Juan gripped the Red Orb tightly, its warmth seeping into his palm. As he raised the orb to eye level. He observed the surface shimmered, a kaleidoscope of reds and oranges swirling within.
Its so beautiful.
He couldn’t tear his eyes away from the swirling orb. Its fiery hues reminded him of the marbles they used to play with as children, holding them up to the sun and watching the light dance across their smooth, glassy surfaces. A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips as the memory surfaced.
Ela would’ve loved this, Juan thought, picturing his big sister’s face. She had always been the bold, playful one—quick to tease, shield him, or call out his awkwardness. Yet, beneath that tough exterior, her kindness shone as brightly as the fiery glow of the orb.
She’d probably laugh at me, he thought. He could almost hear her teasing voice, playful and sharp, mocking him for getting so worked up over something like this.
Juan looked at his dirty school uniform and wondered what Ela would think of the mess he was in now. She had always been the one who could handle anything. If only he had even a fraction of her courage.
If only... I’d even collect all seven marbles, just like in those anime. Anything to bring her back, anything to make it right.
"Stop daydreaming," Juan muttered under his breath. With a sigh, he opened his Codex - Archive page and selected Claim above the Blue Orb.
For a moment, nothing happened—then, slowly, an orb rose from the page, rippling like something surfacing from water.
Juan stared at the two orbs resting in his palms - the fiery Red Orb and the newly materialized Blue Orb.
What to choose? he wondered, glancing down at the Codex in his lap, he flipped to the Core page, studying the three slots labeled Might, Soul, and Mind. Juan tried to tap every edge, every label on the page, but none offered him any details.
Might
Ⓞ
Soul
Ⓞ
Mind
Ⓞ
I need a clue or guidance please.
Juan think in silence, his mind drifting back to the conversation he heard between Nathan and Derek. He tried to recall the details, piecing them together. There was more to it than he had first realized.
First, he remembered Derek show how it was possible to change an orb. That much was clear. Second, there was talked about essences. Something that was required to make the change, something Juan wasn’t quite sure about yet.
And Third, the blood. That was the part that stuck with him the most. Derek hadn’t been fine during the change—Juan had witnessed it firsthand. It was bloody, painful to look, and the memory made him hesitate. He wasn’t sure if he was ready to go through the same thing with his own orb.
"Essence..." Juan murmured as he navigated to the Archive page. The most abundant essence he had was Fire essence. It seemed clear now—the answer had to be the red orb. It was the only choice.
Speaking of Essence, I still have no idea how to acquire it.
Juan triple-checked his character profile, wanting to make sure he was in the ideal condition before performing the act. So its the Codex who's using the Mana. I guess, I need to wait.
Mana 23/100
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
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When the soul drifts in boredom, the mind wanders into realms where the impossible stirs and the horizon calls.
Juan lay flat on the swamp branch, his drowsy eyes partially closed as they glance the swamp beneath.
Wolves... zombies... a swamp... more wolves...vines... weird trees everywhere. But wait... that tree trunk—why does it look so... odd? It’s.. shaped like a butt. Heh.
Juan’s thoughts abruptly shifted, and he sprang to his feet. That's right! I can pick them off one by one. He eyed the nearest tree, close enough that he wouldn’t need to jump to reach it. But can I actually stand on it?
His gaze sharpened as he studied it; the trunk lay parallel to the ground, elevated enough for a person to move across it comfortably and they can't reach him from the ground. A grin tugged at his lips. If any wolves tried to follow him onto the trunk, they'd have to squeeze in one by one, unable to surround him.
Juan glanced at his recovered mana.
Mana 42/100
Not enough for his Orb experiment. He sighed. I really should start cleaning up these wolves.
Thankfully, both of his orbs were still in pristine condition. He had already tested this with his Fire Orb, ensuring it could remain outside the Codex without disintegrating—unlike what had happened to Derek's Codex.
Juan slipped the orbs into his pouch, deciding against returning them to the Codex—it felt like a waste of Mana to summon them again. I’ll sort through my items later, he thought, his gaze briefly lingering on the pouch.
I’ll leave this ever-burning torch here, too.
Juan placing his torch beside the pouch on the branch. The torch had earned its nickname after burning steadily for nearly half a day. This has to be magical item, I just hope it lasts. Juan firmly believed.
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The sun was casting the first signs of afternoon light over the forsaken swamp.
Juan peered over the edge and successfully made it to the other tree, his eyes scanning the area for any signs of movement. The wolves were disoriented, their howls laced with confusion. Good, I've got a moment to prepare.
Reaching into his pocket, Juan retrieved his broken glasses, the frames bent and one lens cracked. He slid them back onto his face, the familiar weight providing a small comfort. They're not much use anymore, but I can't bring myself to take them off.
He took a deep breath and focused on the stone axe in his right hand. It had served him well in countless time. Tightening his hold, he wrapped his belt around the handle, securing it further.
Cautiously, he began to make his way across.
As he navigated the path, Juan couldn't help but marvel at his own daring. I never thought I'd be doing something like this.
A sudden rustling in the undergrowth below caught his attention, and he paused. Narrowing his eyes, he peered down, searching for the source of the disturbance. They finally caught up.
Carefully, he stood, testing the stability of the tree trunk beneath him. To his relief, it held firm, the bark offering just enough traction to move with relative ease. Yet, that wasn’t enough. Reaching for nearby vines, Juan sliced them free, tying them around the trunk for added support. Juan gripped the vines with his left hand, then tested the swing of his axe, gauging its weight and balance. Good enough!
Juan's heart pounded in his chest as he waited, every sense on high alert. The air was thick with the scent of decaying vegetation and the damp, earthy aroma of the swamp. The distant call of unfamiliar sounds echoed through the trees, adding to the fucking ambiance.
Drawing courage from the memory of his previous victories. Juan waited.
The disgusting creatures emerged from the undergrowth, their matted fur and decaying flesh. Juan wrinkled his nose at the stench, but he refused to let it distract him. His eyes focused as the first wolf leapt towards the tree trunk.
"T..Aaa-aaa!" Juan shouted, tapping his chest with a mix of amusement and enjoyment, though a trace of fear lingered beneath as he firmly stood in place.
With a swift swing, Juan brought the axe down, the sharp edge slicing through the wolf's head. It fell to the ground with a sickening thud, its lifeless body twitching. The other wolves, undeterred, began to scramble up the trunk.
"One down," Juan muttered. When the next wolf charged, he swung once more, this time using the flat side of his axe, which knocked the wolf back with tremendous impact.
Looking down at the dead wolves below, Juan weighed his options. Which attack would be more effective: a slicing blow or a blunt strike? His axe, with its dual-edge stone, offered both. One side was sharp like a blade, ideal for slicing, while the other was blunt, capable of hammering down with crushing force.
The wolves continued to push forward, their numbers growing as they piled on top of one another, desperate to reach Juan.
With each swing of the axe, Juan's confidence grew. The satisfying crunch of bone, the sight of zombie-wolves falling one by one—he was in control. He wouldn't let these creatures take that from him.
Swinging it like a hammer for blunt force seemed to be the better idea.
The remaining wolves showed no sign of fear, their eyes burning with a feral hunger. Juan knew better than to relax—he couldn't afford to let his guard slip. But for now, he had the advantage.
The wolves kept coming.
Juan wiped the sweat from his brow, pausing for a deep breath. His muscles screamed in protest, the weight of the battle settling in, but he remained on his feet, still alive.
As Juan swung the axe with a forceful strike at one wolf, he failed to notice another creeping up behind it. Just as the second wolf lunged, its jaws snapping dangerously close, a flash of movement in Juan's peripheral vision caught this. Reacting on instinct, he stepped back, narrowly avoiding the wolf’s attack.
That's too close. Juan whispered, his throat dry. Damn, I'm so thirsty. He hadn't been able to drink anything since he arrived at the shoreline.
The wolves below continued to circle, their growls and snarls filling the air. Juan knew he couldn't stay on the tree trunk forever, but he also couldn't risk descending into the swarm.
"Thirteen more to go," Juan gritted out, his throat dry and scratchy. But I'm slowing down... that last one almost got me.