Supreme Magus novel Chapter 743

"Yeah, we still know too few runes to decipher a whole pattern and on top of that, I think that even if we know the modern equivalent of some power words, either we alter the entire set or we leave it as it is.

"We have no idea how ancient and modern runes interact, but if I had to take a guess, I’d bet that they go boom." Solus said.

After a quick experiment that proved her right, Lith decided to study the three rune patterns he knew by engraving them on three different blades. Much to their surprise, all the sets worked as amplifiers, but each one had a different function.

The first set would enhance Lith’s energy signature so that the mana flow from the crystals embedded into the blade offered a bit less resistance to the Forgemastering process.

The second set amplified the strength of the pseudo core while the third set dispersed the excess energy so that the cheap metal could withstand the energy that the enchantment released and reduced the stress that the boosted pseudo core would experience.

The three sets combined allowed the magical item not only to avoid mana overload, but also to replenish its energy reserve faster than normal. The runes absorbed the surrounding world energy and aided the mana crystals to empower the pseudo core.

"Fascinating! Now I understand how Thrud could use such powerful artifacts freely. The runes act as a lesser Invigoration, shortening the recharge time of both mana crystals and power cores." Lith said.

"Yeah, too bad that we know only bottom tier sets of runes and we don’t have a copy of Phloria’s sword to detonate..." Solus was cut short when Lith suddenly doubled over in pain.

"Not now, dammit!" He said while a familiar burning sensation rose from his mana core and moved towards his throat. Lith knew that his breakthrough was close and that the more mana he employed, the sooner it would happen.

What he had failed to take into account was that, while he was inside his tower, part of the energy from the underground mana geyser flowed through his mana core, further speeding up the process.

Soon his whole body started to undergo the refining process that allowed an Awakened one to get rid of the impurities hindering both their mana flow and life force, allowing them to obtain a physique strong enough to handle a new and more powerful mana core.

This time, however, things were different. At first, Lith puked a huge amount of tar-like substance that had reached his core. After that, the deep blue core became brighter and started to pulse like a star.

’By my maker! Now I understand what impurities are for and why Tista needs helps every time she makes a breakthrough. Impurities are a double-edged sword that both protects and damages the body.

’On one hand, they hinder a person’s development and enhance the signs of aging, but on the other hand, they are a natural inhibitor of the mana flow. Without them, normal people would die the moment their bodies are not strong enough to bear the power of their own cores.’ Solus thought.

’Impurities move toward the core because the closer they get, the more effective they are and once the core gets rid of them, the body is forced to evolve or die.

’Removing Tista’s impurities while she grew up made her develop a body that doesn’t need to break as much as a normal person’s would to be refined. At the same time, however, because she has too few impurities the process is more violent and quick compared to Lith’s.