B3 Chapter 289: Wealth of Growth, pt. 5 (I did not skip a chapter)

**Ding! Corporus Aspect Founded – The Struggler’s Madness**

Still overwhelmed by the process of igniting a fundamental Truth of his inner self, Kaius fled from his soulspace to return to the world outside.

Greeted by the curious faces of his friends, and flickering sconces that burned in a pale imitation of the spires in his soul, Kaius was absorbed by a fervent need to know more.

Feeling the glimmering chime of a waiting notification, he all but ripped open the description of his latest Aspect with quaking fingers.

The Struggler’s Madness:

Pillar Corporus – Seed Stage

Come weal and woe, all falter. Inevitably they fail and collapse under the burden of a reality that cares not for their wishes and dreams. Most will never rise again, or if they do, it is a halting movement of fear and burden. Some, a rare few, Struggle. Whether it is madness, rage, joy, or stalwart honour that drives them onwards, the uncompromising weight of failure and unachievable goals creates no barrier. The pressure forges them anew, making their commitments and oaths burn all the brighter.

Each step is worse than the last. Growing more agonising, and more strenuous, they are used by Strugglers to refine themselves—whether in brute strength, technique, luck, or all three.

Every Struggler is different, both in the burdens of failure that seek to crush them, and the undeniable fixations that drive them forward. Under the light of a burning ring of black, they push on regardless. One thing unites them; a defiance of possibility. An unrelenting psychosis of self assurance. A certainty, that the climb will leave them unrecognisable to the decrepit creature that took the first step.

As an Aspect of Corporus, The Struggler’s Madness reforges the body with the malleability and capacity to improve. Failure and pain are acceptable, if only as additional fuel for the fire.

Corporeal Reinforcement: TItan’s Marrow

The Pillar Corporus reinforces the marrow, purifying the body with the might of Titans. Improves ability to withstand and survive grievous wounds and reduces fatigue.

Seed: Forged in Endless Strife

The hardest metals require the hottest fires.

Boosts the rate of improvement of technique, bodily control, force application, proprioception, and mind-body connection up to the point of the theoretical absolute limits of your current capabilities. This effect is greatly bolstered during times of significant struggle, effort, and danger.

He read the description once, twice, then thrice, a growing grin spilling wider on his face.

It was perfect.

There was a narrow part of him that felt he should be a little concerned that even the system thought he was a mite unhinged for his persistent refusal to abide by normal standards of limits and achievable goals.

The thought was merely a piece of flotsam that was swept away in his joy at what he received, and the pure satisfaction at having another core part of himself revealed.

Much like The Struggler’s Madness suggested, he knew his demands on himself were unreasonable. That no sane man would sincerely set perfection as their goal—and yet, if not perfection, then what? Why settle for half measures? Simple fear of failure?

It was ridiculous to him. Failure and struggle were what gave meaning to the climb, and were kindly offered tools that showed you what could still be found lacking.

His Aspect had reflected that, and had given him what he needed to climb as best he could. So much of what he struggled with was control, mastery, of what he already had—a problem that would only grow worse as his strength grew faster than he could learn to leverage it.

Forged In Endless Strife was exactly what he needed to handle that.

“I assume by the fact you are staring into space and grinning like a lunatic that you got something good?” Ianmus suddenly asked, breaking his focus.

Kaius blinked, shifting towards his friend as a sudden rush of mild chagrin washed over him.

“Yeah, yeah I did.” he replied, shaking his head with a rueful grin. Turning his attention back to the description of his Aspect, he shared what he had gained—though he did skip the continual and many descriptions of the systems judgement of his sanity that lay within.

Finishing, he looked up to find his companions deep in thought.

“It tracks. I think it suits you, and your skittish fighting style.” Porkchop said lamely, giving him a conspicuous wink.

Kaius rolled his eyes. Just because he could—and did!—take and survive grievous wounds, did not mean he had to.

“Not my fault you’re too fat to dodge.” he shot back, smirking.

“Hey!”

“Regardless of your antics,” Ianmus interjected, chuckling. “It does seem to promise to be a fantastic improvement to your capabilities. Even if it is not as immediately impactful as Porkchop’s own seed, I can see it remaining a consistent force multiplier.”

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Kaius nodded in agreement. While it might not be flashy, anything that helped him grow would pay dividends for the rest of his life. Even if it only promised to improve his mortal control over his body and movements, the effectiveness of that could not be understated. Skills, much like everything else in the system, improved what was already there.

Every facet of his base that he could improve would universally have an effect on any skill or stat that made use of it—his bladework, dodging, general agility and strength included.

Not only that, he deeply suspected that it would have a subtle effect on his ability to grow his Skills—they weren’t improved only through repetition and use against dangerous foes; actually attempting to improve his capabilities was a large, if not the largest chunk of their development.

His eyes flicked over to Kenva, still standing there silently—a pensive expression on her face.