The room was silent.
Too silent.
Liam sat on the edge of his bed, one hand pressed against his chest.
The warmth hadn't faded.
It pulsed slowly beneath his ribs—steady, deep, controlled—like a second heart beating beneath the first.
Not violent.
Not unstable.
Power.
He swallowed.
"…Status."
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then the air before him shimmered.
A translucent blue screen unfolded silently.
[Status Window]
Name: Liam Vale
Age: 16
Core Grade: Legendary Red (Sealed)
Core State: Dormant
Mana Capacity: ???
Affinities: Locked
System: Core Ascension System
[Warning: Core output restricted to prevent detection.]
Liam's breath caught.
Legendary.
Even seeing the words made his pulse quicken.
"Sealed…" he muttered.
A new message appeared.
[Explanation:]
Host body insufficiently tempered.
Direct exposure to Red Core energy may cause organ failure, neural collapse, or death.
Recommended method: gradual synchronization.
Liam let out a slow breath.
So power wasn't a gift.
It was a burden his body wasn't ready to carry.
Another panel surfaced.
[Function Unlocked: Core Tempering]
Purpose: Strengthen host vessel to safely wield core power.
Methods:
• Physical training
• Mana circulation
• Combat experience
• System missions
Growth speed dependent on host determination.
Determination.
Liam almost laughed.
If willpower alone were enough, he would have ruled his first life.
A quiet sound came from the doorway.
"Brother…?"
Liam turned instantly.
His little brother stood there rubbing his eyes, blanket dragging behind him.
"You're still awake."
Liam softened immediately. "Sorry. Did I wake you?"
The boy shook his head and climbed onto the bed without permission.
"…Did your awakening go bad?"
Liam hesitated.
Then gently ruffled his hair.
"A little," he said. "But I'll handle it."
The boy yawned, leaning against him. "As long as you're here."
Something tightened in Liam's chest—different from mana.
Fragile.
Human.
After the boy fell asleep, Liam carried him back to his room and tucked him in carefully.
When he returned, his expression hardened.
In my last life, I had nothing to lose.
This time… I do.
A soft chime echoed.
[Hidden Quest Generated]
Quest: First Step Toward Ascension
Objective: Circulate mana for the first time
Reward:
• Core Synchronization +1%
• Basic Skill Unlock
Failure Penalty: None
Liam sat cross-legged on the floor.
Mana circulation was normally taught weeks later.
For Yellow Cores, it took months just to feel mana.
He closed his eyes.
The warmth in his chest responded instantly.
He guided it outward.
Agony tore through his body.
It felt as if molten metal surged through his veins, burning muscle, nerve, bone.
His jaw clenched.
His breath shook.
But he didn't stop.
Minutes passed.
Then—
[Mana Circulation Successful.]
[Core Synchronization: 1%]
[Skill Unlocked: Basic Mana Reinforcement]
The pain vanished.
Liam opened his eyes.
The world looked… sharper.
When he clenched his fist, mana flowed naturally into his arm.
The wooden floor cracked.
He stared at it.
"…One percent?"
A quiet laugh escaped him.
If this was one percent—
He lowered his hand.
Tomorrow, he would return to the academy as the same thing everyone believed him to be.
A trash Yellow Core.
And no one would know how close they stood to something dangerous.
Morning arrived.
The academy gates loomed ahead.
Students whispered as Liam passed.
"There he is."
"The yellow one."
"What a disgrace."
He ignored them.
Power didn't announce itself.
It waited.
Instructor Halvors stood before the training field, arms crossed.
"Today," he said, "you begin mana control."
His gaze swept the class.
"Talent determines speed. Those with higher cores will advance."
Then his eyes paused briefly on Liam.
"Those without… will struggle."
Training began.
Blue and green cores shimmered across the field.
Daniel laughed excitedly as sparks danced around his palm.
Liam sat at the edge, pretending to fail.
Inside, his core responded instantly—too easily.
He forced it down.
One mistake…
And everything would be exposed.
A shadow fell over him.
"Move."
Liam looked up.
Three students stood there.
The one in front wore a blue emblem at his collar.
Alpha.
He smirked. "You're blocking my space, trash."
"There's plenty of room," Liam replied calmly.
Alpha scoffed.
Then kicked him.
The blow slammed into Liam's stomach, throwing him across the dirt.
Gasps rippled through the field.
Instructor Halvors turned—
Then looked away.
"Pain teaches faster than lectures," he said coldly.
Alpha approached, mana flaring.
"You think you belong here with us?"
The moment he raised his fist—
Time slowed.
A sharp tone rang in Liam's mind.
[WARNING: Hostility Detected.]
[Threat Level: Severe.]
[Emergency Condition Met.]
A crimson interface flooded his vision.
[Emergency Quest: Eliminate the Threat]
Target: Hostile Individual
Condition: Intent to cause serious harm or death
Objective: Neutralize immediately
Failure: Host death
[Note: Mercy not recommended.]
Liam's pupils shrank.
Eliminate.
Not defeat.
Not repel.
Kill.
Alpha's fist descended.
Something deep within Liam stirred.
Not rage.
Not fear.
Clarity.
The Red Core trembled behind its seal.
Liam rose to his feet.
An invisible pressure spread across the training field.
Alpha faltered. "W-what…?"
Liam's eyes were calm.
"Step back."
The boy laughed nervously. "Trying to scare me?"
He swung.
Liam moved.
To others, it looked like chance.
In truth—it was precision.
Liam twisted aside, seized Alpha's wrist, and released the smallest thread of mana.
Bones cracked.
The scream echoed across the academy.
He slammed Alpha into the ground, knee pinning his chest as the earth fractured beneath them.
Silence.
The system pulsed.
[Target remains hostile.]
Liam leaned close.
"In my last life," he whispered, "I died because I was weak."
His grip tightened.
"In this one… I don't have that luxury."
Alpha's mana collapsed.
His eyes rolled back.
Unconscious.
Alive.
Barely.
The crimson screen paused.
[Emergency Quest Completed.]
Evaluation: Acceptable
Temporary Mercy Approved.
Liam stepped away.
Only then did the world breathe again.
Students stared.
Fear had replaced mockery.
Instructor Halvors watched him—no longer indifferent.
Something dangerous glinted in his eyes.
Liam lowered his head and returned to his position.
So that's how it works.
Anyone who truly tries to kill me—
becomes a target.
A final chime echoed softly.
[Reward Granted:]
Core Synchronization +3%
Skill Upgrade: Mana Reinforcement → Intermediate
Passive Unlocked: Hostile Intent Detection (Low Level)
Warmth flowed through his body smoothly.
Stronger.
Cleaner.
More obedient.
Liam exhaled slowly.
This second life wasn't peaceful.
It wasn't merciful.
It was survival—
and power was the only language it respected.
And for the first time…
The world had begun to notice him.