Mana Core Completion
Paaaat!
The moment his Mana Core was complete, Kim Jehyun felt an exhilaration and fullness he'd never experienced in his life. It was ecstasy like walking on clouds, leaving him dazed for a while. For an instant, he felt one with the entire world.
"Ah...."
An eternal moment passed like a fleeting second. A sigh of regret escaped his lips. If he could feel that sensation just once more, he felt like he could do anything. It had been that shocking.
"...Wow. That felt incredible. This means I really completed the Mana Core, right?"
Jehyun's body trembled as he called out to Alkasha. The afterglow of that sensation still lingered in his flesh.
—......
"...What's wrong? Did something go wrong?"
—Ah! Ah, no. ...Yes. Excellent. That is the 'Mana Core.' You've successfully created your Mana Core. Congratulations.
"Hmm, your reaction's kinda lackluster. I worked my ass off for two weeks to finish this— no gift or anything?"
—Two... two weeks...? Hah.
A deflated sound came from Alkasha. The reason it hadn't responded to Jehyun's call earlier was pure shock. He'd really done it in just two weeks. Even accounting for the stat boosts from leveling up, it was an absurd speed.
A Mana Core wasn't something you could make just by hoarding mana. It was a realm permitted only to a select few races. And yet, a human— the lowest on the totem pole in terms of racial superiority, ignoring potential— had completed one in a mere two weeks.
Could even a dragon make one from scratch in two weeks?
—Of course... it could make one. But that's because it's a dragon. The almighty race. Born with a superior essence from the start.
But you... you're human.
—Whether humans inherently have such potential... or if it's just you... I still don't know.
Alkasha decided to acknowledge Jehyun. It didn't yet know if humans had greater potential than expected, or if Jehyun was uniquely exceptional. But what mattered was that the man before it held the possibility of surpassing even its and Arkanios's expectations.
—A gift, eh? Very well. You've reached Mana Core Stage 1, qualifying you for the first dragon legacy. I'll tell you how to claim it.
"Dragon legacy? What's that?"
—Inheriting the dragon's power. Each time your Mana Core advances a stage, you'll receive the dragon legacies one by one. Once you have them all, you'll inherit the full might of a dragon.
The dragon legacies were Arkanios's provisions to pass on its power completely. Jehyun's eyes widened at this revelation he hadn't anticipated.
"Wasn't completing the Mana Core already inheriting the dragon's power?"
—Haha. Naive. Did you think making a Mana Core meant you'd inherited a dragon's power? The Mana Core is merely the first step. You'll receive the dragon's authorities one by one, culminating in the Dragon Heart.
Alkasha's words were astonishing. He'd already felt invincible just from completing the Mana Core, but this was nothing? How overwhelming would it be once he truly began inheriting the dragon's power?
"...I can really feel the difference in class now."
In that moment, Jehyun first truly sensed the dragon's presence— a being on another plane entirely. And he was set to inherit its power.
His body shivered with anticipation.
I can do this.
Jehyun was certain. He could become truly strong— stronger than any mage in the world.
—I can't fathom why you had no talent before regression. Just the Golden Mana Blessing... That's impossible without innate genius.
Alkasha mentioned the Golden Mana Blessing, eyeing Jehyun's excited face. Come to think of it, during the Mana Core formation, his mana had boiled intensely hot. He realized it tied to what Alkasha just said.
"Don't tell me... my mana now has an attribute?"
—Correct. Mana blessings awaken attribute affinity. Yours is gold— the same as Lord Arkanios.
"Oh...."
A gasp escaped Jehyun. It was well-known that some mages or ability users awakened attributes. Red mana usually meant fire affinity; blue meant water. Awakening one massively boosted dominance, amplification, and resistance to that attribute. The gap between those blessed and not was clear, even with same-lineage spells. Nearly half of top archmages had attribute blessings.
Jehyun had received one of those elite blessings.
"But... I've never heard of golden."
He tilted his head. He'd seen fire, water, wind, earth, light, darkness— but never gold.
—It's a dual attribute. That's why.
—Yes. Golden mana holds the power of light and fire. Check your titles. You can confirm the details there.
"Check titles."
Jehyun immediately checked.
"Oh."
Jehyun gasped in admiration. Truly light and fire— dual attributes. He'd never heard of anyone awakening two. He was the first. Plus, a mana stat point. Even one would make a huge difference later, especially mana.
While at it, he checked the other title too.
Straightforward description, but the effects were top-tier. +3 mana alone was huge. Alkasha said mana would grow exponentially with core stages.
"Wait... wasn't mana stat capped right now?"
Jehyun tilted his head and opened his status window.
• Hatchling's Basic Mana Art (S), Lv. 1
• Subspace (A), Lv. 1
• Alkasha (EX), Lv. 1
He checked mana: 3+(4). The +4 was extra.
"So extra stats ignore the cap?"
—Yes. Titles or items add extras beyond base stats, unrestricted.
—But remember this. The system caps mana for a reason. Excessive extra mana without physical stats can disrupt balance too.
Balance between physical stats and mana— crucial for Mana Core bearers, as it held immense power.
—Recall? I said I'd tell you how to lift the mana cap once the core's done.
"I remember. Spill it."
—Yes. Inherit the dragon legacies. Your body will transform to match a dragon's. All legacies claimed, and you'll rival a dragon's physique— able to hold infinite mana.
Inheriting the legacies was the key to unlimited mana.
"So I must claim the dragon legacies."
Jehyun's eyes sparkled. The path to faster strength lay in the legacies. He shot Alkasha a wordless expectant glance.
—Haha. Eager, are we? Calm down. No need for those eyes; I'll tell you.
First, review what you gained from the core. We should sort it out.
Jehyun nodded. Fair point. He allocated his 5 new level 3 stat points: +1 strength, +1 vitality, +3 mana. A thrilling rush hit as physicals and mana improved. That addictive sensation from stat-ups was euphoric.
He then checked updates: rank, abilities, Mana Core.
Rank showed inheritance progress: Hatchling— newborn dragon. His first step toward greatness.
Mana Core displayed stages, each advancing magic realm like circles.
New abilities: Hatchling's Basic Mana Art (replaced Skin Breathing, S-grade— mere basics for dragons), and Alkasha (for learning magic, later dragon spells and Dragon Words, EX-grade— highest tier).
Feels like straight-up cheating.
Jehyun marveled at his fortune. He couldn't waste this chance.
"Alright, how do I get the dragon legacy?"
—That is...
* * *
"A dragon legacy sleeping in the Magic Tower...?"
Jehyun muttered dubiously en route to the Circle Measurement Room.
"It's really in the Magic Tower?"
—Hard to believe, but true. Recall how you got me.
"Hm...."
Jehyun reflected. He'd found Alkasha in the Magic Tower library.
"Why are you and the legacies in the Magic Tower?"
He felt deep suspicion. No clue on dragon-Tower ties.
—Can't answer now. All mysteries clear when you fully inherit. It's not harmful to you, that's all I can say.
No satisfying answer. Jehyun read Alkasha's refusal.
"Fine, whatever. There's a story, I'm sure."
No immediate change knowing Tower-dragon secrets. Claim power, grow strong first. Questions later.
So... climb to the Magic Tower's top for all legacies.
Each floor held one, city-sized vastness.
The Tower's lands alone are country-sized, Tower at center.
Ten floors, impossibly tall— each a city.
First, circle measurement.
Trainees hit 1st Circle, prepped for Ascension Tower exam (min req). Monthly, soon one coming. Measure, then participate— claim first legacy on floor 1.
Jehyun reached the Circle Measurement Room. Familiar, yet different vibe.
Squeeeak.
Heart pounding, he stepped in.
Moments later.
"What in the world!"
The measuring mage's shocked voice echoed.