Aries could feel an incredible surge of power coursing through his body, surpassing any strength he had ever experienced before. The (S+) label in his status filled him with overwhelming joy, as he couldn't believe that such a remarkable transformation had occurred. The ranking for reawakening was determined by the quality of mana cores one could absorb, and Aries was ecstatic to have overcome the limitations of his previous low-quality mana cores by now acquiring numerous high-quality ones. It was akin to being born into a privileged second-tier or higher class, where individuals had the means to purchase top-notch mana cores in the market, while someone like Aries, a fourth-class citizen, had to endure immense hardships just to absorb lower quality ones.
"I'm so happy..."
Aries couldn't contain his emotions, and tears of joy streamed down his face. This was the fulfillment of a dream he had longed for while lying dormant, and now it had become a tangible reality. He made a solemn vow to himself not to squander this opportunity.
[Sol: Why are you crying over spilled milk?]
"I'm not. These are tears of joy. You privileged folks wouldn't understand. I've endured countless challenges to become even the slightest bit stronger, and now that I've reached this stage, the goal that once seemed like a mere fantasy is becoming crystal clear. Even if I have to take baby steps or crawl towards this dream, I'll never stop moving forward."
[Sol: You possess an incredible mindset, and while I may not fully grasp it, I understand the struggles you've faced. That's why I won't give up on supporting you. I'll make sure to stand by your side through thick and thin. :)]
Sol's words of reassurance brought a smile to Aries' face. He was overjoyed to have finally found a friend. Even if this friend hailed from another universe, he cherished the bond they had formed and vowed to treasure it until the end of his days.
"Who would've thought my first friend would be from another multiverse? I truly am quite the loner."
Aries chuckled to himself, wiping away the tears from his eyes. He descended from the slain Terradon and approached the other monster corpses it had battled. With his newfound strength and overflowing mana, Aries began the task of skinning and butchering the gigantic creatures. Though they were not as colossal as the Terradon, they were still immensely large. In his previous frail state, it would have taken Aries a day to process a single monster, but now, with his enhanced abilities, he was several times faster. No longer needing a Haste potion to hasten the process, he could complete the butchering of a single monster in just five hours. Nonetheless, it still took him a few days to clean up all the carcasses. Despite the arduous labor, Aries didn't experience any hunger during those days, thanks to the energy provided by the mana coursing through his body, enough to sustain him for a month without feeling the slightest pang of hunger.
Aries was filled with gratitude for the incredible capabilities of his spatial inventory, which allowed him to collect a wealth of valuable materials. Functioning similarly to a video game inventory, it could store items of all shapes and sizes, automatically organizing them based on their material type. Although it wasn't an infinite storage space, Aries, as a Gold Member, enjoyed a storage size five times larger than a regular inventory. So far, he had only managed to fill 25% of the spatial inventory.
Carefully arranging the materials he had obtained from the monster carcasses, Aries categorized them according to their rarity and quality. Nothing went to waste in his eyes, not even the blood or excrement of the creatures. Every component held value to him. Among the monsters fought by the Terradon, all of them possessed Tier-3 mana cores, each the size of a regular dog, which was significantly larger than the Tier-2 cores, comparable to a fist. Aries found himself perplexed by this situation.
"Has anyone ever been able to absorb Tier-3 mana cores from the 1st Sanction of God? No, in fact, is this even a Tier-3 mana core?"
Aries was confounded. He knew that as a Starter rank awakener, he couldn't absorb Tier-2 mana cores, let alone Tier-3. Yet, he couldn't determine if this particular mana core truly belonged to the Tier-3 category.
"Should I attempt to absorb it? There's nothing to lose by trying."
After thorough consideration, Aries decided to give it a shot. If it didn't work, he wouldn't suffer any losses. Instead, he might gain a better understanding of these mana cores in general.
[Sol: Why are you lying on that marble with your body?]
"Hushh, I'm trying to focus."
Aries replied, fully embracing the mana core with his entire body. He initiated his absorption technique, as it was impossible to accurately place such a large mana core into a specific mana opening. Instead, he allowed all of the mana openings in his body to come into contact with it, initiating a breathing exercise.
"Hoooooooh..."
He concentrated his body and relaxed it, but then he was taken aback as his body began to absorb the mana essence within the core.
"It's working! Wait... eeurkh! What is it doing?!"
Aries was astonished. The mana essence entering his system was far thicker and more viscous than normal, and it wasn't flowing through his mana veins toward his mana core. Instead, it was pumping through his heart, circulating throughout his body. Surprisingly, it didn't harm his body; rather, it provided a warm and fuzzy sensation in his chest. Deciding not to interrupt the process, he continued for a few more minutes until the mana core lost all its brilliance and essence, eventually disintegrating into dust. What remained was a pale ring encircling his heart. Aries could perceive and see this due to his heightened senses and control over his body. Immediately, he felt a heat emanating from the gem embedded in his wrist.
Tti-ring~
[Aries- Human
Rank: Starter (S+)
Tier-0: 500/500
Tier-1: 200/200
Mana Circle: 1st (4%)
Element: None]
"Mana circle? What the hell is that? And most importantly, did the gem come with additional features?" Aries pondered inquisitively, his curiosity piqued.
(Notes: I changed the mana crystal embedded in the wrist to Status Gem.)
Aries was absolutely shocked by the unexpected revelation about the Status Gem. While he was aware that the gem had magical properties and could track an awakener's mana record, he never anticipated it would display additional information like the concept of a Mana Circle.
The Status Gem, similar to elemental stones, possessed the unique characteristic of recording. Through years of research, scientists had discovered a way to modify the gem's color properties to track mana using letters and numbers. This innovation allowed for the mass production of Status Gems, which became a vital tool for tracking an awakener's progress. Since technological devices didn't function within the Sanction of God, embedding the gem into an awakener's body provided a precise and private means of tracking their growth. Moreover, the gem only required a small amount of mana to activate, making it mandatory for all awakeners by law, regardless of their starting rank.
[Sol: What's with your face?]
"Have you heard of Mana Circles before?"
[Sol: No, wait, I think I've come across that term before. Let me look it up.]
[Sol: Ah, I found a few articles about Mana Circles. It appears that they are magical components necessary for Magis to cast spells and manipulate mana.]
"What are Magis?"
[Sol: Ah, they are Grade-1 life forms and among the most superior beings in the entire multiverse. They possess a Type-3 civilization, granting them full control over their universe. Their innate ability to manipulate the energy of the world itself makes them one of the most feared entities in the multiverse. Just one of these beings is capable of single-handedly destroying worlds. Due to their potency and complete control over what you humans call mana and others refer to as energy, these godly beings are often likened to gods themselves.]
"Wait, if there are mana circles and mana is present throughout this world, does that mean Magis created this world?"
[Sol: It's highly likely that you're correct. No wonder humans share similar features with Magis. Perhaps you are just a byproduct of their creation. Although I come from a Grade-3 life form, my civilization is only at Type-2. We lack full control over our universe, and while we have godly beings we refer to as deities, they can barely compete with Magis. Magis are enigmatic beings, rarely seen, but traces of their existence remain. If my theory is correct, the creator of the Sanction of God may indeed be a Magi. The pieces seem to fit. If this information were to become known, not only would your universe face destruction, but I would also be in grave danger.]
"But if this world truly is the creation of Magis, shouldn't they care for and protect us from harm?"
[Sol: Magis are extremely mysterious beings. Throughout the history of the multiverse, there have been only a few recorded instances of their presence. Whenever they do appear, it becomes a significant event, but their actions have always been questionable. One Magi appeared in Universe-6791 and planted a seedling. This seedling grew into a World Tree capable of sustaining life throughout the entire universe, leading to the evolution of life forms from a barren state to Grade-2 entities with a Type-3 civilization. Then there were two Magis who suddenly appeared and decided to split an entire universe in half for no apparent reason. Another Magi summoned a world-ending monster that obliterated countless worlds. Additionally, the last ten Magis created hundreds of planets across the multiverse, each housing immense power awaiting those who conquer the challenges set forth by the Magis. Only ten of these planets have been conquered, and those who succeed become influential figures now known in the multiverse.]
"So, they are basically gods."
[Sol: They could be considered gods. However, nobody has seen or heard from them in thousands of years. It's as if they vanished, but given the high probability that the Sanction of God is their creation, we might be facing an enemy we can never defeat. If I were you, I would give up and focus on becoming strong within the Sanction of God. Conceal any knowledge about this world and create content outside of it. That way, you can continue growing stronger while avoiding drawing any attention from the Magis. The best course of action might be to ensure your own safety.]
Sol provided practical advice, but hearing the stories about the enigmatic Magis only fueled Aries' curiosity. If he could obtain a proper explanation as to why they created this world, he might be able to prevent the destruction of his own. Nevertheless, his determination to become strong remained his top priority. Regardless of whether the Magis were allies or foes, Aries had to increase his strength to uncover the answers he sought.
"This revelation only gives more purpose to my existence!"
[Sol: Are you even listening to the words I'm saying? Your opponents are outerversal Gods whose capabilities are unknown! They could easily wipe out your entire universe with a mere gesture! You're being delusional right now!]
"It's better to dream of trying than to not dream at all!"
[Sol: This guy... Fine, but if things start going south, it's bye-bye for me.]
Despite Sol's hesitation, he continued to watch Aries' livestream for hours on end due to his bold and audacious attitude. It was rare to come across individuals like Aries throughout the universe, especially in the Star Stream where most streamers focused on scripted entertainment solely for the sake of views. Aries, on the other hand, constantly faced life-or-death situations, and even if Sol didn't openly admit it, it truly stirred his excitement. That's why Sol decided to support him as much as possible.
[Sol: (Donated 1000 Star Points)]
"Whoa, why the sudden influx of Star Points?"
[Sol: Since I'm your only viewer, I feel obligated to support you from time to time, right? Plus, your account looks quite pitiful."
"If you're just donating out of pity, then don't donate at all."
Aries responded angrily, but deep down, he was grateful for the donations since he was running low on Star Points. Afterward, Aries resumed absorbing the remaining Mana Cores, now calling them Super Cores. He noticed that his Mana Circle started feeling stronger and clearer, as it reached 25% capacity.
"By the way, have you found any information on how to use the Mana Circle?"
[Sol: There isn't much information available. Only public knowledge is accessible, and the detailed information seems to be concealed by the Supreme Government. I can't access anything about it. Maybe something new will happen when you reach 100%.]
(Note: The viewer can also see Aries's Status Window from his gem, but it can't be seen by others unless he shares it through a testing facility.)
"I see. I don't feel any changes in my strength or any indication of gaining a new power. I might have to kill more of these monsters and absorb their Mana Cores."
Aries made a decision. Even though he was still far from defeating them, he now knew that they were killable. The impossible had become possible, even if it was only a slim chance, and Aries was willing to take it.
"I should absorb the Terradon's core as well. I'm sure it will fill up the Mana Circle significantly."
It had been two long weeks since the death of the fearsome Terradon, yet its massive carcass showed no signs of decomposition. The creature's body, infused with an abundance of mana essence, remained remarkably preserved, defying the natural course of decay. This incredible effect was not limited to the Terradon alone but extended to other powerful monsters as well. The higher the quality and strength of the mana core, the longer the corpse could withstand the ravages of time.
Aries, determined to extract the valuable resources from the creature, decided to begin by slicing off its soft parts, starting with its neck. However, to his surprise, the dead beast's body was as tough as steel, far sturdier than any of the other Tier-3 monsters he had butchered before. Aries strained with all his might to open a wound, and after much effort, he managed to clean off the neck, moving up towards its head. But to his dismay, the cleaving knife he had purchased for this task quickly lost its durability and snapped under the strain.
[Sol: Buy a Lacerator. It's a specialized cleaving knife used for butchering Grade-4 and lower lifeforms. It'll cost you around 900 Star Points, but remember, it's not meant for combat. Using it in battle would significantly reduce its durability.]
"Thanks," Aries acknowledged Sol's advice and wasted no time in acquiring the Lacerator. The knife had a sharp, curved blade with rigid edges on the bottom and a sharp, smooth edge on top, making it ideal for precise slicing and chopping. What set it apart was its special property that allowed Aries to make clean cuts on a corpse without diminishing the quality of the meat—a remarkable effect considering the delicacy required to preserve the quality of different parts.
With the new Lacerator in hand, Aries found that cutting through the Terradon's tough exterior was now as effortless as slicing through butter with a hot knife. In a matter of hours, he had made significant progress, cleaning up half of the massive creature's carcass before proceeding to gut its insides. It was during this process that he finally discovered the coveted Super Core, a colossal gem-like core as large as Aries himself. Overwhelmed by excitement, Aries didn't bother storing it in his inventory; instead, he immediately began absorbing its power.
An hour passed, and Aries successfully absorbed the entirety of the Super Core, experiencing a remarkable surge in his 1st Mana Circle. The increase was staggering—a whopping 15%, propelling him to new heights of strength.
"No wonder this creature could single-handedly defeat numerous Tier-3 monsters. It truly is the boss of this place," Aries marveled at the sheer power contained within the Super Core. However, his excitement was soon interrupted by a glimmer of light catching his eye. As he followed the source, his eyes widened with exhilaration, and he couldn't contain his excitement as he let out a triumphant scream.
"It's an Earth Elemental Stone of the highest quality!"
[Sol: I told you...]
The sight of the Earth Elemental Stone in his hands sent shockwaves through Aries. He could feel the immense power emanating from the stone, swirling with potent mana. Its size surpassed anything he had ever seen before—an elemental stone as large as a bowling ball. Without hesitation, Aries commenced the absorption process, knowing full well the benefits it would bestow upon him.
Absorbing an elemental stone was similar to absorbing a mana core, with the only difference being that the elemental stone could be absorbed through various means. Whether one breathed in its essence or consumed it directly, the stone's power would be absorbed completely. Aries chose the standard method; assuming the lotus position and placing the stone near his dantian, where his mana core resided at its core.
Due to the stone's size and extraordinary quality, the absorption process stretched on for nearly half a day. However, once it was complete, Aries immediately felt the earth element surging through his mana veins in perfect harmony. His senses sharpened, granting him a heightened awareness of his surroundings and an unparalleled connection to the earth element. He could nearly touch and manipulate the essence of the earth.
Tti-ring~
[Aries - Human
Rank: Starter (S+)
Tier-0: 500/500
Tier-1: 200/200
Mana Circle: 1st (40%)
Element: Earth (S+)]
In his vast knowledge and experience, Aries realized that he might be the first awakener to possess an S+ rank element right from the start. Elemental Stones could only be absorbed by Awakeners ranging from Starters to the Evolved stage. It was of utmost importance for an awakener to absorb an element before reaching the Master Rank. By doing so, they could achieve better synchronization with their element and gain greater control over it. Although Aries still needed to become a Pursuer to conjure the Earth Element with his mana, his current level and the exceptional quality of his element allowed him to harness the power of earth to strengthen and enhance his physical capabilities.
"I've dedicated countless hours to studying the intricacies of elements, preparing myself for the moment I finally acquired one. And now, with the Earth Element coursing through my veins, it's time to put my knowledge to the test," Aries declared, his excitement palpable.
With complete control over his mana flow, he channeled the power of the Earth Element into his right hand. As he did, a surge of mana enveloped his entire arm, transforming into a protective layer of hardened earth as unyielding as a fortified rock. Eager to witness the effects firsthand, Aries focused his attention on a rib bone of the Terradon, his target for experimentation. Without hesitation, he unleashed a punch, the force behind it amplified by the newfound power of the Earth Element.
The layer of earth on his fist crumbled upon impact, unable to withstand the sheer force unleashed, but the blow left a small crack on the formidable bone of the Terradon.
[Sol: Congratulations! You're significantly stronger now. Previously, you wouldn't have even been able to leave a scratch or dent on the bone. But now, you've managed to create a small crack, proving the remarkable strength of your newfound abilities.]
"Thank you, Sol," Aries acknowledged with genuine gratitude. The guidance and advice provided by Sol had proven invaluable, and he appreciated having someone to share in his journey of growth and discovery.