The Oracle Paths

Jake tried to work out all the logical consequences arising from these principles. There were many, and he could already see some pessimistic prospects.

However, what really mattered to him at that moment was whether or not he could merge his bloodline with Tim's. It was for this reason in the first place that Cekt had imposed this lecture on them.

"You said that Tim, whose Bloodline is impure should get most of the benefits of my Myrtharian Bloodline, but that in my case it would be more complicated." Jake suddenly repeated, echoing his master's words. "I take it this somehow reflects the premises underlying the unofficial classification you just introduced to us?"

"Precisely." The alien nodded in agreement. "Although the Myrtharian Bloodline is considered Grade 9 by the Oracle System and the incomplete one of Tim's is Grade 8, the Aether Runes forming their Aether Code are similar in size. Your Myrtharian Bloodline's Aether Code already occupies most of the available space in your cells. To merge two Bloodlines, their Aether Code must become one. The Aether Runes must be the same size and in layman's language form a readable and coherent text.

"If you were to assimilate a Bloodline with a higher Rank and a more miniaturized Aether Code, it would be different. It would still be impossible to merge the two Bloodlines, but the smaller Aether Runes of the second Bloodline would be able to fit between those of the first without interfering with their respective Aether circuits. In this case, you would actually have two different Bloodlines in your body, not a hybrid Bloodline that is a mixture of the two. Unfortunately, this is not the case here. I had to make a choice for you."

"And what is that choice?" Jake inquired, still curious about the compromise his master had reached.

"Your Myrtharian Bloodline will remain dominant, but the Lucky Body and Luck Aether attributes of the Beskyrians will be added to the mix, evolving under the same rules as your Myrtharian Body and other Aether stats." Cekt summarized truthfully. "You won't have any of the innate Bloodline Skills that Beskyrians have. Tim, on the other hand, will get most of your Bloodline Skills, but he will also have to make choices."

Jake was pleasantly surprised. After all the Aetherist's warning speech, he had expected a much shakier outcome. Now all he had to do was practice as usual and his luck would eventually improve. Even if he couldn't actively control it, he could treat it as a passive skill.

"This is perfect. I am satisfied with this result. Thank you, master." Jake expressed his sincere thanks to him. The little alien had a vile temper, but he deserved his respect.

"Hmmph, it's only when there's a profit involved that you behave decently." Cekt complained, but by the smug smile on his face he was quite evidently pleased.

For a renowned Aetherist, having his efforts recognized was the best reward.

"I have two more questions." Jake thought about a minor detail, but one that bothered him. "First question. We agree that the Oracle System uses the official classification to judge a Bloodline's Grade, right?"

"That's right... What are you getting at?"

"In that case, why is Tim's incomplete Bloodline Grade 8? Luck isn't part of any of the Four Aspects, unless I'm wrong. Especially since Tim has no way to develop his Luck on his own other than with his Oracle Device."

Cekt gave him a peculiar look, as if he were looking at him as he really was for the first time. Eventually, he explained cryptically,

"Because luck is one of the exceptions. Being lucky gives you immense potential. Even with his current luck and his impure Bloodline, if Tim returned to Earth and dedicated himself to becoming stronger, he would eventually find a way to overcome his human condition. If the Oracle Device were to be given a Bloodline Grade, it would at least exceed Grade 7."

Jake thought briefly about this answer, then felt that the reasoning held up. Luck alone might not have been enough, but it also had to include Tim's Innate Luck Skill that allowed him to manually control his luck to achieve his goals.

"Second question. You don't have to answer." A knowledge-hungry expression surreptitiously flashed across Jake's face, "What's the best Bloodline you've ever heard of?"

Upon hearing this question, even the dozing Tim sat up sharply, his pupils sparkling with curiosity. It was the ultimate mystery that plagued every Evolver. Was it the Oracle's Bloodline? By the way, did the Oracle have a Bloodline, or was it just an artificial intelligence governing the Mirror Universe in an all-powerful supercomputer?

In contrast to the flat refusal or the vague answer Jake expected, a melancholic, longing gleam drifted across the old alien's crumpled face. Instead of curtly rebuffing them by arguing that they were too wet behind the ears to worry about such distant things, he transmitted a holographic image contained in his bracelet.

A black hole and its perfectly modeled accretion disk popped up in Jake and Tim's minds. Both found it difficult to hide their perplexity.

"The ultimate creature of the Mirror Universe is a black hole?" Jake asked hesitantly.

Bam!

"Of course not, dumbass!" Cekt barked after whacking his cane on the top of his skull. "Look closely."

The camera zoomed in on a certain spot of the black hole when all of a sudden, the latter ejected a monumental jet of plasma and gamma rays into the cosmos. Instead of continuing to film the black hole, the camera chose to track the flying matter. The camera followed this substance until it cooled down enough to accrete and form a kind of asteroid.

As time accelerated, the camera followed the asteroid for billions of years until it eventually crashed into a certain volcanic planet teeming with lizards and reptiles that bore some resemblance to the western dragons of legend, only much more terrifying.

In the center of the crater formed by the asteroid, a shapeless mass of black, syrupy liquid reformed after the impact, quickly taking on the appearance of one of the local lizards. The creature had no shadow, no aura, no presence, no sensory organs, but from birth it was destined to become a super predator destined to rise to the apex of the food chain.

The lizard turned its eyeless face towards the camera and the recording was brought to an end.

Enjoying their stunned silence, Cekt said gravely,

"This is the species with the highest Bloodline Grade ever recorded. Grade 17. This video clip was personally filmed by the Ancient Designer, Zeldon."

"Other than the special circumstances of its birth, this thing didn't look all that impressive..." Tim muttered warily. Inwardly he thought, 'All this to become a damn lizard!'

Jake was more thoughtful and dwelt on other details. This life form was incubated or needed a black hole to come into existence. As soon as it landed on this lizard-covered planet, it had taken on the traits of a similar species. A baby admittedly, but his intuition told him that this chosen form was the most optimal.

An alien capable of withstanding the extreme conditions of a black hole could definitely not be judged on the basis of its appearance. Any local dragons and giant dinosaurs that would mess with it were doomed to a grim end.

"Do you have any idea where this was filmed?" Cekt flatly asked the child at his somewhat unimpressed reaction.

"I don't." Tim admitted laconically.

"System A0. The same world where you made your second Ordeal. The Aetherist revealed coldly. "That world was completely wiped out by the Digestors. Except for the Ancient Designer, Xion and his Zhorion people who guard an outpost, the rest of this universe belongs to the Digestors. This video clip is from a few million years before the System fell. As far as we know, this planet has been around all that time, and it's reportedly flourishing as never before. Even the Digestors can't do anything about this thing."

A creature capable of defeating an army of Digestors against which the entire Mirror Universe was powerless... Jake suddenly felt extremely insignificant and weak. The rapid progress that had gradually restored his self-confidence no longer seemed so remarkable.

In a rare burst of kindness, Cekt patted his shoulder with his little clawed hands.

"No need to be depressed. If anything, this should encourage you. For an Aetherist there is no more ambitious dream than to create an artificial bloodline that surpasses the best bloodline nature has to offer. If you succeed, I will be the happiest of masters.

"Besides, your family and this thing had something unique in common." Cekt burst out laughing before adding ironically after a small pause. "Your name."

"My name?"

"Indeed." The alien grinned enigmatically. "This Grade 17 Bloodline was named by Zeldon, who discovered it, a Wilderth. Don't look for any crazy explanation, it's a purely phonetic name. You and your family have nothing to do with this thing, or you would have taken over the Earth long ago. Still, this coincidence is quite striking, isn't it? Rather than discourage you, I'd rather you see this as a sign of your immense potential and a philosophy of life. Like that creature, keep adapting wherever you go and luck will keep smiling on you. Your birth may not be as special, but you can rise to the top of the food chain wherever your steps take you.

"Maybe one day you and this Wilderth will meet face to face and then you'll know which Bloodline has surpassed the other."