The foundations required to create something from scratch were far greater , which was also shown by the fact the new title was far better than Runic Erudition] . Zac hadn’t risked his life as he had for some of his other top-tier titles , but getting it was only possible through a series of lucky encounters .
Truthfully , Zac knew he was a bit lucky . He originally planned on visiting Red Zones from all seventeen Dao Peaks before creating his skill . Being inundated in those environments had broadened his understanding of the Dao as a whole , and he hoped to use that understanding to control the Creation Energy at the final step . Now , he had been forced to create the skill early , which partly left things to chance .
That wasn’t the only thing . Without the lake water , he would never have reached his current attainments in fractals . Without access to a region like the Keys of Ascension , he wouldn’t have managed to push the skill from a Peak-quality to supreme skill . Luck and hard work had come together to create another miracle .
Getting a second Supreme Pathbound skill was exactly what Zac hoped for . Of course , he didn’t quite know how to feel about the fact that neither of the two supreme skills used his axe as a base . Instead , they were supplementary skills designed to fill similar purposes . Still , Zac couldn’t complain . This was exactly what he’d aimed for .
Better yet , the good news didn’t end with a supreme skill and a top-tier title . Runic Progenitor] had even brought a friend .
Grand Achievement : Gain 50 Titles while in E-Grade . Reward : Effect of Attributes +6%
Runic Progenitor] was his fiftieth title when you included Limited Titles , the Pathstrider] title , which marked him for - further training , ’ and the weird hidden title for the Terminus . Reaching the milestone awarded him a companion title to Achievement Hunter] . It was named similarly to his stacking Luck-based titles , where he got a second title instead of replacing his old one with a slightly better variant .
The net gain was significant , especially thanks to the double injection of efficiency . Gaining 10% and 6% respectively meant his effective attribute pool had been boosted by almost 17% . It was a huge improvement , especially considering how overbearing his raw attributes already were . Add to that both an increase and flat attributes , and his combat strength should have increased by roughly 20% in just under two hours .
With such an improvement , his skills would become even harder for his enemies to deal with . His defenses would become unbreakable , his attacks unstoppable . A smile tugged at Zac’s lips upon seeing the 777 Luck on his Status Screen . If such an auspicious number couldn’t help him get the last pieces needed for his Core Formation and Omnitool , then nothing would .
Zac was just about to close the Status Screen when he noticed a final change . Or rather , lack of change . His Mana was the same as before he entered the Keys of Ascension .
I got a bounty? - Zac whistled .
Yup! Not bad , - Null confirmed . - The peak reward for new skills is 2 , 500 Mana . Getting 1 , 000 is quite rare . -
Such a good skill only awarded 1 , 000? - Zac grimaced .
Well , these bounties are different from your blueprint evaluation , - Null said . - It’s based on novelty and a new application of Dao . But the System and boss are both so ancient . What’s really new under the sky? The Dao evolves and changes a bit , and the young thousands of generations help fill the gaps . Getting 1 , 000 is already quite generous , and I think it’s completely thanks to your Dao of Life . You know , less than 5% of guests manage to get this kind of bounty during their visit . -
Well , it’s better than nothing , - Zac agreed .
Zac’s head felt like both mush and a squeezed-out rag after pushing beyond his limits for over an hour . He just wanted to lie down and sleep , but he took a Soldier Pill and got up on unsteady legs . In twenty minutes , he’d be charged for a third hour , and Zac wanted to be gone before then .
Zac couldn’t resist trying to snatch a few of those mysterious vines . They’d withered during his skill formation , but they were already starting to radiate powerful waves of Pure Life again . They’d make great materials . Unfortunately , when Zac cut one off , it turned to ash while all its brethren hid underground .
Thank God he hadn’t tried that before beginning the skill creation .
Zas shook his head and began his descent toward the exit . The return was much more difficult to endure . His mind was exhausted , lowering his defenses against the constant impressions around him . He almost stepped off the path a few times but left in one piece . Zac hurried over the bridge and returned to his mansion , where he fell into a deep slumber .
He only woke up a full twelve hours later , feeling mostly refreshed . Two new messages were waiting for him , both from Catheya and Kruta . Zac sent a message to Kruta before activating the teleportation array . It opened , but he didn’t step through . Instead , Catheya walked over , radiating a mist of chilled Miasma to shield her from the Pure Life on the peak .
Hello , beautiful , - Zac smiled .
I knew it . You have the face of a child who’s up to no good . Vastness City is abuzz , and people are rushing toward the battlefield you’ve talked about , - Catheya said , a helpless smile tugging at her lips . - What have you done this time? -
47
THE STAND OF SAEWARD
Zac was about to share his prepared excuse , but he sighed and shook his head before leading Catheya into his study .
It’s nothing much . My senses are just telling me someone is targeting me . I just got the Fate-augmenting prayer beads , and they only made me more certain . -
Target you? Who? - Catheya frowned . - Nerven Serku? Didn’t he enter seclusion a few months ago? -
It could be him , but I don’t think so . He never really cared about his followers and only made some trouble to save face . I have a hard time imagining him going after me personally over some minor grudge . He’s much too careful for that . -
Can your feeling just be from the fact something is happening in the Stand? - Catheya asked .
Only in the sense that I think someone is preparing to ambush me there . -
Well , both your personas have made some waves , but I can’t see someone specifically targeting yo— - Catheya said , suddenly freezing and looking up . - Ultom . -
You think? - Zac said , his eyes narrowing in thought .
Clashes are rarely premeditated here . A situation like the Calamity is one thing , but this sounds different . If people know you’re a sealbearer , it’s a completely different matter . -
My blueprint does contain many theories based on that place , - Zac said .
More than that . We’re talking about an Eternal Heritage , a matter important enough to make Supremacies emerge from their sealed states . If they’re willing to pay the price , they can probably find clues one way or another . -
Zac grimaced and slowly nodded . The array his mother had left him did have some special means to obscure his fate , but she’d warned him it would only work on Autarchs . It had seemed more than enough back then , but that was before he became embroiled with the Left Imperial Palace .
It’s just a theory , though , - Catheya quickly added .
As far as motives go , it’s a good one , - Zac agreed . - But it doesn’t help me solve the situation . -
What will you do? -
I’m heading in with Kruta in half a day to start looking around , - Zac said .
You’re still going even when you think someone is plotting to kill you? - Catheya groaned . - I knew it . -
You know I have to , - Zac smiled . - It might be my only chance to get the kind of item I need . Besides , it seems a good place to deal with this threat . -