Core Growth

Leaving behind the burgeoning clamor of Evernight City,

Vivian’s figure swiftly melted into the characteristic dim twilight that eternally cloaked Evernight Territory.

She chose no mount, relying solely on her enhanced physical prowess and mana.

Like a fleeting shadow, she sped across the land.

The wind roared in her ears, the ground blurring beneath her with exhilarating speed.

Vivian deliberately pushed her pace, savoring the feedback of her body at its limits—legs brimming with explosive power, breath long and steady, core strength anchoring every step and turn, her senses

sharply attuned to her surroundings.

A long-forgotten, almost jubilant lightness filled her limbs.

“Phew… heh… not bad at all.”

Feeling her current condition, she couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh, brimming with satisfaction.

The weakness of pregnancy, the toll of childbirth, and the fatigue of the early postpartum days felt like distant memories.

Her demon physiology, coupled with her high-tier Demon Lord strength, had restored her body to its peak at an astonishing rate.

This sensation of full-speed sprinting, like lightning slicing through the wind, felt free and powerful, lifting her spirits immensely.

“My body’s almost fully recovered—maybe even lighter than before?”

She mused inwardly, wondering if nurturing life had tempered and elevated her own vital energy.

Whatever the reason, it was cause for celebration.

Since her capture and the unsealing of her powers, her strength had only now fully returned.

The constraints of her weakened state had been stifling, and this restoration brought a refreshing clarity.

Her destination, the mines near Blackthorn Village, lay a considerable distance from Evernight City.

Yet, at her breakneck pace, she shortened what should have been a half-day journey by nearly a third.

As she neared the mining area, she slowed her steps, her breathing still even.

Without contacting Old Hammerstone or the other mine guards, and without pausing,

She cloaked her presence and slipped silently into the deep, seemingly bottomless mine.

The mine’s interior plunged into darkness, lit only by faintly glowing moss and scattered crystals embedded in the rock walls.

The air was damp, thick with the mingled scents of earth, stone, and potent mana.

The tunnel wound downward, marked by fresh excavation traces and reinforced supports.

With no workers present, the mine was silent save for her soft footsteps and the occasional drip of water echoing from the depths.

Familiar with the terrain, Vivian bypassed the main work areas, heading toward a more concealed side passage.

The deeper she went, the purer the Evernight Crystals in the walls became, their ghostly light growing brighter, casting the passage in an eerie, kaleidoscopic glow.

At last, she reached the mine’s deepest chamber.

Before her stood a breathtaking sight—a “magnificent” entity.

It was roughly human height, a massive, intricate cluster of dark crystal, resembling a tree or exotic flower forged from pure energy, rooted in the central rock pedestal.

At its core pulsed what seemed like a faint, heart-like glow, with dark radiance flowing within, like living blood, emitting steady, powerful mana fluctuations.

The entire cavern basked in its soft yet undeniable luminescence.

From its base, countless fine crystal tendrils spread across the floor and walls, like roots or tentacles, slowly but relentlessly burrowing into the surrounding rock, greedily drawing nutrients and mana from

the earth’s spiritual veins.

This was the mine’s core, grown exponentially since Vivian first encountered it months ago.

Its energy volume and purity had reached astonishing new heights.

Each visit revealed changes, but today’s growth was particularly dramatic.

Seeing the core’s state, Vivian’s heart surged with elation.

Its robust condition signaled that it had fully stabilized, deeply rooted in the earth’s veins, steadily absorbing energy and expanding.

Excess or unabsorbed energy manifested as the ever-growing Evernight Crystals throughout the mine.

A profound sense of kinship, like a blood-bound connection, emanated from the core, gently resonating with Vivian’s heart.

She could clearly sense its childlike joy, as if a young one were greeting its mother.

“I’m back. It’s been a little longer this time.”

A gentle smile curved Vivian’s lips unconsciously.

She stepped forward without hesitation, placing her palm on the cool yet vibrant crystal trunk.

She “heard” the pulsing [heart] within, its rhythm clear in her mind.

A soft, melodious hum reverberated in her thoughts.

The core’s glow flared briefly, the flowing radiance quickening, its joy intensifying with a faint, almost imperceptible trace of grievance, as if complaining she’d been gone too long, leaving it lonely for days.

“I know… I was away longer than last time. I had matters to attend to, so please forgive me.”

Vivian spoke softly, as if soothing a child, her palm feeling the rhythmic pulse of the crystal.

“You’ve done wonderfully, growing so strong… better than I expected.”

Her tone carried genuine praise, reflecting her true thoughts.

The core’s growth surpassed her expectations, steadily producing high-quality Evernight Crystals that fueled Evernight’s recovery.

Closing her eyes, she channeled a thread of her Demon Lord essence, infused with her will, into the core.

As if sated, the core’s glow softened, its vibrant energy settling into a calm, steady state.

It seemed to greedily absorb this direct nourishment and attention from its “mother,” the surrounding crystal tendrils faintly glowing, as if stretching contentedly.