Chapter 41 — level two
The warehouse was still, its silence broken only by the soft hiss of the fire.
Seth sat cross-legged before it, his gaze fixed on the faintly glowing cores lined neatly on the dusty ground.
He reached first for the weakest—the core of the level two wolf. It pulsed gently in his palm, threads of dim light swirling like a dying storm. For a moment, he simply stared at it, lost in thought, before pressing his will into it to absorb it.
The energy flowed instantly.
A sharp chill raced through his veins, then settled deep in his core—a familiar burn that faded into warmth. He exhaled softly as his system responded.
Saturation: 14%
The increase was noticeable. Twelve percent from a single core. Not bad, but not enough.
His lips twitched upward, halfway between a smile and disappointment. Without hesitation, he picked up the next one—the level four core—and began to absorb again.
This time the energy came richer, heavier. It coursed through him like molten light, spreading outward from his center to every fiber of muscle and bone. When the last of it settled, the golden digits in his mind flickered once more.
Saturation: 51%
"So little," he muttered, the words escaping before he could stop them.
His gaze shifted to the last of the three—the level seven core.
It pulsed brighter than the rest, alive with power that made the air hum faintly around it. Seth could feel the density within, could almost taste it on his tongue. For a fleeting moment, he regretted not starting with this one.
If he had, it would have pushed him straight into the next level.
Now, with his saturation already halfway filled, most of that energy would spill away—wasted.
He sighed and began regardless.
The reaction was immediate. The energy roared through him like a storm unleashed, flooding his limbs, his chest, his mind. His core spun wildly as the numbers raced upward.
55%… 60%… 70%… 80%… 100%.
It hit the limit in a single breath.
Seth's eyes snapped open, light reflecting briefly in his irises. He could feel it—the fullness, the pressure, the edge of breakthrough.
"Alright," he murmured, steadying his breath.
Closing his eyes again, he sent his consciousness inward—into the silent depths of himself.
Within the vastness of his inner world, his core floated before him: a sphere of translucent crystal pulsing softly in the darkness. It looked unchanged from before, except for the two distinct energies swirling within.
One was pale and colorless—the wild, external energy drawn from beast cores. The other shimmered faintly with countless motes of light, like a miniature galaxy: his own internal energy, produced naturally since reaching the novice rank.
Seth drew in a deep breath, then reached for the chaotic energy of saturation.
Gathering it tightly, he hurled it against the boundary of his core.
The sound was like a thunderclap. His body jerked, a pained gasp escaping his lips as agony rippled through his chest. The core trembled—but held firm. Not a single crack appeared.
It was like… trying to shatter a mountain with a handful of dust.
Frowning, he tried again. Then again.
Each attempt left him shaking, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth, yet the barrier remained unyielding. The edges of his vision trembled with pain, but he forced himself to stay still, analyzing.
What was wrong?
His gaze flicked to the other side of the core—the portion holding his own energy. Slowly, realization dawned.
He had been using the foreign energy to force evolution. But this core… this growth… it was his.
Discarding the saturation energy, Seth channeled his own essence instead. The light within him brightened—and then slammed against the boundary.
The backlash hit like a hammer.
Blood sprayed from his lips as his consciousness wavered. He barely managed to hold himself steady, pressing a hand to his chest as the pain dulled to a steady throb. The attempt had been even harsher than before.
Both energies returned to swirling apart again, orbiting each other endlessly, neither touching.
He sat there for a long moment, breathing steadily, lost in thought.
The fire crackled faintly beside him, the smell of roasting meat creeping through the dust.
Eventually, he opened his eyes, wiped the blood away, and looked at the meat.
It had browned perfectly—crisp on the outside, soft beneath. He didn't remember when he'd gotten decent at cooking, but somewhere along the way, it had become habit.
Seth exhaled and began to eat in silence, the flickering flame painting soft shadows across his face.
Outside, the world shifted.
The last rays of sunlight bled away behind the trees, and the moon rose, pale and cold, taking its place above the ruins. Seth chewed slowly, his eyes following that slow exchange of light.
He froze.
"That must be it…" he whispered.
Closing his eyes once more, he dove back inward.
This time, he didn't choose one or the other.
He brought both energies forward—the wild, colorless essence of saturation and the quiet, star-born light of his own core. At first, they resisted, swirling separately. But slowly, under his will, they began to merge—unstable, flickering, but together.
When the fused energy struck the barrier, the effect was instant.
Cracks.
Hairline fractures rippled across the core's shell. Pain tore through him, sharp enough to make his breath hitch—but then, warmth followed, healing and relief flowing right behind it. The dual energy fed itself, destroying and mending in perfect rhythm.
He laughed softly, grimacing at the sting.
It was working.
Again and again he struck.
Crack.
Heal.
The cycle repeated, each strike widening the cracks until the barrier finally shattered—not into pieces, but into light. Energy surged through him in a flood of brilliance, filling every vein, every breath, every muscle.
Outside, the fire flared as though in response.
Seth inhaled deeply, his senses sharpening, his strength thickening like tempered steel. The faint hum of the system echoed faintly at the edge of his mind, confirming what he already knew.
He had broken through.
Novice Rank — Level 2.
A slow smile curved his lips as he exhaled, the light fading from his eyes.
He sat there for a while, just breathing, feeling the quiet rhythm of his heart. Everything felt… clearer. More alive.
The night air was cool. The ruins were silent. And for the first time in a while, he allowed himself to simply breathe—letting the warmth of his new strength settle deep within.
Tomorrow, he'd move again.
But tonight, he'd rest.