Amara took a deep breath and told him what was going on.
"…So, I want to find out what happened that made my otherwise confident brother uncertain."
Hearing this, Max asked, "How are you going to find it? As I know, although your status has changed after your big brother's return, you still don't have any source of information, right?"
Amara nodded, "That's true. But my aunt Beille has. She can find out on my behalf."
"Okay. You can go, but try to come back as soon as possible." Max nodded.
"Thank you, master." Amara nodded with gratitude before rushing out of the room.
[Kid, do you know the demon race is preparing to launch a war on your continent right now?] The system asked after she went away.
"Yes. I found out three days ago." Max nodded, his expression turning serious.
[So, do you want to return and warn your loved ones?] The system asked.
"You'll allow me to?" Max sneered.
"Oh?" The system let out a surprised voice before it started chuckling, [Hahaha. That's right. I won't. So, if you want to return as soon as possible, pay me back everything you owe me.]
"I know." Max nodded. Then he thought of something and took out his communication crystal and sent a message to Amara, "When you return, try to bring as many demon cores as you can. It's better if they are higher ranked ones."
[Tsk, tsk. You sure are taking advantage of that little girl.] The system disdainfully said.
Max didn't reply and only snorted.
Seeing this, the system sighed, [Kid, although you could pay me back this way too, it won't help you much.]
"What do you mean?" Max asked.
[When I told you to come here and collect the demon cores for me, I didn't only do that just because I needed them but also because I wanted you to train your fighting skills against the ferocious demons here so you won't be overwhelmed too much when the demon race started the war.] The system said.
Hearing this, Max sighed. "I can't afford to hunt down the demons since I need to return as soon as possible. Moreover, to train, I need to be at least as strong as the opponent. Given my current strength, I would just die in vain."
Hearing this, the system didn't say anything.
Thinking something, Max asked, "With Amara here, I can pay back the LPs I owe you and also enhance all 10,000 units of mana to the three-star level. But I need to reconstruct my mana core too, and this takes a lot of time according to what I know. Can you help me hasten this process?"
He knew when the system evolved, it only said that he could enhance his mana to the next level. Which meant he had to reconstruct his mana core himself.
However, now that the system's creator was in direct contact with him, he had to ask him and, hopefully, he could help him.
As expected, the system proudly said, [Of course I can.]
Max sighed in relief. Since it could help him, he didn't have to waste too much reconstructing his core.
Just as he wanted to ask how much LPs he needed to pay for it, the system spoke, [I can but I won't.]
Max's brows shot up upon hearing this. He asked somewhat angrily, "Why is that?"
[Don't be angry, kid. It's for your own good.] The system said before continuing,
[If I help you reconstruct the core, you won't know the intricacies of your reconstructed core and, as a result, you won't be able to use it to its fullest potential. This will make you weaker than the others in the same realm. Even those without an awakened element will be stronger than you. Furthermore, there is no way to change the things afterwards.]
Max became silent. After hearing this, he knew had to do it himself.
'But I don't have the required time to do it. It seems I can't break through to the three-star realm here.' He sighed in disappointment.
After taking Amara as his slave, he had planned to break through to the three-star realm and maybe even reach the peak of the three-star before returning. Of course, he needed the system's help to reconstruct his core quickly, but since it wasn't possible, his plans were ruined.
Just then, the system spoke again, [However, but there is something in this demon tribe that can help you hasten the process by several folds. If you can use it when reconstructing and a little bit of my help, you should be able to do it within half a month.]
"Really? What is it?" Max asked, his eyes sparkling.
[It's the essence blood pool. This pool is created with a lot of precious materials and the blood essence of countless beings. If you reconstruct your core in it, you can do it in half a month. Not only that, the resulting core will be a lot stronger, almost comparable to the mid-stage three-star mages.]
"Is it true?" Max asked, excited.
[Yes. But it isn't easy for you to enter because this blood pool is under this tribe leader's residence. So, to enter it, you would need his permission.] The system said.
Max's expression hardened when he heard this and almost started cursing the system. As a human, how was he supposed to get that demon king's permission?
Suddenly he thought something and muttered, "Maybe it isn't impossible. I need to talk to Amara about it."
Just then,
BANG!
The door was kicked open and Ashroth walked into the room, a furious expression on his face.
'Damn it. Hadn't he left? Why he is here?' Max cursed in his heart, dread filling his heart.
Quickly, he spoke in a low voice, "Can you…" His words were directed to the system.
[Unfortunately for you, kid, he has the divine sense of a king demon on his body. Once I make a move, that demon king, who should be this tribe's leader, will find about my existence and things will become nasty for you. So, you are on your own now.] System's gloating voice sounded in his ears.
