Ebony's Fable

"I'm back here. Oh, my memories of this place returned." The moment Ebony's eyes opened, his recorded notes about his previous evolution formed a hazy memory for him, but it all returned.

The place looked the same, 1 large crystal monolith that represented his Physique and baseline traits, 3 white monoliths for his Class, Sub-Class and Profession and their Fortifications.

Thousands upon thousands of shelves, books, slates and tables that had his skills.

Cups and oddly shaped vessels that carried Natural Potential were placed all over the huge monoliths, in front of every book.

Only, the floor had 'water' up to his ankles this time.

Right in front of his chest was a spiralling orb of liquid, absorbing all the water around that wasn't already in the vessels. Draining the floor, Ebony waited and watched as all the liquid gathered within a vat.

Yet it didn't stop after the floor dried out.

"Still generating liquid? Oh, the evolution potion and the Mythic Willshard Ember Crystal are being converted." Ebony saw the crystal monolith glowing, but there seemed to be liquid condensing across its surface.

His instincts in this place were heightened. He was understanding things that nobody explained to him just like before.

Ebony's Physique couldn't take in all the energy, some was converted to Natural Potential, but a tinge of pain that was sent across his very soul was telling him he was getting overwhelmed.

Yet there was nothing he could do but endure.

"That's new." Ebony looked at a thin 'moat' around his crystal monolith, cutting all the other veins from the monoliths, shelves of skills and everything around this space that linked to the crystal monolith before. Only one thread from this moat linked to his crystal monolith.

It felt bottomless. "Oh, this represents my Priming. I see, every accumulated skill and technique is primed before it feeds into what is at my core."

A transparent vat landed on the floor when it was nearly full. 1.5 metres tall and a metre across at its widest point.

"So much more than my previous jug. Might as well quantify, I don't feel like anything's pulling me away from this space yet. I should have more time than before." Ebony had a pitcher to carry and walk around with before, not anymore.

While the vat was still filling up from the beads of condensation from his crystal monolith, he was hit by a sudden urgency to pour some liquid elsewhere.

"Something bad is going to happen if I let this vat overfill!" His entire soul was screaming for him not to let this vat spill over by overfilling.

He didn't want to get hasty here so he went to the spot where he had already decided to strengthen that wouldn't harm his later decisions much. "I'll just use a small amount to buy myself time to think."

He lugged the weightless vat over to the crystal monolith and instinctively knew where his baseline stats were.

His 8 main stats were here, all not much different from a baseline human, but extremely different from his predecessors.

Each uniquely shaped vessel here was bleeding and branching into thousands of watery veins. With a thought, he knew what each 'vein' led to. Another vessel for Potential within the monolith.

If he added Potential to Strength, he could control what part of Strength to allocate his Potential to. Does he want more muscular strength? Does he want it all to go to the forearms, does he want it all to go to muscle size, or density? Does it want it to go to speed-focused muscles? Does it want a specific muscle to get all the strength?

The modifications he could do were practically limitless.

However, the balance was already perfect for him. He just needed them to do more.

Equally adding to each stat, he realised once more that physics and perception don't work properly here.

"Why are they all so cheap to increase except Wisdom?" Ebony clearly tipped his vat but the water level in his vat wasn't decreasing even though he should've doubled Strength original volume already.

The Wisdom vessel, in the shape of a cross section of a brain, looked as if it had similar volumes as the rest of the stats but after looking at it, he realised that the volume ratios within were extremely skewed towards another vessel within.

"Processing capacity. No wonder I can calculate so easily." His Wisdom stat already contained 200 times more Potential than any other stat but it was all skewed towards his mundane mental abilities. Besides processing capacity, mental resilience took the largest portion of his Wisdom stat.

The more filled they were, the more 'expensive' they got to increase by a noticeable amount. Exponential prices.

Ebony skimmed off the top of his vat to let it continue to accumulate the condensate from the monolith.

He maintained all of their internal balance and increased their volumes overall for now. Other than Wisdom, all of his base stats should be 5 times more effective than they were before. His Wisdom was only doubled in effectiveness. By now, the volumes they required to increase from his previous base was already more than he felt worth.

"Did I just multiply all my base stats but Wisdom by 5 just like that? Base stats are truly cheap." But he knew, base stats might as well be worthless compared to other evolutionary traits he could be spending on.

His mana regeneration and mana capacity, dependent on Wisdom should technically double. Just like that.

'Should I reallocate from processing capacity and resilience to mana….no, I shouldn't mess with the balance I already had."

First of all, Fortifications.

He would go for his Physique first if it weren't for his crystal monolith being very busy and in pain right now.

Walking towards the white monolith for his Class, he found the Fortifications he had been genetically building himself for.

'No time to count volumes, I'll just calculate it in percentage and assume I have slightly over 100% of my vat. Hope my calculation skill speeds things up.'

Base Mana and Stamina regeneration increased by 750% ➡ 1000%: 0.7%

Mana efficiency with Ice Magic increased by 300% ➡ 400%: 0.1%

Mana efficiency with Body Enhancement Magic increased by 300% ➡ 400%: 0.15%

Balance and fluidity when wielding a greatsword increase by 300% ➡ 400%: 0.08%

Movement speed increased by 300% ➡ 400%: 0.25%

Ice Magic is 750% more resistant to heat ➡ 1000%: 1.3%

Flames of Frost are 750% more fluent in seeping. ➡ 1000%: 2.8%

Ice Magic is 200% colder ➡ 300%: 0.1%

Ice Magic has an increased effect of 100% Intelligence ➡ 200%: 0.5%

Sealing Magic is 100% more efficacious at sealing essence ➡ 200%: 0.2%

Will is 100% more compelling ➡ 200%: 1.2%

Merely upgrading all his existing Class Fortifications would take 7.38% of the vat's total volume. This was excluding the 3 more Fortifications he could take up at a reasonable price. It wasn't necessary to take on 3 more new ones though.

But he could have 1 more Fortification of the 250% variant reasonably cost-effectively.

If he wanted an existing 100% Fortification to use this spot, there was a small cost, and he still needed to upgrade it from the current bonus to the limit of a 1000% for a King. Just like his previous evolution where he spent a little more to cover the loss of his hasty first evolution.

He could, and was going to increase all 100% Fortifications up to 400% as well. In the same way, he could strengthen new 250% Fortifications to 1000%. The total cost would only be 9.4%, a small price to strengthen everything else up compared to how much he would have to spend back when he evolved into a Grandmaster.

There were quite a few modifications that his Instincts were pushing him to take. Just like the greatsword Fortification that used to be specifically for one-handed that he got rid of the limitation during the previous evolution, he was being pushed to modify it to balance and fluidity when wielding a sword. Getting rid of the 'greatsword' limitation.

The details were vague because what defines a greatsword and a sword was questionable.

For a deeper cost, his instincts also prompted him to change it to Balance and fluidity when wielding a cold arm.

That would allow him to utilise any close-combat weapon and have his Fortifications work on them. So it wouldn't matter what weapon he was holding, from a pick, axe, hammer, or sword.

It was very low on priority due to the high cost, almost equal to upgrading all of his Class Fortifications and he was still more of a martial artist and mage than a weapons master.

He was definitely going to push them all to their limits, so it was first time to check new Fortifications and if any that he was training towards was possible to obtain.

Instinctively, he dismissed all Lightning magic-related fortifications along with all other elements that he had more affinity with now that wanted to sink their teeth into his Class.

He brought up those regarding Will first and foremost.

The first one that came up was what he was aiming for.

Flames of Frost's Synergy with Will increased by 100%: 0.9%

Will's intensity with Flames of Frost increased by 100%: 1.1%

Base Will regeneration increased by 100%: 0.4%

Base Will capacity increased by 100%: 1.2%

Will's conversion rate into Unfading Will increased by 100%: 3.9%

Mana's Will saturation capacity increased by 100%: 0.1%

Flames of Frost's Synergy and Intensity with Will increased by 100%: 3.2%

His immediate question about synergy was answered by himself. It seemed to refer to how easy flames of frost would take his Will, and how it would be easier to translate thoughts, instructions and manifest the effects that his Will desires better.

An increase in Intensity would increase the strength of Will when used with his flames.

There were also the same Fortifications for all ice magic in general but were dastardly more expensive in cost. Perhaps due to the broad nature of an entire element.

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Mana's Will saturation increase would mean the same volume of mana would be able to store more Will. It would allow Dusk, the Numbers or any ice spell to contain more Will without being large in physical size.

Honestly, it wasn't that crucial to Ebony. Once he worked on mana compression even further, the issue wasn't an issue at all.

The base increase to regeneration and capacity for Will was extremely inviting. If Ebony had to choose, he would take capacity due to Will's nature of regenerating faster at a higher percentage fill. Taking both was also an option.

Doubling the conversion rate into Unfading Will would increase Dusk's growth rate and strengthen his Domain far faster once he was a King. He could see how this was crucial for Domain mages.

Unfading Will doesn't get consumed when the core of a Domain uses skills imbued with Will. It was like a separate battery that could recharge Will as well.

Ebony needed more drastic means, more strength.

Flames of Frost's Synergy and Intensity with Will increased by 250%: 28%

He couldn't take this, it was not cost-effective when the top priority for Potential was his baseline and Physique.

Will's intensity with Flames of Frost increased by 250%: 6.4%

As costly as it was, he had already decided. This would benefit the 3 prototype core flames he was creating within his mindspace. This way, he didn't need the Fortification 'Flames of frost's reaction with heat is adaptable, 100% more tranquil or violent as per your Will,' which he could get since his previous evolution.

As much as it would help his combo spells, Ebony's evolution was for himself. He didn't think any of his Fortifications should help with cooperation. That could be trained.

That left him with 2 new Fortifications before the prices skyrocketed as it would go past the capacity of a King-ranked creature.

Base Will capacity increased by 100%: 1.2%

He was taking Will capacity for sure but held off on conversion to Unfading Will.

Instead, he pulled up what he started to like more and more as something unique to his 'talent'

Sealing magic.

Sealing Magic has an increased effect of 100% Intelligence: 0.7%

Sealing Magic's resistance to foreign essence increased by 100%: 0.2%

It was a little lacklustre. There were hundreds more options, with it being stronger when used with ice or even gravity and lightning magic. And even Will's intensity and synergy options but the costs were all above 5% of his Potential vat's volume.

For merely 100% fortifications, he didn't see their worth at the moment.

Resistance to foreign essence seems to mean his seals would be harder to break. Whether it was internally or externally.

Essence would mean it would be resistant to life force, mana or stamina-based Skills and spells. It was good and all but if Ebony couldn't seal something, he could just throw more mana at the target.

His spell already traps essence in and his targets so far couldn't brute force their way out. Not to mention, his seal had runic absorption and technically drains the target of their mana if he cast them that way.

He still didn't want to go back and take conversion rate to Unfading Will and let his instincts call up all the Fortifications that he worked on and was most suited for.

Bone Density and Durability increased by 100%: 0.05%

Muscle Shock Absorption increased by 100%: 0.01%

Base Constitution increased by 100%: 0.3%

Base Constitution's mana tolerance increased by 100%: 0.5%

Base Vitality increased by 100%: 0.5%

Base Strength increased by 100%: 0.4%

Base Agility increased by 100%: 0.3%

Although it seemed like a great boost to double the effect of a base stat, it was also not that impressive when he could just raise his stats baseline directly.

There were even more similar options that only translated when he used a sword, and the cost was so low that it was practically free.

Mana tolerance for Constitution would allow him to take more mana augmentations without killing himself, but he also planned to increase his baseline directly.

At the very least, these didn't sound as tempting as Unfading Will's conversion rate.

Without more tempting options, that was decided upon for now.

If something was interesting on the esoteric list that he ignored along with lightning magic, it would be the lunar-related Fortifications.

Since he didn't actively train or target these, they were evolutionarily expensive. Some were interesting enough for him to consider, but others just weren't worth changing his direction for.

There were several Aura Fortifications that were surprisingly not cheap. Considering how often he used overflowing essence to suppress targets, it was odd how expensive they were.

He used to think Aura was just essence control, but his instincts here told him there was more to it. Aura carries intent and will.

He kept an eye on 2 specific Aura Fortifications, but they cost over 15% of his Potential, so he skipped over them. The combined version was almost more than he could afford.

It wasn't impossible to get, but he would rather spend more on his Physique.

One interesting function here was that he could imagine a Fortification that he wanted, and it would show up. Even something completely unsuitable for his class, such as earth magic mana efficiency, can appear, but it would take absurd amounts of Potential that didn't make sense to obtain.

He moved on to his Sub-Class.

Mana efficiency with Sound Magic increased by 300% ➡ 400%: 0.08%

Mana efficiency with Gravity Magic increased by 300% ➡ 400%: 0.08%

Body's natural gravitational flow reversed and increased by 300% ➡ 400%: 0.15%

Body naturally reflects physical vibrations with mana vibrations at 200% frequency. ➡ 300%: 0.15%

Gravity Magic has an increased effect of 200% Intelligence. ➡ 300%: 0.3%

Body natural ability to absorb and pad out vibration increased by 100% ➡ 200%: 0.4%

Sound Magic has an increased effect of 100% Intelligence ➡ 200%: 0.2%

Thinking how upgrading all of them only took 1.36% of his total Potential truly put into perspective just how much Potential he had gained. It was not as cost-effective as his Class if he wanted to push them all up to 400% as the total would tally up to 4.34%.

There were people who evolved into a King with even lower than 100% Fortifications, which were a lot cheaper. Those people can't even afford to get new Fortifications.

Then again, Ebony didn't bother making the comparison any longer. He held no pride in gaining more Potential than any creature. Only competitiveness, knowing there might be others who gained more than him.

For every 100 Fortifications choices his Class had, his Subclass had 5. A similar pattern was observed between his Sub-Class and Profession.

Ebony was unimpressed by his achievements in his Sub-Class when he scanned through the list of most suitable new Fortifications.

He was seeing Fortifications such as a range increase for Gravity mana control and the basic increase in effect with the Intelligence stat.

There was also a combined effect of gravity, sound and the Perception stat that his Numbers used around the clock.

Resolve's Cadence seemed to be the reason for the singular Fortifications between sound and Will.

He could extend it to Arcane, making mana itself more attuned to Will, but his Sub-Class was so different from what this ability was, the price was over a thousand times more expensive compared to sound and Will alone.

"I can take mana and Will combined Fortification for my Profession at a far lower cost, though still too costly for me. Class limitations and compatibility change things."

Thinking of the Fortifications that he wanted and was aiming for, but weren't showing up immediately due to suitability, he had to consider if it was worth going for them over the basic choices that were still useful.

Gravity infusion delays on your body increased by 100%: 3.6%

Gravitational Anchoring Intensity increased by 100%: 3%

Vibrational mana sensitivity increased by 100%: 3.1%

Vibrational Echoes maintains effect for 100% longer: 3.4%

Vibrational Echoes' impact retention increased by 100%: 3.1%

"Anything above 3% is considered unsuitable for a Sub-Class? Is that my instinctive allocation?"

After so many years, Ebony hasn't successfully created a gravity elemental body enhancement spell. However, believed his research into that was going to come into fruition sooner or later.

That was where gravity infusion came into play.

He took inspiration from his mother's Infinite Variations and her known style of delayed strikes.

Sound magic usually left echoes on any of his targets. This included both offensive and supportive sound magic spells. Having these echoes retain longer after he withdraws his mana would extend even physical attacks' vibrational damage.

These echoes slowly weaken in effect over time and are surprisingly useful in extended battles. Impact retention would reduce the weakening effect so that the echoes deal twice as much damage.

Gravitational anchoring was specifically to ground a target to where his gravity spell decided. He used it when the soul puppet tried to draw him close.

This was useful for most external gravity spells if he wanted to keep a target down or locked. It would also help with defensive spells. His shields would be more unmovable. Dusk could be locked down tighter and not blown away by strong attacks such as the Saint Soldier's casual flap of bony wings.

"Should I take them during the next evolution and push them up to 500% next time?" It would be cheaper during future evolutions, but he didn't want to play catch-up with his Fortifications again.

His Profession interested him more, and he had fewer choices, so he could decide after he took a look and decide after evaluating how much Potential he had left to spare.

Mana Compressibility increased by 300% ➡ 400%

Mana Resilience increased by 300% ➡ 400%

Mana Density increased by 200% ➡ 300%

Mana is 100% soother ➡ 200%

They were so cheap.

All of them combined merely cost 0.35% of his total budget.

As imagined, the suitable options were countable on one hand, unlike the numerous ones he had for his Class.

Mana Radiative potency increased by 100%: 2.5%

Mana Radiation - Mental Dissonance potency increased by 100%: 1.5%

Mana Radiation - Mana Dissonance potency increased by 100%: 1.8%

Mana Radiation - Physical Warping potency increased by 100%: 3.2%

"Hmm…" Ebony somewhat expected this, "This is Dad's speciality. Radiative mana."

He recalled the second generation Xeng that ended up in his father's Domain.

The solid ground they stood on was his father's mana. It caused all foreign mana to be unable to congregate properly. Essentially, interrupts all magic casting or spell formation constantly.

The aura of his mana, or the radiative effect, also made all but the Ning Saintess unable to properly think. Increasing the difficulty to cast magic once more on top of mana dissonance.

The Shi sisters and the two men who were able to ignore that didn't need to think properly to fight.

Anything physical, tangible object that was in range of his father's mana's radiative effect also begins to warp unnaturally.

Just landing in his Domain made most of the Xeng's equipment warp, and the weaker ones had their bodies bent out of shape till they used their skills to counter the warping.

Of course, beyond flesh, his father's mana also warped souls that it touches. But Ebony didn't see that anywhere. Even if he imagined the Fortification, he couldn't even calculate how much Potential it would require.

"I wonder if that's a concept too?"

Regardless, he wasn't spoiled for choice because he could only pick one. Choosing a second would have its price increased at least 10 times, and they were already not cheap.

"My mana doesn't even have any radiative effect at the moment. Unless it's radiating my meditative aura."

There were few enough mages that used mana dense enough that it was a liquid. Ebony himself was unable to solidify his mana. From what little he knew, mana radiation was the step after mana solidification.

His mana compression skill, Coagulated Mana Repository, had reached its limits first amongst all his skills. No matter how dense he got his mana, it wouldn't solidify. Increasing his mana purity only made the compression limit increase, but still stuck at liquid mana.

He was missing a step to evolve the skill or get solid mana. Either that, or he was missing the brain power.

The one that called out to him did not match his instincts this time.