Chapter 18: Core Elevation

Chapter 18: Core Elevation

"Then we can start right away."

After hearing everything earlier, I had agreed to ask Szélanya to elevate my core. Now, all the preparations were complete.

I hesitated at first.

I recalled how Mia and Lynn, who had already walked the Primordial Path, lost their emotions. That memory lingered uneasily in my mind.

Thankfully, Szélanya had discovered a method to preserve emotions.

Her way was different from theirs. Instead of completely shedding mortality, she used an alternate process that still carried risk but allowed me to remain human in spirit.

I agreed without hesitation. I did not want to die young, and I certainly did not want to become a hollow shell.

If you think about it, losing your emotions is no different from losing your identity.

Without desire, without need, without satisfaction, there is no self left to protect.

And that was something I could never accept.

I was lucky she had a solution. Without it, I would have had no choice but to become someone I could no longer recognize.

"Focus, Nerine. The success rate for this method is only thirty-three percent, so take it seriously. Your mother is not a god. Precision and effort are crucial for this to succeed."

"Ah... okay, Mother."

I steadied my breathing.

The ritual was about to begin.

I closed my eyes and placed my full trust in her. She was ancient and powerful, and I believed she would not let this fail.

I sat cross-legged, meditating, while my mother placed both hands firmly on my back. The position felt odd, especially with the elaborate magic circle glowing beneath us.

Still, I said nothing. It was best to leave things to the expert.

After all, who wouldn’t want their core elevated?

It promised insane growth.

And I needed it more than anyone.

My mana reserves were weak. I couldn’t even store mana properly because of the child growing inside me, quietly draining what little energy I had left.

But if this ritual succeeded, everything would change.

"Your Majesty, the preparations are complete. The magic circle is perfectly aligned with all twenty-two layers as you instructed. We can begin now. The additional layers have increased the success rate by fifteen percent."

Szélanya gave a calm nod.

"Forty-eight percent is good enough. Let’s begin."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The moment I heard those words, I knew it had started.

Though my eyes remained shut, I could sense everything clearly. A cold sensation crept into my body, followed by a surge of mana.

Because of the stabilized meridians granted to me by the system, I could follow the flow of energy with precision.

Mana entered through Szélanya’s hands and spread throughout my veins, refined and compressed into something incredibly pure.

It was remarkable.

She was filtering natural energy by force and converting it into usable mana.

That kind of process was outrageously dangerous. If I ever tried it, my hands would probably explode under the pressure.

But I had no desire to imitate her. Attempting it myself would be nothing short of suicide.

So I followed the flow, ignoring everything else around me.

I focused only on my body. My core was rapidly filling with pure mana.

Thanks to my stabilized meridians, not a single drop was wasted. My core absorbed everything completely, pushing it to its limit until it had no choice but to expand.

I let out a soft breath.

Finally, it was happening. It was elevating.

I waited as the pressure mounted inside me. My core expanded forcefully, and the side effects began. My blood pressure spiked, and I coughed violently. Blood trickled from my ears and mouth.

A wave of dizziness crashed over me.

It did not hurt, but it made me dangerously sleepy.

The drowsiness was not gentle.

It pressed down on my thoughts like a heavy curtain being dragged closed.

My limbs felt distant, unresponsive, as if my body no longer belonged to me.

I realized with sudden clarity that this was not natural fatigue.

This sleep felt imposed, forced upon me by the overwhelming pressure inside my core.

My thoughts began to blur.

Sounds faded, stretched thin, as if I were sinking underwater.

I could no longer tell whether I was breathing in or out.

A terrifying thought surfaced through the haze. If I surrendered to this sleep, I might never wake again.

Not as myself. Not at all.

I was about to drift off when I heard Szélanya’s voice again, sharp with urgency.

"Nerine, do not fall asleep. If you do, the ritual will fail. Your core will be destroyed, and you will be crippled. Concentrate, my dear."

"I... understand, Mother."

I clung to her voice, forcing my eyes to stay closed and my mind to stay awake.

Only then did I understand how close I had come to losing everything. It had not been pain that threatened me, but silence. A quiet erasure.

Had I slipped even a little further, my core would have collapsed while my consciousness faded with it.

The realization sent a cold tremor through me, even as I steadied my focus.

An hour passed.

My body was soaked in sweat. Szélanya’s breathing had grown heavier too.

She had maintained the ritual for an entire hour, continuously filtering natural energy into mana. The toll on her must have been enormous.

I could only imagine her exhaustion.

Still, we were close.

I felt the shift.

My core was cracking. It had reached its absolute limit and was preparing to transform into something greater. A container strong enough to hold more.

My heart swelled with anticipation.

Then it happened.

A sharp crack echoed inside me.

A burst of compressed air exploded outward from my core, slamming into the ground beneath us. The magic circle flared. Candles rattled, curtains swayed, and a deep tremor pulsed beneath our feet.

It felt like a sign.

Success.

Mana surged through me. It spread across every limb, every muscle, every corner of my body. I opened my eyes at last and felt the difference instantly.

The mana inside me was no longer the same. It was denser, deeper, almost alive. It glowed with a mysterious brilliance, almost divine in its presence.

Was this what it meant to walk the Primordial Path?

I stared at my hands, stunned by the power I now carried.

It was dazzling.

My mana felt profound.

I thought I had done it.

But Szélanya’s voice cut through the silence.

"Ugh... it failed."

What?

My entire body froze. Confusion washed over me.

"What do you mean it failed? What happened?"

Szélanya met my eyes with a calm but tired look and spoke gently.

"I am sorry, Nerine. Your mother failed to fully push your level into the first stage of the Primordial Path. Your strength and mana have improved, yes, but you have not yet reached the Primaris Realm. The most likely reason is your body. You still possess a completely human physique."

"Eh...?"

Wait, for real? It actually failed? Then what is this strength I’m feeling now?

With curiosity stirring in me, I immediately asked softly, "But Mother, I feel like I’ve grown stronger."

"That is natural. Your current state is likely at the half-step into the Primaris Realm. It is equivalent to the strength of a mage who has reached the second circle. It may not be complete, but it is far from hopeless. We will find a way to resolve it soon."

"Really?"

"Yes, dear. Do not worry. I will not let you remain stuck in that state. I will definitely find a way to fix it. Also, your core has successfully advanced into a mid-grade core. This has caused your vitality to increase significantly. Given its potential, your previous lack of vitality is likely resolved. Your body’s strength has also doubled and become more stable. If nothing unexpected happens, you should be able to maintain this condition for years without any health complications."

Oh, thank goodness. I really thought I was going to be stuck in this incomplete state forever. Thankfully, my mother is powerful and wealthy.

Finding a way to resolve this issue should not be difficult, and my quasi realm will soon become complete.

Feeling overjoyed, I smiled warmly at Szélanya.

"Thank you, Mother, for helping me."

"You are very welcome, my dear. You are such an understanding child. Your mother is delighted. Although it is rare for a full mortal to open this path, I will carve a way for you to walk it."

She hugged me deeply, resting her face against my neck like a child seeking comfort.

I had no idea what had made her this affectionate, but I did not resist. I did not feel uncomfortable at all.

Allowing her this moment was no loss for me. In fact, it was a great gain. I could feel my strength growing little by little, and I knew I was one step closer to standing on my own and protecting myself.

That quiet satisfaction brought a small, silly smile to my face. Szélanya noticed it with narrowed eyes, smirked, and spoke again.

"By the way, dear, I almost forgot. I brought you a gift for showing up so suddenly. Zach mentioned you needed a vitality potion, so I brought you a Tier Six herb."

"A herb?"

"Yes. It is called Plectranthus, a vitality herb that should help raise your vitality for several years, especially when you need it most."

With a playful smile, she handed me a small wooden box. It looked antique, the kind of item you would see displayed in a noble’s auction hall.

Activating my divine vision, I examined it.

I could sense a faint but steady pulse of vitality leaking from within. The fluctuation was slight, but I had no doubt that if I opened it, the energy would be much stronger.

The box itself seemed to have a preservation function, likely designed to suppress the herb’s aura and prevent its power from dissipating.

I did not fully understand how the box worked, but I accepted it with a grateful smile and thanked her sincerely.

"Thank you, Mother. I will definitely use it well."

"Hm... hmm... You are so sweet. Truly, my daughter is thoughtful beyond words."

Nodding with satisfaction, she hugged me one last time, then stood. She gave a soft gesture for Mia and Lynn to clean up the mess.

The melted candles, the disturbed magic circles, and the overturned furniture were still scattered from the ritual.

Turning to me, Szélanya said, "Nerine, I just remembered that I have work I have not finished. I will take my leave for now, but I will return once everything is complete."

"Okay. I understand, Mother."

I responded politely.

She hesitated for a moment, giving me a reluctant glance, then slowly walked away and disappeared through the doorway.

I remained seated for a moment, still in a meditative stance, before rising to my feet.

The maids were already at work cleaning the mess left behind. Candles were being gathered, traces of mana dust were swept from the floor, and the scattered furniture was being put back in place.

I felt fully recharged.

The breakthrough in my mana and vitality made everything inside me feel denser, more potent.

I no longer feared being drained by the child growing within me.

That concern had finally been resolved.

I knew the drain would return in time, but not immediately. And when it did, I would have the Tier Six herb to rely on.

I was not entirely sure of its true value, but I had a feeling it was more precious than I could comprehend.

What filled me with the greatest relief, however, was that I had overcome this ordeal without the help of the system.

I had done it with my own will, with Szélanya’s support.

The burden I carried felt lighter now.

I walked over to my bed and sank into the soft cushions, letting out a deep breath of relief as my head sank into the pillow.

Finally, I could rest.

Sleep would help my body adjust to its new state. As for tomorrow, I planned to take a walk. I would return to that training ground and observe the old man demonstrating low-grade sword skills.

I had missed the opportunity earlier, but now I might be able to integrate a few into my own set.

That was tomorrow’s concern.

For now, I let sleep take me, my mind drifting toward the future with a quiet sense of anticipation.

My greatest fear had been overcome.

And now, it was time to grow stronger.

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The author thinking the MC didn’t suffer enough.

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