Chapter 2: | Primal Emperor
---
The jade grass swayed under the currents as a throbbing headache assailed my head.
"Hiss, who am I?"
Fragments of memories slipped through my mind.
"I see, so I am Alister Von Fai."
Cracking my neck as I stretched, I couldn't help but lick my lips.
"So I am in a dungeon right now. Interesting."
I glanced at my form, which was unlike the fragments of my memories.
My memories showed me a far more grotesque and fish-like form, but this form was unlike that.
"I see, so this is the effect of my evolution. How intriguing indeed."
And these creatures surrounding me right now, from what I recalled, it seems that these little ones are beings created by my spores.
My gaze turned cold.
"Your services end here... Now return to your master."
All of them let out a nod and conveyed emotions through our shared link.
I raised a finger.
Then, in a swift motion, invisible black lines appeared on their necks.
I assessed my current state.
"It seems that ascending to the ranks of Emperorhood messed up my memories really badly."
Then I looked down.
"But the increase of my strength is truly tremendous."
I let out a chuckle as a chilling realization hit me.
From the fragments of my memories, it seems that all hinted at something.
And all of it pointed toward the Dimensional Record, it says that the one who messed up my memories was this very being.
"Intriguing. A mere construct truly thinks that it can mess with me?"
My grin widened.
"It seems to have thought that I, a perfect being, couldn't even deduce this?"
How bland, but I'll entertain you for a while.
Tentacles grew from my back like tumors as they devoured my constructs.
The strength that I granted them returned to me.
Raising my foot knee-level, my feet blurred.
Tremors echoed through the currents as the murals beneath me cracked and crumbled.
In the next second, air whipped my body as I free-fell from thousands of meters high along with fragments of the murals, like meteors, above the sea.
I let out a sigh.
How bland.
Stepping out from the stone, my body dived down hundreds of meters in a second.
Then.
BOOM!
SPLASH!
My body smashed onto the water as I continued to dive in the water rapidly.
Moments later, my body had already descended thousands of miles deep in the ocean as my gaze scanned the perimeters.
Towering peaks could be seen as monsters at Stage I fought hard.
Then a smile tugged on my lips as I found what I was looking for, a mural stretching hundreds of meters with a humanoid being guarding it.
I squatted down, then leaped across the currents as hunger struck my stomach.
Its head shifted and turned towards me as it let out a bored yawn.
"How arrogant for a mere fish."
It smiled then laughed at my remark.
"Hahaha. It seems that I have to teach you some lesson."
Its body reappeared, then repositioned behind my back.
And that was the dumbest mistake it could ever do.
Blood infused the water, not of my own, but his, as one of my tentacles shot through his stomach and into his back after he repositioned himself.
"Impossible! How?!"
I let out a chuckle as my palm grasped its face.
"How intriguing, to be able to sneak up behind me! Truly impressive."
It screamed in pain as my grip tightened, its skull cracked as blood ruptured from its head.
It shouted as realization hit it.
"It can't be that you're... you're a Sovereign!"
I chuckled as my gaze turned ice cold.
"Do I only amount to that?"
Despair could be seen in its eyes as its voice trembled.
It stuttered, but I, an Emperor, couldn't have the time to entertain such a lowly beast.
CRACK!
CRACK!
CRASH!
Blood splashed from my hand as its brain turned into paste.
My goal had been achieved.
"I would love to entertain that little guy, but sadly I have no time."
A tentacle wriggled and devoured its body as I crushed the mural with ease.
A hologram appeared before me.
---
[You have slain the Overseer of this Floor]
• [Vireel Dreadborn 5★]
[Flawless Victory achieved!]
[You have let the Overseer feel despair.]
[You have gained 15 levels.]
[Access to the next Floor unlocked.]
---
[You have successfully devoured:]
• [Vireel Dreadborn 5★]
[You may devour one of the following.]
---
• Stats
• Random Skills
• Select a Skill
---
"I see."
Unsealing my bloodline was truly the best option, even though the outcome was pretty much a dud.
My gaze was fixated on the hologram before me.
If I chose to devour the stats, the Harbinger of Myth would just devour the stats of that eel.
Then if I chose to devour a random skill, I could pretty much get a few skills, like two or three, and the quality depends on luck, whether I'm lucky enough to devour an Ascension Skill or not.
And lastly, if I chose to select a skill.
This option allowed me to pick a skill to my liking, be it an Ascension or not, quite an overpowered ability, if I said so, but not quite, since I could only select a single skill.
Without hesitating, I chose the third option as a hologram appeared before me.
---
Monster Core
• Synaptic Flash
---
Passive Skills
• Neurofluid Override
• Abyssal Sonar Sense
• Reflex Loop
• Spore Cognate Link
---
Active Skills
•Flicker Rend
• Reverb Cut
• Coil Gate
• Surge Step
• Extract Reclamation
---
Ascension Skills
• Rending Talons (Ascension I)
• Phantom Rush (Ascension IV)
---
Interesting.
There were no descriptions.
But my decision had already been decided.
I have no need for speed, since I could pretty much just predict the attacks of my opponents, and there's no reason for me to compete my speed with theirs.
What I needed was a weapon.
A versatile weapon that can let me feel the thrill of ripping apart the flesh and bones of my opponents and make them face despair.
I clicked the skill, then confirmed my decision.
---
[You have successfully devoured a Skill.]
[You have gained.]
• Rending Talons
[Aberrant Emperor Vessel would like to devour the skill]
[Yes] / [No]
---
Others might call me dumb on my decision, but it wasn't, as I truly have no need for speed.
I could just use Blur-Lance Execution Drive to do the work of keeping up my speed with my opponent, but this claw...
Even though I've already got Bloom-Talon Arsenal, a true (Ascension I) Skill that has been devoured by the Aberrant Emperor Vessel, it is still not enough.
Another hologram appeared before me.
---
[You may now ascend.]
[Yes] / [No]
---
I picked yes, but another appeared as I approved it.
I felt ecstasy, as I leveled up.
My body cracked, then molted as I felt like I've been reborn.
Everything increased by 15 times.
Is this truly the benefits of being an Emperor?
If it's, then perhaps world domination is far off the table.
Imagine if all of the Emperors are this broken.
Just imagine it.
Give an Emperor a year, what will happen?
It will become an absolute monster.
Give it a hundred years.
It will be beyond a monster.
Then give it a thousand years.
That very Emperor would probably have the firepower to destroy a continent that stretched out for millions of miles.
And look at me.
Pitiful.
Absolutely pitiful.
I sighed.
This probably means that I have to stay low for now and get stronger in this dungeon.
I stretched, then smashed the mural as my body entered the next Floor.
---
Name: ALISTER VON FAI
Titles: Kinslayer, Kin Devourer, Predator of the Impossible, Title is just a Word, Embodiment of Fear, Lord Slayer, King Slayer, Primal Emperor.
Race: [9★] Grothkin
Stage: 1
Tier: 3
Level: 1/15
EXP: 0/50,000,000
Class: None
Subclass: None
Inventory: 0/100
Equipment: None
---
Stats
Health: 1,600/1,600 (+100 per level)
Stamina: 1,600/1,600 (+100 per level)
Mana: 1,600/1,600 (+100 per level)
Physique: 16.00 (+1.00per level)
Mystique: 16.00 (+1.00 per level)
Charm: 1
Luck: 5
---
Bloodlines.
mundane Bloodline
Lesser Bloodline
Normal Bloodline
Greater Bloodline
Noble Bloodline
Emperor Bloodline
• Harbinger of Myth - Sealed [8/10]
---
Bloodline skills
• Myth Voracity
The core ability of the Harbinger of Myth. Strengthened by the breaking of another seal, it now allows the Harbinger to devour traits in three forms: stats, a random skill, or a specifically chosen skill. This evolution grants greater control over the myth consumed, turning each devouring into a deliberate act of growth.
---
Affinity
---
Skills
† Seismic Weight [Passive]
This trait weaponizes the creature's body mass. Any movement—especially forceful impacts—transfers massive shockwaves through water and terrain. These seismic pulses can knock enemies off-balance, interfere with sonar, and destabilize nearby structures. Passive field pressure increases the longer the creature remains still.
† Mythcarapace Convergence Core (Passive)
The Dunkleosteus's core is embedded in its armor structure. This ability links its physical defense to mana flow, allowing the plates to reinforce or redistribute during combat. Damage absorbed increases retaliatory strength. Allows temporary hypercompression of armor to withstand catastrophic strikes.
† Adamant-Mythril Scale Blend (Passive)
Armor forged through natural dungeon alchemy. Each scale holds an interwoven enchantment matrix resistant to elemental damage. Deflects most Tier-1 magic and dulls weapon impacts.
† Subdermal Tension Latticing (Passive)
Muscle layer beneath the plating tightens in response to kinetic stress. Converts absorbed impacts into energy used to enhance physical retaliation or movement bursts.
† Resonant Jawline Lock (Active: 6 Mana)
Skull structure emits low-frequency vibrations when the jaw is locked, causing internal resonance in prey. These frequencies destabilize mana flow and disorient spellcasters.
† Dungeon-Tuned Spatial Memory (Passive)
Remembers impact vectors and locations of prior attacks. After the third strike from the same direction, localized armor density increases by 20% in that zone.
† Mana Conductive Armor Veins (Passive)
Thin mana veins run through the outer armor, reacting to magical input. Allows the creature to resist or absorb mana-based strikes by partially redirecting their force.
† Symbiocorruption Bloom (Active: 10 Stamina)
Generates invasive vines that latch onto or enter prey. These vines convert biomass into energy or regenerative mass. Can overwrite tissue with parasitic flora. The more it infects, the faster it regenerates and adapts its structure.
† Spine-Tentacle Bloom Cluster (Passive)
From its back erupts a nest of segmented tendrils with hook-barbs. These tentacles can extend, grapple, or pierce through armor. Some contain paralytic fluid or anchor spores.
† Barkbone Carapace (Passive)
Layered bark reinforced with thorned mana-hardwood. Blunts melee weapons and reduces cutting damage. Can thicken in response to repeated damage zones.
† Toxin-Sap Regulation (Active 13 Mana)
Its sap contains hallucinogenic, paralytic, or corrosive properties. The Treant can vary the blend it secretes based on its target's resistances or defenses.
† Hyper-Oxidized Pressure Pulse Core (Active 10 Stamina)
Temporarily triples oxygen saturation through its gills, flooding muscle fibers and explosive vents. Enhances speed, bite pressure, and shockwave attacks. Causes extreme internal heat buildup, requiring cooldown phases or water submersion.
† Reinforced Gill Vent Channels (Passive)
Allows controlled venting of pressurized water or mana as directional bursts. These vents can also serve as backup propulsion or stun-inducing wave emitters.
† Reflexive Impact Adaptation (Passive)
Each time it's hit, micro-vibrations realign internal scale plates for improved resistance in the struck area. Passive physical evolution in real-time.
† Anchor Mass Core Density (Passive)
The Grouper's internal structure is built like an immovable anchor—high weight-to-volume ratio, preventing knockback and reducing momentum loss.
† Jawlock Shatter Mechanism (Active: 4 Stamina)
Once it bites, its jaw compresses like a vice grip and then twists inward—grinding bone and armor into fragments. It can dislocate its own jaw to swallow oversized prey.
† Void Horn Resonance (Passive)
Curved horns increases the user affinity with mana.
† Cavernflight Wing Flexors (Passive)
Bat-like wings allow it to perform sharp pivots or short glides even in low-gravity or partially submerged zones.
† Ghostlight Optical Conduction (Passive)
Eyes pierce illusions, detect soul flickers, and bypass most camouflage and false targets. Also project fear into those who meet its gaze.
† Hollow Pulse Core (Passive)
Heartbeat exists in a void space. Can only be sensed or targeted when the Wraith allows it—typically during attacks.
† Echoless Reposition (Active: 10 Mana)
Teleports within shadow paths without sound or flash. Can be used mid-attack or to cancel enemy targeting.
† Flicker Maw Lockdown (Passive)
Bites down with phase-shifting jaws, disrupting the target's soul while anchoring them to prevent escape. Bypasses escape skills and spatial dodges.
† Abyss-Plated Heart (Passive)
A crystallized, hyper-compressed heart reinforced with abyssal metal deposits. This core functions as the epicenter of mana conversion and explosive physical strength. Grants high-speed mana cycling to fuel rapid muscle contractions and multi-ton bursts. Core destruction results in complete muscular collapse and full nervous system seizure.
† Orc-Metal Density (Passive)
The creature's muscle fibers and bones have mutated with orcish bio-mass traits, producing an ultra-dense internal structure. Grants supermassive weight class and catastrophic kinetic force on contact. Resistant to penetration, especially around the skull and torso.
† Prehistoric Armor Hide (Passive)
Thick, interlocked dermal plates provide superior resistance against slashing, piercing, and heat-based damage. Reduces damage from frontal attacks by 70%. Weak points are located beneath the lower jaw and in the gill vents.
† Hydraulic Reinforcement System (Passive)
Muscles laced with hollow fiber-tubes compress water into reactive bursts. Grants enhanced strike acceleration, grappling power, and dodging velocity within aquatic environments.
† Tidal Bone Density (Passive)
Your skeletal structure mimics the architecture of submarine rift-plate tectonics. Converts shock into kinetic redirection, granting resistance against blunt force and explosive strikes.
† Ancestral Combat Wisdom (Passive)
Millennia of combative instinct and technique are encoded into your flesh. Gain perfect recall of fighting styles seen once, and adapt them into your own fluid hybrid form.
† Phase-Dash Cleave (Active: 5 Stamina)
Short-range teleportation across an arc of vision. Leaves behind a false image while striking from a separate vector. Can be chained twice in rapid succession.
† Execution Claws (Active: 5 Mana)
Converts ambient mana and internal heat to sharpen forearm scythes to a molecular edge. Can cleave high-tensile alloys and regenerate edge sharpness after cooldown. Critical hits reduce target regeneration for 5 seconds.
---
• Ascension IV
† Throneborn Monstrosity [Ascension IV – Active: 100 Mana]
Alister can shift freely between his humanoid form and grotesque chimeric beast form. In his beast state, physical power, regeneration, and primal instincts peak. In humanoid form, he retains strategic dominance, radiating imperial dread.
† Pale Crown Synapse [Ascension IV – Passive]
Alister is immune to mind control and illusions. Mental attacks are reflected or detonated with psychic backlash that confuses or paralyzes attackers.
---
• Ascension III
† Chorus of the Abyss [Ascension III - Passive]
With each life he claims, Alister's presence becomes heavier—manifesting a suffocating pressure layered with echoing voices of the slain. Allies grow fanatical in his shadow; enemies collapse in fear or madness.
---
• Ascension II
† Apex Bastion Matrix [Ascension II – Passive]
You are not merely armored—you are an ecosystem of retribution. Each strike upon you sings through ore-lined harmonics, dulling force and echoing violence back. Limbs move with sovereign autonomy, reacting before thought. Blade-scale ridges pulse with electric revenge, and the longer you're attacked, the stronger you become.
† Bloomlock Mirage Core [Ascension II – Active: 12 Mana Per Activation]
You anchor yourself, then unravel chaos. Spore-glands erupt in a bloom of toxic mist, while crystal-thread limbs blur and flicker in layered illusions. You become an immovable storm—rotating, exhaling, striking in ghost parries and deceptive angles. Impact vanishes into false limbs. Vision fails. The air itself rebels.
In your zone, enemies choke, falter, and die—never certain what killed them first.
† Blur-Lance Execution Drive [Ascension II – Active: 18 Stamina Per Activation. 5 per chain)
You dissolve into a flickering blur—then erupt forward like a bolt torn from the abyss. Each charge is a chained phantasm of speed, laced with electric bloomspike energy and seismic force. You can redirect mid-charge, chaining Blurstep flickers into arc-lance strikes or pincer slams. Enemies caught in your path are stunned, crushed, or split open in a haze of distortion and aftershocks.
† Gluttonous Maw Matrix [Ascension II – Passive]
Alister's digestive system is a dimensional forge. Whatever he consumes—flesh, energy, soul—is broken down and reconfigured into new organic weapons or mutations.
† Nullbloom Abyssveil [Ascension II – Active: 10 Mana Per Activation, 3 Mana to Sustain]
You vanish—and the world forgets you existed. A field of warped pressure and glowing hallucination spores erupts, cloaking you in pure unreality. Heat fades. Sound dies. You breathe toxins and mana alike, sustaining yourself while prey wander blind in dream-sick confusion.
Inside your veil, only death remembers your name.
† Phantasm Drift Spire [Ascension II – Passive]
You exist inside your own physics. A kinetic dome blooms around you, warping depth, motion, and intention. Limbs phase. Core organs blur. Your body reflects force like a living distortion—armor that glints and vanishes, movements that fracture the eye. To fight you is to flail in water that hates back. Spells miss. Blades waver. Instincts betray their owners. You are real only when it's too late.
---
• Ascension I
† Bloom-Talon Arsenal [Ascension I – Passive]
Alister's limbs mutate mid-combat, forming adaptive weaponry like bone-blades, whip-limbs, or spike-lances. Each strike evolves based on the enemy's weakness or resistance.
† Rending Talons [Ascension I – Passive]
The Vireel's fingertips evolve into retractable talons composed of folded abyssal alloy and reinforced cartilage. These claws can tear through most known organic and metallic substances with ease. Upon extended contact, they emit a weak bio-electric surge that disrupts muscle control in enemies. Rending Talons also imprint pain into the enemy's nervous system, making healing more difficult as the body resists touch.
---
Unique skills:
---
[Unique] Crystalline Overmind
Alister's brain has been replaced by a crystalline core. Loyal followers are linked to this core, fragments of their soul orbiting within. The core cannot be deceived, corrupted, or controlled.
[Unique] Sigil of Absolute Fealty
Alister can brand chosen beings with an imperial sigil, enhancing their power drastically. The branded lose their autonomy—any act of betrayal triggers instant, soul-purging death.
[Unique] Aberrant Emperor Vessel
An elevated evolution of the Grotesque Physique, this imperial vessel refines devoured skills into Ascension constructs through forced fusion—false Ascensions forged from external powers. Though these fused skills lack the natural progression of true Ascended abilities, they can now be enhanced through arduous feats. Each completed requirement adds a ★ to the skill, marginally increasing its power depending on difficulty. However, even at maximum enhancement, false Ascension skills remain inherently weaker than true skills that have leveled, tiered, and evolved naturally. The Aberrant Emperor Vessel thrives on consuming and reforging foreign essence, sculpting a throne of patchwork might—not perfect, but ever-adapting.
---