"Their competition lasts for a few years until they reach twelve." said Jayna.
"Twelve?" asked Angus confusedly.
"Yeah. Apparently, when Aunt Extalia reaches twelve, she gets into an accident trying to form her core. By a sheer coincidence, she manages to form a core that is not only better than ordinary but boosts her physical level each time she breakthroughs." explained Jayna.
"She what…" exclaimed Angus in surprise.
As someone who has researched and tried to create a custom core, Angus knows the difficulty and danger of forming a core. Just being a better core than those at the royal academy is already difficult.
Now, Jayna said the Duchess manages to create a core that will boost her physical strength each time she breakthroughs at twelve. This kind of core is not impossible to form in theory. But, to actualize, it is almost impossible with almost zero percent of success.
The majority of the reason is the lack of energy. The core is similar to a machine. When people form a core, they need a large amount of energy to jump-start it.
When they lack energy and don't follow the usual safe way to form the core, their body will automatically use their life force as an exchange. Since the core is similar to the internal organ and part of the body, the body will react harshly to make this core work.
This is why people try to gather mana slowly through the years to form a core. Some cores with additional benefits usually need the help of rare external resources to create them.
Many people think that being able to form a core faster is often hailed as a genius. However, this is not entirely true. Being able to form core earlier means the person has talent at manipulating mana which also benefits the person.
However, this only applies to those that choose the safe way of forming the core. Suppose they tried to form a custom core like Angus or Extalia's core, their talent will become insignificant. It didn't matter if their mana manipulation was crappy or superb.
As long as they have enough energy to form the core, they will succeed. The problem is this energy requirement. Angus designs his core with various benefits, but almost all the advantages aim at mana control and hiding his core grade.
His core requires a tremendous amount of heritage chi that is enough to use [Soaring Heaven] a few times. [Soaring Heaven] is Angus's most destructive skill, similar to a nuke bomb.
Until now, he only uses this skill in full power when he fights against the Darkwing Bat monster overlord. He needs a large amount of chi to use this skill. Yet, Angus also consumes chi a few times higher than when he uses [Soaring Heaven] during his core creation.
He didn't know the energy consumption of Aunt Extalia's core, but he knew that kind of core would at least need energy enough to cast [Soaring Heaven] once. It is practically impossible for Jayna's aunt to have that much energy or find rare resources sufficient to supply it.
A resource like that will attract any combatant and monster in the span of thousand kilometers away. In the worst case, it may even lure the monster overlord.
p Angus knows the Heart Kingdom has never had a massive monster invasion in the last few hundred years. Therefore, he is certain Aunt Extalia didn't have that kind of resources.
After trying to calm his mind, "Then, how could she survive? You know the danger of forming a core." asked Angus.
"Aunt Extalia almost died at that time before she got Elixir from my Father, who happened to pass by in the area." explained Jayna.
"Elixir, huh? Let me guess, after that, she falls in love with your father." said Angus while rolling his eyes and getting nodded from Jayna.
Hearing she survived from elixir, Angus' excitement immediately went away. As a researcher, he knows the existence of an elixir. This potion is the pinnacle product of alchemy, equivalent to the Philosopher's Stone.
No one knows how to make it. Some old experts said it cannot be made by mortals and needs various kinds of rare ingredients. It is often hailed as a miracle potion because of its effect that can heal any type of wound, sickness, and bad condition.
Heart kingdom is one of the old kingdoms with a long history. Somehow, they could procure a few of this legendary medicine in the past. As time passed, this legendary medicine was finally exhausted, with Aunt Extalia as the last consumer.
Unfortunately, Elixir is unlike ordinary potions. It will turn into nothingness in a few minutes after it touches the air. Therefore, it is hard to learn or replicate it even with a high circle isolation spell to contain it.
While working as a researcher, Angus wanted to create something similar to an elixir for the soldier to reduce the war casualty. However, reality hit him hard. Just looking at the rare material to make one type of healing potion, he immediately gives up this idea.
Unlike mana potion, healing potion in this world is very expensive and hard to create since it requires rare resources. Moreover, a healing potion has limitations and can't be used for all kinds of wounds. Each wound needs a different type of healing potion.
Then, Jayna continued her story. As her aunt forms a better core than the normal one, she easily beats Aunt Hersha, which infuriates her. However, no one knows why, but Aunt Hersha couldn't gather enough mana to form her core even after age fourteen.
Finally, she decides to return to her family in defeat as she keeps finding Extalia getting stronger than her. Just as she wants to return to her family, Extalia and King Leon, and a few other young nobles enter the Endless Battlefield dimension recklessly.
A few years later, she heard Extalia manage to come out and become ridiculously stronger, reaching and creating her fame. After that, no one knows what Aunt Hersha did, but a dozen years later, she returned to this area with her sister Cecilia, Angus' mother.
During this time, Extalia finds Hersha almost as strong as her. She never fights directly as they are too busy with their work to meet each other. But, deep inside, they want to find out who is stronger.
Later, Angus and Jayna decide to pass the time inside Jayna's room before sleeping together. The following day, they do their usual training routine before packing up for the trip to Nirvas. This time they will be escorted by a group of Royal Guards and Sur Knights.
Surprisingly, their Aunt Extalia also will follow them for a reason they lack a sixth-grade combatant to protect them. However, they know King Leon will never let them go without any sixth-grade combatant nearby, especially with Anna among them.
They know Aunt Extalia is not only for their protection but also for Anna. Still, they didn't complain since they couldn't just leave Anna in the royal palace while one of them was going for a long time.
They were more surprised that Nirvas allowed people like Anna to enter their kingdom. However, King Leon only told them that anyone who passed their entrance test could enter their kingdom, even if it were a monster overlord.
This makes Angus curious about the so-called entrance test. Unfortunately, King Leon didn't give more information and only said it is one hell of a ridiculous test. While they pack up, Angus meets with Aunt Hersha.
"Angus, I am sorry for my behavior the other day. It is just…" said Aunt Hersha apologetically.
"It's okay, Aunt Hersha. Everyone also reacts that way toward Anna. However, she is already someone important to me and I didn't have any plan to abandon her." said Angus.
"Huft… Alright. Anyway, I also hear you will go to Nirvas tomorrow." asked Aunt Hersha.
"Yup. Somehow that old fox forced me to go there." said Angus.
"Fufufu… The old fox, huh? You have grown up. However, you are still my precious baby boy." said Aunt Hersha while catching him and hugging him with her mountain chest.
'Fast!! Tight.. Too tight!! I am breaking!! But this melon is also soft… Stop!! What the hell am I thinking! Jayna will kill me!!' thought Angus while struggling to escape.
After a while, Angus was finally released but still forced to stay on his aunt's lap.
"Angus, I want you to have this." said Aunt Hersha as she gave a gold plate with Widespread word on it.
"What's this?" asked Angus.
"It's a plate that signifies you as one of the executives in the Widespread family. It also could work to release emergency signals to other Widespread members nearby. As long as you have this, you can command them anything." explained Aunt Hersha.
"Why did you give me such a thing? I don't think I do something worthy to the Widespread family besides our few trades which are lacking compared to kingdoms." said Angus.
"It is a ruse." said Aunt Hersha.
"Ruse?" asked Angus confusedly.
"When you use this plate, you are obliged to have more relations with the Widespread family besides business and become our ally." explained Aunt Hersha.
"Is it some kind of forced contract item?" asked Angus.
"No, it is not that kind of devious item. You may refuse to have more relations with the Widespread family after using it, but I suggest you don't do it." said Aunt Hersha solemnly.