Azimuth: The Elden Throne

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"Will I survive logging off?"

With all of the changes his body experienced ever since his last log-off a few days ago before they departed for their Expedition, Dale was fearful of what might happen once he stepped out of his capsule.

Above all, he was concerned about the world outside, Once he fell onto the ground, agonizing in pain as his flesh wriggled and transformed to synchronize with his character's changes, would his mother be there to see it?

Would the house Virtual Intelligence go against his wishes and call 911 due to concern?

Even if by the time they arrived he was okay, if they were to perform examinations on him…

Dale already understood that likely not much would happen even if they found out about his unusual body and powers, because the world itself had many secrets, and those in the dark would not allow them to be exposed.

But that didn't mean he was free to do as he wished, they weren't going to clean after him only because it also benefited them.

They would aim for more, and helping him meant he would be in their debt, and he may have to follow through with it or risk being seen by the world as someone who didn't stick to his promises.

In a world where he didn't know who his allies were and who his enemies were, the last thing he wished for was to reduce his chances of making friends.

There was simply too much at stake here for him to follow the lone wolf route, as even if he had the strength and capability to solve any problem, if ten or more of them were to happen all at once, how was he supposed to clear them all on time?

Dale wished to keep quiet and not mess with real-world matters for now, though it seemed the world wished for him to act...

Either way, one thing was certain.

"I can't prolong this any further."

'I have to log off… Even though I want to go to the bathroom…'

Dale had to maintain the basic necessities of both his bodies, from eating to sleeping to brushing his teeth to taking a bath...

And in the past few days, he received many warning notifications regarding his real body, though none of them were that severe.

He stood in Azimuth for over 3 days straight, but that is less than a day outside.

Though of course, starving your body for a day and not going to the bathroom for a day is not easy.

Even if the pod was connected to the plumbing pipes, allowing his suspended body to… Well… Relieve itself, Dale didn't want to literally shit his pants and have his pod act as a diaper.

At most taking a piss... That he can tolerate...

He received more than one message urging him to log off, and they were getting more frequent... And threatening.

The Pod had the means to force him out of the game if it deemed his condition as critical, it would also alert his family and hospital lines were he to enter an emergency.

'Hopefully, I won't shit my pants during synchronization…' He thought silently as he closed his eyes

'I'll run to the bathroom... If I can.'

Upon opening them, he knew what he had to do, one last thing before saying goodbye to this world.

'Open Status…' He thought with a sharp gaze

[Opening…]

(If you think I forgot anything, please say it as it'll help me immensely)

[Player: DareDevil (Dale Houston)

Attainments: Body Reformation; Eclipsed; Massacre of 100; Culling Blade; Forged Heart amidst desperation; Minor Enlightenment; Heart Gate Open; Great Warrior; Dragon Slayer; Point Critical; Overlimit Fighter; Small time Hero; Flesh Rebirth; The Fear of the Devil; Vital Unleashed; Forest Silencer

Level:69 (48.1%) .

Class: Alma Conqueror 4.9%

Character Status:

Strength: 208(276 -> 303); Constitution: 208(296 -> 236); Dexterity: 208(276); Mental Power: 183(248); Reflexes: 183(248); Mana: 208(273 -> 546)

Soul Power: 10 (75)

Prime Origin: 250 (315 -> 630)

Skills:

Slot 1-> Spear Technique 5.5-Star (Neutral)/ Mana Conduction 5-Star(Neutral)

Slot 2-> Close Quarters Combat 4-Star (Neutral)

Slot 3-> Stable Emotions 4-Star (Passive)

Slot 4-> Spatial Awareness 2.5-Star (Passive)

Slot 5-> Fighting Spirit 5-Star (Active)

Slot 6-> Anomalous Status Resistance 2-Star (Passive)

Slot 7->

Slot 8-> Confluence 0.5-Star (Neutral)

Slot 9-> Prime Source 2.5-Star (Neutral)

Slot 10-> Land Raptor 3.5-Star (Passive)

Slot 11->

Extra Skill -> Self Reflection ???-Star

Temporary Skills:

Current Effects:

Aspect of Might -> All Stats +25

Physical Training -> Strength, Constitution, and Dexterity +3

Blast Chamber -> Mana & Prime Origin Ratios = 2

Heart Gate -> Mana +50 (Added onto the base value)

Vermin's Pot Ritual -> Prime Origin +50 (Added onto the base value)

Fused Tripodial Mark -> Strengthening of the Fallen (Major) All Stats +20*2=40

Flesh Rebirth -> Bodily constitution has been altered and reinforced, providing extensive benefits.

Natural Healing and Stamina Recovery Speed have been massively increased.

Constitution and Strength Ratios = 1.1

Gaze of the Spirits -> The presence of the Spirits looms over you.

Soul Dissociation -> Experience gain -100% until your Soul and Body are back in harmony (9 days, 14H, 1 minute...)

Rested…

Hungry…

Blessed by Ju-Arkesios -> Constitution +20 while within a 25 Km radius of any of her Temples

]

"This is quite the change…" He said as he rubbed his eyes

'Almost every aspect of my Status changed, this is much more than just the few level-ups I'm used to…'

'I'll skip the Attainments, for now, they're merely decorations, like medals on a soldier's chest.'

'My base Stats haven't changed much, they are even lower than before, though that's due to my lack of items, It's already impressive they're this high without them.'

'In fact, they're bigger than they were when I first got them.'

As he thought of that, Dale felt great displeasure.

'Someone must've cleaned my body and put me here, I'm thankful for the act of kindness, but I can't see my things anywhere in the room and that makes me anxious… Severely so.'

'An entire armor set and my Accessories, because of them my Stats have always been rather high, it would be too much for me to lose them.'

'Though, given some of the messages on the System Log, it seems my unconscious body fought the Great Devil.'

'There is a chance some of my items might've broken and they took them off for repairs or even for safekeeping… I can't see anyone stealing my items.'

'Sarferato might have a reason to steal them, they may be related to friends and family of the past, but if he did so, he would've gotten into a conflict with Tina and Testros, I can't see that happening and I still being here.'

'I can't understand why my body would fight unconsciously, in fact, there is a chance it didn't.'

'If Testros and the others slew the Great Devil while I was unconscious in the Cocoon, considering the damage I gave it, the kill message would've played regardless.'

'This may also explain how my Quest to help Testros awaken was completed while I was unconscious...'

'And the XP penalty would've applied as well, though for some reason, I gained none.'

'Which isn't bad, I grew too much in a short span of time and the more I grow, the harder the synchronization will hit me once I'm out of the pod.'

'Not to say the dissociation I will experience between my Strength and ability to handle it, a small time off on growth should do me some good.'

'I could practice by fighting monsters now... As I won't have the risk of leveling up too fast.'

'Maybe I should since there are still a few days until Babylon opens.'

'Nonetheless, overall, nothing special on my Base Stats…'

His eyes fell onto his Prime Source Stat.

'This is the problem.'

'It was previously 38, twice that of my current age of 19.'

'If every year I gain two points in this Stat, even if my inner fire weakens as I age, then my total was 200? Deducting that other bonus as well…'

'So my total lifespan… Had I never delved into this game, never gotten any diseases or health problems… Would be that of 100 years?'

'Not bad… But rather disappointing.'

'I tended to believe that I would live much longer or even forever sometimes, even if jokingly.'

'To be given a label on the time I have left to live is… Disheartening.'

'Although… I wonder how much I will actually live now.'

'My entire inner fire has awakened and that in itself should give me more time to live while also maintaining my youth for longer.'

'There is the training I'll perform, the Rituals I'll endure, and whatever the world decides to throw at me in the future as well.'

'All of them will add to this bonfire, hopefully in a positive manner.'

"Heh, I think I have a much higher chance of dying of something else rather than old age."

'That could be better too… I can't see myself living 300 years anyway, so I might as well go away while looking cool under the eyes of the Gods.'

'Or maybe even while confronting one… Though I shouldn't get ahead of myself.'

"Now, Prime Origin is my highest value base Stat… Great." Dale said with a sigh

'I don't regret anything, though it's a shame I know almost little about it.'

'The only thing I know less would be Soul Power, that Stat is just there for now.'

'Does it do anything? Apart from the obvious assumptions I can form from its name?'

'Maybe that's everything it needs to represent?'

/Growl…/

'Dale stretched his arms as his stomach rumbled.'

"Calm down, I'll satisfy you soon enough."

'Well, that's it for the Stats, next are the Skills.'

'In short, some leveled up, I lost one Skill, and I gained an extra Skill Slot.'

'I have two Skill Slots to play with, and I have many Skill Books to use…'

'Once I have the time, I should try and select two of them to add here, It would be for the best if they were active Skills that use either Mana or Prime Force.'

'Now that these two Stats are very high, choosing things that scale with them or that use those resources would be the best outcome given my circumstances.'

'Even if I can't do that, then choosing Skills that go well with what I'll likely be doing in the next few months, training, would be ideal.'

'After all, I can remove Skills at any moment in the Church as long as I pay a certain fee, as such, better fill those slots with anything so they can Level up even if I don't have any plans to use them.'

"Though that would be a waste." He said he threw his pillow into the air, grabbing it as it fell

"Hum…"

For a few seconds, Dale stood there, pensive.

'All of these changes that happened in my body, the way they reacted to each other and transformed all at the same time…'

'It shows that there is a link between it all, Prime Force, my body, and everything else.'

'It can't be simply due to the Ritual… I should also search my Database to see if I have anything on Witches, it could prove informative…'

'Anyway…'

'I'm reaching something, some truth, and it doesn't seem connected with what I was looking for though.'

'A truth for a question I never had and I still don't.'

'Because I have no idea what I should be asking here.'

"..."

Dale scratched the back of his head as he remembered a few lines he read in the System Log.

"There are many secrets within the flesh... Body Reformation is only one of them."

'Why does the body change? What compels it to do so?'

'Maybe that is the question?'

/Pondering… GROWL!/

"... Fine, you win." Dale said with a chuckle as he stopped his train of thought

'My constitution is so high yet my appetite doesn't seem to reduce even a little bit...'

'I'll eat something first and think about it later.'

'I went through most of the things, with the rest being pretty self-explanatory.'

'Pretty much everything was strengthened or switched for a better version.'

'There were some new additions like the Vermin's Pot Ritual.'

'Its purpose was to transform my body by using the Tripodal Mark as a bridge to devour the Vitality of the Devil, leading to that and much more happening in succession.'

'How much of it was within Tina's plans, that I'll have to ask her later.'

'These +50 Prime force are likely the result of me completing the Ritual as intended, gobbling the fire of the Devil, or some of its embers.'

'A great boost without a doubt.'

'Gaze of the Spirits… It doesn't seem to have any positive effects unless their gaze is the blessing itself.'

'They saved me once, but not without a cost, as my Soul is now not in synchrony with my body due to the debuff I received.'

"Was it due to how my body changed while my Soul was with the Spirits?..."

'They could be the answers for this Stat... If they can tap onto it, then maybe I can learn a thing or two from them.'

'Specially since... My Class is called Alma Conqueror!'

'Maybe the reason my progression isn't increasing is due to how little I know about the Soul and Spirit... I'll have to read that book again.'

'Aside from that, no XP gain for a few days… If only that came to me during the Expedition, I could've abused the Level 50 Privilege to my heart's content.'

'No… I would've razed the entire forest of every Boss-tiered monster.'

Then it came to Dale:

"Maybe the debuff is more serious than I imagine… What if it also decreases Skill Experience to Zero?"

'Then I would cry… That would be pretty serious...'

'I would've still done it.'

"Lastly…"

'Body Reformation has been changed to Flesh rebirth, and everything it did before has been reinforced, hopefully with its secretive effects as well, such as when I digested an Iron Apple.'

'However, the Ratio change is a new thing and one I'll happily take!'

'It's like having an item on at all times!'

'If it were just a bit stronger, giving me a Ratio of 1.2 rather then 1.1, then there would be no need for me to even wear the Southern Imperial Set.'

'Because it would just give me a +20 to all Stats, and that is… Rather insignificant.'

'Of course, there are the Skills too, and adding that to the Stats the armor would still be better than 90% of all Uniques out there, though it would lose its performance within the Relic Grade it belongs to.'

'In comparison, the armor set I got from the Wyvern is much better now in my eyes…' Dale thought as his eyes squinted

'Unfortunately, they're to be kept a secret for now as they belong to Dale, the Player, and not Dale, the Villager Knight.'

'I still have to think of a way to thoroughly separate both of those identities so my real-life friends stop pestering me about it, I'll end up being forced to reveal too much…'

'I don't mind their curiosity, but there's too much at stake here for me to joke around with them or to act as a damn celebrity.'

'Cutting my contact with them is also my way of protecting them, people already went after me once, and I don't wish for them to go after others.'

'A shame really, most of my friends chose the Northern Lands to start their playthrough, they're playing together as I expected.'

'I feel terrible for not sharing their wacky experiences I'm sure they're going through right now, but I made my choice long ago.'

'I'll follow through with my wishes, the truth… I'll find it.' He thought with determination as his eyes closed

"Following that…"

/Badum…/

His heart beated with great force, it rejoiced as it brimmed with Vitality.

'Blast Chamber.'

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Notes

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