Chapter 79: Mana Core

Chapter 79: Mana Core

The Fairies taught Bran another way of breathing—breathing through Mana. Mana was not a dull, dead thing; Mana was active and could affect its surroundings. The Fairies smashed and shattered all the blockages within his Mana, making his Mana come alive. Now, the tides within Bran’s Mana Web began to flow, forming a slowly spinning vortex, and started taking on the properties of water. There were splashes in the tides, and mist rose from them. Mana began to naturally integrate into Bran’s Bloodline, seeping into every part of his body.

He understood the question from his first encounter at Fairy Whisper: “Why have you come here?”

The Fairies misunderstood some of Bran’s actions. They thought Bran had come seeking help, that he knew some of the original secrets.

The Fairies made Bran’s Mana active, and then this characteristic gradually spread throughout the entire Mana Web. At the same time, as his own Mana spun and flowed, it began to continuously absorb the scattered Mana from the surroundings into this vortex, making it a part of himself. Bran still needed to observe and understand the effects of these changes on his body. He needed a little more time to wait for the results of the transformation.

Now, no matter what had happened between the Northlanders and the Fairies in the past, Bran decided to fulfill his part of the responsibility because the Fairies had already paid the price. At the same time, Bran felt quite complicated. He always felt that this group of Old Fairies had turned him into a nest, a mobile nest more suitable for the growth of Little Fairies.

Several of the oldest Old Fairies were now pointing at Bran’s Mana Web. They occasionally flicked the nodes on the web, seeming eager to act but not knowing where to start. Bran felt a bit proud. This was his own achievement, the path he had found. Moreover, this Mana Web was the foundation for his own strength improvement, and it had already begun to nourish him in return. Now he wanted to hear the opinions of these Old Fairies.

With a hint of pride, Bran asked, “How is my Mana Web?”

“Not bad.”

“Do you have any suggestions for improvement?”

“You can split the Mana Web further. Separate the part that is most closely fused with your spirit into a single core. Let the information in the web communicate and be controlled through this core.”

“I’ll try.” Bran closed his eyes and sat down, beginning to sense the situation inside his body. First, the Mana Web slowly drew into his body. Then, the Mana outside also began to surge into Bran’s body.

All of Bran’s Mana, along with the Mana Web, began to compress inward, finally condensing into a perfectly round, pitch-black core. First, one star twinkled within the core, then two, then three…

When countless stars were shining within the core, they began to be pushed by some force to rotate, gradually forming a vortex. Mana began to rise from the surface of the core, seeping back in and nourishing every part of his body. When Mana filled his body, it seeped out from his skin like mist, began to expand outward, and as the core slowly rotated, it continuously gathered and absorbed the surrounding Mana. An invisible Mana Web began to re-condense and appear within the mist. This web was no longer evenly connected; it began to have primary and secondary distinctions, like a real spiderweb, clearly defined in both directions.

Bran opened his eyes and said to the surrounding Old Fairies, “Try talking to me together again.”

The Old Fairies looked at each other, then began to pluck at Bran’s Mana Web, first a few, then dozens, then hundreds…

Bran felt the noise, but it no longer posed a threat to him. The Fairies’ reminder, combined with his own cautious nature, ultimately led to a new adjustment. The Mana Web passively received all information, but how to process it and how to pass it to his senses was controllable. He tightly contracted the core together, deeply hiding it within his body, avoiding direct impacts from the outside.

Now, he used the vertical web lines to complete the transmission and processing of information to the core. When interference or sudden Mana impact was too strong, it would naturally be blocked by the limited transmission channels. With this buffer, he could selectively process specific information. He could even cut off local connections to directly erase overly strong interference in that area. The slowly rotating Mana could effectively calm violent fluctuations.

Even if there were impacts like rivers and seas, Bran was no longer afraid. He had condensed the most crucial part into solid stone. Huge waves could scatter massive sand piles but could hardly affect small pebbles. He should thank the Fairies. If not for the impact they unintentionally caused, he wouldn’t have discovered this huge risk. Without the Fairies’ hint, he couldn’t have completed the condensation of the core.

Now his Mana Web was fully extended. His web was no longer made of nodes; those original webs and nodes fused with his spirit had become the stars in the core. His web was now woven from invisible Mana strands interlocked like threads.

The process of forming the Mana Starlight in the core had no impact. After the core was formed, as Mana surged out, it re-floated around Bran.

…

A group of Old Fairies gathered around Bran and began to carefully examine him. Bran’s changes seemed superficially consistent with their suggestions, but the essential differences were still very significant.

“Open up your body and let me go in to take a look.” One Old Fairy couldn’t resist the temptation any longer.

Bran shook his head and refused. He dared not open up his body and let these Old Fairies inside to cause chaos. He wasn’t entirely confident in these Old Fairies. The two races once lived together but gradually drifted apart. Was it merely because the Northlanders pursued their own power? Without understanding the essence of this history, it was better to remain somewhat reserved.

Things were fine as they were now. Both sides had gained benefits.

…

In Bran’s Mana Web, many Little Fairies were busily building their new homes. When they finished constructing their new homes, Bran would set off again. During this time, he could become familiar with his new changes.

“One day, when they grow up, should I bring them back here?”

“No need, you can settle them in your own home.”

“I might leave the Northlands.”

“Seeking change again? That’s fine. Just keep them with you and settle them properly. Whether in the Northlands or elsewhere.”

“Isn’t the Mogu Mountains enough?” Bran asked.

An Old Fairy explained, “We only occupy the area near the mountain entrance. Relying solely on us Fairies, it’s not easy to expand here.”

Another Old Fairy complained, “Back then, your ancestors said they were going out to take a look, but they left us here gnawing on tree bark. Did they think we were useless!?”

Bran voiced his confusion: “I noticed what you did to me. You adjusted my released Mana, making my Mana Web gradually gain activity. But how did you help the Northlanders back then? The Mana gathered by the Garden alone seems insufficient.”

“Initially, you Northlanders also naturally released a part of your Mana, even if it was just a layer on your body surface. After we separated, your Mana gradually became completely contained, and you no longer contacted us. At first, you could still come back to visit, but later, there wasn’t even anyone who could understand our speech.” The Fairy sounded somewhat indignant.

Then, as if thinking of something, perhaps something they didn’t want to mention, these Old Fairies fell silent.

To ease the mood, Bran patted his chest and promised that no matter what happened back then, he would definitely be a bridge between the two races and seriously fulfill the original Covenant between them. Although even now, he still didn’t know what the original Covenant was about…