The chamber shook continuously beneath the mountains.
Crimson corruption surged upward through the fractured lower corridor while the corrupted guardian fought desperately against the endless shadow manifestations crawling from the breach below. Every roar from the creature carried exhaustion now.
It could not hold much longer.
Neither could the Worldheart.
Krishak stood silently near the edge of the broken doorway while silver spiritual energy drifted faintly around him.
The old man's words echoed clearly in his mind.
The Starheart inheritance was originally connected to planetary convergence systems.
If anyone could stabilize the Worldheart temporarily..
It would be him.
Another pulse erupted from below.
The guardian staggered.
Black corruption spread further across its body.
The Worldheart was dying faster now.
Professor Devika's scanning formations flickered chaotically beside her.
"The corruption density is increasing every minute."
Her voice remained steady, but concern was obvious now.
"At this rate, stabilization may become impossible within hours."
Silence followed.
Heavy silence.
Then Krishak finally spoke.
"There is another way.
"
Everyone looked toward him immediately.
Raghav frowned.
"What kind of way?"
Krishak's silver-blue eyes remained fixed on the corruption flooding upward from below.
"I absorb it."
The chamber froze.
Dev blinked slowly.
".I'm sorry, what?"
"The corruption."
Krishak turned toward them calmly.
"I can absorb it into myself and refine it slowly."
For several seconds, nobody reacted.
Because the idea sounded insane.
Then Director Rao immediately stepped forward.
"Absolutely not."
Professor Devika agreed instantly.
"That corruption has existed since the Sealing Era."
"It would destroy your spiritual foundation."
" "Or worse.
Even the old man's expression shifted slightly.
"You understand what you're suggesting?"
"Yes."
Krishak's voice remained calm.
"The Starheart inheritance alone cannot purify this much corruption immediately.
His gaze moved toward the unstable Worldheart pulse below.
"But my refinement Arts can refine foreign " energy over time.
The old man stared at him sharply.
"You posses refinement techniques?"
That reaction alone revealed how rare such methods were.
Ananya stepped forward immediately.
"Krishak, this isn't something you can gamble with."
"I'm not gambling."
The corruption pulse echoed again beneath the mountains.
"The Worldheart won't survive otherwise."
The guardian roared painfully from the corridor below.
Several more shadow manifestations climbed upward through the crimson mist.
Time was running out.
Raghav's expression hardened.
"There has to be another option."
"There probably was."
Krishak answered quietly.
"Thousands of years ago."
Silence spread again.
Because everyone knew modern humanity lacked the strength and knowledge the ancient civilizations once possessed.
The old man narrowed his ancient eyes slightly.
"Even if your Origin Arts truly can refine corruption.."
He looked toward the endless crimson energy below.
"This amount would take years."
Krishak nodded once.
"Approximately three to four."
Everyone immediately stared at him.
Dev looked horrified.
"You calculated this already?"
"Yes.
"...When?"
"While stabilizing the guardian."
The chamber became strangely quiet.
Because that meant-
Even during the chaos, Krishak had already been thinking ahead.
Planning.
Professor Devika shook her head immediately.
" "No."
Her voice carried unusual emotion now.
"You cannot carry ancient corruption inside your body for years."
Krishak finally looked toward them fully.
His expression remained calm.
Determined.
"If I don't," he said quietly, "then eventually the seals fail."
The pulse below weakened again.
The chamber trembled violently.
"And when Earth reconnects before humanity is ready."
Nobody spoke afterward.
Because they already understood the consequences.
Ananya clenched her fists tightly.
"There must be another way."
"There isn't enough time."
Krishak stepped toward the spreading corruption calmly.
"I can refine it slowly.
His silver-blue eyes remained steady.
"And as long as I'm alive, the corruption remains contained."
Dev rubbed both hands over his face.
"This is the worst heroic plan I've ever heard."
"It's not heroism."
Krishak answered quietly.
"It's responsibility."
Still, nobody agreed.
Not even the old man.
Because what Krishak planned should have been impossible.
Then suddenly-
Krishak extended one hand toward the corruption itself.
Everyone's expressions changed immediately.
"Krishak!" Ananya shouted.
But he ignored them.
A thin strand of black corruption slowly separated from the crimson mist below and wrapped around his arm like living smoke.
Instantly
Violent spiritual pressure erupted throughout the chamber.
The corruption hissed aggressively against his spiritual energy while black veins spread briefly across his skin.
Several people instinctively stepped forward.
Then-
Silver light exploded from within Krishak's body.
The Starheart inheritance activated fully while ancient Origin Arts circulated through his meridians. Spiritual energy rotated continuously around the corruption strand, slowly compressing and refining it layer by layer.
Pain flashed briefly across his face.
But he remained standing.
Calm.
Focused.
One hour passed.
Then two.
Then three.
The chamber remained silent except for the unstable pulse below and the distant battle cries of the guardian holding back the breach.
And finally-
The black corruption strand disappeared completely.
Refined.
Gone.
Everyone stared at him.
Speechless
Even the old man looked genuinely shocked now.
Krishak exhaled slowly before opening his eyes.
"It works."
Silence.
Director Rao looked at him as if seeing him differently for the first time.
"You really planned this.."
Krishak nodded quietly.
"Yes."
Then he looked toward his friends.
"If I begin refining the corruption fully, I'll need isolation."
The atmosphere immediately grew heavier again.
"I need all of you to continue growing stronger while I'm gone.
Dev looked furious now.
"You're talking like this is decided already."
"It is."
Krishak's voice remained calm.
"Tell my family not to worry."
His gaze moved toward Ananya, Raghav, Ishita, and Dev one by one.
"I'll survive."
Then-
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"And when I return after three or four years..."
Silver spiritual energy flickered softly around him.
".I'll probably already be at Saint level."
Even Director Rao inhaled sharply at that.
Saint Realm.
Above King level.
A realm humanity had barely even begun imagining.
Dev stared blankly.
"You're casually saying things normal people cannot emotionally process."
Despite everything, a few tired smiles appeared briefly.
Then Krishak continued calmly.
"And don't slack off while I'm gone."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"I'll check your progress personally afterward."
Raghav shook his head quietly.
"You already sound like some ancient sect master."
"There's one more thing."
Krishak looked toward Director Rao.
"I have disciples."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Even the old man blinked slightly.
"You what?"
Krishak remained completely serious.
"They're hidden for safety right now."
He looked toward his friends again.
"Tell them to continue training hard. "
Dev looked deeply offended.
"You secretly became a teacher before adulthood?"
"I was busy."
" "That sentence explains nothing."
Director Rao genuinely looked stunned now.
At his age.
Krishak had already begun preparing for the future far beyond himself.
Then his expression turned serious once more.
"And don't establish the academy immediately."
Everyone focused again.
"The world is changing too quickly."
Krishak looked toward the endless archive beyond the chamber.
"Wait until I return before deciding its final structure."
The dream still remained.
An academy without status or wealth deciding worth.
But now-
The timing mattered.
Finally, Krishak looked toward the preserved knowledge within the ancient archive.
"The basic cultivation methods and foundational techniques
His eyes reflected the silver crystal pillars softly.
"Spread them freely."
Professor Devika looked startled.
"To governments?"
"To everyone."
Silence followed instantly.
"No restrictions," Krishak said quietly.
" No bloodline requirements."
"No clans monopolizing strength."
The chamber seemed still around his words.
"Humanity needs a foundation now."
Not elites.
Not hidden sects.
Humanity itself.
Far below them, the dying Worldheart pulsed weakly once more.
And standing before the ancient corruption beneath the mountains-
Krishak had already chosen his path.