Chapter 130: 130:Absorption
The afternoon sun had already begun its slow descent by the time everything was prepared. Golden light streamed through the large hotel windows, illuminating the quiet room in warm hues.
The table between the two beds had been cleared completely. At its center rested the Soul Harmonization Crystal.
Faint streams of light continuously flowed beneath its smooth surface. Every few seconds, a gentle pulse spread through the room, calming the mind almost instinctively.
Silver carefully picked it up.
"I hope our experience will be as good as the last time."
Ravenna looked at the crystal curiously.
"This crystal will never cease to amaze me. I feel like I’ve just seen it for the first time again."
"Me too, it feels ethral in a way."
He gently placed it back onto the table.
"It’s one of the best things I’ve ever gotten. It reduces so much waste and, more importantly..."
He smiled.
"It makes it a lot less uncomfortable, and we don’t waste any more energy. We can crush the cores without the fear of it going to waste."
Ravenna raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, but it’s still uncomfortable regardless. Something entering your body can never be that comfortable, except for food."
Silver laughed.
"Now you’re just neat picking."
Ravenna sat opposite him, crossing her legs on the floor. Silver positioned the crystal exactly between them. The moment he activated it, the room became noticeably quieter.
Soft light slowly expanded outward before forming a gentle dome surrounding both of them. The fluctuations inside the room immediately became smoother, and even breathing felt easier.
Ravenna slowly closed her eyes.
"I can feel it. The fire inside me feels... calmer."
Silver nodded.
"That’s the crystal for you. It helps everything flow together instead of fighting."
Neither of them reached for the elemental cores first. Those were too valuable; instead, Silver picked up one of the ordinary Tier Two Strength Cores.
"Let’s build a proper foundation."
Ravenna did the same with an Agility Core. Both crushed the cores simultaneously, and the hardened shells shattered like glass. Pure beast essence erupted into the air before immediately being drawn into their bodies. It was much easier and faster that way.
The familiar burning sensation returned. The Soul Harmonization Crystal gently redirected the turbulent energy, allowing it to circulate naturally through their bodies.
Silver felt warmth spread into every muscle. The Strength Core slowly dissolved into countless tiny streams before disappearing into his Beast Tattoo.
[Strength Increased.]
The notification disappeared almost immediately. Silver barely had time to acknowledge it before the next wave of energy arrived. He calmly guided it throughout his body exactly as he had learned.
Ravenna released a slow breath.
"...This is much easier."
Silver opened one eye.
"I told you."
"You should really thank your parents for leaving you something this valuable. "
He smiled faintly.
"Every single day."
One by one, the ordinary cores disappeared, each one reinforcing a different aspect of their bodies. Hours of repeated battles had already strengthened their foundations. Now the beast cores simply accelerated what they had earned through combat.
Silver could feel his body becoming denser. Every muscle contracted more efficiently, his breathing steadied, and even his heartbeat became stronger.
[Primal Strength Lv1]
Proficiency Increased.
Another notification followed almost immediately.
[Iron Bones Lv1]
Proficiency Increased.}
Silver smiled to himself.
"Looks like they’re working together."
Ravenna tilted her head.
"What is?"
"My body."
She shook her head, her lips lifting slightly.
"That’s a very Silver answer."
He laughed.
"I know."
The afternoon slowly slipped toward evening. Outside, long shadows stretched across Delta Four’s streets. Inside the room, the pile of unused beast cores steadily grew smaller.
Ravenna opened another endurance Core. The moment its energy entered her body, faint flames briefly flickered across her forearms before disappearing again.
The Soul Harmonization Crystal immediately stabilized the fluctuation.
"That would’ve gone badly."
Silver nodded.
"But the crystal corrected it. I can actually feel it, it’s almost like... someone is helping guide the energy."
"Exactly."
Nearly two hours later, the last ordinary attribute core finally disappeared. Silver slowly exhaled. His clothes clung slightly to his back from perspiration, yet he felt lighter and stronger.
He clenched one fist. The air itself seemed to compress slightly around his fingers.
[Host Status Updated.]
{Strength Increased.
Endurance Increased.
Soul Synchronization Increased.}
Silver’s eyes brightened.
’Soul Synchronization increased too...’
That was almost more valuable than the physical improvements. The stronger his synchronization became, the more efficiently he could use every Beast Tattoo.
Ravenna slowly opened her eyes.
"...I feel different."
"You look different."
She frowned.
"I do?"
"Your control, it feels steadier."
She concentrated for a moment. A tiny flame appeared above her palm, unlike before, the flame remained perfectly stable, not once did it flicker.
Ravenna stared at it in surprise before letting it disappear.
"...You’re right."
Silver smiled.
"Good, but now comes the important part."
He looked toward the elemental cores placed a little further away from them, then pulled them closer. Even through the Soul Harmonization Crystal’s calming aura, the elemental energy surrounding them was immediately obvious.
Ravenna instinctively looked toward the Fire Cores.
"They’re beautiful."
"They’re also expensive."
She smiled.
"Then let’s make sure they’re worth it."
Silver nodded.
"One at a time, no rushing."
She agreed.
Silver picked up the first Space Core. The instant his fingers touched it, the familiar spatial fluctuations resonated with something deep inside his body.
His Space Beast Tattoo eagerly pulsed.
"...Looks like it’s been waiting."
Ravenna picked up her own Fire Core. Tiny sparks danced harmlessly around her fingertips. Unlike the attribute cores, these felt alive.
They exchanged one final nod, then both crushed their elemental cores simultaneously. An overwhelming surge of energy erupted into the room.
The Soul Harmonization Crystal flared brilliantly in response as waves of silver light wrapped around both of them, preventing the elemental energies from spiraling out of control.
Silver immediately felt space itself twist around him. His consciousness sank inward. Into an endless silver void, and deep within that void, something shifted.
[Space Affinity Resonance Detected.]
Synchronizing...
Comments