A Novel Concept

"I gladly accept," Maya replied. "I hope you will remember this in the future."

Priam wanted to sigh with relief. He had held his breath without realizing it. Maya had decided to bet on him. It was the smartest move because the mercenary would win either way. If he survived his Double Tribulation, his lead would be even more significant, and he would be on good terms with the Mercenaries. Maya would therefore gain an ally in the upcoming Meetings. If he failed, she would have received information about the threat for free.

Priam was in vital need of this information and was in no position to choose. He started as a loser and got the best deal possible. Maya had deemed him an acceptable champion for humanity.

Of course, it was not impossible that this choice was motivated by the desire to get a powerful political ally. Priam intended to keep his word. It was much easier to socialize when people believed in your word. To betray your word once was to alert all your allies.

Priam looked into Maya's eyes for a few seconds before nodding appreciatively.

"Thank you very much, I'll remember that," he promised. "But words are of little value without actions, so to honor my part of the bargain, here's what I know," he said, turning to the assistant who had picked up a notebook and pen.

Priam began to relate his experience with the revenants. He told them of his theories and his intention to attack Viracocha.

"I see. It's annoying because they've linked up with a powerful faction. The Cult of the Revenants is a religion led by Viracocha, a god who loves sacrifice. It is not a banned faction, but it is rather demonic. Viracocha must have asked the System to help integrate new civilizations. These things happen. Still, with this faction's support and the System's help, they are more dangerous than expected," Maya analyzed. "It's a good idea for you to go there, but we won't be able to help you. The portal tax has ruined me. As Baron, I could go with you for free, but I must stay with the Mercenaries..."

Priam raised an eyebrow. Despite the neutrality of the Mercenaries, Maya was forced to put her faction ahead of the rest of humanity. Maybe helping Priam was a roundabout way to protect humanity.

Priam excused her. "Don't worry, I'm happy to go alone. It will increase my reward. On the other hand, I'll leave you to search for Claire."

"No worries. It's not our specialty, but I have contacts who can track her down. We'll interview her. Maybe you want us to let you know when we find her?" asked Maya as she sorted through some pastries before her.

Priam remained impassive. He knew this was another test. Was he filled with resentment and ideas of revenge? Did he want to torture Claire? Maya wanted to know the answers to these questions. With pensive eyes, looking out the window at the city still awake, he took a second to ask himself the question calmly.

If Claire were brought to him now, he would kill her. But would he enjoy torturing her if he had to interrogate her first? He plunged into the heart of his spirit and looked at the reflection of his soul in the [Mirror of the soul]. It was giving him a bored look. Claire had to die, it was obvious. But he had no intention of torturing her. In his life, he only saw Claire as a secondary character. Not significant enough to be hated. He would remember the lesson, not the teacher.

"Not really," he replied, looking at Maya. "If I run into her again, I'll kill her quickly. I'm not a sadist. She deserves death, but I don't plan on torturing her if that's your question. I have other things to do. Not to mention that in this new world, torturing someone increases their resistance. I won't let her escape like a villain in a bad movie."

Maya nodded before grabbing a raspberry tart. She began to remove the fruit one by one.

"I like pastry cream," she justified herself when she saw the incomprehension in Priam's eyes. "Let's talk about your Tribulations Priam. If I have to summarize things... you're in deep shit."

"Excuse me?" replied Priam. Maya looked so innocent that vocabulary shocked him at least as much as the sentence.

"You heard right. You've triggered two Tribulations. I'll try to contextualize it for you to understand. Tribulations are known to everyone in this new universe. Parents scare their children with stories about Tribulations coming to abduct them. But they are real. The System gives us the means to become strong. Impossibly strong. But while the Concepts give us the ability to get to the top, the path to the top is getting steeper and steeper."

"It's not even sure the end of the road exists," interrupted her assistant.

"True!" exclaimed Maya. "Eons have passed, and no one has reached the top yet. Except for the seven Concepts, but they were born that way, so it doesn't really matter. While there is life, there is hope…"

Maya stopped talking for a few moments. After about ten seconds, as the silence grew heavy, she turned to her assistant.

"Where was I?"

"You contextualized Tribulations, Captain," the assistant replied. The exchange seemed natural, and Priam mused that Maya must not have invested much in her Memory.

"Yeah. So, Tribulations are a method used by the Concepts to test whether you are worthy of your powers," she continued. "They want to push us to excel. There are other methods, of course, but they are less direct. For example, you may have noticed that the higher the skill level, the harder it is to increase it. The attributes can't increase forever. You have to find other skills to increase and diversify," Maya explained while licking her tartlet.

Priam shrugged. He hadn't noticed a significant drop in the rate of increase of his skills yet. He wasn't worried about the future. Elysium was so full of aether that this was less of a problem for him.

"This is one of the safeguards for the System, not to have people increase their Vitality infinitely and therefore their life expectancy. If everyone could live a thousand years, then worlds would be overpopulated, resources would be plundered, and the goal of the Concepts would not be met. Tribulations are a more brutal safeguard. When someone reaches a plateau, the Concepts test the person to ensure that the resources consumed have been used up."

Priam frowned. This contradicted what he knew about the Concepts. "Why? Concepts are omnipotent, right? How can they run out of resources?" interrupted Priam.

"Omnipotent within the confines of their Universe," Maya clarified. She pointed to her assistant's notebook with a cream-covered finger. "Imagine if they were given all the alphabet letters except one. They could create words, put sentences together, and write books endlessly. But without the last letter, they will always be missing something. Currently, they are forced to paraphrase or steal from other universes to get that letter. But it's not theirs."

Priam clapped his hands and completed. "But if one of us becomes the Eighth Concept, then our essence will complete this world and unlock the last letter. Their Universe will be complete. The Seven capture elements outside their Universe because while one universe cannot become perfect alone, two can."

"Exactly!" smiled Maya. "My theory is that the letter missing from our Universe was the ability for living things to interact with the aether. The letter they are missing... I guess it will depend on the Eighth Concept. In any case, the Concepts are forced to import some rare resources from other Universes. So they are limited..."

Priam smiled. He liked to learn things, and understanding the precise reason for the Concepts' invasion allowed him to theorize about the System. He almost asked another question but then thought better of it. It could wait. He was here to survive his Tribulations.

"Thanks for setting the context, but I need some practical information. A history class isn't going to help me," Priam reminded.

As Maya opened her mouth to answer, her assistant cut her off.

"Tribulations are a barrier to prevent a person from staying in Tier 0 indefinitely without taking risks while accumulating attributes, skills, and Titles," he summarized. "The Concepts test through these Tribulations the talent and choices of the users. It's a kind of natural selection. Tribulations come in many forms, but it is advisable to provoke some before attempting to evolve to Tier 1."

The assistant paused before looking at Maya. The rest of the information was valuable, and he didn't know which to reveal. His captain was scowling, unhappy that she had missed an opportunity to talk.

Priam took the opportunity to hand Maya another tartlet. His attempt at bribery was pitiful, but he had noticed that Maya liked to talk. All he had to do was give her the opportunity, and interesting information would naturally come out.

"Stay in Tier 0 as long as possible," Maya advised between bites. "Some actions are considered impressive and deserve rewards: Titles, Achievements, etc. But at Tier 1, these actions are not so impressive anymore, and the reward is inferior," she declared, waving a finger full of cream to support her point. Some of Priam's attention slowly drifted to the creamy finger before refocusing on his interviewee.

"If I have to find a close example, you killed a Baron alone, and that impressive action was rewarded by the Concepts. You showed them something new: a combination of actions, choices, and potential called Priam. That's why the Concepts created the System. At least, that's the most common theory. But what if you had been Tier 1? You wouldn't have gained a Title!"

Priam gently pushed a lemon tart towards Maya - the raspberry ones had been finished.

"What do these Tribulations consist of?" he asked.

"They are different for everyone. Summoning an enforcer - often in the form of a monster - certain Plagues of Egypt, destructive lightning, illusions, battle royale with a hundred other people going through a Tribulation, etc. It is almost impossible to prepare for it. If you take refuge underground to escape lightning, a monster will appear, you will be teleported to the center of a battle, or an illusion will attack you. In any case, heed this advice: never combine two Tribulations. Statistically, less than one percent survive a single Tribulation."

Priam petrified. Less than one percent chance of survival? Maya waited for the young man to collect himself before continuing.

"Second piece of advice: no Tribulation is easy," Maya warned. "If you resist a divine lightning bolt for your first Tribulation, the System will teleport you to a battlefield for the second. That's why a double Tribulation like you unleashed is so dangerous. As they are simultaneous..."

"As they are simultaneous, the second Tribulation may hinder the solution of the first," Priam finished.

"Exactly. While an illusion keeps you from moving for hours, you'll be vulnerable to the Second Tribulation. A divine enforcer could appear and kill you while you're entangled in the illusion..."

Shit. It's not just math anymore. Two Tribulations with 1% survival each don't mean 0.01% survival. It's much less. Priam was aware of the problem that was coming. Even with his extra life, he was in danger if his two Tribulations were incompatible.

He took a breath to think. All was not lost. He had several ideas to get out of it. He couldn't die now. He would become the Eighth Concept. He was immortal, and even the System had recognized that when it gave him his first talent. Priam straightened up and looked at Maya, his eyes clear. This was the mindset he needed to keep. You had to believe in yourself to rise in any world.

Moreover, deep in his consciousness, he had an idea. [Eidetic Memory] and his Vivacity were synergizing to find a method of survival. If he considered all of his abilities, he had an ace up his sleeve.

"I will survive," Priam announced, his eyes clear. He was sure of it.

"I hope so," Maya smiled. "Now, here's my advice. A Tribulation marks you the moment you trigger it. The System tailors the Tribulation to who you were when it was triggered, not who you are when it arrives. If a seer were present, they could give clues about your future Tribulation. You would then have three days - 72 hours - to prepare yourself."

The assistant's hand trembled as Maya was in the process of revealing confidential information.

"If I knew my Tribulation would be a divine lightning bolt, then I could spend 72 hours increasing my lightning resistance?" asked Priam.

"Exactly. Unfortunately, humanity doesn't have any seers powerful enough for that yet. But you can train yourself to become better holistically. If you double your attributes in a few days and increase your skills, you will have a chance. If increasing your attributes could trigger another Tribulation, work on your Domain, Mastery, or Micro. Your attributes mean nothing if you don't know how to use them. Worse, the System will expect you to have started working on the different stages of the Body completion. Finally, the items you find yourself or trade with your own resources can be used to resist a Tribulation," Maya said.

Priam looked at Maya sideways. "Maya... You're advising me to get stronger without triggering a third Tribulation. Is that why I traded all my information about the Revenants?" he said in a cold voice.

The two Mercenary guards stopped eating and looked at Priam with nasty looks. Priam did not give them a glance. He was looking for helpful information and had only received a history lesson.

"What did you think?" Maya kept her composure. Priam was pissed, and considering the sword of Damocles over his head, she didn't hold it against him. "That I was going to reveal a magic formula to dispel the bad Tribulation? I gave you some context so you understand what you're getting into. I also explained that you must get as strong as possible without triggering a third one. It's a race, Priam. There is no easy way to get through it. If your way is right, then you will live. Until then, try to get as many attributes and titles as possible. Search for items and quests. Survive."

Priam took the last tartlet from the buffet and looked at Maya. Their eyes met, and Maya turned pale as she realized his intentions. He opened his mouth...

"Wait! Don't do that Priam, that tartlet didn't do anything to you. I was going to reveal something else to you."

"... What?" asked Priam, delaying the execution of the tart.

"There is a hidden quest," Maya admitted. "At the center of each Dome stands a Viscount. He sleeps and gains power over time. He will become a Count before the end of the Meeting if he is not killed. He is far too powerful for the Mercenaries, but you should get a new achievement and improve your Title of Nobility if you kill him. Also, if you become a Viscount, you will have access to a special trainer in this Colosseum, and you will be able to enjoy the ducal palace. It contains valuable equipment and a treasure. With all this, you have a greater chance."

Priam looked out the bay window. He could see the city from his seat, and the palace towered over the Dome. It was even more imposing than the Colosseum, and Priam felt his heart race. Instinctively, Priam knew that a monster was inside it. He would not have had a chance if this one had been an Earl. But a Viscount was killable. Even the best Viscount couldn't be more powerful than the Boss of the Thirtieth Wave. He smiled and handed the tartlet to Maya, who devoured it in two bites and then began to cough.

Priam stood up as the captain was choking. His assistant patted her on the back, and her guards panicked. Priam filled a glass with water and brought it to Maya, who drank it in one gulp. A few seconds later, the woman sat down again.

"A Mercenary captain defeated by a pastry... One last thing before you go and slaughter some poor beast. I bet on you because the Revenants are a severe threat, and humanity will need your help. If you survive, you will become a monster. Tribulations are not just a curse; resisting them can be very beneficial. Survivors gain a title, and their bodies are tempered. If you survive a double Tribulation... Let's say the reward is always proportional to the risks.

Priam had remained standing. "Thanks for the info, Maya. I will keep my word for the Revenants. After my Tribulation, I will leave for Viracocha. If they are a threat to humanity, I will be a threat to them," he declared as he turned around.

Maya wished him luck and walked him to the door.

"He's going to die."

Maya looked back at her assistant. Priam had been gone for a few seconds, on his way to slaughter the Viscount of the Dome.

"Why do you say that?" she asked.

"He's not an elite. There are people in this Universe who have been trained since childhood. Who are waiting for the right moment to trigger their Tribulation. Who gorge themselves on pills to increase their attributes to the maximum during three days. Who have gathered shields, barriers, and potions to help themselves. Those have a chance," the assistant agreed. "There is a reason our officers forbid us to trigger a Tribulation for the time being. And this man is going to do two at the same time?! This is madness. This is the way of the Princes of empires or the children of gods."

Maya looked at the ducal palace. In the golden light of the Dome, it shone brightly. But it was nothing compared to the light she had seen in Priam's eyes when he had announced that he would survive. The captain would have bet that in a few hours, the palace lights would be drowned in mist.

A smile stretched her lips. "The Royal Road... It may be the only way to save humanity."

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

PHYSICAL:
Strength 86
Constitution 103
Agility 116
Vitality 164
Perception 176

MENTAL:

Vivacity 132
Dexterity 107
Memory 33
Willpower 69
Charisma 84

META:
Meta-affinity 80
Meta-focus 56
Meta-endurance 4
Meta-chance 40

Potential: 202
Tier 0

[He Who Eludes Death] charge: OFF. Reloaded in 2h 19min 49s.

[Tribulation]: A Tribulation is coming.
Time: 54 hours 49 minutes 43 seconds.