24 Forming a Core (1/2)
This happened for the next sun without change.
In the meantime, Ania made a breakthrough after three days of nonstop cultivation and was the first to receive one of the perennial cores as a gift from Rathe. On the fourth day, Vloz was the one to make a breakthrough and become a high-perennial. And Rathe was happy to have Fontu breakthrough on the fifth day and become the fourth perennial in the clan.
With two perennials to keep the clan safe, Rathe finally convinced Vloz to take him to the new territory and claim it before the clan migrated. This would make the transition easier and give the others time to stabilize their new levels of cultivation.
Oli was always gone during the day and would only return to sleep after nightfall. The only thing on his mind was forming that core. He knew that he was insane for wanting to try the impossible, but he wouldn't let himself back down from the challenge and was set on making a miracle happen.
After nine days of cultivation inside the formation, Trada finally spoke, ”It's time, Oli.”
She pulled out the pitcher from her void gem and placed it in front of him. ”Are you ready? Once you start, there's no going back until you either die or you succeed.”
Oli didn't let her persuade him and nodded, waiting for her to guide him through it. ”Very well. The first step is to let the circulating energy gather in the center of your chest, but you can't go against the flow or else it will never work.”
Doing exactly as she said, Oli relaxed and let his energy flow naturally. From there he slowly guided it around his body until it finally reached his chest after a few minutes. Once there, it felt as if flood gates had opened inside his ribcage and the essence energy began to flow there to no end.
”Good, now comes the first difficult step. Take the pitcher and drink the blood. You should drink it all, or else there may not be enough to create the mutation,” Trada spoke firmly.
Oli followed orders and began to drink the blood by the mouthful. Getting past the aftertaste in his mouth wasn't that bad, but soon a burning sensation began in the pit of his stomach and spread like wildfire to rest of his body.
He could feel the energy in his core begin to change as another essence type began to gather there. Knowing that this was dark essence and that things were going according to plan, Oli bore the pain and finished drinking the last of the dragon blood before dropping the pitcher without caring if it shattered.
The burning grew worse by the second. His body and internal organs did as well, with the dragon blood and dark essence permeating his entire body.