Chapter 9 - Reforged

“Are they already condensing their cores?”

“Indeed and you better hop to as well.” Sitting up she placed a pill in my hand, with an explanation, “This will keep you topped up, a gathering pill of the fifth rank, while intended for those a tier higher then yourself, the amount of essence you will go through makes it a non-issue. However, if you stop too soon, you will overload and die.” In apprehension I grabbed the pill and nodded towards her. It’s all about balance after all right?

“Will increasing my stats help?”

She seemed surprised, “You have some left over? Yes, it would, Intelligence will increase your overall abilities with essence manipulation, while wisdom will increase your mental fortitude. Stamina will help you bear through it, but only by a bit.

Putting actions to words, I pulled up my stat sheet and dumped the 6 free points within.

Name: Cildarian

Level: 1

Race: Unrefined Human

Core: (Error)

Natural Affinity: Air

Lesser Affinities: Fire, (Error), (Error), (Error)

Bloodline: Unknown (Affinity Related)

STR - 7 (Strength)

STA - 7 (+1) (Stamina)

DEX - 8 (Dexterity)

WIS - 8 (+2) (Wisdom)

INT - 12 (+3) (Intelligence)

CHA - 5 (Charisma)

LCK - 2 (Luck)

Free Points: 0

Achievements: N/A

Resources: N/A

I felt the energy run through me, my mind clearer, sharper. My body experienced a rush of vital energy sweeping my previous lethargy away completely. Grinning at the feeling, I noticed the world around me in more detail, Acacia looking even more painfully beautiful. Shaking off distractions I closed my eyes and concentrated on my center.

My Core, compared to the previous small kernel, was now a massive swirl of diffuse energy taking up the majority of my center it seemed. *You must compress the essence as much as possible, increasing the quality and decreasing the size. Don’t fret, you will not lose any actual capacity, just creating room for future growth. Do your best to get all of it, good luck, and do try to keep pace with the essence influx.” And her presence like before, vanished.

Steeling myself for what was to come I took the pill and immediately started to feel energy pouring in. My mind and will stretched and strained to surround the well of power within me and I squeezed. Forcing myself forward I bore down upon my core as it started to contract. The energy around me seemed to help pushing down dangerously as it lost space to go, filling my meridians when it had nowhere else. Grunting I completed the first compression, a shooting pain going through my psyche, unlike before where it was a constant, the pain came all at once, almost as if it was saving itself to be released. While unphased, it was quite the step up in difficulty from before.

~Inferior quality energy achieved~

With that notification my core shrunk by ten percent, but the energy rampaging inside lessened by a much more significant amount, the energy filling my meridians rushed forward. I noticed the vapor turning slightly heavier, and I continued. One more compression and the pain that hit rose by another degree, although all at once it was as if A’dals sword point hit my center. Better prepared and with higher stats I continued pushing forward, as my core shrunk, surprisingly it became easier to surround and focus my will inwards imagining I was a damn trash compactor. Considering that should say more about my self worth then I thought should be studied at the time. I continued but the actual act of condensing steadily became more difficult, not to mention the mounting pressure from the gathering pill, it seemed to be picking up speed, which meant I was running behind.

~Common energy quality achieved~

Another contraction and by an additional twenty percent my core shrunk once more. The vapor became a heavy mist, thick as walking through a swamp it felt, and I knew this was quite a big power boost by itself, instinct, however guided me forward. Not that I needed it, as the energy pouring into my body continued to fill my center at an alarming rate. Wasting no time I forged forward into the crucible.

The fourth contraction almost shook my concentration in surprise at the intensity, following the same rules of compounding pain as previous, but there was no way all the fluctuations and knives in my mind in that moment was equal to my previous experience, it was too potent. Persevering I continued through the process of compacting my core, small amounts of progress visible with each one. The sixth and final of the common tier tribulation came, bracing myself I held on as the feeling of getting hit by a car shook my internal organs, waves of the implosion that occurred surprised me, I gritted my teeth and spit blood outside my body.

~Uncommon Energy quality achieved, incipient advanced density increase occurring. You are among the first of your planet to achieve this.~

I blew out a hard breath as the fluctuations stilled, surrounding my core I noticed it had shrunk by yet another twenty percent. The decrease in size was disappointing, having expected more until I saw the thick miasma that was my energy. I could understand why Acacia called it essence now, it was in a very real sense the essence of who I was, I could see the light blue of my air thick, more tangible than before. The fire was raging, I could almost feel the heat of its intent to consume it was so readily apparent. The specks of energy I could only see briefly were present, always there, and different from everything else, I couldn’t identify them yet but they were there, inert but waiting to be discovered.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Harnessing my will, I gathered my intent and crushed it down, merciless. The pain that greeted me was equally ruthless. The car was there impacting my insides, while stabbing pain entered the fray once again, feeling as if I was being hammered into the ground like a rag doll onto thick shards of glass.

I slowed for a moment, catching my breath. Which was a mistake as the energy engaging my core was quickly overtaking it, spurring my actions forward in order not to die. Considering I might actually die I hugged that fucking energy as if my life depended on it, because it did. Forward my progress sprinted, uncaring of the pain, the shocks only shaking my resolve as I crossed the final threshold into rare rarity. It was a mind numbing pain that shattered my sense of self but I bore down upon it and continued, everything that I was on the line.

~Rare energy quality reached. Density magnified. You are the first of your planet to accomplish this! Rewards available.~

My body shook and blood once more spilled from my lips, pores and I was pretty sure I looked like a damn zombie. My core shook and drew in upon itself, approaching its previous size. It was not a simple thing, the energy was as almost as thick as a liquid, actively fighting its constraints as more and more energy poured in from who the fuck knows where. If I could have quit right here, I would have. My meridians started filling again, the energy my body was drawing also took a qualitative leap. My time was limited. I lost track of the amount of times I drew up my strength and bore down upon my core. The pain was like nothing else I had ever imagined.

Soon I knew the finish line was near, the energy cycling into me was lessening its impact upon me, my core drawing in greedily what it was offered, yet the bottomless pit was unsatiated. I noticed I lost energy with every compaction but it was replaced by similar liquid-like essence, non-stop. I didn’t know if I could continue. Every step was blinding, if this was a cliff I wouldn't be hanging by my fingertips, but by the bone beneath that was ground away under the relentless onslaught.

Determination sparked in me as something came roaring to the fore, something I didn't possess before, grabbing ahold of it, energy soared through me from unknown origin. I didnt care where it came from, I went forward, I compressed once more, the pain growing to a crescendo as I and whatever was helping me growled with animalistic instincts, denying what will be ours. Again I crushed my core down, the animal with me roaring in fury. And finally after being absolutely destroyed from within, a notification.

~Legendary energy quality achieved. Density reaching new realms. You are the first in your universe to do so. Rewards enhanced~

More prompts entered my fading vision, then nothing.

**********

I woke up in a bed surrounded by white walls and some dude way too close to my face. I kicked him, yelling “The fuck!?!?”

He went tumbling across the ground, grunting.

I jumped out of the bed and reached for the sword that wasn't there, actually, nothing was there but a gown.

“Wait wait! I was just checking on you!” He was clothed in blue scrubs and cowering as he got to his feet and I snorted in amusement, the scene almost too out of the ordinary to take seriously.

“Trying to kiss me huh!?” I held in my laughter as the guy's face whitened and he started stuttering.

“W-w-wha? N-n-no absolutely not! Hold on hold on!” Then he started yelling “Can I have an acolyte in here please?? QUICKLY!” I couldn't hold it back anymore, I started laughing. Moments later the acolyte came in and seeing me up said calmly, “Let me go get A’dal.” But I wasn’t done having my fun.

I pointed at the unfortunate soul, “That guy was trying to diddle me.” His face lost more color.

“Diddle?” the white robed acolyte asked.

“Oh yes, trying to take advantage of my vulnerable state, he's a diddler for sure. Trying to party with my pants down, trying to plug into my no-no zone, attempting to download unwanted information bypassing the firewall.” Seeing his incomprehension, looking serious I whispered to him, “he wanted to play with the exit only, ingress into my egress, if you catch my drift.” As comprehension dawned on the outworlder, the guy in question looked absolutely miserable as the attention was back on him.

“I swear! I swear I didn’t!” He pointed at me and stuttered to a stop as I burst out in laughter, fuller then I felt I had in years. Oh the look on his face. If jesus was actually real he would be with me 100%

“I’m sure this is hysteria and no laughing matt-”

I interrupted him, “its fine, I was just fucking with you guys.”

“But if you are against the notion, why would you have intercourse with us?” The acolyte said dazedly.”

“Kidding, Joking, a prank” I clarified. Most maturely, I might add.

“Oh, I see, so there's no problem…” He looked me up and down and back at the kiss kiss guy. “Just so you know that carries a penalty of death, I wouldn't joke about it. We take… diddling did you say?” Keeping my face solemn I nodded. “Can you expand on that?”

“I said what I said,” I blurted out, chortling.

“No matter, I’ll look it up in your world's archives.”

Ever helpful I said, “focus on the keyword diddler on social media, around May 2024.” While it wasn’t a joke, those meme’s did have a certain hilarious air once put in contrast to the alleged actions of the person in question. I still felt bad for the famous young man though, his last song hit deep to anyone who was lonely. Among other things, it really was a tragic occurrence that could have been nipped in the bud. But it was what it was. I wondered if I would come across them in the future. Death awaited one if so, and for the others my deepest sympathies.

“Hey man, what's your name? No hard feelings, just a joke.”

“Fuck you man, your– man just fuck you.” And he stormed out, passing a surprised A’dal in the doorway.

“Can’t win em all huh?” The instructor quipped. “Any chance you’ll explain whatever that was?”

“Nope.”

“You’re angry.”

“Yep.”

He sighed, “I am doing my best for you all, and you'll see that soon. Now the state you were in, you would have been catatonic for weeks if not for Acacia.”

“Really?” I was genuinely surprised, “Can I put on some clothes and get out of this gown?”

“Sure, but you wont need to armor up, dinner will be ready in a few minutes then it's lights out.” He shrugged and threw me a pair of basketball shorts and a white tee that came from nowhere. “Throw those on, and here,” at that he threw me an empty leather pack. “In fact, I’ll go ahead and pack your armor up while you get dressed.” Nodding I did just that, when he came back he threw some sneakers at my face and I obligingly put them on. “You need to check your system messages.”

For a moment I was stumped until the thought itself let loose what was held back.

~Legendary energy quality achieved. Density reaching new realms. Due to being the first in your universe to do so. Rewards enhanced.~

~Legendary energy repository achieved, rewards available - Due to being first in your universe to achieve, Rewards enhanced.~

~Breakthrough complete. Calculating.~

~First of the Universe to reach Legendary in both quality and capacity, Rewards enhanced. ~

~A nascent figure of legends is born, being one of a very selective few in the multiverse to achieve, Rewards are available.~

~Rewards compounding, Calculating.~

~Rewards decided. Are you ready? Yes/No ~

Obviously I chose yes. And immediately a force I couldn't withstand pushed me to my knees.

~ Altering participant of new universe Cildarian.~

~Congratulations, bypassing world first and achieving world firsts in your first step, all rewards are compounded, rewards are as follows.~

~Being Cildarian has achieved Legendary status in energy capacity, quality and density. Increasing tier.~

I was frozen as my core went through changes, No pain was present and as I looked upon my center I was baffled and amazed. It shrunk once more and the liquid I briefly saw became viscous in nature, My core widened, deepened and lengthened slightly.

~Congratulations, your inferior tier Legendary core has been upgraded to Rare~

The system wasn’t done as I stayed frozen as changes happened to the channels within me, becoming thicker and smoother, my meridians went under a fundamental change.

~Congratulations, your meridians have underwent a qualitative change to keep up with your progress without hampering your potential.~

What the fuck just happened? And once again, I blacked out.