For a second, Jaemin did nothing. Just stared.
The Focus hovered in front of him—silent, pulsing, alive.
TING!
[Heuristics Matrix has been fully calibrated.]
Override Option Available:
– Core of Tempest
– Core of Shadows
Do you wish to override?
Y / N
"What does override even mean here…?"
He muttered, jaw clenching.
"Replace? Merge? Buff?"
The truth was—he had no idea. This wasn't like unlocking a stat boost or equipping a better weapon. This was rewriting something inside him. Inside the Core. Maybe even something deeper than that.
His thumb hovered in the air. Then—
Click.
YES.
TING–TING!
Do you wish to initiate Heuristics Matrix?
Y / N
Jaemin breathed in through his nose, then pressed Y without flinching this time.
A low hum echoed through the chamber, soft chimes cascading from every direction like glass bells in a storm. The interface changed—no longer the static blue-violet interface. Now, it was deeper. More intricate. A wide dome of shifting light surrounded him, glyphs cycling through the air like alien constellations.
A hologram of his body flickered into place before him, spinning slowly, surrounded by circling rings of data.
ENTITY: Han Jaemin
TITLE: Incandescent Warrior
VERSE: Overseer
You have now initiated: Heuristics Matrix Protocol.
Do you wish to override the following cores:–
Core of Tempest–
Core of Shadows
Y / N
He swallowed.
"Let's do this."
His finger clicked Y.
And then—
BOOM.
A pressure wave rippled outward as two energies detonated from within him, one from his heart, one from his spine.
Storm winds—jagged with electric blue and silver—tore upward from his back in twisting spirals.
Dark violet shadowflame slithered up his arms, forming long streaks of cold heat across his chest and neck.
The winds howled.
The shadows roared. And then—Silence.
The chamber stood still. The dome of light dimmed. Jaemin stood, blinking, gripping his arms as the resonance faded.
He… didn't feel different. Not exactly. But something had shifted.
TING–TING!
Your Title has been updated:— King of Storms
TING–TING!
Your Title has been updated:— Commander of Shadows
TING–TING!
Your Title has been updated:— The Ascendant Arbiter
He didn't even have time to react.
"The Ascendant… what?"
He murmured, staring at the text in disbelief.
This wasn't just symbolic.
It meant something.
This override—whatever the hell it just did—it didn't just enhance the cores. It evolved them.
And him, along with them.
He stood straighter. He could feel the Storm and Shadow no longer clashing—but swirling around him in harmony. Complementary. Designed to move together.
He clenched his fists—electric pulses twitching through his fingertips, shadowlight cracking around his wrists.
TING!
[Core Synchronisation Rate: 92%.
You are now compatible for multi-core expansion.]
A long breath left his lips. His heartbeat levelled. The fight wasn't over. The chamber hadn't collapsed. But he was different now.
He stepped forward, quiet at first, then stronger.
"…Okay."
He muttered.
"Let's see what the new me can do."
TING!
A new skill is available:
Core Override is now available to use.
"Eh? What the hell is Core Override? Why is everything so goddamn confusing now…"
Jaemin groaned, aggressively scratching the back of his head.
"I need a haircut. I need a nap. I need a fucking therapist, man."
His bones cracked audibly as he stretched. It had been nearly five hours inside the Lapis Chamber. Five hours of nonstop carnage. His hoodie was torn. His boots were burned at the edges. Blood and ash smeared across his skin.
He rotated his neck lazily, just as a rectangular interface materialised—A glowing orange circle scanned the room and locked onto a steaming corpse nearby.
Target: Abyssal Vanguard. Core can be overridden. Do you wish to override the core?
[Y/N]
"…Huh."
Still scratching his neck, Jaemin let out a deadpan groan.
"Sure. Why not?"
He hit YES without thinking.
TING!
State the name and title to grant override access.
Jaemin blinked.
"What?"
He sighed and leaned forward.
"Han Jaemin. Ascendant Arbiter."
SHIIN!
The dim, shattered fragment inside the Vanguard's corpse ignited, levitating, spinning, then dissolving into dark violet ash. The particles spiralled violently, condensing into a new shape—a humanoid figure. A figure rising.
The body stood.
Black. Smokey. Orange lines of energy flowed like lava down its arms. A corrupted shadow or something of what it once was.
"AAAAHHHH—!"
Jaemin screamed, stumbling back and immediately cupping his mouth.
"WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS??!?!?!?"
He was nearly breathless, eyes wide, heart pounding like a drum. He genuinely thought a ghost had popped out of hell.
TING!
The core was overridden successfully.
Jaemin slowly exhaled.
"So… this is what it meant."
He opened his Skill Set panel again and flicked through until he saw it:
Core Override: Gain the ability to awaken a dead entity that possessed a core or core fragment and command it.
Connected Skill:
Gateway Cavern
A secure realm where overridden entities are stored.
Jaemin clicked it.
Gateway Cavern [1/35]
Class: Shroud
Abyssal Vanguard [1x]
His lips curled into a grin.
"...A mini army? Hah. Okay, now we're talking."
His eyes danced as he scrolled through the details.
To override a core, find a valid target and say the keyword: "Override."
"'Override'? Not bad..."
Jaemin snorted.
"… Let's try it, shall we..."
Jaemin looked at the Shroud Vanguard now standing silently at his back, cloaked in smoke and ambient energy.
"Alright then…"
He smirked.
Jaemin raised his palm forward. Fingers open.
"Override."
FWIUP!
A storm of black mist and raw energy surged through the battlefield.
One by one, ten fallen Vanguards twitched… then stood. Tall. Silent. Reforged in the form of Shrouds—glimmering dark with streaks of orange energy coursing through the cracks of their spectral armour. They lined up behind Jaemin like phantom sentinels.
He approached one slowly. His hand reached out and gently touched its chest.
No heartbeat. No breath. Just nothingness. Just obedience.
"Are you… real?"
Jaemin muttered under his breath.
There was no response. Only stillness.
He cleared his throat.
"Alright then. Can you… Wave hi?"
Without hesitation, all ten Shrouds raised a hand. In perfect unison. Jaemin blinked. Then smirked.
"…Not bad."
[Resonants Stored: 20/35]
Fifteen left.
Jaemin turned next to the fallen Arcanists. A dozen of them lay lifeless, shrouded in cloaks, their core fragments dim.
He knelt beside the nearest one, then stood tall, palm forward.
"Override."
TING.
The fragmented core shimmered back to life.
Like puppets yanked by invisible strings, twelve Arcanists rose from their deaths. Their robes reformed into darker, ethereal versions of their former selves. Their glowing palms sparked with dormant runes, but they didn't move.
"You bastards gave me a hard time, y'know…"
Jaemin muttered. He crossed his arms, stepping forward.
"Get on your knees. Apologise."
THUMP.
All twelve dropped in sync. Hands together, heads bowed low.
There were no words. Just silent obedience.
"So y'all can't talk either, huh…?"
He scratched his head again.
"Kinda creepy. But also kinda cool."
Now:
[Resonants Stored: 32/35]
Only three more slots left.
He glanced at the Bison corpses nearby… and shook his head.
"Y'all weren't even that tough. Sorry, you're not making the cut."
Instead, he stepped aside and raised a single hand.
A small orb of stormlight formed in his palm. Bright blue, crackling softly.
He exhaled.
"...Warden. Override."
FWOOOM!
The orb burst—a vortex of air roaring upward like a beacon. From the stormy light descended a single form.
A towering figure. Seven feet tall. Humanoid… but wrong.
Sculpted from thunderclouds. Outlined in lightning.
Its chest was plated in obsidian armour, streaked with veins of glowing copper and white-blue current. And in its right hand:
A spear of pure, crackling electricity.
The Warden of Tempest returned—reborn in shadow, yet still majestic.
The air thickened around Jaemin as the Warden finally touched down on the ground, hovering just slightly above the surface. Its spear is planted in the stone. It knelt.
No words. No voice.
Just silent loyalty.
Jaemin took a breath. His eyes softened.
"…Can't speak either, huh."
He chuckled, scratching the back of his neck.
"Kinda a bummer. But it's… good to see you again."
[Resonants Stored: 35/35]
Class: Mourners
• TempestWarden (1)
Class: Shrouds
• Abyssal Vanguards (10)
• Abyssal Arcanists (12)
His army… was ready.
Jaemin stood at the centre of the chamber, surrounded by entities he once fought to survive. Now?
They stood with him.
And he wasn't alone anymore.