The atmosphere in Adrian's room had shifted. The success of Sophia's reset had brought a collective sense of relief to the group, but now all eyes turned to Isabella.
She took a slow, steady breath as she stepped forward, her usual warmth tempered by a quiet resolve.
The laughter and camaraderie from earlier faded, replaced by a tension that clung to the air.
Adrian's gaze lingered on her, noticing the steely determination in her eyes.
"Are you ready Mom?" he asked, his voice calm, yet carrying the assurance she needed.
Isabella nodded, the corner of her mouth lifting in a faint smile. "I am. Let's do this."
Adrian activated the system, selecting the reset function for Isabella. As he confirmed the action, a familiar golden glow began to wrap around her, creating a cocoon of light similar to those that had enveloped Eve and Sophia.
But unlike with the others, something felt off.
The light surrounding Isabella flickered erratically, intensifying until it took on a strange reddish hue. A warning screen flashed before Adrian's eyes:
"Warning Host: Target's mana circuits contain remnants of High Essence Mana, incompatible with lower-rank mana channels. Mana purification is required to prevent destabilization. Cost: 30,000 SP. Do you wish to proceed?"
Adrian's heart skipped a beat. High Essence Mana?
" What is that?, Could it be that was the mana people at higher ranked used,"He thought.
This lingering High Essence Mana wasn't just dormant; it was a remnant of something extraordinary, now straining against the reset.
He glanced at Isabella, who held his gaze, her face calm despite the light's erratic pulsing. She gave him a small nod, her trust in him unwavering.
"I'm going through with it," Adrian murmured, confirming the SP purchase. The golden light intensified around her, growing in brilliance, but the clash of energies continued.
Isabella's mana circuits, once built for a higher power, resisted the adjustment, reacting against the new flow of energy.
Adrian could see the strain in her face. "Hold on, Mom," he said firmly, extending his own mana toward her, hoping to ease the resistance within her.
His energy reached out, intertwining with hers, attempting to bridge the turbulent surge, but the mana within her resisted, raw and unyielding.
The system chimed again, presenting another choice:
"Warning: High Essence Mana is causing instability in the target's circuits. Draconic Vein Synchronization can stabilize the process. Host needs to absorb her mana, otherwise the chance for failure is high. It might also cause damage to Isabella. Cost: 50,000 SP. Confirm to proceed?"
Adrian's heartbeat quickened. Draconic Vein Synchronization? It was a drastic measure, but if it could help his mother reclaim her true potential once again, it was worth the SP.
He confirmed without hesitation, feeling the drain but trusting it would be worth it.
A radiant aura of crimson and gold enveloped both of them, the Draconic Vein Synchronization forging a bridge between his mana and Isabella's.
His Draconic Mana harmonized with her High Essence Mana, the two forces intertwining in a powerful flow as they worked to calm the storm within her.
The synchronization deepened, unearthing hidden fractures in her mana circuits—old wounds from her descent from a higher power.
Adrian's heart ached as he felt the jagged scars that interrupted the mana flow within her, remnants of a past power that had taken its toll.
As Isabella's breathing grew more ragged, Adrian felt a pang of worry. Just then, the system prompted again:
"Detected: Mana Circuit Damage. Full Circuit Restoration available for 70,000 SP. Restoration will repair all damaged circuits, granting full potential access to the target. Confirm to proceed?"
Without hesitation, Adrian confirmed the repair, feeling his Seduction Points drain as a soft glow enveloped Isabella's form.
Her mana circuits, once scarred and strained, began to heal, the glow sinking into her body, filling her with a renewed energy and vitality she hadn't felt in years.
The atmosphere in Adrian's room had shifted once more. The glow surrounding Isabella faded, and as she opened her eyes, her gaze held a new radiance—a wholeness she hadn't felt in years.
She reached out to Adrian, her fingers brushing his cheek, her eyes wide with gratitude and something deeper.
"Adrian… I don't know what to say," she whispered. "I feel… whole again, as if a weight I didn't even know I carried has lifted."
He held her hand, his own breathing finally steadying. "You don't need to say anything, Mom. I'm just glad you're alright."
She managed a smile, and the relief in her gaze spoke volumes. There was a softness there that hinted at the trust she'd placed in him, the unspoken bond they'd shared through this journey.
The others, who had watched the intense process unfold, now gathered closer, expressions a mix of concern and relief etched on their faces.
The others moved closer, sharing looks of awe and relief. But as Adrian began to relax, a sudden pang shot through him, and he doubled over, coughing violently.
Spots danced before his eyes, and he could taste the metallic tang of blood as it spattered onto his hand.
The room blurred, the world seeming to tilt before he felt his legs give way beneath him. His vision swam, the last thing he saw being Isabella's horrified face as she reached out to him.
Then, darkness. With a loud "Thud" sound, he fell on the floor, his body completely shut off.
As Adrian crumpled to the floor, the room erupted in panic.
"Adrian!" Isabella cried, rushing forward, her face a mask of horror as she knelt beside him, her hands trembling.
The others surged forward, calling his name, their voices filled with fear and confusion.
Sophia's eyes were wide with alarm, and Eve clutched her hands to her chest, whispering frantically under her breath as though willing Adrian to wake up.
"Everyone, calm down!" Seraphina commanded, her voice cutting through the chaos. Her tone was firm but held a glimmer of worry as she approached Adrian's fallen form.
She knelt down beside him, her hands glowing faintly as she placed them over his chest and forehead, sensing the turbulent energies within him.
She could feel the remnants of High Essence Mana still circulating in his body, mingling with his own Draconic Mana, which was unique even to her, in an unstable blend.