Spend money to make money, spend mana to make mana! I can't help think of said phrase at the sight of both mana cores. I know for one that a Mana Core, however large, requires a whole 24 hours to regain all expended uses. That is to say—I open the calculator in my VICOS—this core with a pool of 140 mana regenerates at about 5.83 mana per hour, while this one with 124 mana regenerates about 5.16 per hour.

As a final experiment for now, leaving the low mana Devorantis alone, as it too regenerates mana as how a Mana Core would. I draw in Mana from the two newly made cores and my own refilled pool, making sure to always leave behind one mana and never draining the whole pool dry, to reform another core; this one has 127 mana. What this proves is that I can produce Mana Cores of an increasingly larger pool by making use of the ones I already have, this is a real life glitch if there ever is one.

Zen: Hen, I can make Mana Cores!

Zen: Wake up!

Zen: You need Constitution man, who still sleeps in this day and age?

There are four more hours till sunrise, I had one thought text Henry, just in case this is something he requires for the betterment of Rumah, but of course there will most likely be no reply till morning; not even the tanks will have enough Constitution until level 250s, unless they are going full Con-build or something.

My flashes of memories from earlier are still clear in my mind; first of all a lightsaber is energy, focused into the shape of a blade-beam by use of a focusing crystal... Mana, is energy! So would it be possible for me to make something similar? I mostly do not need it, mostly just to make myself look fashionable, but others might find it useful. Besides, what's stopping me from creating utility objects; tools, transport, small buildings even. All compactly stored within an item the size of a volleyball.

How do I make them emit mana that remembers pre-designed shapes and forms?

Even as I sit here pondering on how best to use Mana Cores, one part of my thoughts are producing said item every ten or eleven minutes. Using 12,400 mana to consistently produce Cores that contains 124 mana… Speaking of Cores, how do Golem Cores work, how do they understand command and function? What about Territory and Tower Cores? There seem to be a lot of important Core used in our new reality.

What are they? How are they made?

Moving over to an empty spot of land. I take out one of the Cores I fabricated and used the 224 mana within, in conjunction with Mana Manipulation, to gradually form a small simple tent out of mana. First of all, the main vertical pole to keep the structure upright; lets see~, a cylinder 8 centimeters in diameter and 2 meters tall, this consumes 4 mana out of the core. Then, four 5 centimeters poles that spreads out from the top point at approximately 20.5 degrees and reach the ground, consuming another 5 mana.

From the four poles, I extended a 5cm thick rigid floor to cover the whole 1.5 cube area, costing me another 45 mana. Lastly a 1 centimeters thin membrane to cover the four sides for 26 mana. A total of 80 mana for a basic tent, not bad. As I was concentrating on making a tent and creating Mana Cores, the sun slowly rose over the horizon. And in my pouch, I now have 25 Mana Cores, each has 124 mana.

"Is small pyramid you are making?" A voice says from behind me. I look back to find the two elder brothers behind me, "its kinda too small, how come not made with bricks?"

"It's a tent!" I clarified to Chen.

"How to go inside this tent?" Gao asks, coming up beside his brother. At that critical question, I freeze!

"That's a very good question," I answered after almost a minute, making another pause to stall further, casting Haste even. But, I decided to be honest and told him it is still under work. Eventually, as an initial entrance design; I first made all four side-walls flexible like leather, accomplishing that easily enough, courtesy of my Trait. Then above, on one side at the tip of the triangular flap, I added a doll joint-like addition that moves a 1 centimeter diameter pole—the leather flap on this specific side is now attached to one corner pole and the doll-joint pole, while the doll-joint pole attaches to the other corner with a simple hook latch.

The Mana Core I used to make this tent I then touch onto the middle pole, unprompted, it partly fuses into the mana construct, leaving a small bump where the core slightly protrudes out. A few minutes and two newly fabricated Cores later, I found myself satisfied with it and withdrew the—partly regenerated—core. Mesmerizing and unfortunately the mana that constitutes that experimental mana-tent, instantly dissolves into motes of fading light. As seen, the construct collapses the moment it is no longer attached to its source. And second, the design is lost while the Core remains as it has always been—besides the mana spent.

"What you made?" Gao asks in an evidently curious tone. The two had been watching me work the last twenty minutes, joined by the lates to wake up Feng about halfway through.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

"Nothing much, just a new… experiment project..? yeap!" I reply. There is no need to elaborate my experiments to them at its current stage. Let them focus on befriending the Pangolins. "So what are your plans for today?"

"We teach more until before afternoon," Gao Yu explains, then grins. "After, we will go home when our sword are compete. I am impatient to receive mine."

"Alright, are you guys gonna be returning here?" I ask them again.

""No."" "Nope." They answered together, Chen gestured for the other two to be quiet and took over explaining their decision. "We have no good memories here, if not having you with us, we will not dare come. Are you stay here?"

"No," I explain to them what I am currently supposed to be doing, they offered to help. At the same time, the chime of a new VICOS message made itself know in my head. "It's fine, no need to trouble yourselves. Maybe when you three are stronger, yeah?"

They agreed with a laugh, they are not sure who exactly controls Beijing, but are certain that I may find this person at The Great Wall of China, which has one of its entrances in Beijing. Its durable walls had protected a lot of people during the chaos that had ensued after The System's integration, and is now being repaired, expanded and further explored. Unfortunately, most works on the walls are only being done within the vicinity of their city, which is why they are not yet capable of simply traveling within its safety and exiting near their destination to finish the journey. I'm baffled, I know it is long, but is the wall really that large?

Well, since they are depending quite a bit on my presence, I decide to stay. It would be silly for me to return at a later date, only to find that they were once again stripped naked by the Pangolins upon me leaving. Wild animals still live in a might is right world after all, intelligent or not.

Henry: FYI, you're the only person in our whole Territory that does not need to sleep for the usual minimum of 6 hours, we checked!

Henry: And what do you mean you can make them, I already know you do; Will-oh-Woe!!

Right, there is that spell too. Only that using it requires me to massacre a specific number of enemies, which is not always available. So, to pass the time, I watch these amazing partly-civilized creatures work on their craft, while texting Henry and fabricating more Mana Cores.

Zen: LOL

Zen: I guess that spell works too, but no! I can make them out of my own mana pool.

Zen: Do you know how people make golem cores? Or the territory or tower ones?

Henry: Please explain

Henry: Why do you want to know? Leave the golem making to crafters.

Henry: Where are you now anyways?

So I told him of the three Yu brothers and of the Pangolins, as well as how I will be departing for China at around noon. Then I gave him in-depth descriptions of how I make Mana Cores, and the mana-tent construct. Which led to why I need the informations about Golems, even if it is a long shot, as there is nothing similar between one and the other—besides the Core part. For all I know, Golem Core might be made of a complicated mix of metals, and natural resources.

After storing the 15th Core, I experienced one of those moments where a person is just about to fall asleep but ended up thinking about a new idea for something they are working on. Fortunately, I am currently perfectly awake. Changing my mind about storing the Core, I held on to it; spinning it, rotating, tossing it on one hand, etc. As if a hand fidget tool. At the exact moment my mana is one point away from full capacity, I direct another 12,400 mana into the Core in my hand—and watch it crack into dust. What a waste of 20 minutes.

Nonetheless, I continue producing them anytime I can remember to, making 11 more by the time I notice through Mana Sense, all three brothers approaching me in a fast jog. When they come within talking distances, I can't help but ask. "There's still like, 30 more minutes before noon. Did something happen?"

"Our swords is done making!" Feng yells excitedly, wholy uncaring for proper grammar, the other two too, is grinning from ear to ear. They each sport new sheathed swords on their backs; Feng a pair of shortswords, Gao a Greatsword and Chen a longsword. They chittered excitedly about the different materials used, how the shortswords are made almost purely out of a Weaponsmith's scales that are supernaturally perfect for a weapon and a tiny bit of Metalsmith scales which are more magically attuned; the resulting weapon retain a sharp edge really well, is flexible as needed and light, not to mention how it is usable as a minor conduit for spells.

While the Longsword is a mix of the precious two metals in addition to a piece of Armorsmith scale; therefore, in addition to the features mentioned above, the flat of this sword is made durable enough to withstand being used to parry attacks. Lastly the Greatsword is inner-half Ironsmith scale, to give it adequate size and weight, in addition to the other three variants; made to block and crush rather than make clean cuts. Honestly, looking at the results, now I want one too! But not right now, now…

So soon after, we find ourselves back on the road, figuratively speaking… there is not much old world road left after all.

Skill level up, Mana Manipulation 35 > 38

Skill level up, Visualization 37 > 43

Skill level up, Deception 3 > 7

Skill level up, Intimidate 23 > 26

Mana Manipulation and Visualization leveling up is only natural, with all the uses I've put it through creating Mana Cores. But who had I been deceiving and intimidating for the skills to level up so? The Pangolins? Have they been in a state of permanent fear or something… and what deceiving, did they make rude assumptions about me!? Geez.

That aside, with the support of Haste and their—now once again usable—flying sword technique, we made the journey in less than four hours this time. Along the way, I fabricated 22 extra Cores that were all dumped into my spatial pocket. Checking my VICOS time, it is currently about 4 pm on a Monday.

Alas, now that we are back in the closest thing to civilization nowadays, we part ways. Them for their home—hopefully they will not show off too much this time—and I for the entrance to The Great Wall of China… I hope, so~ much, that whoever the leader is, he/she is smart and friendly!