The Power Cores are containers of different types of energy that existed in Urasis, starting with mana being the most common, followed by aura, divine energy, demonic energy, and finally elemental energy.
Each type of energy is different and has its own unique properties.
Cores could be obtained in three different ways, the first was the reward of the Urasis test, but not only the first one, every test passed meant a core. The second way was for the person to create a core themselves, but this method was much more difficult and complicated to achieve.
The last method was what the elemental planned to do to give Kalen a core, which was to have an artificial core created and implanted into the person.
The basic function of cores, aside from storing energy, was to increase a person's power. This depended on the use of the energy itself, but in short, that was its only use.
The more cores a person had, the more powerful they were.
Each person could only have a maximum of 5 cores, and depending on how many cores they had, they would have a corresponding rank.
In Urasis, a person was named by their trait and the amount of cores they had, so for example, there was Kalen who was a hunter with 0 cores.
As for a person's rank, it was determined by the number of Urasis tests they had successfully completed.
Starting with, Challenger, Creator, Pillar, Lord.
In the recorded history of mankind since the first appearance of Urasis, these were all the ranks that existed.
As Elisabeth explained all this to Kalen, the older elemental nodded regularly.
After a few minutes, when the explanation was over, Kalen looked at the elemental with some doubt.
"Why can it only be me?"
Earlier, the elemental had stated that only Kalen could be the Core Bearer, no one else.
The elemental took a few seconds to answer.
"Because your body has traces of elemental energy"
Kalen frowned.
"How can that be? This is the first time I've been to Urasis, I've never been in contact with any kind of energy before"
The elemental denied.
"You haven't... but your parents have. On Urasis it is normal that children inherit some things from their parents, in your case it was a trace of elemental energy"
Kalen didn't know what to say.
He had never met his biological parents, he only had information about them from his adoptive mother, who was someone who knew them. But as far as Kalen knew, they had never been to Urasis.
'You lied to me...'
A feeling of resentment settled in his heart as he realized that his foster mother had lied to him all his life, but before he could do anything, he had to make sure of the truth.
And for that, it was necessary to complete his test, or at least get out alive.
"Second question... You said that you were imprisoned in this place hundreds of years ago. How do you know about us, the challengers?"
Now it was the elemental's turn to mock. Until now, the elemental had only spoken seriously, but now there was a slight chuckle in his voice.
"You think you're the first to come to Urasis? Gullible. The challengers of Urasis have records going back thousands of years, you're not the first... and won't be the last ones"
All four were silent, but it was Elisabeth who was most shocked by the revelation.
All her life she had heard stories of the first challengers of Urasis, those who had brought happiness and wealth to her world on the brink of collapse.
But if there had been challengers before them, where were they and who were they?
Kalen had other concerns.
He'd never really been interested in Urasis, and it was only when he'd received an invitation that night that a certain curiosity had arisen in him.
He himself was aware that there were people who had spent their entire lives on Urasis, gaining strength day by day for years. The power they must have accumulated was simply too much for Kalen to understand.
But now the elemental was telling him that the earliest records of challengers dated back millennia. What kind of power would a being of that age have?
More than ever, Kalen began to wonder if it was really necessary to accept the invitation. He had never been interested in power; he only needed strength to work and live, not to explore a vast world full of unimagined dangers.
Noticing that the four were somewhat confused, the elemental decided to give them some advice.
"You are young and therefore impressionable. Let me tell you something... never trust anyone completely, or you will die for it"
The elemental's light began to fade.
"Always find the truth for yourself... or like everyone else, you will be controlled by those you wish to control"
The atmosphere was tense, the Elemental's words affecting everyone in one way or another. Still, time was short, so the Elemental finished speaking before they could organize their thoughts.
"I have little time left... ask your last questions"
Kalen looked up and stared at the brown orb that was beginning to lose its color.
"Will it hurt?"
This time the elemental answered quickly.
"Yes, and a lot"
A sarcastic smile appeared on Kalen's face, and he said nothing more.
Next to him, Elisabeth looked at the elemental.
"Do you have a name, sir?"
The elemental was silent for a moment.
"I did... but not anymore"
With no more room to ask, dozens of elementals suddenly began to enter the room.
The first elementals to enter approached Kalen and handed him a dozen small crystals in bowls made of water.
"What are these?"
Kalen remembered the small crystals that had fallen to the ground when he had finished with the slime. He had completely forgotten about them during the battle, and if the elementals hadn't handed them to him, he surely would have forgotten about them.
Elisabeth watched as the elementals offered the crystals to Kalen and sighed.
"They are life crystals, they contain the life essence of every being and are consumable. They are usually obtained by killing creatures in Urasis, and if you consume enough of them, your trait ability will develop"
Kalen looked curiously at the small crystal shards.
"How many do I have to eat?"
Elisabeth shook her shoulders slightly.
"Hundreds, thousands? No idea"
Kalen watched the crystals a little longer, then dropped one into his mouth before chewing.
He tilted his head slightly as he tasted the flavor of the crystals, but seconds later a twitch appeared on his face.
"…No taste"
Elisabeth sighed.
Kalen continued to eat the ten crystals, but in the end, he felt nothing. Meanwhile, the elemental remained silent, as if concentrating.
"It's time, get ready"
Kalen swallowed saliva and watched as the elementals seemed to merge, forming a completely white orb.
Minutes passed and the elementals continued to merge with the white orb.
Some elementals fluttered near Kalen before merging with the orb, and Talika watched silently with watery eyes.
After nearly an hour, the last elemental merged with the orb, which was the size of a baby's fist.
The elder elemental controlled the orb and moved it to Kalen, who stood silently, his gaze fixed on the white sphere.
"Once the process is complete, I will try to communicate with you... but I'm not sure it will work"
The elder elemental began to merge with the orb.
"From the moment the core insertion is complete, you will be able to use the powers of the elementals...albeit limited, so I will assist you myself until you complete your test"
The size of the larger elemental began to shrink, and the glow of the orb began to increase.
"Once you complete your test and reach Urasis, our deal will be complete... I hope you don't die young man, there are hundreds of lives in your hands now"
With those words, the elemental disappeared, leaving only a glowing orb in front of Kalen.
Kalen looked back and saw the others looking at him with complicated expressions.
"No one wants to do the honors?"
Elisabeth looked at him sarcastically.
"Why don't you eat it?"
Kalen looked at the size of the white sphere in front of him.
"It won't fit in my mouth"
Kalen stretched out his arm, and as soon as he picked up the orb, he felt a cold energy enter his body through his hand.
His whole arm froze, and he felt the energy reach his chest. From there, it began to spread throughout his body, rapidly creating a flow until it returned to its source.
So far, the feeling of the energy had been strange, but not painful.
Kalen sighed lightly and looked at Elisabeth.
"Well, apparently it wasn't as painful as it seemed..."
The words didn't come out, mainly because his whole body was paralyzed. At some point, he had finished absorbing the entire orb of energy that had flowed into his body.
Kalen felt all of his nerves being touched, causing twinges of pain throughout his body.
Unable to move or scream, Kalen's body fell to the ground like a doll.