My Borderline Supervillain-Slash-Hero System-Chapter 65 Mana Core Formation

Long after Zane disappeared from their line of sight, Shelby and Erlin followed in a slower, more relaxed pace through the dense forest.

"Brother Shel," Erlin broke the silence, "why are you so strict with my husband’s training? Relaxing for a day and bending a few rules won’t hurt, will it?"

"That’s where you’re wrong," Shelby replied, eyes fixed ahead. "The boy’s got rare talent—and more importantly, the right mindset. That’s why I took him under my wing. My strictness now will shape him into someone far greater than his peers. Someday, he’ll be someone who matters."

He paused before adding in a quieter tone, "Besides... there are other reasons too. But those aren’t mine to tell. You should ask him yourself."

Erlin hesitated, then asked the question she truly wanted answered.

"Are you... against me marrying him? It kind of feels like you are."

Shelby chuckled. "Quite the opposite, actually. You’re a little lady with everything he lacks—wealth, beauty, and the status of a princess. I believe every great man could use a strong... financial supporter. A Sugar Mama."

"I am not his sugar mama," Erlin snapped.

"Yes you are," he said, grinning.

"It’s called a dowry, weirdo."

"Exactly. That’s what every sugar mama says."

Before Erlin could respond with another retort, a long wail echoed from the distance—Zane’s voice, loud and full of agony. The cries grew worse with each passing second.

"Something’s wrong. We have to go!" Erlin shouted and dashed forward.

Both of them sprinted through the trees, weaving between the thick trunks.

After a minute, Shelby abruptly raised a hand and stopped Erlin.

"Why are you stopping me!?" she yelled. "Old man, don’t think I’m scared of you. I respect you only as my husband’s mentor—nothing more, nothing less. Now take your hand off me, or—"

"Quiet," Shelby interrupted, eyes sharp.

He stepped forward and entered the first magical trap.

The moment his foot touched the mana-soaked earth, a thick chunk of ice began to form—but before it could grow, a pulse of energy from Shelby shattered the trap’s core. The ice web dissolved instantly.

"Stay close behind me," he instructed. "If you rush in recklessly, you won’t be helping your husband—you’ll just end up dead."

Erlin gritted her teeth but followed him closely. Deep down, she knew he was right.

As they progressed, the forest’s temperature shifted again.

The next trap activated—a blazing field of fire.

But just like before, the moment Shelby stepped into it, the web-like mana structure collapsed and the fire dissipated into ash.

Then came the third trap—the storm mist.

It too died the second Shelby’s foot hit the core.

Erlin stared at him in awe. She knew he was powerful, but this level of casual destruction of advanced magic traps was beyond her expectation.

After a few more minutes of running, they reached the final trap zone.

There, at its center, sat Zane—cross-legged, drenched in sweat, and unmoving.

"Zane!" Erlin called out, worry filling her voice.

Slowly, his tired eyes opened and turned toward them. A faint smile tugged at his lips.

Erlin immediately tried to rush to him—but once again, Shelby’s hand stopped her.

"Don’t go there yet," he warned.

She glared at him, red eyes flashing in frustration.

Shelby gave a tired laugh and called out, "Want me to help you, my boy?"

Zane slowly turned his head again, moving his lips wordlessly.

Shelby read them clearly: "No. I’m currently training. This trap—it’s using gravity law, twenty-fold magnification."

"What?" Erlin blinked in disbelief. "Can... can you read his mind?"

"Don’t go jumping to conclusions yet. That’s a gravity trap he’s in—one that multiplies a person’s normal weight by twenty-fold," Shelby explained calmly. "What’s your current weight?"

"Fifty-seven kilograms," she replied, still watching Zane intently.

"Fifty-seven times twenty—that makes it 1,140 kilograms. Can you carry over a ton on your shoulders?"

Erlin frowned, her face shifting from concern to calculation.

"But Zane... his weight is already over fifteen tons," she murmured, doing the mental math. "That means he’s bearing over 300 tons! Oh, my poor husband! How is he even alive in there?"

Though her voice trembled with sympathy, she stopped herself from rushing forward. Nothing bad seemed to be happening anymore, and Zane looked... calm.

Shelby, meanwhile, had fallen into his own thoughts. His eyes gleamed as he studied the trap ahead. To any normal person, it was a death sentence—but to practitioners of extreme body training like himself and Zane, it was a treasure trove.

"This kind of place is a goldmine," he muttered. "Can’t let this chance go to waste."

"Erlin, stay here," he said suddenly, stepping forward. "This is a perfect opportunity—for both of us. Keep watch."

And without waiting for her reply, he entered the trap.

The moment his right foot hovered over the boundary, he felt it—the immense pull of gravity from the earth. But instead of retreating, he grinned.

With steady, unhurried steps, he crossed into the gravity field. From Erlin’s perspective, he looked completely casual, almost unaffected.

But in truth, only he and Zane understood what was really happening.

His load had multiplied tenfold—from his earlier burden of 12 million kilograms to a staggering 240 million kilograms.

Each of the ten steps forward was a feat of immense control and fortitude. By the time he reached Zane, sweat lined his brow. With a tired grunt, he sat down cross-legged across from the boy, joining him in meditation.

And so the two remained—mentor and student—sitting quietly beneath the crushing weight of the world.

Time passed...

Zane’s vision was fixed on the shimmering system interface before him.

The virtual timer ticked its final second—

Ding!

[Quest Completed]

[Host has endured the Gravity Trap for 1 Hour.]

[+560 points added to all stats.]

Then came the next prompt—

Ding!

[Host’s Current Stats:]

Strength: 1239 (Core) + 5 (Divine Radiance) + 10 (Divine Strike) = 1254

Agility: 1250 (Core) + 5 (Divine Radiance) + 10 (Luminous Step) = 1265

Intelligence: 1245 (Core) + 5 (Divine Radiance) + 10 (Sacred Barrier) = 1260

Health: 2500/2500 (Regen: 150 HP/s)

Mana: 2900/2900 (Regen: 50 MP/s)

Current Load: 16,234 Kg

[You’ve reached the limit of core formation.]

[Would you like to begin forming your Mana Core? Y/N]

Zane raised an eyebrow at the new prompt.

Mana Core Formation?

He had never even heard of it during his time in the Pre-Academy. Not once. No mentor, no book, no instructor had ever mentioned it.

Curious, he turned his head slightly and asked, "Old Shel, what do you know about Mana Core Formation?"

Shelby opened one eye and gave him a long look. "You saying you’ve reached that point already?"

Zane nodded silently.

Shelby exhaled. "Tch. That’s fast. You’re moving like lightning, kid."

He straightened up a bit and explained, "Alright, listen. After an Awakener goes through their initial training and starts building mana proficiency, there comes a stage—a wall, really. Once your mana pool reaches a certain volume and quality, your progress just... stops. That’s the saturation point."

He tapped the center of his abdomen.

"To break through it, you must compress all your mana into a singular core—right here, just below your navel. That’s called Mana Core Formation. Once that core forms, you’re no longer just some awakened beginner. You’re considered an elite."

Zane digested the explanation in silence, gears turning in his mind.

So it’s a bottleneck. A threshold.

But then again—he had the System.

He whispered in his mind, "Yes, System. Begin the process."

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