Extra Survival Guide to Overpowering Hero and Villain-Chapter 245: Rank 2 II

"This feels different," he said. "Not like a task. More like a turning point."

Liana nodded while eating. "Because it is."

She wiped her hands and leaned forward.

"Your next step isn’t fighting," she continued. "It’s refinement."

Fenric looked up. "The Aura Refinement Circle."

"Yes," Liana said. "And you need to choose the right focus."

Fenric listened carefully.

"I think," Liana said slowly, "you should use a metal element to enhance the lethality of your golden Aura."

Fenric frowned slightly. "Metal?"

She nodded. "Your golden Aura already has cutting and piercing traits. Metal will strengthen that."

"But," she added, raising a finger, "because you have water-based fluidity mixed in, the metal won’t become too rigid."

Fenric thought about it.

"Rigid metal would clash with my control," he said.

"Exactly," Liana replied. "But your Aura is flexible. Fluid. That will keep the metal sharp without making it brittle."

Fenric nodded slowly.

"So the circle should balance three things," he said. "Gold for power. Water for control. Metal for structure."

"Yes," Liana said. "Not dominance. Balance."

Fenric looked down at the Beast Core again.

"And this core?" he asked.

"It’s stable," Liana replied. "Good density. It can support a Silver-tier transition if you don’t rush."

Fenric let out a breath.

"That means no leveling until it’s done," he said.

"That’s already true," Liana answered. "You’re at Level 100. Pushing further without refinement would waste potential."

Fenric gave a small smile. "Seraphina would say the same."

Liana smiled back. "I know."

They finished their meal in silence.

Not awkward.

Just focused.

After that, they returned to their rooms.

Fenric sat on his bed and placed the Beast Core container beside him.

Tomorrow, he would apply to the guild.

After that, he would begin constructing his personal Aura Refinement Circle.

Not for speed.

Not for strength alone.

But to build something stable.

Something that would carry him forward properly.

Fenric lay back and closed his eyes.

The next day came early.

Fenric went to the guild as soon as it opened.

He filled out the request for refinement materials and showed the Rank 3 Beast Core he had earned.

The staff reviewed his records carefully.

Level 100.

Clean history.

Arena clearance.

High control rating.

After a short wait, a sealed metal case was placed in front of him.

"Steelback Lizard Beast Core," the staff member said. "Early Rank 4. Metal-aligned. Minor poison affinity."

Fenric’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Rank 4?"

"Early stage," the staff clarified. "But stable. Suitable for building a high-grade Aura Refinement Circle—if your control is good enough."

Liana glanced at Fenric. "It’s a perfect match."

Fenric nodded. "I’ll take it."

He signed the documents and carefully stored the core.

They returned to the inn without delay.

This was not something to put off.

Back in his room, Fenric locked the door and closed the window.

He cleared the floor and sat down cross-legged in the center.

He took out the materials one by one.

Refinement chalk.

Stabilizing crystals.

The original Rank 3 Beast Core.

And finally, the Steelback Lizard core.

The air in the room felt heavier as soon as he opened the metal case.

The core was dark silver in color.

Hard.

Dense.

A faint green line pulsed inside it.

Metal.

With a trace of poison.

Fenric placed the chalk on the floor and began drawing.

Slow.

Careful.

A circular formation spread beneath him.

Outer ring for stability.

Second ring for flow.

Inner ring for compression.

Gold lines intersected with blue curves.

At the very center, he left a small empty space.

Fenric finished the circle and placed both Beast Cores inside.

The Rank 3 core went slightly above the center.

The Steelback Lizard core rested directly in the middle.

He took a deep breath.

Then another.

He placed his hands on his knees and closed his eyes.

Aura began to move.

Not fast.

Not forceful.

Golden Aura flowed first, thin and steady.

Water-aligned fluidity followed, smoothing the flow.

The refinement circle lit up.

Blue and gold lines glowed softly.

The Steelback core reacted.

A sharp metallic pressure filled the room.

Fenric’s body stiffened slightly—but he did not resist.

He guided the pressure instead of blocking it.

Metal energy spread through the circle.

Structured.

Sharp.

Heavy.

The minor poison affinity tried to surface.

Fenric noticed it immediately.

He adjusted his Aura flow and pushed it aside, isolating it into the outer ring.

Not removing it.

Just containing it.

Sweat formed on his forehead.

His heart beat steadily. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

No pain yet.

Just pressure.

This was only the beginning.

The circle continued to stabilize.

And Fenric held it there, unmoving, focused, as the real refinement began.

Minutes passed.

Then half an hour.

The pressure did not increase, but it did not lessen either.

Fenric kept his breathing slow and even.

The refinement circle hummed softly beneath him.

The metal energy began to thin out, spreading more evenly instead of pressing in one place.

That was a good sign.

Fenric adjusted the flow again.

He fed a little more golden Aura into the inner ring.

Not enough to overpower it.

Just enough to sharpen the structure.

The Steelback core pulsed once.

A faint metallic ripple moved through Fenric’s Aura channels.

His muscles tightened, then relaxed.

The water-aligned flow followed immediately, smoothing the edges before strain could build.

Balance held.

The poison affinity stirred again, reacting to the increased output.

This time, Fenric did not push it away.

He guided it.

The green trace slid along the outer ring, thinning as it moved.

It lost its bite, turning into a weak corrosive trait instead of a toxin.

Something usable.

Something controlled.

Fenric’s breathing grew heavier.

His shoulders trembled slightly.

The stabilizing crystals around the circle dimmed, then flared, absorbing excess strain.

Another ten minutes passed.

The Steelback core cracked.

Just a hairline fracture.

Fenric’s focus sharpened instantly.

He tightened the compression ring and slowed the Aura intake.

The crack stopped spreading.

Metal essence leaked out in a controlled stream.

It merged with the golden Aura, forming a denser, sharper current.

Fenric felt it clearly now.

His Aura was changing.

Not stronger yet.

But cleaner.

More defined.

His heart thumped hard against his chest.

Pain finally appeared.

Dull.

Deep.

Like pressure in the bones.

Fenric did not stop.

This was expected.

He maintained the flow and let the refinement continue.

Gradually, the Steelback core lost its solid shape.

The Rank 3 core began to respond as well, resonating with the refined energy.

The two cores synced.

Gold.

Water.

Metal.

All three settled into a stable rhythm.

After nearly two hours, Fenric slowly reduced the Aura output.

The circle dimmed.

The pressure faded.

Fenric opened his eyes and exhaled deeply.

The Steelback core was gone.

In its place, the Rank 3 core now carried a silvery sheen, with fine internal lines that looked like metal threads.

The poison trace was faint, locked into the outer structure.

Contained.

Not dangerous.

Fenric sat there for a long moment, breathing heavily.

His body was exhausted.

But stable.

The first stage of his Aura Refinement Circle was complete.