ACCR Chapter 15 Impulse

The core is the energy source that powers those cultivators within the Core Formation, and Nascent Soul, great stages. A cultivator at the very peak of Foundation Establishment has to shatter the core, compressing it with the existing spiritual energy lake within their bodies in order to start a fusion reaction, thereby birthing the core.

The energy produced by these cores is akin to that of a solar star, almost limitless and perpetual, thereby making the cultivators at these two great stages, a cut above all those below.

Before the formation of every single core, three tenets must be observed. They are the pillars that make sure that every cultivator's ascension goes on without a hitch.

Those three pillars start at the Foundation Establishment stage, where a cultivator inscribes rune formations upon their altar. And those three, are namely, the elemental attunement of their spiritual energy, the material state they want it to exist as, and the last is the form it can be discharged as.

These three are what all cores are based around upon their formation, and mine, was an emerald sphere radiating with wood energy.

Wood energy was the element, while the state of matter upon manifesting in the outside world was that of a solid, though not entirely. And the form, was that of plants.

Even for an element as niche as wood, your imagination was the limit. For example, someone could choose to manifest it into a solid state, but instead of plant life, they could choose to manifest the energy in the form of weapons.

The surface of my wood core was constantly radiating energy into the void that was my dantian. The radiated energy then made it to the walls of the dantian, which acted like a Dyson sphere, absorbing all that radiation and converting it into a semi-liquid state, circulating within my entire body.

The reason my nascent soul was within this void of space, closely observing my Star-like core was simply because I wanted to see whether I could glean any signs of how a Nascent Soul could mesh with the core.

I couldn't experiment it myself as I hadn't yet arrived at the peak of this stage. That would be akin to challenging the heavens themselves, with the chance of death, high.

A vibration, minute enough not to annoy me, yet prominent enough to alert me, was released by a particle within my divine sensory range, which was currently only confined to the room I was within.

If someone was trying to contact me after my previous instructions, then that meant that the matter was somewhat urgent and couldn't be delayed. So, with a sigh, I stood up and teleported by the door, which automatically slid to the side, exposing the culprit.

Latniss, in a long plain white skirt coupled with a matching blouse, stood before me, her white eyes glowing with what I could only take to be anticipation.

Instantly, I averted my gaze, though in a manner that made it seem like my thoughts were far from her. This was a skill I had had to continously perfect in her presence.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

"What made you interrupt my seclusion?" I asked.

(Outside of a city, in the state of Indonesia, two beings suspected to be in the Core Formation realm, have engaged in an altercation. One is suspected to be Lily Toba, with the other possessing an unknown signature within the Federal database.)

She transmitted through her divine sense, knowing that verbal speech would be too slow.

The moment she finished, I teleported into the situation room, where a few others were gathered.

(What is the current situation?) I broadcasted, feeling a sense of urgency within me. I chastised myself inwardly, for not having arranged protection for the woman. I had known that she was a prime target for Zeus, yet I hadn't taken any precautions, thinking that even he, wouldn't push for violent methods this early.

(Casey?! How come she's there? Didn't she say that she was heading to Bolivia?)

(Another Core Formation? Who is this person with so many high level subordinates?)

(I can't even start to imagine this being Zeus' plot)

(Nah, this is most definitely not Zeus' work. The man would never do anything below his pride and arrogance without first exhausting the legal and aboveboard means.)

(A Nascent Soul cultivator is someone who shouldn't be casually underestimated. They can mask their original personalities so deeply that everything is just a layer.)

(What is Casey doing there?)

I had wanted to roar that question out, but ultimately, simply asked with a semblance of calm. Though, I felt rage, there was also a tiny sliver of the relief that the woman had acted on impulse.

(Oops!)

-----

"Livia, your ancestors have put in their blood, sweat and tears in order to give a chance to their descendants... Namely, you. So why are you trying to destroy their hard work by throwing this... Tantrum?"

"What hardwork are you talking about, Zeus? I don't see anything that their efforts have done."

"An oath must be sworn first. Then you will be eligible."

"I have a passionate hate for shackles, Mr. Zeus. My sect has been directing a very large volume of resources to that so-called project, without seeing any tangible returns. Though I haven't managed to get the data I need because of your oaths, I have managed to glean something. And there are many things I don't like about it."

"The project is close to completion."

"So what? I am not as gullible as those old geezers with just a century to depart the mortal coil."

"Little girl..." I started, with my patience having been worn thin until there was nothing left.

"...you should listen to your damned ancestors. Do you really want all the resources they have invested till now, go to waste. Think carefully before you answer, because there will be no refund!" I glared at her.

"I wasn't the one who spent the resources, so, I don't care about any returns."

This little girl was really insufferable! I really wished I was on the other side of this screen, because I would fry every single cell within her body with my lightning. A Great God like myself wasn't someone to be disrespected!

" I take it that Radiance will be withdrawing, then?"

"Yes." That curt answer was the last word before she unilaterally closed her end of the communications.

It was a tiny wrinkle. It would have been a massive problem if she had withdrawn during the early to mid stages of the project, but now, almost every resource had been gathered.

'Will she tartle to the Federation?'

That was a question worth ruminating about. I couldn't order an assassination right now... But maybe I could show her what she missed out on by annihilating that Radiance sect and crippling her cultivation. Maybe then, she will develop true regret and remorse. Just the thought of her expression at the time brought joy to my heart.

Though, I should still keep a vigilant eye on that sect. If they start getting chummy with the Federation, new contingencies will have to be devised. Before I could start using my brain power to come up with countermeasures, a particular transmission birthed rage within me to the point that lightning danced within the office.

-----

"HADES!!!" My roar exploded within the sky for miles. Clouds, ones laden with thunder had gathered at my behest as I looked at the abyss below, a massive hole with a diameter close to 500m.

Lightning bolts, ones gigantic enough to bring terror to even those a realm below me, swarm within the clouds. How could I not have figured out the purpose of sending those pawns to wreck havoc within the Federation, not to mention the mere fact that they had targeted Lily Toba?

I stood in the sky, waiting for the lesser God himself to show up. He must have heard the roar, the crackle of thunder that was shaking even the ground, killing the mortals around the entrance to his domain. He was blatantly ignoring me, his leader!

With a thought, the artifact, the 'Lightning conjurer, appeared within my hands, with the slithering snakes of lightning above me being absorbed into it like water to a sponge.

"HADES! ARE YOU GOING TO COME OUT, OR AM I GOING TO HAVE TO DESTROY MY WAY DOWN!"

After a few seconds, I lowered my hand as if I was hurling a javelin, and the lightning exploded from the tip, transforming into a gigantic bolt that struck the ground in the hole, superheated it until it became boiling magma, before sinking below, creating breaches in all the levels of the underworld. The screams of the weak servants became music to the ears, yet they didn't alleviate my rage.

With my core working at maximum capacity, I plummeted below, with lightning tendrils streaking out from my body, ending the lives of the puny insects still holding on, during my passage to the deepest layer, where I had sensed Hades' aura.