With his gains from the Tree, even after spending what he had to on necessities such as more ammo, Nicolai was very near to 70,000 points. He had 63,000, and had also gained back many of the weapons he’d sold them previously. One more trade should be enough for him to get the required funds for the anti-material rifle and slay the Angel, something he had to do as soon as possible.

  After that, he would likely have to venture into the jungle even without the skin suit, as he badly needed to find more food for his Symbiotes.

  That night Nicolai began work on the creation of the Lotus Blossom Soul Trap Symbiote.

  This was his first time engaging in Symbiote refinement, a task that he believed was very common for Cultivators. From what he’d learned from Kleos, Maric, and the Memory Tomes, Symbiote Refining was a vast school. In the lower levels, fewer people were skilled at the task, and would sell their skills. At the higher levels, every Cultivator must have some skill at Symbiote refinement, unless they had a powerful group to rely on.

  This particular refinement was what was known as a sidegrade. He would be transforming the Lotus Blossom Symbiote into something that was not necessarily more powerful, merely different. The Lotus Blossom Soul Trap Symbiote.

  As he’d thought more on this item, he had come to feel it was more important. Paxolnaz was driving him towards the sword regardless. Whatever was going to happen, it would revolve around that item. With the Lotus Blossom Soul Trap, he would be giving himself the best chance of coming out successful, no matter what happened.

  If he could somehow take the sword, while avoiding being corrupted as Paxolnaz desired, in his view that would be the best result. It should be at least a Tier 3 Artifact, according to Kleos and Maric. Such an item would be very powerful, very useful to him. It was a thorned rose, but he didn’t want to simply give up on it because he knew of the trap. He wanted to ensure that, if the proper opportunity arose, he would be able to pluck the thorns and take it.

  He had now gathered everything he needed for it, and all the items were on the table before him.

  Five Infused Oma crystals, which had mostly been created by old Ben. After seizing leadership of the group, Nicolai had found the man easier to manage and to direct to doing certain things.

  Another bottle of Slow Water, from the Trade Link.

  The Imbued Soul Trap. This was not necessary; he could have used a Soul Trap he or old Ben had created, but the Imbued one would work even better. The Imbued version had been made with some minor Symbiote, which added some abilities. It could pull on Souls from a distance, it required less Oma, and it was quite nicely made; smaller and lighter than a helmet, with a handle.

  Finally, the Lotus Blossom Symbiote, which was the focus of the process. He had already broken it in, which had been quite easy. Its resistance had been less than most Symbiotes.

  Nicolai set to work.

  He had gone over this process carefully with Kleos and Maric, as well as reviewing both the instructions he had been made to memorise by Paxolnaz, alongside the Memory Tomes, and moved as though he had done the process before.

  He placed the Lotus Blossom Symbiote into the Slow Water, and connected to the Symbiote. He had the Symbiote spread its roots through the water, drinking it.

  Next he held the Imbued Soul Trap until it was touching the Symbiote, and directed it to work its way inside, into the chamber that held Souls within the Soul Trap.

  The Lotus Blossom moved slowly, crawling inside with its roots. Once inside, he activated its Art.

  The Lotus Blossom Symbiote was quite common when crafting lower levelled Symbiotes, as its Art could act as a way of conjoining things. Its Art simply had it spread its roots and dig into whatever was around it. This happened in a way that was somehow Spiritual, as it could join in a deeper manner with other things.

  However, this process would complete quite quickly, normally. As he was not connecting to it to a typical Symbiote, as a catalyst, but to an Imbued which was partly formed from ritual, he needed to make some changes as it was connecting. The Slow Water meant it would connect a lot slower than normal, giving him time to refine the ritual and direct its growth.

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  As the Lotus Blossom spread within the Imbued Soul Trap, Nicolai was using Oma to make its roots into specific shapes, which was the method to alter the ritual. Simultaneously, he was working on it spiritually, twisting the Symbiotes own tiny spirit into new configurations.

  As the process continued, a significant amount of Oma was used up. This, he knew, was common when refining Symbiotes. Instead of drawing Oma from his Nodes, he simply dropped Oma crystals into the mix, where they were quickly absorbed. This normally wouldn’t be the case, but during refinement the rules shifted. This allowed him to keep using his own Oma to work the Art and direct the changes.

  The Imbued Soul Trap began to glow, and it became increasingly malleable, its form shimmering. At this moment he added the Infused Oma Crystals, digging them into its sides, equally spaced around it. They settled in easily and grew firm, Oma beginning to circulate around them.

  The process was nearing completion. Nicolai was tossing Oma crystals inside to power the change continuously, the expenditure rising and rising. Ten, twenty, thirty, went in one by one. He knew that this stage could take some time, it was the most risky part. The process could fail—it could fail at any moment—but this moment was the most risky. If it failed, the Lotus Blossom Symbiote would be damaged, possibly destroyed, along with the Infused Oma crystals. The Imbued Soul Trap, at least, would be fine, but it was ultimately of far less importance than the Lotus Blossom Symbiote. As long as it continued, all he could do was keep feeding in more Oma crystals, and hope it completed soon.

  He was over forty crystals when there came a sharp snapping sound, and his eyes widened. Not a good sound. Within, the Lotus Blossom Symbiote was squirming and shaking, struggling against the Imbued Soul Trap. He knew what this meant. The process was spinning out, losing control. Close to failure.

  His focus intensified and his Soul Sense bore down as he worked to correct the rejection that was occurring, shifting the positions of roots, trying to see if they would lock in more easily. As he worked, the snapping sounds intensified, and he saw one of the Infused Oma crystals shatter.

  Nicolai immediately pulled another one out. Fortunately, he had kept a few spares.

  He removed the broken one and inserted the new one. However, he also saw the Lotus Blossom had been damaged, which was a greater danger. He had no way to help it heal. If the process completed, it wouldn’t matter. But if the process failed, with the Symbiote already damaged, it would definitely be destroyed.

  Normally, if a Symbiote was damaged, then given enough time and regular feeding, it would be able to recover. He could stop the process now, giving up and taking out his Lotus Blossom Symbiote instead of risking its death, but even then it might not survive as he had no food immediately available. The Tree had fed it in some manner unique to itself, without providing food.

  Nicolai decided to go all-in. His best chance way to try his hardest to make it succeed.

  He began tossing in even more Oma crystals, as excess Oma could help stabilise things, and focused intently.

  Minutes slipped by as the glow in front of him consumed more and more crystals.

  Another sound emerged. This was not a snapping noise, it was a low ringing, one which sent ripples through the Aura. Nicolai’s eyes glittered in the light, a grin reaching over his face.

  Before him the process settled, the light of its glow intensifier. When the glow faded, something new had been formed.

  The same shape of the Imbued Soul Trap, but now with occasional metallic purple leafs emerging from it. Around it, were five pale crystals, each with a faint purple glow within.

  Nicolai Examined what he had created.

  Lotus Blossom Soul Trap Symbiote

  This Symbiote is capable of capturing the Souls of even Tier 3 Foundation Cultivators. In order to function properly, it requires five Souls of Tier 1 Foundation Cultivators.

  This particular Lotus Blossom Soul Trap was created via an Imbued Soul Trap, granting it some additional functions;

  One of the darker types of Soul Traps, this variant makes use of weaker Souls to constrain stronger ones. The five captured Souls are slaved by the Symbiote, made to act as its chains. They can be sent out to capture a more powerful Soul, and then will work to constrain and that Soul within the Symbiote.

  They can restrain a Tier 2 Cultivator’s Soul without issue, indefinitely. However, if constraining a Tier 3, they will be gradually worn down and ultimately destroyed, leading to its release. Thus, upkeep is required, as the Cultivator must either possess methods to restore Spirits, or they will need to gather fresh Souls on a regular basis.

  This Symbiote can be fed with Souls, and is not picky as to their quality.

  Interesting. He held it up, looking it over. He felt an odd glow of pride. I made this. He smiled. But it still wasn’t complete. It needed Souls.

  Fortunately, he had a method to get two, one which would be quite easy and which he would go to do the next day. The remaining three he was sure he would find opportunities to seize. The days of him being the sole Cultivator were behind, now. He felt it likely he was still the most advanced Cultivator in the castle, but there were increasing numbers of people who had formed the first Node.

  Plenty of targets.

  He finished the evening by continuing to delve through the Memory Tomes. He was used to them, now, and was less debilitated as he was able to slow the rate of information flow into him to one he could handle. He had now completed the Symbiote Memory Tome and had almost finished the one on Spirit Beasts.