Jaxon Merrick's eyes snapped open to an unfamiliar ceiling, and a sharp, disorienting pain tore through his chest. The last thing he remembered was the world burning as the dragon's roar echoed in his ears. But this... this wasn't the afterlife. He was alive... again.
He forced himself to sit up, the soft bedding slipping beneath his trembling hands. Panic gnawed at him as he took in the foreign room, the stifling heat pressing down on him like a suffocating blanket. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, which he wiped away with a trembling forearm.
Memories crashed over him—dying in a world on fire, the Cog of Eternity glowing on his hand as the dragon's dark energy consumed everything. But instead of oblivion, he found himself in a hospital room with his sister, Luna, by his side, a decade before the end.
Seeing this as a second chance, Jaxon resolved to use his skills to his advantage: his mastery of circuitry, knowledge of spells and unique artifacts, and his memories of the future. However, his future knowledge proved unreliable as events unfolded earlier than he had anticipated.
He enrolled at Margaux Academy to hinder the Dragon Disciples and prepare for the Cog of Eternity's return. But the demi-human terrorists attacked sooner than expected, leading to a confrontation with his sister, who had joined them. In the ensuing chaos, the academy was destroyed, and Jaxon was trapped beneath the rubble. Now, he was still alive, in this room, uncertain of his fate.
Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, he stood shakily.
[You are still alive but have just awakened a mysterious ability. Welcome, Dear Host. I am the Cog of -----, your cultivation base, and I will aid you on your journey.]
Jaxon stumbled and nearly fell to the floor, panic surging through him. The voice wasn't coming from outside; it was inside his head. Who was this? What was happening?
[I am the Cog of -----, your cultivation base,] the voice repeated.
Jaxon was confused. The voice, which referred to itself as the Cog of something obscured by a static sound, claimed to be his cultivation base. Did cultivation bases have their own consciousness? Was someone messing with his mind?
"I am the Cog of -----, the artifact that has become your cultivation base. Artifacts don't usually have consciousness, but your unique ability has given me one. I am now part of you—a version of you as an artifact with my own abilities. Unfortunately, I can't explain everything right now."
Jaxon stood frozen, struggling to process this information. It felt overwhelming and unreal.
"Are you real?" he asked, his voice laced with suspicion. This had to be a trick. There was no way this could be real.
[I am real, Dear Host,] the voice assured him. [To prove it, you died in the battle against the most powerful and last dragon. My sister, the Cog of Eternity, has brought you ten years before the end.]
[You intended to change the outcome by following the original timeline but making small alterations. You entered the academy, advanced your cultivation to the Blue Stage, and repaired a necklace artifact that assists with your cultivation. Additionally, you acquired the Boots of Aurora and used them during the attack by the demi-humans, who were allies of the Dragon Disciples. You defeated the leader of the terrorists and encountered your sister among the demi-humans. The ensuing chaos nearly killed you, but just in time, my sister managed to use the Boots of Aurora to call for me. Intrigued by your resolve, I arrived in response to their call and am now willing to assist you as well.]
As the voice continued, Jaxon's doubts began to fade, though his skepticism remained. The voice was detailed, almost knowing everything that only he knew. If he was still alive in the same era he had returned, he should still have some of the artifacts he had previously acquired.
The Boots of Aurora, his former cultivation base, had given him enhanced speed and perception. He had also obtained two other artifacts from defeating the leader of the demi-human terrorists: the Control Panel and Mana Gather.
"Hey, where are the Boots of Aurora?" Jaxon asked, hoping for an answer from the voice in his head.
Since he could only have one cultivation base at a time, if this new one was his current cultivation base, the Boots of Aurora should have returned to their physical form.
[The Boots of Aurora are still inside your mana core. If you wish, you can call them into their physical form,] the voice replied.
Jaxon was stunned. Could this mean he could harness multiple cultivation bases? Artifacts stored in the mana core were considered cultivation bases. Most people saw the mana core as just a mana storage, but high nobles knew how to transform artifacts into cultivation bases. Jaxon wasn't from nobility, but he had learned this three years ago. At that time, he hadn't made the Cog of Eternity his cultivation base, focusing instead on another artifact to increase his cultivation stage.
The voice corrected him. [Incorrect. You cannot have multiple cultivation bases. I am your cultivation base, and one of my unique abilities is to store artifacts.]
"But can I still use their abilities if they are stored in my mana core?" Jaxon asked, hope flickering within him.
[You cannot have multiple cultivation bases, but I presume you can still use their abilities.]
What?!
This felt like a gift from the gods. Was this what would help him save the world?
"Impossible..."
Jaxon was still bewildered. Was this really happening? He needed to stay grounded and think critically about his next steps.
He had several artifacts at his disposal, but first, he needed to confirm everything.
"What artifacts do I have stored? Can I store gadgets as well?" he asked, his mind racing with possibilities.
[You have four artifacts stored. You cannot store unnatural tools.]
"Please provide me with a list of the stored artifacts."
[You have: Cog of Eternity, Boots of Aurora, Control Panel, and Mana Gather.]
The mention of the Cog of Eternity surprised him. Had it come along with his new cultivation base?
Jaxon didn't know how this new cultivation base was connected to the Boots of Aurora or why it had contacted him. But that wasn't important right now. What mattered was the opportunity before him.
[Dear Host, if you permit me, I would like to extract the fullest potential of the Control Panel to utilize its abilities effectively.]
Jaxon was unsure how to proceed. The cultivation base seemed to have developed an ego, despite claiming artifacts typically didn't.
A storm of questions swirled in his mind, each one more pressing than the last. Was this power truly his, or was he merely a vessel for something greater? Despite the uncertainty, a spark of determination began to emerge.
Jaxon felt a mix of frustration and excitement. The behavior of the cultivation base was baffling, but the potential it promised was thrilling.
"Alright. I'll give you permission," he said, feeling both curiosity and apprehension.
[Thank you... I will begin extracting the Control Panel. I ask for your patience.]
"Yeah, take your time," Jaxon replied.
Stepping out of the room, Jaxon found himself in a cavern bathed in an eerie green glow from scattered luminescent stones. The faint light was oddly comforting.
He searched for a rock to sit on and closed his eyes, preparing to enter a trance. It was time to check his cultivation stage. If his artifacts were still here, his cultivation would be the same.
In the academy, Jaxon had reached the Blue Stage, the second level of the four cultivation stages. As he settled into his trance, he felt the rich mana around him, likely due to the cavern's isolation from mana-draining creatures.
Checking his mana core, he was relieved to see it was still at the Blue Stage. He had reached this stage at the academy with the help of a necklace gadget that enhanced his mana perception and absorption.
He activated the gadget embedded in his chest, and even with his eyes closed, he sensed the mana intensifying around him, filling him with warmth.
Jaxon used a familiar cultivation technique. Unlike those relying on gadgets, he focused on developing his mana core, which was crucial for magic users. He remembered that mana, naturally intense and often hazardous, became cleaner through cultivation.
He pushed aside thoughts of his family, deciding to visit them after he finished cultivating. His priority was to ensure their safety and address his sister's situation.
As Jaxon channeled the gathered mana into his core, he felt a heartwarming sensation rather than pain. This was surprising, given the intense yellow hue of the mana.
After hours of cultivation, Jaxon broke through to the Green Stage, the third level of cultivation. Cultivation involved nurturing the mana core with mana from core stones or the surroundings. There are four stages—White, Blue, Green, and Yellow—representing increasing strength.
To advance, one must progress through nine levels within each stage, which are measured using gauge artifacts. While the yellowish hue is common, the precise stage is easier to determine with an artifact.
Jaxon's mana core was nearly at its peak. He was ready for the next phase, relying on his understanding of magic and artifact locations.
It was time for round two.