Growth

A deep hum resonated from the ★ gem clutched in his hand, radiating an energy so mystical it bordered on the divine.

'Huh.'

It seemed he could normally absorb the energy within this ★.

But his own rank was lacking.

'No way...'

Seojun's gaze shifted to Dania and the guardians.

Dania, who had just reached Lv124 after devouring the Mandragora nutrient stew from Lv119.

Her level had risen, but only one star was filled.

The other guardians were the same.

Popo and Chuchu, whose levels had risen from the Mandragora stew, still had the same number of stars.

And Archeron, who had gained his first level ever by slaying the intruder outside, showed no change in stars either.

All of them had one or two empty stars.

'Can filling those empty stars be the key?'

Seojun approached Dania, holding the ★.

'Oh.'

It worked on Dania.

His guess was right.

He quickly checked the others.

They could all receive it too.

'Should I try it on Popo?'

He wondered what would happen if all the stars filled up.

"Popo?"

As Seojun gazed at Popo in thought, Popo bounced around with a ∩_∩ smile.

Popo was always so cute.

'It won't evolve into a different species or something if the stars fill, right?'

Hmm...

Well...

He didn't know the odds, but if it did, that would be a huge problem.

Popo's role was far too crucial right now.

The entire spirit herb cultivation revolved around Popo.

If a major change hit Popo and disrupted the current system, it would derail Seojun's growth entirely.

So, pass on Popo for now.

Next up: Archeron.

Archeron had been pivotal in repelling the intruder.

With who-knows-what coming next, boosting Archeron's power was ideal.

Plus, for future explorations outside the lair, stronger Archeron meant smoother scouting.

'But...'

Uung, Seojun! Dania wants Han-bing-gwa! Gimme!

His instincts whispered otherwise.

Using it on Dania was the best choice right now.

'Alright.'

Dania.

You're the one!

"Okay. Han-bing-gwa in a bit. Wanna absorb this ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠first?"

This?

Seojun held out the ★ to Dania, who blinked her big eyes.

Tap!

She reached out with her tiny, adorable hand and grabbed it.

Warm! So much energy!

"Can Dania take in this energy?"

Uung. Yup!

At her words, Seojun proceeded immediately.

Whoosh!!

Mystical energy surged from the ★ in Dania's grasp.

Multicolored lights swirled around her body before being sucked inside.

Roooar!!

An immense energy burst forth.

"Ah...!"

"Popo!"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Chu!!"

@Geueo-eoeo.

The onlookers gasped in awe.

Dania's star had truly filled!

And it wasn't just the star.

'Her appearance changed too.'

The iridescent scales covering Dania's body gleamed even more vividly.

Which meant...?

'The mana density in her scales is way thicker now.'

Her level stayed the same, but the mana concentration had intensified.

A true rise in her mana's 'rank.'

'Holy crap.'

Dania's mana density was already insanely high.

For it to get even denser?

That wasn't all.

Beyond the scales, the biggest change was her first horn sprouting from her head.

Hummm!!

Thicker and longer than before, it pulsed with the same mystical aura from the ★ gem.

Were there functional changes too?

"Popo!"

Popo rushed to Dania first.

"Popo, popo!"

Worried something might be wrong, Popo inspected her carefully with an o_o expression.

Dania fine!

Relieved, Popo flashed a ∩_∩ grin and rubbed its face against her.

But then—

An unexpected twist no one saw coming!

Whoosh!!

Multicolored energy from Dania's horn flowed into Popo.

"...!"

'My god!'

Popo's total stars had jumped from three to five.

'Jackpot.'

Dania's first horn truly boosted the number of stars!

'And the system called it "potential" just now?'

This ★ represented potential, as he'd thought.

'Whoa. It increases potential?'

He'd been disappointed that Dania hadn't grown a second horn past Lv120.

But strengthening the first horn more than made up for it.

"Popo!"

Popo, realizing its stars had increased, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bounced joyfully.

"Chuchu!"

"Congratulations, Popo."

Keron. Congratulations.

@Geueo-eoeo!

The others showered Popo with cheers.

"Popo!!"

Popo credited Dania, rushing to her with ♥_♥ heart eyes and hugging tight.

Hehe, Popo warm!

Dania, looking a bit tired, giggled happily and hugged back.

"Dania. Can you use that light on the other guardians too?"

Hard... Need to gather energy...

"Yeah, figured as much."

Too bad.

Couldn't chain it.

Still, great job. His little Dania.

Seojun patted her head, then cracked open a Han-bing-gwa and handed it over.

Kkyu!!! Han-bing-gwa!!

Nom nom!

She beamed with joy, munching away happily.

Watching her eat so blissfully brought out his dad smile.

Grow big and strong, Dania! Eat lots!

Now, time for his own meal?

The earlier commotion outside meant he hadn't touched his food yet.

'Finishing this should hit Lv40.'

Lv40 would unlock the third pathway, he bet.

He was pumped to see what it was.

'Hoping for the Mineral Room.'

That would open paths for outside exploration.

As he scooped up a big bite of Mandragora stew in anticipation—

Chuchu scampered over.

"Chuchu!"

Then pulled something from his belly pouch.

Thud!!

"Whoa!"

A Nagatara!

Much bigger than the previous intruder's.

"Another Nagatara intruder?"

"Chuchu!"

Chuchu shook his head, gesturing wildly.

More intruders besides that one.

And one had dropped the ★.

'So there could be more like that outside the lair.'

Seojun's eyes sparkled.

Once exploration ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was possible, hunting those would be a top goal.

"Chuchu!"

Chuchu snapped him out of it.

Hands back in the pouch—

Shiiiine—!!

A fist-sized golden mana core appeared, radiating power!

"Whoa!"

Right.

The last Nagatara had one too!

'At least three times bigger this time?'

Bigger body, stronger specimen.

"Perfect."

Seojun approached the core.

"Popo!"

"Chuuu!"

"Oh... It's brimming with immense mana."

Core yummy!!

Drool everywhere as they eyed it.

'Let's see.'

Archeron uninterested.

Seojun, Dania, Popo, Chuchu, Bellerin.

Five ways.

Even split, plenty for each.

He used his new 3rd-circle spell, Mana Blade, to slice it precisely into five.

@Geueo-eoeoeo!

Then Mandrian waved its arms, howling at the core.

'What the—.'

Mandrian craving a mana core...?

@Geueo-eoeo! Geueoeo!

"No way, dude!"

@Geueo-eoeo...

It slumped, shoulders drooping.

No means no.

"Have more stew broth."

He poured extra Nagatara stew broth; Mandrian dunked its feet sadly.

"Chuchu!"

Chuchu eyed his share, then tore off a piece for Mandrian.

@Geueo-eoeoeo! Geueo-eoeoeo!

Overjoyed, it leaped from the stew, arms wide.

@Geueoeo! Geueo-eoeoeo!

Kneeling, bowing in thanks to Chuchu.

"Heh."

Seojun chuckled at the antics.

Fine, let's watch how it eats the core.

@Geueo-eoeoeo!

Splurt!

It stabbed its root-tips—like hands and feet—into the core piece.

Hummm!

Golden mana flowed from the core into Mandrian.

"Oh...!"

It could absorb the core for real?

Should've given it some from the start.

Fascinated, he watched a bit longer before starting on his own piece.

Crunch!

"...!"

Bliss exploded in his mouth at the first bite.

The scrap from last time was tasty, but this intact core? Overwhelming flavor dominated his senses.

'Ah...!'

Enchanted, he devoured it.

Not just him—the others gasped between bites, lost in the feast.

Once finished—

Hot energy erupted violently within him.

System messages flooded his vision.

"Whoa."

My god.

How many levels was that?

***

While Seojun powered through his level storm—

"Awoooo...!"

"Wooo!"

Shadowy wolfkin rippled into view before Elatrium.

What... are these... intruders...?

State... your business... wanderers...

At the Elatria's words—

"Awooooooo———!"

The largest shadow wolf unleashed a long, piercing howl before the Elatria.

It carried parental worry and desperate urgency for its young.

The cry echoed deep into the forest and earth, bearing the shadow wolves' crisis and a plea for aid.