He pulled out the Exquisite Lunch Box. The aroma of the Royal Rabbit meat, infused with high-grade herbs, momentarily silenced the players nearby.
Arthur took a bite of the dish, feeling the rush of energy flood his system. He closed his eyes, sinking into the darkness of his own consciousness. He wasn't just a player anymore; he became a conduit.
Ignoring the curious glances of the Level 10 warriors and fledgling mages, he sat at the very edge of the marble basin.
Arthur ate with mechanical efficiency, feeling the high-tier nutrients begin to knit his muscle fibers together.
[You have consumed the 'Exquisite Lunch Box']
[Increase regeneration by 20% for 1 hour.]
[Regenerate 2 health each second for 1 hour.]
[Increase agility by 5% for 2 hours.]
[Speed + 5 for 2 hours.]
[Permanently increase in both Stamina and Agility by +10 points.]
[Increase luck by 5% for 1 hour.]
[Permanently increase Good Luck by +10 points.]
The buffs were staggering, but they were merely the foundation. Arthur reached into his pouch and pulled out the four glowing orbs he had harvested in the valley: three broken Poisonous Slime Cores and the jagged, pulsing Acidic King Slime Core.
In Satisfy, cores were typically used for alchemy or crafting. To consume them raw was considered madness—a quick ticket to a graveyard.
Arthur didn't hesitate. He tossed them into his mouth and swallowed.
The reaction was instantaneous. He plunged his body into the cold, magical waters of the fountain and forced himself into a meditative posture.
[You have taken the broken slime's poisonous core alongside the acidic slime core.]
[The hidden feature 'Mana Core' has been activated.]
[A large amount of mana has been released inside your mana core.]
[Your internal organs are being damaged by acid, you will receive 5 damage every 1 second.]
[Your mana veins are being permeated by poison, you will receive 3 damage every 1 second.]
"Ugh..." A low groan escaped his lips. It felt as though he had swallowed a handful of hot coals and a swarm of glass hornets. The acid began to liquefy his stomach lining while the poison turned his blood into sludge.
[Entering a meditative state.]
[Increases health and mana regeneration rate by 50%, and stamina regeneration by 30%.]
[Skill cooldown time will be reduced by 10%.]
[The healing fountain has restored your health by 2 for every second.]
Around him, a crowd began to gather.
"Hahaha... wth is this guy doing?" a Level 8 Archer laughed, pointing at Arthur's trembling frame. "Does he think this is some kind of martial world? You can't just sit in a fountain and get stronger."
"Hahaha..! I think he's one of those people who takes everything seriously and meditates when doing nothing hahaha!"
Another chimed in, pulling out a recording crystal. "This is going on the forums. 'The Fountain Monk of Patrian'."
"Hey look closely," a more observant player whispered, her laughter dying. "There's a small amount of blood coming out from the side of his mouth. He's actually taking damage."
"I think that guy is poisoned and he's trying to ignore the pain caused by it," a priest remarked, squinting. "But why? He's literally dying in a healing zone."
Arthur heard them, but they were like ghosts in the distance. His world was a storm of fire and ice.
Focus... he told himself, his teeth gritted so hard they threatened to crack. I need to ignore the poison and acid... Just maintain control of my breathing at a steady pace and clear my mind... Also, I need to try and control my mana at the same pace as my breathing.
The internal struggle was a delicate balance of math and agony.
[You have lost 8 health points!]
[You have recovered 10 health points!]
The regeneration from the Royal Rabbit and the fountain was barely keeping him ahead of the corrosive death within.
Suddenly, the energy shifted. The blue light of the fountain began to mix with a sickly dark green and a smoky gray.
The swirling colors began to form a vortex around Arthur's body, the sheer pressure of the mana causing the water to ripple outward in perfect circles.
[You have resisted the abnormal state 'collapse'.]
[The excess amount of mana is attempting to expand your mana core to accommodate the excess mana!]
[Due to your mana core not being trained, the progress of your mana core expanding is very slow.]
CRACK.
An internal sound, like breaking porcelain, echoed in Arthur's mind.
[The mana flooding is causing cracks in the expanding mana core!]
[You have suffered a serious internal injury!]
[The mana core has been damaged, making it harder to accumulate the mana.]
Arthur coughed, a spray of dark, poisoned blood hitting the clear water of the fountain. The players who were mocking him went silent. The air around the fountain grew heavy, charged with an electric tension that made their hair stand on end.
Not yet... Arthur snarled internally. I've seen the peak. I won't be broken by a few slimes!
He forced his mana to circulate faster, using the pain itself as a guide to find the leaks in his core. He visualized the cracks being sealed by the pure, unyielding willpower he had forged.
[Your mana core has succeeded in accumulating a small amount of mana.]
[The cracks in your mana core have been restored.]
[Your mana core has achieved the first stage of expansion.]
BOOM.
A small shockwave erupted from Arthur, splashing the onlookers with fountain water. The swirling colors intensified, turning from a chaotic mess into a structured, crystalline aura.
[It has been confirmed that you fully embodied the Acidic and Poison core!]
[It is a miraculous achievement!]
[I commend your strength for enduring the pain that occurred during the process of opening your mana core.]
The notifications began to rain down like a deluge.
[Your mana has risen by 4,000 points.]
[The special stat 'Willpower' has opened.]
[The special stat 'Persistence' has opened.]
[The special stat 'Indomitable' has opened.]
[The special stat 'Insight' has opened.]
[The special stat 'Regeneration' has opened.]
Arthur felt his consciousness expand. The "Path of Enlightenment" wasn't just a quest; it was a fundamental rewiring of his existence within Satisfy.
[You have been enlightened about the limits of your body by completely opening your mana core. Your mana core is expanded to the second stage.]
[The special stat 'Wisdom' has opened.]
[Your mana has risen by 6,000 points.]
[The title 'Genius Magician' is received.]
[The title 'Embracing the Acidic Poison' is received.]
[The title 'Pioneer of Magic' is received.]
[The title 'Miracle' is received.]
[The title 'Master of Mana' is received]
[The passive skill 'Strong Body' is received.]
[The passive skill 'Strong Bone' is received.]
[Magic skill 'Poison Bullet' has been acquired.]
[Magic skill 'Acid Grace' has been acquired.]
Finally, the golden light of the quest completion window eclipsed everything else.
[You have cleared the hidden quest 'Path of Enlightenment'.]
[As a reward for clearing the hidden quest: All Skills +2 Levels | Stat Points +100. The Passive Skills: Beginner Bow/Spear/Sword Mastery is unlocked. Beginner Fist/Kick/Body Technique is unlocked. Keen Sense is unlocked, and the special stat 'Super Sensitivity' has opened. The 'Prodigy Set' has been acquired.]
[Title: Enlightened One.]
*[Strength and Agility +50]
*[Intelligence +200]
*[When casting magic there's a normal chance of dealing 2 times your magic damage.]
*[Skill experience gain and item experience gain rate increased by 20%]
*[Increase magic damage by 20%]
*[Beginner Weapon, Staff, and Magic Mastery is unlocked.]
A world-wide message rang out in the ears of every single player currently logged into Satisfy.
[An unknown person has broken his limits.]
The fountain area was deathly quiet. The players who had been recording were frozen, their crystals capturing a man who looked like a god reborn.
Arthur opened his eyes. They weren't the eyes of a beginner; they were cold, sharp, and glowing with an ethereal light.
He stood up, his movements fluid and terrifyingly fast. He didn't say a word to the stunned crowd. He didn't need to. He simply turned and sprinted toward the city, his new Speed and Agility stats making him a blur of motion.
I have the mana, Arthur thought, his heart racing. I have the power. Now, it's time to save those girls.
Arthur burst through the doors of Ozuna's Inn. The atmosphere was frantic, the employees moving in a blur as the evening rush hit. He didn't stop to talk; he vaulted over the bar counter, startling a waiter.
In the back, he found Airgid. The giant of a man was holding two heavy trays, but his eyes were fixed on the stairs. When he saw Arthur, he stopped dead.
Airgid didn't need to be a mage to feel it. The pressure emanating from Arthur was immense—the scent of rain and ozone, mixed with the sharp tang of the slimes. Arthur was smiling, his face clean of the blood from before, his skin glowing with health.
'Yes...!' Airgid thought, his hand trembling so hard a glass rattled on the tray. Seeing that Arthur is smiling, that means he was successful with opening his mana core! 'Alfia, Meteria..! Both of you are finally gonna be cured of your illness!'
Arthur grabbed Airgid's shoulder. "The meal," he said, his voice resonant and full of newfound authority. "Is it ready?"
Airgid nodded vigorously. "The employees followed your steps. It's perfect."
"Good," Arthur said, his eyes turning toward the upstairs rooms. "Let's go. We have two futures to rewrite."