking.

"Slay those Tribulations."

"Count on me."

Everything had been said. Kazuki turned to face the river and pulled out the Skull Key. The faint glow of the treasure quickly became brighter until they had to avert their eyes. Log-a-rhythm briefly questioned him, and Priam gave his approval. The next moment, the ground shook.

Turning around, Priam gaped at the emergence of a large pit on the riverbank. A double-helix staircase descended into the depths of the earth. The first steps quickly disappeared into the darkness, a sign of a powerful illusion.

"If I don't return, my wife's name is Hyshana. Tell her our daughter is alive."

"Promise."

Kazuki took a deep breath before stepping onto the first bone step. Without another glance, the hoplite Champion descended proudly. Priam hoped his noble friend wouldn't die here, in an underground dungeon billions of kilometers from home.

He sighed before turning to Log-a-rhythm. He, too, had work to do.

Effortlessly, Priam released Jasmine from [Kinetic Control]. The most incredible aspect of all the magic he now wielded was how natural it felt. As innate as breathing. This freedom pleased him. And yet, I'm about to strip someone else of this freedom.

"It's your turn," he declared, locking eyes with Jasmine.

The assassin stared back, bewildered.

"If you want to live, the first step is that we can communicate. I have a deal to propose, and I'll need your active participation. So speak."

Jasmine blinked, silent. Priam sighed and mentally requested Log-a-rhythm to conjure a chair. The ground rippled before materializing one. Jasmine looked at the creation with wide eyes.

"Chair," Priam said, pointing to the seat.

"... Hyrb?"

"Hÿrb," tried Priam.

"Hyrb," Jasmine corrected.

"Hyrb."

Jasmine nodded.

The ground absorbed back the chair, then crafted a simple wooden cup. "Cup."

You have gained the skill: [Arkana Language - Rare].

[Arkana Language] - The language of Arkana, an ecumenopolis. This strange world consists of a single planetwide city where technology melds with the arcane forces of magic, birthing monsters and wonders. Its history, as murky as its politics, witnessed the creation of lawless zones where billions of nameless poor reside. Including a certain Jasmine. Legend has it you can walk for hours without encountering a single tree. MEM +3

Title gained!

[Polyglot - Bronze] - You fluently speak five languages, including at least two alien tongues. Your worldview evolves, and you open up to others. The new connections in your brain allow you to learn foreign languages more rapidly. In such a vast universe, your collection is only just beginning. MEM +10%

"You're a Nightwalker? Like an assassin, but one who never misses their mark," Priam repeated after over two hours of elementary-level discussions.

"That's right," confirmed Jasmine.

"But you missed twice."

Jasmine flushed with anger. "My usual targets aren't immortal nor aware of my attacks."

"Sounds like excuses. But you managed to maim Kazuki, which speaks about your skills. Something bothers me, though: you mentioned targets. Why did you target us?"

Jasmine hesitated for a few seconds before responding.

"... I have a System quest that requires me to kill my rivals."

"Oh." Priam was oddly reassured. If Jasmine was telling the truth, it meant she wasn't a bloodthirsty psychopath. She had a - good? - reason to attack Priam and Kazuki. And no reason to harm my family.

"What's the reward?"

"A True Wish."

Priam widened his eyes. He had experienced a Minor Wish as a reward from the forty-fifth wave of the Colosseum. A True Wish had to be much more potent. He didn't need to consult the Guardian to know that such a wish had few limits.

"You got scammed by the system," Priam summarized.

"It seems so."

"At least now, I understand why you wanted me dead. Unfortunately, whatever your reasons, you tried to kill us. If I release you, something tells me that the next time, you won't fail."

"I didn't kill you."

"You didn't succeed. I won't differentiate between murder and attempted murder."

"Are you going to kill me?" The assassin's voice didn't tremble. She has seen too much death to truly fear it. Yet the young woman's eyes hadn't given up hope. She wanted to live.

"It would be a waste, but it's a possibility. I was hoping to find a more mutually beneficial alternative for both of us. You have skills I want," confessed Priam.

"Do you want me to teach you Nightwalker’s skills?"

"Not for now. I'm sure it would be interesting, but I already have a lot on my plate."

"Do you want me to sleep with you then?" she asked, giving him a seductive wink. Her face and attitude had changed in an instant.

The question bewildered Priam for a moment. What had her childhood been like for her to be able to play the role of a courtesan with such ease? Priam didn't ask. He didn't want to pity a woman he might have to kill soon.

"Neither," he replied in a neutral tone.

Jasmine gave up her role-playing to shoot him a perplexed look. "Then I don't understand."

"I want you to work for me. You would protect my family, train them and help us survive. The problem is, I can't trust you. In fact, I'm pretty sure you'd try to kill me if you thought you had a chance. I need an absolute guarantee," explained Priam, asking Log-a-rhythm to serve them a glass of fresh sap.

Jasmine picked up her mug. As she took a sip, a small smile lit up her face.

"I could swear loyalty on my Potential?" she suggested.

"Too many loopholes." Priam paused, choosing his words carefully. The way he presented his proposal would be crucial. He fixed his rival with a steady gaze.

"I was thinking of monitoring your soul using my own system. If you try to betray me, directly or indirectly, it would kill you."

It was a morally questionable proposition, but Priam had nothing better to offer. Jasmine had dug her grave by attacking him first. On the other hand, killing his rival seemed a monumental waste given the circumstances. Priam wasn't so strong that he could afford to throw away a potential advantage.

His offer was a compromise between his principles and his responsibilities. The young woman froze as she understood his intention.

"You could turn me into a slave," Jasmine said, gritting her teeth. She was wrong, [Priam’s System] could turn her into a puppet. A fate worse than death.

Nonetheless, Priam winced at the assassin's choice of words.

"A slave is the property of a master, and I abhor this concept. I wouldn't be your master, I would be your boss. It would be an employment contract, with breaks, rights, and a duration, but which would prevent you from betraying me. You would retain your dignity and free will."

Jasmine fell silent. Her eyes fixed on her hands, her fingers twisted from stress. She had committed a transgression and now had to pay the price. Would she choose death or expiation? Priam had no other choice to offer her.

"Servitude or death…" she finally replied. “How do I know you're telling the truth?"

"You'll use your Potential to host my skill. At that point, we can rewrite it to include your rights."

After a brief silence, Jasmine looked him in the eye.

"You want a weapon that won't turn against you," she summarized.

"You're not a weapon; you have a consciousness and a soul. I want you to work for me, but I need guarantees. I'm not a monster, Jasmine, just someone who refuses to be betrayed again."

His rival offered a sad smile.

"You misunderstood me. I wasn't saying that pejoratively. I'm used to being a weapon, and I prefer that to death. I accept. When do we start?"

"Now," Priam said, glancing at his notifications. His system had just finished analyzing the hoplite AI.

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

PHYSICAL:Strength 419Constitution 724Agility 432 Vitality 547Perception 637

MENTAL:Vivacity 342Dexterity 444 Memory 158 (+16)Willpower 682 Charisma 450 META:Meta-affinity 371 Meta-focus 261Meta-endurance 208 Meta-perception 131 Meta-chance 219Meta-authority 15Potential: 1019 (-48) Tier 0

[He Who Eludes Death] charge: OFF. Reloaded in 15 hours 40 minutes 49 seconds.

[Tribulation]: Five Tribulations pending.Future Tribulations delayed until:Time: 175 days 16 hours 14 minutes 2 seconds.Next thresholds: 12 attributes > 400 / 6 attribute > 600 / 1 attribute > 800