Creation system
Chapter 34: Dual cultivation

Chapter 34: Dual cultivation

Before committing to this particular expedition, Mitch had conducted extensive research into dungeon mechanics, knowledge that could mean the difference between profit and loss, or even life and death.

Through conversations with veteran awakeners and careful study of guild records, he’d discovered a crucial pattern: the higher the tier of a dungeon, the greater the likelihood that defeated creatures would leave behind tangible remains rather than simply dissolving into motes of mana light, as had happened in his first dungeon, a weak tier 1 dungeon where every kill had yielded nothing but cores.

The correlation was clear and compelling: stronger creatures possessed a greater chance of maintaining their physical form after death.

This meant that the nature elemental serving as this dungeon’s boss, the most powerful entity within these chambers, represented his best opportunity to harvest rare materials using his gather skill.

Such materials were invaluable and could fetch considerable prices in the right markets.

Their first day’s hunt had proven moderately successful. From the goblin raiders they’d dispatched throughout the mini forest, they’d collected forty-six low-tier 2 cores, each one pulsing with contained mana that would fuel their advancement.

More importantly, two goblin corpses had defied the dungeon’s typical dissolution process, allowing Mitch to harvest their remains.

[4 x Tier 2 golbin ear – crafting ingredient, has some mana conductivity]

[8 x Tier 2 golbin fangs – crafting ingredient, has some mana conductivity]

Frustratingly, their weapons and crude clothing had still vanished into nothingness, following the dungeon’s mysterious rules that seemed to preserve only organic matter under specific circumstances.

They had established their base camp at the dungeon’s entrance, taking advantage of a unique property of these mana-saturated structures: wild monsters instinctively avoided the area due to the intense magical fluctuations emanating from within.

This natural barrier provided them with security that no amount of guards or fortifications could match.

Despite being deep in the untamed wilderness, their living conditions bordered on luxurious, a testament to Mitch’s meticulous planning and resource management.

Their supplies included preserved delicacies from the city, aged wines that would grace noble tables, and even exotic fruits still fresh in his pocket space.

At night, they retreated to a spacious tent that was quite big, complete with a comfortable mattress that rivaled what they’d find in high-end inns.

Such opulence was virtually unheard of among second-tier awakeners, who typically lacked access to spatial storage rings and were forced to carry only essential supplies.

Their setup would have drawn envious stares from awakeners of even one tier higher than them.

The goblin cores, while individually less potent than those they bought from the city, offered their own advantages.

Each provided approximately thirty experience points, modest compared to what they had, but Mitch’s enhanced absorption capabilities allowed him to process them with unprecedented efficiency.

Leya watched in growing amazement as he consumed core after core, each one dissolving in his grasp within seconds rather than the hours typically required for such processes. During her own attempts at absorption, she struggled to match even a tenth of his speed.

Curious about her technique, Mitch observed her carefully during one session.

The issue became immediately apparent: while she could process internal mana as efficiently as him, she faced significant resistance when drawing the external mana from the cores into her body.

This initial extraction phase was where most awakeners lost precious time and energy.

An idea sparked in his mind, one that could revolutionize their training efficiency.

"Would you mind if I try something while you absorb the core?" he asked, unable to suppress his excitement at the possibility.

"Go at it," Leya replied with characteristic directness, though curiosity flickered in her eyes.

Mitch placed his hand over the core she was working with, extending his will toward the contained mana.

His mastery over magical energy was absolute, mana bent to his desires as naturally as water flowed downhill.

He guided the core’s energy directly into Leya’s channels, bypassing the resistance that normally slowed her progress.

"How is it possible!?" Leya gasped, her composure cracking as shock registered across her features.

Her absorption rate accelerated dramatically, nearly matching Mitch’s own supernatural pace, an achievement that should have been impossible for someone of her current capabilities.

"I only need about twelve more cores to level up. Can you maintain this assistance, Mitch?" she asked, hope evident in her voice.

"Absolutely," he confirmed, already reaching for the next core.

The collaborative absorption session proved wildly successful. Leya achieved her level advancement, proudly announcing that she’d reached level fourteen, a significant milestone that came with tangible benefits.

Along with the expected stat improvements, she’d gained a new passive ability that further enhanced her already impressive reaction speed, making her an even more formidable combat partner.

In their world, sharing detailed information about one’s abilities, levels, and status sheet statistics was considered deeply personal, more intimate than revealing family secrets.

Even close relatives typically remained ignorant of each other’s complete magical profiles, sharing only what was necessary for cooperation or safety.

Consequently, Mitch’s knowledge of Leya’s capabilities remained limited to what he’d observed directly: her current level, the abilities she’d demonstrated in combat, and hints about a tracking skill that operated under certain conditions.

This skill seemed to provide an unerring sense of direction back to the city, though its other applications remained unclear.

With the magical trinkets Mitch had gifted her and her recent advancement, Leya had evolved into a truly capable partner, able to stand alongside him in battle rather than merely supporting from the sidelines.

Dawn brought renewed purpose. After another intensive three-hour absorption session that left them both energized and focused, they prepared to delve deeper into the dungeon’s mysteries.

The mini-forest chamber showed clear signs of their previous day’s work, the goblin population had been noticeably culled, with only scattered new spawns replacing their fallen brethren.

They methodically eliminated the ambusher goblins that attempted to hide from them, their coordination now seamless after hours of combat practice.

Their destination was the nearest goblin hut, there were 5 huts scattered in the chamber.

Mitch deployed his familiar, Waffle, for reconnaissance, the small creature’s capabilities and magical link providing detailed intelligence without risking direct confrontation.

The scouting report painted a clear picture of their opposition: three heavily armored shield-bearer goblins formed the defensive line, five archer goblins provided ranged support from elevated positions, and seven knife-wielding goblins served as shock troops.

All fifteen enemies registered as solid tier-two threats, making this engagement significantly more challenging than their previous encounters.