Eliard leaned against one of the ancient stone pillars, still catching his breath. The soft glow from the ruins flickered around him, casting eerie shadows on the walls. His body ached from the recent battle, and his mana reserves were almost drained, but despite it all, a strange sense of exhilaration filled him.

  He was alive. And he was learning.

  Selene paced nearby, checking the runes on the walls with sharp, practiced eyes. “The construct was just a scout,” she said, her voice low but steady. “There will be more. We should move quickly before the next one finds us.”

  Eliard nodded, pushing himself upright. “Do you know what they’re guarding? Is it worth the risk?”

  Selene turned, her eyes gleaming with a mix of caution and excitement. “I’m not sure. These ruins are ancient, even by Shattered Realm standards. But if the defenses are still active after all this time, whatever’s inside must be powerful.”

  “Powerful… or dangerous,” Eliard muttered, glancing at the crumbled remains of the stone construct. “Both, most likely.”

  Selene grinned. “That’s the spirit. Now, stay close. And try not to get us killed.”

  They moved deeper into the ruins, the air growing colder with each step. The walls were covered with intricate carvings depicting strange symbols and scenes of battles between beings of light and shadow. Occasionally, Eliard caught glimpses of text written in an ancient language—one he couldn’t read but felt oddly familiar with.

  “Do you recognize this?” he asked, brushing his fingers over the carved symbols.

  Selene glanced at it and shook her head. “No, but it’s old magic. Older than anything in the Verdant Expanse. You’d be wise not to meddle with it.”

  Eliard made a mental note to revisit the carvings later. For now, survival took priority.

  The passage opened into a large chamber, its ceiling stretching high above them. A massive stone altar stood at its center, glowing with a soft blue light. Surrounding the altar were several floating crystals, each pulsing with energy.

  Selene’s eyes widened. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”

  Eliard stepped closer, the Codex humming in his mind.

  [Analysis: Ancient Mana Core detected.]

  Function: Power source and repository of lost knowledge.]

  Warning: Core corruption detected. Stability compromised.]

  “Core corruption?” Eliard said aloud. “That doesn’t sound good.”

  Selene frowned. “If the core is unstable, it could collapse the entire ruin—or worse. We need to be careful.”

  A low rumble shook the chamber, and cracks began to spread across the floor. The crystals around the altar flickered, their light dimming.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  [Alert: Core destabilization in progress. Evacuate or stabilize the core immediately.]

  “Stabilize it?” Eliard muttered, scanning the interface. “How do I—”

  Before he could finish, the ground split open, and another mana construct burst from the floor. This one was larger than the last, its body crackling with unstable energy. Its eyes locked onto Eliard and Selene, and it roared, the sound reverberating through the chamber.

  “Of course,” Eliard said, backing away. “Why wouldn’t there be a giant monster guarding the core?”

  “Less talking, more fighting!” Selene shouted, drawing her daggers.

  The construct charged, its massive fists slamming into the ground where Eliard had stood moments before. He rolled to the side, his mind racing. His abilities were still limited, and his mana reserves were dangerously low.

  Think, Eliard. You’re a Reality Shaper. Use it.

  He focused on the construct, activating Mana Threading. Strands of raw energy wrapped around the creature’s limbs, slowing its movements. It struggled, its body crackling with unstable power.

  Selene darted in, her daggers flashing as she carved glowing runes into the creature’s core. Sparks flew with each strike, but the construct refused to go down easily.

  “It’s too strong!” she shouted. “We need to hit it with something bigger!”

  Eliard gritted his teeth, his mind racing. He didn’t have enough mana for another Reality Surge, but perhaps he didn’t need to rely on brute force.

  The altar. The crystals. They were connected to the core’s power—maybe he could use them.

  “Cover me!” he called to Selene, running toward the altar.

  “Are you insane?” she yelled, but she didn’t hesitate. She threw herself between him and the construct, her daggers spinning in a deadly dance.

  Eliard reached the altar, his hands hovering over the glowing crystals. The Codex’s voice whispered in his mind.

  [Mana Core Interface detected. Stabilization possible. Warning: High risk of failure.]

  “High risk? Great,” Eliard muttered. “Let’s do it anyway.”

  He placed his hands on the crystals, focusing his will. Energy surged through him, almost overwhelming in its intensity. The world around him blurred, and for a moment, he felt connected to something vast and ancient—a network of power that stretched beyond the limits of reality.

  [Stabilization in progress…]

  The construct roared, sensing the shift in power. It charged toward Eliard, but Selene was faster. She leapt onto its back, driving her daggers into its core with a feral cry. The creature staggered, its body beginning to crack and crumble.

  [Stabilization complete.]

  A pulse of energy erupted from the altar, washing over the chamber. The construct let out one final, anguished roar before shattering into a thousand shards of light.

  The ground stopped shaking. The air grew still.

  Eliard stumbled back, his head spinning. The Codex’s voice returned, calm and steady.

  [Mana Core stabilized. Experience gained: 3,000.]

  Level Up! Level 3 reached.]

  New Ability Unlocked: Reality Anchor – Create a temporary zone where reality bends to your will, enhancing all abilities within it.]

  Selene dropped to the ground beside him, breathing heavily. “That… was insane.”

  Eliard managed a weak smile. “I’m starting to think ‘insane’ is the new normal for me.”

  Selene laughed, the sound filled with relief and exhaustion. “Welcome to the Tower’s trials, librarian.”

  Eliard looked at the glowing altar, his mind racing with possibilities. The Verdant Expanse had already tested him in ways he couldn’t have imagined, and it was only the beginning.

  He had survived this far, but there were still countless mysteries to unravel—and dangers to face.

  For the first time, he felt truly alive.

  “We’re not done yet,” he said, meeting Selene’s gaze. “There’s more to this place. More to learn. Are you with me?”

  Selene smirked, twirling one of her daggers. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

  Together, they turned toward the deeper shadows of the ruins, ready to face whatever lay ahead.

  The Infinite Ascent continued.