Immediately he entered his mana core, he noticed an obvious difference in the space… but that wasn't what drew his attention…

Right there in the middle of his mana core where his mana node floated… was a blurry-looking shard, identical to his single mana node.

It floated right next to his single mana node, hovering in the same exact way like it was a carbon copy… except that it was bare… clean… like a blank slate.

It also wasn't fully formed yet, still looking very undefined and unfinished.

But it was there…

His second mana node…

His evolution had begun.

He was about to evolve to a Tier 2 awakened.

…

Zephyr marveled at the spectacle with utter shock.

He had been here just a few moments ago, and there hadn't been a single sign that anything like this would happen.

No build up whatsoever.

It just… appeared.

He stared at the threads coming from 'the above,' linking and attaching themselves to the unfinished mana node, forming direct connections between it and origin.

He watched with intrigue for a long time, until the novelty faded. It was only then that he took the time to look at the surroundings.

The space had gotten slightly larger and a bit more expansive. It was hard to describe, perhaps because he wasn't 'sensing' conventionally — his normal five senses weren't involved here at all, only his consciousness — but everything felt more solid… more real…

He could evidently feel that and was sure he wasn't mistaking it at all… so he changed his 'view,' taking in the whole space all at once with his Master Access.

That was when he felt it…

He had simply wanted to confirm what he was feeling from another perspective, but now… that thought was totally gone.

Replaced by a burning desire to design!

His still-developing second mana node lit up like a beacon in his 'view,' taking up every shred of his attention. It drew him in, called out to him… a fresh slate waiting to be shaped according to his will.

This was the best time to design!!

Zephyr didn't know how he knew this fact… perhaps because he was more connected to Origin in this 'view'...

But without even needing to be told, he could clearly feel that this was the absolute best time to design anything he wanted on this mana node.

If his first mana node was like a stone that needed to be carved on to as he impressed his knowledge, designing everything he had so far, then his second mana node… in this unfinished, undefined state, was like a clay that would bend to his will at the slightest touch.

He sent an intention towards it from this 'view'…

And reality proved to be exactly the same as he vividly felt.

He could barely contain his excitement.

The mental pushback he felt from this mana node was nearly non-existent. Compared to his first mana node, it was magnitudes way easier to design on by far! Almost like whatever it was that pushed back against him mentally whenever he designed had also not fully developed!

This meant that on this undefined mana node, he could mentally etch way more within the same space and with the same mental strain, surpassing what he could do on his fully developed first mana node.

What would be the end result then…?

He had fit 15 million Transistors on his first mana node… but now with this… Just how small would he be able to make his Transistors…? Just how much would he be able to fit before his mana node became fully defined and solid?!

Without thinking twice, he immediately went into a focused state, bringing up his well-established knowledge of Transistors. He had done it once, so it wasn't new. This time he only needed to make them way smaller… and with the same effort…

But just as he was about to start, Aegis alerted him :

Host! Your attention is required on the outside world immediately! It is of vital importance!

Zephyr was jarred from his eager state.

'What, Aegis?! If it doesn't involve life or death, do not disturb me! I'm on the verge of something very important, and time is of the essence!!'

I think it really may be a life or death situation, host!

'Huh—?' Zephyr had barely processed the thought Aegis sent when he was jarred out of the space abruptly.

"What the—?!"

Zephyr slumped on to the cold ground of the seclusion room in shock.

He had totally lost control of his consciousness there, almost like a superior force had booted him out of his own mana core space.

It left him disoriented, confused, and also unwilling…

He had unfinished, and very important things to do in his mana core space!

If that second mana node solidified without him taking advantage of it, he would be so pained… it would have been better if he didn't know about the possibility in the first place!

In his dazed state of haziness, he immediately tried entering again… but there was no give. Like a lock had been placed on his mana core for the moment.

—ost! Host! Try to focus your mind, host!!

Zephyr finally heard Aegis' calls again through his muddleheaded state.

"Huh…? What is it, Aegis…?"

He tried to shake off the dizzy feeling, reorienting himself.

As he came to more of his senses, he also realized there was an incessant thumping against the solid, spell model enhanced stone doors of the seclusion room.

It caused rhythmic vibrations to course through the room, causing Zephyr, who was still very disoriented, further discomfort.

"Who the hell is— What is going on…?!" He muttered in frustration. "Komi..? Komi!" He tried yelling to make her stop. But she couldn't hear from the outside.

He eventually made his way to the door, opening it from the inside just as Komi was about to fire off another one of her spells at it.

"Why were y—"

"Thank goodness you're still alive!" Komi, looking totally disheveled and frantic, rushed at Zephyr as he staggered out.

"Komi? What's going on?!" Zephyr became alert immediately, even with his grogginess.

"It has begun!"

"Wha—?"

"The Convergence, Zephyr! It has begun!"