Chapter 51: Core Fusion Lab

"When a Nexian reaches 90% integration, the Core essentially becomes a second heart, capable of sending its energy throughout the entire body."

"Only then are they qualified to advance to the next level and fuse with a Heart Core, which is the grade directly above the Seed Core."

"The level after the Heart Core is the Physique Core, after which is the Soul Core."

"And finally, we have the Saint Core, the highest Core grade known in the world. The strongest Nexians on Mordran currently exist at this level."

The instructor paused, allowing the information to settle.

"The Nexian Saint Level isn’t a level that every one of you will reach."

"It is reserved for the best of the best, individuals who possess not only exceptional talent but also the insane discipline and dedication required to walk the Nexian’s Path."

"Now that we understand the grades of Cores, let’s move on to something equally important."

"Their types, and there are only two."

"Basic Cores and Perfected Cores, which are also known in the Nexian world as Anomalous Cores."

...

"Anomalous Cores follow the same grading system as Basic Cores. Just as there is a Basic Seed Core, there is also an Anomalous Seed Core."

"You may be wondering what separates them."

The instructor paused.

"The answer lies in their energy containment."

"Every Core grade possesses a recognized energy containment range."

"A Basic Seed Core contains approximately 1,000 to 1,200 units of energy, with 1,200 being the maximum."

"And it’s worth noting that the Seed Core being provided by the academy to those of you who have yet to undergo fusion will contain 1,150 Energy Value."

A glint crossed Declan’s eyes.

"As for Anomalous Cores, their basic energy containment ranges from 1,300 to 1,500."

A faint murmur immediately spread throughout the classroom.

It was obvious from those numbers alone that Anomalous Cores possessed considerably more energy than their Basic counterparts.

"But!"

The instructor’s voice cut through the murmurs.

"Despite that advantage, 90% of the Nexian population on Mordran is fused with Basic Cores."

The classroom became quiet again.

"And why is that?"

The instructor answered his own question.

"Because Anomalous Cores aren’t simply more powerful. They’re also significantly more difficult to produce, requiring roughly twice the resources of a Basic Core while possessing considerably greater instability."

"Worse still, numerous Nexians who have fused with Anomalous Cores have eventually suffered catastrophic failures, with some literally blowing themselves apart."

"All that danger for an additional 200 to 300 units of energy... This has made Anomalous Cores, while not illegal, far too risky for most people to consider worthwhile."

"There’s also the matter of integration speed."

"Anomalous Cores integrate more slowly, meaning it takes their users longer to reach the 90% threshold required to advance to the next Core grade. In the time an Anomalous Nexian spends reaching that point, a Basic Nexian may already have progressed to the next level and surpassed them."

Declan couldn’t disagree, as everything the instructor had said was technically correct.

Anomalous Cores were significantly more expensive to produce, and their instability was a genuine problem.

Even the Core Declan had once created in Mechnoheart would eventually fry the user’s brain if it were used continuously.

That alone was enough evidence of just how dangerous they could be.

But there was one thing the instructor seemed to be deliberately avoiding.

Declan raised his hand, and the instructor noticed, motioning for him to go on.

"If a Basic Seedian Nexian and an Anomalous Seedian Nexian were to fight exactly twenty-four hours after their respective fusions, with every other combat factor, such as combat knowledge, weapons, physical condition, and everything else, being equal..."

Declan paused briefly.

"Who would have the advantage?"

The question immediately drew the attention of the entire classroom, and they all noticed the instructor remain silent for a moment before finally answering.

"The Anomalous Seedian Nexian."

The hall erupted into murmurs.

Most of the students in the room had either already fused with Basic Cores or were about to receive one.

Until now, they had been told that Anomalous Cores were dangerous, inefficient, and ultimately not worth the trouble, yet their instructor had just admitted something far more important:

If they fought an Anomalous Nexian under equal conditions, they would lose!

"But! But!" the instructor said, raising his voice to quell the thunderous murmurs.

"In the long term! In the long term, the Basic Nexian will eventually surpass the Anomalous Nexian in power!"

That finally managed to quiet most of the students.

"We’ll use the same example."

"Twenty-four hours after the fusion, the Anomalous Nexian would win, assuming all other factors are equal, correct?"

"This is mainly because of endurance."

"Anomalous Nexus Seeds release more destructive energy, driving the body into a higher state and granting access to greater energy output."

"The Basic Nexian’s attacks will be slightly weaker, and he will exhaust himself first. That is why the Basic Nexian would lose."

"But!"

"After three months, when the Basic Nexian’s integration reaches fifty percent, the Anomalous Nexian would still only be at twenty percent."

"And when the Basic Nexian reaches ninety percent integration after a year and advances to a Nexus Heart, the Anomalous Nexian will only be around fifty percent, still stuck with his Nexus Seed."

"When the Basic Seedian Nexian undergoes his next fusion and advances to the Heart Core, gaining access to roughly 1,500 to 3,000 units of energy, the Anomalous Seedian Nexian would still only be around seventy to eighty percent."

He paused.

"Now, let me ask you all. Who will win then?"

The answer was obvious, and every student fell silent.

"The Anomalous path is tempting because it gives you quick strength. You gain an advantage at the starting line and appear stronger than most people around you."

"But down the line, your progression slows dramatically."

"And the chances of successfully fusing with another Anomalous Nexus Heart after your first are almost nonexistent."

"Anomalous Nexus Hearts are simply too destructive, and the majority of those who attempt to fuse with them end up dead."

"In the end, an Anomalous Seedian Nexian will usually have no choice but to fuse with a Basic Nexus Heart, returning to the ordinary path."

"The only difference is that they now have a more destructive Nexus Heart inside their body compared to someone who followed the ordinary route from the beginning."

"And that only increases their chances of losing control and blowing themselves apart."

"All these factors are what make the Anomalous path far too dangerous and, as I said before, simply not worth it."

He finished.

This time, the students remained completely silent, though many looked visibly relieved.

Now they understood why they had always been told that Anomalous Nexus Hearts were worthless.

Declan had already made his choice.

Two hours later, class finally ended, and the students filed out of the classroom, though discussions about Basic and Anomalous Nexus Hearts continued throughout the corridors.

The debate between the two paths had existed for as long as anyone could remember.

Declan, however, paid none of it any mind.

He simply tightened his grip around the crimson card in his hand and continued walking.

Soon, he found it, a massive skyscraper stretching high into the sky.

Declan stopped, his eyes slowly widening as something suddenly dawned on him.

"Wait..."

"This doesn’t make sense."

He looked around, his gaze moving across the towering structures surrounding him as he pieced it together.

’The X-Guard Academy itself is a tower. I took an elevator to get here, which means I’m still technically inside the tower.’

His eyes traveled upward as he stared at the massive buildings surrounding him.

"Then how the fuck is there a skyscraper inside a tower!?"

He continued staring upward in disbelief.

"How are these fuckingly huge buildings even inside this place?"

Still, that wasn’t why he had come here, and at the top of the skyscraper were enormous words:

CORE FUSION LAB.

Huuuuu...

Declan slowly exhaled as he attempted to calm his wildly beating heart before stepping forward, knowing that the next time he walked out of this building, he would either be a Nexian... Or dead.

Either way, one thing was certain.

He would never be the same again.

As expected, there were no students inside the Core Fusion Lab, with only scientists dressed in white lab coats moving throughout the enormous hall while several others occupied the reception desk at the far end.

Declan walked toward them, and the moment they saw him, they immediately understood what he wanted.

"You wish to undergo a Nexus Seed fusion?" one of them asked.

Declan nodded before bringing out the crimson card.

"Yes. And I’d also like to meet Lady Blythe."

He placed the card on the desk, causing three of the scientists to immediately raise their eyebrows.

Lady Blythe?

She was one of the highest-ranking scientists and a true prodigy in the entire Core Fusion Lab, so why would an ordinary human who hadn’t even undergone his first fusion request an audience with her, and did he even possess the qualifications to meet her?

Although none of them said anything, Declan noticed the faint sneers tugging at the corners of their mouths as the fourth scientist picked up the card and stared at it, only for his expression to suddenly change.

"Hey, Matt."

He nudged the scientist beside him.

"You see this?"

Matthew took the card, and his eyes widened.

"Lady Blythe’s Invi Card!?"

His exclamation immediately attracted the attention of the other scientists nearby, one of whom turned toward Declan with a suspicious expression.

"How did you get this card?"

Declan’s expression remained completely indifferent.

"Can I have my request fulfilled now?"