Arthur didn't stop.
The nine mana circuits — each representing a fundamental attribute of strength — now glowed inside his body, pulsing in perfect harmony. Like the heartbeat of a rising god.
But instead of charging forward, he remained seated, unmoving. His breathing slowed. His thoughts turned inward.
Now that the circuits are synchronized… there's one final decision.
Where to form the core.
It wasn't just a matter of instinct or preference. This choice would define how his mana flowed — how his very existence aligned — for the rest of his life.
Silence stretched around him.
Then, with calm certainty, Arthur muttered under his breath:
"Solar plexus."
The midpoint of control, balance, and evolution — the foundation for both offense and transcendence.
He exhaled slowly, settling into the moment.
His mana stirred.
A tiny particle shimmered into existence within him — no larger than a grain of rice — nestled at the center of his being. Then it began to grow.
Bronze.
The flicker was dull, earthen. Stable. Firm.
Silver.
Light danced across its surface, a glint of moonlight in still waters.
Gold.
A rich, warm glow pulsed outward. His body trembled. Sweat trickled down his temple.
Crystal.
Radiant. Transparent. Sharp as starlight.
Arthur gritted his teeth.
"Come on… just a little more…"
He could feel it — the strain on his soul. His potential stretched thin, near breaking.
And he knew the risk.
One step beyond crystal… and failure meant death.
No second chances. No recovery.
But he clenched his fists tighter.
"I can do this."
His mana surged toward the forming core. His body shone like a miniature sun, golden light flooding the chamber.
Outside the formation, Rein shielded his eyes.
"Uh… is it supposed to glow like that?"
Alex crossed his arms, watching intently.
"As long as he's not screaming, he's fine."
But inside—
Arthur was bathed in blinding light.
And then—
Everything stopped.
He felt weightless.
When he opened his eyes, he stood within an endless expanse. Blue light flowed gently through a sky with no ceiling. The air hummed like a hymn. Calm. Timeless.
"…Where—?"
A soft, otherworldly sound drifted through the space — a flute, playing a melody not meant for mortal ears. It wasn't music. It was truth in sound.
He turned and saw a man draped in simple robes, seated cross-legged on an invisible platform. The divine radiance around him made his features difficult to perceive — yet impossibly familiar.
Arthur's breath caught.
"…You…"
The figure paused his playing and turned slowly.
"Hello, kid."
Arthur's throat tightened. He bowed instinctively, heart pounding.
"…Sir God."
The robed figure smiled, slipping the flute into a breeze that turned it to mist.
"Good. You remember."
His voice was calm — like waves against a moonlit shore.
Arthur nodded awkwardly.
"I… I think I do."
A warm chuckle.
"You've grown well."
Arthur scratched the back of his head.
"By the way… I remember you gave me a blessing back then, right?"
The god raised a brow, amused.
"Took you long enough to ask."
Arthur grinned sheepishly.
"Yeah, well… I never figured out what it did."
The god looked at him fondly, like a teacher watching a student connect the final pieces of a riddle.
"You didn't need to — until now."
Arthur's eyes widened as a jolt of mana surged through his core.
The crystal radiance began to shift — refracting like a prism.
One color… two… five… seven.
The core turned brilliant, swirling with seven divine hues, like a star forged from every element.
"…W-What—?!"
The core pulled in mana like a storm, collapsing and condensing the energy inside him. His muscles ached. His bones hummed.
The mana wasn't just circulating — it was being purified.
No longer crystal.
A voice echoed in his soul.
"This… is a Divine Core."
Arthur staggered back, stunned.
"Is this really… happening?"
The god only smiled.
"We'll meet again, Golden Soul."
And with a final shimmer of light, the figure vanished — leaving behind only silence and the soft fading of divine wind.
⸻
Arthur gasped.
Back in his body. Back in the mortal world.
The golden light that had engulfed him slowly faded. Silence returned.
Outside the formation, Rein blinked. "W-Woah…"
Alex stepped forward, narrowing his eyes at the pressure now rolling off Arthur like waves of heat.
"…You did it, huh?"
Arthur's eyes opened. They glowed faintly — golden, laced with seven ethereal hues.
Alex raised an eyebrow, a teasing glint in his eye.
"So… what type of crystal did you form?"
Arthur, still catching his breath from the overwhelming experience, took a moment. He inhaled deeply… and exhaled slowly.
"…Crystal Core," he finally said.
There was a beat of silence.
Then Alex burst out laughing.
"HAHAHA! Good, good! Very good!"
He clapped his hands together, grinning ear to ear.
"After your father, you're the next! I knew it!"
Rein, standing to the side, stepped forward with a light bow.
"Congratulations, Young Master."
Arthur nodded silently in response, his face still calm—though a faint smile flickered at the corners of his lips.
"…What time is it?" he asked.
Alex paused, blinking. Then checked the magical time rune on his wrist.
"It's the next day, kid. 7 AM sharp."
Arthur's eyes widened.
"Huuuuh? But it only felt like an hour or two…"
Rein chuckled softly.
"That's what cultivation does, young master. Sometimes, it makes you forget time itself."
Arthur let out a low sigh, but before he could respond—
Growwwwl
—his stomach betrayed him.
Rein smiled again.
"I'll inform the chef to prepare something hearty. You should wash up and join the family for breakfast. I'm sure the Count would love to hear about your breakthrough."
Arthur gave a small nod, his voice calm.
"…Yeah. Alright."
He turned and left, walking quietly through the halls. But inside him… something felt different. Something had changed.
Once in his room, Arthur closed the door behind him with a soft click. He removed his training clothes and headed straight into the bathroom.
The mirror greeted him with the faint reflection of a young man no longer just a prodigy—his gaze, now sharper… deeper.
He stared at himself.
"…Appraisal."
A soft golden ripple passed across the mirror's surface.
And then, what appeared before him… shocked even him.