Chapter 31: Nove’s Closure.
Adam’s POV
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“… Inquiring host about the meaning of pain inhibitors.”
Nove’s monotone voice rang in my head, but honestly, I just wanted to say that line.
Valorous Echoes!
A shockwave pulsed from my armor, activating the buffs.
One minute of enhanced strength and damage reduction.
The downside? If I got hit with Fear again, I’d have to wait it out.
No time to think about that now.
A wolf-like beast lunged.
I twisted mid-step, pivoting just enough to barely evade its fangs, and thrust my katana backward.
The blade sank deep into its ribs.
-57
The creature howled in agony, its body twitching violently.
I summoned my stone buckler shield, slamming it into its head.
-20
The impact ripped my katana free, sending the beast tumbling away.
-17 (Bleeding).
It staggered, limbs weak, before collapsing into a pool of blood.
Before I could react—its body disappeared.
"Activating Essence Absorption technique."
Nove’s voice echoed just as I felt a chunk of my NEP drain away.
I clenched my fists.
This fight wasn’t just about winning—it was about NEP management.
I needed tons of it to upgrade Nove, but I also needed enough to keep fighting.
Letting my NEP drop below 20% was a death sentence—Nove wouldn’t have enough left to absorb more energy, meaning no recovery.
Wait.
A realization hit me mid-swing as I parried an undead’s rusted sword.
"Nove, you’re collecting their Nexus Crystals too, right?"
"Affirmative."
I ducked low, dodging another strike, then slashed upward—
The undead’s head snapped back as its skull rolled across the dirt.
"Most collected are 1-star rank from the undead and claw wolves. Some 1.5-star rank."
"Nice!" I grinned, flipping my katana in hand.
"Nove, we need to use those crystals to upgrade our core nodes."
One thing I quickly realized—lower-tier Nexus Crystals were useless for upgrading my Soul Frame or Valkyrie Core.
To evolve my 1-star core nodes or ability into 2-star nodes, I needed either a single 2-star Nexus Crystal or four 1-star Nexus Crystals.
But for my Valkyrie Core?
I could only use 2.5-star or 3-star Nexus Crystals. To upgrade it to 2.5 or 3 star tier.
A major bummer.
But at least I could power up my weaker core nodes or abilities.
The one I had my eyes on?
The Stone shield.
"Upgrade the Stone shield ability!"
I shouted as I dodged a wolf’s lunging fangs, just in time to clash swords with an undead skeleton.
The wolf circled behind me, trying to tear into my back—
I tanked the hit.
-14
I turned my focus on the skeleton first.
A hard kick to its ribs sent it staggering, its bones rattling.
I didn’t hesitate. I plunged my katana deep into its skull.
At the same time, I raised my shield, bracing against the wolf’s next strike.
Its claws scraped against stone—but I held firm.
"Dagger!"
I released my katana—and in the same instant, my dagger materialized in my grip.
With a quick thrust, I jammed the blade into the wolf’s eye socket.
It let out a garbled howl, thrashing wildly as blood sprayed.
And right on cue—
"Stone Core has been upgraded."
Nove’s voice echoed in my mind.
Perfect.
Stone Shield (Lvl: 2)
Shield Health: 40 → 80 HP.
Number of shields at one time: 1 → 1.
Duration: 20 → 30 seconds.
NEP Cost: 10 → 20 Cost.
Cooldown: 12 → 12 Seconds. (After skill ends or all shields breaks)
A wall of text flickered into view, but I had zero time to check it.
Two of those wolf beasts charged at me in unison, fangs bared, eyes glowing with feral hunger.
No time for theatrics.
I grabbed my katana, spun on my heel, and activated Rock Skewer.
Two massive stone spikes erupted from the ground—
Right into their open jaws.
Oof.
Even I grimaced for a second.
Before they could even collapse, I lunged forward, swinging my katana wide, slicing through their flesh in a clean arc.
They hit the ground—lifeless before being taken by Nove for all the important materials and then spewed out by her to save inventory.
Nove then activated the absorption technique.
I glanced at my NEP gauge—down to 30%.
Not good.
I flicked my gaze upward—three of those glowing moths hovered above me.
Perfect.
"Slingshot!"
The katana vanished from my grip, replaced by the compact slingshot.
I didn’t hesitate—lined up a shot, pulled back the string, and let an arrow fly.
Bulls-eye.
The moth shrieked, its body spasming, but it was still alive.
Didn’t matter.
I charged forward, ripping the dagger out of a fallen wolf’s eye socket, before leaping into the air—
A vertical slash—clean and precise—ripped open the moth’s abdomen.
Its insides spilled out mid-air.
Without skipping a beat, I put the slingshot into my inventory before plunging my hand into its body and crushed its spine with my bare fingers.
A rush of blue gas exploded outward, instantly absorbing into me.
NEP topped off again.
Nove wasted no time—activating the absorption technique once more, eating away another chunk of my NEP reserve.
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I turned back to survey the battlefield—undead creatures still staggered toward me.
Since they didn’t have brains, Nove couldn’t absorb them.
But they did have Nexus Crystals.
And I could use those to power myself up.
A flash of green caught my eye—one of the glowing moths lobbed a strange, pulsating sphere at me.
Toxic? Corrosive? No time to find out.
I raised my shield, bashing the orb mid-air, knocking it straight back into a cluster of undead.
The ball detonated, spewing a thick green goo everywhere—
It melted their bones slowly.
But their armor remained untouched.
Interesting.
"Katana!"
The dagger vanished, replaced by my blade.
I was about to charge in for another rampage, but then—
I noticed the chipped edges of my katana.
Its durability was dangerously low. Probably due to me clashing a number of times with the undead and the fact that this is rusted metal.
I frowned, glancing at the melting skeletons—
And then, an idea sparked in my mind.
It looked safe so with no hesitation, I charged forward.
Gripping my chipped katana tight, and plunged it deep into the undead’s decaying ribcage.
"Nove!" I barked, my mind racing. "Infuse the element into the bones—then forge them with the metal in my katana!"
This was an alchemy technique—Infusion—where you force one element into another.
Normally, you’d infuse fire into iron or any other elements, to create something more amazing.
But I wasn’t using fire.
I was using poison.
Poison-infusing into bones.
Then, I’d use Metalweaving Fusion Forge to meld those infused bones into the rusted iron of my katana—
Creating a new blade—something stronger.
Something… deadly.
A pseudo-steel poisoned weapon.
And that’s exactly what happened.
Dreadfang Pseudo-Steel Katana (2.5/6 Star tier):
* Damage: 28
* Durability: 68/80
* Knockback: 4 (Weak)
* Speed: 2.8 sec/swing
Weapon Properties:
* Venom-Forged Edge: Each attack has a 20% chance to poison target. Dealing 6 damage per second.
* Bone-Reinforced Core: Increased attack speed by 20%.
Special Abilities:
* Fangbite Slash: A wide slash that shoots out venom which gradually slowing the target and deals 10 points of damage per second.
* Rustblood Corrosion: If embedded into target, spreads rust to weaken armor and flesh. Making them receive 10% more damage.
I quickly skimmed through the text and felt a surge of excitement.
The monsters circled around me, their eerie movements closing in, but I remained completely calm.
"Sorry, guys, but I'm not the one in trouble here... you are."
I raised my newly forged katana, its green edge gleaming under the moonlight. The creatures hesitated, their slow, deliberate movements betraying an instinctual fear—as if they were finally realizing I was an actual threat.
A grin spread across my face, growing wider by the second.
"Heh... hehehe... HAHAHAHAHA!"
I laughed, maniacally, my mind fixated on the sheer amount of loot I was about to rack up from this ordeal.
"Let’s dance!"
And with that, I lunged forward.
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The sun rose high, casting golden light over the battlefield. I stood there, my shiny white armor now bathed in blood, surrounded by a sea of lifeless corpses.
But I was the sole victor.
I raised my hand high in celebration, my fingers curled into a triumphant fist.
"Did you see that, Nove? I'm still standing."
Silence.
I kept my fist up awkwardly, waiting for a response, but nothing came.
"Uhh, Nove?" I called again, but then I remembered—she had gone into hibernation. Just before, she had told me she needed time to evolve, which meant...
I was alone for now.
"Welp." I let my hand fall, exhaling. "I'm sure everything will turn out fine soon enough."
I glanced around at the aftermath of my rampage—a hundred dead monsters, give or take.
Huh.
I might have gone a little overboard. I thought as chugged in the last stamina potion I had left with.
And thus. I survived the night and practically almost evolved Nove.
…
I want to take a shower.
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Nove POV
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I opened my eyes as the evolution process completed.
Everything around me was white.
Why was everything white?
I had expected my nexus core area to remain black and endless, dotted with twinkling stars like the vast expanse of outer space. But now, there was nothing—just an infinite void of pure white.
I blinked.
My vision faded in and out each time, a strange sensation I had never experienced before.
So… these are eyes?
Before, I could only sense what was happening, borrowing my host’s vision to perceive the world. But now… I had my own.
I could see.
I could think—and in ways I never had before.
Before, I had to structure my thoughts carefully, organizing them in rigid sequences just to process information. But now? Now, I could think freely. Ideas flowed through me effortlessly, interwoven like strands of silk, forming conclusions without delay.
I looked down.
A small, glowing figure sat on the smooth white surface—me.
My body was golden, radiating a faint shimmer, but it was small, childlike. I was no longer just a voice in my host’s mind. I had a form.
I have a body now…
As I observed myself, small stones whistled past, orbiting me in slow, mesmerizing patterns.
Ah, the core nodes.
Curious, I raised a hand. My fingers trembled as I reached for one, unsteady but eager. The moment my fingertips made contact, the node bounced off my palm and continued its slow revolution around me.
That simple interaction... it made me feel something.
Was this… emotion?
Is this… what it means to feel?
I didn’t understand it completely, but... I felt joy.
Excitement.
Happiness.
These feelings were wonderful.
Slowly, I placed my hands on the solid white ground beneath me, pushing myself upward. My arms wobbled as I struggled to find balance, but after some effort, I managed to sit upright.
Moments later, I was on my knees.
And then, I stood.
It was difficult—extremely difficult. My small body swayed, my legs trembled, and every step felt like I was about to collapse. Each movement required my full concentration, as if I were trying to balance on a thin thread stretched over an abyss.
But then…
A smile crept onto my face.
I did it.
I took another step, then another.
A laugh—my laugh—escaped my lips.
Unable to contain my excitement, I jumped, my golden form light as air.
…And promptly slipped, landing flat on my face.
For a brief moment, I lay still.
Then, I started chuckling.
My smile didn’t fade.
These emotions…
They were amazing.
I tried again.
I got up and jumped.
I nearly lost my balance—but I didn’t!
And it felt amazing!
Every few minutes, I was able to do something new, something I had never done before. The sheer joy of it made me want to keep jumping over and over again, celebrating each small victory.
Then, I heard a voice.
"Sentient Core. You’ve finally awakened."
I froze.
Slowly, I turned my head, not expecting anything.
And then, I saw him.
"Al… per?"
My voice wavered, my mouth struggling to form words, but it was definitely him. He had the same kind face, the same warm eyes as the Alper I knew.
I didn’t hesitate.
I ran toward him—my steps unsteady, my body wobbling like a newborn fawn taking its first steps. I tripped several times, but I didn’t care.
I just had to reach him.
And when I got close enough, I leaped into his embrace.
"Alp-er!" I cried out in joy.
He was here.
Not just anyone—my master, my host.
Alper chuckled softly as he stroked my head. His touch was warm, gentle—so comforting that I wanted to stay like this forever.
"Mas-ter! I… hav-e… ga-ined… sen-tei-nce!"
I did my best to speak, but I wasn’t used to my mouth yet. My lips and tongue moved awkwardly, struggling to shape the words properly.
Alper only smiled. "Indeed you have, Sentient Core."
He continued stroking my head, and I nestled against him, enjoying the warmth for just a little longer.
Then, his expression changed.
"Sentient Core… I have something to tell you."
I looked up at him, sensing something wasn’t right.
"I… You might have realized it already, but I have passed away."
My smile faded.
Confusion—so much confusion.
"W-why? Wh-y is Ma-st-er leav-ing me? Do-es… Al-per… not wa-nt No-ve?"
Why?
Why was he saying this?
Why would Alper abandon me?
Did I do something wrong?
Was Nove… a bad Sentient Core?
Alper chuckled again, his eyes filled with tenderness as he repeated my name.
"Nove, huh? That’s better than the name I was thinking of."
…Eh?
Nove is… me?
But… no… I am Nove.
"I thought of naming you… Wait… what was that name I had in mind?"
Alper furrowed his brows, his expression thoughtful, but after a few seconds, he sighed.
"Well, it doesn’t matter. I’ve lost a lot of memories. And honestly, without the Caelum Lapis Core Node… even this remnant of me would have long since disappeared."
I felt a pang of unease.
"But… Al-per—"
I wanted to ask him—how can I save you?—but before I could finish, he interrupted me.
"Nove. I don’t have a lot of time left, so I’ll say it bluntly. Make Adam your master."
…Eh?
I blinked. I didn’t understand.
"No! I w-ant Al-per b-ack!"
I didn’t want Adam.
I didn’t want someone else.
I wanted Alper!
Sadness.
Anger.
Frustration.
I hated these feelings.
I had loved them only moments ago, but now? Now, they hurt!
"Nove."
Alper’s voice was calm as he caressed my head.
"Adam is so much better than me."
"No!" I shouted, my voice shaking. "He is a de-mon! He is no-thing like yo-u!"
I was angry!
I didn’t want to lose my master!
Alper sighed, kneeling down to my height. He reached out and wiped something off my cheeks.
…Tears?
"Nove," he said softly, "I’ve seen what Adam has been through. If I had gone through the same things as him… believe me, you would be saying the same things to him right now."
I froze.
"…Rea-lly?"
Alper nodded.
"Adam has done things I never could have even dreamed of doing—not in the next few years at least, hehe."
He smiled, though it was filled with something bittersweet.
"He will go so much farther than me, he will do things I never imagined to be able to do… But, just like you, Nove, Adam is a little broken right now."
His hand gently stroked my hair, warm and comforting.
"Nove, can you promise me something?"
I hesitated.
If I said yes, it felt like I would never see Alper again.
I didn’t want that.
I wanted to stay with him.
But I couldn’t say no.
Slowly, I nodded.
Alper’s smile softened.
"Treat Adam as you treated me. If he ever falls off the right path, bring him back. He will be the one to truly realize the goal we were both aiming for."
His red eyes met mine.
"He may not look like it, but I trust him a hundred times more than I ever trusted myself to do what needs to be done."
"Bu-t… Wha-t if he is not li-ke you s-aid?"
Alper’s warm smile didn’t waver. It was the same comforting expression I had always known.
"Then just bring him to the right path—even if you have to spank him."
He chuckled, his voice filled with gentle amusement.
"I trust that you can do it. Isn’t that right, Nove?"
I blinked.
…Spank Adam?
For a moment, I imagined myself trying to discipline him after he tried to kill someone again.
I chuckled.
Alper laughed.
"Aw, look at that smile," he said, his voice full of warmth as he caressed my head. "You’re much more lovely when you smile, Nove. Keep that chin up. I believe in you."
His body was fading. I could see it now. The last remnants of his soul were slipping away, like sand through my fingers.
"At least, do it for me. Can you do that?"
I felt something squeeze in my chest.
No more time.
I nodded.
"I pro-mise."
Alper's smile softened.
"That’s all I needed to hear."
His red eyes twinkled, his voice light and reassuring.
"Don’t worry, I’ll always be watching over you. And… thank you for listening to my ridiculous request."
His form shimmered, breaking into glowing golden embers that drifted into the endless white void.
I watched them disappear, my lips curling into a bittersweet smile.
The space around me was quiet once more.
I looked down at my hands—my own hands.
For the first time, I felt whole.
And then I closed my eyes, as the world plunged back into darkness.
Primary Objective: Serve Alper → Serve Adam.
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Adam’s POV
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Back at the Midnight prowlers, I couldn’t believe my eyes as I watched the footage that Dix caught…
There I saw a very familiar locked-up prisoner.
I felt deep anger at the person who locked her up as I couldn’t help but whisper her name.
“Lora…”
My sister…
Back from earth.