Chapter 30: Through cycles
Axelius stared at the shattered fragments of the void floating around them like pieces of broken glass, still glowing with traces of violet energy. Just as he was about to step forward, the shimmering words reappeared, larger and brighter than before:
[Halt. Primal Veil Core is not fully developed. Current Status: One-Star Cycle.]
Axelius blinked, squinting at the glowing letters. "One-Star Cycle? What the hell is that supposed to mean?" he muttered, scratching his head.
Owen, who had been bouncing nervously beside him, tilted slightly. "Maybe it's talking about your Primal Veil Core...like its rank or something?"
As if responding to Owen's words, new text began to form:
[Primal Veil Core develops through cycles. Each cycle is marked by stars, ranging from One-Star to Ten-Star before evolving to the next stage. Current Cycle: One-Star. To advance, you must absorb sufficient Life Essence.]
Axelius tilted his head, frowning. "Life Essence? Like...plants and animals and stuff?"
[Life Essence is the primal energy that flows through all living things—plants, beasts, the earth itself. To progress to the Two-Star Cycle, you must gather Life Essence and stabilize it within your core. Absorption Methods: Meditation, Direct Extraction, or Life Convergence.]
Axelius rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "So...I just need to suck up a bunch of Life Essence, and I'll get stronger?"
Owen sighed. "It's not that simple, you idiot. Life Essence isn't just floating around waiting for you to take it. It's rooted in living things. If you pull too much out, you could kill whatever you're taking it from."
Axelius raised an eyebrow. "Kill it? Like...a tree or something?"