Breaking Through

A week after their much needed break, Krios decided that it was time to make use of their gains from the forest of Zelestria Academy.

He knew he was ready and the fights he had the week prior including the one with the Infernal tiger gave him a major boost of experience which would allow him to break through to the Late Mana Compression Realm.

"Hey Loras, I'm going to try and break through right now." He told his friend as he was walking towards the meditation chamber.

"Are you sure? Won't that affect your mana core negatively? You just broke through recently." His voice laced with worry.

"It's fine. Our recent battles and the things we have found would help me strengthen my foundation."

He entered the meditation chamber and sat on a meditative position. He the. took out all the things he needed. He first took his remaining Golden Mana Fruit and started to consume it.

"Ah, that's what I'm talking about!"

Pure Golden mana started to flow within his system, his mana core buzzing with power. It felt like golden honey was flowing through his mana vein. It had a pleasant warm feeling to it, like the warm embrace of a golden summer heat.

'Next is the pill' he took the Golden Mana Pill and plopped it down his mouth. A more refined and purer golden mana intermixed inside his core filling it to the brim. It added much more pressure to his mana core but Krios basked in the warmth it provided.

He felt his core starting to ache slightly with the pressure, but he didn't mind. He knew that it was part of the process so he endured and pushed through. He then took the last pill in his hand, and plopped it down into his mouth.

"Let's see how good this Mana Compression pill really is."

A potent energy encompassed the golden mana inside his mana core. It was the energy provided by the Mana Compression pill that they had won in the competition.

"Now I'm ready." He spoke.

To break through to the Late Mana Compression realm, one must atleast accomplish five mana compression cycles. It is lesser than the ten required to break through to the mid Mana Compression realm as it was now harder to compress mana even more.

The normal person would most likely make ten compressions, with most geniuses and talented individuals doing thirteen to sixteen compressions.

With all the things he needed taken, he was ready to try and break through.

"Let's start." He whispered.

Outside of the room, Loras sat on his bed reading some books about wind battle arts.

"I wonder how many cycles Krios would be able to do." He mumbled.

*boom* a wave of mana flowed out from the meditation chamber.

"1." Loras counted.

A couple of minutes passed.

*boom*

"2."

*boom*

"3."

'How fast!' Loras thought about how fast Krios was going.

Back inside the meditation chamber, Krios was sitting completely still, his face relaxed. The Golden mana fruit and pill help him reach the mana required to push through, and the Mana Compression pill helped him go past the three compression needed to successfully break through.

But he was not done yet. He still has enough fuel left in the tank so he pushed through.

*boom*

*boom*

"Five in less than five hours. He has now achieved the minimum compression cycles required. I wonder if he can push past twelve." Loras mumbled.

*boom*

*boom*

Two more successive booms echoed in the following hours. But this was not out of the ordinary as the average was around ten.

*boom*

*boom*

*boom*

*boom*

*boom*

Five successive booms echoed this time, the Mana Compression pill was finally exhausted. But Krios knew he can still do more so he continued.

Back outside the room, Loras waited in anticipation. He knew he might just witness history right then and there.

"Fuve successive in the last couple of hours! He already has twelve. Three more and he'd be placed among legends." Loras said anxiously

*boom*

"13."

*boom*

"14. Wow, he's not stopping."

*boom*

"Fifteen mana compression cycles in eleven hours. I am now sure that I made friends with a legend." Loras muttered absentmindedly.

Fifteen was indeed the mark of a genius. It was a known fact in the world that fifteen mana compression cycles would propel you to heights, only the most powerful can dream of.

Inside the meditation chamber, Krios finally hit his limit. His mana core was almost empty. He was exhausted beyond measure and his core ached like never before. His muscles were starting to cramp as he was losing body fluid by the hour.

He was about to pass out when his Chaos core churned with immense power.

*boom*

*boom*

*boom*

"What's going on?" Krios asked himself unsure how his mana compression cycle is continuing. He knew he had no more to offer so he was confused to see that the compression cycle was still going on.

He scanned his mana core and was shocked by what was happening. His chaos core came alive on its own and was exerting so much pressure on his mana core that it singlehandedly pushed through with the compression cycle.

"My chaos core is doing my mana compression for me." He muttered. Unbelieving of what he was seeing. He though he was hallucinating as he was exhausted beyond compare, but he knew that it was indeed happening.

*boom*

After the fourteenth cycle, his mana core was under so much pressure due to his chaos core that it ached so much. So much so that Krios lost consciousness.

Then all of a sudden,

*BOOM* a resounding boom echoed from his core that sent a strong mana ripple across the room.

"What the fuck." Loras muttered, he was pacing back and fourt as if losing his mind.

"Twenty fucking mana compressions. He was already a legend at fifteen. But he somehow went past it. Just how strong is he?" He mumbled.

After a couple of minutes, Krios finally gained consciousness. His body ached everywhere and his core felt like it would shatter from the pain.

He checked his mana core and was pleasantly surprised by how dense and compressed his mana looked. From looking like a dense cloud in the sky, it now looked like water in the ocean. It has been extremely condensed that it took on a liquid form, something Krios has never heard of.

It was indeed never heared of as no one in recorded history has recorded twenty mana compression cycles. The highest in record was a cultivator from a couple million years ago reaching seventeen mana compression cycles.

But what surprised Krios the most was how in tuned his chaos core is to his mana core. It felt like the two cores are now connected by an intangible force making it easier for him to release and absorb both mana and chaos energy from and to the environment.

"Wow, this feels heavenly." He murmured.

He tried releasing his mana and his mana core responded fluidly. He the. Followed it with his chaos energy and his chaos core responded the same way.

His body became covered with a blue and purple aura. His power surging stronger than ever.

"I have made great progress thanks to you." He thanked his chaos core.

He retracted his mana and chaos energy and started walking towards the door of the meditation chamber.

He was then met with a flabbergasted Loras.

"How the hell did you manage to do that?" Loras said while slightly shaking him from his shoulders.

"Did what?" He asked innocently.

"What my ass! The twenty mana compressions!"

"I don't know, it just happened." He answered shortly.

"When are you going to try and break through?" Krios changing the subject.

"Don't pressure me like that." Loras argued.

"I'm not!" Krios laughed.

"I'll probably wait for another week or so. I feel that my core is ready and I have enough experience to push through but I just can't do it following your monstrous demonstration." He said jokingly.

"Alright, but don't pressure yourself. Go at your own pace." Krios said as he sat down his bed.

"Yeah, I know. I no longer feel pressured honestly, I'm more of just proud of what you've done. I know I'll have my own time to do everything."

"That's a good mindset."

"Do you want food? I brought some for you an hour ago, it's by your bedside table." Loras pointed to the plate of food.

"Thanks. I'll eat while reading."

"Okay. I'll go into the meditation chamber and cultivate for a bit. Just to see if my core is on tip top shape." He answered and walked towards the meditation chamber.

Finally alone, Krios dished out the book Headmistress Zelester gave him. The book appeared on his right hand.

"I can finally open you now." He placed his hand on the crystal and imbued mana. Half of the crystal glowed brightly. He then then imbued it with chaos energy and the other half of the crystal lit up brightly as well.

"Now what would you bring me this time?" Krios said silently.

The crystal clicked and the book was finally opened.