Chapter 53 -53-Soul Oath Precautions
Seeing Link approach with such a humble attitude, eager to learn, Ryze naturally didn't turn him away.
He patted Link on the shoulder and chuckled, "If it were about some other talent, I might not be able to help you much. But Soul Oath? That's a talent I've spent most of my life researching. So, while I can't guarantee I'll help you maximize every last drop of potential, getting you to eighty or ninety percent efficiency? That's no problem at all."
"And besides..." Ryze gave Link a half-smiling, half-sighing glance. "Though I don't really want to admit it, I have to say—Soul Oath, when paired with your Death Replication, is virtually without drawbacks. That's why the focus of your oath shouldn't be the content of the vow itself. What you really need to consider... is how to use your own abilities to amplify the oath to its highest potential."
"In other words, I can give you a nine. But that final one—only you can earn it."
"But before that," Ryze continued, placing both hands behind his back and pacing thoughtfully, "there are some important things you need to know about Soul Oath."
"Starting from Tier 1," he said, "as an esper, every time you break through to a new tier, you gain the ability to form one Soul Oath—anchored to your very soul. And depending on the content of the oath, the spiritual power amplification you receive can range from a multiplier of one... up to ten."
"Of course," Ryze added, "all of this is conditional. The amplification only works if you are actively fulfilling your oath. The moment you stray from your vow—or even think about betraying it—the effect will vanish instantly. Worse yet, it may even cause backlash."
"In theological terms, this is called Oathbreaking. In religious tradition, such heretics would be sentenced to burn at the stake. But for espers like you and me—who have awakened the Soul Oath talent—ordinary fire means nothing."
"What you truly need to be careful of... is the integrity of your oaths."
"If you break your vow once, the amplification is halved. Twice—and the amplification disappears entirely. But if you break your oath three times or more... then the Soul Oath will turn from a boon into a shackle. It will no longer serve you—it will bind you, restrict you, and ultimately... it may even endanger your life."
Link couldn't help but twitch. He hadn't imagined Ryze's talent carried such severe risks.