Kieran froze in shock, not knowing what he should have expected.

His mind had been somewhat empty during the final creative aspects, making him unsure of what he had created. He simply let his experience in stitching a soul together guide his weaving of the rune… and it worked.

Sort of.

But he didn’t have time to review what he had done. Following the execution of that final attempt at rune-work — blood-work, Kieran called it — the Zenith Frequency acknowledged his feat.

Congratulations, soon-to-be Adept. That last attempt touched upon all of the criteria for a Unique Skill, even pouring a part of yourself into its final moments of creation.

Kieran nodded somewhat dumbfoundedly.

“Is that what that final instance was?”

Correct. That is why the Pentacle concluded the way it did. It drew inspiration from your burden. Hence its wrathful presence. Would you like the honors of naming it, or… would you have me do the honors?

Kieran considered the answer. In truth, he had no idea what to call it.

“What if you run some suggestions by me?”

Very well. You can either name the principle or the technique created.

“What’s the difference?”

Ah, good question. Naming the principle will give you access to a Unique Ability rather than a Unique Skill. Naming the skill, well… you can infer the rest.

Kieran arched a brow, intrigued.

“And is it possible to have the principle factored into Blood Mania?”

You can do that. Since Blood Mania is a set of abilities.

“Sweet.”

Kieran wanted to punch the air triumphantly, but because of the omniscient tendencies of the Zenith Frequency, he felt too embarrassed to carry out that thought. It died in his mind.

Do note, however, that Blood Mania will evolve. As for naming the principle… I have compiled a few: Bloodsmithing, Goremancing, and Bloodweaving.

Kieran was surprised by how good all the names sounded. They embodied the fused principles exceptionally well, but one stuck out more than the rest simply because it would always remind him they were concept-adjacent.

“Let’s go with Goremancing.”

Good decision, considering the rune you carved in the Pentacle partly translated to the word “Gore.” All future gore formations will be recorded under your Goremancing.

That was neat, in Kieran’s opinion. He recalled how obnoxiously long his skill menu was becoming, but he felt that wouldn’t be a problem for long. After all, Manic Integration was a nifty ability he had a primal need for.

Prepare yourself, Adept. Your Advancing will be memorable, for it will incorporate a reward that borrows from the principles you endured in abundance.

“If I asked what that reward is… would you tell me?”

Kieran grimaced and crossed his fingers. In his experience, the Zenith Frequency was incredibly stingy.

The blood you bathe in… is your reward. For it is not as simple as many would have you believe. Within this bridge is blood from the Carnage Incarnate, delivered by the Watcher in the Sky.

Kieran gave a wan smile. The name wasn’t spoken, but if he was to become a genuine Blood Fiend… he knew precisely whose blood he would have to accept in greater volume.

To combat evil… grave steps have to be taken, and you have proven to remain of adequate character in the face of peril. Face it once more. Endure the Bath of Carnage… the unformed Imprint.

Kieran inhaled sharply as the blood formed sharpened needles and punctured every part of his part. Face, torso, extremities — he seemed like a crimson pincushion by the end.

Pain washed over him, penetrating to the depths of his being. And with the agony came a sense of expansion, as if he was opening. Within his hell was a seed of delight that grew alarmingly quick.

The pleasure of advancing in Tier.

Congratulations, you have Advanced to the Adept Tier.

————

Tier Evolution

150 Strength

50 Intelligence

100 Agility

125 Endurance

75 Control

125 Vitality

75 Perception

————

You have completed the Advancement Quest – Chained to Blood.

Congratulations, your Class – True Berserker (Mythic) has evolved into Class – Blood Fiend (Greater Mythic).

————

Blood Fiend (Greater Mythic) – Having broken from the brittle shackles of false power constraints, the Fiend found solace in new fetters. Fueled by obsession, chained to resentments, and cursed with madness, the Blood Fiend thirsts for power. In the wake of a Fiend’s carnage, only blood, death, destruction, and ruin remain.

6 STR, 5 END & VIT, and 4 AGI per level.

————

Kieran’s eyes gleamed with crimson radiance as his appearance gradually grew sinister, mainly in terms of devilish handsomeness. It wasn’t comparable to how terrifying Valdu grew after becoming a Fiend, but that was to be expected.

Valdu emerged as a Master, whereas Kieran was merely an Adept.

Leaving the details of his transformation to be dealt with later, Kieran focused on another feeling that continued to grow on him. He could feel a faint familiarity he thought he had been severed from, but it felt much more intimate.

‘Realm… that’s… that’s my Realm!’

The Adept’s Inner Plane – Realm of Self has been opened.

Though opening the Realm as an Adept was not unheard of… opening the Realm during the Advancing generally didn’t happen. However, Kieran was a unique case. Due to the Trial, he knew how to sense its presence.

And with the power of the Fiend’s Baptism ravaging his body and supplying him with astronomical amounts of energy, his senses sharpened and alerted him to that presence that embodied his soul.

Soon, the pain grew bearable, and Kieran’s body finished its transformation.

Bizarre, however, was the fact Kieran’s Realm was changing the most, mainly the Spirit Zone where the Blood Rune had been displaced.

It rapidly transformed while absorbing the carnage enveloping him, pushing Kieran’s Blood Mania to new levels. Roughly a few minutes into the change, the Blood Rune has already reached the level of complexity the Testament bore inside the Trial.

Innate Ability Evolution! Blood Mania (Lesser-Mythic) has evolved into Fiend’s Obsession (Greater-Mythic).

It was different from what Kieran had created in the Trial… better in every way, still embodying the defiance that he ought to bear. However, it didn’t stop growing exceedingly complex, experiencing another change soon after the first.

Innate Ability Transformation! Fiend’s Obsession (Greater-Mythic) has transformed, becoming Fiend’s Carnage (Greater-Mythic).

A Unique Path has culminated, sourcing your past, present, and potential future. However, the cost of this Unique Path exhausts your gathered Experience. Beware, Unique Paths are untrodden journeys filled with uncertainty and adversity but also flush with unprecedented rewards.

————

Hunt of Unbroken Defiance (Path – Unique) – They have attempted to break you but failed to smite your unyielding spirit. You arose Unbroken. They sought to command your destiny, to mold it to their will, but their designs faltered. You endured, consummating your purpose to escape — you arose a Defier. You are he who opposes fate, that which heralds the Unbroken and a terror forged through war. You have learned the Gods despise change, and the toll of defiance is ruin. The Breakers cast watchful eyes on you, and fate abhors you. Tread your path with a heart steeled for battle and the instincts primed for a hunt.

6 to all General Attributes per Tier level. 2 WIL, RES, MIG, and CON per Tier level. (Applied from Adept Tier beyond)

Path Titles: Defier of Fate, Herald of the Unbroken, Warwrought, Apex Predator

————

Kieran swam explosively to the surface, exploding from beneath the Condemned Bridge and landing on the platform that now seemed like nothing more than fractured glass tinted red because he had depleted its contents.

He guessed there was a lot to unpack from his change, primarily his Unique Path, but he could feel the space attempting to push him out.

The Tapestry of Woven Time is pushing you back to your Boundary. Assess your gains there, for many await your return.

Kieran listened to Zenith Frequency while gazing at the gateway in the distance.

Then, he strolled toward the exit, marveling at his new physique.