The Harvester

Chapter 421: Preparation

After sending Lilia and Svanya off, with Pronos happily accompanying them after he somehow had convinced them to let him try their cleavage as pillows, Rakna was left alone in the training room.

"I swear that little guy is more perverted than even Higure…" The therian uttered. "Or maybe he's passionately hunting for perfection..."

"{Though it seems Flavia's are still his favorite for now,}" Fray chuckled.

"So, it seems," Rakna chortled and opened his status. "Anyway, let's see..." 

First of all, he still had 50 Volatile Points unassigned after he got his Advent of Creation title. He checked the Dragon Slayer's perks as well, but other than an increase in damage and a passive skill to sense draconic beings, there was nothing else. It did have the detail of somewhat increasing his statistics if he drank dragon blood though…

"Well, eating hearts is enough for me at the moment," he snorted and assigned the Volatile Points to Dexterity, which already had the other half of his movable points. The increase thus tallied up to 33.3 in total, respective to his Ascent.

"And speaking of hearts…" He pulled out the still-fresh muscle from the World Boss. If he kept the Tenth Tail up, he was confident in being able to assimilate it. His transmutation gave him a way to regulate the flow of energy when using Harvester; ridding the excess and converting it into other types of energy. In this case, Obsidian Points were the safest choice.

Before proceeding, he made sure to turn into a werewolf to increase his attributes and match the size of the muscle. He lifted it and ate it all in one bite. Immediately, the most violent rush of power he had ever felt flooded into him. He growled and controlled the flow to activate Scavenger.

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Heart of Lv.620 Liminal Dark Sea Krymog Dragon absorbed. Absorption Factor = 16.3%

A great draconic energy has roused the Second Genome's, the Royal Luquila's, hunger!

Absorption Factor has increased to 24%!

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10th & 11th Ascent Attributes Recognized – Correction Applied.

+504 => 6 048 STR

+476 => 5 236 END

+606 => 7 272 SPD

+ 288 => 3 168 DEX

+401 => 4 411 INT

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Note: These numbers do not take into account Ascent Stages. 

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Warning! 

Internal Surcharge Imminent!

Critical Condition Detected!

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Warning! 

The risk of death is increasing rapidly!

Seek urgent intervention!

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"Just… shut up…!" Rakna snarled out. Glowing blue fissures appeared all over his body, breaking it like glass, as star energy and purple flames flared out to continuously repair it.

He punched the ground with both hands when the pain began to reach his soul, shaking the entire basement. With his claws buried in the floor, he closed his eyes and concentrated on the deepest part of the Obsidian Star.

The numbers shown were not actually as ludicrous as they looked due to Ascent Corrections, but the highest could still easily rocket his base value to above 900. The problem was that his body, and more specifically, his life force, was not ready to handle that kind of power.

Skills and techniques that boosted attributes were built upon a base, but augmenting attributes was something dangerous to do without proper procedures or life force; i.e., levels. Truth be told, Rakna had an idea of how to deal with that weakness, but he felt like he would probably need his fourth genome to do so.

"For now… just go away," he grunted to himself and felt as if a weight was lifted from his shoulders as he poured the excess energy into his soul. The Obsidian Star happily swallowed it and turned it all into the malleable conceptual energy the System had aptly named Obsidian Points.

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Internal Surcharge Rerouted! Danger Subverted!

Your Soul Power has grown stronger!

Wisdom of The Soul has leveled up!

The Harvester's Soul has leveled up!

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Obsidian Star Magic is growing stronger!

Mystic Magic is reacting!

Your Race, Alkahestic ???-Tailed Werewolf, is reacting!

Your Path, ???-Tailed Werewolf, is reacting!

Your Sub-Path, Ten-Tailed Nephilim, is reacting!

The Host's magic affinities are merging!

You have gained the Origin Compound Magic; Ten-Tailed's Mystic Stars!

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Ten-Tailed's Mystic Stars (???)

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- Obsidian Star: The Voracious Star that lays below Harvest. It embodies its holder's life and the never-attained aspirations of Olden Alchemists.

- Everfrost Star: The Freezing Star that orbits within the Obsidian, flickering eternally as the first of the container's materials and the inception of ceaseless permanency.

- Neverwinter Star: The Scorching Star that orbits within the Obsidian, erupting eternally as the second of its container's materials and the inception of perpetual destruction.

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Origin Compound Effect – Mystic Star:

For each tail the user possesses, magic attack, casting speed, and other numerical effects will be increased by 10% without cost.

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Note: The trinity that makes up Rakna Xiorra Blade's soul.

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Your Race has evolved into Alkahestic Ten-Tailed Beast!

Your Path has stabilized into Ten-Tailed Werewolf!

Moon Shine of The Nine Moons has evolved into Moon Shine of The Ten Moons! Effects have been strengthened! The number of Lunar Points per tail has been increased to 2,000!

Shape Shift has evolved into Mystic Shift!

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Attribute increases have been restrained by the Obsidian Star.

+1 018 STR

+989 END

+1 130 SPD

+780 DEX

+860 INT

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All Attributes have been capped.

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Rakna sighed when the cracks healed completely. His soul flames spiraled around him for a second before disappearing and, after calming down, he noticed that his body had undergone changes. It wasn't anything major, but he could see that his fur was glossier… and sharper looking somehow.

With Crystal Sight, he knew that his eyes, which usually turned into swirls when transforming into a werewolf were now more geometric, with purple sclera and black pupils. He mused and clenched his fist, noting that his arms and torso were a bit wider. And if he wasn't wrong, his legs appeared to similarly have more muscle on them.

"Well, I didn't exactly aim for any of this but…" He muttered whilst glancing at the notifications in the corner of his eyes. "But it's a welcome surprise, I suppose. So, my stars essentially united under one banner while gaining a more passive version of the Mystic Magic's boost… convenient. I guess the energy I fed the Obsidian Star made it tip over. And my Race and Path have stabilized…"

Rakna squinted his eyes and opened the description of Mystic Shift.

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- Mystic Shift: A skill exclusive to Rakna Xiorra Blade, the Ten-Tailed Beast who has appropriated itself the genome of a Nine-Tailed Wolf. Reaching levels of mysticism far greater than the Nine-Tailed Ones, this trait grants the ability to not only shift between three forms but also wield the traits of other species, imprinted in the Obsidian Star, at the cost of soul power.

Forms: Wolf (+140% Speed), Werewolf (+70% All Attributes), Therian.

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Note: The attribute multiplicator scales off the user's number of tails. It is also possible to transform while limiting the number of tails and their power if desired.

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"I see. My wolf form has become much more worthwhile and this trait also skips the step of having to summon the Soul Shades from my soul to assimilate them," he mused. "But I won't get the extra attributes if I use this method. But I admit it's more efficient."

"{The day you will stop being so absurd is a pipe dream, isn't it?}" Fray lamented.

"I certainly don't intend to ever stop," Rakna smiled and checked his attributes.

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Base Attributes:

STR: 300* + 306.2 | END: 300* + 280.3

SPD: 300* + 338.4 | DEX: 300* [+33.3] + 205.6

INT: 300* + 325.7 | LCK: 10

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Werewolf Attributes:

STR: 510 | END: 510

SPD: 510| DEX: 510

INT: 510 | LCK: 10

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Tenth-Tail + Werewolf Attributes:

STR: 1020 | END: 1020

SPD: 1020 | DEX: 1020

INT: 1020 | LCK: 20

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Available Volatile Points: 0/100 (Ascent Correction: 0/33.3)

Available Attribute Points: 365.6 (Ascent Correction: 121.9)

Available Skill Points: 3

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"Heh," the werewolf snickered. "No wonder I feel so full of energy right now."

"{Goodness…}"

"Hm… I was thinking of trying this later on, but it should be fine if I just limit it to attributes…"

"{Uh?}" Fray exclaimed at Rakna's muttering. "{What do you mean?}"

Instead of replying, the werewolf closed his eyes and breathed out softly. The Obsidian Points he accumulated just before moved at his command to assist in a new transmutation.

"[Philosopher Craft – Āṇaiya Adhikāram,]" he intoned and his Personal Craft manifested inside his own body. As soon as he activated the skill, the System chimed.

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A new entry has been added to your Personal Skill; Philosopher Craft.

You have learned Āṇaiya Adhikāram [Authority of Control]!

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Error! Error! Error! 

An external influence is intruding upon the System…

Firewall measures failed!

Analyzing… 

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The error has been rationalized as a Skill Effect.

You have gained 1 456.2 Attribute Points!

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"{…what?}" Fray uttered dumbly.

Rakna chuckled and opened his base attributes again.

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Base Attributes:

STR: 300*| END: 300*

SPD: 300* | DEX: 300* [+33.3]

INT: 300* | LCK: 10

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Available Volatile Points: 0/100 (Ascent Correction: 0/33.3)

Available Attribute Points: 1 821.8 (Ascent Correction: 607.3)

Available Skill Points: 3

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"{What in the…}" Fray's confused voice sounded. "{No, wait… I mean, this is not that shocking of a thing to do since you can already reassign your attributes at will, but…"

"But the implications that I can do this are immense, aren't they?" Rakna finished for him. "That is just the lesson I learned with my power; all things can be transmuted. No exception."

"{Then, if you use your attributes or skills like resources…}"

"Yes. Theoretically, I can turn them into levels," the werewolf nodded. "But that's for the future. It's not something I can do yet. Life force exists on a deeper level than physical. Attributes aren't even mine per se; I transmuted the resources given to me by the System."

"{So… you need to reach the next stage of the Philosopher's Stone's creation. How?}"

"My soul, and thus the Obsidian Star, is already optimal for it. What is lacking now is my physical body. This Prima Materia is enough to be a container, but not a satisfying constituent. In a way, my current body is hindering the Obsidian Star. And the solution to that is simple."

"{Your fourth genome,}" Fray concluded.

Rakna merely nodded, ending the conversation as he pressed 'Yes' to proceed with an Ascent.

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Undergoing Third Ascent…

Five Attributes Capped – Quintuple Ascent

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Your body's metaphysical resistance has ascended to the next stage!

Opponents that have attributes lower than 300 will have their damage halved.

Volatile and Free Points will now be worth 0.25 each.

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For your Third Quintuple Ascent; you are rewarded with a Random Tier 5 Skill Card.

Your statistics will increase by 50, except your MP and MR which will increase by 500 and 5.

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Base Attributes:

STR: 300 => 301 | END: 300 => 301

SPD: 300 => 301 | DEX: 300 => 301

INT: 300 => 301 | LCK: 10

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Available Volatile Points: 100/100 (Ascent Correction: 25/25)

Available Attribute Points: 1 821.8 (Ascent Correction: 455.45)

Available Skill Points: 3

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Base Statistics:

STA: 2 334 | MP: 14 880

SWI: 1 648.8 | AGI: 1 487.6

SEN: 9 628 | ATC: 1 515

ATK: 2 751.8 | DEF: 2 148

MA: 1180.3 | MR: 197/min

LP: 12 000 [+2 000 Tenth] | TD [5]: 137.6

OP: 6 785/????

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"That's good enough," Rakna huffed. "I'll hoard my attribute points for now but the volatiles can go to dexterity again," he muttered to himself and then closed his status. Without wasting time, he took out the armor he had earned from killing the Liminal Dragon.

A jet-black full-body armor with blue accents immediately appeared next to him, standing upright as if sustained by a stand. Rakna stood up, reverting into a therian at the same time, and knocked against the item with his knuckle.

"Hm… cool design," he commented. "Not that it'll matter for long," he snorted and on cue, the sleeve of his outfit elongated and latched onto the armor like a spider web before swallowing it.

When Allegro retracted, the armor had disappeared and Rakna's clothes had been altered slightly even if still maintaining their 'casual' mode. The outfit's colors looked sleeker for one, with greater shades of blue and red than before, and it also felt much more comfortable.

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Allegro is absorbing the Red Rarity Item, 'Armor of the Krymog'…

Item Set Feature has been consumed!

Allegro, Scherzo, and Wight Andante have combined into Vivid Symphony!

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Designation: Armor Set/Full-Body Exo-Armor

Name: Vivid Symphony

Rarity: Exotic

Durability: 100%

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Effects:

+2 500 (A)DEF / +200 ATK / +100 MA / +1000 MP

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Perks:

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- Intertwined Miniature Eion Systems 

- Eion Energy Production.

- Eion Exoskeleton: The fibers of the item are constantly contracted by the Eion Energy flow and will increase the wearer's Agility and Attack by 250 at all times. This flow will also be able to regulate the wearer's temperature to allow him to explore all environments without trouble.

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- Scherzo

- Wight Andante

- Talpa Scherzo

- Symphony Key

- Dreorin Spirit

- Wind Incarnation

- Manesis Charm

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- Faded Tale: A perk granted by Scherzo after consuming an item capable of casting low-level illusions on specific objects. After becoming an Armor Set, the effect is shared with Allegro and Andante. When wearing the mask, the user will be cloaked with a perception filter capable of making weaker individuals ignore your presence.

- Marked By The Flames: By bathing in Ardent Soul Flames, the very concept of corporality has partially been burnt off Vivid Symphony. This results in a bridge being connected between the item and Rakna Xiorra's soul, conferring it the behavior of an incomplete Soul Item. 

- Revenge Counter: This perk was granted to Allegro after consuming the Item, Revengeful Helm of The Dying Warrior. When the user receives damage, the armor will store and multiply it by between two to five times. The storage limit depends on the total number of Attributes the user possesses across the board. Once the counter reaches its limit, it can be activated to release everything in one attack.

- Krymog Scales: A perk that passively increases the defense of the item by 100% and actively transforms every part of the armor into living scales capable of complex movements and autonomous counter and defense.

- Dragon Fear: This item is imbued with the power of a dragon that has reached the peak of its race's power. Any beast attuned to the aura of a dragon will fear the armor as well as the one who wears it.

- Aqerite's Blessing: This armor originates from a Krymog whose magic comprised the mastery of the Stone of The Abyssal Sea, Aqerite. This perk allows the user to infuse the armor with water at the cost of mana to temporarily increase defense and weight.

- A Lóng's Birthright: The Lóng Dragons have the birthright of ruling over the Heavens. They can fly without magic, wind, or rules. To a Lóng, flying itself is the muscle; wings are worthless. This perk allows the wearer of this armor to fly like a Lóng and resist all debuffs that would impede the ability to do so. Flight speed will scale off the Speed Attribute.

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Description:

A three-set masterpiece forged, crafted, and put together by a master artisan and blacksmith, the Earth conqueror himself, with the technology of an advanced civilization. It was given to Rakna Xiorra as a gift by the one who bears the name of Blade.

It has since consumed other Items and evolved to possess several perks, which include magic negation, damage counter, and the vestiges of a rare liminal dragon. 

Due to continuous exposure to Rakna Xiorra's soul power, it has also begun to show signs of turning into a soul-bound object.

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Note: Evolvable.

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Rakna whistled at the description, fiddling with Scherzo that had appeared on its own. Frankly, he had neglected the evolution of Allegro quite a bit compared to Sonata, but what he was seeing was impressive nonetheless.

As things stood, the strongest perks were by far Manesis Charm, Revenge Counter, and Krymog Scales. The first was created by the influence of Cuniya's powers and could negate magic damage by anywhere between 1 and 99%. 

Revenge Counter was from an item he had received from his Second Ascent. It only had one perk and a low defense, so he thought it would be good armor to assimilate. And now, Krymog Scales was practically the ultimate defense perk.

"Still, this time around, this evolution increased the defense value by a lot," Rakna remarked after reading everything. "My defense has practically doubled on top of the extra effects. Maybe I should focus a bit more on Symphony now… at least until it becomes a Soul Equipment like Sonata."

"{Yay, more overpowered toys for you,}" Fray deadpanned.

Rakna smiled at that and mentally commanded his sleeve to momentarily turn into dark scales. He nodded at the responsiveness and then took out the Random Skill Card he had just gotten to finish things up.

The blank card with a stylized question mark appeared in his hand and promptly began to glow as it activated. It slowly changed colors and shape until the new Skill Card was formed.

"Hm?" Rakna raised an eyebrow at what he saw. "This is interesting… but what would… oh," he let out a smirk as he opened his status again. "Well, aren't you perfect…"

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When the therian was done with his preparations, he once again sat cross-legged on the floor and breathed in. He pressed on the button next to his Path and a System window popped up. A simple yes and no question.

"All right," he cracked his neck. "Let's get this done," he uttered and vanished from his house.

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Simulation Transfer Complete.

Path Quest Resumed; Ancient Sentinel of The Moon – Second Act: Distorted Evil.

The Host's form and physical abilities have been readjusted to match the state taken during the First Act of the Simulation, but all skills or spells learned since then can be used. Much like before, the Second Act has several possible goals and clearing conditions. Feel free to do whatever fancies you.

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