Chapter 145 - The True Beginning (8)

Core Latency is divided in three stages; Early Stage, Middle Stage, and Peak Stage. The higher the latency of the Core, the brighter the color is.

Red Core for example; it has a dark red colour in the Early Stage, neutral red colour in the Middle Stage, and bright red colour in the Peak Stage.

It applies to every Core Stage.

Basil was already in the verge of breaking through to the Green Core. Therefore, his Core had a bright yellow color. It was currently shining intensely, and the glass-like, bright yellow sphere had fissures covering it.

This fissure signifies how close Basil was to breaking through to the next stage.

Once the sphere shattered, the Qi contained in it would form a new and better quality Core—Green Core. This was the reason Basil was trying his best to break the sphere.

Of course, "breaking the sphere" can't be taken literally. One could easily break the sphere—the Core—from the outside, as long as one knew the right position.

However, that would entirely end one's career as a Knight. No one wants that to happen, and breakthrough is never about that.

"Breaking the sphere" in terms of breakthrough means purifying the Qi stored in one's Core to the point of breaking the Core.

It can because Core is created to store Qi of a certain purity—in dependence to its color. Once the purity of the Qi in one's body surpassed a certain point, one's Core will not be able to keep it any longer, and the Core will shatter naturally.

This, of course, doesn't make one lose all of the effort one has done to cultivate it. The Qi, that is previously stored inside the shattered Core, will make a new layer of sphere shaped glass-like material of the same colour as the Qi.

This way, a new Core is born.

Crack. Crack. Crack.

With [Star Withering], Basil was ceaselessly purifying his Qi. The purification rate was honestly bewildering, considering how miniscule the Star Energy—that was the main fuel of his Body Forging Technique—Basil could absorb in the Dungeon.

The fissures covering his Core was increasing, signifying the imminent breakthrough. Despite so, Basil didn't let his guard down. He was fully aware this phase was the most important phase.

If he failed in this phase, he wouldn't be able to achieve breakthrough. His Core would heal itself, and it would be harder for him to achieve breakthrough in the next time.

Crack!

The colour of his Qi was changing. The previously bright yellow colour was turning into dark green. The process wasn't instant, but it didn't take long until the Qi completely turned into dark green.

Basil's Qi had reached another level of purity.

Shatter!

Finally, Basil's Core also "shattered." It couldn't handle Basil's purified Qi anymore.

Even so, the Qi didn't scatter, and roam around freely in his body. It stayed in its place, looking like a dense gaseous green sphere.

Slowly, the Qi formed a new layer of sphere shaped glass-like material. The process was called Core Reforging. Basil had to do it carefully, lest he wanted to spoil his hardwork.

Although his Qi could stay in its place despite the absence of Core, it wouldn't be for long. Therefore, he had to Reforge the Core to contain the Qi.

Soon enough, a new and stronger Core was born. Basil had finally stepped his foot in the realm of Green Core.

His eyes opened, and his sense returned once again. He immediately looked at his surrounding to determine his situation.

He had immediately tuned out the world as soon as he felt he was about to have a breakthrough. Therefore, he didn't quite know what happened right after.

He soon found himself lying on the ground of one of the cells made for Kinslayers—the lowest cell.

He was there because Caesar had been afraid he would disturb Basil if he were to take Basil to his usual cell, which was located very high up in the wall.

Basil quickly sat himself up, and looked down to his body. He was drenched in sweat, and his clothes sticked close to his body. Luckily, he wasn't smelly like the moment he had just broken through in his Mana Heart Cultivation.

Clenching his hand, he could feel every muscle in his body was denser than before; he could tell by the contraction they made. Standing up, he could instantly feel his body was lighter even more than before.

"As expected, breaking through to Green Core really changes my body," Basil muttered.

In Knight Principle, reaching the Green Core means having one's physique literally transcending the realm of human.

In this stage, there is absolutely no one will be able to compete with the Knight in terms of physical prowess.

Their pure physical prowess equals to the fully reinforced body of a Fourth Circle Battle Mage. Which means, they could fight with a Fourth Circle Battle Mage without utilizing their Qi.

Therefore, naturally, a Fourth Circle Battle Mage will never be able to fight a Green Core Knight in close combat, and it is very likely a Fourth Circle Battle Mage will never be able to beat a Green Core Knight.

Basil looked to the ground briefly, before stomping down casually.

Crack!

The dense ground instantly cratered, and dust rose up. It was all caused by his pure physical prowess; there wasn't any Body Strengthening involved.

This was his new physical prowess after his breakthrough. At this point, a slap from him could turn any ordinary people to mush.

Not stopping there, he made a Qi blade, then cut his palm open with it. It quickly bled, but the bleeding stopped in seconds. Soon enough, the wound closed itself; no scar could be found.

Even his regeneration speed was off the charts without any Healing Technique.

This also signified how bad Caesar had done the Green Core Knights of Hauler to be able to create gashes their body couldn't heal without the help of a Healer.

Basil nodded his head in satisfaction at his improvement. His body had finally transcended the realm of human, and would stop getting any stronger until he reached Violet Core Stage.

With that being said, it doesn't mean his power would be limited until he reached Violet Core Stage. He could still use Body Strengthening to further empower his physical prowess.

Basil sighed to himself, "Huuh... I should clean myself."

He conjured water from the air, then poured it down on him. He didn't take off his clothes, but he made sure to clean every part of his body with the water he was controlling.

Once he thought he was clean enough, he quickly gathered wind around him. It didn't take long until he got his entire body dried, including his clothes; he purposefully left his hair slightly damp, so it would be easier to organize it.

Once everything was done, Basil opened the door of his cell; he was instantly face to face with Caesar.

Caesar had quickly come here upon hearing the sound of the cracking ground Basil had caused with his casual stomp; he had thought something wrong had been happening to Basil.

"Congratulations on your breakthrough, Young Master."

"Say that after my training is finished, Caesar." Basil was referring to his Fourth Circle Recarving.

Caesar smiled slightly. "An advancement is still an advancement."

"I am famished after the breakthrough. Let us have a meal."

Caesar merely bowed his head in acceptance. Since he had been doing it for the past month, there was no way he would refuse Basil's invitation.

Basil was quick to take action. Soon enough, everything was prepared; the meal could finally start.

"I wonder, Young Master. We have eaten the same amount of food for a month straight almost everyday. Do you still have enough supply?"

While slicing his steak, Basil answered, "You have not to worry about that. I have enough supply." Putting the slice of the steak in his mouth, it quickly disappeared like it was never even there before.

"Even if I am out of supply, there are still many consumable low class Demons here," continued him.

Caesar gulped the steak he had just chewed, before nodding his head. "Yes, they are. However, I believe they will not taste good."

"It is all about the way one processes it, Caesar. Even a low quality ingredients can still taste great."

Caesar shrugs. "Well, it's easy for people like you, Young Master; I'm not that skilled in cooking. My cooking sucks!" He shuddered in horror.

Basil blinked once. "Well, that is new." He had never seen someone admitted their cooking was bad, after all.

Basil raised his liquor filled mug, and gulped it; he had finished his meal.

It wasn't Caesar's first time seeing Basil's godly eating skill, but he was still amazed everytime he saw. He had never thought such application of Magic would ever exist.

However, it wasn't the only thing about Basil's habit that intrigued him. He was also intrigued by Basil's activity after the meal: pondering about something he would never know, just like now.

"Caesar, have you explored the entirety of this Dungeon?"

"I believe yes."

"Then, have you ever encountered a gate that connects this place towards somewhere else?"

Basil was referring to the gate that connected the Dungeon to the Obelisk of Goap. He had been too focused in his training, he had forgotten about it momentarily.

Caesar shook his head. "No, Young Master. There is no such thing." He frowned, then was reminded about something else. "Or maybe ... Are you referring to the gate that connects this Dungeon to another Dungeon?"

"Does such thing exist?" Basil was slightly surprised. He hadn't heard anything about it in his past life.

"Yes, Young Master. Dungeons were originally connected to each other. It was only after the end of the Age of Chaos was the connection between Dungeon destroyed."

Basil hummed in interest. He didn't know that tidbit of information. "If the only thing being destroyed was the connection, does that mean the gate still exists?"

Caesar nodded wordlessly, and Basil became even more intrigued.

"Very well, Caesar. You shall bring me there right after you finish your food."

"That place will be crowded with annoying Demons. It will take a quite some time to clean them. Is it not better to spend your time training instead, Young Master?"

"I will be training, Caesar. Cleaning them as fast as possible is the training."

"As you wish, Young Master." Since Basil was that insistent, Caesar didn't want to stop him.

Soon, the meal finished, and the two immediately set on the journey to find the gate.. Surely enough, no one had expected what they would encounter.