NOVEL NEXT Chapter 33: MANA CORE XXX
Eran's gaze lingered on his wrist, still faintly humming with the golden shimmer from the surge of Evelis's mana. For a moment, his thoughts drifted deeper, wondering what lay beneath the surface of the academy's hierarchy. There had to be more, something hidden from those who weren't paying attention.
And just as that thought crossed his mind, the system flared in his vision, bringing his focus back sharply.
[ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION! ]
{SCAN. }
INITIALIZING...
CODE NAME XXX: NEXUS
INFO: Target connection through Evelis's mana source detected.
STATUS: Link established to Nexus Core.
EFFECT: Mana synchronization initiated. Resonance Level: 32%
BONUS: +150 Mana Recovery, +5% Resistance to External Mana Disruption.
________________________________________
*SYSTEM>>
WARNING: Extended link may reveal system signature to Grade C observers.
A chill ran down his spine. Nexus? The word still echoed in his mind as his system pulsed again, reminding him of something he'd yet to explore. Something deeper than just rank and magic.
So this is what Evelis meant…
His gaze flicked briefly to the glowing banner on his wrist, the gold-crimson hum now steady. A mark that ties directly to one's core… he thought. It stabilizes raw mana, links it to the Nexus Core, boosting one's flowz, even hardening the body against mana exposure so we don't collapse under pressure.
I guess that's what he was talking about.
His lips curled into a small smirk, curiosity and intent flickering in his eyes.
And then...
As Nyssa leaned forward, her eyes still lingering on Miyu, she spoke with a quiet confidence. "You really are of high potential," she said softly, her voice almost like a whisper, but it carried weight. "The whispers and cheers on the field just a while ago... they speak of a promising future for you."
Miyu's lips parted in surprise, her heart skipping a beat at the unexpected praise. "Huh..." she muttered, trying to hide the rush of warmth rising in her chest.
"I.. I..."
Her words faltered as her heart skipped a beat. Her gaze fell dropped, landing on Eran standing just beside her, the weight of his presence pressing down like a sudden storm.
In that moment, their eyes locked.
For a split second, the room seemed to tighten around her. The others were blind to it, but she knew. She knew exactly what had happened.
In an instant, Miyu's eyes flickered away too quickly as she gave Nyssa a faint smile.
"I still have more to learn," Miyu replied, her voice soft but steady, the words carrying a hint of humility. But inside, she knew the truth.
Nyssa didn't seem to notice the fleeting moment between them. Instead, she leaned closer, her palms glowing with verdant mana. The air around her hummed with power, a soft pulse that seemed to resonate with the very energy of the room. As she moved to heal Miyu, the touch of her mana was light, but its effect was immediate.
The bruises and lingering fatigue from the battle began to fade, and Miyu's eyes widened as the healing took effect. Eran watched, his thoughts drifting, recognizing the sheer level of ability Nyssa possessed. He couldn't help but think, They really are on a different level compared to Grade D.
Nyssa's hands moved, green threads of mana weaving into Miyu's aura. The tension in her body melted slowly, replaced by a steady pulse that matched the hum of the chamber.
"You're stabilizing," Nyssa murmured, stepping back slightly. "Keep it steady. Don't fight it."
Miyu forced herself to stand tall, refusing to give Eran the satisfaction of seeing how much she was affected.
Nyssa's attention shifted, her gaze locking onto Eran.
As she stepped closer to him, Eran could almost feel the warmth radiating from her body. Her robe clung to her curves, the fabric tightening as she moved, the barest glimpse of her thighs visible with each step. She held his wrist, "The same banner his system had reminded him of, the one Evelis had given them—glowed faintly between them. The gold-crimson hum in his hand flared brighter, as if responding to her touch
"This…" Nyssa said quietly, tilting her head so her sharp green eyes caught his, "is mana tied directly to your core. It stabilizes balance when your resonance spikes too high. It has a code name, and a purpose here in Grade C. Nexus"
Eran's eyes narrowed slightly, the glow reflected in them as if he were already testing the pull of the mana.
Nyssa smiled faintly, nodding. "Exactly. And you, even without a core yet , you're already standing here. That means you matter."
His smirk deepened, calm but sharp, the kind that made Miyu's chest tighten.
And just for a moment, Eran's eyes shifted back to Miyu.
The system flared quietly in his mind.
[ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION! ]
***
[ HIDDEN ENCOUNTER POTENTIAL INCREASED ]
EXP BALANCE: +116,000
RANK III REQUIREMENT: +300,000
____________________________________
NAME: MIYU VALERANE
[CONQUEST PROGESS... 70%]
He could feel it, the heat rolling off her, the pride that still burned in her even as her face flushed crimson. She was still fighting it, still fighting him, but the circle's hum, the chamber's resonance, and his quiet presence were pushing her closer and closer to breaking.
Eran's smirk tugged wider as the system's glow faded from his vision. He could still feel it, the heat rolling off Miyu, the storm in her pride as she stood there, flushed and refusing to break.
He let the silence stretch just long enough before leaning forward, elbows resting lazily on his knees.
"You have a great mana, you know," he said, his voice low, smooth, just loud enough for Nyssa to hear as well. "That final violet circuit you unleashed… it swept the bone clean in one strike."
Miyu froze, her back straightening before she turned, her violet eyes locking onto him. For a breath, the room felt hotter, heavier.
She felt it, that quiet weight in his words. It hadn't been hers alone in that moment. That strike had carried him in it, his presence wrapping through her mana at the last second.
And yet he sat there, calm, pretending nothing happened.
Their gazes locked, unflinching. Eran tilted his head slightly, that lazy, infuriating curl of a smile spreading across his lips.
"I really wish to be like you someday," he added, tone almost teasing, almost sincere, the kind of statement that made it impossible to tell which was true.
Miyu's breath caught. Her teeth clenched, her face turning back forward sharply as if to ignore him, but her cheeks were still glowing crimson.
The tension between them clung to the air like a living thing.
And then Nyssa's voice cut through it, smooth as silk.
"You two are exhausting the chamber with all this heat," she said softly, a faint smile tugging at her lips as her green eyes lingered on Eran a moment longer than necessary. "Focus on your breathing. Pride and distraction… both make the mana work twice as hard."
Her words weren't just a warning, they were a tease, a knowing glance passed between them as the hum of mana in the chamber steadied again.
Eran leaned back, smirk never leaving. And Miyu's fingers curled against her robe, silent but burning, her pride refusing to give him the satisfaction of a response.