The Empyreal Gem Master

Ice Wave.

He knew of it alongside many of the other Main Ability Gems in the treasure chest his father had given him.

After analyzing the positives and negatives, the capability to control Beasts of Corruption by freezing them in addition to dealing heavy damage…he chose this Gem over a few other possibilities.

A brilliant light erupted at the very center of his chest.

At the very center of his Enneagram Life Socket, the faint circle glowed and sucked in the Ice Wave Ability Gem as the pointed ends of his star-shaped Life Socket began to spin around it.

The temperature began to drop around him.

He felt his body begin to course with a cold but comfortable energy that made him feel stronger than before- no matter how small this change was.

He closed his eyes, but he could still see everything around the whole room and even further beyond it, his senses expanding to cover halfway into the rooms connected to his!

It was a terrifying new change that he needed time to get adjusted to as he breathed out, his eyes shining brightly.

The first test was successful.

His Enneagram Life Socket could accept Main Ability Gems on the faint circle at the very center.

Naturally, what he thought to be an outlandish possibility of the Nine faint circles at the ends of his Life Socket being capable of holding Nine Support Ability Gems…

"..."

DUM! DUM! DUM!

The beat of his heart felt resounding.

It felt entirely too loud as what would such a thing even represent?

For him, it wasn't even the immense possibilities that tugged at his heart!

It was what he could do with it.

Those that took away the most precious thing to him…he may actually be able to face them without fear!

So…

"Let's continue."

He spoke to himself as he looked closely at his Enneagram.

With the Ice Wave Ability Gem on the very center of the Nine pointed star, Alexander noticed a change where five of the 9 circles were now lit up brightly.

The other four were dim as if they couldn't be utilized!

It meant that only 5 Support Ability Gems could be utilized for the Ice Wave Ability- was this limitation due to the level of the Ability Gem itself?

From the knowledge he had gathered so far, there were different tiers between Main and Support Ability Gems.

Some were naturally higher in tiers compared to others.

Now he had to confirm what type of Ability Gem would allow all Nine ends of the Enneagram to light up.

He turned his gaze to the Support Ability Gems to get started.

[Energy Preservation Support]. Any Ability Gems can be supported by this Universal Support Ability Gem. It allows the effects of a linked Main Ability Gem to reduce all resource costs while actively catalyzing the energy production of the body, allowing you to be constantly filled with energy.

The first one was similar to the recipe utilized by Gem Master Azazel and others as it truly was a universal support ability gem.

The boons of reducing the cost of the main ability and even allowing one's body to be filled with even more energy were too paramount!

As for the second Support Ability Gem lying on the bed…

[Frost Energy Support]:: Any Ability Gem relating to cold or frost can be supported by this support ability Gem. The Linked Ability has the Cold Damage output increased by 200%, and the area of effect is increased by 200%. 

Straightforward and simple.

And yet its capabilities were tremendous as a Three-Link Gem Master with this recipe could be known as the Ice King of the battlefield!

"Come!"

Alexander beckoned to the two Gems as they smashed onto the two faint circles on his chest, fusing into it as instantly, he felt his body buzz as if he had swallowed a freezing sun.

His skin glinted with radiance.

His somewhat skinny body seemed just a bit more packed as his eyes gained a small hint of blue!

But this was only the beginning.

There were theories on what Gems could grant shocking effects if added to the recipe of the Ice King- If someone with Four or Five-Link Gem Sockets were to utilize it!

Additional support Gems included…[Frost Infiltration Support], [Elemental Discipline Support], and [Explosive Surge Support].

Alexander picked out all three from the treasure chest and allowed the pull of his Enneagram to intensify- all three Gems shimmering with white or blue lights flowing to the three remaining lit-up circles.

…!

And his body trembled.

It trembled as if it were accepting and acclimating to tremendous power- pain beginning to course across his body as he could actively feel all parts of him changing!

His flat stomach gradually gained structure. The faint lines of abdominal muscles began to show as his shoulders, back, thighs, and many other parts of his body began to be more noticeable.

His senses even told him his jawline was getting sharper as he should have gained even more charm.

And when he looked at his Enneagram Life Socket that had all the five lit-up Support Ability Sockets filled, he saw this unfathomable Nine-pointed star begin spinning at its own unique pace.

Spinning.

Since when did one's Life Sockets move around crazily like this? And just what did this movement signify?

There were too many unknowns still with his Enneagram Life Socket.

He continued to watch its spins as in real time, he could feel himself getting just a little stronger!

—

The day after the Awakening Ceremony.

Hours came and went along with a bustle of activity in the Capital City Fortress of Carthage, the main topic of conversation being the future Five-Link Gem Master who had appeared in their Mortal Branch of the Asmodeus Bloodline.

In passing, the name Alexander was mentioned as a contrast to how one of the two Scions of the Mortal Branch Leaders had ascended to the skies while the other had fallen below the earth.

A Variant Life Socket? A defective Life Socket? 

Would this Scion even be able to force himself to step out of his father's mansion after this?

There were many whispers and gossips under the talks of those pertinent across the city Fortress. But nobody dared to gossip too loudly. They all knew how terrifying the father of this Young Master could be.

So even as this gossip came in whsipers, nothing could beat the gossip on the future achievements of Claire Asmodeus!