Chapter 284: The Depths (2).

Jacob pulled free what looked like a crystallized mass of tissue, roughly the size of a fist, that pulsed with that same sickly green light Nero had seen in the creature’s throat.

Nero frowned and activated the Eyes of the Heretic.

His eyes narrowed when he saw strands of corrupted Ein Sof coalesced around it in visible whorls, so much so that even from a few feet away he could feel the power radiating from it.

“This thing has a budding energy core. It was well on its way to becoming a grade B Abomination.” Arthur said with a deep frown on his face.

“A grade B?This doesn’t bode well.” Jacob said.

Nero frowned then turned to Arthur to ask,

“Why do you seem so cautious?”

Arthur turned to him with a difficult smile,

“Well, that is because the difference between a grade C and grade B Abomination, is very similar to the difference between the heavens and the earth. Quite literally.”

Nero frowned.

He knew that each successive grade would be much stronger than the last, but from the way Arthur spoke, it would seem that he was under some gross misunderstanding.

Seeing Nero’s expression, Arthur huffed then explained,

“The truest difference between a grade C Abomination, and a grade B, is that the creation of an Essence Core begins at that grade. Most Abominations are incapable of growing one, but those that do become incredibly powerful. Frighteningly powerful. Essence Cores are still bundles of mysteries, so I cannot tell you what they are exactly even if I want to.”

Nero raised a brow,

“I see…”

Hisind however, was already busy working,

’Oracle, what is an Essence Core?’

{An Essence Core, also known as a Spirit Heart, is a physical organ developed by a being to regulate their Essence and consciousness}.

Nero’s frown deepened,

’I don’t understand.’

{The mind and soul of an Abomination is a cesspool of degradation. Because it is filled with corruption, its very nature is chaotic. However, ever so often, a low probability change occurs;

The chaos within the body and the soul, for a moment, are aligned. That alignment causes a form of self to develop. The physical consequence of this alignment is an Essence Core. It allows the being, to choose the direction of its descent into the corruption}.

Nero’s brows tightened, ’I see… So it is not some sort of power source. Rather, it is more like a… brain? A second brain…’

{In human anatomical terms, perhaps. That would be the closest comparison}.

’I see…’

“Although it is not fully formed, I can get Lyon to cough up handsomely for this.” Arthur said with a smile.

“How handsomely?” Jacob asked, already wrapping the core in multiple layers of cloth.

“Enough that we’ll each get a bonus on top of our trial points. These things are rare, and they’re essential for certain elixirs.”

The Church consumed the corruption to fight the corruption. Just like the Templars of the Crimson Crucible consumed Abomination blood through the Seal of Blood. Just like Nero himself consumed Abomination flesh to maintain his human form.

It was all the same, really. All of them feeding on the very thing they claimed to fight against.

“Something wrong?” Arthur asked, and Nero realized he’d been staring at the corruption core with a strange expression.

He shook his head. “No. Just thinking.”

“Dangerous habit,” Jacob said with a snort.

They finished the harvesting in silence, dividing the materials between their packs as evenly as possible. The bone plating was too large and heavy for one person to carry, so they lashed it together and rigged a makeshift carrying frame using their rope and some sturdy branches.

By the time they were done, the sun had shifted noticeably in the sky. Nero estimated they had perhaps three hours of good light remaining, maybe four if they pushed it.

Sergeant Aldric approached then, his expression as unreadable as ever.

“How much further should we push?” Arthur asked. “We still have some daylight left.”

Aldric’s eyes swept over each of them in turn, lingering on Nero for a moment longer than the others. Then he looked toward the deeper parts of the forest, where the shadows were darkest and the trees seemed to lean inward like old monsters watching their daughters change.

“The real Thornwood begins another mile in,” he said. “Past the old river bed. That’s where the corruption is strongest, where the truly dangerous creatures make their lairs. The three of you have done well, but if you cross that threshold, I may not be able to intervene in time if something goes wrong. Still, it is within your rights to proceed ahead.”

“What’s the reward for specimens from the deep Thornwood?” Jacob asked.

“Double points at minimum. Triple for anything particularly rare or dangerous.”

Arthur and Jacob exchanged glances, and Nero could see the hunger in their eyes. The temptation of those points, the chance to secure their positions in the trial rankings before the actual evaluation even began.

It was quite a bit reckless. Exactly the kind of behavior Sergeant Aldric’s warning about the points system encouraging.

However, fortune could only favor the bold.

“Let’s do it then.” Arthur said.

“I’m in,” Jacob agreed.

They both turned to look at Nero, waiting for his response.

He thought about refusing. He could point out the obvious danger; the fact that their exhaustion from previous fights was still gnawing at them and pushing deeper when night would fall in a few hours was asking for trouble.

But he also thought about his own position. He had four hundred Seals of Sin, more than enough to put him toe-to-toe with a regular Templar when he transformed.

But power alone meant nothing if he didn’t understand how to use it, if he couldn’t learn to navigate the political and tactical complexities of being a Templar.

Besides, this was a learning opportunity. A chance to see how far he could push himself, to test his abilities against threats stronger than anything he’d faced so far.

Probably…

“I’m in,” he said.

Sergeant Aldric nodded slowly, as if he’d expected nothing less. “Then I’ll be staying with the horses. If you’re not back by nightfall, I’ll assume you’re dead and report accordingly.”

“Cheerful bastard, isn’t he?” Jacob muttered.

They redistributed the weight of their packs, leaving the heavier materials with Aldric to transport back, and checked their weapons.

Nero checked his. His spear was still in good condition, the blade clean and sharp.

Form here on out, they would be facing an actual threat of death.

The real trials were about to begin…

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