Aethon paused, pondering the explanation of codices and mana cores. His wings flexed slightly as a new thought struck him.
"Elder… how do I enhance my tier? I believe I'm Tier 1 right now… but how can I become Tier 2?"
The elder's gaze was calm but sharp. "You are correct—you are currently Tier 1. To advance, you must absorb cores from other beings. The amount of energy and power you gain depends on the strength of the being you absorb."
Aethon leaned forward, intrigued. "So… if I absorb enough cores, I can grow stronger and climb tiers?"
"Exactly," the elder said. "But understand this: the process scales exponentially. To reach Tier 2, you must absorb 10 cores of Tier 1 beings. To reach Tier 3, 100 Tier 1 cores. Tier 4 requires 1,000 Tier 3 cores to progress to Tier 5, and the numbers only increase from there. The pattern is exponential:
Tier 1 → Tier 2: 100 Tier 1 cores
Tier 2 → Tier 3: 1000 Tier 1 cores
Tier 3 → Tier 4: 10,000 Tier 1 cores
Tier 4 → Tier 5: 100,000 Tier 4 cores
Tier 5 → Tier 6: 1,000,000 Tier 5 cores
Tier 6 → Tier 7: 10,000,000 Tier 6 cores
Tier 7 → Tier 8: 100,000,000 Tier 7 cores
Tier 8 → Tier 9: 1,000,000,000 Tier 8 cores
Aethon stared at the elder, his mind spinning. "Wait… 1bilion Tier 8 cores just to reach Tier 9? That… that's impossible," he muttered, disbelief in his voice.
The elder nodded solemnly. "Of course. The process would take hundreds of thousands of years for a normal mortal to reach Tier 9. And as for Tier 10…" His voice trailed off. "No one knows. Perhaps when you reach Tier 9, you may discover it yourself. Until then, it remains a mystery."
Aethon furrowed his brow, eyes narrowing. "What if I absorb a core higher than my tier? Could I surpass myself?"
The elder's expression became serious. "Normally… that would kill you. Imagine trying to fill an ocean with a cup. Your body cannot contain power beyond your limits. It would overwhelm you, destroy your core."
Aethon swallowed, feeling the weight of possibility.
The elder's gaze softened. "But you… you are different. You are the successor of our God. Do you remember the core I gave you earlier?"
Aethon :yes
The elder's eyes glimmered. "it was aTier 2 core."
I WAS experimenting. Normally, that core would have killed a mortal, but because of your connection to the Arthropod God, you did not die. You are capable of absorbing a core even higher than your own tier. This is extraordinary."
Aethon's heart raced. "Then… how much progress did that Tier 2 core give me? How many Tier 1 cores would it be equivalent to?"
The elder shrugged. "I do not know precisely. You can sense it yourself. Concentrate… and feel your progress toward Tier 2."
Aethon closed his eyes, focusing on the power coursing through his body. Slowly, a number emerged in his mind. "About… 15%. This core alone moved me a quarter of the way to Tier 2?"
The elder's smile widened. "Indeed. Incredible, isn't it? That is the power of a successor. You are going to reach Tier 2 faster than any mortal could even imagine."
Aethon's excitement surged. "Then… give me more. I want to feel this… this growth!"
The elder nodded and handed him 7 additional Tier 2 cores. As Aethon absorbed them, an overwhelming sensation of power and energy surged through him. His body hummed with vitality, strength, and new instincts.
"I… I can feel it," Aethon whispered, wings flexing instinctively. "I'm getting stronger… faster… this… this feeling is incredible."