Triple X System-Chapter 244: Mana Parasite

"Damnit! Work you stupid thing!" Troy growled, rubbing his palms which were now cold. To get some friction and heat, with hope of restoring some of his mana.

"It’s alright, I promise you’ll be safe." Troy vowed with a determined expression, but his heart said otherwise.

His accumulation of mana had long stopped, during his 30th or so stabilization process. Thanks to Lumia, he was able to continue with balancing the mana in the citizens core.

But not without paying a price of sacrificing his own core and body to the exposure of the wild mana. Which he didn’t mind, taking full responsibility.

But unfortunately, Lumia was also pulled into the circus. And now she was fighting for her life, trying to balance her core with zero mana.

"You mentioned he can’t stabilize her core because of his mana is already corroded right?" Kyle abruptly asked, bewildering snow.

[Yes?]

"So that means it has to be done by another person without direct exposure to the wild mana inhabiting their cores." He theorized, his brain calculating different possibilities.

[You’re right. Since their cores are already highly under the influence of the unpredictable switch up, it would require a fresh stabilized core to balance theirs.] Snow explained to which Kyle nodded, stepping out.

[Wait, don’t tell me you’re actually thinking of balancing their cores?] Snow grumbled with a distinct frown, clearly not in approval of Kyle’s decision.

"I’ve made up my mind." He stated not going back in his words, closing the distance between Troy and Lumia.

His eyes clashing with the ruthless king, darting a wary questioning glare at him. Slowly crouching down, he didn’t exchange words with the king. His gaze instead shifted to the struggling Lumia.

Reading his motives, Troy had a defensive flare in his eyes. Clearly not trusting Kyle one bit, using this as an opportunity to attack and get revenge. Which he didn’t condemn, understanding his reasons.

"Mhm!" Lumia groaned feeling a cutting pain assault her guts, slowly creeping upwards. Like a million knives cutting through her organs, spreading to her neck region.

Setting it ablaze with unknown heat, making her struggle to gasp for air.

"We don’t have time for this, her core is disintegrating with absurd levels of the world tears. And it wouldn’t be long till she eventually passes on, unless I intervene." He hurriedly spoke only once, not bothering to explain further. Simply stretching his hand out.

Locking eye contact, the king squinted his eyes a bit. Peeping into Kyle’s soul like a prying exorcist. The lack of trust and heated intensity between these two was clear as day.

"Fine." Slowly inching lumia’s head to Kyle’s outstretched palm, his gaze never left the latter.

’Idiot, I’m risking my ass here for your daughter.’ Kyle inwardly thought with a deep frown.

Taking a deep breath, he calmed himself down. Clearing all negative emotions from his mind, focusing on suppressing the larger of both his core. Specifically his demon core, twice the size of the little blue mana core situated at the left part in his gut.

Taking a couple of seconds to achieve that, he proceeded to tapping directly into his mana energy. Slowly bringing it out from inward, directing the hot sensation to his outstretched arm.

’Weird, it suddenly got hotter.’ He noticed the increase in the previous warm sensation, from his mana energy.

[It’s reacting to the raw mana provided by the mana rain.] Snow pointed out.

And Kyle noticed some hesitation in her voice as she spoke.

’What is it?’

[You do know that by attempting to balance her core, you’re exposing yourself to high levels of planetary mana right?] Snow asked just to be sure, which he confirmed.

’Like I said before, I’ve made up my mind.’ His mana energy was now excluding from his palm, flowing into lumia’s head calming the fluctuation in her core.

Redirecting the substantial energy little by little to her stabilizing core.

[You’re not getting my point. Their cores are not only corroded, but hosts to the wild mana generated from the individuals they’ve stabilized. There’s a 90% high possibility on a scale on 100 you’re going to suffer the same fate or worse. The possibilities are just endless with various flaws spelling bad for you either way.] Snow explained with worry lacing her tone.

No sarcasm, no jokes, just stating the undeniable facts with anxiety clouding her sense of humor.

Gulping, Kyle wasn’t aware the conditions associated with stabilizing lumia’s core was this dire. Sure he knew he was taking a big risk, with some possible complications. But he’d already volunteered to help out.

’If I understand you correctly.. Amongst these possible scenarios you’ve stated, there’s a high chance more core also gets corrupted. Which eventually leads to my death, am I right?’

[Unfortunately yes. Interfering with the mana rain, a planet scale threat is no small feat. Not only does it literally determine the progress of a planet, but also the perseveration of it’s core. But tampering with nature usually doesn’t end well.] She uttered in a downcast tone.

Slightly chuckling, a bright smile formed to his face. The wind gently caressing his hair, adding a temporary cooling relief to his hot mana energy. That had now turned his left arm completely red.

’Remember the question you asked me? You inquired on my take on good and bad. Well, this is my answer.’ He replied with resolve and valor, not stopping in the slightest.

’I’m not going back.’ He boldly stated, slightly shaking his head.

As a demon, his days were already numbered coming in contact with Lilith. Sure things had been spiralling downhill for him, making him wonder how he was still alive?

But still, he regretted nothing. Infact, he treasured the day he met Lilith and acquired her as his wife. Spending time with his growing harem back on earth, fulfilling his wildest fantasies.

An achievement he doubted not many boys his age has achieved. While he was currently weaker than most ability users, his mind was lazer focused on squirting strength.

Irrespective of how he did it, as long as it got him a step closer to reclaiming his lost possession. He’d rise to the task without question, and slay the head of the beast.

Even if he died trying. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Giving out the little mana energy he had, it was being drained fast by lumia’s body. The blue vein marks, slowly retracting back to her skin. Seemingly adapting to the changes her body was currently undergoing.

’What’s his deal.’ Kyle grunted, feeling troy’s piercing glare at him since arriving here.

He knew the latter didn’t trust him but had no choice. But there was this questioning look of disbelief plastered in his eyes.

Ignoring him, beads of sweat rolled down Kyle’s face channeling his energy out.

’Thud! Thud! Thud!’

The constant thudding of the water molecules filled his ears. Roaring loudly like a raging river, cancelling all other noises.

A strange ionic mix of ferrous and clogged energy lingered in the air. Emitting an irritative, purging smell courtesy of the rain.

[I had my doubts about you, but now I’ve gotten my answer.] Snow responded, after a relatively long while.

’Don’t me you’re considering breaking up with me.’ Kyle telepathically joked.

[You bet!] Snow pouted, puffing her imaginary cheeks.

[The exponential accumulation of wild mana in her body is slowly being dispelled. And her core is almost fully stabilized, good job student.] Snow hinted, earning a ’yes sensei’ from Kyle.

"Ahh~" A light gasp escaped lumia’s mouth, ridden of the dominating pain.

The blue vein marks were also slowly retracting back into her system. Along with her aura and core returning back to normal.

Cancelling his mana energy, Kyle plummeted to the ground butt first. Panting in large amounts of air, wiping some beads of sweat from his forehead.

"Thank you." Troy was the first to speak.

The prideful and cold personality he bore fading, replaced with gratitude.

"It’s nothing." Kyle plainly responded, not batting an eye towards Troy with a composed expression.

[Aura farming on the ruthless king while saving his daughter. The story narrative has been altered! Will the king persoective about you change? Will the princess develop a romantic interest towards you? The plot thickens, nice! I taught you well youngling.]

Snow praised Kyle with a proud tone.

’I learnt from the best.’ Kyle remarked, puffing his chest a bit.

"Mhm." Troy grunted, coughing up fresh blood. The blue vein marks on his neck pulsing with a powerful blue glow, latching into his bloodstream draining him dry of energy and blood.

[Because he stabilized most of the cores, there’s been a breach in his. Rapidly eating away at his life force, leaving an empty shell.]

’So I just have to do the same thing I did with Lumia?’ He reasoned, having some leftover mana to use.

[Y-you’re not getting my point Kyle. There’s a hole in his core, which means there’s a mana parasite eating away at his core, feeding on his life force.] Snow exclaimed and Kyle could feel the dread lacing her words.