Ash stood still in the center of the clearing, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. He stopped supplying mana to the black bracelet on his wrist, and instantly, he felt a wave of lightness wash over him.
The weight he'd been unconsciously carrying seemed to lift, his body becoming more at ease.
Drawing his Shadow Cutter—a sleek, dark katana—he assumed a ready stance. With a calm exhale, he opened his eyes, the sharpness in them reflecting the focus of a swordsman prepared for whatever came next.
He channeled air elemental mana throughout his body, focusing on his hips, thighs, ankles, shoulders, and elbows.
At first, his pace was ordinary, but then he began releasing mana in bursts, following a steady rhythm—hips, thighs, lower leg muscles.
In an instant, he vanished like the wind, leaving nothing but a faint trail. As he continued supplying mana to his lower body in rhythmic bursts, he added his shoulders and elbows into the mix, slicing the air with such precision that a streak-like mark appeared behind him.
Controlling and maintaining mana in different parts of his body had been an immense challenge at first. But after 2 years of relentless practice—and improvements in both his Mana Manipulation and Sword Mastery—he'd mastered it with ease.
"So, how was that?" Ash asked with a confident smirk.
Aelion crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow. "Aren't you a monster? You mastered something in just a few years that took me a decade."
Ash sighed, shaking his head. "Are you trying to make me feel bad? I'm not some sword genius like you. You mastered the entire technique in a decade, and I've only got one move down in two years. That's still slow."
Aelion chuckled. "Well, I wouldn't call myself a genius."
"Shameless old man," Ash muttered under his breath.
"What did you just say, boy?" Aelion growled, his voice heavy with mock offense.
"Nothing, my dear master," Ash replied, hastily pulling his shirt back on and preparing to leave. "I'm heading out now. I'll be back late, so don't bother making dinner for me."
"Alright," Aelion said, his voice laced with disappointment.
As Ash's figure disappeared into the distance, Aelion muttered to himself, "Well, looks like it's going to be lonely night."
***
LUNARETH CITY
As the sun rises over Lunareth, the city's luminous stone buildings shimmer with soft hues of gold and pink, reflecting the morning light like a canvas painted by the first rays of dawn.
The air hums with the combined energy of magic and technology, a blend of the old and new. Hovering delivery carts glide effortlessly down the streets, their merchants steering them with glowing crystal remotes.
The scent of freshly baked mooncakes and blooming moonflowers drifts through the cool morning breeze, filling the air with a sense of enchantment.
Ash steps into the city, his sharp features and confident stride drawing the attention of everyone around him.
Eyes linger as people pause in their morning routines—some whispering, others offering friendly smiles. A vendor nearby, busy arranging glowing pastries in neat rows, waves enthusiastically at him.
"Welcome to Lunareth, traveler!" she calls with a warm smile. "You look like someone who appreciates a fine meal. Care for a mooncake éclair?"
Ash approaches the stall, his own smile lighting up the space even brighter than the morning sun. "Good morning. An éclair sounds perfect. What makes them glow like that?"
The vendor hands him one, her grin widening. "A touch of moonflower essence. It's a local secret! First one's on the house for a handsome visitor like yourself."
Ash chuckles, taking a bite. The éclair melts in his mouth, its sweetness perfectly balanced with a cool, almost sparkling sensation. "This is incredible," he says, genuinely impressed.
"Only in Lunareth!" the vendor beams proudly.
Continuing his stroll, Ash explores the Moonlit Bazaar, where glowing rune-powered screens advertise enchanted tools and trinkets.
A group of children playing nearby pauses, their eyes widening in awe at his presence. One of them musters the courage to approach.
"Mister, are you a prince? You look like one!" the child asks, eyes wide with wonder.
Ash kneels slightly, meeting the child's gaze with a wink. "Not a prince, just a traveler," he says warmly. "But thank you for the compliment."
The child giggles and races back to their friends, who burst into excited whispers and laughter.
At the Celestial Gardens, Ash stops to admire the moonflowers that shimmer in the sunlight, their ethereal glow unlike anything he's ever seen. A woman tending the plants looks up, startled by his striking presence.
"Oh, hello," she says, brushing her hands on her apron. "Enjoying the gardens?"
"They're stunning," Ash replies, his voice full of admiration. "I've never seen anything like them. Do they bloom all year?"
She nods, smiling. "Only in Lunareth. They're said to carry the magic of the moons. And they certainly seem to attract attention—just like you."
Ash laughs, offering his thanks before moving on to the Harmony Fountain. Water cascades gracefully from the intertwined moons at its peak, creating a perfect balance of motion and stillness.
Ash pauses, taking in the peaceful beauty of the city. Nearby, a young artist sketching the fountain glances up at him, her face flushing slightly as she nervously speaks.
"You're, uh, not from around here, are you?" she asks shyly.
Ash smiles kindly, shaking his head. "No, just passing through. Lunareth is unlike anywhere I've been."
She smiles back, her voice soft but warm. "It has a way of staying with you... like you belong here, even if you don't."
***
{ASH'S POV}
As Ash walks through Lunareth's glowing streets, the usual stir his presence causes begins to wear on him. The weight of eyes lingering too long, the hushed whispers, and stolen glances following him wherever he goes—it's all too familiar.
Why can't they just see me as another person? he thinks, running a hand through his hair as a group of children giggles nearby. I didn't come here to stand out—I just wanted to explore in peace.
Even the friendly vendor offering him a free mooncake éclair feels overwhelming. Though he smiles politely and thanks her, a twinge of discomfort nags at him. Would she still have offered if I looked different? he wonders.
When a child asks if he's a prince, Ash forces a kind response, but his thoughts churn. A prince? No, just a guy trying to eat breakfast without an audience.
As he strolls through the Celestial Gardens, trying to lose himself in the beauty of the moonflowers, the gardener's comment about him attracting attention only sharpens his unease. It's the same everywhere I go. I can't just disappear into the background, even when I want to.
Stopping at the Harmony Fountain, he leans against the stone railing, staring into the cascading water. This city is incredible—so much magic, so much peace—but I can't enjoy it properly. Everywhere I go, I'm a distraction.
I need to do something about my appearance; otherwise, most of my plans will go awry.
Ash sighs, trying to shake off the frustration. It's not their fault. They're just being kind. Maybe one day, I'll find a place where I can just blend in.
Despite his inner turmoil, he keeps moving, determined to make the most of his time in Lunareth—even if the attention follows him at every turn.
After roaming the city all day, Ash finally feels satisfied and heads toward the cave where he merged with the Rune of Balance.
Arriving at the familiar entrance, he uses his newfound strength to shift a large stone over the opening, blocking it much more securely than before.
Once inside, he sees the remnants of his previous bloodstains still marking the floor. With a sigh, he decides to clean the space.
Focusing, he envelops his hands in fire and burns away the stains, watching the flames consume them. Once everything is clear, he pulls out a small box from his bag.
Inside is a live fish, swimming lazily in water. He only needs 7 EXP to level up, and he decides the first thing he'll kill after transmigrating will be…a fish.
{Level: 9 (8993/9000)}
"Well, yeah. It's my first time killing anything.
I haven't killed anything in my past life, other than fish, so I guess I'll start with one again in this life."
Ash pulls out his katana and slices the fish in a single smooth motion.
Puchi !!
[10 EXP Acquired]
[Level Up]
[Congratulations, You've reached LEVEL 10.]
[Second Awakening will start soon...]
[Host is advised to be seated in a lotus position.]
[Second Awakening starting in: 10… 9… 8…]
Ash wastes no time. He strips off his clothes, storing them in his storage ring, and sits in a lotus position, focusing inward to prepare for the formation of his second core.
[3… 2… 1…]
[Second Awakening commencing.]
But this time, the pain he'd been anticipating never comes.
Instead, inside his body, a small pure white core which was rotating slowly started to rotate with fast speed.
Suddenly, all the mana within his body and the surrounding air stirs restlessly, moving toward his Middle Dantian which is above his previous core. Slowly but surely, a small core starts forming inside it.
Just as the small white core was halfway complete, the mana from his Lower Dantian(core) and Middle Dantian(core) begin to clash violently, the two forces fighting for control.
Then an intense pain shoots through his body, but Ash grits his teeth and endures. Right now, he has no control over what's happening. The mana within him fights for dominance—one wanting complete control of the body, the other of the surrounding mana.
After what feels like an eternity of agony, Ash holds on, waiting for the Runes to stabilize his insides. But to his horror, an unexpected variable occurs because the Rune of Stability and Rune of Balance did not release their energy.
[WARNING!! WARNING!!]
[RUNE'S ARE NOT REACTING]
[HOST'S BODY CANNOT BEAR THE BURDEN OF TWO CORES.]
[SYSTEM ALERT: HOST IS IN DANGER OF SELF-DESTRUCTION.]
[WARNING!!! WARNING!!!]
'F**k!!!!'
Ash's vision began to blur, the pain from the mana clash intensifying as his body threatened to collapse under the strain. His heart raced, and his breaths came in shallow gasps.
The Rune of stability, which he believed will always stabilize his energy of two cores, was now completely nonfunctional. The second core was only half-formed, and the mana was spiraling out of control, fighting for dominion over his body and the surrounding energy.
"What should I do now?"
In the novel, the main protagonist only has one core, so Ash doesn't even stop to wonder what might happen next. His blind faith in future information has landed him in such a dangerous situation
His mind felt sluggish, his will faltering as the overwhelming force of mana threatened to tear him apart. But deep within, a spark of resolve remained—something within him refused to give up.
With the last bit of strength he had, he fought to stay conscious, forcing his mind to focus through the chaos.
His body trembled violently, but his hand instinctively clenched into a fist. With a gasp, he sent a final, desperate command to the system, pushing every last ounce of his will into it.
'Skill Creation.'
"Make something, anything, that will help me survive this process and assist in core formation using the Runes as the base."
With those final thoughts, Ash's consciousness slipped away, plunging into darkness.
{COMMAND ACCEPTED}
{Initializing Skill Creation...}
{Initializing.....}
***