A lot of options, as always, but so few objectively great ones. Then again, some vagueness concerned him over the side-effects certain bloodlines brought on.

For example, Origin God-force clearly still infused his divinity with Origin Force. If Manus’ warning actually stood true, it served him well to not merge the two together. Besides, as he neared master tier, it stood to reason that he just waited until he unlocked it himself.

He skipped quite a few more too. Fateslayer, Auric Insanity’s evolution, Draconic All-sight, Self-cloning, Recursive, Moonlight Crown, and Scales of Purity.

So many bloodlines, and yet he only reduced the list by half

Fate-based powers worked in strange and unpredictable ways. Draconic All-sight actually did nothing new, in reality, it allowed a merger of Draconis spells and his Elder eyes, on top of a minor enhancement, but the necessity vanished as his Origin Force allowed for this merger anyway. Self-cloning and Recursive fell into similar brackets of ‘interesting replication powers’ but both of them actually only really helped against weaker foes.

And lastly, two of the four lunar bloodlines. These two suggested some sort of effect on his mental state, the extent unknown as such variability went either way to a grave extent.

That evolution to Auric Insanity needed no explanation though… He admitted that he chose power over reason more than once, but it was way too stupid to pick a bloodline without any information at all!

Firstly, a bloodline which appeared at the top of his list… That linked up with his ice cream bloodline. While he deigned to look at it, one of the titles he kept active at almost all times was called Maestro’s Touch. A rather whimsical name, for its similarly whimsical source, Maestro of Candy. Yes, Icy indeed ended up with a candy-related bloodline as he wanted so long ago. However, its products certainly pleased the group, but he only received an improvement from its permanently given title.

And now, his first option on the list directly enhanced it. “What’s not to love?” He rolled his eyes as the bulging box of words filled his vision.

[Magical Concoction Ice-cream: The candy-like product is no longer limited to mere food and now extends into the domain of alchemy. Through special preparation and material attributions there may be special effects granted to the consumers. Maestro’s Touch is enhanced and grants a permanent improvement to a stat depending on every unique recipe discovered for this form of alchemy. Do note: This does not conform to the alchemy we know in any capacity. Additional bonuses are delayed until bloodline’s effects are confirmed]

“So you’re doing this for all of them now… And I’m sorry? It doesn’t conform to alchemy you know in any capacity? There’s an entire alchemy system the Nexus doesn’t know about?” He both noted and promptly ignored how additional bonuses just outright no longer appeared now. It did make choosing bloodlines harder, but maybe the Nexus grew tired of his complaints in that regard.

But entirely different alchemy? Now that really put a grin on his face.

[We’d rather not talk about it]

He fired back with his own criticism that built up over these 6 months. “Like you don’t talk about those first five years of your existence?” Of course, it wouldn’t be the Nexus if they told him a bombshell of information and refused to elaborate after months of questions.

[Fine. We’ve been looking for a route into food alchemy for about 750 million years now. But every attempt has ended in failure, this bloodline either proves that it requires a special bloodline to even start. Or the bloodline subverts the universal laws to create something which shouldn’t exist. Happy?]

‘Subverts the universal laws’, that would be insane. If the Nexus failed to do so, then how in the world could he possibly acquire a bloodline close to that degree of power?

“So it requires a food bloodline as some sort of catalyst. If you can’t subvert those laws then how could I?” While this matter drew so much interest, he knew that regardless of what answer came, the other bloodlines required further inspection. Especially the second on that list.

[We cannot subvert them, it is a [Classified Information]. Exceeding nature is not beyond your means though, even if you are a bit too weak for now]

That was new, but still moved onto further descriptions. If given a bit more thought he might have made some more links between the information of unbeknownst value.

[Auric Sweet Gem Ice-cream: Final evolution of the Auric Spirit Ice-cream pathway. Origin Force, titled Aura here, merges into the heart’s sugar mana to create Auric Sweet-mana, a type which passively generates Origin Force at great speed, as well as massively increasing stores of Origin Force. Furthermore, a similar such heart is formed within the Auric Spirit, granting it slower passive generation. Additional bonuses are delayed until bloodline’s effects are confirmed]

A bit too good? Probably to be honest, though he questioned if he wanted to finally conclude this pathway. While undoubtedly an amazing bloodline as it resolved his biggest problem with the spirit, and sped up its growth speed amazingly, premeditated regret also filled him just on sight.

“It doesn’t give any talent upgrades either… What a strange final evolution. I can’t take it, not without an improvement in my limit. And I shouldn’t ever consider final evolutions without talent upgrades,” his words grew firmer and more resolved with every re-affirming line. The utmost benefit of endless evolutions always came down to talent.

Right now his body’s cap merely amounted to powerful master tier spells, and he gathered so many pathways now, to not capitalise on increases to his limit only ridiculed so much of his existence.

Besides, if two and a half years of dedicated Origin Force hadn’t upgraded the spirit, this boost hardly changed that.

Next! And for goodness sake, skip Soul Researcher. He could do that research without it, anyway, he already resolved the lack of a training method too.

[Trifecta Emperor Ice-cream: With Draconic aspect fused into Body, Mind, and Soul, all that awaits is a true merger. This may be completed in a sub-optimal form through a Mind palace descension, but now it is built into your Body. With this state, you reign as emperor within your descended space, absolute control invokes armies to conquer foreign lands in your name. Additional bonuses are delayed until bloodline’s effects are confirmed]

[Mindwielder Ice-cream: Final evolution of special Mind Palace Ice-cream pathway. The descended Mind palace is given an alternate form as a weapon of psychic and physical might. It may take form as you please and strike at both the real and unreal, dependent only on your palace’s power. Weapon selection is limited to ones you can use skillfully. Grants a minor talent improvement. Additional bonuses are delayed until bloodline’s effects are confirmed]

Two very different upgrades to his Mind palace. Both with reasons to take but… He couldn’t actually use Mindwielder. Icy laughed aloud at that realisation as he’d have to add weapon training to a long list of dedicated tasks.

“Nice to have a change in talent here. A minor improvement probably moves me to the most demanding Master true spells… But it really is a funny thing to take. Trifecta Emperor is almost perfect though.” He nodded with these thoughts. Would he take it though?

Hard to say. But in the first place, he could merge his Soul and Mind through the Dragoncored bloodline. On the downside, this only worked when inside his mental space, but that just meant he could merge all three so long as his palace came outside. Trifecta Emperor built on this by changing his ‘unofficial’ merger of all three into a dedicated power which his Body actually further enhanced.

Honestly, an improvement to his current plans that massively boosted his potential defences greatly appealed to the dragon. Now, if only he didn’t have to wait at least 3 years to even make use of it…

[Elemental Stormbringer Ice-cream: The Bringer calls for disasters, and through Storms you can bring floods or bursts of extreme lightning. But Storms are fluid and may change, lightning is hardly limited as it takes on countless elemental properties. So long as your environment supports the elemental needs, the Storm may transmute and empower to an entire tier above. Storms of space, fire, light, and death, introduce a new world of possibilities. Additional bonuses are delayed until bloodline’s effects are confirmed]

Hard to say for Elemental Stormbringer, but he felt no strong emotions either way. Very useful, but it seemed limited unless in special environments. Perhaps an array could artificially create such an environment for the elemental storm to feed off?

“Oh well. Let’s just skip through all the interesting behemoth ones,” with a command he received three more boxes of information.

[Ultimate Absorption Ice-cream: All life is consumable, all may be devoured. With a body that may digest everything, it becomes a sustenance that endlessly powers you. Absorb everything to regrow without end, beware dire conflicts, but otherwise absorb to your heart’s content! Just a touch and you refine the flesh of others to fuel your own, do take caution to suppress this power. Additional bonuses are delayed until bloodline’s effects are confirmed]

[Life nor Death Ice-cream: Border life and death by placing one’s soul on the edge. On one side existence, and the other a river with all the broken souls from the universe. A fine balance is met, and even with Body ruined, Mind destroyed, you may persevere and live on. A free soul who survives the call of the river and withstands the natural forces that easily shatter others unprotected as your own. What happens next is a world of possibilities. Additional bonuses are delayed until bloodline’s effects are confirmed]

[Undying Body Ice-cream: The necessity of Body is cut from Soul and Mind. You recover from any standard, physical injury in seconds, at the cost of some sort of energy, but increasing damage also raises the costs. Elemental wounds take longer to clear, and recovery of the heart or brain is possible, but with significant drawbacks. However, you will live. Additional bonuses are delayed until bloodline’s effects are confirmed]

A mediocre, pretty good, and almost ridiculously powerful bloodline, respectively.

Ultimate Absorption suffered from an identity issue, even if it technically overpowered Undying Body, and that came from the monstrous identity given to those sorts of creatures. The behemoth chimaera stood as a perfect example, its body burnt to ash after some wizards harvested it.

Life nor Death resolved the issue of his soul to some degree, as he no longer required a Body to house it. But in reality, he knew a worthless bloodline as all foes at master tier or higher ensured the soul’s destruction if possible.

And Undying Body… “Nexus, what’s the cost associated with heart and brain recovery?” He spoke his one criticism, as he wanted to know the flaw. It changed the bloodline’s worth by too great a degree.

[Reduction in transformation progress and partial loss of memories, respectively. Extent of reduction depends on damage to either, but simulations showed at highest a 10% reduction for the former]

Nothing for the memory loss though. A concise measure of that clearly couldn’t exist, meanwhile, he easily overcame it if he recorded any important memories in his Mind palace. Two very good defensive options available now, but this could be used moments after evolution. Three years for Trifecta Emperor, what a painful decision given either ones’ effects.

As for time remaining?

[2 minutes 5 seconds]

Not a lot, but if he needed more the pocket watch easily offered that. Now for two more from Adret’s bloodline. Though he didn’t have many high hopes when compared to the two already excellent choices in his eyes.

[Lunar Solstice Ice-cream: Without cover of day, the moon may take centre stage and call for command over the world. Equality is deemed a necessity, but not in Mind or thoughts, but purely in Body and pain. Under the shining argent glow, all pain and damage is shared equally. This moon refused to grant privilege, whether a child of lunar forces or not, all suffering is made equal. Additional bonuses are delayed until bloodline’s effects are confirmed]

[Broken Moon Ice-cream: The Broken Moon is unnatural, it requires force and destructive will to form its incarnation. Your Mind palace becomes a domain of sun and moon, however, if your desire for power is great enough, then shatter it. Destroy the moon’s gentle light to reveal the darkness behind it. Darkness which swallows the world and curses the dark sun. Additional bonuses are delayed until bloodline’s effects are confirmed]

“Oh… So that’s why… Haha!” He burst out with laughter as he revelled in the thoughts that came from this pathway. He wondered for a while now what part of Adret’s bloodline earned it the name ‘Shattered’, and now he unearthed it. To break a serenity of light for darkness that swallowed the night sky; lunar bloodlines certainly loved their majestic imagery.

He wanted to see her snap. See what happened when pushed so far to break the moon herself.

Maybe then she’d actually have a damn backbone for once and no longer be a useless tool for the clan. No longer allowing them to use her so. He felt rather confident it ended rather swell too, the fact the lunar distaste for those aligned with the dark sun stood as sufficient evidence.

“What a rare occupation though. You don’t see many dark sun bloodlines these days, maybe I should find one to agitate her more?” An arguably insidious plan plotted in his mind, but in the end he dismissed it. But even Icy refused such bloodlines the smallest chance of survival, it risked far too many lives. Besides, any method to finally break her moon required free will on Adret’s part.

What a delicious thing to find out. He looked forward to the day she released that ridiculous shell.

As for bloodlines, he thought they both sucked. Neither of them actually mattered much to his powers, at most Lunar Solstice evolved into something of worth but who had time for that?

Magical Concoction needed no explanation, he simply didn’t have time to discover a whole new branch of alchemy on his own. Even if it made Maestro of Candy useful, he denied it this sort of evolution. He made his point for most of the other bloodlines though, which left just two choices.

Trifecta Emperor or Undying Body. What a time to be alive!