Tales of the Endless Empire
Chapter 153: Getting Ready

Finally, it was time for uninterrupted cultivation. Thalion felt a surge of relief at the prospect—no distractions, no interruptions, just pure focus. He couldn’t wait to get it all over with.

When he finished upgrading Eagly, he would finally have time to level up. Building the aquarium wouldn’t be a monumental task, and growing the darkness elemental was more of a passive endeavor.

Perhaps he could acquire an item to enable his warriors to hunt air elementals, which he could then use to feed the darkness elemental. Yes, everything was falling into place.

The oceans offered opportunities not just for leveling but also for exploration, and the termite hive—rich with potential—seemed like the perfect place to acquire new skills.

The termite queen was cunning, a formidable adversary, but defeating her could provide an immense payoff. If everything went according to plan, the power-ups he could achieve in the coming weeks would elevate him to an entirely new level of strength.

Descending to the basement, he paused to check on the storm crystal. It remained potent, its energy palpable in the air. The sheer power it radiated sent a faint buzz through the room, making his feathers twitch with anticipation.

Thalion wasn’t entirely certain he could handle it yet; his wind affinity likely needed further refinement before attempting such a dangerous integration. He made a mental note to work on that.

Before settling into the magical circle as Eagly, Thalion consumed a handful of rare plants, each bite granting him a boost of four intelligence points.

It wasn’t a staggering improvement, but every gain mattered. With each breath, he drew mana infused with high wind affinity into his body and feathers. The air shimmered faintly around him, crackling with energy as his progress surged forward.

While absorbing mana, he examined the storm crystal again. Its vibrant, stormy core pulsed rhythmically, almost daring him to take the next step. The more he studied it, the clearer it became—his body wasn’t ready.

He sighed, imagining the rounds of body-tempering he would need to endure in the training hall. Lightning strikes from multiple mages, relentless and searing, until his feathers burned—literally. It wasn’t ideal, but necessary.

For now, Thalion focused on pulling in mana, making it stick, weaving it into his very being. Hours slipped by unnoticed, the chamber lit only by the faint, shifting glow of energy swirling around him.

Messages came from Kaldrek and Maike, both reporting that the situation above ground was progressing smoothly. Perfect, Thalion thought, grinning to himself. Well, as much as he could grin with a beak—it was more of a sharp, amused curve.

Satisfied for now, he moved to check on his elemental project. Between three tall, dark trees, a shadowy mass had gathered, thick and alive with potential.

Darkness Elemental — Level 2

The words hovered before him, and his feathers ruffled slightly in surprise. That was better than he had anticipated, and the fact that it had already reached level two was promising. Still, there was a lingering question: How could he upgrade the rarity of an elemental?

He berated himself for not considering this earlier. At least he had an elemental now, and it didn’t seem particularly weak. The system shop would likely hold the answers, though that was a problem for later.

For now, body-tempering was the priority. Eagly was small, which made progress in body-tempering relatively fast and resource-efficient. Thalion sighed as he prepared for another grueling round of wind-affinity cultivation.

The process was tedious, but the results would be worth it. After the system shop’s arrival, he would undergo lightning tempering, and then—finally—it would be time for Eagly’s ultimate upgrade.

He glanced again at the elemental, considering its future. He needed to find the best way to make it as powerful as possible. Information was key, and he’d have to gather more before proceeding. Once everything was in place, it would be time to hunt. Non-stop battles, relentless leveling, and perhaps even new skills awaited him.

Speaking of skills, Thalion suddenly remembered the passive ones he had acquired with the Tidecaller Serpent. Endless Appetite and Devour Essence—he’d neglected them entirely. A groan escaped him, a rare moment of exasperation. If he had paid attention to this earlier, his progress might have been far more advanced. Still, mistakes were inevitable, and juggling so many forms and tasks was overwhelming.

Steeling himself, he focused on what mattered most now. First, he fused the two passive skills, feeling the anticipation build as the system’s arcane mechanisms worked their magic. The result appeared before him:

Gluttonous Assimilation (Epic)

This powerful skill combines the insatiable capacity of the user's stomach with the unique ability to rapidly assimilate the essence of consumed materials. Gluttonous assimilation allows the user to consume and store an extraordinary volume of sustenance, treasures, or magical items without discomfort while instantly breaking down and absorbing their energies for amplified benefits.

That was excellent—exactly what he needed. The newly fused skill performed the same function as its predecessors but only occupied one skill slot. Thalion still didn’t know how many skills he could assign per form, but that was a question for the system’s enigmatic voice. He made a mental note not to forget it, though distractions were far too common these days.

The skill was quickly transferred to his Umbral Predator form, and the feast began anew. With the enhanced abilities, he devoured with a ferocity that could only be described as voracious. His consumption yielded greater rewards now. After consuming literal hills of mana-rich plants, his efforts were rewarded with a gain of six intelligence points.

Thalion’s grin turned sharp, tinged with amusement as he briefly wondered how Kael and the others were faring. He imagined their progress—or lack thereof—with a satisfaction that bordered on smugness.

As he settled into the magical circle for another round of body-tempering, he entertained the idea of a duel with Kael. That would be the perfect way to top off the day.

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Still, he reminded himself to temper his desire for revenge. Revenge was a tempting force, but in the higher stages of cultivation, moments of emotional weakness could prove fatal. The path to godhood required discipline, precision, and clarity—qualities that blind rage could erode.

Even so, Thalion wouldn’t spare Kael or his allies if the opportunity arose. Eliminating them wouldn’t just be satisfying—it would be necessary. Kael was too persistent, too dangerous, to leave alive.

For now, he pushed the thought aside. He couldn’t afford to let anger cloud his judgment. There were countless obstacles ahead, and only a clear, focused mind would see through them.

His foundation was strong—meticulously cultivated—and he was confident it would allow him to outpace Kael and anyone else in his way.

He turned his thoughts to Eagly’s evolution. Fusing with the storm crystal might alter the very essence of the form, paving the way for a future transformation into a wyvern. The potential gains excited him, though he wasn’t entirely sure what they would be. Still, uncertainty only made the prospect more thrilling.

His other forms weren’t neglected either. The Tidecaller Serpent, though it had received little direct attention, was already powerful and would likely grow stronger once he began hunting in the ocean. He also needed to consume a few pearls—how had he forgotten about those? With an irritated sigh, he resolved to take care of it immediately.

Swallowing six pearls in quick succession, Thalion shifted back into Eagly, the transformation seamless and efficient. He paused for a moment, scanning his thoughts for anything else he might have overlooked. Nothing came to mind, though he knew distractions often led to oversights. With a deep breath, he focused. It was time for more body-tempering.

The night passed in relative calm, the hours melting away as he worked tirelessly on his wind cultivation. By the time he was confident his progress had reached the necessary threshold, the system shop had appeared. Finally, he thought, the next phase could begin.

After the shop, his plan was clear: lightning tempering, followed by the long-anticipated fusion with the storm crystal. The thought alone was exhilarating—his feathers practically tingled with anticipation as he appeared before the system’s voice.

“Greetings. What do you seek?” The voice echoed in the void, its tone both indifferent and authoritative.

Thalion didn’t hesitate. He had a clear list of priorities. “I need something to capture air elementals to feed my darkness elemental,” he said. “Also, how can I upgrade its rarity before its evolution? Do elementals have any equivalent to body-tempering?”

The voice answered smoothly, as though such questions were child’s play. “I have an item that will suit your needs. It’s not overly expensive. As for rarity, it’s determined by the energy the elemental absorbs. The more you provide, the higher the rarity—it’s quite simple, really.”

An item materialized before Thalion, its design intricate and mesmerizing.

Lantern of Elemental Binding (Uncommon)

A beautifully crafted lantern, its core housing a shifting, multi-colored flame that represents the primal elements. When activated, the lantern unleashes chains of elemental energy—fire, water, earth, air, and more—to bind and suppress a target, rendering them unable to move or use their elemental powers.

[90,000 Credits]

It was perfect—exactly what he needed. He inspected the lantern closely, noting the faint, shifting light within. It seemed alive, pulsating faintly with raw elemental energy. The only caveat was that the target would need to be weakened before being captured.

Thalion grinned, sharp and eager. Lucan had finished the second portal—a gateway that now teleported individuals to a skyship stationed by the mountains. With the new infrastructure in place, elemental farming could finally begin in earnest.

How many lanterns should he buy? Five, ten, maybe twenty? Thalion tapped a claw thoughtfully against his beak. The real question was how many air elementals his darkness elemental could consume in a day. Credits weren’t an issue—he had millions at his disposal—but he preferred to plan ahead.

As the elemental grew stronger, its appetite would likely increase, and items in the system shop were becoming more expensive by the day. Better to stock up now than regret it later.

Satisfied with his reasoning, he turned his attention to his next priority. "Next, I need something like an aquarium—large enough to serve as a cultivation cave for my Tidecaller Serpent. It should also have runes to infuse the water with additional mana. Oh, and something to transport enough water from the ocean to fill it."

The system voice responded without hesitation. "That will be expensive, but the water container is comparatively cheap," it said, as two items materialized before him.

The aquarium cost six hundred thousand credits, and the container a mere ten thousand. Thalion examined the aquarium with interest. It was cube-shaped, as tall as an Olympic swimming pool and engraved with intricate runes across its walls. Four elegant pillars stood at its center, each radiating a faint hum of power. For its price, it was an absolute steal.

"What’s next?" Thalion mused, his list growing shorter. Ah, yes—the ability to compel someone to divulge their secrets.

"I recently encountered women in my base who can place others under their control—or something like that," Thalion said, his tone contemplative. "Do you have a similar skill I can buy?"

The voice paused briefly before responding. "There are skills, but they may not work as you expect. Most require specific circumstances to succeed. For example, the women you mentioned rely on multiple skills to emotionally manipulate their targets, effectively persuading them to allow access. Without that consent—conscious or subconscious—the process risks destroying or damaging the souls, rendering them useless."

Thalion frowned. "How expensive are these skills?"

"The cheapest starts at twelve million credits, but even that one has limited effectiveness," the voice replied, its tone blunt.

Twelve million? That was far beyond what Thalion was willing to spend, especially for something so unreliable. "No mental skills, then," he muttered, crossing the idea off his list.

What else did he need? His thoughts drifted, and he had the nagging feeling he’d forgotten something important. Ah, right—the altar for Eagly. That would complete the cultivation chamber, sparing him from sitting on the cold, hard ground. It didnt take long to buy everything and he even had some credits left for more defenses.

For a moment, Thalion chuckled to himself. "Am I going crazy?" The thought lingered as he recalled the brutal nature of the tutorial—the betrayals, the impossible decisions. He’d been forced to kill helpless slaves, all in pursuit of his dream. But was it madness, or simply determination?

The system voice remained impassive, but Thalion could almost sense its disinterest. Taking a deep breath, he pushed the thought aside. He was near the finish line of the tutorial—just one colossal war remained before it ended. But this wasn’t truly the end. It was merely the beginning of his journey to godhood.

He smiled faintly, his resolve hardening. The system shop existed outside of time, so there was no rush. Why not indulge in a little luxury before the war?

Thalion leaned back in a comfortable lounger back in human form, a cold beer in hand. The frosted glass felt good, and for the first time in months, he allowed himself to relax. The beer’s bitter tang lingered pleasantly on his tongue, though the effects of the alcohol were fleeting. Thanks to his body’s instant healing, any intoxication was short-lived—a curse for someone who might have appreciated the occasional escape.

"So, what do you think? Have I gone crazy?" Thalion asked the system voice with a smirk, as he raised the glass for another sip.

The voice responded with a casual tone. "Nah, just a bit overloaded. Happens to the best of us."

Thalion chuckled, the sound low and rumbling. Good. If the voice of the system didn’t think he was crazy, then he probably wasn’t. Or maybe that’s exactly what a madman would tell himself. "Doesn’t matter," he muttered. Dwelling on it wouldn’t change a thing. His desire to become a god had never wavered.

He stretched, feeling the weight of his exhaustion for the first time. No wonder—he hadn’t slept since bonding with the Sanguine Thorn. Months of relentless work, even years when counting his trip to the other reality, had left him drained.

For now, a few hours of rest, a cold beer, and the luxury of doing nothing were exactly what he needed. But when he walked out of this shop, things would be different.

When the fusion with the storm crystal was complete, Eagly’s transformation would be unparalleled. Power-leveling would begin immediately afterward—a campaign of carnage that would leave nothing standing in his way.