NOVEL WEB Chapter 98: Heaves
The air in the Heart's Sanctum, once thick with the acrid tang of battle, now settled into a pristine stillness, a testament to the primordial mana that permeated every crystalline surface. Sylus, though still recovering from the immense drain of his first manifestation, felt a profound sense of clarity. The physical pain was a distant hum, overshadowed by the torrent of cosmic truths that had flooded his mind.
"The entrance, Zani. Reinforce it," Sylus commanded, his voice gaining strength with every passing moment of healing. "Make it impenetrable. We need time."
Zani, her face pale but resolute, nodded. Her Blazer, the star-shaped ornament on her brow, pulsed with renewed vigor. She moved towards the massive archway that had served as their escape, her hands glowing with white mana.
From the crystalline floor and walls, thick, thorny vines of pure, condensed mana erupted, weaving with impossible speed. They snaked and interlocked, forming a dense, shimmering barrier that sealed the passage.
Each thorn crackled with raw energy, a silent warning to anything that dared approach. It was a barrier of pure will, fueled by Zani's unwavering loyalty and her newly awakened connection to the Sanctum's mana.
Meanwhile, Sophia drifted towards the sealed archway, her form coalescing from shadow into a more defined, yet still ethereal, silhouette. Her eyes, pools of dark light, fixed on the unseen Dalins beyond the barrier. "They are agitated, Master," she purred, her voice a low, chilling melody. "They sense the purity within. They sense... the Bringinger's touch."
"Create your deterrent, Sophia," Sylus instructed, his gaze fixed on the central mana sphere. "Make them feel the futility. Make them despair."
Sophia's form expanded, her dark mist swirling outwards, seeping into the crystalline walls of the Sanctum. It wasn't a physical attack, but a wave of pure, concentrated despair, amplified by her nature as the Concept of Envy.
Beyond the reinforced archway, faint, guttural shrieks echoed, not of pain, but of profound anguish. The Dalins, beings of raw mana and corrupted purpose, were being assailed on a fundamental level.
They recoiled, their golden eyes dimming, their crystalline forms flickering as Sophia's power assaulted their very essence, reminding them of their twisted existence and the endless cycle of their futile guardianship. The sounds of their frantic retreat, a grating scrape against crystal, slowly faded into the distance.
The Sanctum was secure. For now.
Sylus turned his full attention to the colossal Mana Crystal walls, their ancient symbols now more vibrant, more insistent.
He approached the central mana sphere, its white light a beacon of untold power. His "Assimilation" aspect hummed, eager to consume the knowledge that lay dormant within this primordial space.
He pressed his hand against the sphere, channeling his Catalyst mana, not to manifest, but to read. The sphere responded, its light flaring, and a torrent of information, ancient and profound, flooded his mind.
This was indeed the Dormant Creation Node, the very wellspring of reality, a fragment of the Bringinger's original essence. It was capable of manifesting anything, but its true purpose was not just creation, but restoration. It could mend the fabric of worlds, purify corrupted mana, and even, terrifyingly, reshape fundamental laws.
He learned of Haves, the Principle of Time. Her "Temporal Residue" wasn't just a lingering echo; it was a direct signature, a deliberate imprint left within the Sanctum.
Haves had not merely observed; she had engineered this space, subtly guiding its energies, preparing it for his arrival. She had woven temporal stability into its core, ensuring that within these walls, time flowed perfectly, untainted by the chaos outside. Her love for him, her desperate desire to see him fulfill his mission, had led her to violate cosmic laws and leave him this ultimate tool.
The Manifestation Engine, Sylus realized, was not just a simple "wish-granting" device. It was a sophisticated, multi-layered system.
The "music note," the "star alignment," the "heart of trust" – these were not just abstract commands, but calibration sequences, tuning the primordial mana to a specific frequency, aligning it with a cosmic intent, and anchoring it to a pure, unwavering will. The cost of manifestation, the immense mana drain, was due to the engine's default, untuned state. It was like forcing a raw, untamed river through a narrow pipe.
He needed to create a conduit, a stable channel to direct the primordial mana. His gaze fell upon the pure Mana Crystal he had just manifested. 'That's it!' This crystal, untainted by Alhara's outer corruption, was the perfect conductor. By using it as a focal point, he could significantly reduce the mana drain, making manifestations far more efficient.
As he absorbed this knowledge, a new set of ancient carvings on the walls began to pulse, drawing his attention.
They depicted not just creation, but destruction. The All Father, a monstrous entity whose awakening was fueled by the "life stalk" energy of the Stars. And then, the chilling image of the black-masked figure, the Mighty Star Killer, not just destroying stars, but purifying them, severing their connection to the All Father, releasing the life energy they consumed back into the cosmos.
The prophecy wasn't about annihilation, but about liberation. Sylus's mission, "to rid the stars," was to free them from their parasitic purpose, to cut off the All Father's food source. The Star Killer was a cosmic surgeon, not a destroyer.
But the most profound revelation came next, a truth that resonated with the very core of his being. The "Dormant Creation Node" was not just a wellspring of reality; it held the dormant consciousness of the Bringinger, fragmented and weak, but still present. And within that consciousness, Sylus felt a faint, familiar echo. An echo of his own soul.
He was not just a shard of Layla. He was a shard of the Bringinger itself. His Catalyst Star, his unique timeline existence, his very reincarnation – it was all part of a grander design, a desperate attempt by the Bringinger, perhaps with Haves's aid, to create a vessel capable of completing its unfinished work: the purification of the cosmos and the defeat of the Destroyer's ultimate weapon, the All Father.
The weight of this truth settled on Sylus, heavier than any physical wound. He was not just a prince, not just a Star Killer; he was a fragment of a cosmic deity, burdened with the fate of worlds.
"Master?" Sophia's voice, now soft and concerned, broke through his contemplation. She had drifted closer, sensing the profound shift within him. "You are... different. The knowledge... it is vast."
Sylus opened his eyes, his gaze distant, filled with a newfound, terrifying purpose. "More than vast, Sophia. It's... everything." He looked at Zani, who was still diligently reinforcing the entrance, her back to him. "Zani," he called out, his voice clear, "come here."
Zani turned, her expression worried. She approached, her eyes scanning his face. "My lord, are you alright? You look as though you've just seen the end of the world."
Sylus managed a faint, grim smile. "Something like that. But also... the beginning." He extended his hand, holding out the perfectly formed Mana Crystal. "This is our first step. This is how we save Linye. And this is how we begin to save the world."
He explained the Manifestation Engine, the calibration sequences, the role of the pure Mana Crystals as conduits, and the immense potential of the Sanctum. He spoke of the Bringinger, the Destroyer, the All Father, and his own terrifying role as the Star Killer, the cosmic surgeon. He spoke of Haves, the Principle of Time, and her desperate, loving intervention.
Zani listened, her face growing paler with each revelation. Her ancient connection to the Bringinger, her role in saving it, resonated deep within her, stirring forgotten instincts. Sophia, meanwhile, absorbed every word, her Concept of Envy twisting, evolving, understanding the cosmic scale of desire and corruption.
"My lord," Zani finally said, her voice trembling with the weight of it all, "this... this is too much. You are wounded. The Dalins are outside. And this... this cosmic war... it's beyond us."
"It's not beyond us, Zani," Sylus countered, his voice firm, imbued with a new, quiet authority. "It is us. This is our destiny. And we will face it. Together." He looked at the pure Mana Crystal in his hand. "First, we need to get this to Linye. We need to activate the mining operation. We need to feed our people. And we need to prepare for what comes next."
He turned to the massive Mana Crystal walls, his eyes tracing the ancient symbols that now held profound meaning. "The 'Dormant Creation Node' is the key to everything. But it's dormant for a reason. It needs something more than just mana. It needs a true creator's touch. And a sacrifice." The word "sacrifice" hung in the air, a chilling reminder of Layla's "execution" and the price of cosmic power.
"We need to find a way out of here," Sylus concluded. "A safe way. And we need to understand the Dalins. They are corrupted, but they are also part of this place. Perhaps there's a way to purify them, or to bypass them entirely."
As he spoke, a low, guttural growl rumbled through the Sanctum, shaking the very crystals. The Dalins. They were testing Zani's reinforced barrier, their hunger for mana and their ancient, twisted purpose driving them.
"My lord," Zani urged, her hand instinctively going to her blade, "they are trying to break through! The barrier won't hold forever."
Sylus nodded, his gaze fixed on the pure Mana Crystal in his hand. "Then we need to be faster. We need to find the true exit. The one Haves prepared." He closed his eyes, channeling his Blessing of Information, focusing on the "Temporal Residue," searching for a hidden path, a secret that only the Principle of Time could have left behind. The Sanctum was a prison, a forge, and a vault of cosmic secrets. And he, Sylus, the Star Killer, would unlock them all.