Taking a deep breath, Jon felt the adrenaline flowing through his form settle, still leaning against the tree behind him for support. The young human glanced in the direction that the enormous ashen-skinned creature strode off towards, seeing the trail of rotting flora and desiccated shrubs it left in its wake.

The blubberous beast enveloped in layers upon layers of fat and displayed a surprising amount of strength considering how quickly it was able to hobble through the forest. With enough mass behind it to literally shake the earth beneath Jon's feet, it must have had numerous physical enhancement type abilities in addition to the abilities that increased its weight and mass.

It's presence alone was enough to send shivers down Jon's spine. Something about the creature that was different from anything Jon had ever encountered before.

"Is that the presence that all Knights possess Rana?", Jon asked, his gaze lingering in the direction that the creature walked off in.

"No. That creature wasn't an ordinary Knight. There was something different about it. Perhaps one of the Mana Cores it integrated manifested some sort of Aura Trait ability…" Rana replied, the bodhi tree similarly rattled by the presence of that ashen-skinned monstrosity.

"Aura Trait? You mean something like Avahni's [Hold Thy Hand Child, Green Is The Colour Of Our Lineage] ability?" Jon said, stepping out from the tree he was hiding behind.

"Yes, although the potency of that creature's ability was that of a Knight. That ability Avahni manifested was born from a Fragment Of Mother. Abilities with the Aura Trait are often passive abilities that cannot be switched off unless one possesses an overwhelming mastery of the ability. Avahni's is quite comforting, motherly almost."

"That creature on the other hand, might have some sort of ability manifested from a Fragment Of Fear, or even a Fragment Of Nightmares depending on the Mana Core it integrated. At least you do not have to worry about it having a remarkable amount of intelligence, considering that it led others of its own Race, it is more than likely one of the System generated Knights that reside within this forest," said Rana, causing Jon to let out a sigh of relief.

Unless a creature or mutated beast integrated something like Knowledge Mana Core or a Wisdom Mana Core, or numerous fragments relating to associated concepts, they would not experience a comprehensive shift in their intelligence until they became Lords or Barons.

Sapient Races such as humans, lutin and floresiensis possessed intelligence that allowed them to become the dominant species on their respective planets. Sentient Races, like those ashen-skinned humanoids, were often more plentiful than sapient Races, however, were treated no different those wild mutated beasts by the rest of the integrated universes.

Things changed if one of the sentient Races managed to become a Baron, but the chances of such a thing occurring before a powerful organization or family killed them was quite low.

Jon did feel bad for those two other green and blue humanoids but did not attempt to follow them.

Even if Jon thought that he was quite strong in comparison to most of the other participants in the System Introduction, he was still a Mortal facing against a Knight. His opponent would exceed him in terms of physical strength and endurance, maximum mana capacity and mana regeneration, number of abilities, number of resistances, and potentially other factors such as Titles and other qualities that he had yet to discover.

He was not quite willing to risk his life for two strangers who might not even return the favour.

Jon wondered if he would help Avahni and Wilheim if either of them were being chased by that ashen-skinned blubberous beast, but ignored that thought, throwing it beneath the waves of his Sea Of Knowledge.

"Rana… are there other requirements needed for me to increase my Rank from Mortal to Knight?" Jon asked, adjusting the direction he was running in to reduce his chance of encountering that Knight-Ranked creature.

"… I cannot tell you what they are, but there is yes. It is not quite as easy as obtaining six Mana Cores and thirty-six fragments and then becoming a Knight", Rana admitted, rustling her leaves within Jon's mind, "Each Rank has its own requirements, although some more complex than others. It would do you good to complete the requirements before going from Mortality to Knighthood."

Jon nodded activating his [Dance Of The Cold Star] and [Cometh Thy Red Horse Awaits]. The human sprinting off in the opposite direction that the Knight-Ranked creature strode off towards.

Seeing a Knight-Ranked existence was quite the wake-up call for Jon. He did not quite expect to see such a being for at least a few months until other participants within the System Introduction each obtained their complete sets of fragments.

While in the beginning Jon, Avahni and even Wilheim scrambled to integrate as many fragments and Mana Cores as they could. With the presence of mutated beasts and dangerous creatures throughout the small realm, none of the participants chosen for the System Introduction had much of a choice if they wanted to survive.

After obtaining roughly a third of their total fragments, each of them slowed down their rate of integration, carefully deciding each subsequent fragment and Mana Core to integrate. After gaining an understanding of how abilities are manifested, manipulated and the limitations they possess, Jon had no doubt that everyone would carefully tailor their future development to strengthen themselves to their utmost.

Being able to run faster than an automobile or manifesting piercing tree branches capable of penetrating through flesh and bone was the realm of fantasy and myth.

"Fantasy is the new reality, I guess," Jon muttered to himself, avoiding a patch of poisonous flowers. Although his Minerva-Sagacity Eyes were incapable of perceiving specific information regarding a target, the Poison Trait beneath its name was quite visible through his [Eyes Through The Looking Glass].

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"Rana, what type of abilities did each of your Mana Cores have integrated?" Jon question, using his [Mine Is The Sea Of Knowledge] to communicate with his summon. The bodhi tree dwelling within his mind twitched before letting out a soft hum.

Rana seemed quite surprised with the question but responded with an equal amount of vigour and confidence.

"The first Mana Core I awakened was obviously a Tree Mana Core. Quite a few abilities that I integrated into it focused on increasing my physical characteristics as well as a handful of resistances. I think four of the six abilities possessed the Mutation Trait."

"Following that I integrated both a Knowledge Mana Core and a Gold Mana Core. The former allowed me to push past the limits of my species' natural intelligence, increasing my various perceptions and sensory qualities, in addition to a one or two supportive Spells. The Gold Mana Core was my first offensive Mana Core, every single one an offensive Spell capable of inflicting damages, afflictions and debuffs."

"The third and fourth Mana Cores I integrated were a Karma Mana Core followed by a Life Mana Core. The Karma Mana Core focused on concealment and obscuring various methods of detections, including those perceived using fate, karmic bonds and shamanism. The Life Mana Core also focused on abilities with the Mutation Trait, in addition to a handful of defensive Spells."

"After roughly three years, I managed to obtain an Earth Mana Core, despite my original desire for a Space Mana Core. The fragments I had saved up until then were all an amalgamation of universal fragments and powerful space-related fragments. The abilities I manifested from my Earth Mana Core were part of the reason how I formed by original Title, Earthen Treasury Womb," Rana explained, causing Jon to nod slowly, muttering the six Mana Cores under his breath.

Jon compared himself towards Rana, including the fact that she did not get to choose the first Mana Core she awakened. The bodhi tree did manage to obtain quite a few conceptually powerful Mana Cores, and even at a glance each of them possessed quite a number of conceptual synergies with one another.

'I on the other hand, possess a Knowledge, Wood, Ice and Spear Mana Cores. There is not quite an obvious synergy existing between the four of them. Wood and Ice are both present within nature, but one represents stillness and cold, while the other represents life and growth'.

'Knowledge and Spears do not possess similarities, and perhaps out of all of them, only Wood and Knowledge might be somewhat compatible. Although the fragments I have integrated, and plan to integrate do not plan on building any sense of synergy between them', Jon thought to himself, furrowing his brows as his Sea Of Knowledge stirred.

Wilheim had integrated a few environmental Mana Cores, in addition to his Castle Mana Core. While Avahni on the other hand, for some reason that he had yet to figure out, continued to manifest more and more abilities with the Summon Trait.

While Jon was unsure of what Mana Cores to integrate, he did know what types of abilities he wanted.

"Other than the Fragment Of Stomach Rana, can you tell me other fragments that might manifest some sort of ability with the Mutation Trait?" the human asked, lowering his centre of gravity and avoiding a low hanging branch.

His figure practically blurred as Jon continued to run over grass and leaves, and around trees and poisonous shrubs. Each step Jon took propelled him forward over two metres, his shoes starting to show indications of tearing on the soles. Despite this however, Jon continued his pace, narrowing his Minerva-Sagacity Eyes at any traces of movement.

The bodhi tree scrunched up its leaves in thought, tapping on some unknown surface within his mind.

"Fragment Of Liver would probably get you one. Fragment Of Intestine and Fragment Of Lungs are quite uncommon all things considered, but those would probably be your best bet after that. Of course, there is always the chance of integrating a random fragment and obtaining an ability with the Mutation Trait", she said.

"I once saw this humanoid integrate a Fragment Of Abyss into a Dream Mana Core and watched as it manifested an ability which mutated his "mortal dreams into a Nestor-Abyssal Dream" … I wonder what happened to that guy", Rana trailed off towards the end, humming in thought.

"Anything can become mutated Jon. In your case, you have exhausted all the regular ones. I've seen individuals mutate their voice, not their vocal cords, their actual voice before. I've seen Fragments Of Mind mutate the mind, rather than constructing a spiritual construct within it before. I've seen Fragments of Emotion mutate specific emotions, and I have even seen Fragments Of Water mutate blood into Ran-Sanguine Blood before", the bodhi tree shook their leaves from side to side, letting out a sigh as if trying to placate Jon.

"It is the nature of fragments to be chaotic. Abilities will differ from individual to individual. Your best bet is to integrate a Fragment Of Mutation and hope for the best", Rana admitted.

Jon did not show an outward change in expression instead manifesting Assail in one hand and overloading the effects of [Cometh Thy Red Horse Awaits]. His form saturated with knowledge natured spiritual energy, increasing the faint red tint around him.

The human planted his left foot directly in front of him, carving a deep trench in the dirt as he forced the channelled the entirety of his momentum into his upper body. Flourishing Assail in one hand; Jon gripped it as going to stab something right in front of him.

Taking a deep breath, Jon's Minerva-Sagacity Eyes locked onto a four-legged figure several dozen metres away, leaning forward before moving his momentum into his spear-wielding arm.

Releasing his grip on Assail, Jon watched as the verdant-green spear pierced through the air, carving a bright neon-green line through the forest. The speed of the projectile exceeded that of anything that could be thrown by an uninitiated mortal, a near imperceptible arc attached to the spear.

Jon watched as Assail encountered his intended target, punching a hole straight through its bull-sized torso and piercing out through the other side. A gory splatter of crimson-yellow blood sprayed out the other side, the kinetic energy contained within Assail causing the beast to topple over, screaming as it floundered on the forest floor.

Walking over to the beast, Jon muttered the chant for [Thou Art The Monarch Of Spears And Truth].

"Infallible spirit. Inviolable soul. Pierce through the infinity and penetrate through the source. Desecrated mind. Despoiled essence. Thou shalt reveal the truth, and nothing shall obscure my gaze".

While being invisible to others without some sort of visual enhancement ability, Jon watched as a thin, metre-long weapon constructed from spear natured spiritual energy appeared beside him. The faintest traces of mana emanated from the space where Jon summoned [Thou Art The Monarch Of Spears And Truth].

This Spell did not manifest a physical construct. It was a Spell that targeted the spirit. There was no indication that Jon even activated one of his abilities, other than the fact that he was forced to recite its associated chant.

With the slightest gesture of his finger, the construct was thrust forward, piercing through the mind and spirit of the beast, ending its life in an instant.

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