After numerous twists and turns, and an indoor bridge that impossibly spanned over the lobby with minimal supporting structures, she eventually reached her destination.
A pair of oiled oak doors were left open in anticipation of her arrival. She was greeted by many floating lights within a relatively large, rectangular room. It was shaped like a room for mass prayer, except there weren’t any seats found anywhere. An altar-like fixture was the only notable structure within the otherwise gorgeous room.
It sat at the furthest end, atop a small platform where she saw Jury, Ignis, the Moons and Carpalis gather around the altar. The triplets were the first to notice her, and Cer was about to open her mouth until Res cupped it and silently gestured Frost to keep silent.
Is this the ceremony they were talking about?
“It’s the registration ceremony. It was not required for the Blessed until recently. The Nex Megalopolis has adopted physical multilingual IDs. They benefit the non-Blessed more and places less of a burden on the Blessed who constantly needed to identify people.”
Makes you wonder why it took them until now to do that. Knowing how this world works, nothing changes until they’re forced to. Isn’t that why the Nex Megalopolis was created in the first place?
“Precisely. A united city built out of necessity in the case of another Paradise Lost event.”
Hardly united when there’s 5 independent cities fragmented by walls and their own interests. At least the Golden Index has the right idea with building the guilds.
Frost and Nav were stuck in a world of their own as Snap stealthily arrived at the foot of the altar. The ceremonial induction was a rather simple procedure that required a person to place their palm upon an orb.
Afterwards, their levels would be approximated by the orb depending on various stats, and they’d also be given an Adventurer Rank pertaining to their skills. The orb itself was not needed for the non-Blessed, but because the Blessed could not see each other’s stats, it became a necessity.
How exactly it measured them was unknown, although Frost was interested to see how close the approximations were since she had the bizarre ability to see the stats of a Blessed.
Jury was the subject of this process, and Carpalis acted as her supervisor.
She needed to visually confirm the outcome and validity of their status as a registered Adventurer, and to personally testify that their IDs, which were called Guild Plates, were legitimate.
There was always an option to bypass this process, but it was unfortunately turned down by Carpalis. As much as she trusted them, she wanted to see it for herself. If someone asked her if they were legitimate Adventurers then she would be unable to tell them ‘yes’.
Carpalis was many things, but a liar was not one of them.
“That’s it… Hehe… colorless as expected. Incandescent Soul… For beating a Woe of the Fallen Star and as another fellow Beholder… Unbound Rank it is until the Hyperlinks return. Then… Maybe I’ll return to the Nexus to congratulate you on your, haha… graduation. Level 200.” Carpalis said, motioning Ignis to step up next.
“How was it?” Frost asked, hopping down from Snap to join them.
“Therapeutic! I’m sorry we left early. I didn’t want to wake you up after you slept so soundly. You needed that rest.” Jury apologized for leaving her behind, not that Frost really minded.
“Can you two please stop flirting for a second?” Res hushed. “Ignis. Please place your hand on the orb. Squeeze it as hard as you can. Don’t be afraid of breaking it.”
Ignis did as told, and after only a minute of strenuously testing her grip strength, Carpalis sluggishly applauded her. There was no glorious glow of light. She had seen or at least read of a similar trope in fantasy novels where ranks were calculated by an orb. Usually, they’d be triumphant and full of excitement.
Here, it was difficult to feel upbeat when they already knew the outcome.
“Unbound Rank as well. Oh mellow Moons. You don’t want another attempt?” She offered them, which they immediately declined.
Politely, of course.
They were in the presence of a Beholder, after all.
“Thank you, but we’re at our maximum level already. The last instance was only 20 years ago.” Res spoke on their behalf with utmost respect. “Frost. It’s your turn now. Perfect timing.” She politely smiled.
“Yep. I just need to squeeze it, right?” Frost climbed the shallow steps and stood before the altar, facing Carpalis on the other end. “As hard as I can?”
“Preferably without your gloves on… Those are a Corrupted Item, aren’t they? And that badge?” Carpalis pointed out.
Indeed. Frost wore the Badge of Fragmented Aspirations, pinned to the left side of her chest.
“The Heart of Ours dropped two Corrupted Items this time around. Is there a specific number of items guaranteed to drop after a Corrupted dies?” She asked, removing her gloves, and storing them into her Dimensional Storage as she reached for the transparent orb.
“Drop? That is a humorous way of calling a harvested Corrupted Item.” Carpalis cackled. “It depends on the Corrupted itself. I know of a Monsoon that revealed 5 items. Each was a blade with different markings. The material of the defeated Corrupted can be turned into other anomalous items… I suggest inquiring with ImpulseWorks. Your Guild Plates will be ready tomorrow before you depart.” Carpalis explained throughout the minute Frost spent gripping the orb with all her might.
The orb held up well much to her surprise, although, her hand had left an imprint.
“Color. Unbound Color. It’s official now, Black Dove. From tomorrow, at the very least.” Carplis hummed, making a strange face as she playfully poked the orb. “No level from what I can perceive. It’s cold. Hehe… It’s been bitten by Frost.”
“How… Sorry. How is ImpulseWorks going to know we’re with you?” Frost had to ask, refitting her gloves.
“I will present you with a personal request. I have a good friend there who can help you with the restoration of your Corrupted Items… and if you’re creative, then you can utilize those Corrupted materials you’ve been holding onto. Haha… Unless you want to eat them?”
“We just have to enter the City of Hearts, huh.”
“Not necessarily. Retrofitters will be everywhere. We know a few who can lead us to the right people.” Res stated. “Even with Beholder Carpalis’ favors, we’ll have a hard time getting it confirmed.”
“Yep! Res is right! What are the odds of her friend, which mind you is that bitch – I mean, that damned pervert –”
“The Body Violator.” Ber corrected Cer.
“Yeah! That! The Scylla tentacle woman. The Impulse Fabricator. Fuck. That. Aquatid. Listen. Beholder Carpalis. I know we’re just Moons but think about Frost! Think about Jury! What about Ignis!? Think about us!”
“… Is there something wrong with Kissira?” Carpalis sounded sad as she asked this, wondering why they were so hateful towards her close friend.
Frost felt sorry for Carpalis.
“EVERYTHING! Wanna know how I got these scars on my jaw!? You can’t see them because they’re healed but –!” Cer suddenly locked up.
“She’s so touchy! We just wanted Atelier Items but she felt us up like –!” Ber was also frozen stiff.
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck them, causing their tails to shoot up as Res swiftly held onto their smoking collars and began to drag them towards the exit.
“I am so deeply ashamed of their conduct. Please pardon us and thank you for being so forgiving, Beholder Carpalis.” Frost could tell that Res was on the brink of bursting out as veins popped around her forehead.
Then, as soon as they left, and the doors were gently shut –
“ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!? WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU TWO!? I CAN’T BELIEVE I’M RELATED TO YOU IDIOTS!” Res’ muffled voice ran through the ceiling and floors of the megastructure.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if they weren’t the only ones who heard her brutal reprimanding.
Frost did find it funny, but couldn’t help but empathize with Res. Those two never seem to learn. At all. It didn’t help that punishing them was more of a reward, especially to Res and Frost was not cruel enough to separate them.
Surely there was a better way to go about it.
That being said, the induction was over, and tomorrow would mark the beginning of their next major step into the world of Elysia. But before that, they still had time for one other thing.
“Don’t you think it’s time to shed your skin?” Carpalis ran a hand along the hems of Frost’s coat. “Hehe… My fashion sense… is lacking, but I think you need a do over. Your eyes scream special… but your apparel shouts ‘stowaway’.”
“New clothes! Mhm. I think changing my image will also be a good idea.” Jury brought up, tugging at her Mantle of Sin. “It’d be bad if I’m mistaken for the 2nd Apostle again.”
“The Scarlet Logic might be on the prowl, so seeing you in that will probably stir some old feuds and bad blood. Good idea.” Frost agreed, nodding to herself before suddenly surrendering to a sigh. “Ahhhhhh shit…”
“What’s wrong?” Jury peered in close worriedly.
“Jury, you know exactly what’s wrong. It’s worse now that I remember what my old body looks like.” Frost admitted, mentally preparing for another trial she needed to overcome in this newfound body of hers.
Carpalis tilted her head.
“Old body?” She asked.
“It’s a long story. Funnily enough, you’ve already read through it, along with every Beholder up there.”
* * *
< I think now will be a good time to reveal your stats. Before your impending trial >
< The Third Milestone Level Has Been Reached >
< HP and MP have greatly increased >
< New Professions have been granted >
< Additional Active and Passive Skills have been Granted >
< A new title has been granted >
< Title has been revoked >
< The title you earned was Braveheart >
< The Amalgam >
< It still continues to eat all titles >
< The Brawler Profession has reached its third milestone >
< Bonuses to ATT and DEF stats gained >
< Additional Active and Passive Skills gained >
< The Appraiser Profession has reached its first milestone >
< No additional Bonuses >
< The Counter Offensive Profession has reached its first milestone >
< Bonuses to AGI and RESIST gained >
< Additional Passive Skill gained >
< LEVEL : 151 > |
< The Amalgam > |
|||
NAME : Frost | HP : 9,550,000 ^45/Min |
MP : 120,000 ^45/Min |
AGI : 90 | RESIST : 380 |
AGE : 0 | ATT : 11,200 (+3,500) |
ATT DEF : 8,350 (+250) |
O : 75 | D : 29 |
ORIGIN : Archetype | MAG ATT : 9,000 (+4,500) |
MAG DEF : 7,000 (+500) |
S : 220 | E : 65 |
< PROFESSIONS >
OFFENSIVE | DEFENSIVE | SUPPORT | EXPLORATION |
BRAWLER: 75 CONFLAGRATOR: 0 |
COUNTER OFFENCE: 29 | THE OTHERWORLDLY HEALER: 220 LEADERSHIP: 0 |
APPRAISER: 27 |
< ACTIVE SKILLS >
OFFENSIVE | DEFENSIVE | SUPPORT | EXPLORATION |
Punch V Double Punch II [5/10] Goodnight [0/10] Armor Piercing [0/10] Magnitude [0/10] Inferno [0/10] Liquid Fire [0/10] Thermal Propagation [0/10] |
Solemn Counter II [9/10] |
Grand Healing V |
Home Cook III (8/10) Appraise Object II (7/10) Non-Euclidian Interpretation [0/10] |
< PASSIVE SKILLS >
OFFENSIVE | DEFENSIVE | SUPPORT | EXPLORATION |
Tooth and Nail Severe Combo Fight, Never Flight! Origin of Flames |
Fine Line Instinctive Drive |
Hyper Saturated Blood Medical Attention Please! Ultra Coordinated Mana Profusion Painkiller Heart of Hearts |
Dimensional Storage II (24kg/40kg) Comprehension I |
< MASTERY EFFECTS >
OFFENSIVE | DEFENSIVE | SUPPORT | EXPLORATION |
Punch V: Omnipresent Maw |
Grand Healing V: Black Dove’s Commitment |
< ABILITIES >
Archetype of Amalgamation |
Now that's some Irony, Frost the Conflagrator.
Tied together with how the world seems to perceive the Amalgam, you'd think she was Surtr on their way to causing Ragnarok
Probably what the Impurtas believe Frost to be lmao. But it does raise some brows.
A world that was razed? Civitas Cinder also literally translates to the City of Ashes, which is the tale for Civilization/the Archivist/Floor of Civilization. Plus Frost's past life revolved around fire in some way, and in this life she's called the exact opposite?
Thanks for reading!
Frost with fire magic, how ironic
Tyftc
A shame she couldn't get her hands on ice magic. But I guess Scrutiny makes up for it.
Thanks for reading!
*whistles* That's a lot of health.
To think a super buffed Jury can still 1 hit kill her!
Thanks for reading!
@Syringe Let's hope that never comes to pass.
Question, are the stats show in parentheses that denote equipment bonuses included in the stat total? Or are they added separately?
For example, take Frost's Mag Att: 9000 (4500). Is her stat total 13500? Or is her total 9000, and her base magic att only 4500? I'm assuming it's the former, since she already had 4200 Mag att back in chapter 124 and it'd be weird if she only got 300 extra Mag Att in 41 levels, but I wanted to make sure.
Yes! They denote bonuses/additions and are added separately.
It's the former. Her total stat is indeed 13,500. 9,000 for base stats, and +4500 from equipment.
Thanks for reading!
We still don’t know enough of Forst’s back story. Maybe someone named her Frost to prevent her from going full Ragnorok when she regains her power. I think she is regaining power and the corrupted were fragments of the Amalgam’s power that were lost.
Frost actually named herself Frost after Iscario's cold hand touched her head.
Thanks for reading!
@Syringe Oh? I don’t remember that. Cool.
Damn, Frost is a walking never ending meat slab now
Thanks for the chapter
Thank you for reading!
Non-Euclidian Interpretation
I know this is in reference to HP Lovecraft or whatever, but it's a pet peeve of mine. Lovecraft didn't know anything about math and Non-Euclidian Geometry is literally everywhere in the real world and is not at all special in any way! It's basically just any geometry that's not on a perfectly flat surface.
Draw a triangle on the surface of a ball. Bam, non-Euclidian geometry. Trace a line on a horse saddle or bottle neck; that's non-Euclidian geometry too. Plan travel distance between two cities on the surface of a not-flat planet and you're doing non-Euclidian geometry! Good grief!
Hmm... .
Thank you for the chapter ✨✨✨, and I'm first
Thanks you for reading!