"Let's go home, Anna," Alan said, lying on the ground, breathing rapidly.
[Not now; you have reached peak Soulborn rank. You need to form a core. You need to stabilize the resonance in your body. Otherwise, your body will be destroyed.]
"The fuck! How am I going to do it?" Alan got up and settled into a meditative position, trying to calm himself.
[...........]
"What?"
[Nothing. It's a blunder on my part. I should have told you sooner.]
"Wow! Even the almighty Anna can make a mistake." Alan chuckled, though it came out strained.
[You want to get your body destroyed?]
"I know you won't let that happen," Alan said slowly.
[....]
[Do you know what a core is? Or what it does?]
"No."
[Okay, let me explain. Listen carefully.]
"Okay, Teacher," Alan said, nodding seriously.
[When an awakener reaches the peak Soulborn rank, their body automatically absorbs the resonance. Awakeners can't stop this process.]
"So this is why many awakeners die or destroy their bodies at this stage."
[Yes. Not everyone can form their core. Those who succeed can level up, and those who can't... their journey ends there. That's where the core comes in.]
[Right now, resonance is spreading through every part of your body, moving like wildfire. When you form a core, it will draw the resonance toward it, trapping it so it can't move freely around your body. It will also stop your body from absorbing more resonance than it can handle.]
[So, do you understand the value of a core?]
"Yes, Teacher, I understand everything," Alan said, nodding earnestly.
[Remember, the color of your core determines its rank. Golden is the highest, followed by white, orange, purple, red, and green.]
"When I fought the Slyth, I saw different shades of light moving around me. The golden one glowed brighter than the rest, and that same golden light appeared when I used authority. Was that my resonance?"
[Bingo! That was your resonance. Honestly, judging by your looks, I thought you were the dumbest person in the world. But it turns out you're not as clueless as I thought.]
"Hey, what do you mean by 'dumb'? Despite how I look, I'm actually quite smart," Alan said, a slight irritation in his voice.
[Okay, I believe you.]
Anna's voice carried a subtle smirk, and Alan could feel it even without her saying anything.
[Now, back to the topic. Your affinity with resonance is determined by the color of your resonance. Golden is the highest, followed by white, orange, purple, red, and green.]
"So, it's the same as the core?"
[Yes. As far as I know, only 1% of people in the universe can see their resonance. And all of them are powerhouses of their respective worlds.]
"1%?!" Alan's voice filled with astonishment.
[Yes.]
Alan fell silent, deep in thought. "You mentioned the universe. My wives also said they're not from this world. I never realized there were so many other worlds. Also, Anna, where are you from? I never asked you anything about it. I don't know anything about you."
[There are countless worlds, different types of beings, and cultures. But forget about them for now. You can travel between these worlds once you reach a certain power level—something you'll achieve thanks to me. As for me, I'll tell you when the time is right.]
Alan couldn't help but imagine traveling those worlds with his wives. He wanted to know everything about them, but whenever he asked, they always avoided answering. So he stopped asking, choosing instead to give them time.
"Yes, it's decided. I'll take them on a date when we get home."
[Good, they deserve it.]
"What do you mean? Also, are you feeling jealous, Anna? Don't worry, when we meet, I'll take you on a date too." Alan said with a cheerful grin.
[Haha, child, that'll be a long time from now.]
"I'm a child or something? You'll know what I am when we meet," Alan retorted.
[Sure, sure. But first, you need to create your core.]
"Okay, tell me what I need to do," Alan said, his voice steady.
[First, sit down in a meditative position and take a deep breath. A breathing technique is important for this process. Inhale a large amount of air, hold it for a moment, then breathe out slowly. Try to focus on the resonance particles around you. Don't chase them—attract them. Let them enter your body slowly and gather around your chest area.]
Alan followed her instructions, sitting cross-legged with his back straight, hands resting on his knees, palms facing up, fingers lightly curled. He closed his eyes and concentrated.
Using the breathing technique Anna had described, Alan focused on the resonance around him. He could feel its presence, like a subtle pulse in the air. It moved like an invisible current, so he tried to stop chasing it and instead let it come to him, slowly guiding it into his body.
He felt a burning sensation in his abdomen. The heat traveled upward, toward his chest and throat.
[Don't let it enter your brain. Connect with it and guide it toward your chest.]
Alan forced himself to stay calm as his body trembled with the force of the rising energy. Tiny, glittering particles began to enter his body, so minuscule they were nearly invisible, but they sparkled like stars.
He concentrated harder, feeling the resonance around him. It was chaotic, wild. But he stopped trying to force it. Instead, he tried to coax it, to understand how it moved, to invite it like a child coming home.
The resonance particles hesitated. One slowly drifted toward his chest area, hovering as if weighing the decision. Then, like a burst of light, countless particles surged toward him and gathered in his chest. The sensation was overwhelming. Alan could feel his chest tightening, as if it would explode.
"Arghhh..." He cried out in agony, blood spilling from his lips, nose, ears, and eyes.
[Don't give up. You're almost there.]
With those words, Alan pushed through the pain. Blood continued to drip from him, but he stayed focused, becoming calmer. The golden sphere within his chest began to absorb the particles, pulling them in with a steady force.
After what felt like an eternity, Alan's body began to levitate, his surroundings blurring into nothingness. He felt disconnected from the world, floating in a sea of light.
Congratulations, user. You have created your core.
You have taken your first step toward creating your path.
Congratulations, user, for your first absolute skill.
"SOUL WORLD."