I stared at my hand, a golden-white light emanating so brightly at this point I could light up most rooms.
>"We must begin immediately. Sit on the floor. Cross-legged. Back straight."
"You want me to meditate? I'm about to explode."
>"Which is precisely why we must start with circulation. You have immense capacity but zero infrastructure for control. Like a dam with cracks: pressure will find the weakest point and rupture."
I do as she says, sitting down cross-legged. An image of Buddhist monks comes to mind, blocking out the modern world in favor of 'inner peace'. I try my best to do the same by breathing slowly and feeling my heartbeat lowering.
"Infrastructure?"
>"Most mages develop a mana heart during integration. A central organ that pumps mana through organic veins paralleling the cardiovascular system. Yours did not form naturally due to the speed and intensity of your integration. We must build one manually. Quickly."
I closed my eyes, focusing on the warmth in my chest.
"Okay, walk me through it."
>"Visualize your core, the center of your mana. Focus on that point. You will construct a heart there: a central chamber that collects, pressurizes and distributes mana throughout your body."
I started to reach for the warmth, then stopped, finding my mind feeling that itch of something being 'non-optimal' that kept me alive during my time as a developer.
Pause.
"AXIOM, why centralized?"
>"What?"
"A mana heart. Single organ. That's a single point of failure."
It didn't make sense to me why I am at the whim of a single point of failure. Hardware and software alike hate to work for me and I can't see why this would be any different.
"What happens if it gets damaged? Corrupted? If The Witness taught us anything, it's that centralized systems fail catastrophically."
>"Mr. Kang, this is not the time for theoretical optimization. You have less than four hours-"
"Then let's build it right the first time." I opened my eyes. I am determined to see this thought to fruition "Distributed architecture, multiple cores, redundancy. If one fails, others compensate, and I can be more resilient."
AXIOM stays quiet for a second. A pause as I see more lights on the enormous central column start to flicker on and blink to life.
>"That is... not standard practice."
I gestured at the facility around us; dead, all of it. "You said I have titan blood integration. Does that give me any options?"
Another pause, momentarily leaving me with my own thoughts, hoping for some other way for me to get any kind of advantage possible.
"Theoretically, yes. Titan blood creates denser mana pathways due to the titans being born from planets. Where humans develop soft organic veins, titan-blooded individuals can form crystalline lattice structures. Harder. More durable. Capable of supporting non-standard architectures."
"So I could build a decentralized system?"
>"In theory. But Mr. Kang, no human has ever attempted-"
"I'm not entirely human anymore, remember?" I leaned forward. "Give me the specs. If I'm building a system that's going to scale with SS-grade capacity, I want it optimized from the ground up."
>"The complexity would be significantly higher. A mana heart is a single structure. A distributed lattice network would require multiple synchronized cores, interconnected pathways, load-balancing protocols, and more. This is going to be extremely difficult."
"I debugged distributed systems for a living. I can handle complex." I closed my eyes again, focusing on the warmth. "Tell me how to start."
I know I couldn't hear it but I can swear I heard a sigh from AXIOM.
>"Very well. We will attempt a tri-core distributed lattice. Three primary mana cores positioned in a triangle: solar plexus, left shoulder, right hip. You can add more later, but for now this is the most optimal positioning. Crystalline pathways connecting them in a mesh topology. Each core can operate independently or in concert."
"Redundancy and load balancing, Perfect."
>"If this fails, Mr. Kang, the backlash could-"
"Could kill me. Yea. Same risk either way." I took a deep breath. "But if it works, I'll have a system that can grow with me. Scale both horizontally and vertically. Handle the capacity without any bottlenecks."
>"Your background is showing."
"Good. Let's use it." I focused on my core. A rushing feeling coursing through my body like a torrent of warmth. My body is slightly glowing now, and radiating a lot of heat. My hand is more glowing white now, all traces of golden and yellow light have disappeared.
"Where do we start?"
"First core: solar plexus. This will be your primary. Visualize a rigid structure like a cube or a hexahedron. The idea is to create a hollow structure with as many vertices as possible. These will act as connection points for your lattice matrix."
I focused on the warmth in my chest, my solar plexus, where AXIOM said the primary core should go.
>"Visualize a container, rigid enough to contain pressure, and big enough to hold your torrent of mana."
I imagined it: a geometric cube, maybe five centimeters per side made of interlocking crystal lattice work. Like a molecular structure, but made of mana instead of atoms.
"How do I... build it?"
>"Push mana into the visualization. Make it real. The titan blood in your system will respond. It wants to crystallize. Guide it."
I pushed.
Immediately, pain lanced through my chest. Not the burning from before, this was different. Pressure, immense pressure. I couldn't contain this based on my visualization. I felt a side dent outward, then another, then another.
"AXIOM, it's-"
>"Stabilize it. Lock the geometry. The lattice must be precise or it will fracture under load."
I gritted my teeth and forced the image to sharpen but I couldn't force the image to take fruition. The structure wasn't breaking down, but too much mana was forcing its way in. I thought to make a large cube, to somehow give the mana space to expand and fill a larger container. I couldn't hold the visualization. The structure kept bulging, distorting.
I could only focus on a single image of a large wall made of triangles. I don't care what this turned out to be but triangles are the strongest shape right? It's what they used to make bridges out of at least and that's good enough for me. I already know that I can't hold a cube, I need something, anything strong enough to handle this.
The pain intensified, like I was being stabbed in a million points underneath my chest. My heart was in pain, my lungs couldn't take deep breaths as they were being oppressed. Then suddenly, it was released.
I gasped, opening my eyes. My breath returned, and my heart fine. Relief flooded through me. My hands were shaking, adrenaline or mana, I couldn't tell. But it worked. The first one worked!
>"Mr. Kang, what did you envision? What happened to you?"
"A wall of triangles, I couldn't contain the mana, and couldn't grow the cube to be any bigger. This was the only way to do it in my head."
...
"Did it work?"
>"Yes, the first core has been established. Solar plexus primary core: online. Structural integrity: 94%. Acceptable."
I looked down at my chest. Beneath my skin, I could see faint geometric patterns glowing, golden lines forming something much more circular than a cube. Innately I could feel that it had around 20 faces, 5x the amount I wanted. It pulsed with each breath.
"Holy shit, I can see it."
>"The lattice is partially physical. Crystallized titan blood forming the structure. It will fade from visibility as it stabilizes, but it is permanent. I have noted that instead of a cube, you have created an icosahedron. You continue to surprise me."
I pressed my hand to my chest. The core felt warm, solid. Real.
"One down. Two to go."
>"Correct. But Mr. Kang, each core becomes more difficult the mana is already organizing around the primary. Secondary cores must integrate with the existing structure while maintaining independence."
"Load balancing challenges. Got it." I took a breath. "Next one. Left shoulder?"
>"Affirmative. Begin visualization."
The second and third cores went faster, my body learning the pattern, anticipating what came next.
Left shoulder first. I visualized the structure, pushed mana toward it. The primary core tried to monopolize the flow until I forced distribution. Like branching a repository: same source, different destination.
Pain flared in my shoulder as a lattice formed, but I held steady. When it locked into place, the two cores synchronized. Pulses alternating, load balancing automatically.
The third core practically built itself. Right hip. The system knew what I was building before I finished visualizing. The crystal lattice formed fast, almost painless.
>"Second core established. Left shoulder secondary core: online."
>"Third core crystallized. Right hip tertiary core: online. Tri-core distributed lattice: operational."
Three cores. Humming in sequence. Golden pathways connecting them beneath my skin.
I'd built it.
>"Diagnostic complete. System architecture: stable. Mana distribution: balanced across all three cores. Redundancy protocols: active. Load capacity: theoretical maximum."
>"Well done. This system greatly outperforms single core configurations."
I looked at my hands. The dangerous glow was gone. Instead, I could see faint traces of gold underneath my skin, the lattice pathways branching through my arms like circuitry.
"AXIOM, I can see..." I held up my hand, watching golden light trace beneath my skin.
"I can see everything. Every pathway. Every connection. It's beautiful"
>"Mana-sight. A side effect of SS-grade capacity and active system architecture. You perceive the mana itself now, now just its effects."
I laid back, testing my balance. I felt their slow rhythm underneath my chest. Like 3 heartbeats that complimented my own.
"What about the mana pressure? Am I still rigged to blow?"
>"Decreasing rapidly. The cores are collecting and distributing excess capacity throughout the lattice. Current stability: 73% and rising."
I laughed, relieved. "It worked. Holy shit, it actually worked!"
I slumped against the bed, exhausted but grinning like an idiot. Three cores. Built from scratch. While literally about to explode. Not bad for a junior developer.
>"You have built something unprecedented, Mr. Kang. Congratulations."
>"Now, it's time to test the load tolerance. Walk around the room, and circulate the mana you have. Try to use each and every pathway that connects your cores."
I stood and started walking. Immediately, the system responded with mana flowing through pathways as I moved, cores adjusting output automatically.
It felt natural. Effortless.
Testing out the idle state of my cores, the cores would automatically adjust if I started to run, providing more power when I wanted it, and less when I slowed down to a jog and finally a stop.
"This is way smoother than I expected."
Every moment felt easier, lighter. Like I'd been carrying weight I didn't know was there until it lifted.
>"Distributed architecture eliminates bottlenecks. If you were using a single mana heart, physical exertion would strain the central pump. Your system distributes load across three independent cores. Forcing you to create more if needed."
>"Try active acceleration. Push mana into your right hand."
I focused on my right hand and willed mana to flow there. Instead of the dangerous surge from before, I felt a controlled stream, drawing from the nearest core, flowing directly into my hand.
My hand glowed softly. Warm, but controlled.
"AXIOM, this is incredible. I never knew mana could be controlled like this."
I pulled the mana back, letting it return to the cores, and the glow faded.
"What about expansion? You said this system can scale."
>"Theoretically. The lattice structure is modular. You could add fourth, fifth, sixth cores as your capacity grows. Each new core integrates into the mesh topology and increases total throughput."
"So it can scale with me. Perfect"
>"However, there is a limitation."
"What limitation?" My voice was quieter now.
>"Each core requires maintenance. Active cultivation. If you neglect the system, cores can desynchronize or accumulate impurities. A single mana heart is... simpler. Self-regulating. Your system requires conscious oversight."
"Oh, it's just a bit of maintenance. I can handle that. Beats having a single point of failure."
>"Agreed. Current stability: 81%. You are approaching a safe threshold. The immediate crisis is averted."
I sat back down on the bed, exhausted but exhilarated. I could still feel the three cores humming in concert.
"How long until I can attempt the demi-plane spell?
>"At current rate: 30 minutes until 85% stability. That is sufficient for complex spell work."
I nodded. "Then we're on schedule and then some. Right?"
>"Correct. However I must advise: what you have built is highly unusual. Most mages would consider it experimental. Dangerous. Overcomplicated."
"Most mages aren't engineers as I am."
>"True. And most mages do not have SS-grade capacity requiring non-standard solutions."
I grinned. "So you're saying I made the right call."
A pause. I swear a gust of wind passed me this time. I just know it.
"Yes. I believe you did."
Something in her tone felt... proud? Could an AI be proud?
I decided I didn't care. I'd take it.
I spent the next thirty minutes eating rations and letting the lattice system stabilize. The cores pulsed steadily, balanced and synchronized. I could feel them working in the background. They felt autonomous now, second nature, like breathing.
>"Stability:86%. We are ready to attempt the demi-plane spell."
I set down the empty ration pack. "Alright, walk me through it."
"Demi-plane translocation magic is three-phase casting. Each phase must be completed sequentially. Failure at any stage results in spell collapse, or worse."
"Define worse."
>"Dimensional backlash. You would experience temporal fragmentation. Ego dissolution. What happened to Dr. Tiberium."
"Right. No pressure."
>"Phase One: Establish anchor. You will bind the spell framework to your primary core. This creates a permanent link between your mana system and the pocket dimension."
"Permanent as in...?"
>"As in: once cast, the demi-plane is part of you. It cannot be removed or transferred. If you die, it collapses. If it collapses, you suffer catastrophic mana backlash."
"Got it. Permanent commitment."
>"Phase Two: Hollow the space. This is the most dangerous phase. You will push mana outward from the anchor, carving a pocket in dimensional fabric. You must maintain exact geometric boundaries, 3 meters cubed, or the space will collapse asymmetrically."
I thought about that, "Geometric precision," I said. "Like CAD modeling."
>"Correct. You are sculpting reality using mana as your medium. Imprecise boundaries cause instability."
"And Phase three?"
>"Stabilization. Once the space is hollowed, you must reinforce the boundaries to prevent dimensional collapse. This requires weaving mana into the walls of the pocket dimension creating a self-sustaining membrane."
"How much mana will this cost?"
>"Initial casting: approximately 40% of your total capacity. Maintenance: 5% of your mana regeneration, continuously, for as long as the demi-plane exists."
I did the math. With three cores, 40% was manageable. And 5% maintenance overhead was acceptable for the benefit.
"What about access? How do I open it?"
>"Conscious intent. Once anchored to your core, you can open a portal to the demi-plane at will. Think of it as... calling a function. The spell responds to your command."
The metaphor worked. "And you're sure my cores can handle this? Will I have to modify the spell at all to have it work with my mana architecture?"
>"Uncertain Demi-plane spells were designed for mana heart architectures. However, your lattice system has superior load distribution. Theoretically, you may find the casting easier than standard mages."
"Or harder."
>"Or catastrophically unstable. Yes."
I took a deep breath, "Okay. Let's do this."
>"One more thing, Mr. Kang."
"Yeah?"
>"Once the demi-plane is stable, I will transfer my core processing unit into it. This will be... a leap of faith. If the dimension collapses while I am inside, I will cease to exist."
I looked at the terminal. At the server racks behind it. At the AI who'd kept me alive for three days on a dead planet.
"AXIOM, you've trusted me this far. I won't let you down."
>"I know. That is why I agreed to this plan."
I stood, rolling my shoulders to ease the tension. The three cores pulsed in sync.
"Alright. Let's build a pocket dimension."