The chamber was silent, save for the soft hum of energy pulsing in the air. Valen sat cross-legged on the smooth floor, his back straight, his hands resting lightly on his knees.
The faint glow of runes etched into the stone walls bathed the room in a dim, ethereal light.
It had been six years since he entered seclusion, and now, at fourteen, Valen was no longer a boy.
His features, once youthful, had matured—sharpened into the countenance of someone who had faced hardship and emerged stronger for it.
His pale silver hair, now longer and slightly more unruly, framed a face that carried an intensity not often found in someone his age.
His violet eyes gleamed in the dim light, focused, but also calm—more controlled than ever.
The core within him was nearly complete, just moments away from solidifying.
Valen drew a deep breath, his chest expanding as the last remnants of mana in the room flowed toward him.
His Mana Breathing Technique was working tirelessly, pulling the energy from the environment and converting it into the purplish glow of Void Essence.
It flowed through him like a river, steady and relentless, absorbing into his body through every pore, circulating through his cells, and gathering at the center of his being.
For six long years, Valen had worked in this chamber, gathering the necessary mana and converting it, day after day.
The process had been agonizingly slow, especially without Void Essence naturally present in the environment.
What should have taken him two years had stretched into six, but Valen had never once considered giving up. He had learned long ago that power worth gaining was never easily attained.
And now, after years of patience and effort, it was happening.
The last surge of mana passed through him, converting into Void Essence as it made its way toward his heart.
There, at the center of his being, the swirling mass of energy began to coalesce, transforming into something more—something permanent.
Valen's breath caught slightly as the final strand of energy snapped into place, solidifying the core.
It was not an immediate explosion of power, but a slow, intense build-up, as if the energy within him had suddenly multiplied in density and strength.
He felt it deep within, his entire body reacting to the change, every muscle, every fiber responding to the birth of this new power.
Then, silence.
For a moment, nothing happened. Valen sat perfectly still, feeling the weight of his new core settle into place.
But before he could even fully comprehend what had just occurred, a sudden force burst outward from his chest.
Boom.
The energy rushed out of him, an invisible shockwave that rippled through the chamber, shaking the walls and sending a surge of pure power through Valen's veins.
His muscles tensed as the Void Essence flooded his body, reinforcing every part of him, and strengthening him in ways he had never experienced before.
It was as though every cell in his body was being charged, empowered, and transformed all at once.
Pleasure.
The sensation was overwhelming, bordering on ecstasy. For six years, Valen had pushed himself and endured the slow crawl of progress, but now, at this moment, all that effort was rewarded.
The power coursing through him was intoxicating—he felt it in every inch of his being, flooding him with a sense of vitality and strength.
This was the birth of something far greater than the power he had once possessed.
The Void Essence was beyond anything he had ever encountered, its potency far surpassing that of mana.
Even though his new core was still empty, he knew instinctively that this energy would take him further than his old cultivation ever could.
As the rush of energy finally subsided, Valen exhaled slowly, his body relaxing into the calm after the storm. He felt... whole.
More powerful than he had ever been, even though he had no cultivation to speak of yet.
The core was only the beginning.
With renewed focus, Valen turned his attention inward. He could feel the presence of his newly formed core, a swirling vortex of Void Essence that pulsed with a subtle but undeniable power.
The sensation was alien but thrilling. Slowly, he directed his focus toward the core, trying to understand its nature.
And then he noticed it.
His blood.
Instead of the familiar red, his blood had turned a translucent, purplish hue. It flowed through his veins like liquid light, shifting and glowing faintly as it circulated through his body.
The sight made him pause, a flicker of unease stirring within him. This wasn't normal.
Before his mind could wander into darker possibilities, Valen called out in a calm voice, "Nyx."
[Yes, Host?] Nyx's voice chimed softly, her presence immediately reassuring.
"My blood… it's changed. It's no longer red. What does this mean?"
There was a brief pause as Nyx scanned his body.
[No need to worry, Host. The change in your blood is a natural result of your bloodline. Previously, your body had not fully adapted to the transformation due to the absence of a core.]
[Now that you have formed your Core, the bloodline has fully manifested, altering the properties of your blood.]
The explanation eased Valen's concern. His body wasn't failing him—this was simply the next step in his evolution.
With the core in place, his bloodline had finally begun to show its true form.
Calm once more, Valen focused on the core itself. The sensation was extraordinary, unlike anything he had expected.
The core was no longer just a reservoir for power; it was alive with energy, swirling with an almost palpable intensity.
And there, floating at its center, was the stone tablet.
The tablet that had fused with his body all those years ago was now a part of him, resting within his core like a sentinel of ancient power.
Its surface was smooth, etched with glowing runes and writing that pulsed faintly in sync with the Void Essence flowing through him.
Valen could feel its presence, almost as if it were watching over him, waiting for the right moment to reveal its full potential.
As he observed it, a message formed in his mind—information that had not been accessible before.
The stone tablet will now accelerate the conversion of mana into Void Essence. This process will continue indefinitely, allowing for faster cultivation and greater power.
Valen's lips curved into a small smile. The presence of the stone tablet inside his core was an unexpected boon.
Not only would it help him accelerate his growth, but there were other abilities locked within it, waiting for him to unlock as his power grew.
Satisfied with this new development, Valen stood, his body feeling stronger and more flexible than ever before.
He took a deep breath, savoring the sensation of power coursing through him. The six years of solitude and hard work had been worth it.
Walking toward the chamber door, Valen pushed it open, the cool air of the corridor greeting him.
Standing just outside, his ever-loyal servant Alaric waited patiently, his eyes lighting up as he saw Valen emerge.
"Lord Valen," Alaric bowed deeply, his voice warm with respect. "It is good to see you back."
Valen gave a slight nod, a rare, almost genuine smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Prepare a warm bath, Alaric. It has been too long since I've enjoyed simple comforts."
"As you command," Alaric responded with enthusiasm, already turning to carry out the task.
As Valen sank into the warm waters of the bath water, his muscles relaxed, and his mind wandered back over the events of the day.
The warmth seeped into his skin, a welcome contrast to the harsh discipline of the last six years.
His thoughts, for once, were at ease.
The transformation of his blood, the completion of his Core, the presence of the stone tablet—everything was falling into place.
As the water lapped against him, Valen closed his eyes, allowing himself a moment of peace. Tomorrow would come soon enough, and with it, a new era of his life.
For now, it's time to rest.