Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Best of Three (1)
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Spirit Realm.
It was an unknown territory.
Even though masters had opened their Spirit Realms and reached the Incarnation Realm, they didn't know everything about it.
The concepts of Spirit Realm and Incarnation had only begun to be properly established in the last century or so.
There was still far more uncharted territory in the Spirit Realm and Incarnation than what had been explored.
Opening the Spirit Realm was a matter of talent.
Not everyone could do it just by learning the theory, and since it belonged to the study of ascension, it was bound to be shrouded in secrecy.
That was why Johan was confident.
The knowledge about Spirit Realms that most masters hid away like pocket change.
Aside from the Sword Lord, there was no one who knew more about it than he did.
He had spent decades traveling far and wide, meeting countless masters, and discussing Spirit Realms to create new martial theories and mana body techniques.
Because he had devoted so many long years to research, Johan's reaction to Yuri's condition was one of utter disbelief.
‘A core in the Spirit Realm? Ridiculous nonsense, but damn it, that's exactly what I'm sensing from this guy's Spirit Realm.’
He couldn't peer inside another's Spirit Realm, so he couldn't say for certain, but the intense pull and flow drawing in mana was unmistakably a core.
‘Creating a core in the Spirit Realm? How the hell?’
When he had exchanged stories with various masters, there was one thing they all agreed on.
[The Spirit Realm is a mirror, and the Incarnation is like the self reflected in that mirror.]
The Spirit Realm was likened to a mirror not just because it reflected the self to draw out the Incarnation, but also because it was just as fragile.
How many had become idiots or lunatics by opening it wrongly or forcing it?
For a mana core, something belonging to the material world, to form in that illusory realm beyond the Spirit Realm was beyond Johan's common sense.
Yuri, who had heard Johan's explanation, picked at his ear.
“Uh... what the hell does that even mean?”
As expected, a reaction like it was the first time hearing it, and a deep sigh escaped Johan's lips.
“Haa... If you don't even know your own body, what am I supposed to do? No, at this point, do you know anything at all?”
“If it were before, I would've brushed off that bullshit, but... now even I have no clue.”
He'd only learned about the Spirit Realm concept recently—how was he supposed to know if there was a core inside it?
‘When the hell did this even happen?’
After getting tangled up with Johan, Yuri had realized his body was mysteriously strange in many ways.
Nodding at that, Johan suddenly flinched and took a step back.
Johan's eyes narrowed at the sight.
“What're you doing?”
Wrapping his arms around himself, Yuri put on the most pitiful, frightened expression he could muster.
“N-No!”
“...?”
“No dissections! Spare me!”
Yuri had finally realized what Johan meant by muttering, ‘This little shit... maybe I should dissect him?’
‘Well, if it were me, I'd wanna dissect it too at this point.’
Even he found his own body fascinating, so how much more would someone else?
Realizing Johan's words about dissection were dead serious, Yuri took another scared step away from him.
Johan's face twisted in disgust at Yuri's antics.
“Cut the crap before I split your skull open and take a look inside for real.”
“Okay.”
At Johan's warning, Yuri quickly dropped the frightened act and scurried back over.
He glanced sideways, testing the waters.
“But, old man...”
“What.”
“So, how do I make a core in my body? It's possible, right?”
A core was an organ that strongly condensed mana.
If one already existed, creating a new one was next to impossible.
Still, Yuri asked with hope.
“You said there are mana body techniques with multiple cores, right? I can do that too?”
“Your current state is a bit different from normal multiple cores.”
There were mana body techniques with two or more cores, but they were designed from the start so that multiple cores formed during the creation process via the mana circuits.
It didn't apply to Yuri, who needed to create an entirely new core separate from the existing one.
As increasingly bad news piled up, Yuri's expression hardened.
Johan let out a small sigh and waved his hand dismissively.
“Don't worry. It's not like there's no way.”
“Really?”
Yuri's face brightened instantly.
Johan crossed his arms and nodded.
“Yeah. In fact, having a core in your Spirit Realm might be a blessing in disguise.”
If the core had formed in his body instead of the Spirit Realm, they would've had to shatter the existing one—a highly dangerous procedure.
‘If we make good use of Yuri's current situation... this guy could end up with two cores of completely different natures in one body.’
This could very well go down in history as a new era for humanity.
Johan's eyes gleamed faintly with excitement.
“Consider yourself lucky to have met me. Without me, you wouldn't even have attempted it.”
Johan's shoulders puffed up with pride.
Now grasping Johan's personality well, Yuri played along shrewdly.
“Of course! How much effort has the great Johan put into turning a halfwit like me into a proper human being?”
“Ahem! And you're only realizing it now, you fool?”
“Yes, this fool has finally realized it! If the great Johan makes a person out of a halfwit like me, I'll engrave your grace into my very bones!”
“You bet! Know gratitude, that's what makes a man. Aam!”
“Long live the great Johan!”
“Ahem!”
Johan strutted around arrogantly while Yuri fawned like a sycophant, chanting praises nonstop.
Their little comedy routine continued aboard the smoothly sailing passenger ship for quite a while.
And three days passed since then.
* * *
Bwooooong-.
Yuri snapped out of his mana meditation at the massive horn signaling their arrival at port.
“Ah...”
Letting out a small exclamation, he carefully touched the area around his navel.
Thump- thump-.
A strange sensation he hadn't noticed until recently.
It felt like a tiny heart had formed in his gut—an alien feeling, but not unpleasant.
No, his actual heart trembled pleasantly in response to the pulsing in his belly.
The more he focused, the more vividly he sensed the presence of the mana core, heightening his emotions.
‘This is... a mana core.’
Three days ago, with Johan's help, Yuri had finally succeeded in forming a mana core.
And once again, he realized just how idiotic he'd been, strutting around relying on a single Incarnation.
‘Just having this tiny nail-sized mana core makes such a huge difference.’
The mana core Yuri had nurtured over the three days since creating it was only the size of a pinky nail.
Yet his five senses had sharpened dramatically, and vitality surged through his entire body.
It was like being reborn.
Bwooooong-.
“Urgh!”
As the port horn blared again, Yuri stood and stretched.
His face beamed with refreshment and joy.
But in stark contrast, Johan looked utterly exhausted.
In fact, his face had grown noticeably haggard in just a few days.
Staring at Yuri, he grumbled discontentedly.
“...Feels good, huh?”
“Yeah, couldn't be better. Why?”
“......”
Look at that cat basking in the sunlight, drunk on bliss.
Seeing him so happy made Johan itch to smack the back of his head.
But.
‘I don't even have the strength for that right now, ugh...’
Exhaustion settled in Johan's slumped shoulders as he trembled.
Was it his imagination, or did the sky feel especially close and inviting today?
As if beckoning him to come up quick.
As if there was no pain up there, tempting him.
‘New era for humanity my ass... I'll be the one kicking the bucket first.’
Rubbing his aching back and joints, Johan glared at Yuri.
‘That damn brat! I thought once would be enough!’
The reason he was groaning and cursing on the verge of death was all because of Yuri.
The method he'd used three days ago to create Yuri's core.
It was to block Yuri's Spirit Realm with his own power.
Then redirect the mana leaking from the Spirit Realm back into the body to form the core.
Simple in words, but far from easy in practice.
One slip, and damaging Yuri's Spirit Realm could turn the kid into an idiot at his young age.
It required intense concentration, draining massive mental energy.
Still, Johan had attempted it thinking one time would suffice.
He'd figured that once successful, the body core would gain cohesion and allow Yuri to accumulate mana on his own without help.
That's what he'd expected, at least...
‘Who knew I'd be digging my own grave.’
After grueling effort, Yuri had succeeded in forming the core.
But contrary to expectations, the core in his body couldn't condense mana.
No matter how much he circulated the mana circuits, the core in the Spirit Realm sucked it all dry.
‘Damn it! Just how strong is the cohesion of that core in the Spirit Realm!’
It meant the Spirit Realm core had stronger cohesion than the one in his body.
In other words, as long as the Spirit Realm was open, Yuri couldn't accumulate mana in his body.
‘The newly formed core is unstable anyway, so it needs steady mana feeding to settle properly...’
What could he do about the situation?
Every time Yuri circulated his mana circuits, Johan had to block the Spirit Realm for him.
It consumed enormous mental energy, so his old bones aching was only natural.
But the real problem started now.
‘How long do I have to keep this up?’
For Yuri to accumulate mana without his help, the body core needed stronger cohesion than the Spirit Realm one.
Or Yuri had to reach a realm where he could open and close his Spirit Realm at will.
But neither was easy.
‘In the end, I'll have to be by his side every time he accumulates mana from now on...’
He'd just done this for three measly days and visited his deceased parents' graves—keep it up for another week, and he'd be eating funeral rice right beside them.
‘D-Drastic measures are needed!’
A way to block Yuri's Spirit Realm without him!
Fortunately, Johan had such a method in mind.
‘Guess I'll have to go find that guy.’
Niger Administrative District happened to be where the guy was based.
As Johan mentally mapped out his future plans—
“Old man, we're docking! Pack your stuff!”
Yuri urged him excitedly.
The sight made Johan's temper flare.
‘Damn brat, only he's thrilled!’
Johan quickly hid his flashing devious glint and smiled gently.
“You go ahead.”
“Huh? What about you, old man?”
“I've got some things to pack. Meet me at the gate.”
“Alright, sure.”
Yuri nodded nonchalantly at Johan's words.
And he didn't know.
That he shouldn't have brushed this moment off so lightly.
It wouldn't take long for him to realize that.
30 minutes later.
At the city gate bustling with people coming and going.
Yuri stared at something with a stiff expression.
Finally unable to hold back, he asked.
“...Old man, what the hell is this?”