Nova picked up the Drake Heart first, feeling its weight in his palm. The metallic surface was warm to the touch, pulsing with an inner fire that seemed eager to be released. He closed his eyes and began the refinement process, channeling essence into the heart as he had done with the iron keys so long ago.

The heart's power flooded into him, far more potent than simple iron. Liquid fire coursed through his meridians, threatening to burn him from the inside out. But Nova remained perfectly still as he guided the fierce energy through carefully constructed pathways in his body.

[Body Cultivation skill Eternal Flame Physique {Grade 4} has reached the sixth level.]

[Your body has absorbed the essence of dragonfire, greatly increasing your inner heat. The effect is equal to a constant Physical Force of 4000 and Physical Control of 3000.]

[You have discovered a new skill. Bonus refinement speed applied for all future skill uses.]

Nova released a slow breath, watching small flames dance between his fingers as he flexed them. 'That's more like it! Much stronger than the iron cultivation, but way weaker than the blood refinement—for now...'

He moved quickly through the remaining materials, not wanting to waste time. The soulwood merged with his bones, making them as flexible as young saplings yet harder than steel. The Sylph Wing's essence infused his muscles with supernatural lightness, while the Mermaid's Tears seemed to flow directly into his blood, granting him powers of vitality and adaptation.

When he finished, Nova stood and stretched, feeling the combined powers settle into his young frame. His skin now held a subtle sheen that shifted between metallic and pearlescent depending on the light. More importantly, he could feel the raw strength flowing through him - strength that would remain even without his fragment equipped.

'Not bad at all. But this was just the first step. The true goal is the Grand Unification Refinement. But the elements are very skewed right now, so I should use the solium metal first to see if I can get the third level of the Metal Saint Physique.'

Nova retrieved one of the silvery bars of solium from his core, studying its musical properties. The metal had a strange resonance that made it sing at the slightest touch, like it was eager to share its essence.

He began the refinement process again, this time focusing on harmonizing the new metal with the iron already in his body. The solium's essence flowed into him like liquid music, spreading through his meridians in waves of silvery light.

[Body Cultivation skill Metal Saint Physique {Grade 4} has reached the third level.]

[Your mastery over metal essence has deepened significantly. Physical Resilience bonus increased to 800.]

Nova nodded in satisfaction, then settled into a deeper meditative pose. 'Now for the difficult part.'

He began weaving the five elements together within his body - the metal of his skin, the fire in his blood, the wood in his bones, the air in his muscles, and the water flowing through it all. Each element fought against the others at first, threatening to tear him apart as they sought dominance.

But Nova had performed this refinement before, in another life. With practiced skill, he guided the conflicting energies into a complex pattern of mutual support. Metal fed earth, which nourished wood, which fueled fire, which heated metal—while the water kept every process balanced.

[You have learned the skill: Grand Element Unification of the Third Level (Master - 71%) {Grade 6}]

[The five elements have achieved harmony within your body, greatly enhancing all physical attributes. Each element strengthens the others in an endless cycle. Maintaining elemental balance requires constant attention. Disruption may result in severe damage.]

Nova opened his eyes, feeling the perfectly balanced powers flowing through him. His body felt both lighter and heavier, stronger yet more flexible. The competing elements had found their equilibrium, turning him into a living embodiment of the five fundamental forces.

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Then he felt a strange stretching sensation. His loose robe had suddenly grown tight around his arms and shoulders. And somehow, the ground seemed further down than it should be.

'Hoh! Did my body change to fit the increased power?'

He looked down, studying his new form. He wasn't nearly close to adult size, but he had grown perhaps six years in a few seconds.

'Ooh, this requires focus to keep active. But it's ridiculously powerful!'

'Hah! Physical aspects all over fifty thousand! And I am glowing…'

The familiar white light emanated from every inch of his transformed skin, giving him an almost ghostly appearance. The glow seemed to pulse in rhythm with the cycling elements within him.

'This is terrible for sneak attacks, but I guess the intimidation factor makes up for it. Though explaining my sudden growth spurt might be troublesome. Unless…'

He carefully deactivated the skill, letting the energies settle in harmony. The glow disappeared, and a moment later, his body followed. The robe was back to being loose and roomy around his four-year-old body.

'I'm not sure if I am disappointed or not… This is easier to explain, but I wouldn't mind reaching adulthood faster. Well, there are other ways…'

His physical aspects all decreased by forty thousand when he stopped the skill, but that left quite a bit remaining. Though, it was hard to say if this was the best use of the materials.

'Well, the materials are still here. Though they're drained of most of their essence… Maybe Annelie can still use them for her skills?'

He quickly put the materials back in his core before getting up from the ground and walking to the door. Once he peeked his head outside, he saw Annelie sitting in the middle of all the children, masterfully keeping their attention.

Her hands moved with dramatic flair as she described what must have been an epic battle based on the children's wide-eyed expressions. Once she noticed his stare, she winked at him briefly.

'Seems like she's got them under control. That's good. Do I continue powering up with my souls, then? Even if I use enough to get over ten thousand, I'll have what I need to buy the children from Newark.'

Nova returned to his position on the floor, crossing his legs and closing his eyes as he dove back into his core. This time, instead of examining materials, he focused on the hundreds of souls swirling around like stars in a private galaxy. Each one pulsed with different levels of power and purity, a collection he had carefully cultivated.

'I only need ten thousand or so to reach the next fragment. No reason to hesitate.'

[Would you like to attempt a mass soul absorption?]

'No, just use enough to get me over ten thousand Soul Power. And keep Arthur Pembridge's soul in my Storage.'

[Warning: Absorbing multiple souls simultaneously may have unexpected effects.]

[Warning: Absorbing souls of different purities may result in unstable resonance.]

'Only use pure souls, please.'

[Beginning absorption process...]

[Soul of Leonard Barth absorbed. Soul Power +37.]

[Soul of Charles Steading absorbed. Soul Power +109.]

[...]

One hundred and eighty-seven souls made their way into his core. Nova felt his soul strengthen with every point of light that disappeared into it, eventually reaching the fifth digit. And with the breach of his past limit, a new round of glowing skin accompanied it.

'Figures… Well, although it's stronger than last time, everyone is too consumed by Annelie's story to notice. Not that it would be a huge problem either way… Now, let's look at this fragment.'

'That's honestly better than I expected… And that mythic trait seems to be the tier above what Darius had.'

Nova had few strong memories tied to this fragment. Any friendships were cut short by death, and any peace was swiftly broken by another ruler mad for power. And, frustrating as it was, they could not be killed.

He had fought for the innocents, he had fought for the broken, he had fought for the powerless. But in the end, he was only one warrior, no matter how strong. Any settlement he saved would at some point be left undefended. By the end of his long life, only the dead remained for him to protect.

'It's a life best left forgotten.'

And that was all the attention he was willing to give it.

'What do I do with all these great traits? I wouldn't mind absorbing the fragments, but losing out on any of the mythical traits would suck. The Gorton fragment would be stupid to absorb, but I don't have much use for the Noctis fragment anymore. Although, losing the evolving trait would hurt. And even if I obtained it, it's so hard to control that it would be a huge risk.'

He sat pondering for a while, weighing each possibility carefully. Finally, he decided to at least test his new fragment. With such a long time limit, using some of it wouldn't hurt.

[Fragment of Nova Krogs equipped.]

The power spread through his body like liquid steel, filling every muscle with incredible strength. But compared to the unified elements he'd achieved earlier, it felt different—perhaps more straightforward. It was pure physical might without the complex interactions of the five elements.

'...I might just absorb this fragment, actually. Both traits are nice, but I don't feel like either of them will make me a lot stronger. Or... The stamina would be nice if I'm ever forced into a corner, and the same for the combat trait… Well, if I'm lucky, I might get them both. Unless there's a limit to the number of traits someone can have.'

[Would you like to absorb the Fragment of Nova Krogs?]

'Yeah, go ahead. Let's see how good my luck is.'

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