Investing in My Harem in the Apocalypse Makes Me Stronger
Chapter 39: Extreme Danger

Chapter 39: Extreme Danger

Jack’s attention sharpened as he read the description of the purified essence.

"That would suit me."

Cain turned the Ironhide Tyrant Core in his hand.

"It would suit almost anyone."

The Ironhide Essence could reinforce the skin, muscles, bones, and internal organs of whoever absorbed it. Jack relied heavily on his physique during close combat, so the effect was undoubtedly compatible with him.

However, Cain had no intention of giving away this Core.

"I’m keeping it."

Jack looked at him briefly before nodding.

Cain had fought and killed the Ironhide Tyrant alone. Nobody could argue with his decision to use its Core for himself.

More importantly, Cain had not yet formed his Mana Core.

The purified Core could become extremely useful during his advancement.

He examined the pale gray sphere again.

[Ironhide Tyrant Core]

[Rank: First Echelon]

[State: Purified]

[Essence Effect: Ironhide Essence]

[Ironhide Essence: Strengthens the user’s skin, muscles, bones, and organs, increasing physical durability and resistance to impact and penetration.]

Additional information appeared beneath the original description.

[Purified Cores may be absorbed to strengthen the user’s Core.]

[The absorbed energy will be refined and integrated into the user’s own Core, improving its stability, energy density, and progression toward the next Core stage.]

[Absorbing a purified Core during Mana Core condensation can support and stabilize the Core while it is forming.]

[If sufficient purified Core energy is absorbed during condensation, the newly formed Mana Core may directly reach the Stabilized stage.]

Cain read the information carefully.

Absorbing another creature’s Core was not limited to the moment of advancement.

Nathan could use purified Cores to strengthen his newly formed Wind Mana Core, provided the energy inside was not harmful or incompatible with him. Once refined, the energy would improve the Core’s stability and help it progress toward the next stage.

Using a Core during Mana Core condensation followed the same principle.

The difference was that a Mana Core was at its most unstable while it was first forming.

If Cain absorbed purified Core energy during that process, the foreign energy could support the condensation and help stabilize the structure from the beginning.

With enough purified Cores, his Mana Core might immediately enter the Stabilized stage instead of beginning at Newly Formed.

Cain did not know whether one Ironhide Tyrant Core would be enough.

Most likely, it would only contribute part of the required energy.

However, the city contained more First-Echelon creatures. If he collected and purified several Cores before completing his Advancement Mission, he might shorten the earliest stage of his Core development considerably.

Ron leaned closer to read the description.

"So Nathan can also absorb Cores to strengthen his Mana Core?"

"Yes," Cain answered.

Nathan placed one hand over his chest. The Wind Mana Core inside him continued rotating steadily, refining the Mana circulating through his body.

"As long as the energy is safe for me."

Cain nodded.

"A purified Wind-attributed Core would probably be the most suitable."

The Ironhide Tyrant Core possessed no Wind energy. Its essence focused on physical durability, making it less compatible with Nathan than an elemental Core aligned with his abilities.

It might still provide some benefit after being purified, but Cain would not waste the first Core they had obtained simply to test the limits of compatibility.

Ron looked toward the gray sphere.

"Then who gets this one?"

"I already told you."

Cain stored it inside his Inventory.

"I’m using it myself."

Ron clicked his tongue.

"You didn’t even consider sharing."

"I killed the Tyrant alone."

"That’s fair." Ron paused, then continued as he rolled his eyes. "But you could’ve pretended to think about it."

"Why waste time pretending?"

"You have no generosity in your heart." Ron shook his head.

Cain raised one leg.

Ron retreated several steps before the kick could come.

"Fine. Keep your Core."

Cain lowered his foot and turned toward the Ironhide Tyrant’s corpse.

This discovery had made First-Echelon creatures even more valuable.

They already provided bonus stats, experience, System Points, and high-ranking rewards.

Now, their Cores could also improve the development of an Awakener’s own Core.

The benefits would not end after the initial absorption either.

A stronger Core refined Mana more efficiently and provided greater support to the body. It would improve Skill output, elemental control, Mana recovery, and sustained combat ability.

The higher the Core’s stage, the stronger those benefits would become.

Hunting First-Echelon creatures was no longer merely a way to Level up as their Cores could directly influence future Echelon advancement.

"We will check every First-Echelon corpse from now on," Cain said.

Nathan nodded.

"If they all possess Cores, we’ll need to distribute them based on compatibility later."

"We’ll purify them first." Cain glanced toward Jack as he continued, "Then we decide who benefits from each one the most."

Jack accepted the answer with a nod.

"Does that include you?" Ron replied with a suspicious look.

"Especially me."

"You didn’t even hesitate."

Cain ignored him and looked toward the road outside the parking area.

They had accomplished their original purpose.

Nathan had reached the First Echelon, Elara had reached the Unranked Level limit, and Cain had learned far more about Echelon creatures than he expected.

"We’re leaving."

The group gathered their equipment and departed from the damaged parking structure.

Nathan moved to the front.

His newly formed Wind Mana Core rotated steadily as he circulated refined Mana through his body. A faint green current flowed away from him and spread along the road.

Before advancing, Nathan had needed to consciously release Wind Mana whenever he wanted to examine the surroundings.

Now, the process felt much more natural.

The Core continuously stored and refined his Mana, allowing him to maintain a wider field of perception while consuming less energy than before.

Elara remained beside Cain.

Ron and Jack followed behind them.

The group continued west, intending to scout the roads beyond the university before returning to the auditorium.

The city became quieter the farther they traveled. Several abandoned cars occupied the street, though none completely blocked the road.

A compact vehicle had crashed into a traffic light near the intersection. Its front had folded inward, and blood covered the cracked windshield.

The doors remained open and obviously, nobody was inside.

Cain examined a nearby grocery shop.

Its windows had been shattered. A dark trail extended from the entrance toward the rear of the building.

He expected infected people to emerge when they heard the group approaching.

They passed another shop.

Then an apartment entrance.

The surrounding buildings showed clear signs of panic, but there were no zombies or human survivors anywhere nearby.

They traveled almost a kilometer without encountering a single enemy.

At first, Cain appreciated the silence as the group had already fought enough, and returning quickly would allow them to prepare the buses and supplies before nightfall.

But his satisfaction soon disappeared because if there were no zombies, it meant that there wouldn’t be experience too.

There were also no bonus stats, dropped items, or additional Cores.

More importantly, the complete absence of infected people felt unnatural.

Cain looked through the broken windows of a restaurant. Chairs had been overturned inside. Plates and glasses covered the floor, while dried blood stained one of the tables.

Yet, there were no bodies.

’Did something clear this area?’

If survivors had fought through the street, there should have been corpses or abandoned weapons.

A powerful zombie could have killed the infected, but the bodies should still remain unless something had dragged them away.

Cain disliked both possibilities.

Ron released a long sigh behind him.

"This is boring."

Cain continued looking ahead as he sneered, "You complained when we were surrounded."

"That was because there were too many."

"And now?"

"There aren’t any." Ron rested the spear against his shoulder as he continued, "We’ve walked this far without gaining a single Level."

"You wouldn’t gain much from weak zombies anyway."

"At least I’d be doing something."

Jack glanced at him.

"You can search the buildings by yourself."

Ron ignored him as he said, "I wouldn’t even mind encountering another strong zombie."

Cain turned his head.

"Don’t Jinx it."

"You’re just being too paranoid, I’m only saying it would be better if we encountered something stronger or—"

Before Ron could finish his sentence, Nathan suddenly raised one hand.

Everyone stopped.

The casual expression on Nathan’s face disappeared.

Green Wind spread from his body and flowed past the buildings ahead. The currents moved toward a large public park on the right side of the road.

A low metal fence surrounded the park, but the dense trees beyond it concealed most of the interior.

Cain slowly turned toward Ron.

"You fucking jinxed it."

He then smacked the top of Ron’s head.

Bang!

"ARGH!"

Ron staggered forward and covered the growing bump.

"What the fuck did I do?!"

"You asked for something stronger."

"I didn’t summon it!"

"You should’ve kept your mouth shut."

Cain returned his attention to Nathan.

"What did you sense?"

Nathan did not answer immediately.

The Wind Mana Core inside him accelerated. Refined Mana entered the currents and pushed deeper into the park.

The green Wind passed between the trees before becoming increasingly unstable as something hidden inside disrupted Nathan’s perception.

Several seconds later, his expression became solemn.

"Danger."

"How serious?"

Nathan stared toward the center of the park.

"I felt something similar when I detected the Ironhide Tyrant—No, it’s more dangerous."

Ron lowered the hand covering his head.

"But you were still Unranked when we found the Tyrant."

Cain snorted as he looked at Ron as if he was an idiot, "That’s why this is worse."

Nathan had already formed his Mana Core.

His stats had doubled, his Wind energy had become denser, and his perception through the surrounding currents had improved greatly.

A creature capable of making him feel this threatened could not be an ordinary First-Echelon being.