Initiating the crystallization phase of the essence core was done purely by thought.
Alexander controlled everything in his own soul realm.
This pure essence was fully under his control as it slowly began changing to a solid sphere.
Taking only a little bit over an hour to fully crystalize, Alexander was pleased with the speed the spere solidified.
Alexander used a condensation approach for the core formation. Meaning it could grow without there being an obstruction towards itself. As it had not a fixed growth limit and a solid baseline through the solid center of the core.
The center core would spin and the afterwards gathered liquid elements of essence forming around the core would be usable just like mana.
In humans there were limitations of how large a core could grow. Human bodies couldn't handle a large amount of mana at the beginning, so the body had to naturally separate the body and mana and slowly grow to accept mana.
This separation was the reason for human cores to be hollow and refine the mana within these hollow cores. They would otherwise die of mana poisoning.
The condensation approach was the exact opposite to that what humans were using.
Forming a solid core and gathering everything around it meant that as long as there was enough nourishment, with the center core creating a vortex that held the sphere in balance, it would theoretically only grow larger as time went on.
But the usage of the core circumvented it from growing too large.
By using the liquid of the core to create a fireball for example, a drop of the liquid would be used to fuel the fireball.
One unexpected thing happening after the crystallization process was, that Alexanders divine spark put enough of itself into the core to turn it golden.
For now he could only speculate what the changes to the core where or if this only benefited him.
Alexander was finally done creating his own version of the core. Now the only thing left was to move on with his plan to get stronger.
His core was strong but not omnipotent. He needed a lot more mana than conventional mages for there to be enough pure essence for him to cast.
To need four to five times the mana that other mages needed meant that he would have to take in a lot of mana or other substances that normal mages did not need.
Changing from soul to human form, Alexander looked at his surroundings for the first time in three days.
The once beautiful forest withered away and the lake he liked dried up.
He singlehandedly destroyed this landscape in a radius of 5 kilometers.
Nothings could be seen standing anymore.
Even his quest was somehow completed. As he changed the structure of the absorption dome, the enemies hiding within the dungeon were naturally not spared.
The dome did not differentiate. Like a black hole, everything that touched the event horizon or was within the boundary of the dome got absorbed into the divine spark which nourished both it and Alexanders core.
With everything done, Alexander logged off. He needed rest. Bodily functions were not the problem.
Through the energy intake, Alexander felt better than ever before. He was boiling with energy from inside.
It was boredom that got him. The monotonous task to keep the black hole operating was straining his mental health.
To not stress himself, Alex waited a solid minute inside the capsule before going outside.
The idea of putting the four capsules was great. Now without asking, Alex knew that only his twin sister grinded at this hour inside the other world.
It was dark outside. He had completely lost his sense of time while forming the core.
But there could still be seen light in the living room.
His parents were wide awake and watching tv.
Alexander walked in on them and sat down at the sofa.
"Hey mom and dad. I'm out."
Nonchalantly saying this while focusing on the comedy show, he slouched into the sofa.
"Alex? Are you okay my little angel? You look good in that outfit."
His mother seemed worried about him. He did not come out of the capsule for three straight days.
Everyone would be worried. They only let him do it because they knew he was an angel and not as weak as a human anymore.
Alexander was a little bit confused that he had his angle clothes on. But why shouldn't he?
As he logged out of the game his soul avatar in the other world vanished without a trace.
It got absorbed back into his soul. So, everything he had with him got transported as well.
"Yes mom… I just took my sweet time to form my core. It took me three days and nights."
Both were confused. Even untalented people would only need a few hours to form a core.
If he had said "strengthening" his core it would be okay. But forming for three days?
"Son, how large is your core? For you to take such a long time there needs to be something weird about it, am I right?"
When the topic of magic came up his father was all ears. Even turning the tv silent he straightened his back and looked at me interested.
"It would be better to show it to you. You can maybe guess the difference between our cores. But I strongly doubt that you will find the correct answer on your own."
Alexander took out a single drop of pure essence and let it float in his hand.
The pressure it gave off was overwhelming.
The drop suddenly ignited and a fireball and moved under the control of Alexander.
At first glance It looked like a normal flame, but it was way too golden to be normal.
"I don't know the classification of this flame. It could very well be of the holy or divine attribute."
Alexanders parents were stunned. They knew he was an angel but to be able to create divine attribute magic this fast was exceptional.
"I have created the core I made inside of my soul. So, I can use magic wherever I like if you want to ask."
His race was Soulwalker. A manifestation of a soul. To create a core in a body of flesh would be disadvantages for him. Both parents understood that.
This was the reason he took so long. The soul core would obviously need more time than a standard core.
"But why does your magic automatically have the divine attribute? Is that because you are wearing these clothes or is it just because you are an angel?
Alexanders father was not mad at him. He had his own path that was different from his sons and but also exciting.
To be jealous of a cheater who was literally helped by a god was pointless.
"The attribute comes from my divine spark. It partially fused with my core, so I cannot really control not to use it. Just see it as a little bonus.
My only problem is that with the mana purity of the country I am in, I need at least 5 times the mana that you would use for simple spells."
Alexanders father burst out in laughter over this tiny fact.
"Serves you right cheater!!!"
First his son got an OP race, than he became an angel and the cherry on top, was the fact he got a map gifted from the goddess.
Meanwhile Alexanders father got the trashy human race with absolutely no special treatment.
He had to be respectful towards other humans, even if they behaved like trash or sometimes worse.
Only through his slightly better grasp at the magical theory could he prove himself to a school for mages.
At least his appearance was above average. As a combat mage that came with a perfect body builder look, he could not only go on and create a core that was above average, but he also looked like a warrior while talking like a noble.
That gave him at least the quasi respect he needed to learn in one of the academies in the city he was spawned in.
Alexander did not read a lot in the forums. Otherwise, he would have known the common fact, that every player avatar was created at the age of 16.
This was akin to the gods preparing an even battleground for the players.
If they really wanted to, some players were even able to change their gender.
"What are going to do now my little angel?"
The little angel part really stuck with Alex's mother. She liked the ring of it, and it was also the truth that he was an angel.
"I want to sleep. Becoming a black hole for three days that only sucked in mana and contained the essence of the core strained my mentality."
Alexander laid on his back with his arms stretched towards the sky.
"After a day of doing nothing and reading up on things in the forum I think that I will visits the gods of this world."
The smile on Alex's mouth faded a little bit when he said that.
"I want to confirm my job in this world with them. The goddess of creation tricked me into believing that she was benevolent enough to turn me into my race and make me an angel.
She did far less than I initially thought."
An accepting smirk could be seen on his mouth again.
"I am just an angelic warrior that the goddess of creation snatched away from other huge forces that would have fought about me.
She just found me first. I was being too good not to pick up, nothing more."
A small tear could be seen rolling down Alexanders cheek.
He was feeling emotional as he looked into the air.
Not really focusing on anything. Just staring into the ceiling, he continued.
"My race had nothing to do with her. She does not even control the creation of races.
That is something that I as a soul found out.
Shaping my own soul avatar is what made me different. Not the divine spark.
I just showed a rare talent that was in fact so rare that even I don't know how rare it is."
Alexander rolled around until he laid flat on his stomach, face pressed into the sofa.
"I thought that I was special. That I, Alexander was chosen for some greater cause to protect the world. But what did I get? To do the cleaning up of evil things and to top it off, when the millions of players that play the game get wind of the fact that they can do certain things in our world as well, I the mighty chosen angel of the gods have to do the cleaning and maintain all over again."
Alexanders parents let him continue. They just got a little bit closer to the boy.
"I am simply in a win-win situation with the goddess. As long as I do my part, I will even get some rewards… You have to treat your doggy some treats so it will keep loving you even more."
Without even realizing himself. The strong thought about the dog activated Alex's Change at Will ability and he turned into his Highland Wolf form.
A whimpering sound could be heard from the little wolf.
Now it seemed natural that Alex was facing down. That made his parents feel even more miserable for him.
They only heard so far that Alex was bringing in good results through his angel business.
That he had felt betrayed and even depresses was new to them.
"Turn around on your back Alex."
"Wau~~~?" (Why~~~?)
"Did I stutter?"
Alexanders mother was demanding of him to turn on his back. Just following commands as usual he did so without resistance.
"Now come here my fluffy boy!!!"
Fuck! I am a wolf right now.
Alexanders mother caressed his neck and ears simultaneously.
Damn. She remembers my weak spots.
Why do wolfs act so sensible towards touching?
"Let me in on the cuddling! The last time I did not get to cuddle Alex."
His father jumped in on the action and Alexander was now sandwiched between them.
Without using his Ethereal Form there would be no escaping these two.
But Alex did understand their sentiment towards himself and allowed it.
Even he as an adult needed sometimes hugs and love.
He felt a little bit better about his situation now that his family knew his secret.
Would he have to keep it all to himself, he would also only suffer alone.
Alexander was cuddled until everyone decided to use him as a pillow to sleep on.
He was also getting tired as he watched his parents fall asleep while laying on him.
For a moment, everything was fine.