Adam held the core in his right hand, his eyes locked on the luminous shapes covering its smooth surface. Of similar appearance to the wolf's, yet twice as wide, this core glowed with a delicate light instead of arcs of electricity.
With two beast cores on hand, a mad light flashed in his eyes as he decided to experiment on the lower-ranked one, eager to find it an immediate use. After all, he didn't forget how his hard-earned spoils disappeared after his first trial.
After sitting on a nearby rock, he began using mana to scan the wolf's core insides, wondering if he could absorb its remaining mana or trigger a reaction.
Half an hour of testing later, his eyes enlarged as something unexpected suddenly happened to the core, causing cold sweat to drip from his forehead.
The electric arcs multiplied and danced madly on the core's surface after he poured a substantial amount of mana inside. Then, it gradually swelled, becoming larger and larger as an increasingly grating noise reverberated, shattering his smugness and making him realise he might have done something wrong.
Believing his roaring instinct, he tensed his right arm's muscles before catapulting it forward, throwing the smooth item as far away from him as possible.
The core traveled at a crazy speed, reaching the other side of the broad cave in less than a second. However, before he could marvel at his enhanced strength, blinding electric arcs engulfed everything in a five-meter radius. Sizzling noises deafened him as the smell of burning rocks assaulted his nose.
After the blazing light receded, Adam uncovered his eyes before gazing at the devastation the explosion had left behind. Shocked by how such a small core could release so much energy, an icy river ran down his spine as he imagined what would have happened if he hadn't thrown it. The answer lay before his eyes.
The white rocks forming the cave's ground turned red, scorching hot and melting from the heat released by the lightning, making him shiver in dread. His body would have been vaporised in a second if not for his swift reaction!
"What a scary result... It feels almost as strong as a tier two spell," he muttered, his face as pale as a sheet. Yet, a part of his mind roared, scolding and questioning him. 'Did I almost blow myself up like an idiot?'
With a deep breath, he calmed his raging fears. Then, he pondered this new discovery. Did the core blow up because he over-saturated it, causing it to become unstable and eventually rupture under the pressure? Or did his mana conflict with the properties or inherent element of the core, causing the explosive reaction?
After contemplating for a moment, he gave up his experimentation, a satisfied smile tugging at his lips. "Hmm, Who cares? I just invented magical grenades. I knew I could become an inventor if I wanted to! Hahaha."
He shifted on the rock slightly, adjusting his posture to rest comfortably. With over forty-two hours to complete the trial, he didn't have to push himself. Instead, he could wait to recover to peak conditions before facing future challenges.
'Why do I feel like I forgot something?' He suddenly asked himself as his tired mind found comfort in sleep.
************
In the meantime, in the Riverwood Manor, Julius shook and slapped empty air vigorously. Anyone witnessing his act would think he lost his mind. His distorted facial features, anxious eyes, and trembling lips, however, hinted at a deep emotional turmoil.
"Big bro! Wake up! Stop scaring me. This prank is not fun..." The boy screamed, tears welling in his eyes as it was the first time this situation occurred. Usually, his brother would awaken a moment after he shook him. Yet, he had been trying for a while already, going as far as to push and slap him. Unfortunately, he got no reaction, letting him assume the worst.
"Waaah. Big bro is dead." He cried, unable to hold his sadness in. At first, he didn't pay too much attention to his brother's shenanigans, believing he was being ignored or pranked.
However, after realising that Adam had been napping for six hours, a bad feeling crept into his childish heart. After all, the sun had already set, eclipsed by the glowing moon in the sky.
Despite his desire to help, he didn't know what to do.
At first, he thought about asking Lucius for help. But he recalled how, six months ago, they arranged for the baron to forget anything related to his brother to avoid arousing further suspicion.
His emotions were a mess. He was sad, scared and lost without his big brother, who accompanied and cared for him since he was a baby.
"Waaah. Don't die, big brother. I promise to listen to you more. I promise to be nice and not taunt you by saying the food is delicious any more. Please wake up!"
Sadly, only silence answered as his tearful pleas resounded, shattering the night's calm.
In the middle of his mournful weeping, loud noises echoed, forcing him to raise his head in confusion. First, they appeared distant and subtle in the quiet night. However, they progressively became louder and closer, alerting the preoccupied boy.
"Snif... What is happening outside so late at night?"
Distracted by the commotion, he climbed on his desk and put his hand on the window's handle to open it. However, before he could, his room's door slammed open, startling him.
"JULIUS, GET DOWN!" Someone roared, their voice firm yet filled with worries. The urgency in their tone sent shivers down Julius' spine as he scrambled to obey, his heart racing with fear and uncertainty.
He only had time to jump down and hide behind his desk before...
RUMBLE
The wall exploded in a flurry of gravel, projected randomly everywhere. The loud sound of their collision in the chamber deafened him, making his mind blank for a moment.
Meanwhile, Lucius raced to the boy, carried him in his arms, and scrambled out of the dangerous, dust-filled room.
"Are you alright?" Lucius asked as he rushed through the manor's corridors.
Fortunately, the boy suffered no wounds during the explosion. However, his already troubled emotions worsened, descending into chaos. "Snif... Please, help my big bro. You are the only one to whom I can ask for help." He lost control of his thought process and spilled everything.
It was too much for him to see his trusted friend dragged behind him while unconscious amidst the terrifying noises exploding outside.
"We don't have time for your imaginary friend's stories! We are under attack. You and your mom are the targets," said Lucius, his stern voice leaving no place for objection. He had to regroup with his wife and prepare for the family's escape before the bastard found them.
However, Julius didn't care about anything at this moment.
"He is not imaginary! He was the one using magic and brewing potions the entire time. I'm no genius. He is!" He yelled, warm tears pouring down his cheeks.
Lucius slowed down for a few seconds. Shocked by the revelation, he scrutinised the kid. Considering how hard he cried and how genuine his eyes looked, he believed the kid spoke the truth.
Then, he remembered Julius' mysterious words from six months ago. After he said his brother would avenge him, he had been slapped during his sleep, never finding the culprit.
'If his brother is indeed real, I understand how I couldn't find him! It makes sense!'
Yet, he shook his head, focusing on the imminent danger threatening to engulf them like the jaws of a ravenous beast. He had to ensure his family escaped before things turned from bad to worse. Then, he would satiate his curiosity and understand everything related to the boy's brother in depth.