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Chapter 69: Unexpected Help
🕑 Added 2024-10-14 02:39:12 +0000 UTC
Aurum - Year 3
Time has passed, and life goes on as it always has. The difference now is that I live in constant fear of the humans returning. I don’t know their plans, the extent of their forces, or their motivations—I'm completely in the dark.
Living without knowing if tomorrow will be the last day is suffocating. On one hand, the humans 'just' want the kobolds, so I shouldn’t be so worried. But what if the kobolds talk and reveal the location of the nest? What do I do if the humans decide, "Let’s scout the region to make sure nothing has escaped!"? It would only be a matter of days before they spot the wax tower, clear as day in the middle of a maze of wax and wood. And if the humans do come after me, what then? Do I run? Fight? Try to negotiate?
My instincts tell me there’s only one choice: Kill them all. They hurt my children and are a threat that can’t be ignored. But I’m not that fearful, anxious young queen bee who used to fall victim to [Concerned Player's] pranks. I can and should think rationally about the colony's survival. Running away is tempting, I must confess. We could burn the tower and escape in the middle of the night. A lot of research and hard work would be lost, and it would take months, maybe years, to rebuild. But that’s better than staying and fighting for a doomed castle.
The research can be archived by the archivists. Levi and his group of builders could probably construct a new, stronger, and better-planned tower in a few months. The problem with this plan is managing the people. Over 60% of the hive consists of non-combat members, like researchers, administrators, and nurses. They wouldn’t be able to help with protection until a new tower is built, and they’d just add to the burden on our soldiers.
Then there's the question of where to run. If we go deeper into the forest, I fear encountering that creature that stared at me from the spiritual plane. I’m not willing to risk my life for that, so the forest is out. Running north towards the abandoned lands of the beastmen is another option. Abandoned lands could be a good place to build a new nest, but the mysterious "Dark Corruption" makes me wary. If the hive can’t deal with this corruption, then those lands are useless.
Another option is to head south, but I have no information about that area. It could be a perfect place, or it could lead us to our deaths—it’s basically a shot in the dark. I’m not willing to gamble the entire hive's survival on a "shot in the dark."
The other options are even worse. Fighting the invaders is the next alternative, but that’s simply ridiculous. Those humans can use magic as if they were playing a game, and they can cause near-fatal damage to my children with just a surprise attack. If they come prepared to exterminate us, it would be like an anthill trying to fight a fire. I can’t lose my children; I’ve made so many wrong choices and taken so many rash paths in this life that I don’t think I could forgive myself if my children died because of my bad decisions.
No matter how I look at this situation, no matter what anyone says or does, it’s clear to me: This is all my fault.
If I hadn’t meddled with the spiritual plane, fleeing east into the forest would be a viable option. But now I have to deal with a mysterious entity that’s possibly angry with me for who knows what reason. We can’t keep it hidden because it’s only a matter of time before either the kobolds talk or the humans return and start exploring. If I had never helped the kobolds in the first place, the humans might never have come near this place. No—this all started because I began a stupid hunt for [Tears of a Saint]. I monopolized all the flowers we could find and brought them straight home, and for what? NOTHING! Just because I thought the flower was valuable and wanted a lot of them! And now I’m trapped in this damn maze with no way out. Every path seems to lead to a dead end, and I’m the one who dragged us into this situation.
If I had minded my own business like the boys suggested and acted as an exemplary queen for the hive, none of this would have happened. It’s all my fault, and I need to get us out of this tiger's den, but I can’t think of a solution! Maybe if I let go of the kobolds, I could keep the humans away and buy time for the hive to strengthen. But I can’t let them go—I feel like if I leave them behind, I’ll give up my last bit of humanity and become a real monster. Have I already done horrible things? Sure. I’ve done things to the creatures of this world that would be equivalent to "inhuman testing" on animals in my past life, but they weren’t sentient. They couldn’t talk or show emotions like a person. They… They don’t count.
I needed them. I needed the information only they could provide. If I hadn’t used them as livestock, the hive would never have learned about animal handling, research, and wildlife processing.
Chaining a Wappo to the ground with spikes and draining it dry is nothing compared to imprisoning a human or kobold. They scream, beg, show fear, anger, confusion, and resentment. They can’t be easily contained like Wappos or farm animals, and I have no real reason to use them as guinea pigs. There are always animals and magical creatures that can serve as more "morally acceptable" test subjects.
Have I done anything wrong in this life? If you asked me directly, I’d say I haven’t done anything right so far! I try so hard to be the "queen" my children need—elegant, well-balanced, strong-willed, healthy, and well-behaved. But I'm a mess! I gave birth to every member of this hive, but I feel like a puzzle piece from a different set, trying to force myself into a place I don’t fit.
We are the same, similar, even identical if you think about it. But we’re fundamentally so different and distant that we just—don’t fit together. How? How could such well-adjusted, self-sufficient, and emotionally stable beings come from someone like me? It’s like a horse giving birth to a unicorn! Are they perfect? I’d say they’re infinitely closer to perfection than I am, but they still have their problems.
They are brothers, and they fight and die for each other, but that doesn’t stop them from separating into social groups. Some members are less popular, others more so. Some get along well with the rest of the hive, while others… not so much. Some hive members also suffer from real problems, things I didn’t think were possible for bees from another world.
They get sad, happy, angry, and scared. They can feel any emotion, good or bad. They feel proud of their achievements, get jealous when someone else in the hive gets something they wanted, and feel embarrassed about their jealousy. They can… love each other like a big, close-knit family.
They can suffer, get overwhelmed, make mistakes, lose control, or get shaken up. This has happened before with Steve and Ken. The work was so exhausting and overwhelming that they started to "bug out." When I stop to think and analyze their workload, I wonder, "How do they manage to handle all this without breaking down every day?"
The members of the inner circle are the top of the pyramid. They have to make decisions constantly, and their choices and actions have immediate impacts on the hive. That’s why the inner circle has several "helpers," who in turn have their own "helpers." The workload is so immense that it’s… bee-manly? — practically impossible.
If I had to handle, process, analyze, resolve, transmit, and archive every piece of information for the hive on my own, I would have lost my mind within the first five minutes. No normal brain could handle that much information.
Yet somehow, they manage to do it. They access the link as if it were a Wi-Fi network, putting, sending, processing, receiving, and analyzing every bit of information from the hive. It’s like having a robot that records every detail of your life, processes and filters all the information, and saves it to a hard drive.
Steve can do this, and I think that’s why he comes across as so… elegant? As a highly serious and rigid secretary, Steve’s group is the largest in the hive, comprising about 20% of our members who handle information processing and distribution. Steve decides what should be communicated and transmitted, while Radyo and Pipe take care of getting this information to the rest of the hive.
And Ken… poor guy. He gets too involved. He always seems cold, distant, and a real A-hole, but to me, that hardness is just a shell around his fragile interior. Ken cares deeply; he always wants to ensure that everyone in his care receives the best possible treatment. This wasn’t a problem at first, but now with so many members, it’s impossible for Ken to take care of each one personally.
Ken has always been the kind of guy who, if he saw someone getting hurt, would rush over to them, lecture them about safety, and at the same time, provide the best care for their injuries.
If I had to describe Ken, I’d say he’s like a hug—comforting and warm, or tight and suffocating. It was my fault what happened to him. I should have known that leaving one person in charge of both the wounded and the babies would lead to trouble. How does anyone feel good after seeing the babies they cared for being carried home unconscious, while they’re covered in battle wounds?
Maybe I need to establish an OSHA for the hive and introduce things like therapists, counselors, and even retirement options—forced or not. Since I don’t know if we die of old age, I can’t predict how long we’ll live before becoming "stars in the sky." We might have a high life expectancy like humans (80-100 years), or it could be a trick of the system, and soon we’ll start showing signs of aging.
The more I think about it and analyze our situation, the more I realize I have more questions than answers. I don’t know about my origins, if others like us exist in the world, our life expectancy, why I can’t produce other females, the origin of the link, the reason for affinities, what a soul is, or what I’m doing here.
Sometimes I think that if I found a magic lamp or if God appeared before me, I’d wish to return to my old life. It was sad and empty but free of problems. But then there are the boys—what would happen to them if I simply… disappeared? The scenarios are not pleasant. I wish I could build a great city where they could live happily and safely forever, far from problems and conflicts. But reality wakes me up and reminds me that I can’t run away from my problems and pretend they don’t exist.
I need to do something. I need to make a decision. I need something completely new.
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Aurum - Year 3 - 2 Month Later...
"DAMN IT!"
A pair of large black clawed hands slammed onto a wooden table, shattering it under the force of the impact. Papers and other materials scattered across the floor. The source of the blow was a large humanoid bee, disheveled with dark circles under his eyes and an overall haggard appearance.
"I’ve spent months in this laboratory, sent every available soldier to hunt, and allocated all resources and personnel to research, but we’ve produced nothing useful. We've made progress in magic optimization, crystal manufacturing, and mana isolation, but nothing we can use as a weapon."
The lab was a mess, with papers strewn across the floor, blackboards cluttered with various theories and projects, and failed prototypes scattered about. Attempts to create war golems, magic wands, and poison-causing machines had all failed for the same reason: there was no ‘brain’ to control these machines.
There were attempts at creating components akin to processors, motherboards, coolers, and even a hard drive, but nothing close to a functional CPU. Without a CPU, the machines couldn’t execute commands properly. I had realized some time ago that the issue wasn’t a lack of energy, power, or stability, but the absence of an agent capable of executing commands. Crystal plates inscribed with runes could serve as "templates" for pre-recorded functions, but a CPU could analyze and execute commands with the right "materials."
Using crystal disks remains a good method for achieving certain results, but they are like CDs: they can only play pre-recorded content. A CPU could execute commands from a hard drive and even create new commands based on existing information. But how do you create a CPU from wax, mud, and crystals!?
"I need to think of something. I need to find a way, I—"
At that moment, the laboratory doors swung open, and a group of real soldiers accompanied by Yan entered. "Queen Mother! Jasper requests an audience with you!" Yan announced.
"Huh? Why wasn’t this communicated over the link? Can’t you see I’m busy? Handle this yourself, Yan."
"...Queen Mother, this is an important and urgent audience concerning the preparations for the humans' return—"
"They’re back already!?"
"...No. Our spies are monitoring the border closely, and no humans have approached the forest." Yan reassured.
"Tsk. So what’s this about?" I said, turning my attention to a prototype on a table.
"Bombs. It’s about Jasper’s bombs," Yan said bluntly.
The mention of "bombs" brought back memories of Jasper’s request for permission to experiment with explosives. I was now thrilled that I had approved this idea.
"OH!! Did he get any results?"
"Yes, my queen! Jasper has created five different bombs: the first is an incendiary bomb, the second is a stink bomb, the third produces a viscous green liquid, the fourth emits poisonous smoke, and lastly..." Yan continued.
"Speak up, boy!"
"Well, that’s what the meeting is about. Jasper’s latest bomb was, and wasn’t, produced," Yan explained.
"What do you mean? Elaborate!"
"Due to the need for weaponry, Jasper’s bomb department received permission to use living mana in its experiments. Initial attempts were promising, with bombs capable of causing, according to Jasper, 'chemical burns that hurt like hell.' However, this morning, Jasper requested permission to produce 'human-sized' bombs." Yan said.
"What does that entail?"
"Our regular bombs are about the size of a worker’s head—small and relatively safe. But a 'human-sized' bomb would be 7 to 10 times larger than our current ones, posing extreme danger to the hive. The request was denied, but Jasper challenged the decision, claiming, 'The future of the hive is at risk, and you are a bunch of weak-willed cowards.' He requested an audience with you, as he often does when seeking approval for projects not sanctioned by the inner circle or Steve." Yan explained.
"Ugh..."
Jasper is a complex individual—curious, persistent, and with a down-to-earth attitude that makes him an excellent researcher and leader, but also stubborn and difficult to handle.
Looking at my prototypes and research, I struggled to justify abandoning all this unfinished work to listen to Jasper’s arguments about why I should approve his work on deadly bombs.
"What are the real risks of this project?"
"Well, I’d say the biggest risk is the potential annihilation of the explosives department, both in terms of materials and personnel. If the project fails, everyone involved could die, but the hive itself would remain unchanged, as the experiments are conducted in a separate tower away from the main ones," Yan said after some consideration.
"...What are the pros and cons of continuing this research?"
"Bombs are inherently dangerous, so the risks and benefits are fairly clear. Incendiary bombs could clear or weaken specific areas; sticky bombs are useful for hunting; stink bombs help spies escape; and poison bombs are invaluable for Aldy’s group, allowing them to create a 'veil' of poisonous smoke to operate within. We could also explore bombs for mining and sound bombs. Jasper views bombs as tools rather than just weapons, which is why the 'Chemical Bomb' was the first designed specifically as a weapon," Yan explained.
"What’s your opinion on these 'chemical bombs'?"
"I think they’re too dangerous. They were developed using the laboratory explosion that caused mutations as a model, focusing on 'destabilizing living tissue' and causing wounds similar to chemical burns. There are also theories that they might damage DNA and cause unseen harm. Experiments with Wappos, lizards, and snails showed devastating effects even in small doses," Yan said.
"That… sounds too risky. How did Jasper manage to make living mana so unstable?"
"According to reports, Jasper mixed [Drops of Life] made from life energy with alchemical mixtures, poisons, and powders. He used pure energy from mages in a centrifuge to create a homogeneous black liquid he called [Chaos Solution]. This liquid was then placed inside a bomb with supercharged life mana crystals, wrapped in wax and mud to create the [Chemical Bombs]. When thrown, the crystals shatter, releasing pure life energy that reacts violently with the [Chaos Solution], generating a powerful wave of black energy that causes 'chemical damage'," Yan detailed.
"Holy shit… Is Jasper a genius or a psychopath? It’s incredibly ingenious—like a chemist creating unstable substances..."
"Is this [Chaos Solution] stable and safe to work with?"
"Relatively, yes. It’s highly poisonous and emits dangerous gases. It decomposes quickly—within hours if not stored properly—so bombs have a shelf life of 2-3 days after manufacture," Yan said.
"Uhm… What’s the danger in creating a large bomb? The process seems straightforward and relatively safe, but if the bombs have such a short lifespan, why make them now?"
"Tests. We need to know if soldiers can handle and transport a bomb of that size, if it remains stable, and if the hive can support this type of weaponry. The dangers are significant—if something goes wrong, everything could go up in smoke. Steve decided to shelve the project until we have more information and research, preferably after the hive’s next evolution," Yan conclude
"Hmm... Allow the experiment. Reduce the production team, increase the safety requirements, and use smaller amounts of fuel for the bomb."
"T-That’s it? Are you sure, Queen Mother?" Yan asked, surprised by the swift decision.
"Yes. We’ve been stagnant for too long. If we don’t start taking some risks, we’ll never make any real progress."
"...Very well, if that’s your wish, then so be it, Queen Mother." Yan said before bowing and leaving the room with the royal guards.
Once the doors closed, I returned to the solitude of my laboratory. Doubts crept into my mind—was this the right choice? Was I truly prepared to take such risks for potentially great rewards? But then I thought about the factors leading me to this decision. We lacked any effective weapons against humans. Our swarm of bees with axes and spears was still just that—a swarm of bees with sharp tools. Nothing compared to a giant bomb capable of taking down a grown man.
No progress had been made in military weaponry, and Jasper’s dangerous creations were our first real advance. Supporting his experiments, even if they were risky and unconventional, seemed like our best option.
"Exploding bees, huh? That’s strange…"
As I turned my attention back to my prototypes, a sudden idea struck me. Muck, the [Familiar], had a... brain, I suppose? It was more like a "spiritual brain," but it was still a brain—a CPU made of pure mana.
"How could I have missed that?!"
Instead of trying to create a CPU from crystals or alchemical fluids, I could use a mana-based approach. I hurried across the room, retrieving a large crystal orb from a box. It was part of an old, failed prototype for a magic wand, composed of several crystal rings inscribed with magical runes and filled with life mana crystals.
I placed the crystal orb on the table and began summoning a mana echo, binding it with the [Connect] spell, and then sent the mana echo into the orb. Within moments, I felt a faint connection forming between me and the mana core.
"This—"
Before I could celebrate, the connection was suddenly bombarded with confusing signals and erratic energy waves, as if dozens of strings were being yanked and shaken violently.
"Ughhfahf—"
'UNKNOWN ATTACK ON THE LINK. DIRECT ATTACK ON THE QUEEN. REPEAT, DIRECT ATTACK ON THE QUEEN,' Radyo shouted through the link, causing chaos throughout the hive.
My head pounded as if it might split apart, muffled voices echoed through the link, and mental beacons searched desperately for the source of the attack. But soon, I lost consciousness.
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When I awoke, I found myself in a completely black void, the room devoid of any recognizable features. I tried to stand, but my body felt different. I looked down to see that I was no longer in my familiar bee form. Instead, I had a human body with tan skin, long white hair, two arms, and two legs—no bee characteristics at all.
'What the…'
The realization hit me: was I dead again? No, no, I couldn’t be! The boys needed me! I couldn’t afford to be dead!
I began to walk through the endless darkness, only to discover that the void seemed to be made of paint. The surface was damp, creating waves as I moved. I ran aimlessly, but the void appeared endless. As I ran, the black substance on the floor seemed to cling to me, making it difficult to escape.
'Let me go! I need to get out of here!'
Despite my efforts, the black mud held me back. A tremor echoed through the void, and a massive wave of black ink began to form behind me.
'What the—'
Looking back, I saw the wave of ink surging toward me, and a deformed face emerged from it.
'W-What is this thing?'
彡( "Ɏ-ɎØɄ ₮Ⱨł₦₭ ɎØɄ ₵₳₦ ⱤɄ₦ ₣ⱤØ₥ ₥Ɇ, Ⱨ₳₦₳? ł ₩łⱠⱠ ₳Ⱡ₩₳Ɏ₴ ฿Ɇ ⱧɆⱤɆ, ₳Ⱡ₩₳Ɏ₴ ฿Ɏ ɎØɄⱤ ₴łĐɆ. ł ₵₳ⱤⱤɎ ɎØɄⱤ ₴ł₦₴ ₳₦Đ ₲ɄłⱠ₮, ₩ⱧłⱠɆ ɎØɄ ⱠłVɆ Ⱨł₲Ⱨ ł₦ ɎØɄⱤ ₮Ø₩ɆⱤ Ø₣ ⱠłɆ₴" )彡 the creature gurgled from the black mud.
'What do you mean?'
彡( "ł. ₳₥ ɎØɄⱤ—" )彡
Before the creature could finish, a bell rang, tearing through the darkness and revealing a red sky.
彡( "ɄⱧ₲-ⱧⱧ₳ⱧɆ₮—ɎØɄ—ɎØɄ’ⱤɆ ₦Ø₮ ₲Øł₦₲ ₮Ø ₲Ɇ₮ ⱤłĐ Ø₣ ₥Ɇ! Ⱨ₳₦₳—ł—" )彡
The bell continued to toll, and the creature began to dissolve into the black mud, which soon vanished, transporting me to a place that was both strange and oddly familiar.
'Where am I? What is happening here?'
I found myself in a city where everything was made of wax and wood, with some concrete and metal elements. The streets, posts, walls, and fences were all crafted from wax, and strange lights emerged from the wax posts. Despite the city's features, it was eerily empty.
'Why is everyone gone? Where is everyone?'
After wandering through the deserted streets, I arrived at a large tower that looked modern and untouched by wax, though it was covered in roots, grass, and moss.
Inside, I found a room cluttered with scattered books. I moved towards a table but felt an inexplicable urge to go up the stairs in the corner of the room.
'This place feels so familiar…'
I picked up one of the books, only to find it filled with constantly shifting letters, making it unreadable. I continued up the tower, passing through rooms obstructed by black roots, a giant bell, and a room that resembled my teenage bedroom. At the top, I found an empty room with an elevator that impossibly seemed to descend.
'What is going on?'
I entered the elevator and pressed the number 1. The elevator descended but opened to a black wall that led nowhere. After a few attempts with no success, I returned to the elevator room and went to the tower window.
Looking out, I realized I was on a floating island in a blood-red void.
'What is this place?'
I left the tower and walked along the city’s edge, discovering a bridge made of roots and moss leading to a large brown door adorned with thorns and vines. I tried to open it, but it was locked. Turning back, I found a fragile wax bridge leading to a small yellow door marked with a number. This door was also locked.
Finally, I came across a bridge made of intricate crystals with floating lights, leading to a large door made of crystal plates. Unlike the others, this door was open.
'Finally!'
As you enter the room, the air is thick with magical energy, and the space is filled with various familiar symbols and mechanisms. The large crystal orb at the center of the room pulses with golden energy, drawing your attention.
You approach the orb and place your hand on it, only to be jolted by a shock wave. The pain is sharp but fleeting, and you quickly turn your spiritual vision to the orb. Inside, you can see a mass of energy struggling for stability. It’s as if the orb is trying to contain or expel this chaotic energy.
‘Is this my... Echo? Is it trying to control the crystal orb?’
The situation is puzzling, but you decide to focus on what you can understand. You sit in front of the orb, determined to analyze and stabilize the energy. Using your mental commands, energy, and spells, you attempt to force the echo to stabilize within the crystal orb. However, despite your efforts, the echo remains unstable.
Frustrated, you reach out again, and the orb shocks you once more. This time, you resist the urge to pull away and instead try to inject your life energy into the orb. For a brief moment, the energy mass inside the crystal stabilizes, but soon the extra energy is consumed, and the instability returns.
‘This is... Complicated...’
The struggle to stabilize the echo within the crystal orb is proving more difficult than you anticipated. The chaotic nature of the energy seems to be fighting against your attempts to control it. The orb’s current state is a reflection of your internal conflict and the challenge of integrating this powerful but unstable energy.
In the midst of this, you might need to rethink your approach. Perhaps you need a different method to manage or channel the energy, or you might need to explore why the energy within the orb is so resistant to stabilization. The answers might lie in deeper understanding or a novel approach to your magic and mana control techniques.
'This is... Complicated...'
H̵̟̐à̴̻n̴̞̳̈̈́a̷̳͐͋̿'̵̬̍̐́s̶͓̀̐͘͜ ̷̡̱͎͐S̸͎͕̈̊u̷̟͉̺̅̈́b̵̛̹̳̏̌c̵̦͗͆̑o̷̤͌͆n̵̨̝̒ͅs̷̤͛͊̊c̵̛̙͓̦̽̍i̸̬͕͓̽́o̶̲͖̬̅̂̓u̷̟̖̗̓ș̷͎̒̕ - ?̶̗̤̯̺͍͌̕&;̵̨̡̛̰͖̜̳̹̬̀͊̋̏̄͗̚͡4̴̢̡̛̆͛̄͋̄͂͟͜͝ͅ ̵͍̼̼͚͉̠̞̪͋̈́̀̂̓̈́͝-̵͚́́̎̓̌̽̿̚͡ ̷̭̰͓̯͍̉̀͘Ḑ̸̧̛͉̹̩̠̮͖̩̜̄̓a̸͎͎̦̙̠̲͓̹͗͛y̴̡͎͖͓̒̈͛̊̾̀̀̚͝͡ş̵̰͈̘̠̙̼̩͆̆́̋̂̀͑ ̶̨̰̙̣͒̚L̶̼͓͇̼̻̩̤̐a̷̛͈̘̙̯͔̥͖̳͊͗͜t̵̢͎͇̮̦͆̀̈́͌e̸̛͚̹͕̒͛̐͆͗̐́r̴̛̯͎̗͎̜̮̠͕̲͈̆̒̌͐́̄̑̉͂
How long has it been? It feels as though I’ve been trapped here for days. I’ve wandered aimlessly, exploring every corner of this place, yet I haven’t found a way out. If I’m truly dead, is this hell? Or some kind of limbo?
I don’t feel hungry, pained, tired, or sleepy—everything is just... empty. The black goo has reappeared several times, always trying to reach me. But when the bell rings, it vanishes like a mouse fleeing from the light. I’ve spent days searching for answers about this place and what’s happening, but nothing seems right.
Initially, I thought this could be the afterlife, but there’s no one else here. I’m so alone that I feel like the walls are starting to speak to me. Then I considered that this might be [Link] itself, the "bridge" connecting me to the entire hive, but there’s no one here—not a single living soul. If this place really is [Link], I shudder to think what might have happened for only me to be here.
Next, I wondered if this could be some kind of spiritual dimension. How did I end up here? I have no idea. Maybe I did something I shouldn’t have and created a rift that pulled me into this place. But that seems unlikely, as I doubt a bee less than a meter tall could tear the fabric of space-time.
The lack of answers made me anxious. As always, I was in the dark, unsure of what was happening or what to do. So, I did what I always do and immersed myself in research. I focused on improving the magic crystal ball that houses a mana echo.
Over time, I realized that it wasn’t enough for the magic crystal ball to be stable and secure; the echo itself also had to be stable and receptive. I tried dozens of runes to find the perfect combination, spending a lot of time creating a stable and well-crafted mana echo. But the echo resisted changing its fundamental nature to meet my needs.
I approached the crystal orb, placed my hands on its surface, and focused my energy to create a mana bubble around the life echo. I began to merge the echo with this bubble of pure mana, carefully "sewing" the echo’s energy body to the crystal formation.
Halfway through, the echo began to resist. Determined not to let it escape, I forced it to stay in place and pushed it to the proper position. Despite the high compatibility between the physical and material, the echo stubbornly resisted merging completely with the artificial crystal core.
“No! You will not!” I thought.
I pushed more energy into the crystal core, pressing the echo’s immaterial body against the crystal discs and sewing it to the runes, creating neural connections like strands of golden thread. The echo pulsed in response, and I sent a wave of energy to trigger a self-destruct mechanism, then used the mana bubble and my control over the echo to stabilize it.
If I could sweat, I would be drenched. The only sign of my exhaustion was the critically low levels of mana in my body. Without retreating, I continued to push and force the echo into place, attaching the final pieces of its spiritual body to the crystal core.
As soon as the last section was complete, I collapsed in exhaustion, trembling with anxiety over whether it had worked. Looking up, I saw the echo had abruptly stopped, gone out briefly, then began to pulse violently with a strong golden light. Life energy coursed through the crystal core like blood through veins, and the echo pulsed rhythmically like a mana heart. The crystal core, once clear as glass, now glowed with a golden hue. The runes and inscriptions on its rings turned a vibrant blue, lighting up in different rhythms as the echo pulsed.
“This! It works!!!”
As I awkwardly stood to admire my creation, the entire room of crystals and runes transformed before my eyes. The pale, glass-like crystals took on the same golden tone as the crystal core. The tubes and liquids glowing throughout the room illuminated brightly, and the runes magically lit up.
Notice
Congratulations! You have created the world's first [Manaheart Node], and as a reward you have earned 5,000 XP!
Notice
You've leveled up to level 22!
Warning
Because you have leveled up too many times at once, you will suffer from the [Xp Overload] effect for 24 hours!
Effect
[Xp Overload] - 23:59
You ended up leveling up too quickly!! Your body needs time to adapt to the changes!
-100% XP gain -65% all stats
Before I could savor the success of the system’s first warnings, I was struck hard and knocked flat by an [XP Overload]. The impact felt like a mule’s kick, leaving my body too heavy to move.
Collapsing to the ground like a wooden plank, I lay still, but a profound sense of happiness washed over me. I had created what I set out to achieve, and not only that—I was the FIRST in the world to do so!
“Hehehe... The sweet taste of success... It’s sweeter than honey...”
Warning
The G̷͈̜̗̞͐̐0̶̨̼̯̩̓͐6̵̝̚d̶͔͈̠̈́̆͝͠5̵̗̀̈́3̶̝̓̈́͋ẽ̴̤͓̰͗̈́£̶͔̺̱̽̋͋͋5̵̧̹̮̝̺̓͛͌s̴͙͕̲͝ ̷̗̪̂@̵͎̭̱̊̒͌ͅF̶̖̙̊ ̷̯̿¬̴͉̱͎͈͍͋̄̀̓°̸͍̟̗̺͒̽r̸͙͙̰͛̿̍͝Ǹ̴̛̺͕̱̓͗͜!̷̯̠͆n̷̹̔¢̸̨̛̞͚͋ is trying to read your mind.
'WHAT??!?!'
'Read my mind?!!? Who's trying to read my mind?! Is this because I created [Manaheart Node]?! Bastard, have you never heard of trade secrets!?!'
Warning
The individual {Elyxia} interfered with G̷͈̜̗̞͐̐0̶̨̼̯̩̓͐6̵̝̚d̶͔͈̠̈́̆͝͠5̵̗̀̈́3̶̝̓̈́͋ẽ̴̤͓̰͗̈́£̶͔̺̱̽̋͋͋5̵̧̹̮̝̺̓͛͌s̴͙͕̲͝ ̷̗̪̂@̵͎̭̱̊̒͌ͅF̶̖̙̊ ̷̯̿¬̴͉̱͎͈͍͋̄̀̓°̸͍̟̗̺͒̽r̸͙͙̰͛̿̍͝Ǹ̴̛̺͕̱̓͗͜!̷̯̠͆n̷̹̔¢̸̨̛̞͚͋ attempt to read your mind.
Warning
The individual {Elyxia} gave you the blessing: [Daughter of the world]
Warning
The individual {Elyxia} nullified all of your status effects.
Warning
The individual {Elyxia} gave you 9503 XP points.
Warning
You've reached level 36! Now you can choose your next evolution from the list bellow!
'What the hell just happened here?!?!'
