Stepping into the small, warm pool Jyle had pointed out felt exquisite and calming. Stripping bare, he jumped in with a loud splash that echoed through the forest.
"This looks more like a warm pond than a pool – but either way works fine."
Sinking his body deeper into the warm water, Jyle tossed the book into the pond, where it landed on the surface.
"Hey! You just wasted valuable information I was supposed to read!"
"Don't worry. The book is 100% waterproof – my magic's on it, so it won't get wet at all."
Hearing this, he reached for the floating book and pulled it from the water. Upon inspection, it was completely dry, as if a protective barrier kept the water away.
"Looks great..."
He opened the book and read every single page carefully. It detailed the 12 Mana Cores, their corresponding shapes and colors—with the 12th being the weakest and the 1st the strongest. Power scaling typically depended on three core factors: strength, speed, and experience. Additional traits like intelligence, endurance, agility, and perseverance also played a role. Since he didn't have access to a "system" that could provide clear answers, his only option was to memorize the information quickly and thoroughly.
By manifesting three key elements—Stamina, Mana, and the Core itself—one could grow powerful enough to defeat beasts beyond ordinary imagination. Such creatures included the Great Herns, the Five Mythics, and the Legendary Sages. More powerful beings existed across the world, but these were the ones explicitly documented in the book Maximus was reading.
The book outlined each Mana Core tier, with colors and shapes determined by one's absolute power:
– (12) Triangle – Pale Gray
Typical of weaker species, human children, and even some frail adult humans.
– (11) Star – Canary Yellow
Found across various species with differing power levels: this is where average to strong humans fall.
– (10) Trapezoid – Moss Green
Seen in semi-powerful humanoid species like lion-men and elves. Most humans who reach this tier are skilled warriors or mages.
– (9) Rectangle – Sky Blue
Characteristic of powerful species, though not overwhelmingly so. Humans may attain this level if born a prodigy or through extreme training.
– (8) Crescent Moon – Obsidian Black
Belongs to immensely powerful beings capable of obliterating entire villages or towns. Humans might reach this tier only if they are exceptional prodigies or push their training to its absolute limit.
– (7) Circle – Pearl White
Mostly exclusive to greater species, who are nearly unstoppable and require specialized methods to defeat. Humans can still reach this level if they are highly specialized prodigies or have ties to powerful beings.
– (6) Equilateral Triangle – Amber Orange
Claimed by greater species, with many sages matching this power level. Legendary beings refer to humans with this core as "figures that should never be underestimated." To reach it, a human requires either a divine blessing or a special proclamation.
– (5) Diamond – Emerald Green
Rarely held by spirits, legendary figures, and sages. Theoretically, humans can surpass their limits to reach this tier through multiple blessings and being recognized as "gifted individuals."
– (4) Square Pyramid – Amethyst Purple
Possessed by legendary spirits, two of the Five Mythics, and other formidable beings (some of whom may exceed this tier). Humans can break past previous limits by fundamentally altering their bodies into something far more resilient.
– (3) Pentagon – Deep Sapphire Blue
The theoretical tier of the Great Herns, along with many divine beings, one of the Great Sages, and two of the Five Mythics. Humans are not capable of reaching this level.
– (2) Hexagon – Crimson Red
Held by three concept-breaking divine beings, one of the Great Herns, and one of the Five Mythics. No human could ever attain this level – it would require breaking the laws of physics or surpassing beings of unfathomable strength.
– (1) Octahedron – Royal Gold
Only one reality-space-concept-breaking divine being has ever achieved this. None of the Five Mythics, Great Herns, or humans have reached it – just two beings in all of existence stand at this pinnacle.
Absorbing all this knowledge, he was deeply fascinated by the idea that both beings and humans could surpass their limits and grow stronger. Yet he was just an ordinary person with no idea how to awaken his own Mana Core—until now, he'd always relied on survival and instinct to navigate this strange, incomprehensible world.
"Hey Jyle!"
He called out to the man, who was tidying up his belongings in the next room. Jyle set down his cleaning tools first before calling back.
"Yeah? What is it?"
"What's the shape and color of your Mana Core? I'm just curious—that giant creature you took down earlier didn't show its core clearly at all."
Jyle looked down at his chest, placing a hand over his heart. He closed his eyes for a moment, focusing on the feeling of his Mana Core beating within him—acting as both a protective shield and a reservoir for his power and energy.
"It's… conjured. Sky blue and moss green mixed together. The shape is hard to describe, but I think it's a parallelogram."
"Huh… that's strange. The book doesn't mention anything about mixed colors or unusual shapes like that. Do you have any other books that might cover this sort of thing?"
Jyle shook his head.
"I don't have a book that knows everything – but I do have one that comes pretty close, though it's not perfect."
Maximus chuckled, his curiosity was clearly guiding his path forward. Glancing at the handmade tools he'd crafted and set aside earlier, he asked one last thing.
"I'll be leaving tomorrow. Could you lend me some weapons and small bags for the journey?"
"Of course – you're welcome to stay here anytime you need to, but if you're set on going, I understand."
Maximus nodded, and Jyle picked up his cleaning supplies again before walking off.
When Maximus finally finished his soak, he found a set of clothes laid out on a table to his left. He dressed quickly, feeling immediately comfortable and warm. The outfit consisted of a dark blue winter jacket, a white tunic underneath, and black trousers that reached his ankles. His dark cyan hair shimmered in the sunset light, and his golden eyes drank in the beautiful scenery before him—a moment where he felt truly present in this new world.
He knew his life was already transforming right before his eyes. To survive in such a dangerous place, he needed to learn everything he could about it —curiosity driving him to seek out the knowledge he so desperately required. Staring down at his hands, he whispered softly.
"I need to meet that Nephilim again."