Aeon stared at the newly manifested quest window. Resting his chin in his hand, he began to dissect the strategic possibilities with patience.
’A quest to establish my very first connection,’ Aeon pondered. ’There are plenty of high-tier candidates available right out of the gate. My parents, for instance. They are SSS-rank powerhouses and command a vast treasury of absolute resources. The system explicitly stated that through a Boundless Bond, I can continuously copy anything the target currently possesses or acquires in the future 100x better—excluding their actual cultivation rank.
That means I can copy their high-tier secret techniques, rare items, and unique combat masteries. Starting with established powerhouses would give me an immense advantage over any beginner.’
He paused, a flicker of profound tactical insight crossing his purple-and-gold eyes as he weighed his options.
’However. As formidable as my parents are, they don’t possess inherently anomalous attributes. They don’t have a direct connection to the concept of death like Damian Darkmore’s SSS-rank Reaper of Death special talent, nor do they command an unmeasurable EX-rank physique and
bloodline like Sophia Solaris. Even the First Princess, Elysaria, possesses a terrifyingly unique Astral Affinity and a special talent inextricably linked to the manipulation of time. These are conceptual anomalies. I cannot afford to squander these limited initial slots on standard power.’
The underlying mechanics of the world’s elemental hierarchy were incredibly strict.
The legendary Astral Element was not a simple singular attribute; it was a supreme, composite cosmic force forged from the absolute synthesis of ten separate primal affinities: Time, Space, Water, Ice, Fire, Wood, Light, Darkness, and Lightning.
Because the composite element itself was unified, any master of the Astral Affinity wielded absolute, simultaneous dominion over all ten individual parent elements. And that is way the Drakonius family are the Rulers of Valtthoros Empire.
Since Princess Elysaria commanded an unmeasurable EX-rank Astral Affinity, it logically meant that her connection to each of those ten baseline sub-elements was locked at a flawless, max-tier SSS-rank by default.
However, establishing a Boundless Bond with the imperial heir was currently a logistical nightmare.
The system required direct, physical contact to initialize a bond with a target. In his current position as a ducal heir, meeting the cloistered First Princess in private, let alone managing to physically touch her—was virtually impossible.
’The only realistic opportunity I will have to safely approach and bind her will be at the Academy, where all student lineages are treated with functional social equality regardless of their noble titles,’ Aeon thought, finalizing his immediate trajectory.
’For now, I will dedicate my first two slots to Sophia and Damian. The third slot will go to Alex; his SSS-rank Eyes of Truth special talent is far too valuable to pass up. Even though my own Progenitor bloodline inherently grants me a god-like ocular ability, a rational apex predator never refuses an extra layer of absolute perception.’
He leaned back, a cold smirk playing on his lips. ’As for binding older, established figures like my parents... that can wait. True strategic foresight dictates prioritizing absolute potential over immediate, static results. My parents may possess centuries of collected techniques and ancestral items, but with my own Infinite talent... wait.’
Aeon blinked, a sudden thought halting his mental monologue. ’System, does my base Infinite Talent possess a complete, unmasked structural description like my physique and bloodline do?’
[DING]
[Affirmative, Master.]
[Talent: Infinite Talent]
[Rank: Infinite]
[Description: The Master commands an absolute state of Infinite Talent. Your existence recognizes no bottlenecks, no learning limitations, and no intellectual shortcomings. The Master’s active cognitive speed, energy compression capabilities, baseline learning threshold, and developmental potential are entirely limitless.]
[Effect 1: Infinite Comprehension]
[Type: Active/Passive]
[Description: Your raw cognitive processing, abstract understanding, and conceptual comprehension are entirely Infinite.]
[Effect 2: Infinite Learning]
[Type: Passive]
[Description: Instantly grants the ability to perfectly learn, replicate, and completely master any cultivation technique, combat skill, mystical profession, language, universal law, or cosmic concept. No branch of knowledge in existence is too profound or complex for your consciousness to grasp.]
[Effect 3: Infinite Deduction]
[Type: Passive]
[Description: The mind can effortlessly derive countless flawless conclusions, absolute patterns, and hidden trajectories from the absolute smallest fragment of data. Concealed truths, structural flaws, definitive solutions, and future possibilities become entirely clear to your vision at a single glance.]
[Effect 4: Infinite Adaptation]
[Type: Passive]
[Description: The host’s mental and spiritual paradigms continuously evolve and optimize in direct response to any psychological or strategic situation. Every challenge faced, environment navigated, and experience endured is instantly converted into pure fuel for all round growth.]
[Effect 5: Infinite Potential]
[Type: Passive]
[Description: Your threshold for growth recognizes no upper limit. Every peak scaled and achievement unlocked merely serves as a baseline beginning, allowing your personal strength, abilities, and fundamental existence to expand without end.]
[Effect 6: Infinite Optimization]
[Type: Passive]
[Description: All possessed active abilities, combat techniques, and internal energies are automatically and continuously refined to their most flawless, absolute state, completely eliminating kinetic waste and maximizing raw battlefield performance.]
[Effect 7: Infinite Memory]
[Type: Passive]
[Description: Grants a state of perfect, limitless photographic memory. Absolutely everything the Master sees, hears, learns, experiences, or conceptualizes is permanently and immutably etched into your core database, capable of being recalled with absolute, flawless accuracy at any moment.]
Aeon stared at the wall of glowing text, a profound sense of awe washing over him. He had always known his cheat was absurdly powerful, but seeing the meticulous breakdown of his intellectual and potential capabilities was staggering.
Then, he caught a structural discrepancy in the interface. ’System, hold on. Why does my Talent panel have far more unlocked effects visible right now compared to my Physique and Bloodline menus?’
[DING]
[The difference is environmental, Master. Your Infinite Talent governs internal comprehension, potential and cognitive capability; it is not a volatile, destructive combat force. Conversely, your Physique and Bloodline represent cataclysmic, reality-warping physical and genetic forces. Because your current awakened mortal shell is still fundamentally weak, the higher-tier combat effects must remain securely sealed.]
[Attempting to unseal the primordial combat effects prematurely would result in your physical biology instantly going "Boom."]
Aeon’s mouth twitched slightly at the system’s blunt use of the word weak, but as the terrifying reality of the warning sank in, a cold shiver shot cleanly down his spine.
"Ahem... right. Completely understandable," Aeon cleared his throat, quickly brushing past his brief moment of embarrassment. "I still need to focus on building my physical foundation to withstand my own power."
He carefully re-read the detailed list of effects one more time. When his eyes locked onto the seventh entry, a lingering mystery that had bothered him afyer awakening was instantly cleared up.
"Infinite Memory," Aeon muttered softly. "Is that the real reason I can flawlessly remember every microscopic detail of my previous life on Earth? I can even clearly recall the exact second I first opened my eyes as a newborn in this world. I always just assumed it was a bizarre side effect of the Awakening process.
[Negative, Master. That absolute recall is the direct consequence of your Infinite Talent’s seventh effect, which safely unsealed itself the moment you awakened.]
A wave of profound satisfaction washed over Aeon, but as his thoughts naturally drifted back to those crystal-clear memories of Earth, the image of his past life’s death caused a cold, venomous rage to flash across his face.
"Damn you... you bastard," Aeon hissed, his fists clenching so tightly his knuckles turned white. "If I ever find a way to return to Earth, I will make absolutely sure your death is the most gruesome spectacle that world has ever seen."
Taking a deep, calculated breath to rein in his lethal killing intent, Aeon forced his mind back onto the immediate systems.
"What about the first effect? Infinite Comprehension. Why is it classified as both an Active and a Passive trait?"
[Because if Infinite Comprehension remained permanently active at 100% capacity, your mind would become utterly disoriented, Master. Your consciousness would automatically and endlessly attempt to comprehend unnecessary, trivial background laws—such as the exact molecular friction of the air or the cosmic composition of dust particles.]
[By utilizing a hybrid model, the trait operates as a subtle passive intuition normally, but allows you to actively focus its absolute power onto any specific technique or law you wish to instantly unravel. It will simply feel like a sudden, natural flash of profound genius.]
Aeon nodded slowly, deeply appreciative of the system’s design safeguards.
"That’s absolute perfection. I have no desire to lose my mind trying to calculate the universe while trying to have a conversation. With this controllable comprehension, I can theoretically take a trash-tier manual from a street market and personally evolve it into an Origin or Infinite-rank technique. Hahaha!"
[Correction, Master. You currently lack the required £¤₩€#*%# to forge an Infinite-rank technique out of nothing. However, evolving a basic script into a high-tier Origin-rank manual is fully within your capabilities, though it will still require a significant investment of concentrated time.]
Aeon frowned, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the garbled, heavily glitched symbols cutting directly through the middle of the system’s sentence. "System, what is the meaning of this? Why are there missing, corrupted words in your response?"
[DING]
[System developmental level is currently insufficient to display this data.]
The interface gave a characteristically blunt, mechanical refusal, offering no further explanation.
Aeon let out a soft sigh, deciding not to waste energy pushing against a hard level-gate.
"It doesn’t matter for now," Aeon murmured, dismissing the prompt. "One step at a time. Being able to forge genuine Divine or Origin-rank manuals from scratch is already a reality-breaking power. And as for the time investment required..."
A confident, knowing smile returned to his face. "With my Infinite Omniverse Dimension, time is the one resource I have in absolute abundance."
Remembering his private sanctuary, Aeon stood up from the bed. "Speaking of which... it’s about time I check in on my domain. It has been a while."
With a simple, focused thought, the space directly in front of him rippled silently. A beautiful, swirling portal radiating a deep cosmic hue manifested before his eyes, completely invisible to the outside world.
Without a single moment of hesitation, Aeon stepped forward. The cosmic vortex swallowed his form whole before snapping shut, leaving the guest room entirely empty.
Whoosh.
Instantly, the heavy, static air of the palace guest room was replaced by a wave of pure, unadulterated spiritual energy.
Aeon materialized in a vast, endless grassland of vibrant green that stretched out across the horizon until it met a clear, starry sky. Cutting through the serene meadow were pristine walkways constructed from pure, flawless white marble.
Scattered across the landscape were majestic trees with smooth white trunks and leaves that shimmered with a brilliant, shifting spectrum of mystical colors.
Running parallel to the pathway was a wide, sparkling river that looked as though it were forged from liquid starlight, flowing peacefully into the distance.
A few feet away from his arrival point stood a towering, breathtakingly majestic palace.
Its architecture seamlessly blended ancient Eastern royal aesthetics with cosmic mechanics, defined by the colossal form of a traditional Eastern dragon carved from mystical jade coiling completely around the central structure.
The moment his boots touched the grass, a tiny, glowing streak of light zipped through the air toward him.
The light faded to reveal a beautiful, palm-sized fairy fluttering on delicate wings. She possessed radiant golden hair, piercing blue eyes, and a flawless, ethereal face.
Without a single trace of fear, she flew straight up to Aeon’s face, wrapping her tiny arms around his cheek in a warm, affectionate hug.
"It is so wonderful to see you again, Master!" her melodic, bell-like voice chimed with pure joy. "Welcome back to your domain."