Building Interstellar Empire With Universal Synthesis
Chapter 77: Synthesizing Mana Stones
General Index:
[ Name: Neo Godson ]
[ Age: 20 ]
[ Race: Human ]
[ Species: Hellfire Eragon (Variant) ]
[ Lifespan: 220 ]
[ Affiliation: Apex Nebula Mercenary Group, Sol-III ]
[ Biological Modifications: Spirit-Iron + Mystic Wolf + Titanium + Slime + Undead + Merfolk]
[ Wealth: $1,410,600,200 FD (Federal Dollars) | 0.00 UC (Universal Credits) ]
Physical Index:
[ Strength: 48 ]
[ Agility: 45 ]
[ Vitality: 48 ( Health: 100%) ]
[ Endurance: 48 ]
[ Reaction Speed: 35.5 ]
[ Recovery Rate: 36 ]
Magical Index:
[ Physiques: Titanium Tempest Body (E), Primodial Demon Physique (D)]
[ Cosmic Force: 225.0 ]
[ Nether Force: 25 ]
[ Skills: Vellsing Transformation (D), Water Breathing (E), Spirit Eyes (E) ]
[ Unique Talents: Universal Synthesis (Supreme), Godsmith (Legendary), Necromancy (Legendary) ]
--
The progress was deeply satisfying to Neo. Just weeks ago, he was a normal human doing manual labor. Now, he was almost ten to twelve times stronger than he had been in the past.
All of this growth had unfolded in the span of a single month.
While the loss of Moon’s company was a great blow, he remained utterly determined to walk the path of Dominators.
Sitting down in the quiet of his room, he pulled out the harvest of mana stones he had gathered from the ocean depths and prepared to begin the synthesis process.
He lined them up:
10 E-grade Mana Stones
5 D-grade Mana Stones
3 C-grade Mana Stones
2 B-grade Mana Stones
1 A-grade Mana Stone
First, he started with the lowest tier. What would have taken an ordinary Beyonder weeks of meticulous refinement to consume, Neo completed in mere minutes using his Supreme-tier talent, Universal Synthesis.
He initiated the first sequence, merging the ten E-grade mana stones into five D-grade stones. Without missing a beat, he combined those newly formed stones with his existing 5 D-grade mana stones.
5+5
The resulting 10 D-grade stones were instantly fused into 5 C-grade stones. Adding those to the three he already possessed brought his total to 8 C-grade mana stones.
Once again, the radiant light of his synthesis talent flared, merging the eight into 4 B-grade stones.
Four B-grade stones plus his initial two B-grade stones equaled 6. He pushed his concentration further, forcing the six B-grade stones to collapse in on themselves, successfully synthesizing them into three A-grade mana stones.
At this state, he was sweating in perspiration. The mental toll to synthesis high grade items were too heavy.
Still, he forced jaw tight, enduring the torturous pain once again.
Success!
At last, the process concluded. Resting in his palms were 4 highly potent A-grade mana stones.
His hands shook from the raw radiation of the cosmic force contained within the flawless gemstones.
Neo took a long breath and decided not to upgrade them any further. Part of his decision was practical caution; he was already under heavy mental strain just from elevating the lower stones to the A-grade threshold.
If he tried to force his limits and merge them into a single S-grade stone, his soul might collapse under the immense feedback, effectively killing him on the spot.
He would absorb the cosmic force as it was.
Without delay, he picked up one of the A-grade mana stones and pressed it firmly against his chest.
"Universal Synthesis, activate!"
The moment the command left his lips, the flawless gem dissolved into a liquid torrent of pure, unadulterated cosmic force.
But Neo had instantly underestimated the sheer potency of an A-grade stone.
The energy did not flow into him, it detonated inward.
Buzz!
His energy pathways became overfilled with a sudden massive influx of cosmic force, expanding through his meridians like red spider web.
Crack, crack!
The pressure was so immense that his skin immediately began to crack open, fine lines of crimson fracturing across his chest, arms, and face as the raw energy fought to tear its way out of his mortal vessel.
Sizzle...
His passive trait [Undead regeneration] triggered automatically, sending a deathly, numbling wave to fix the wounds, knitting his ruptured flesh back together almost as fast as it tore apart.
Still, while his regeneration kept him physically whole, it did nothing to dull his nerves. The pain was unforgettable.
It felt as though thousands of jagged glass shards were being dragged through his veins, accompanied by a white-hot agony that threatened to scorch his very consciousness into ash.
He wanted to scream, but the raw density of the mana locked in his throat, leaving him gasping silently in the dark room.
At that his Dual Physiques became saving grave.
If not for his dual physiques, this absorption would not have been successful at all.
The Titanium Tempest Body acted as a reinforced cage, providing the raw structural endurance needed to keep his physical form from exploding under the pressure.
At the same time, the newly synthesized Primordial Demon Physique acted as a bottomless well. Its dark adaptive nature locked onto the chaotic overflowing energy and forcibly bound it to his soul.
The two different physiques worked in vice-versa, absorbing the brutal kinetic shockwaves and stabilising the wild power.
Slowly, the torturous burning subsided into warmth. The liquid light of the stone was completely tamed, filtering smoothly into his core.
[ Absorption Complete. ]
[ You have gained 1,100 Cosmic Force to your reserves. ]
[ Cosmic Force: 225 → 1325 ]
"Haagh..."
Neo let out a ragged breath, while his vision blurred around the corners.
He had really pushed his body to the limit. Even as his consciousness faded, his skin cells were still emitting faint, glowing residues of cosmic radiation into the dim room.
He wasn’t in any state to notice it, though.
He felt tired, completely exhausted to his very marrow. With the deep fatigue fully creeping into his being, Neo slumped back onto the humble straw bed and drifted off.
At that moment, he didn’t care about the remnants of the unholy entity, the whereabouts of the demonic staff, or the three highly potent A-grade stones remaining in his possession.
He just wanted to rest. What would come tomorrow or the day after, he would think about it later.
For now, a deep sleep was the best medication to mend the aching wounds of both his soul and body.