[Host, you are holding a star core.]
[That is the core of a small planet.]
"Why is it so heavy? And then?"
[Each star core takes thousands of years to form.]
[Some large planets require tens of thousands of years.]
[The sun in your solar system—its stellar core is billions of years old.]
"So that means this thing is very valuable?"
[There is cosmic force within a star core.]
[It is the same type of power found in the Infinity Stones.]
[It's just that the purity of cosmic force varies between star cores.]
"And the one in my hand—how pure is it? How is purity measured?"
[The purity of cosmic force is divided into ten levels. One is the lowest, ten the highest.]
[The one in the host's hand barely reaches 0.1.]
"Nani? Not even one…"
[The existence of this planet was too short. This core likely formed only within the past few years.]
"That's really crap luck…"
"What's this thing even good for…"
[Cosmic force can be used to forge equipment. It is the best possible upgrade material.]
"I—damn—it's that good? I'm a super lucky star again today?"
[If the host wishes, the star core can be exchanged for credits.]
"What's the exchange method? And the exchange rate??"
Blaine grew more and more intrigued. He hadn't expected to stumble upon such a massive secret. Fortunately, he'd been blessed by the God of Luck. Fortunately, he had Hawkeye Vision to notice the thing. Fortunately, he had the Hunter System to identify it. Anyone else would've mistaken it for gravel. Blaine had essentially picked up a massive windfall…
[One point of purity corresponds to one hundred billion. The exchange rate changes over time. Details unknown.]
"Unknown? So the exchange rate is basically decided by you? One hundred billion, one hundred and ten billion—just whatever you feel like saying…"
Blaine immediately ignored the value of the gem and zeroed in on the real issue, demanding the conclusion outright.
[The host may understand it that way.]
Wasn't that straight-up scam behavior? And it could say it so confidently too… Truly infuriating…
Still, Blaine had discovered a "currency" that could replace traditional money. He'd thought about this problem before. As system equipment required higher and higher levels, and as his skill upgrades and physical stat increases demanded more and more money, eventually even the entire sum of Earth's currency wouldn't be enough to buy a single high-level skill or item. It had been a major problem Blaine didn't know how to solve. Luckily, today he'd found a perfect substitute.
If Earth's money supply was limited, the number of star cores in the universe was absolutely unlimited. Across the cosmos—fixed stars, planets, comets—there were countless celestial bodies. They were inexhaustible. In the future, his currency problem would be solved.
"It can upgrade equipment 'and' be exchanged for money. Little guy, you really came at the perfect time."
Blaine lifted the star core to eye level, examining it carefully, nearly drooling. He almost leaned in to kiss it. This was more exciting than seeing a girlfriend.
"System, one more question—where does the star core exist inside a planet, and how do I extract it?"
[It is inside the planet. Just smash it apart.]
[The mass of a star core is immense. The patterns on its surface absorb potential energy. You need not worry about breaking it with excessive force.]
"Good. That's a relief."
"Heh-heh…"
Blaine grinned slyly and vanished on the spot.
Inside the Hunter Space, it was clear Blaine was preparing for something big.
He took out the Bow of Elements and began condensing arrows—but only condensing, not firing. After a short period of intense focus, he had produced hundreds of ordinary arrows, dozens of elemental arrows, and several upgraded elemental arrows.
"That should be enough. My mental strength can't handle much more."
Looking at the arrows scattered across the ground, Blaine muttered to himself.
Suddenly, he sat cross-legged. Holding one arrow in hand, he moved the other like he was drawing invisible talismans. His eyes were closed, his mental power like a nimble hand gripping a pen.
Following his gestures, he completed a magic circle in mere seconds. Yes—this was how to apply magical inscriptions. A bit fantastical, but it worked.
The advanced lightning arrow he'd used in the fight against Dormammu had been something he tried drawing on a whim while idle.
The first time he used it, Blaine almost wondered if he had unlocked a new profession. Wasn't this exactly like the mages in the fantasy novels he used to read? In a world where everything revolved around science, magic as a profession felt absurd and downright heretical…
But as Blaine's technique improved, his mental power solidified. He hadn't expected magical engraving to actually strengthen his mind…
After drawing more than seven hundred formations, his hand speed had naturally increased. Within twenty minutes, he had engraved hundreds of arrows with magic circles. Not only the five-element pentagram, but also various formations like Flaming Meteor, Thousand-Mile Freeze, and more. It was essentially a disguised power boost for Blaine.
"All done. Next step—testing the arrows."
A moment later, Blaine reappeared in space, a bow now in hand.
"Let's see how many star cores I can harvest today."
With that, he fired an arrow engraved with a magic circle. Since the target was a cluster, Blaine didn't care which planet he hit. With area magic, even if the arrow exploded in empty space within the belt, it would still have the desired effect.
Boom boom boom…
Boom boom boom…
Boom boom boom…
Instantly, the entire region seemed to react in a chain explosion, bursts going off endlessly. (Though sound can't propagate in a vacuum, that didn't stop Blaine from seeing the flames and imagining the noise.)
Fire blazed across the planetary belt like strings of firecrackers. As Blaine continued firing inscribed arrows, one explosion triggered the next, like ignited fuses spreading outward.
In the distance, lightning crackled, meteorites burned, hailstones fell—the spectacle was overwhelming.
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