Chapter 4312 Mid-Level of Sky Sovereign I was contacted a few more times after she left, but I did not respond. I am on the brink of a breakthrough and will stay there until I finish or someone stops me. Then, I hope the measures I prepared will hold up. It took my core one hour and eleven minutes to finish the energy absorption. "Arys, come out as soon as you can. Taurus is in a desperate need of your help," said Carter as he appeared in front of the gate. I sighed seeing that, but didn't do anything, nor could I. I watched him leave and hoped that if things get bad. He would use those measures or the Silver Prime, but that is a double-edged sword. It might tell the world that their Silver Prime is alive, but it might also bring the Belial's Star's Silver Prime into the conflict, which would not be good. Once the Silver Primes entered the battlefield, all the organization protection measures would become useless. I pushed those thoughts away and focused on my core. It had fully stopped. This means that the merging will begin soon, the most dangerous part of the breakthrough. If I survive it, my chances of success will improve tremendously. Ten seconds passed, and the process didn't begin. The delay means nothing, but it usually starts within ten seconds. It couldn't help but make me a little worried. I forcefully calmed myself, and took a deep breath, stopping at the fifth breath as the merging began. The formation covered me, buzzing and lighting up in a blinding light. As it happened, I felt the pressure building and pressing it against my core. The breakthrough artifact is different and powerful at this time. It is a Prime Grade and forged with precious materials. Though the formation is the most important part, it is really good. It is the essence of all the data I gathered on the breakthroughs. I had outdone myself with it. I hope it will work and prepare myself for the pain, I was about to feel. This is the most painful process, and I must bear it. A few seconds passed, and I felt nothing but the pressure from the formation, which was increasing to where it had become painful, but not painful enough to make me grit my teeth, much less scream. A few seconds after that, I began to feel something, and it had skyrocketed. Still, it dwarfed the pain from the formation pressure, which increased rapidly. A few seconds passed, and the pain had increased enough that I needed to grit my teeth to bear it. "Ahhhhhh…" At the end of the minute, I only wanted to scream, and I did. The pain is too much, and screaming is offering some minor relief. I took it without hesitation. The relief only lasted for a few seconds before the pain increased enough that it became useless. Still, I kept screaming, trying to focus on the blurry window in front of me, which showed the state of my breakthrough. The window isn't blurry. I'm in so much pain, that I couldn't even see it. This stage is painful, but not this painful for others. At most, they need to grit their teeth; they do not feel the soul-tearing pain I am experiencing. It is the cost of the forbidden power, and at every breakthrough, it becomes painful, so much so that I question my decision to keep the forbidden power. In the past, breakthrough, the pain was massive, but I could concentrate on the window in front of me. This time, I couldn't even do that. I screamed and screamed for what felt like days and weeks, when finally, the pain lessened. Soon, it had lessened enough that I could see the window in front of me, and what I saw made the pain I bore worth it. Though, a few seconds later. My gaze fell on the other windows beside it, which are unrelated to the breakthrough. They are windows that show what the powerful city formation is sensing—the battle that has begun. Looking at the data, I could even predict the strength of those fighting, which made my expressions worse. 'They have come so quickly,' I thought, looking at the data. Carter is fighting, and he is at a disadvantage. I hope he will be able to last for a while. Buzz! The formation on my body changed and buzzed as the consolidation began. The faint solid layer began to appear on the core before it started spreading inside. I cleared all my thoughts and focused on nothing but the core. It is more important than a battle outside, as it could have grave repercussions for the organization. To me, survival is important. I would not even go to the battle if I sensed someone I couldn't match, and Carter and others will do the same without hesitation. So, I don't feel, even a bit of shame when I think about it. The core turned more and more solid while I watched for every instability. There are many, more than last time, but the core and formations are dealing with them quickly as they appeared. Soon, eleven minutes and fifty-seven seconds passed, and the consolidation had finally finished. Buzz! The core buzzed, and runes came out with more ancient runes than before. I made good progress in ancient runes. Looking at it, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. Buzz! Soon, the runes spread into every corner of my body and the core released the floor of the breakthrough energy into me through the runes. My hungry body roared and began to absorb the thin but powerful breakthrough energies. Every second, my power began to climb higher, at a speed greater than I had thought. This made my eyes go wide, but it also brought a smile to my face. It took me more time to reach the limit, but it was worth it, as the floor of energy increased my strength every moment. Seconds into minutes and finally, the last drop of it absorbed by me. Taking me formally to the Mid-Level of Sky Sovereign.