NOVEL NEXT Chapter 218: Abyss Core
Zeus stood over Vesperin's limp form for a moment, his piercing gaze lingering on the unconscious figure before him. With a cold, casual motion, he reached up and removed the Zeus Divine Mask, the aura of power shifting as his appearance transformed back into Lucas. His expression softened into calm, but his eyes gleamed with curiosity as he held the Abyss Core in his hand.
The core was small, smooth, and pitch-black, pulsating with a deep, foreboding energy. It radiated an intense Abyss Mana, the sheer presence of which made the air around Lucas heavy with dark energy. He turned the core in his palm, inspecting it closely, feeling the power it held.
"Is this really an Abyss Core?" Lucas mused aloud, his brow furrowing slightly as he spoke, the question more for himself than anyone else. His voice carried a mix of skepticism and curiosity, unsure if such a small object could truly hold such potential.
Almost instantly, the system chimed in, its tone brimming with its trademark arrogance. [Of course, you idiot. It's a core—what else could it be? Did you think it was a decoration? Honestly, I don't know how you manage to function sometimes...] The system's voice dripped with sarcasm, as if Lucas's question had insulted its intelligence.
Lucas raised an eyebrow, ignoring the jab. "But it's so small. Shouldn't it be bigger if it's valuable?"
The system sighed dramatically before responding. [Bigger? Bigger? Are you really that dense, host? I'm not joking, and even though I love mocking you—usually because you deserve it—this time I'm being serious. You've stumbled upon something special.]
Lucas's frown deepened, confusion growing. "So… you're telling me this tiny thing is valuable? You've got to be kidding me."
[For once in your life, try to listen to me without questioning everything. Let me break it down for you, because clearly, your brain needs some help with basic logic.] The system's tone shifted, becoming sharper and more authoritative.
[The smaller the core, the purer it is. The mana inside it condenses as the size shrinks. Cores are usually the size of a fist or larger, but this? This marble-sized core is incredibly rare. You're lucky you even laid eyes on something like this.]
Lucas blinked, his thoughts racing to process the new information. He held the Abyss Core up to the dim light of the abyss, studying its flawless surface. "So... the smaller the core, the more condensed and powerful the mana is?"
The system let out an exaggerated sigh, its mocking tone returning. [Finally, you're catching on! Yes, the smaller the core, the better. This size is the limit of how small cores can get while still maintaining their integrity. It's why I said you're lucky, though honestly, I'm more surprised you didn't screw it up somehow before picking it up.]
Lucas stared at the core for a moment longer, his smirk slowly forming as realization dawned on him. "I guess I did get pretty lucky then," he admitted, his voice tinged with satisfaction. "So, what do I do with it now? How do I use it?"
The system wasted no time, its tone dripping with its usual arrogance. [Oh, you could use it right away, genius. But here's the thing: your Void Physique? Yeah, it's not exactly compatible with all that delicious Abyss Mana stored inside this shiny little core.]
Lucas's brow furrowed, his smirk fading slightly. "Not compatible? What are you talking about?"
The system sighed, as if it had to explain the most basic of concepts. [Look, your Void Physique is built for void-based energy, not Abyss energy. You can't just absorb every shiny thing you find like a child collecting rocks.]
There was a mockery in its tone, as if it found Lucas's ignorance amusing. [If you try to absorb the Abyss Mana as it is, you'll basically waste the core's true potential.]
Lucas frowned, turning the core over in his hand. "So, what do you suggest? I just throw it away because it's not 'compatible'?" His voice was laced with sarcasm, not entirely trusting the system's explanation yet.
The system let out an exaggerated groan. [No, don't throw it away! I swear, sometimes your lack of common sense is astounding.] There was a brief pause, as if the system was shaking its metaphorical head.
[Here's the solution for your tiny brain to comprehend: we release the Abyss Mana and leave the core blank. Once it's empty, it'll be a clean slate—a blank core. Then, and only then, will it be useful for your Void Physique.]
Lucas's eyes narrowed. "So... you want me to just strip it of its Abyss Mana?"
The system practically rolled its eyes. [Yes! Strip it of its Abyss Mana, genius. Your main body will benefit more from a blank core. That way, you can actually make use of it instead of turning yourself into a walking abyssal disaster. Unless, of course, you enjoy the thought of spontaneous combustion.]
Lucas sighed, the system's endless mockery starting to grate on his nerves. "Right... so we're just going to drain it dry."
The system, still riding its wave of arrogance, responded with more enthusiasm than was probably necessary. [Exactly! Strip it, drain it, whatever you want to call it. Just hand it over and let me do all the work, as usual.]
Lucas shook his head slowly, but there was a hint of amusement in his eyes. "You really love to talk yourself up, don't you?"
[Well, considering you'd be hopeless without me, I think I've earned the right.] The system's voice was positively smug now. [Now stop asking dumb questions and give me the core before you manage to do something reckless with it.]
Lucas let out a quiet chuckle, realizing the system had a point. He couldn't just absorb the core without understanding its true nature. "Fine," he said, "I get it. But don't take all the credit."
The system, ever smug, immediately chimed in, its voice dripping with exaggerated self-satisfaction. [Oh, don't worry. I'll leave you just enough glory to bask in later. After all, someone has to do the heavy lifting here, and it's clearly not going to be you.]
Lucas rolled his eyes, resisting the urge to respond with something snarky. Instead, he extended his hand, about to hand over the core when he suddenly paused. A spark of an idea flickered in his mind, and a slow, deliberate smirk began to form on his lips.
"Wait a minute," he said thoughtfully, his voice now tinged with mischief.
The system, sensing something was up, immediately grew curious. [What now? What's with that look? You're not thinking of doing something stupid again, are you?] Its tone shifted, a mix of caution and suspicion creeping in, as if already anticipating whatever wild idea Lucas was brewing.
Lucas's eyes gleamed, the smirk widening. "Actually… I think I've got an idea."
The system was silent for a beat, and then its voice returned, this time with a mix of impatience and mockery. [Oh, this should be good. Come on then, genius, enlighten me. What harebrained scheme have you come up with now?]