Transmigrate to another world

After that thought crosses my mind, I immediately get to my feet and run back to the drake's room. my hope is that I can open the doors back to the other trials, maybe I can resume the trials. if so, then I can feed on more shadow demons!

Unfortunately, the doors back to the rest of the trials won't budge, no matter what I do with them. although, I do manage to vent a little frustration by trying to beat them into submission. well, that option is gone, only two options now.

I'll spend the next few days trying to work on my core, if I can't figure it out by then, I'll focus on the sword. With that in mind, I decide to meditate and take a look at my core.

Since I got to rank two, that hasn't had any effect, so now I need to find a different way to do it. first, I try to change the manifestation of my will into different elements to see if anything affects the core.

None of the elements, not even lightning, has any effect on my core, so that's not the answer. normally I would work on my core with the minimum demonic power, maybe if I use more at once it creates a stronger effect? trying to do that quickly depletes my power reserve, but I seem to be on the right track.

After meditating for ten hours to refill my power reserve, I decide to try again. this time I use all my demonic power at once. there is an effect, although it's only a few scratches, but I'm on the right track.

I meditate to recharge my power again and try again using all my power. this time I concentrate more intensely to keep the power in one spot. it works a little better but it's still sloppy, it's not the power that's lacking, it's my concentration.

Losing ten hours every time I fail to refill my demonic power is very frustrating, but it's still better than losing ten years to master the sword. although it's a long shot, even if I manage to get to rank three there's no guarantee that I'll increase my power enough to overcome the barrier. but since I can't think of any other alternatives I have to keep trying until I get it right.

Several days go by and frustration mounts, until I can no longer control my anger and I try to crush my core with everything I have. it doesn't work, of course, as I don't have nearly enough power to damage my core. but the next time I try I am able to calm down and concentrate enough to have an effect.

- Core improvement progress: 1%.

- Congratulations. You have unlocked the special stat Willpower.

- Willpower +1!

What? A new stat? What's that supposed to mean? Status!

==========

- Name: Klein

- Race: Black Lion Demon Beast

- Type: Unique Demon

- Rank: 2

- Titles: (3) The Merciful, Blessed by the Light, Anti-Hero

- HP: 2072/2072

- HP: 520/520

- Strength: 249

- Agility: 223

- Stamina: 213

- Intelligence: 149 149

- Wisdom: 185

- Charm: 75

- Willpower: 1

- Unspent points: 50n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

==========

Really, you gave me a whole new stat just for this? All right. Let's put all my unspent points into willpower."

- You can't add points to willpower.

'argh! stupid system! shut up and do as you're told!'

- No points can be added to willpower.

It's a frustrating truth that took me a while to accept. I wasted too much time ranting and cursing, as if that could change anything, but in the end, my willpower is still only one.

I suppose this statistic represents my ability to concentrate, my ability to stay focused even when circumstances are not in my favor. If I could manage to increase it, it would probably facilitate my progress with the core. But therein lies the problem: I can't use my unspent points on it. How am I supposed to improve it if there's no direct way to do so?

Even though I now know I can make progress, the pace is still maddeningly slow. The worst part is the endless ten hours of waiting after each attempt. I wish the ability to meditate could evolve, become more efficient, faster. But for now, that's a futile wish.

On the other hand, at least I'm talking about months of effort and not years. I need to calm down, to stop getting frustrated by things I can't change right away. When I am meditating, everything seems easier. My mind clears, my emotions subside. But as soon as meditation is over, frustration and worry assail me like an inevitable storm.

Time is my real enemy, although I know that the root of that worry is not time itself, but my friends. I am worried about them, about what they will be facing without me.

But this worry is only slowing my progress. It's a vicious cycle: the more I worry, the harder it becomes to move forward, and the more I stagnate, the more I worry. Finally, I make a decision. For now, I give up working on my core. I need a breather, so I'm going to get something to eat and reflect on all of this.

If I want to see my friends again, I have to get out of here first. And to accomplish that, I have to stop worrying about them. There's nothing I can do from here but trust them to take care of themselves. I force myself to remember all their strengths, their abilities, everything that makes them capable. I trust them to fight by my side, so why can't I trust them to fight without me?

With this idea settling in my mind, I finally manage to relax. I climb into my hammock, determined to get some real sleep for the first time in days. When I wake up, I take my time eating before returning to work on my core. The next two days pass at a calmer pace, my mind much more focused and at peace.

- Core improvement progress: 3%.

- Willpower +1!

As soon as my willpower comes back up I find it a little easier to focus on what I'm doing. It's strange to see the results in real time. But it encourages me to keep going.

- Progress on core upgrade: 10% +10 DP

- Willpower +1!

- Progress on core upgrade: 20% +10 PD

- Core upgrade progress: 25%

- Willpower +1!

It's amazing how fast time passes. Before I know it, it's already been a month since I started working on my core. Although progress has been steady, I can't help but feel like these days have vanished in the blink of an eye.

If I keep up this pace, I think I could reach rank three in about three or four more months.

However, the monotony of meditation is starting to take its toll. My mind feels cluttered, as if it is about to melt under the weight of concentration. Clearly, I need a breather before moving on.

Perhaps a conversation with the goddesses is just what I need. If they show up, I could take the opportunity to ask them for information about the demons. They, who fought those creatures for so long, must have accumulated invaluable knowledge about their tactics or weaknesses.

Although I have no guarantee that they will show up, just the possibility of learning something new could be the push I need to refresh my mind and regain focus.