CHAPTER 146.

The new Core Skill was nothing short of amazing, and it awed Amber. It was well worth the 25 level wait.

[New Core Skill! For reaching level 225 as a Fledgling Primordial Human you have learned Primordial Exertion.

You’ve ascended past the limits of humanity and have become something beyond a simple human. Having attained a constitution that inherently carries Primordial Power you can now endure greater hardships and exert more of your strength. And now, you can push your body even further by exerting it beyond its purpose. Once a day draw all of the strength of your body either in a single burst or for a period of time. The amount of exertion your body can undergo within 24 hours is dependent on you.

Estimated attribute increase: 1% to 10000%+

The cooldown of this skill cannot be reset with Primordial Power.]

It was yet another body enhancement skill, except it would allow her to throw a single punch that was over a hundred times her base strength. It would also just allow her to increase her in a way that suited her. And sure, maybe if some people learned that she was now getting a core skill every 25 levels and all she got was yet another body enhancement skill they’d be quite disappointed. But Amber felt differently about it, after all, unlike Accursed Strength’s frenzy mode it didn’t have a very long cooldown. Sure one day seemed like a lot, but given it would allow her to end her enemy no matter what, Amber didn’t see the issue.

While she didn’t know how strong her attack would actually be in comparison to her other strong attacks, she still felt glad to have yet another finisher alternative in her arsenal, and this time it was one that went with what she liked.

It wasn’t shooting a stupid arrow, or doing a stupid lightning storm and playing mage ⁠— well, she liked the arrow ⁠— nor was it doing anything else that wasn’t what she liked. It was purely a hand to hand combat skill, and that made her feel like she was on cloud nine. Especially because she didn’t feel bound to save it to end fights or anything.

Amber grinned. “I couldn’t have asked for something better.”

A skill about exertion; it was a skill that would allow her to push her limits to the fullest, and she couldn’t have asked for more.

The real question was.

“How much can I actually exert my body?” She thought for a moment before grinning. “Well, guess I’ll find out very soon.”

Amber turned to the end of the room, where the floors would continue from now on. But she knew that it would be boring and repetitive, and she knew that with her new Core Skill things would make things even simpler. Plus, there was no way for her to access the second floor of the armory if that was the case.

After all, to be a hero means to overcome a great challenge.

And there is also the fact that I have to figure out things in regards to the 1st Realm of Stars, and I have a feeling that this is related to pushing my limits.

And that was why she thought it was now a good time to use the information she had learned from Arden.

“In rare occurrences the tower will offer opportunities to the climber,” Amber murmured as she remembered the text. “However, it’s also possible to make a request to the Shattered Tower, even if it will not necessarily be heard…”

She took a deep breath as she resolved herself.

“I have a request, Shattered Tower. I yearn for a true challenge, will you give me that?”

Her voice rang in the empty room, and then there was silence. To some extent, Amber felt nervous and doubtful about whether the tower would listen to her, but she still convinced herself that she was unique, that she was more than deserving to be heard, and yet there was no reply even after a minute.

But just as she was beginning to lose hope, a notification came.

[For your extraordinary performance, the Shattered Tower hears your request and makes the necessary adjustments. You have entered Challenge Mode, where only those that are worthy of the Shattered Tower triumph. And for those that aren’t, only death awaits.]

Seeing those words, Amber couldn’t help but grin as she heard cracking and the sounds of stone moving all over in her surroundings. The notebook left by Arden didn’t mention anything about Challenge Mode, but that made her even more excited. After all, Amber just had a feeling that what she had experienced so far in the tower was not going to be the norm anymore.

And that everything will change.

She chuckled as she headed to the teleporter only to blink as she realized there was a barrier on it. One that immediately gave her a notification.

[You may continue to the next floor in: 10 hours and 32 minutes…]

However, instead of frustrating her it only made her excited. Because that meant that whatever awaited her was going to be good.

And so, Amber went and found the regression teleporter and went back to the 110th floor to rest. Where she found Arden’s notebook and also was forced to rest. The first thing she did was take out her notebook and review what Frei was doing only to find herself completely and utterly confused. It wasn’t that she was inept with magic so much as Frei just being too good. Though she supposed that was an Archmage.

She took a couple of hours but eventually made sense of things and made her own small additions. While it wasn’t as fast as she would’ve liked ⁠— mainly because of time dilation ⁠— the schematics were slowly but surely reaching completion, and while Amber considered just etching what were considered the drafts onto her body, the last thing she wanted was to be in extreme pain only for there to be issues.

After all, if the runes interfere with one another I’ll end up weaker instead of stronger…

Amber sighed as she put the book down, and finally she decided to nap. While she wanted to test her skill asap, she decided she wanted to find a worthy opponent first. And that was why, with herculean effort, she managed to take a nap.

However, contrary to her expectations, as she fell asleep, she found herself before her core, staring at it in her dream. It was something that had never happened before.

Her core had cracks all over. It looked like a shining blue beach ball, except it was made out of rock and was in constant flames. While Amber wanted to feel anxious about her core being that cracked, she didn’t. In fact, she felt like it was a good thing. Perhaps it was due to her dreamy and hazy mind, but nothing felt out of the ordinary to her.

If I touch it, something will happen… she thought.

She extended her hand and touched its surface, breaking it. First was the membrane which fell apart like an egg-shell and left a white inner core to be seen. Then without touching it, that one shattered too and gave way to what was the ignited nucleus, which was now a simple blue flame.

The sight, for some odd reason, made her feel happy and fulfilled. And she felt like her nucleus was calling for her.

Amber felt confused, but still reached for the flame, and when she did it engulfed her. Her entire body went up in flames, and while at first she expected pain all she felt instead was power. Power over her Essence, as it became second nature, and also comfort. She looked down at her flaming hand, and couldn’t help but blink.

What is this⁠—

And she awoke in a cold sweat.

Amber jolted with a hand on her chest as she blinked, before peering into her own core and seeing what she saw in the dream.

“It was a vision… a hint…” Amber hesitated before saying what she had in mind, “…to reach the next advancement of my core…”

It was a clue to reaching the First Realm of Stars. And she didn’t know what to make of it. Of course, she tried to move her Essence around and shatter the walls of her core manually, she also tried touching it in her mind’s eye but it didn’t achieve anything either. So, it was a clue, just perhaps not the most obvious one.

Her brows furrowed as she pondered over things, she was well aware that she had to push her core for it to evolve or whatever it was doing at this point. But she remained lost. Amber decided to review the notebook left behind by Arden but it didn’t provide any insight, same went for Asil’s notebook.

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So that just left her with exploring it on her own. From what she knew this first realm was the first step on a new ladder of power. And it was absolutely necessary for her to go through it if she wanted to reach godhood, but at the same time she had a feeling that it was similar to a Class Advancement. It represented a new stage for her core, and something completely new that she wasn’t aware of.

The question was what exactly did it represent? It was something she wanted to know, but something she didn’t have an answer to yet.

Amber shook her head and decided that for now she wouldn’t think too hard about it, after all there was something she wanted to do first.

She got out of bed and headed to the end of the 111th floor only to find it open, and couldn’t help but grin.

It’s time to test my new Core Skill.

And with that, she stepped into the teleporter.

* * *

The Juvenile Stone Basilisk.

A grand and magnificent beast. A juvenile off-spring from an apex predator heralding from the depths of the stone mountains in Ill’hine, and just like its primogenitors it was destined for greatness. In this new world, it was certain to be a ruler. Even in its weakened and suppressed state the Juvenile Stone Basilisk understood that it was meant for greatness.

Standing on the highest percentiles of strength in the world, there were few beings that could defy it, and that was while it had yet to reach its true potential; when it was weakened. It feared nothing and bowed to nothing, for there was no being that could truly defy its petrifying gaze. No being that could truly threaten its scaled and slithering body. With scales that could resist the harshest weathers, that could resist the rain of stars itself, there was nothing that he had to fear.

The Juvenile Stone Basilisk overlooked his domain, the green land which it ruled. One with greenery and plants, one where there were no challengers; one that it had claimed from other beings matching its strength. Centuries had passed since anyone had dared to invade its domain, but they were killed all the same.

It feared nothing and bowed to nothing, for nothing could overthrow it, nothing could challenge it, nor anything dared to⁠—

“Oh! You feel so strong⁠— wait, why is your level so low?”

The Juvenile Stone Basilisk turned and saw a two legged creature that dared to invade its territory, just like the one from centuries ago and hissed as it glared at the creature. Its petrifying gaze turning the creature’s limbs into stone as it began to freeze up. It was unworthy of its presence.

So weak. Pathetic.

The Juvenile Stone Basilisk looked down at its new invader with disdain as it kept on marching forward, the stone of its limbs cracking and tearing their body apart. But it was futile, in the end, nothing could defy it. Nothing.

“Well, whatever⁠— time to test this.”

It raised its fist and the Juvenile Stone Basilisk froze. Fear like never before assaulted it as its eyes went wide, and the human walked forward with its fist raised; the stone all over its body shattering. And the Juvenile Stone Basilisk felt indignation, before feeling rage. Nothing should have been able to bring its primal fears forward, it must’ve been some sort of trick.

And this human dared to deceive it? It was going to crush it!

The Juvenile Stone Basilisk burned his Essence as its strength tripled, and it burst forward as it reached the human, whipping its tail to kill her at once. It was a ruler. A natural born apex predator. And nothing could defy it⁠—

The human punched and the Juvenile Stone Basilisk exploded from the inside.

Its flesh left its orifices as its insides burst, its scales cracked and it hit the backwall with a loud explosion, upturning the trees and plants inside its land from the force. And then, a second later it fell to the ground.

Dead.

* * *

[You have defeated a [Juvenile Stone Basilisk. Lvl. 233].]

Amber whistled as she leaned against a tree, exhausted and drenched in sweat.

“That was something.”

Using Primordial Exertion felt like never before. One moment she felt all powerful and the other she almost collapsed to the ground from extreme tiredness. Her entire body ached in severe pain as well, but at the same time her hands were trembling with excitement.

The Juvenile Stone Basilisk was strong, seriously. She was quite certain it could kill the drake she had fought not too long ago, at least that’s how it felt to her senses. Though it’s level certainly didn’t match its strength.

Well not like mine does either. Amber suppressed a chuckle as she struggled to stay standing. Then she let out a breath of happiness. Primordial Exertion is… amazing.

Technically speaking she could do another punch like that; if she wanted to die anyway. She used every single cell in her body, every single part other that she could channel into her skill she did, and the result was nothing short of amazing. Amber chuckled as she stared at the Essence coming from the corpse.

She was refraining from taking it for now, because she needed her full focus for that. And right now, she was too busy admiring her new skill. Which was, well, amazing.

Amber rested for a few minutes while daydreaming about the best ways to use her skill; given her body made her acutely aware of how much exertion it was undergoing. Unfortunately, this exertion, while not supernatural, wasn’t a normal amount of wear, it was closer to getting every single ounce of strength from her body which left her temporarily exhausted.

She moved from the tree with a small smile and reached for the Essence emanating from the fallen basilisk’s corpse. Then, she looked into her body as she began to absorb the Essence, and one thing that she noted is how her core greedily absorbed it without change, and yet the process made her frown.

That makes no sense.

She urged the foreign Essence that was being absorbed and moved it, more specifically urged it to break the cracks of her core ⁠— or the cracks of her membrane rather. And to her surprise, it did⁠— it slightly chipped them further as her core finished taking the Essence in. And Amber felt warmth, warmth that she hadn’t felt before.

Then she noticed the blue light leaking from the spots that broke apart, and she couldn’t help but smile.

So my weird cryptic dream was right… It was definitely a revelation, and she was thankful for it. So now I just have to keep killing stuff until I can peel it all away, right?

Unfortunately, her own Essence did absolutely nothing to those cracks, but thankfully doing it with the Essence of her enemies didn’t seem too bad.

“This is getting interesting.”

She was well aware that the peeling her membrane was the mere first step on this whole ordeal, but even then, it excited her greatly. The idea of getting yet another power boost ⁠— even if it came from Essence ⁠— just made her extremely happy.

Maybe I’ll be able to teleport with it eventually.

She was looking forward to exploring that once she was done with getting her Core Advancement, though she supposed the proper terminology for it was probably completely different.

“Still… this is great…”

Amber turned to the teleporter to the next floor and went over with a skip of her steps. She didn’t care to wait for Primordial Exertion to be back up, mainly because in an actual real life scenario she couldn’t just afford to wait a day between battles.

Amber entered the teleporter as green light enveloped her. And a moment later, she was teleported.

[Floor 113.]

She cracked her knuckles as she looked ahead and saw a pit of black fire, with monsters swirling in it, it certainly looked interesting. On the floor, she saw a stone with an engraving on it.

“Endurance and pain tolerance go hand in hand.

Without them there is no world in which one can survive.”

She blinked at that. “Pain tolerance training, huh? Not something I expected, but…” Her expression turned serious. “Something I certainly welcome with my upcoming plans.”

And so, with a smile, Amber stepped onto the fire.

This tower was meant to be a challenge, so it was natural that she would try her hardest to push herself while being in it.

And for the next few days, that’s exactly what she did.

* * *

Not a lot of her skills leveled. In fact, from her class, only reignition, creation, recovery and rage leveled. With Accursed Recovery leveling up three times, and the rest twice. The same could be said about her Legacy Branch, where Crimson Fuel and Demonic Frenzy were the only skills to level, which they did twice; and as for General Skills? Only her basic resistances leveled, also twice and allowing them to reach level 10.

[Accursed Reignition has leveled up from 5th Rank level 4 to 5th Rank level 6.]

[Accursed Creation has leveled up from 5th Rank level 3 to 5th Rank level 5.]

[Accursed Recovery has leveled up from 5th Rank level 4 to 4th Rank level 7.]

[Accursed Rage Synergy has leveled up from 5th Rank level 6 to 5th Rank level 8.]

[Crimson Fuel has leveled up from 3rd Rank level 6 to 3rd Rank level 8.]

[Demonic Frenzy has leveled up from level 8 to 10.]

[Elemental Resistance has leveled up from 5th Rank level 8 to 5th Rank level 10.]

[Physical Resistance has leveled up from 5th Rank level 8 to 5th Rank level 10.]

[Magical Resistance has leveled up from 5th Rank level 8 to 5th Rank level 10.]

But instead of being disappointed, Amber was happy, because nothing remained of her core. Or almost nothing, just a few white flakes here and there. And she really did her best, killing everything she could find all the way to the 116th floor; which was her current location.

And now, all that was left was to peel the little that remained, and see what happened.

And fortunately, she had the opportunity to do so.

She grinned looking at the growling boss monster that was bloodied, and angry, yet it refused to go near her. And that was because she didn’t hold back, but even though she herself was also bathed in blood, she knew the battle was over. Because she purposefully didn’t use a skill of hers all this time.

Primordial Exertion.

Perhaps it was because she wanted to savor the moment, or something, but either way, it was time to end it now. She looked at the boss monster. A white gorilla with the head of a lion. One whom met her gaze, and immediately became angry and rushed towards her, and Amber in response, grinned.

She raised her fist and pushed her entire being into her skill, as the monster reached her and she slashed.

Cursewelder hit the monster square in the chest and it⁠— slashed it in half as blood and entrails went flying in all directions and the floor was cleaved open.

Amber grinned.

[You have defeated a [Fledgling King of the Snow. Lvl. 240].]

For defeating an enemy 10 levels above your own, you have received bonus experience!

It wasn’t particularly high level; none of the monsters were after Challenge Mode started, even if their power was high. They did seem to slowly be getting higher level. But that didn’t matter, not right now. Because right now, her focus wasn’t on getting levels, but rather her core.

Amber smiled as she began to absorb the Essence and peel away the rest of her core, only a few flakes remained, and when she did, it exploded up in flames as she felt her attributes increase.

And with it, a vision began playing in her mind, accompanied with words.

Your membrane has been broken, starting the first step towards Realm Ascension.