Chapter 5: Core Nodes
Adam’s POV
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Apparently, Alchemy is all about creating things that grant special abilities or contribute to the growth of your nexus core. While there are various aspects, like crafting potions, healing, and the concept of equivalent exchange, let's narrow it down for now to two essential components: Core nodes and core nexus.
Starting with Core Nodes, they function as skill and stat slots. Each core nexus typically has 2 or 3 core node slots, and additional Core nodes can be developed through evolutions. These nodes can be crafted from any material, offering unique abilities and contributing stat points. For example, crafting a Fiery core node using fiery metals could grant the ability to shoot fireballs and a +2 boost to the INT stat. It's worth noting that core nodes can be removed and reinserted at will, but duplicates of the same core node are not allowed. In simpler terms, you can't have two iron core nodes. Additionally, there appears to be a 6-star tier system for all items, with more stars indicating higher quality, better stats and more abilities.
The Core Nexus serves as the central hub for all operations. It adapts and grows based on what you feed it, rewarding you with special abilities in return. For instance, providing it with fiery materials will transform it into a fiery nexus core, granting you control over fire and permanently boosting related stats like VIT and WIS.
However, there's a catch – you can't simply feed your core nexus anything. The materials need to be processed first, a rule that applies to core nodes as well. All materials must undergo a purification process to remove impurities before they are fit for use, be it for the core nexus or core nodes.
With my body boasting a solid 32 in alchemical mastery, a third of the maximum AM achievable, and Nove's extensive knowledge of alchemical techniques, I entrusted her to handle the processing. Using base arts, I extracted some stone and mud, leaving Nove to create core nodes and processed materials. These would be the offerings for my second inert "baby core," and I was eager to see the results later on.
Apparently, it seems that these inert cores need a bit of a nudge before they're ready to roll. I was under the impression that they’ll wake up with the evolution of whatever you toss in them, like an iron core after giving it tons of processed iron, but it's more like a random luck of the draw. Sometimes it's a win, sometimes it's a bust. But you can always feed them specific stuff to reset them back to square one. Like, if you've got a fiery core, you can cool it down with some chilly materials.
The guy whose body I'm borrowing woke up with a sentient core, opting to level up his brainpower. Clever move for clear thinking, but it means he’s exactly Mr. Muscle.
After a while, Nove said she's finished and handed me a bunch of beads—grey, brown, and a fancy white one—and told me to take a look.
Firstly, The brown bead.
Dirt Core Node (3/6 Star Tier):
* Stats Increase:
Strength (STR): +3
Vitality (VIT): +3
Metal Weaving Mastery (MV): +2
* Special Attribute: Earthen Endurance (Passive)
Enhances the user's endurance, providing a slight resistance to physical fatigue.
* Special Ability:
Terra Mend (Passive): Grants the user a minor self-healing Health points (HP) points and self-regenerating Nexus Energy points (NEP) ability when in contact with natural earth. It aids in recovering from minor injuries over time.
Earthen Grasp (Active): Allows the user to temporarily enhance their hand grip or standing stability, useful for resisting pushes, pulls, or maintaining balance on uneven terrain.
Next, the grey bead.
Stone Core Node (2/6 Star Tier):
* Stats Increase:
Strength (STR): +2
Endurance (END): +2
Metal Weaving Mastery (MV): +2
* Special Attribute: Granite Fortitude (Passive)
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Strengthens the user's overall fortitude, offering resistance against physical impacts.
* Special Ability:
Petrifying Strike (Active): Allows the user to deliver a strike that temporarily petrifies a small area of an opponent upon impact, slowing their movements.
Stone Shield (Active): Creates a temporary protective stone shield around the user, absorbing a portion of incoming physical damage when activated.
And finally, the white one.
Muck Worm Core Node (2/6 Star Tier):
* Stats Increase:
Dexterity (DEX): +2
Agility (AGI): +2
* Special Attribute: Web Senses (Passive)
Heightens the user's sensory perception, allowing them to detect subtle vibrations within a small radius of 2 meters. similar to how muck worms sense their surroundings through vibrations in the ground. Special Ability: Sticky Web (Active)
Allows the user in creating and utilizing sticky webs for various purposes.
I've probably mentioned it a bunch, but seriously, the more time I spend in this world, the more pumped up I get. I wanted to go all out, dancing around with those beads in my hand, but Nove was keeping an eye on me, so I had to rein it in. I did wonder, though, why the guy whose body I'm crashing in left three core nodes empty in his nexus. Shouldn't you always have something plugged in there? Even if you're not using the ability, those stat boosts are pretty sweet. But hey, he's out of the picture, and there's not much I can do about it.
Nove was a bit bummed that she could only whip up tier 2 and 3 star core nodes. Apparently, the kid was usually able to manage to conjure up tier 3 to 4 stars with these common materials. But, we're missing some key items for alchemical magic, so we're stuck with what we've got.
Regardless, I had 4 core nodes slots and one of them was already filled with a 4-star core node. Which was…
Caelum Lapis Node (4/6 Star Tier):
* Stats Increase:
Intelligence (INT): +10
Wisdom (WIS): +5
* Special Attribute:
Alchemical Attunement (Passive):
1) Unlocks a smoother alchemical experience, allowing for more precise and intricate creations.
2) Improves mental clarity and boosts problem-solving skills.
* Special ability:
Arcane Attunement (Passive):
1) Unlocks an innate understanding of Cosmological energies.
2) Enhances the user's proficiency in alchemy, allowing for more potent concoctions and a deeper connection to mystical and cosmological forces.
Huh, so that’s why everything felt normal and I was fine even though I was technically, killed, fought a wanna be god, took over some kid, and am in a different world.
I figured my sanity was intact thanks to my love for the whole isekai and magic gig, but maybe it's this core node doing its thing.
Anyway, two hitches in the plan now. First off, Nove couldn't process much from the muck worm, so experimenting with its materials for my other nexus core was a bit of a bust. No biggie, I can just toss it some processed stone and dirt. But the second problem is the real kicker, and it's staring me in the face...
I glanced at my stats window, and there it was,
Nexus Energy Points (NEP): 2/600
I'm running on fumes in the NEP department. It going to creep back up, but for now, no metal weaving, no alchemy, no core node abilities— just straight-up useless.
Crafting that short spear drained over 150 NEP, and it was basically daylight robbery. Every method I used was like a leaky faucet for NEP, and with my Metalweaving mastery barely hitting 2, it felt like highway robbery.
Nove dropped the bomb that a regular Joe would've needed only 2 to 5 NEP for a similar spear. I was beyond annoyed. I didn't care what my other Core nexus woke up as, but it's getting a diet of materials that pump up the MV stat, no questions asked.
Nove tossed the rest of the processed materials into my inert baby nexus core since it needs some time to digest. In the meantime, I slapped on the new core nodes and did a quick check on my stats.
Overall Stats:
Strength (STR): 11 (+5)
Vitality (VIT): 8 (+3)
Endurance (END): 7 (+2)
Intelligence (INT): 36 (+10)
Dexterity (DEX): 12 (+2)
Agility (AGI): 12 (+2)
Wisdom (WIS): 27 (+5)
Charisma (CHA): 8
Metalweaving Mastery (MW): 6 (+4)
Alchemical Mastery (AM): 32
Hehehehe
A mischievous giggle slipped out as I watched the numbers climb. Strength got a significant boost, and suddenly, even the unwieldy spear in my hand felt like a feather. The new skills were the next stop on my excitement train.
Heading back to the spot where my body fell down, I unleashed some spear techniques. Sadly, my fancy new abilities remained locked due to the lack of NEP. Nove assured me that my high WIS stat would help recover it after a good nap, and the dirt node's passive ability would aid in regenerating NEP as long as I hung around dirt.
In the end, I toyed around with the spear, finally mastering its handling before laying down on the dirt, attempting to get some shut-eye.