Heumr took his ti, his words stumbling over themselves in confusion.
Watching him struggle for an answer, Asher shook his head, unimpressed. Without another word, he turned away from the two and started walking off.
"I don't have ti to waste on petty plays," he thought, distancing himself.
As he moved farther, he heard Heumr start murmuring to Nimora—probably telling her she had chosen better. But what did Asher care? He wasn't searching for anyone's recognition, only the opportunity to gain more power.
A few seconds later, the two finished their conversation and started following behind him. Asher led the way, reaching the door to the next area. His fingers grasped the cold tallic knobs, twisting them open.
As soon as he stepped inside, his eyes widened in bewildernt.
The room bore a resemblance to the one filled with runes, but instead of engravings and inscriptions, this space was brimming with charms and beast cores.
The difference between Runes, Charms, and Cores was subtle but crucial.
Runes had strange markings that granted specific buffs or ability enhancents.
Charms were the hearts of vanquished spirits, rare and potent, enhancing a user's spiritual energy—what the outside world called Mana.
Beast Cores, as the na implied, were the central power sources of slain creatures. Extracted from their remains, these cores served various purposes—building, appraising, upgrading weapons, or, as Asher liked to call them, cultivation stones.
His eyes glead.
"This is exactly what I need," he thought, recalling the system's words.
Finding cultivation materials this early was pure luck. Even better—Heumr and Nimora were still at a distance.
That ant...
"I can steal so cores without his consent."
Without hesitation, Asher rushed to the nearest shelf, his hands swiftly grabbing the first beast core within reach. The smooth, palm-sized crystal pulsed with dormant energy as he slipped it into his pocket.
He reached for another—
The door swung violently open, its hinges screeching as Heumr and Nimora entered.
Asher froze, his heart hamring against his ribs. In an instant, he switched from theft mode to innocent fiddling mode, rolling a core between his fingers as if rely inspecting it.
"Shit... I almost got caught."
"Don't do that, my Lord," Heumr advised, his tone firm. "That in your hand is a Beast Core. The smallest mistake could bind it to you."
Feigning ignorance, Asher blinked. "Oh?"
Heumr cleared his throat, launching into an explanation. "The larger crystals on these shelves are beast cores. Charms, on the other hand, are smaller." He picked up one as an example. "Charms are the crystallized hearts of slain spirits. They're rare and enhance spiritual energy—what people commonly call Mana."
Asher had no interest in Mana. His reserves were already vast. What truly intrigued him were the beast cores.
"Mr. Heumr, I still don't understand the concept of beast cores," Asher said, furrowing his brows with an artfully gullible expression.
Heumr hesitated. Then, after a pause, he sighed and relented.
"Beast cores," he began, "contain the very essence of a beast's power. When the creature dies, we extract these cores and use them to either forge weapons or cultivate ourselves to beco stronger. Is that clear?"
The last few words ca out strained, as if he were forcefully dragging them from his mouth.
It was no secret that Asher was a renowned scholar of the Exorcist Family. Heumr couldn't help but question—was this kid ssing with him?
"Not that," Asher muttered calmly.
The rage in Heumr's eyes was palpable. That last statent was the final straw.
And Asher knew it.
This was deliberate. A small, calculated form of punishnt for whatever snide remark Heumr had made to Nimora earlier. By stripping away his pride, Asher delivered his silent revenge.
Then, he struck with the real question.
"How many beast cores can we cultivate at our current stage?"
Heumr's face stiffened, then softened in embarrassnt.
He had allowed himself to be angered by a re child's question—one that was actually logical.
"Damn it... how could I be so stupid?"
"Well," he sighed, adjusting himself, "for your age, a single core should suffice. You're still at the base level, and there are six levels above this."
Asher gave a simple nod, his mind racing.
"Just as I thought... the world of Exorcists is almost identical to Cultivators. Strength is determined by the number of cores and charms consud."
But that left one question nagging at him.
"What happens if I take more than one core?"
With the heavy silence lingering, Heumr—his pride still wounded—decided to wrap things up.
"Find your lodgings," he ordered, eager to end the day.
Asher didn't need to search. His system guided him effortlessly, leading him to the best beast core for physical enhancent.
anwhile, Nimora returned with a charm, a choice that made sense given her natural need for more Mana.
Asher, on the other hand, had an abundance of it.
What he needed was strength and durability.
"Now, give your Charm and Rune," Heumr instructed Nimora first.
She handed them over, and Heumr took both in his grasp. Holding them together, he murmured an incantation. Imdiately, the two stones began to glow, pulsating in sync.
[ Insight Activated ]
[ High-Grade Runist Skill Detected ]
[ Appraisal Techniques in Use ]
Asher's body itched at the sight.
This was a Runist's ability—the power to purify and fuse magical materials.
A vital skill Asher had failed to learn in the ga.
Typically, after defeating a powerful boss, players would have to travel to an Alchemist or Runist to have their cores purified and appraised. This process was ti-consuming and often derailed their progress.
But if one had an affinity for Alchemy or Blacksmithing...?
They could strengthen themselves without relying on others.
Sadly, Asher lacked that affinity.
For now, he had to depend on what he had.
Once Heumr finished with Nimora's materials, he fused them into a small, round, blue pill-like stone.
Then, he turned to Asher and repeated the process.
"Now, swallow it," he commanded.
Without hesitation, both Asher and Nimora gulped down the stones.
The effect was imdiate.
A sinking sensation settled in their stomachs, followed by a cold, coarse wave crawling up their chests.
Then—
Agonizing pain.
Asher dropped to his knees, gripping his chest as a sharp burn spread through his body. Nimora mirrored his actions, both of them gritting their teeth as the pain reached its peak.
And then—
It vanished.
[ Congratulations! You have gained a new skill and stat points. ]
[ All rewards have been appraised. ]
Asher slowly steadied himself, his body tingling with newfound power.
Heumr, having witnessed this many tis before, casually inquired, "Are you two alright?"
Asher narrowed his eyes.
"Oh, so now you care?"
It was obvious. This had been Heumr's way of getting back at them for earlier.
But Asher didn't mind.
The real reward was the strength he had just gained.
[ Congratulations, Player. You have gotten stronger. ]
And that was all that mattered.
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