Chapter 139: The Price of Advancement

Morning sunlight streamed through the reinforced windows of New Frontier Settlement’s Elemental training facility.

Rows of energy monitoring devices surrounded the central training platform, where Joren sat beneath a diagnostic array with his hands resting on his knees. His core continued to emit a silver-blue glow into the room.

Raviah stood beside the primary monitoring station, studying the overnight reports on her digital tablet.

Elias had remained in the laboratory until dawn, analyzing every microscopic fluctuation recorded during Joren’s unexpected advancement. The overall results were promising, but they had revealed a complication.

“His core is stabilizing nicely,” Elias reported, pointing toward the holographic display above them.

“However, his cardiovascular activity increased dramatically during the transformation. Several muscle groups show microscopic damage, and his nervous system experienced repeated energy surges.”

Raviah’s expression tightened as she scrolled through the biological data. She reached into her spatial storage to retrieve a diagnostic scanner, testing its calibration before stepping closer to the terminal.

“Vitality expenditure?” she asked, keeping her eyes glued to the scrolling metrics.

“Minimal direct depletion,” Elias answered, adjusting the scanner’s optical focus on the screen. “But his body consumed substantial physical resources repairing the damage caused by the rapid advancement.”

“So the medicine didn’t steal his vitality,” she concluded, setting her tablet down with a light tap. “It forced his body to endure a transformation faster than his biological systems could comfortably support.”

“Precisely,” Elias agreed with a firm nod.

Raviah turned her attention toward Joren, stepping onto the central training platform. She reached into her pocket dimension for a small, sealed vial of soothing nutrient solution, handing it directly to the young soldier.

“How do you feel right now?” she asked softly.

“Tired,” Joren admitted, taking the vial with a trembling hand. “My core feels much stronger, but every time I circulate energy through my arms, I feel a pulling sensation beneath my skin.”

“Stop circulating it immediately,” Raviah instructed, her tone sharpening into clinical authority.

Joren obeyed instantly, letting his hands drop back to his lap.

Raviah extended a thin thread of translucent biological root energy toward his right arm. She carefully examined the damaged tissues and the energy pathways beneath them.

His core had successfully advanced beyond its previous E-Rank limitations, but the surrounding biological structures had struggled to adapt to the pressure.

The advancement had undeniably strengthened him. It had also left him injured.

“Your core is not the only part of your body that must evolve,” Raviah explained, withdrawing her root thread gently.

“Your muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and energy pathways must withstand the increased circulation. If your core advances faster than your body can adapt, you risk internal damage, permanent pathway injuries, or energy collapse.”

Joren swallowed hard, looking up at her with clear anxiety in his eyes. “Will I recover, Doctor?”

“With rest and proper treatment, your current injuries should improve,” Raviah reassured him, keeping her voice steady. “But you will not undergo another advancement until I determine that your body is ready.”

He nodded quickly, accepting her professional decision without argument.

Raviah turned toward Elias, stepping back down from the platform. “We need to revise the cultivation protocol immediately. No more treating core advancement as an isolated process.”

She activated the central display with a quick swipe, listing the variables they would monitor during all future experiments.

First, the subject’s baseline physical condition and core stability had to be thoroughly assessed.

Next, the medicine would be administered in carefully controlled quantities, with sufficient intervals between doses.

Third, advancement would stop immediately whenever biological stress exceeded established safety limits.

Most importantly, subjects would undergo gradual conditioning before attempting a breakthrough.

“An Elemental’s rank measures overall combat capability,” Raviah stated, looking directly at Elias. “It does not mean every part of their body can withstand an immediate increase in energy output. We need to prepare the system, not simply stimulate the core.”

Elias studied the revised parameters on the display, making a quick note on his console. “We should also establish strict recovery periods between cultivation sessions. The body needs time to repair microscopic damage and adapt to the new energy circulation.”

“Agreed,” Raviah replied, leaning over the console. “And no subject advances without continuous monitoring. If their root becomes unstable, their core frequency fluctuates abnormally, or their biological markers deteriorate, we terminate the session instantly.”

Together, they developed a preliminary protocol combining controlled energy exposure, physical conditioning, core stabilization, and continuous medical observation.

Each advancement would be treated as a delicate process requiring preparation, monitoring, and recovery rather than a reckless race toward a higher rank.

By midmorning, Joren had been transferred to the medical wing for continued observation.

Raviah remained at the training facility, reviewing the revised procedure with several Elemental instructors. The discovery could revolutionize cultivation, but only if they fully understood its physical limitations.

An unexpected advancement might save a soldier’s life during a desperate battle, but it might also leave that soldier permanently injured. She would not allow the promise of greater power to become an excuse for reckless experimentation.

The facility doors slid open with a mechanical hiss.

Rhyder Drakeheir entered the training hall alongside Daniel and two military officers. Dressed in his dark uniform, the general surveyed the monitoring equipment around the room before approaching Raviah.

“I received Elias’s preliminary report,” Rhyder said, stopping beside her station. “Joren advanced from E-Rank toward C-Rank after taking the prototype.”

“His core has stabilized at a higher level, but his body suffered considerable physical strain,” Raviah replied, crossing her arms over her laboratory coat. “We still do not know whether the rapid advancement will produce long-term complications.”

“Can the medicine be adjusted?” Rhyder asked, his eyes scanning the holographic readouts behind her.

“Possibly,” Raviah answered smoothly. “But I will not approve widespread military use until we have reliable safety data.”

Rhyder examined the revised cultivation protocol on the central monitor, reading through the stringent safety requirements. “Then test it properly,” he commanded softly.

“We will,” Raviah confirmed without flinching. “On suitable volunteers, under strict medical supervision.”

Rhyder turned his dark gaze directly toward her. “Add me to the program.”

Raviah stared at him in utter disbelief. “No.”

The answer came so quickly and bluntly that Daniel glanced nervously between them, taking a step back.

Rhyder’s expression remained composed despite her immediate refusal. “You need data from a high-rank Elemental. My core is stable, and I have extensive experience controlling energy under active combat conditions.”

“Which means your results might not apply to ordinary soldiers,” Raviah countered, her voice firm and resolute. “Your existing abilities, accumulated energy, and biological adaptations could make your response different.”

“That is precisely why you need the data,” Rhyder pointed out, taking a small step closer to the console.

She crossed her arms tighter, holding her ground. “And if the medicine destabilizes your core?”

“Then we stop the experiment,” he replied simply.

“You saw what happened to Joren,” Raviah reminded him, her eyes flashing with concern. “Stopping the administration did not immediately stop his advancement.”

For the first time that morning, Rhyder’s stoic expression softened slightly. “I understand the risk, Raviah. I am not asking you to ignore it. I am asking you to determine whether the protocol can safely support someone whose strength is already essential to this alliance.”

A silence settled between them in the facility.

Raviah knew he was right about one critical thing: if the medicine could accelerate recovery in high-rank Elementals, the military implications for their survival would be enormous. But testing it on Rhyder introduced personal and strategic risks she could not casually accept.

He stepped closer to the monitoring station, pointing down at the interface. “Establish whatever safeguards you require. I will follow your instructions.”

Raviah looked at the general she had spent so long trying to protect, her eyes dropping to his tablet. She noticed that he had already signed the preliminary volunteer authorization form on his digital screen.

Her eyes narrowed into cold slits. “Rhyder Drakeheir, you are not making this decision without my approval.”

His mouth curved into the faintest, almost imperceptible smile. “Then I will wait for your approval, Doctor.”

Despite his words, the signed authorization remained glowing brightly on the screen. Raviah knew that the most powerful Elemental in their alliance had just officially volunteered to become her next high-rank test subject.

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