[CHAPTER 6 — CORE ASCENSION: CELESTIAL HEART]

The next training arc began with a challenge—true ascension.

Fedrick stood on the edge of the Aurealis Myrrh's engine core, arms bare, eyes closed. The ship hovered in low orbit above the Etherstorm Belt, where pure chaos energy surged.

To reach the next stage, he would have to craft a Celestial Core—one forged from Laws, not elements.

[System Challenge: Core Ascension Trial]

Requirement: Endure direct Law fusion without system interference

Outcome: Core Type Evolution — Celestial Heart Formation

Success Rate: 2%

Risk: Irreversible Death

Serenya stood behind the force field, fists clenched. "This is insane."

Fedrick looked back. "That's becoming a theme."

"You don't have to keep doing the impossible."

"Yes, I do."

He stepped into the core.

The fire wasn't heat. It was reality rewriting itself.

His body tore apart. Cells disintegrated, then reformed with foreign codes. Blood burned. Bones screamed. Memories flooded in from other selves across timelines—some conquerors, some monsters.

[Laws Accepted: Flame, Ice, Time, Sound, Void, Gravity, Dream]

[Core Formation Progress: 40%… 62%… 89%… 97%…]

[WARNING: Identity Fragmentation Detected]

He saw versions of himself where he failed. Where Serenya died. Where he lost control and became a god of ruin.

"No."

He clenched his soul.

"I am not them. I am me."

[Core Formation Complete]

[New Core: Celestial Heart — Variant: Lawweaver]

[Attributes Exploded]

Power Level: Skybreak Tier 6 → Starcore Tier 2

Skill Gained: Lawweaver Domain — "Rewrite"

Passive: Immune to Law Suppression Below Cosmic Tier

He floated from the core chamber, radiant, glowing with pure Lawscript.

Serenya ran to him.

He opened his eyes. "I rewrote my name into the universe."

"You rewrote your fate," she whispered.

"No." He wrapped his arms around her. "We did."