I stare at the parasitic ring on my prosthetic hand. I stopped letting it "grow" after unlocking its latest ability. I have it drinking the minimum it needs to keep functional. I don't know if it has a consciousness, but the fact that this is the source of the forbidden fruit makes me have suspicions. It literally changed its host to be more delicious. That has to prove something, right? It's too valuable for me to discard, so I instead put focus on something important. Flash Gordon.

The first thing I did was take out the [Elemental Stone], leaving the "[Blood], [Nature], [Necrotic], [Life], and [Gravity]" stones for later. I need to reactivate them from their dormant states. Unless the auction house lied to me, I should infuse them with the correct elemental energy. I smack Flash Gordon against the other [Elemental Stone], causing a spark that reignites the [Emental Stone]. I now have three [Emental Stones] and one Flash Gordon.

I wanted to find the spot the most mana naturally congregates in my mansion. With Duchess' help, we find it's right in the middle of the treeless orchard. The ambient mana in the manor is relatively thick, at least denser than average, so I plop Flash Gordon and his weaker cousin in one spot and wait for him to evolve.

It'll be best to take Flash Gordon to master Giles as soon as he evolves so we can reset his level to fifty. It'll be a pain, but It'll be worth it for all my beasts' future. I hope that master Giles facilitates the second level 100 evolution if Flash Gordon needs the requirements.

The two nonpowdered stones start cracking like an unknown pressure is bearing down on them. Streams of multicolored essences crumble against Flash Gordon's tough exterior. The powdered stone circles Flash Gordon like a dust devil. Every color that smacks against Flash Gordon changes his color, and every energy type that forces itself on Flash Gordon brings out more of that energy. Every hit causes him to grow in size. It's a melody of light and movement, but it's a song that I don't know the lyrics to. I wait in bated breath for my Flash Gordon to finish conducting his orchestra.

My head darts off to the side. It felt like something stood there, peering at me. Nothing is there, but in my momentary paranoia, I missed the climax of his evolution. I don't know what caused it, but Flash Gordon turns from a stark white back to his previous form, just grander.

[Evolution Complete!]

[Unique Servitude B lv1 (5/5) > Unique Servitude B lv2↑ (5/5)]

[Promote Piece U (1/1) > Promote Piece U (1/2)]

Oh? I check my two skills before checking the skills Flash Gordon will lose once master Giles gets his hands on him.

[Unique Servitude B lv2 (5/5)

Any creature can be designated as a servant with their consent or if they cannot resist. A servant is necessary for other Unique Master skills to work. All servants know the location of their Master.

Servants must be unique in some way. All [Unique] servants gain a passive +12.5%↑ to all stats.

Servants cannot have a higher Spirit stat than the Designator

Registered Servants: Flash Gordon. Rob. Duchess. Khan. Prometheus.]

Shit, I didn't get another tamed beast slot, but the additional 2.5% to stats is handy. Once all my beasts evolve past level 100, they'll all get a 20% increase in stats... That's not bad, but I wonder what happens once the skill ranks further.

[Promote Piece U (1/2)

"A king needs an army. A king needs a guard. A king needs a knight. A king needs an adviser. A king needs a queen. No good monarchy is ruled by a king alone."]

This was a skill I used once and never needed to use again. I don't know the requirements for gaining another slot, but if it's evolving, I could give every single one of my beasts a designation. It's like chess but real. Wait.

I should decide on who to grant a piece to. I have no idea what the specific roles do, but I have an idea of who to give each job to. Prometheus won't be considered since he's still a baby, and his potential hasn't been figured out yet.

[Stats 1 (new)]

Elemental Body A > Elemental Stone Body A

Elemental Attunement B > Elemental Attunement A

-Mancy A (NEW)

Name / Nickname

Flash Gordon

Species

Elemental Stone Elemental (Legendary)

Level

100 (0/250m)

Evolution Requirements

Not Met

~

~

Health Points

2775/2775

Mana Points

130/130

Armor Points

226 (113 x 2)

Might

0

Agility

0

Vigor

555 (480 + 12.5% + 15)

Mind

26 (23 + 12.5%)

Spirit

113 (100 + 12.5%)

Luck

11 (10 + 12.5%)

Trait

Rook (U)

The user is designated as a rook, the protector of the king. Current King: Ellis Vincere

Spiritual Body (A)

Armor increases by Spirit. Can hit Spiritual Entities. Can float by using their spirit.

Elemental Stone Body (A)

The bearer of this body has bound the elemental stones to their body. The user gains massive affinity and resistance to most elements and can change their body to represent that.

~

~

~

Skills

Fortify (U)

The user’s defense is doubled.

Faithful Protector (U)

The user may take a hit for another. Regardless of limitations.

Mana Cost: 20& of maximum mana.

Living Fortress (U)

The user can take a stand against any foe. The user doubles their size and quadruples their weight.

Mana Cost: One mana per second, mana cost stacks exponentially.

Who needs Might anyway (A)

Damage is calculated with Vigor instead of Might.

Elemental Attunement (A)

The user may conjure and afflict elemental energy.

-Mancy (A)

The user may control the natural elements they are attuned to. They are limited by their mind and spirit.

Fragmentation (C) lv2

The user may shoot their body out in fragments to deal massive damage. The user reverts back to normal after the skill is used.

Fragments: up to 7

Damage: Might/2

Cooldown: 1 hour

Siege Weapon (C) Lv1

The User deals 25% more damage to ‘hard’ targets

Developed Spirit?

Who knows what happens when Spirit gets developed enough? Gain one Spirit per level. Gain Mind stat equal to Spirit/5

I frown. It's not as much as I hoped, but Flash Gordon is Flash Gordon. I'm sure I'm not seeing something. He's around the same size as my head, if not taller, and is still content with sitting on the ground. I tried out his three "new" features, and I got to say, they sure do exist.

He can turn into other types of [Stones], not all of them, but yeah. [Elemental Stone Body] and [Elemental Attunement] work in tandem to allow Flash Gordon great battle prowess, being able to inflict any damage type he wants, but the [-Mancy] ability is being gatekept by his low stats. Basically, the elements around him are at Flash Gordon's mercy. Sometimes, and if you are close to him. I can "gift" him the appropriate stats later, but I can only see this as a slight upgrade to his previous evolution.

I need to find a way to use his passive elemental energy creation, and everything will be set. He will no longer be limited by the congealed energy of the [Elemental Stone]. But by all the affinities an [Elemental Stone Elemental] can harness. Getting Flash Gordon a cannon or a sword that runs off his energy would be the most practical, but training Flash Gordon to use it would be a pain. He's the laziest person I've ever met.

~

I managed to convince both of my masters to let me do some training on my own. I spent a day practicing curses from [One Thousand & One Curses, by Dr. E. Deathmen] on myself, trying to unlock a new resistance type. I was skeptical of getting this kind of resistance since quantifying a curse into a numerical value is more complicated than "Fire spell does this much fire damage." But I persisted since I have an "exhaustion" resistance, and I haven't taken "exhaustion" damage, just the experience of being "exhausted."

Using my blood, hair, and spare regents Duchess doesn't need, I cursed myself into being blind in one eye, having nightmares for the next week, turning my tongue blue, giving myself IBS, and a handful more. At the end of the day, I saw the notification I was waiting for.

[Resistance: Curse 0 > 1]

Slashing

400 (300 +100)

Ice

200 (100 + 100)

Piercing

499 (399 + 100)

Acid

225 (125 + 100)

Blunt

815 (715+ 100)

Poison

505 (405 + 100)

Fire

600 (500 + 100)

Lightning

350 (250 + 100)

Mental

184

Radiant

300 (200 + 100)

[email protected]#%

1

Force

352 (252 + 100)

Necrotic

189 (89 + 100)

Exhaustion

175 (75 + 100)

Curse

1

My [Iron Hide] didn't increase it... I guess I can see why. "Thicker" skin won't do anything against attacks on the mind or against the substance between the fractures.

[Resistance: Curse 1 > 2]

The curses will run their course through my body, increasing my resistance until they die out. I can recast them when that happens. During this waiting period, I start thinking about my new stat. So far, all it has done is give me unused stat points I haven't utilized yet, but there should be much more.

Flash Gordon's skill has "attunement" in its name, and it's about conjuring and afflicting. Specifically, elemental energy, which I'll have to "attune" to one once my masters deem me ready. My altered perception and the bodily harm I experienced after consuming the potion could be a clue... Instead of pondering it, I should ask one of my masters for guidance... It's their job, after all.

I pick up Flash Gordon and carry him to master Giles' estate. I would ask master Wang, but I already got out of training with him for a week, and I don't want to push my luck. Plus, since I got this stat, thanks to Rain's reckless use of his herbs, he might be petty and not give me straight answers.

~

The blue monkey in an apron is sweeping in front of the estate's gate. The monkey gives me a thumbs-up as I pass by. I spot master Giles on his mini-island, and I make my way over to him.

"Should I speak to Wang about his methods? You look terrible."

"I cursed myself for training."

"...that sure is a way to do it. What are you training exactly?"

"Look, master Giles. My beast evolved."

"Ah, yes. The rock named Flash Gordon. Let me see him. Hmm... you can make a pretty penny with this evolution. Very nice."

"Can you tell me how?"

"If you physically chip a piece off of him, it'll still function as a [Stone] as long as it's big enough. There is also the crystal method, but that's a closely guarded technique. I wouldn't be in a position to teach that. Truly unfortunate."

"I see... I'll have to have a conversation with Flash Gordon regarding that. Hey, master Giles, since you won't teach me about the 'crystal method,' can you answer a different question this disciple has."

"It depends on the query. You also have a nosebleed there, disciple."

"Can you explain what the 'attunement' stat is?"

Master Giles' facial expression changes slightly. He has a hint of confusion as he rubs his chin in thought. He chuckles before turning away from me dramatically.

"That sure is a question, disciple. I was slightly taken aback since I figured you'd ask me a question on par with a student's background. Where did you learn about this stat? Never mind me. It's inappropriate for me to pry. I do not have this stat, same with Wang."

Master Giles takes a moment to look across the land, particularly at a snow-white rabbit sleeping on a rock. He takes a subtle deep breath before continuing.

"All living things have a life force and a spirit, while mana and essence aren't necessities for something to live. You can find creatures without essences or mana. But an entity without a soul is a puppet, and something without lifeforce isn't even undead since they have a perverted version of life.

Vigor correlates to life, mind relates to mana, and spirit is... well, spirit. That leaves energy without a stat."

"Isn't there a sub-stat called affinity?"

"Yes, but that's a poor representation since you are only aware of your affinity to something once you unlock that specific stat. It's more of a decorative sword than a blade honed for war. It's just a pretty number to show off. It does represent the user's skill, but it's not something touchable by normal means.

Where is this going, master Giles?

"Attunement is all about the energies of the world. The various facets of life and everything in between. It's similar to spirit to vigor and mind since it doesn't have a 'bar.' I don't know all of its applications, and the knowledge I'm imparting is from a lost friend. A brilliant mind who was taken too soon. He claimed that allowed him to perceive more things than 'perception' allowed and understand things deeper than 'mind' revealed. He could feel the push and pull of the world, learn to understand it, and manipulate it. What that means I never truly understood."

"..."

I figured the stat to be like 'luck,' something I couldn't put points into. I use one of my spare stats and increase attunement to two.

Attunement

1 > 2

Unused

100 > 99

Whatever attunement did before should be doubled, but I don't feel different. If energy is the key to unlocking the secrets of this stat, then Flash Gordon will be my guide, my rock.

"Thank you, master Giles. I'll be going now."

I turn to leave, but I hear master Giles' voice speak up again. He's still turned away from me.

"Don't think that this information was free, young man. This has nothing to do with taming or beasts, so I expect some compensation. I'll get snow white, the rabbit, to remove your curses before you have to do anything."

"What do you need me to do?"

"Nothing much. Some chores."