Jon knew that he had spent quite a bit of time exploring the forest and hunting for fragments. His pockets bulged with the weight of over a dozen different Fragments and a single Mana Core that he had obtained from an ugly-looking frog creature with mushrooms growing on its back.

The Fungi Mana Core was quite the interesting find, although Jon had no desire to integrate it. The relationship between itself and the Wood Mana Core was somewhat fascinating, given that the latter represented concepts such as "life", "growth" and even "spring" to some degree.

If the Fungi Mana Core could manifest several offensive or debilitating Spells, it would fill one of the weaknesses that Jon was trying to shore up on. With two more empty positions still in his Ice Mana Core, and five remaining in his Spear Mana Core, Jon still had plenty of opportunities to fill the gaps in his repertoire.

Jon had yet to give proper thought to the two remaining empty Mana Core positions, something that he knew annoyed Rana to no end. Although the bodhi tree kept suggesting different Mana Cores, there were only a handful of Mana Cores that he felt suited him.

"How about a Technology Mana Core? Think of all the things you could do after returning to Earth!" said Rana, causing Jon to roll his eyes playfully at the bodhi tree.

"Look around, do you see any sort of technology that I would be able to mess around with? I would have to rely on weapon summoning abilities for the entire duration of the System Introduction," said the young human, stepping over another one of his pitfall traps.

"Well, you have a point there… but what about a Crystal Mana Core?! It possesses similar characteristics to your Ice Mana Core but also might have quite a bit of synergy with your Spear Mana Core as well!" Rana joyfully suggested.

Jon just shook his head in response.

"I do not want another elemental-type Mana Core for either my fifth or sixth Mana Cores. Nor do I want another weapon-type Mana Core. While I understand you do not want me to choose an Incarnation Mana Core, something on the same level as it, at least conceptually is what I am after," Jon admitted, causing Rana to let out a thoughtful hum in response.

"On the same level… perhaps a Sin Mana Core?" said Rana, causing Jon to perk up at the mention of said Mana Core. The eighteen-year-old tapped his chin for a few seconds, before shrugging his shoulders giving his summon a small nod.

"I would consider integrating a Sin Mana Core. Or perhaps a more specific one. Han Of The Red Wind possessed a Wrath Mana Core, perhaps I should pick one more suitable for my personality?" Jon questioned.

"Hmm, sin-type Mana Cores tend to manifest one of two types of abilities. The only two I would recommend would be the Envy Mana Core or the Gluttony Mana Core. The former can perform in a similar manner to the Thief Mana Core, while the latter often manifests numerous methods of devouring debuffs and afflictions," the bodhi tree stated.

Jon paused halfway through his stride, raising an eyebrow.

"Did you just say, "devouring debuffs and afflictions"?" Jon asked.

Ashvattha Rana shook her leaves in affirmation.

"It is something unique to a handful of Mana Cores. Hunger Mana Cores, Gluttony Mana Cores, Chef Mana Cores, and even some Pygmy Mana Cores. Technically it is considered a method of refining debuffs, however "devouring" refines one of your existing buffs and debuffs together, to manifest an even stronger buff," Jon felt his eyes widen, somewhat interested in this subcategory of Mana Cores.

Devouring one buff and one debuff together to manifest an even stronger buff seemed like tremendous idea in Jon's mind. With abilities such as [Rhapsody Of The White Star] and [Ashvattha Rana; Earthen Treasury Womb] granting him [White Rhapsody], [Naraka Of Protection] and [Niraya Of Protection], Jon possessed an overwhelming number of buffs that he could refine.

He would need to receive a debuff first, but Jon could always cast [Wrath Of Green, Piercing Wood Eruption], inflicting instances of [Hateful Wood Curse] on himself.

The human already started feeling the cogs in his mind churn at the idea of a Gluttony Mana Core.

Rana felt the need to interpose between Jon's thoughts, letting him know her opinion regarding devouring-type Mana Cores.

"There is a reason why these types of Mana Cores are not attractive in the eyes of most individuals Jon. One of which, is that they do not synergise well with Fragments Of Incarnation or Fragments Of Avatar. While your Archetype Green is active, you will not feel the effects of debuffs or afflictions and will be unable to refine them from your Archetype Green," Rana stated.

Jon felt his shoulders sink, remembering that detail of his ability. His sudden interest dried up within moments of it being born as he allowed Rana to continue what she was trying to say.

"Another reason is that quite often the abilities they tend to manifest require an extraordinary amount of control and manipulation to be used properly. The difficulty of mastering abilities manifested from sin-type Mana Cores, to so some degree, devouring-type Mana Cores, is quite higher in comparison to other abilities. Do you know why this is Jon?" Ashvattha Rana asked her summoner.

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Jon nodded, unconsciously raising a hand towards his chest.

"The type of spiritual energy the Mana Core produces somewhat influences the one who integrates it. Knowledge mana Cores bring clarity and intelligibility. Ice Mana Cores reduce the internal temperature of the body, allowing it to withstand cold better. Wood Mana Cores increase physical regeneration, albeit to an almost unnoticeable degree."

"Gluttony Mana Cores and Hunger Mana Cores would sway one to indulge in… more voracious appetites," said Jon, hearing Rana nod his mind.

"Sin-type Mana Cores often require someone who indulges in them before even integrating the Mana Core. The urges and effects would be less noticeable, although would still be present. Another method of countering this problem would be the integration of its counterpart."

"A Temperance Mana Core," said Jon plainly.

That was a significantly less attractive idea. Having to integrate two Mana Cores to rid oneself of the weaknesses of the other. While concepts of sin made somewhat sense to Jon, concepts of virtue caused him to scrunch up his face in distaste.

"Let's forget about devouring-type Mana Cores for the time being. We're almost back at camp, so we'll continue this conversation after dinner," Jon heard Rana agree before going back and dwelling within the gap between his conscious and subconscious minds.

Mana Cores aside, Jon still did not quite understand how she "dwelled" within said gap, but the bodhi tree told him that there was a Mortal Title Fragment at stake. Jon suppressed a grumble at the thought, before stepping through the tree line.

His eyebrows shooting up towards his hairline as he gazed at the scene in front of him.

Standing before him was not the familiar sight of two humanoids lounging around the riverbank, nor was it three, in addition to the fat ginseng that often lounged around next to the campfire.

In fact, it was not even four, with the recent addition of Huo Liyu, that nine-tailed, crimson-coloured carp that often loved to perform aerial acrobatics and somersaults through the air.

'One. Two. Three. Four. Five,' Jon counted within his head.

Sitting around his campfire, in addition to the familiar figures of Avahni, Wilheim and Ru Luan Di were two distinctly coloured humanoids. While Jon did not recognize their appearances or clothing, he certainly did recognize the colour of both of their skins.

Jon felt his breath hitch, watching as four pairs of eyes turned towards him.

His [Monstrous Intuition] immediately noticing the pinkness around Avahni's eyes. The human furrowing his brows, knowing that the lutin had been crying until just a few minutes ago. His eyes moved towards Wilheim who just muttered the words Huo Liyu, before sweeping his gaze towards the two newcomers around the fire.

One of them, the one that he assumed was female, tilted their head back and met his gaze with an equal amount of suspicion and mistrust. Her green-coloured skin was somewhat pale, although not nearly as evident as her blue-skinned companion sitting directly beside her.

His shoulder had been wrapped using [Summer Daze Leaves], which possessed the Recovery Trait. Jon could feel the lingering emanations of fire natured spiritual energy and castle natured spiritual energy lingering off his wound, knowing that it both Ru Luan Di and Wilheim who would have helped him.

While Jon would have continued to stare at the pair, the eighteen-year-old felt a shorter, more lithe figure crash into him. Once upon a time, Summer had done the same thing to him and caused him to fall over, nearly hitting his head on pavement as a result.

With the numerous physical enhancements his abilities granted him, Jon barely took a half-step back, more so to soften himself, watching as Avahni flung her arms around him, burying herself in his chest. The sound of sobbing echoing throughout the riverbank once again.

"Jon! Huo Liyu… Lily… she was killed!" the lutin cried out, sniffling as she rubbed her face deeper into his shirt. Despite her current appearance, Shamael, Sariel and Wilheim all felt sympathetic with the lutin, knowing that one of her summons had been killed right before her eyes.

All three of them, at one point or another, had been under the influence of her Asherah-Shamrock Hair. Although Wilheim knew better than to let the Asherah-Shamrock Hair influence him, without some sort of mental-resistance ability, he was still susceptible no matter how iron-clad his willpower was.

Glancing towards Ru Luan Di, Jon saw the little ginseng king missing two of its limbs. Given that both Ru Luan Di and Wilheim combined should have been able to keep something from death even for a short period of time, Jon realized that Huo Liyu must have been killed instantly.

Letting out a soft sigh, Jon patted Avahni on the head, brushing the strands of green coloured hair off her brow.

"I'm… sorry I was not there. Huo Liyu… was a kind fish," said Jon, watching as Avahni stopped crying, lifting her head to peer up at the taller human. Jon ignored the wet patch he could feel on his chest, before giving Avahni a small smile, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a Fragment Of Mouth and a Fragment Of Beetle.

The lutin did not accept them, merely allowing Jon to take her hand and place the two fragments within it. Jon closed her hand for her, smiling while brushing a green-coloured tear from her nose.

"Avahni safe. I'm happy," he said, watching as the lutin continued to cry, once again embracing him in another sob-filled hug.

The other four sitting around the campfire noticed Jon reach into his pocket and pull out the two fragments. All of them glanced towards the obvious lump in his pocket, each of them wondering something different as their gazes lingered on the human.

Wilheim did not show any outward change in expression, just glancing towards Sariel and Shamael for a moment, gauging the pairs reactions. Both Sariel and Shamael looked towards the pale-skinned sapient, the former staring at Jon with a strange combination of awe and envy in her eyes. Her brother possessed a similar look on his face, although seemed to focus more on the fragments rather than Jon himself.

Ru Luan Di felt the familiar spiritual energy of a Fragment Of Mouth and a Fragment Of Beetle, feeling relieved for the safety of his summoner.

The Liver Of The Ginseng King felt reassured with the presence of Jon around. He was a close-quarters fighter, with several fragments that allowed him to fight in the forefront while his companions struck their enemies from the rear.

The human was both strong and reliable, more than capable of fighting opponents at the same Tier and winning.

Although Ru Luan Di swore an oath to serve Avahni and no-one else, he did admit, he owed the human known as Jon for helping his summoner with so much. Despite her advantages it was undeniably true that Avahni required assistance to obtain the catalysts required to manifest her other summons.

The sounds of a crying lutin filled the riverbank was not something Jon thought he would have to deal with after returning from his hunt.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.