Ch. 9 Exploring the Galaxy Within

After leaving the dining room, Alex walked back to his room, feeling a strange mix of eagerness and apprehension. He had come so far already, awakening powers he hadn't thought possible just the day before. Now, in the silence of his room, he was ready to explore these newfound abilities.

"Alright, Nova," he said, settling down on the edge of his bed. "What should I try first?"

[Your Talent,] Nova replied smoothly. [It's the most intrinsic part of you. Mastering it will set a foundation for everything else.]

Alex nodded. "Alright. How do I use it?"

[Your Talent is connected to your soul, Host. Try feeling for a pull within yourself.]

Closing his eyes, Alex took a deep breath and focused inward, searching for the pull Nova mentioned. His mind reached out instinctively, drawn toward the soul core he had formed during his cultivation. Following it, he found himself in a strange mental space—a faint light, like a miniature version of himself, held something brilliant in its hands.

As he drew closer, he saw that it was a tiny galaxy, with countless stars orbiting around a dim core. Almost all the stars were dark except for a single one that glowed faintly.

"Whoa…" he murmured, transfixed by the sight.

[Enjoying the view?] A voice suddenly spoke from behind him.

Startled, Alex turned around, only to find himself face-to-face with an astonishing figure. It was Nova, in a physical form. She had long, luscious black hair that shimmered with hints of purple, cascading down her shoulders in soft waves. She wore an elegant black dress that hugged her figure perfectly, adorned with faint silver patterns that seemed to shimmer like stardust. Her skin was ivory white, and her eyes were sharp and piercing, giving her a look of otherworldly beauty.

Alex's jaw dropped. "You… you're Nova?"

Alex blinked, trying to find his voice. "Nova… is that really you?"

[The one and only,] she replied, her voice smooth and teasing. [Since we're connected on a soul level, I can appear in this form within your soul core.]

He shook his head, still trying to process everything. "So, you're… really here. In my soul core. Looking… like this?"

Nova laughed softly. [Yes, looking exactly like this. And judging by your expression, I can tell you approve.]

Alex managed to regain some composure, clearing his throat. "Well, you look… different from what I expected, that's all."

[I'll take that as a compliment.] She smiled, a glimmer of amusement in her eyes, before nodding toward the miniature galaxy in his hands. [That, Alex, is your Talent.]

He turned his attention back to the small galaxy. The stars within it shimmered faintly, save for one, which glowed with a steady light.

"This one planet is lit up," Alex murmured, peering closer. "What does it mean?"

[That's your current Talent—your Sub-Dimension,] Nova explained. [The other stars are gray for now, but they represent the potential growth of your Talent. With time and effort, this galaxy could expand, or even multiply. It's a representation of the power that lies within you, waiting to be unlocked.]

The gravity of her words sank in, and Alex felt a rush of determination. He had never considered the extent of his potential, but seeing it visualized in this way made him realize just how important his Talent was.

"So, how do I enter the Sub-Dimension?" he asked, excitement bubbling up.

[Simple,] Nova instructed. [Get closer to it, and you'll be drawn in. Just relax, and let it guide you.]

Following her instruction, Alex stepped toward the lit planet, and before he knew it, a force pulled him inward. In an instant, he found himself standing on a vast, open plain. Grass stretched out around him in all directions, and a faint, invisible border marked the boundaries of this strange new space, forming a 10-kilometer square.

Nova appeared beside him, watching his awed reaction with a faint smile.

"It's… it's enormous," Alex murmured, taking in the sheer size of the space. "I can't believe this is all within my soul."

[It's only the beginning,] Nova replied. [Right now, this space is limited to 10 kilometers by 10 kilometers because your Talent is ranked S-grade. But as you grow stronger and increase your Talent's grade, this world will expand. One day, it could become as vast as a real-world landscape or more.]

Alex walked a few steps forward, feeling the thick mana in the air. It was far denser than the mana outside, and as he breathed it in, he noticed an unfamiliar yet faint energy laced within it.

"Why does the mana here feel different?" he asked, glancing at Nova.

[This is your personal domain,] she explained. [It's pure, untouched by anything from the outside. That's why the mana is thicker. As for that unfamiliar energy… well, that's something you'll have to figure out for yourself.]

Alex nodded, absorbing her words. The thought of unlocking more secrets within this sub-dimension only fueled his determination further. "Alright, let's see what I can do here."

He spent the next hour experimenting, bringing small items from his room in and out of the sub-dimension. Each time he entered, his physical body disappeared from the real world and entered the sub-dimension, making it seem as though he had vanished entirely. He also discovered that he could bring anything with him into the sub-dimension, as long as he was touching it.

The possibilities seemed endless, and Alex's mind raced with plans for how he could use this new ability. Finally, after he'd exhausted his experiments, he turned to Nova with a grin.

"I think I'm going to like this Talent."

[Good,] she replied, her expression softening slightly. [You'll need it. Now that you understand the basics, it's time to start training seriously if you plan to catch up to your sister.]

"Right," Alex said, feeling a new surge of determination. He retrieved the Origin Creation Manual, flipping it open to the next section. As he read, his excitement grew.

The following stages, he learned, were called the Body Tempering Stages. The next ten levels, from Stage 2 to Stage 12, would focus on strengthening his body in stages, from his flesh all the way down to his bones. It was a methodical process designed to ensure that every part of his body could withstand immense amounts of mana.

The second stage was aptly named Flesh Training. In this stage, he would have to absorb raw mana into his flesh, allowing its volatile energy to tear at his muscles. Then, before the damage could cause serious harm, he'd absorb the mana into his cores, where it would become docile. Once he expelled the mana, it would have a healing effect, mending the torn flesh stronger than before.

Alex closed the manual and took a deep breath, feeling a mixture of dread and excitement. "Sounds… painful."

Nova smirked. [Trust me, Host, 'painful' doesn't even begin to cover it.]

"Great," Alex muttered, lowering himself into a meditative position. He reached out to the mana surrounding him, feeling its thick, volatile energy press against his skin.

As he pulled the mana into his flesh, a searing pain shot through him, feeling as though his muscles were being shredded from the inside out. His entire body burned, every nerve screaming in protest. Gritting his teeth, he focused on absorbing the mana into his cores, using every ounce of his willpower to endure the pain.

"Damn… hurts like… a bitch…" he managed to gasp.

Nova chuckled. [You'll get used to it eventually. Or maybe you won't. Either way, it's necessary if you want to reach the next level.]

He glared at her through narrowed eyes, though he couldn't help but feel grateful for her presence. She had become a steady, if sarcastic, support, and he knew he'd rely on her to make it through this process.

He resumed the process, cycling the mana through his body, enduring the pain as it tore through his flesh, then healing himself with the softened energy. Each cycle left him a little stronger, his skin tougher, his muscles denser. The pain was relentless, but with every round, he felt himself growing more resilient.

Time faded as he lost himself in the rhythm of training, pain and healing intertwining as he pushed his body to its limits. Nova stayed by his side, offering occasional comments and encouragement, but mostly watching in silence as he endured the grueling process.

And as the night wore on, Alex remained in that meditative pose, his body strengthening with each pulse of mana.