Dangerous Balance

As DK sat on the cot, his breathing still unsteady and his hands trembling slightly, the old man's eyes glinted with a mix of curiosity and satisfaction. His gaze was fixed on DK's glowing chest, where the Nexus Core pulsed steadily, sending faint waves of light across the room. The intensity of the old man's focus made DK uneasy, but he said nothing.

"Remarkable," the old man finally murmured, his voice soft but heavy with intrigue. He clasped his hands behind his back and paced slowly, his milky eyes never leaving DK's chest. "Your Nexus Core has done something I've never seen before. It has integrated the corruption rather than rejecting it. That alone is unheard of."

DK frowned, glancing down at the faintly glowing veins that spidered across his chest and arms. They no longer pulsed erratically but seemed almost calm, like they belonged to him now. "Integrated?" he asked, his voice laced with caution. "What does that mean?"

"It means your body and Nexus Core are doing something extraordinary," the old man replied, his tone both impressed and concerned. "Instead of fighting the corruption, your core is absorbing it from the ambient mana around you. Not only that—it's purifying the corrupted energy and turning it into something stable, something you can use."

Lucy's grip on her staff tightened as she processed his words. Her brow furrowed with worry. "Wait—corruption in the ambient mana? That's not normal. I've never heard of that before."

The old man nodded solemnly. "There is always a little of corruption in the ambient mana around, but we don't really sense and it does not really affect us. The amount of corruption generally increases in the dungeon and that finding that much amount outside is generally rare unless... Corruption in ambient mana usually means there's a disturbance in the natural balance of the realm. It could come from a cursed artifact, a malfunctioning dungeon, or even the presence of dark magic. But DK's situation is unique. His Nexus Core isn't just affected by the corruption—it's adapting to it. It's acting as a filter, breaking down the tainted energy and stabilizing it for his own use."

DK's gaze shifted to the now-dim orb resting on the counter. "So the orb… it's empty now?"

The old man picked up the orb, turning it in his gnarled hands and examining it under the faint light. "Completely drained," he confirmed. "Whatever energy it held is now part of your Nexus Core. Still," he added, holding it up to the light, "even in this state, it's valuable. The material alone is rare, and its potential as a mana reservoir makes it highly sought after."

DK reached out and took the orb back, sliding it into his pouch. "Then I'm keeping it."

The old man shrugged, clearly indifferent. "Suit yourself. But understand this, DK—while your Nexus Core seems stable for now, this process is far from perfect. You've entered uncharted territory. The corruption may be balanced, but that doesn't mean it's harmless. You'll need to learn more about what it is, where it comes from, and why your body is reacting this way."

Lucy crossed her arms, her frustration evident. "That's great advice, but where are we supposed to start? Corruption isn't exactly a popular topic in the Adventurer's Association archives. And if we ask too many questions, people are going to start wondering why we're so interested."

The old man's lips curved into a faint smile. "You'll find the answers in time," he said cryptically. "But first, you need to survive. And that means keeping this situation quiet. The less Conrad and Viktor know about this, the better."

DK's eyes narrowed. "You're not planning to tell them, are you?"

The old man chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "I'm no snitch. But there's a condition—you'll need to come back here every six months for a check-up. And," he added with a pointed look, "don't worry—I have no interest in your butt."

DK rolled his eyes, but the tension in the room eased slightly. "Fine. Deal."

The old man turned and began rummaging through a cluttered pile of artifacts on a nearby shelf. After a moment, he returned with a small, intricately engraved pouch. "Take this," he said, tossing it to DK. "It's a dimensional pouch. Perfect for storing valuables, like that orb. It's not just convenient—it'll keep prying eyes from sensing what's inside."

DK caught the pouch and turned it over in his hands, admiring the craftsmanship. "Why are you being so helpful?" he asked, his voice tinged with suspicion.

The old man's expression softened slightly, a rare crack in his stern demeanor. "Because you're interesting," he said simply. "I spent years at the top as the president of the Adventurer's Association, overseeing the greatest feats and failures in this realm. Now? I'm just an old man looking for something to make life interesting. And you, DK, are one of the most fascinating things I've come across in a very long time."

Lucy's eyes widened. "You were the president of the Association? What are you doing out here, running a little shop?"

The old man chuckled, a low, gravelly sound. "Power and prestige get boring after a while. Now, I find joy in the small things—like watching fools like you stumble into my shop with artifacts that could destroy the world."

Despite the weight of everything he'd just gone through, DK couldn't help but smirk. "Well, thanks for the help, I guess. But I don't plan on stumbling my way through this forever."

The old man nodded, his gaze turning serious again. "Good. Because the path you're on will test you in ways you can't imagine. Be careful, DK. There are forces in this realm that won't hesitate to take what you have—or what you're becoming."

The words hung heavily in the air as the old man stepped back toward his desk, muttering about preparations for the morning. DK glanced at Lucy, who gave him a small nod. "Let's get some rest," she said. "Tomorrow's going to be rough."

Together, they climbed the creaking stairs to their rooms. DK's small, dimly lit space was sparse but functional, with a simple cot and a single candle flickering on a bedside table. He sat on the cot and pulled out the dimensional pouch, carefully sliding the orb inside. Its faint glow vanished as the pouch sealed, leaving the room in near darkness.

DK exhaled shakily, the weight of the day pressing down on him. With trembling hands, he brought up the system interface, the familiar blue screen flickering to life in the corner of his vision.

DK stared at the screen, the glowing text from the system casting faint blue light across his dimly lit room. His mind raced as he reread the words.

—

SYSTEM

NEXUS CORE ONE IS STABILIZED TO 85%. TO FURTHER STABILIZE THE NEXUS CORE, YOU NEED TO FLOOD YOUR BODY WITH PURE MANA ENERGY. THIS ACTION NEEDS TO BE PERFORMED WHILE YOU ARE STATIONARY TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE FLOW OF MANA. USER IS ADVISED TO AVOID ANY EXTERNAL INTERFERENCE.

FOR NOW, USER CAN UTILIZE MANA AND ACTIVATE SPELLS BUT THE EFFECTS WILL DEGRADE OVER TIME UNLESS CORE IS FULLY STABILIZED.

—

DK ran his hand through his hair, the strands sticking to his forehead with sweat. "85 percent? I went through hell for that, and it's still not enough?" He let out a frustrated sigh, glancing at the empty dimensional pouch resting on the small table beside him. "Do I seriously need another dungeon core? Or am I just doomed to keep finding ways to hurt myself for this?"