Within the eyes of the Four-Link Gem Master Julius, a flame briefly burned as he saw his son give a nod of affirmation.
He looked at him silently as after a few seconds, he reached under the table and pulled out a chest that had multiple sparkling gems.
“Some of the rarest Main Ability Gems and Support Ability Gems in our Treasury. Choose the ones you want and return the rest whenever. Unless you are absolutely confident afterward, I will not allow you to go to the Awakened Expeditions with the others.”
…!
The Awakened Expeditions.
Journeys that recent Awakened Gem Masters take after they choose their respective Ability Gems as they are taken to Low Tier Breaches to gain a better understanding of Beasts of Corruption and begin their journey as Gem Masters.
His father was warning him that unless he was absolutely confident, he would not be allowed to go.
This showed that his father still trusted his judgment.
And that he wanted to take all the extra precautions to make sure that Alexander’s Life was not lost!
Alexander stepped forward and looked at the small treasure chest holding dozens of dazzling Primal Ability Gems, taking it into his hands while nodding at his father.
The weight was still manageable for him as he grabbed its handles, giving a light bow to his father as he then turned around and stepped out of the study.
He had to hold the treasure chest with one hand while opening and closing the huge doors as when he pulled the door close with his left hand, the treasure chest shook as a single blue Primal Ability Gem fell out.
He momentarily set the chest down to grab the Gem that fell, and the moment he did so…
HUUM!
His right hand trembled as he felt like his brain was buzzing.
He felt a strong reaction on his chest where the Enneagram was, its center brightening up and releasing an undeniable suctioning force as if it wanted to swallow this Primal Ability Gem right then and there!
His breathing quickened as, along with the humming sound, he felt a part of himself expand outwards.
He could see any part of himself ever since he Awakened his Enneagram Life Socket, but at this moment, he felt like he could see all around him even if his eyes were closed.
Whatever sense this was, it expanded outwards as it even passed through the huge double doors into his father’s study, and he was able to see inside once more as there…
He saw his father holding a framed painting.
A painting that showed a woman with dark hair and blue eyes, with a smile so dazzling that it would take one’s breath away.
It was a smile containing endless kindness and radiance as Alexander nearly stumbled seeing this painting of his Mother.
His father grasped this painting in his hands as his calm and stoic demeanor was gone, tears leaking from his eyes freely as one could feel immense pain from them!
Alexander felt the same pangs of pain as on his father, he could see immense guilt and pain in his eyes.
“I’m sorry…”
He whispered to the painting while passing his fingers over it.
Alexander knew the story as he heard it from other Gem Masters.
His father never talked about it with him as he couldn’t bring himself to do it.
Alexander heard about how his mom had stayed behind to stop the advancement of terrifying Beasts of Corruption that would have laid waste to the entire Squadron his father led.
He heard how his father had screamed out towards her.
How he felt like all of his power was utterly worthless as even when everyone was saved, he couldn’t save the woman he loved.
He couldn’t save what mattered the most to him!
“…”
The image of the stoic man was nowhere to be seen as subconsciously, Alexander felt tears streaming down his own cheeks as he recalled the few memories of his mother while he was young.
Her warmth.
Her love.
He grasped the Primal Ability Gem in his hand ever tighter as he pulled back whatever senses that had expanded out, picking the chest back up and walking across the halls back to his room silently.
The halls were wide, yet at this moment, they felt so small. So constricting.
The image of the ferocious Beasts of Corruption he had only heard of from Gem Masters flashed in his mind as his steps were steady.
Power.
He needed power.
If he was to rectify what happened in the past, power was critical!
And he would soon find out just what level of power he could obtain with his Variant Life Socket.
With his Enneagram Life Socket!
He arrived within the privacy of his own room within moments, setting the chest down on his bed as he grasped the dazzling blue Primal Ability Gem that had caused his senses to expand outwards to the extent of even seeing past heavy doors.
The Primal Ability Gem glowed with a gorgeous blue radiance as it emitted waves of information about what it was to anyone who touched it, its capabilities being understood within a matter of seconds by the holder!
[Ice Wave]:: Once anchored in a Life Socket, this Ability Gem passively causes one’s senses to burn with an icy perception that can spread out for a few meters. Anything within the field of perception can be sensed instantly.
One can also activate the Ice Wave to release a burst of freezing cold energy in a semi-lunar direction in front of them- freezing anything on their path as the icy coldness shuts down the functions of living beings. Using it too frequently will drain your life force and may even cause permanent damage.
It was a Main Ability Gem he knew of from the many Gem Recipes out there!
There were Gem Recipes that Three-Link Gem Master utilized, and even Gem Recipes focused on [Ice Wave] theorized for any powerful being who had Four-Link or Five-Link Gem Sockets.
He grasped the Primal Ability Gem as he thought about all the Gem Recipes he was thinking of trying.
Expanded senses and the ability to freeze the enemies in front of you- with their life force being drained while they were frozen until the inevitable happens.
“This could work…”
His thoughts moved rapidly.
A Main Ability Gem by itself was powerful, but it could be made ridiculous depending on the Support Ability Gems adding to it.
Once one bound an Ability Gem into their Life Socket, removing it injured one’s life force- with such an injury taking days to heal as one couldn’t freely change their Main Ability Gem in a short period of time.
What he bound now would be what he would have to utilize if he joined the Awakened Expeditions.
“…”
His hands moved rapidly and with purpose as he looked through the treasure chest his father had given him, sifting through dozens of Primal Ability Gems as he quickly located the Support Ability Gems of the most powerful Gem Recipe for [Ice Wave], a Recipe known as the Ice King!
At a minimum, two Support Gems were required, and Alexander laid them out as he began the test that would determine his future.
He held up the [Ice Wave] Primal Ability Gem as the suction force that he felt since grabbing onto it…he focused on it and brought the blue Gem closer.
…!