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Chapter 42: Core Residue

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“Grade Information,”

Grade Information

Grade Points Left:

525 GP

Completed

Test of Heart

500 GP

Within Reach

Subduing residue of Izkill’s Eye, inherit its trait.

200 GP

In his room, Krone checked the grade information. There was one grade with 200GP within reach. In a moment, he might need to risk his life. Subduing residue of Izkill’s Eye, this powerful mental-type High Beast, was no joking matter. He pondered for a bit. Soon, he opened his own status.

Personal Info: Krone Kozak

Health: 57/57

Criteria

Level

Type

Physique

19

Balanced

Senses

50

Heightened

Mana Pool

18

Superior

Mana Affinity

Peak

Neutral

Artes

Magics

Traits

Artes

Name

Original Name

Level

Air Sliding

Slid de Aur

79

Aura Coating

Aurelian Arte

89

Piercing Drill

Arte Instana

69

Fiery Phoenix

Flamme Vyrusha

79

Mana Shield

Ein Gard

48

Vibrant Slash

Ivra Ilymus

59

The Flow

Irnea Alir

45

Magics

Name

Original Name

Level

Fire Base

Flamme Arkh

75

Ice Base

Ais Arkh

59

Piercing Element

Elle Instana

50

Elemental Shield

Elle Gard

37

Absolute Cauldron

Destructo Kaldron

39

After one week of continuous absorption, he managed to level up his Mana Pool three times, while increasing his senses a little. Just awhile ago, with Natalia, he managed to level up his senses, making a breakthrough into Level 50.

As he leveled up, he felt his perception sharper, hearing clearer. It was a feeling as if the world opened up so many things for him, sharing secrets she held dear with him.

He eyed his Arte and Magic level.

For every ten level, there was a distinct level difference. While it might not be much, the distinct difference was also the reason why professional community differentiated users into several classes. All eight classes, were comprised of Civilian, Beginner, Practitioner, Adept, Expert, Master, High Master and Grandmaster.

His Artes and Magics mostly already passed level 50, Master-class, and some passed level 70, Grandmaster-class. However, all these probably had no use to him for his next endeavor.

He checked his traits.

Traits

Name

Rank

Level

Alpha Male

Grand (S)

1

Tyrant Guardian

Grand (S)

2

Bestial Instinct

Grand (S)

1

Cunning Beast

Grand (S)

1

Will to Live

High (A)

7

Predator’s Eye

High (A)

9

Adrenaline Rush

Mid (B)

9

Light Steps

Mid (B)

9

Heightened Hearing

Mid (B)

9

‘Four of my old traits at level 9. Is level 9 the maximum for traits?’

It was funny that he did not have any traits lower than the middle-rank, B. Thinking about it again, getting one would be hard actually. The lower-rank beasts barely had any residue. If there’s any, it would be too weak and too faint to carry a trait inheritance. Well, an exception of these would be an Alpha.

However, his next target, for sure, carried a trait inheritance.

In fact, a strong trait inheritance.

He murmured;

“Am I ready?”

“…Having second thought?”

Natalia asked, hands on a hovering core.

It was the core of Izkill’s Eye. This second time she tried to absorb the core, her senses and mana pool leveled up. With her absorbing its energy well, her affinity with it reached maximum, creating harmony. It was something even Krone rarely seen, he thought there must be something else, then he remembered.

She was in his party.

‘Double Core Absorption, with her affinity… The effect multiplied.’

Krone sat close to her, hands also on it. Tonight, he had her joined in again to borrow her affinity, making himself the passenger to reach the residue. From there, he would seek to conquer it. Only after would he be able to inherit the domineering trait within the core.

He made it clear to her why he wanted its trait, and thus she agreed.

Warning her of the danger prior, they tried to reach residue together. Already absorbing the core’s energy for three hours, they detected it. The energy shrouding and protecting it already thinned, so it was a good chance to invade and conquer it.

However, it was not without risk. This was afterall, residue of a High-level beast. Moreover, a peak High-level beast, stronger than any of similar type.

Seeing him pondering, Natalia uttered;

“If you’re not ready,”

“No, we proceed.”

“I’m fine with waiting a little more. You sure?”

“Yes. I’ll just say this again as reminder, Lady Natalia. A residue would usually try to conquer the invading consciousness. For this core, its attack will likely constitute a mental attack, so,”

“I know. I’m only helping you reach it. When we’re there, I’m out,”

“Remember how?”

“Cut the connection, the same with using spatial ring. Just a little stronger, right?”

“Right. But should the residue lock you in, I’ll have to get you out forcefully, okay?”

“F-forcefully? How?”

“Well, it involved you getting… No, I can’t tell. It won’t be effective otherwise.”

“…Now I’m curious.”

“Anyway, you’ll know should the time come. Let’s dive in, I’ll be in your care,”

“Fine,”

He placed his right hand onto her left, riding on her affinity to reach the residue. Soon, their consciousness reached the very middle of the core.

The residue.

Sha!

Light blinded their view, Krone was behind Natalia. Their spiritual figures formed, the surroundings being constructed as their eyes open. She raised her hands, examining them, then her body.

‘How could this,’

It was as if she was reconstructed to perfection, and transported here.

She could feel her own touch, the chilly and fresh air coming into her lungs, mixed with faint odor of smoke. Looking around, they were now on top of a rocky mountain range, vibrant green below filled their vision, smoke from active volcanoes filled the sky. The surroundings had the smell of freshness mixed with volcanic ash, heavy for the mind.

In the sky, dozens of figures with four limbs and a pair of wings patrolled the surroundings. It looked as if they were flying high, yet their body could be observed well from the ground.

Finally seeing the surroundings and the sky, she staggered. As much as she hated it, she remembered the place.

She was forced to.

Krone’s eyes was wide open, surprised.

At Natalia’s back, stood a black-haired, middle-aged knight. Hair tied to his back, three claws-like scar on his left eye, he stood erect. Even at first glance, Krone knew. This man, was no ordinary knight. Merely observing the situation, it was as if the dragons could not bear him any harm. He reminded him of someone.

His presence, was the same as;

'Same as General Shurran! This guy, who?!’

His thought returned to him. He gasped, realizing Natalia was standing there, motionless.

“Why are you still— Lady Natalia! Get out of here! Cut your—”

She was supposed to get out immediately, yet her curiosity took ahold of her.

…

It did not bode well.

She could not hear his voice.

“Ah…”

She froze, eyes looking up the sky.

Focusing on a red figure with wings, larger than the dozen others.

Seeing her froze, Krone knew exactly what type of mental attack it was. For men in general, the mental attack ranged from sexual perversion to gripping fear, breaking their spirit. For women, it could be anything, even passion. He was not so sure about women, but he knew from the library, about the worst kind of mental attack;

‘Trauma! Damn, this whole construct, from her… She, she had a trauma,’

It used her own experience against her, against them.

Facing against a residue, one would be forced to fight against the monster using their spirit. A normal beast would just emerge as one, with just the advantage of having its own homeground. As for Izkill’s Eye, as Krone had guessed, it attacked the invader with something that had the most effect.

Psychological effect.

Seeing those dragons flying in the sky, Krone had a grave feeling.

They seemed way too real.

‘Her trauma, not a random experience! You, you bad girl... Why didn’t you, say,’

He wanted to slap this lady.

Actually hiding such a powerful trauma, he even wished to bite her right now. The residue of a mental type beast depended much on how deep the hole within one’s heart. In other words, how powerful the imaginary construct which appeared, depended much on the invader’s psychological weakness.

Her weakness.

A damn, powerful weakness.

Her gaze still in the sky, her legs went limp, falling sideways.

Krone shook her, actually slapping her several times. He wanted nothing more than to get her out right now. While he could fail in the defeating the residue, there could still be chance for later. Yet he knew, if her spirit crumbled here, the backlash for her would be severe.

Really severe.

“Natalia! Get ahold— Gahh, get the fuck out of here!”

He shouted right in front of her face, his breath even whisked her hair. Yet she continued to freeze, soulless, eyes upward.

The winged figure in the sky flew down.

‘It’s coming!’

Booming sound filled the air.

A red dragon landed, right in front of them. Eyes larger than human head, head larger than a cart, body larger than the blue whale. With thick and sharp claws, red shiny scales and glossy wings, it screamed majesty, undeniable.

Its eyes landed on them.

Eyes of pure emerald, piercing his being, Krone felt her abundant life-force. He knew of this one dragon.

In fact, most Kharlussian at least heard of it.

‘Emerald eyes, extreme life-force. This, Kharlussia’s Holy Shield,’

“Mother of Fire Dragon, Velzer The Wise,”

A roar.

A loud, thundering roar.

Legs weak, he felt dizzy. The draconic presence hit him, heavy. His mind pondered how she could encounter this legendary being, how? This was Kharlussia’s most majestic beast, adored and awed by many. Even he never saw it face to face before. It was said to be able to down an Air Cruiser effortlessly.

Now how do you expect this Uncle to fight this thing?

Yet he did not ponder long.

As the dragon moved its claws, he had a sense of dread. His hands carried the lady, his feet slid through the air.

A boom, crashed behind him.

…

====

“Crap!”

Krone opened his eyes, quick. He returned to his room.

Not bogged down by the draconic terror, he had forcefully cut his connection with the core. He did not ponder, moving his hand to his side.

Towards her, Natalia.

Hands on her chest, he pushed her away from the core. His white mana emerged out, engulfing it. The mana halted their connection, forcefully. Vibrating hum filled the room, as if revolting the interference.

Breathing heavy, he turned to her. Blood on of her nostrils, his hand checked her pulse.

None.

Her heart stopped.

She was not breathing.

Eyes sharp, Krone was decisive.

He laid her, hand full with mana, ripped her front dress. A green amulet flew in the air, hitting the wall, yet he ignored it. He put his hands together, right hand on his left, he pushed his hand’s heel on the centre of her chest.

Pushed hard, and fast.

Two pushes, every second.

After thirty-eight pushes, he pushed her forehead, tilting her head back, lifting her chin. This opened her airway, allowing air into her lungs. He breathed air into her twice, each for a second. Each time, her chest rose.

He returned to pushing, repeating the cycle.

Second cycle, he breathed in three times.

Forth cycle, five times.

“Come on, don’t die on me!”

On the fifth cycle, he became frustrated. He breathed into her eight times.

The usual worse-case scenario, was indeed the person losing their mind. She however, had her conscious link being physically broken.

Krone did it.

He had to do it.

Had he not done so, she would have lost her mind, her spirit engulfed by the residue within the core. During their time in, he kept bringing her away from the dragon. He bought her time, and did many things to override her shock in the dream world.

He did many, shocking things.

Even then, she did not recover.

And he was cornered, dragons all around, it was a matter of time.

At the time, he made the decision, to proceed with the method.

It was his fourth time experiencing such a thing. Three others, he was merely a spectator. His fellow knights had done this, as measure of last resort. When the situation turned the worst, they cut the trait candidate’s connection with the core, preventing the residue from further harming their spirit.

Such occurrences were prevalent only when trying to get High or Grand traits. Doing so had one-in-three chance of fatality, yet it was still favorable compared to completely losing one’s mind. Seeing his comrades forced to make such a choice, pained even him.

This time however, he was the one doing it.

“Damn it, Natalia, live!”

End of eighth cycle.

All thirteen breathe of air, this time, it worked.

Her heart restarted. Gasping, trembling, she took in a bellyful of air.

…

=====

Steam came out from a small towel, dipped in a bowl of hot water.

A pair of gentle hands picked it up, squeezing the water out. Folding it, placing it onto a forehead.

Natalia’s forehead.

Uhhh.

A groan came from her.

Taking a thin handkerchief from the side, a hand caressed her lower cheek and her neck, comforting her. Careful, ever caring, it was Kristine’s.

On the floor next to her, sitting with his back on the wall, was Krone.

He was nodding, sleeping. After stabilizing her, he called Kristine using communication ring. Knowing it was emergency, she rushed here with her pink pajamas, carrying bowl and whatever herbs she could grab from the kitchen.

Seeing the blood on the floor, and the ripped floral one-piece, she felt lightheaded, confused. Yet noticing Krone’s weary and serious expression, she was quick to let it slide.

It was no time fantasizing.

She brushed him to the side. After his explanation, she urged him to sleep.

From then on, she took care of her.

…

Krone continued to nod, yet all of a sudden his eyes opened.

Kneeling, he turned to his sister, remembering what happened shortly before. He had to explain to her a little about core back then, just the surface information.

Well, she was bound to know sooner or later.

“Krone, you’re up?”

“Sis, how’s she?”

“Hm, a bit in pain, but I did what I could. My restoration seemed to hit a wall though. But I’ve healed her, cleaned her up, now she’s breathing better. You’re checking her?”

“Yeah, just in case.”

He took her hands, checking her pulse. Then his fingers landed on her neck. Afterward, he channeled mana into his eyes, checking her whole body’s system.

“…Em,”

“Krone?”

“Mana flow a bit erratic, but aside from that, she’s fine. She just needs rest,”

“Haa, that’s good,”

“Sorry sis, it’s time for morning training. I’ll have to trouble you,”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. She’s our guest afterall. Anyway, I can’t prepare breakfast like this, and we shouldn’t bother Aunt,”

“Nah, I’ll do it. Don’t you worry about it,”

“Really? Then can you send one this way later?”

Hearing this, he shuddered.

“Eh, eheh, if it’s for you Sis, I’ll just buy one outside,”

“Ehh, why? I want to taste your cooking.”

“…It can’t be called cooking, don’t fret. I’ll buy the best breakfast just for my precious sis, alright?”

“You sweet talker. Hmph, suit yourself. Oh, prepare herb soup for her as well,”

“Will do. Aaa, almost forgot,”

He walked to the side of the bed, looking in between the bed and wall. His hand digging in, he took out a green amulet. A strange feeling came rushing in, he felt a tremendous life-force.

'What the...?'

Perhaps it was due to his sense leveling up to Level 50, he could feel the abundance within it. As he held it, he felt calm, soothing.

With his sleeve, he cleaned it a little, placing it on the mirror table next to the bed. Hands barely leaving it, he took it again, placing it by her side.

Natalia's side.

Seeing the dim light coming from the amulet, Kristine raised her back.

“What’s that?”

“Hers. Accidently threw it when I ripped her dress,”

“Oh… Ah, Krone! Don’t go and rip a lady’s dress next time! You— I know you’re at that age already, but control your—”

“Wait, that’s emergency! I didn’t mean it that way,”

After a bit more nagging, she excused him. Exhausted, Krone went out of the room. Closing the door, he sighed.

A rather long one.

He knew, he was so close to losing Natalia. He slapped his forehead, for that was his mistake. He bit his lips, blood coming out.

His eyes, sharp.

'I'll have to learn from this,'

...He put it aside, for now.

Back to his usual mood.

“What a night, well, time to bully newbies— I mean, train. Of course I mean train.”

He walked towards the next building, his steps light.

As he walked, his mind kept on thinking.

'That man, why did he, remind me of dad?'

...

=== Chapter 42 ‘Core Residue’ End ===