Crystal Core

Biodata

Power Progression

Formation and Function

Crystal Cores form after sufficient evolution and represent a qualitative increase over Brain Cores. Lin Dong condenses one in his skull after consuming immense quantities of flesh and blood, immediately sensing that an ability is about to awaken. 16

For humans, a Crystal Core is the threshold for awakening abilities. Zhang Xiaoyuan gains fire manipulation after reaching this stage, while Little Eight awakens Rapid Shadowstep after condensing her own core. 22 42

Fearsome's breakthrough demonstrates that a Crystal Core may form during extreme life-or-death combat. After sustaining severe injuries, he condenses a core inside his brain and awakens the Mental-type ability Soul Shaker. 473

• Crystal Cores may be possessed by humans, zombies, mutated beasts, Parasitic Monsters, and augmented beings. 17 24 37 149 290
• In humans, zombies, and many mutated beasts, Crystal Cores are generally located within the skull and can be extracted by destroying or opening the host's head. 20 24 42
• Some nonhuman life-forms possess their Crystal Cores elsewhere. Parasitic Monsters, for example, have a core at the heart in their chest rather than inside the head. 149
• Crystal Core-stage awakeners may possess greater resistance to mental interference than Brain Core-stage awakeners. Li Xiaoyun can barely resist a mind-controlling song through her stronger mental power, while several Brain Core awakeners are immediately controlled. 139
• Wraith Zombies and other domain-capable creatures are associated with exceptionally dangerous evolved abilities. 28

Physical Properties

A Crystal Core is described as translucent, roughly pigeon-egg-sized, fragrant, and far richer in energy than a Brain Core. 24

• Energy value — One Crystal Core provides energy comparable to at least ten Brain Cores. 24
• Taste — Lin Dong describes Zhang Xiaoyuan's core as exceptionally sweet; the Rat King's black core is also sweeter than ordinary examples. 24 37
• Mutant variation — The Rat King's Crystal Core is jet-black rather than translucent. 37
• Type coloration — Mental-type Crystal Cores can be crystal-clear and radiant, while the Parasitic Monster Leader's S-Plus Rank core is blood-red and emits a scarlet glow. 233 453
• Rank and purity — Higher-ranked cores contain denser and purer energy. An S-Plus Rank core can sustain Lin Dong's absorption for days, while Double-S- and SSS-Rank examples are regarded as exceptionally scarce treasures. 234 453 747
• Supreme-grade quality — Lin Dong possesses an SS-Rank Supreme-Grade Crystal Core, a rare quality designation distinct from its rank that he considers among the few remaining examples in the world. 620

Consumption and Enhancement

Lin Dong treats Crystal Cores as a concentrated energy source, consuming them to replenish himself, strengthen his physique, and support further evolution. 24 31 38

• He consumes Zhang Xiaoyuan's core after killing him, rapidly absorbing its energy throughout his body. 24
• After obtaining five cores during the mall massacre, he devours three and feels close to another evolution. 31
• Absorbing five cores makes his Corpse Domain powerful enough to leave ordinary Awakened nearly unable to move. 34
• Following the battle against the Red-Faced Zombie King and the King-Hunting Action Squad, Lin Dong obtains six additional Crystal Cores. 45
• Lin Dong consumes an A-Rank Crystal Core after returning from the confrontation with Flared Ears, producing a marked physical evolution. 98
• He absorbs the White-Bone Zombie King's Crystal Core after defeating it, further expanding his strength and territory. 123
• Lin Dong consumes Xu Yanqing's spatial Crystal Core alongside Azure Scale's S-Rank core in an attempt to break through to SS-Rank. 194
• The Parasitic Monster Leader's S-Plus Rank Crystal Core is powerful enough that Lin Dong expects its energy to take several days to absorb. 234
• After consuming numerous Mental-type cores, Lin Dong's mental power undergoes subtle changes that affect his Zombie King Domain. 305
• Devouring Night Fiend's Double-S-Rank Mental-type Crystal Core grants Lin Dong Illusion Creation, allowing him to create convincing but nonphysical illusions through spiritual power. 453
• Lin Dong consumes a Double-SS-Rank Crystal Core from Blood Princess, noting that high-level cores can influence the direction of his future evolution. 505
• Tombstone's SSS-Rank Crystal Core further strengthens Lin Dong's Zombie King Body, though a single core is insufficient to trigger another breakthrough. 723
• After obtaining Barton's SSS-Rank core, Lin Dong absorbs three SSS-Rank physique-enhancing Crystal Cores to continue his evolution. 741 747
• Horne's SSS-Rank-Plus Lightning Crystal Core proves more beneficial than several ordinary SSS-Rank cores, whose main effect is consolidating Lin Dong's existing strength. 781 782

Technological Applications

Crystal Core energy can be embedded into weapons, converted into ammunition, or released in a single destructive burst.

• The Official Shelter develops an early Crystal Core Weapon by embedding a Lightning Crystal Core into a saber hilt, allowing the blade to generate electric power when activated. 70
• Tech Company develops Crystal Core Firearms: modified silver guns powered by Crystal Core energy. 328
• B-Rank Crystal Cores are sufficient to fuel Crystal Core Firearms, while A-Rank cores provide longer operation. 526
• Crystal Core Weapons consume substantial energy in combat. Lin Dong expends more than one thousand B-Plus Rank cores during the battle against Night Fiend's forces. 439
• A Crystal Core Bomb releases all the energy of its contained core at once. Leia's emergency weapon is made from an SS-Rank Crystal Core and possesses enough destructive force to threaten even powerful Undead Race members. 666
• Crystal Core Laser Swords are rare high-end weapons; a single sword is valued at one SS-Rank Crystal Core or ten million Alliance Coins in the Human Civilization Black Market. 684
• Crystal Core Cannons can be recharged by replacing their energy source. Although an S-Rank cannon ordinarily struggles to kill a Zombie King of equal rank, it remains a formidable battlefield weapon. 788 798
• Earlier alloy weapons could only withstand energy up to an A-Rank Crystal Core. The Meteorite Blade's superior material makes embedding High-Level Crystal Cores in stronger weapons possible. 515 516

Artificial and External Enhancement

The evolution and use of Crystal Cores can be accelerated or supplemented by external substances and artifacts.

• The Radiation Crystal stimulates cells, accelerates evolution, and increases Lin Dong's absorption capacity from two A-Rank Crystal Cores per day to three. 181
• Exposure to the Radiation Crystal causes many of Lin Dong's zombie subordinates to evolve and awaken abilities such as bone spikes, sharpened claws, and enhanced senses. 181
• Evolution Serum can assist a human in condensing a Brain Core, but does not by itself grant the abilities associated with reaching the Crystal Core stage. 508
• Lin Dong can use Illusion Creation to produce convincing false Crystal Cores, including apparent SS-Rank examples, to deceive observers. 684

Distinction from Crystal Stones

Crystal Cores are biological energy organs produced through evolution, whereas Crystal Stones are extraterrestrial artifacts associated with spatial formations and the Star Map Slate.

• Crystal Stones are believed to contain pure energy and are linked to biological evolution and the arrival of Parasitic Monsters on Blue Star. 276
• The seven Crystal Stones can be arranged in the Big Dipper pattern on the fused Stone Tablets, activating vast spatial power and opening a passage beyond Blue Star. 654
• Ancient runes and Crystal Stones can imitate part of the Star Map Slate's spatial function through the unstable Completion Formation, but this imitation is far inferior to the original artifact. 782
• The Star Map Slate is later identified as the “Key of Civilization,” an artifact capable of opening a new era at Ancestral Mountain. 842

Notable Bearers

• Lin Dong — Forms a Crystal Core before awakening Corpse Domain, which suppresses targets, enables concealment, and allows passage through solid matter. 16 17
• Zhang Xiaoyuan — A fire-type Awakened whose Crystal Core is extracted and consumed by Lin Dong. 22 24
• Little Eight — Condenses a Crystal Core and awakens Rapid Shadowstep, becoming invisible once her speed reaches a critical threshold. She later receives additional high-level cores from Flowerpot and Weird Tree to support her breakthrough toward SSS-Rank. 42 755
• Xu Jian — A lightning-based Awakened whose bright white Crystal Core is casually removed by Lin Dong. 42
• Rat King — A mutated beast with a black Crystal Core and mind-control ability; its death causes its rat tide to disperse. 36 37
• Thick Lips — An enhanced Awakened whose Crystal Core is extracted while he is immobilized by Lin Dong's domain. 34
• Fearsome — Condenses a Crystal Core while near death and awakens the Mental-type ability Soul Shaker, which transmits spiritual power through sound waves to disrupt targets' souls. 473
• Corpse Infant — Possesses an uncommon A-Plus Rank Mental-type Crystal Core, which Cheng Luoyi extracts after destroying its head. 193
• Azure Scale — A Coastal City ruler whose S-Rank Crystal Core is consumed by Lin Dong alongside Xu Yanqing's spatial core. 194
• Night Fiend — Possesses a Double-S-Rank Mental-type Crystal Core; Lin Dong's consumption of it grants him Illusion Creation. 453
• Parasitic Monster Leader — Holds an S-Plus Rank blood-red Crystal Core in its chest, accumulated through devouring the flesh and blood of tens of thousands of people. 233 234
• Barton — A Central Province Zombie King whose SSS-Rank Crystal Core is extracted by Lin Dong after his execution. 741
• Disha and Yuan Ji — Central Province leaders whose SSS-Rank Crystal Cores are extracted by Little Eight following Lin Dong's decisive victory. 798
• Chen Muyan's father — His Crystal Core is embedded into Chen Muyan's weapon after his death, allowing his legacy to remain part of his son's fighting strength. 219