The process of creating a spiritual vein was relatively simple.

  A Knight would use the spiritual energy contained within a specific Mana Core to form “channels” or “veins” within the flesh. Pseudo-spiritual constructs which did not possess an actual form, so to speak. After death a Knight would not drop their spiritual veins, merely allowing them to dissipate into motes of spiritual energy.

  Their presence was more of a… precursor, of what was to come in later Ranks.

  At least according to Song, Eis and Rana that is.

  Spiritual veins served as a sort of… half-mutation, half-spiritual construct that existed only within the flesh. Their effects were varied, although simplistically reduced some of the more debilitating effects that certain abilities possessed.

  This often manifested in some sort of chant-reduction or the complete removal of chanting all together. For an additional mana cost, spiritual veins that were connected with specific fragments would serve as an intermediary to activate an ability, allowing Knights to activate Spells, Techniques or even Constructs without so much as a single twitch of their lips.

  This was done by activating a specific ability while forming the spiritual vein.

  The concepts within the fragment would help shape the intended structure of the channels, influencing the appearance of the spiritual vein in relation to the aforementioned concepts.

  This was similar to the effects of his Longinus-Rune Spirit, which had manifested a physical runic-glyph symbol on the palm of his hand. Allowing him to activate [Thou Art The Monarch Of Spears And Truth] without the need for a verbal component.

  Fragments Of Rune, Fragments Of Tattoo and even Fragments Of Gesticulate were often able to produce such effects, among several other similar types of fragments.

  One Mana Core was capable of producing one spiritual vein, regardless of what Rank someone had reached. This was confirmed by Eis and Song, although neither alluded to the other potential abilities spiritual veins possessed.

  The epoch-heart dragon did, however, mention about improving upon preexisting spiritual veins.

  “Just as abilities change with the integration of new fragments and concepts, so too will the structure of your spiritual veins. Remember that upon your ascension to Lordship and after the integration of your third-set of fragments to update the foundations and structure of your spiritual channels.”

  “This goes double for abilities that you transform into fragment pathways…”

  There was no requirement for the order upon which a Knight should form a spiritual vein. Jon could have started with his Weave Mana Core and finished with his Knowledge Mana Core if he so pleased. The first successful spiritual vein that he had formed however, was from his Wood Mana Core.

  [Imperial Wood Art; Towering Tree Barrier], or rather his Fragment Of Barrier and Fragment Of Tower which formed the basis for said ability. The entire process took him more than two months in order to complete, most of which was him practicing the creation of specific details rather than the actual formation of the spiritual vein itself.

  Jon knew that he was somewhat of a perfectionist in regard to self-sufficiency and self-reliance and as such attempted to perfect the structure of his first channel before forming it completely. As a result he often found himself lacking the spiritual energy to carve the spiritual veins through his flesh and muscles.

  Which was when he realized the additional benefits of Mana Cores.

  Each one produced trace amounts of spiritual energy, regardless of whether they had been integrated or not. Although the effects of just a single Mana Core might not do much, what if someone had ten around them while forming a pseudo-spiritual construct?

  Or even fifty?

  Using the spiritual energies contained within his other five Mana Cores, Jon was able to absorb these trace amounts of wood natured spiritual energy, using them to forge his wood spiritual vein. The process had become startlingly more complex but with his Three Seas Of Knowledge, was able to divide his focus enough one each of the tasks in front of him.

  Guf commanded his other Mana Cores, absorbing the traces of spiritual energy around him.

  Tehom allowed this spiritual energy to flow into his own Wood Mana Core, mixing both his will and spirit into them, allowing him to control them as if it were his own.

  And Hadal shaped this spiritual energy into the form of his intended spiritual vein, activating his intended ability with the lowest possible mana requirement so as to imbue the construct with specific concepts and qualities.

  The reason why Jon had formed his wood spiritual vein first was primarily due to how many Wood Mana Cores circulated throughout Springtown. It was surrounded on all sides by an overwhelmingly thick and overgrown forest, manifesting Leaf Mana Cores, Tree Mana Cores, Nature Mana Cores, Wood Mana Cores and even Forest Mana Cores in startling abundance.

  His Ice Mana Core had been his second pick, after the Explorers Guild had discovered the Wonder known as Sky-Piercing Ice Pillar. The sheer amount of ice-type fragments and cold-type fragments that flooded the market after this discovery allowed him to accumulate more than a dozen Ice Mana Cores over the span of just a few days.

  [Frozen End Art; Ice Mountain Annihilation, White Sea Cataclysm] serving as the basis for his second spiritual vein.

  And [Thou Is Mine Shadow, Born From Dragons And Knowledge] serving as the basis for his third spiritual vein.

  The formation of his knowledge spiritual vein taking more than six months and requiring Jon to spend several thousand platinum coins in order to obtain a sufficient number of Knowledge Mana Cores. He had spent more than five of his task rewards on obtaining copies of Knowledge Mana Cores, accumulating a total of twenty-nine before becoming a Third-Veined Knight.

  It made him consider the idea of joining one of the many “Associations” that had started to form within Springtown. Organizations that were governed by Knights wielding similar fragments or similar Mana Cores that shared their knowledge and understanding of specific concepts or specific abilities.

  Members could pay in order to use their collection of Fire Mana Cores or Song Mana Cores in order to help form their spiritual veins. The Element Association was the largest within Springtown, although the Weapon Association was a close-second. Other than that, the Bard Association and Trade Association; which governed jewellery-crafting, armour-crafting, wood-working and other miscellaneous fields all followed behind them.

  Jon had considered asking the leaders of the Weapon Association if he could borrow their collection of Spear Mana Cores but refrained form doing so. Song, Eis and Rana all recommending against it.

  “You should rely on your own abilities and wealth in order to obtain additional Spear Mana Cores, War Mana Cores and Weave Mana Cores Jon. Although we do not dare to tell you the exact details as to why this is, possessing additional copies of these Mana Cores will not damage your progress or wealth in the long-term.”

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  “They will become more important later on, that much you can be sure of.”

  He never once thought that the three of them would lie to him about such a matter. Considering that it affected his future progression and ascension through future Tiers.

  Although he had accumulated several thousand fragments on his person.

  And hundreds of different Mana Cores.

  There was no point in hoarding all of his wealth if it all did was slow down his advancement from Knighthood to Lordship. If possessing additional copies of his integrated Mana Cores would help him even further down the line then Jon would do so without hesitation.

  All that was left to do, was decide what ability he intended on using as the basis for his spear spiritual vein. His eyes glancing towards his six possible selections, before focusing on one ability in particular.

  [Fragment Of Weapon]

  [Behold Thy Phantasmal Spear; Enveloped In Thulian Grace]

  (Spear, Weapon, Summon, Ability, Spell, Debuff)

  (Rain)

  Effect (Knight): Elevates Luin; Thulian Spellspear into Luin; Thulian Rainspear. Luin now contains within it the whispers of rain that softly trickled from the thulian firmament, lulling dreamers towards their darkest nightmares.

  Luin is now contains within it an additional Spell effect. Thrusting the Thulian Rainspear towards the sky will manifest a pinkish-purplish cloud of spear natured spiritual energy within a defined distance around the point of casting. Lance-shaped constructs will fall from the pinkish-purplish cloud, striking enemies and targets beneath.

  Enemies that are struck with Luin shall become also become inflicted with an instance of [Raining Dream].

  [Raining Dream]: Reduces mana regeneration. Additional stacks have an additive effect.

  ‘That’s the one...’ Jon thought to himself.

  It was time for him to break through to the Fourth-Vein Of Knighthood.

  Break.

  Miyoung Kim-Seydlitz; or the Archon Of Reigning Dragons as she was more commonly known, walked through the streets of Saltstream Town, feeling the gazes of hundreds of lutins, appaloscians, nadians and drus gaze at her in both awe and near-worship.

  It was a familiar feeling.

  Although one that she did not quite feel comfortable with.

  Miyoung pulled down at the Fragment Of Mantle which obscured her head and torso, preventing others from gleaming her face or appearance. Although it was an instinctive reflex from her time back on Earth, it was one that she had not been able to shake, even after almost two years within the System Introduction.

  Her Fragment Of Mind surging with strength natured spiritual energy.

  And her Fragment Of Spirit overflowing with beauty natured spiritual energy.

  The Reckless Strength Palace and Ishtar-Glamour Spirit resisting the not-so-subtle probes of spiritual energy that brushed up against her. Although part of her wanted to trace back the source of said inquiries, thrashing them across the head using Lenecia, her Memento Source Item.

  She did not do so, knowing this was her first encounter with other humans and sapient beings for the first time since arriving with the System Introduction. Although she was hesitant at first to assist in the defence of this Safe Zone, after realizing that both Wilheim and Sariel were both capable of speaking English, Miyoung felt as though she could not turn a blind eye to their situation.

  The Wisdom Of The Myriad Lands and Adeptus Sanctus Medicus were the first “people” that she had ever spoken with after arriving with the System Introduction.

  Although part of her wanted to cry, being able to talk to someone other than Rosenrot, she controlled the emotions that overflowed from her Reckless Strength Palace, restricting them to the lowest floor of the imaginary mental construct.

  “We’re just waiting on a handful of our companions to return. Shamael, Vaa’mina and Yueli are all Knights with Summon Mana Cores, specializing in group-combat.” Wilheim informed her, noticing Miyoung perk up after being spoken to.

  “The three of them were sent out in order to scout out the source of the invading swarm. Given the sheer number of insects that attacked us, we have reason to believe that the origin of the attack was one of the System-generated Lords that exist within our small realm.”

  Miyoung felt herself nodding along with Wilheim’s words, but the focus of her attention lingering on the various structures and buildings that littered the streets of this Safe Zone.

  Sariel, through her Rahu-Ocean Shadow noticed the gaze of the woman behind her. Extending her senses through her shadow-mutation, she was able to see that Miyoung occasionally lifted her head, glancing towards building-type spirit constructs or building-type spiritual items that the denizens of Saltstream Town had created.

  Fragments Of Civilization and Fragments Of Earth had helped form the streets that the three of them walked upon.

  Fragments Of Water and Fragments Of Purity had formed the basis of a sewage system beneath the earth.

  Fragments Of Candle and Fragments Of Perception had been used to create lampposts every dozen or so metres, giving her the impression of a quaint little countryside town.

  Her eyes widening at the sight of a Knight Ranked Serene-Purification Fountain, placed in the centre of a public park. Alongside numerous Mortal Ranked Rejuvenation Chairs and Mortal Ranked Cleansing Seats, upon which sat various wounded and injured denizens of Saltstream Town.

  Mortal Ranked Graceful Lanterns and Mortal Ranked Growth-Pots lined the footpaths that stretched from one side of the park to another. The gentle light of the lanterns soothing the spirit and the dozens of flowerpots scattered amongst the trees and grass sprouted beautiful multi-coloured flowers.

  Although sections of the park had been damaged during the battle, most of it was still intact.

  Sariel smiled noticing Miyoung’s gaze linger on the public park.

  “Creationists are allowed to place their spiritual items within public spaces such as these ones. It allows the citizens of each Safe Zone a place to enjoy themselves and potentially even request commissions from specific creationists.”

  “Springtown has a number of these public parks, each sponsored by members of the Creationist Guild or Merchant Guild.”

  The Archon Of Reigning Dragons merely nodded her head, allowing her Fragment Of Mind to divert her attention back towards Wilheim and Sariel. The Fragment Of Mantle that obscured her head and torso pulled back, allowing the satanas and floresiensis to observe her expressions and see what Miyoung looked like.

  Wilheim momentarily losing his grip over his Imaginary Sylvascape Forest.

  And Sariel feeling her Throne Of Void-Distortion tremble in the face of well-.

  From within her Reckless Strength Palace the voice of a certain rose-demon spirit sighed.

  “Miyoung darling. You should know what manner of effect your Innana-Graceful Smile has on others. Regardless of mental resistances or spiritual resistances, your Fragment Of The Feminine-Smile pierces through them all.”

  Miyoung Kim-Seydlitz flashed the two an apologetic look, one that did not quite reach her eyes. She swiftly raised Themia back over her head, activating the facial-obscuring effects of her Fragment Of Mantle.

  “Apologies,” she muttered, “The effects of this mutation are… passive. I am unable to control it. Please allow me to continue wearing Themia.”

  Sariel recovered the quickest, taking several seconds to suppress the image of Miyoung within her Fragment Of Mind. The Throne Of Void-Distortion even going so far as to eradicate the memory within the depths of her expansive mental construct, shredded under the overwhelming might of a void-shaped singularity.

  Her Lianhua-Shadow Spirit allowing her to re-exert her will over her movements and thoughts.

  “Of course,” Sariel, stiffly nodded, “One of our friends actually possesses a similar mutation, although affects her hair instead of her face. Perhaps the two of you might be able to meet one another, if you decide to travel to Springtown.”

  Miyoung neither nodded nor shook her head, merely continuing to trail behind Sariel.

  The voice of the Carnelian Devil Of Rose Sin, whispering to her in the back of her mind.

  “You are blessed Miyoung. To possess a Source so outwardly pronounced. Concepts such as “beauty,” “desire” and “femininity” come to you with such ease, it is no wonder that you have already formed your Knight Ranked Title.”

  “I doubt that there is a single existence within your System Introduction that can ignore the effects of your beauty.”

  “It was such a waste for you to integrate a Strength Mana Core and Bow Mana Core. And I cannot even fathom the reason as to why you decided to integrate a Dragon Mana Core. Even those two annoying draconic bitches agrees with me when I said that you should-.”

  “Rosenrot.”

  Miyoung silenced her Fragment Of Devil with but the utterance of her name alone. The Carnelian Devil Of Rose Sin pausing, feeling emotions such as rage and anger overflow from the depths Miyoung’s Fragment Of Mind.

  “The fragments and Mana Cores that I decide to integrate have always and will always be my own. There is no arguing with a decision that does not affect you. Unless you desire for me to integrate a Fragment Of Ugliness or a Fragment Of Chastity into you upon my ascension to Lordship?”

  The Archon Of Reigning Dragons waited for Rosenrot to response, letting out a small harrumph upon hearing a lack of response.

  “Good. Then this shall be our last discussion on the matter.”