Chapter 495 - Framework ignition (Patreon)

We have [Manipulation], we have [Connection], we have all my skills, and we even have Lily to heal if the pressure is too much and hopefully stop a brain or two from melting. Mine should be fine, but I am not that sure about the others.

Replaying up the entire process for a while, we get to it.

Sophie, me, and the twins start working on the Logic Core, inscribing its base into the highest quality mana stone we possess. The mana stone is surprisingly small, only as big as my thumbnail, and this one is of a color similar to voidcopper.

For this time, I also sacrifice some of the alloy left to me by Nevan during the 5th floor. As I melt it and pummel it with kinetic energy, thin threads of it stretch in the air, connecting to the handguard of Fracture as I’m preparing the setup there. The heat it requires to reshape Fracture is quite a bit, so Lily helps with her [Disintegration] to make some space at the cost of destroying bits of valuable metals I could have reused, but it can’t be helped.

Meanwhile, Sophie is preparing a base Logic Core structure, akin to drawing a sketch for me to inscribe into it, as she is not that good at working with such high-quality mana stones. There is a certain resistance you need to push through, and I’m better at that.

The twins wait for their step in the process to help connect it all, preparing to combine their minds to do so.

My expectations aren’t high. Even if we create the Logic Core and connect it to the weapon, it will be empty, ready for me to work on it as I learn from Sophie how to do so.

The main objective is to add that function to the sword—and it happens. For the first time in a while, nothing goes terribly wrong.

I inscribe the mana stone with a design that allows the Logic Core to integrate with the weapon while leaving empty space within the stone for future modifications. Sophie then takes over, primarily working in a supportive role, meticulously addressing minor imperfections.

The entire time, the blade stays in its sheath and I use [Resonance], giving it my all to endure the process and support the [Connection] of the twins. I can see how taxing it is on them, but I know they can do it. I saw the skill and determination they possess and the enjoyment of the challenge. I have taught them, but the effort was always theirs.

It takes us quite a while, but when we are done, a copper-like colored oval mana stone adorns the middle of the cross guard that is pointy at the part where it connects to the blade.

With the blade being a combination of dark gray, gray, and streaks of voidcopper, it looks surprisingly nice, even though the entire thing is ruined by imperfections caused by me when I was creating it.

“That was surprisingly easy,” Aaron stares at Fracture.

Sophie looks at him. “What did you expect, some sort of explosion, mortal wounds?”

Dennis waves at her, and when he gets her attention, he just points at me.

Sophie follows that point and looks at me as well, her mouth wordlessly saying, “Oh.”

Ignoring the heretics I ask instead, “The Champion’s bond before felt like it did have emotions. Do you think a sufficiently worked-on Logic Core could do that?”

“I don’t know, Nat,” Sophie shakes her head. “You said he called his bond ‘she,’ but I still think that bond was fully artificial but taken to the point where it might have felt like a living being, while not being that.”

“Wouldn’t it being a real being mean that the Champion did something akin to creating life?” Aaron asks curiously.

Thinking of it, I shrug. “I would like to know. Did he create inscriptions, a personality construct of his mind, and modified it? Was his bond something akin to a native of the floor, seemingly having all these feelings but being fake? Are natives even really fake, a much higher version of Logic Core? Are they clones of beings that lived long ago but with an expiration date instead? Lissandra also made her personality imprint, and now she keeps messing all over the place.”

“So maybe creating a living being isn’t as extraordinary as it might seem?” Aaron wonders.

“That would be fucked up, wouldn't it?” his brother shoves him. “What would stop someone from cloning themselves and having a few thousand versions of them going around?”

“These versions would likely have limitations or have to build up their own status and level up—if they even would be able to connect to the system.” After sharing my wisdom, I open the door to my room.

The rest of the group 4 waiting outside shamelessly gets inside.

Maya pokes the table with the ax and shield on it. Tess grabs Biscuit and sits on the chair, putting him on her lap.

Izzy rushes to Sophie, and Min-Jae joins the twins, who start showing off as three of them surround Fracture and poke it carefully to not remove the sheath.

Amazed by such shamelessness, I quietly move to the corner of my room.

It’s the final night before Framework ignition. The strategies are discussed, though I only half-listen. Once everything is organized, a few leave to fetch food. Stories are shared, and jokes are exchanged.

Knowing the danger that can come tomorrow, everyone puts grievances to the side for the night.

***

In the morning, Sophie leaves with Maya and Lily. Tess moves to the top of the tower, looking towards where they go as if she can track their signatures even through the walls. A big number of javelins surrounds her.

Dozens of them fly around. A dozen is weaved from my mana, extremely tough and durable. The kind that will likely last a year or two if left untouched.

Another dozen of javelins is made from Lily’s bone. Knowing they are from the body of someone possessing [Disintegration], high Constitution, and a powerful healing skill, they cannot be underestimated.

Min-Jae is next to her as well, a few boxes surrounding him, filled to the brim with orbs as big as my fist. Some are once again made of my weaved mana and others from Lily’s bones.

There is something weird about it, but at the same time its also very logical and reasonable. The materials are just that good.

Izzy and the twins are on lower floors of the tower, ready in case any attack comes. Sleeping Biscuit and Noodle are there with them.

All of us are connected through the web Sophie and the twins made, allowing us to communicate.

I, meanwhile, stay in my room, connected to the Framework through [Ley Line] and watching the process, all my preparations within the room ready to activate. [Focus] sharpens my mind, focusing on the task and allowing me to follow the immense amount of information.

Framework activates gradually.

At first, it is almost unnoticeable. Likely dozens of mind mages surround the main set of inscriptions, connecting their minds to it and gradually adding the minds of people they control and monsters they caught and locked for this.

Slowly, more minds are added, and mana batteries placed all over the city start being drained as the city itself—being one big inscription—activates. Everything is calculated to help with that: the width of the streets, the height of each tower, the number of windows in the tower, materials, and the shapes of the walls.

It’s incredible work that must have taken decades to build. Something I find hard to imagine level 300 individuals devising on their own.

That unsettling feeling becomes more pronounced—a pull that comes from all around, making a person dizzy. Even though we are protected and excluded from it, we can feel it, the others likely more than me.

Gradually, even the minds of the people currently in the city are taken over, no one able to resist, and all life stops as they halt their movements where they are standing, empty expressions on their faces.

Anxiety continues to build, especially as I glance toward the inscribed roof at the heart of the city, where everything is unfolding. The roof, covered in dense, golden inscriptions, radiates a light with an indescribable hue. A powerful, concentrated beam shoots upward, piercing through the cloudy sky and beyond.

As I monitor the Framework, I sense hundreds, thousands—tens of thousands—of monster minds connecting, each pushed to its limit, strained to the breaking point, with many ultimately dying.

The pressure continues to mount. Monsters keep falling, and even some humans on the streets succumb. Mana batteries are drained at an alarming rate as an extraordinary number of calculations are performed.

The immense power of these minds is turned into resource and is directed by inscriptions.

Then they succeed.

Something changes. It’s invisible, yet everyone feels it. The very air seems different, and the stifling sensation of a ceiling overhead disappears. The pressure vanishes with a single audible crack—like a wooden stick snapping—echoing across the entire moon.

The spatial locks are broken, and with it, the city starts shaking. A tear appears in the sky, and from it, a single giant eye passes through and looks down towards the city.

That eye is very human-like but way too big to belong to any human. Its iris is black, and its pupil is golden-brown. The sclera is weaved with bloody veins as it stares, unblinking.

It seems like the spatial locks also held one of the Containment Cells closed shut.

The Framework starts to die off as minds begin disconnecting.

That’s when I connect in.

My mind shines within it, and I feel all these presences turn to me in attempt to sever my links to Framework.

They cannot.

My Ley Lines aren’t that simple to be dealt with.

My mind is not that simple to take over or attack.

All the inscriptions I made, all Ley Lines connecting me, activate, and my mana pours out of my crown as I take over Framework and then I use that resource—that power—all these minds.

I’m not a mind mage, so it’s not perfect. Over 90% of that power is wasted, but even that 10% of thousands of minds is enough. The inscriptions leading to the table with the ax and shield on it activate. Everything is prepared and carefully planned, enabling me to accomplish something that would otherwise shatter my mind instantly or take me months to complete.

The surface of the table starts melting and cracking under all this pressure, but I keep it all together deep within my [Focus].

[Focus - lvl 59 > Focus - lvl 60]

[Ley Line - lvl 40 > Ley Line - lvl 41]

[Ley Line - lvl 41 > Ley Line - lvl 42]

[Infusion - lvl 47 > Infusion - lvl 48]

[Infusion - lvl 48 > Infusion - lvl 49]

[Redistribution - lvl 57 > Redistribution - lvl 58]

The immense power of that mind, converted into a resource, flows through the Framework I took control of, channeled via Ley Lines and my inscriptions, all guided by my will. The experience I gained while working with the twins on Fracture becomes evident as I apply the same techniques to the axe and the shield.

Healing marks activate one after another. My arcane passive safeguards my mind, though its primary function is to defend against mental manipulation—not against my own actions. Unfortunately.

Still, I hold on for as long as I can, pouring every ounce of effort into directing the power of these minds to aid in forging the items.

Finally, when the control slips beyond my grasp and I can no longer regain it, the work is complete.

Before me lie two finished creations.

Ironbreaker (Mid Arcane) - Ironbreaker functions as an impenetrable shield, capturing the kinetic force of each attack within its dense layers, where energy bounces back and forth, amplifying with each reflection. This concentrated energy can then be released in controlled blasts, creating powerful shockwaves that repel even the fiercest assaults. With each impact, Ironbreaker’s internal structure temporarily reinforces itself, becoming an unyielding barrier capable of withstanding relentless physical attacks without compromise.

Mana Reaver (Mid Arcane) - Mana Reaver draws intensely from the wielder’s mana, honing its edge to an almost unnatural sharpness that cleaves effortlessly through any magical defense. Upon contact, the blade releases a unique disruptive effect that interferes with the mana flow of anything it touches, suppressing skills and breaking through magical barriers. The wielder can channel additional mana into each strike, immensely amplifying the weapon’s potency and allowing it to cut through even the most formidable magical protections.

Three healing marks from Lily activate, mending my body from the strain of crafting the items. I wish I could make more, but as expected, this seems to be my limit, even with all the help.

I then send an order through the system.

Do you really want to sell the following item for 135,600 shards?

Mana Reaver (Mid Arcane)

Yes/No

Do you really want to sell the following item for 129,900 shards?

Ironbreaker (Mid Arcane)

Yes/No

The offered prices are lower than those for Fracture, even with Fracture in its imperfect state, but for now, it’s enough shards.

“It seems like you will be staying with me for a while longer,” I note towards the sword and confirm the notifications.

Then I make another choice.

Do you really want to sell the following passive skill for 9,110 shards?

Arcane Resilience (Mid Epic)

Yes/No

The window disappears, and I check my shards.

Shards: 554,546

Having more shards than expected, the passive I plan to buy also changes, and I find it right away as I have been looking at it for a while.

"Buy passive skill Mental Attunement Loop (Mid Arcane)."