Chapter 14
Chapter 14
New information unfolded beneath the notification.
[Item Information]
[Name] <Spirit Vein Bracelet>
[Grade] Heroic
[Classification] Mana Recovery Support Artifact
[Equip Restriction] Lv.1 or higher
[Status] Normal
[Effect]
- Absorbs ambient mana to assist the wearer's mana recovery.
[Growth Trait]
- Grows one stage when absorbed mana exceeds a certain amount.
Sang-hyeok's gaze lingered on the last two lines.
Before the regression, one of the reasons the <Spirit Vein Bracelet> had made a name for itself was precisely this growth function.
The <Spirit Vein Bracelet>, which had passed into Japanese hands, became more effective at recovering mana the more mana it held.
Taeseong had spent years failing to lift the curse and ultimately classified it as a defective product, then handed it to Sang-hyeok as part of this engagement-dissolution settlement.
The settlement clearly stated that even if the <Spirit Vein Bracelet>'s condition or value changed, no return could be demanded.
Even if Taeseong belatedly realized the <Spirit Vein Bracelet>'s true performance, there was no way to get it back.
As compensation for the engagement's dissolution, Sang-hyeok had secured full ownership of the Heroic-grade artifact he needed most right now.
Now it was time to confirm the restored function firsthand.
Sang-hyeok withdrew the <Demonic Dragon’s Eye> and picked up the silver ring.
Not a single dark-red stain remained.
Even when he brought his hand close, he felt none of the force that had once drained his mana.
Sang-hyeok immediately brought the <Spirit Vein Bracelet> to his left wrist.
Clack.
The interlocked silver ring split open to the left and right, then wrapped around his wrist.
The loose ring soon contracted to fit Sang-hyeok's wrist.
Vmmmm.
A blue light bloomed from inside the ring.
A cool energy wrapped around his wrist, then seeped into his body.
[The <Spirit Vein Bracelet> absorbs ambient mana.]
[Mana recovery speed increases.]
The mana he had consumed moments ago removing the curse began returning rapidly.
Sang-hyeok closed his eyes and gauged the recovery speed.
Mana normally recovered little by little even at rest, but now the recovery speed itself was different.
Within a few breaths, the mana he had expended visibly surged back.
He could determine the extent of the effect by actually using mana.
'<Demonic Dragon’s Eye>.'
Heat bloomed behind Sang-hyeok's eyes, and the colors of the room dimmed.
He could see the faintly drifting mana being drawn into the <Spirit Vein Bracelet> on his wrist.
Sang-hyeok opened his right hand.
'<Erasure>.'
Fwoosh!
A black energy rose above his palm.
As he used both Authorities simultaneously, the mana inside his body rapidly decreased.
At that, the <Spirit Vein Bracelet>'s blue light brightened further.
The mana in the room gathered toward the silver ring.
As that power entered through his wrist, the rate at which his mana decreased visibly slowed.
Sang-hyeok pushed more mana into <Erasure>.
VMMMM!
The black energy spread past his palm, reaching close to his forearm.
Consumption outpaced recovery, so the mana inside his body kept decreasing.
Still, thanks to the <Spirit Vein Bracelet>'s steady replenishment, he could maintain the same output longer than before.
Sang-hyeok withdrew <Erasure> while keeping only the <Demonic Dragon’s Eye> active.
As the black energy vanished from his palm, the mana that had been decreasing moments ago surged back rapidly.
Hoo.
Sang-hyeok exhaled slowly.
Within four or five breaths, enough mana returned to use <Erasure> again.
Sang-hyeok immediately opened his right hand.
'<Erasure>.'
Fwoosh!
A black energy of the same size as before bloomed once more.
Sang-hyeok maintained <Erasure> while counting to ten internally.
Throughout that time, the <Spirit Vein Bracelet> drew in ambient mana to offset the consumption, and the black energy maintained a dense, stable form to the end.
When Sang-hyeok finished counting to ten and clenched his fist, the black energy vanished.
When his breathing remained steady even after using Authorities in succession, Sang-hyeok recalled the battle on the 4th floor.
Back then, he had ultimately run out of mana while dealing with the endlessly swarming demonic beasts.
If he hadn't managed to slam the Brood Mother into the nest, he would have had to give up on the complete conquest.
Now, just by catching his breath briefly between attacks, he could use <Erasure> several more times.
Moreover, unlike a Mana Recovery Potion, the <Spirit Vein Bracelet> wasn't a one-use consumable.
As long as it could draw mana from the surroundings, it continued to aid recovery.
Of course, the recovery amount had its limits.
If he used both Authorities at full power, consumption outpaced recovery, and in places with insufficient ambient mana, the effect would diminish.
Still, the waiting time before he could use an Authority again had definitely shortened.
Once the <Spirit Vein Bracelet> grew, the limitations now apparent would gradually diminish.
'Now I won't have to worry as much about running out of mana like on the 4th floor.'
Sang-hyeok was looking down at the <Spirit Vein Bracelet> with satisfaction when it happened.
The blue light wrapping his wrist suddenly flared brightly.
The mana drawn in by the <Spirit Vein Bracelet> surged past his wrist and into his chest.
Thump.
The moment that mana touched his chest, the Heart of the Apocalypse Demonic Dragon beat heavily.
Sang-hyeok placed his right hand over his chest.
The mana that passed through his heart mixed directly into Sang-hyeok's own mana and spread throughout his body.
He felt no pain or foreign sensation.
'So it accepts mana absorbed from outside too.'
No new notification appeared.
The heart beat once, hard, then soon quieted as usual.
Sang-hyeok looked back and forth between the <Spirit Vein Bracelet> on his wrist and his chest.
He couldn't tell why the Heart of the Apocalypse Demonic Dragon had reacted to the <Spirit Vein Bracelet>'s mana.
He needed more clues to determine the exact reason.
Sang-hyeok decided to first make a record of the <Spirit Vein Bracelet> drawing in mana.
He took the <Demonic Eye Record Stone> from his inventory and placed his hand on the stone slab engraved with a closed-eye pattern.
In his mind, he recalled the scene from moments ago when the ambient mana had gathered toward his wrist.
Shhk.
The closed-eye pattern opened.
The <Spirit Vein Bracelet>, emitting blue light, was vividly drawn on the black stone slab.
Soon, two phrases appeared beside it.
[Ambient Mana Absorption]
[Wearer’s Mana Recovery]
Faint light gathered around the <Spirit Vein Bracelet> in the stone slab.
The operation he had confirmed moments ago was being reproduced exactly.
It would be sufficient material for Kim Seo-yun and the research team to examine later.
While Sang-hyeok finalized the record, more than half of the mana consumed in the experiment had already returned.
After confirming the recovery status as well, he placed the stone slab into his inventory.
At that moment, the <Spirit Vein Bracelet> on his wrist flashed briefly, and a new notification appeared.
[Mana required for growth accumulates in the <Spirit Vein Bracelet>.]
[Current Growth Progress: 0.01%]
Sang-hyeok's eyes narrowed.
Even after drawing in a considerable amount of mana while testing both Authorities, the growth progress was only 0.01 percent.
Absorbing ambient mana in an ordinary location alone would take far too long to reach growth.
'I'll need a place rich in mana.'
A moment later, once his mana had fully recovered, Sang-hyeok rose from his seat.
He had secured a way to make up for his mana shortage.
Now it was time to confirm its combat performance in the tower.
Sang-hyeok glanced at the <Spirit Vein Bracelet> fastened to his wrist, then focused his will.
「Would you like to enter the Infinite Tower?」
'Enter.'
Fwoosh!
White light rose from beneath his feet and enveloped Sang-hyeok's body.
As his vision was dyed pure white, the sensation of the floor supporting his feet also vanished.
Tap.
A moment later, both feet touched solid ground again.
As the white light receded, the room in reality disappeared and a pure white circular space appeared.
「You have entered the 5th floor of the Infinite Tower.」
「The 5th floor will proceed as a selection trial.」
Vmmmm.
The empty wall ahead split into three, and three doors appeared side by side.
「Select the trial you wish to challenge.」
Trial information appeared above each door.
[First Trial: Defeat]
[Second Trial: Defense]
[Third Trial: Survival]
All three were standard trials commonly seen on the lower floors.
For the current Sang-hyeok, none of the trials would be difficult regardless of which he chose.
Sang-hyeok headed straight for the Defeat Trial, which could be finished the fastest.
The moment he stood before the first door and reached out his hand, the <Spirit Vein Bracelet> on his wrist trembled faintly.
Vmmmm.
Sang-hyeok stopped his hand and looked down at his wrist.
A faint blue light was spreading from the <Spirit Vein Bracelet>.
At the same time, a new notification appeared above the existing trial information.
「Confirming the player's special qualifications.」
[Held Achievement]
[One Who Achieved the Impossible]
「Qualification to challenge a trial outside the standard path has been confirmed.」
「Searching held artifacts for one that satisfies the special trial's conditions.」
As the search began, the <Spirit Vein Bracelet>'s blue light intensified.
「A mana artifact capable of growth has been detected.」
[Target Artifact: <Spirit Vein Bracelet>]
[Current Status: Normal]
[Current Growth Progress: 0.01%]
'The <Spirit Vein Bracelet> is the condition for opening a special trial?'
Rumble.
At the same time, the wall to the right of the three doors split from the center and slid apart to both sides.
Behind it, an ancient stone door came into view.
On the stone door's surface was carved a pattern of a silver ring submerged in dark-red mist.
Soon, information for a fourth trial appeared above the door.
[4th Trial: <Corrupted Spirit Vein Corridor>]
[Classification: Hidden Trial]
[Entry Condition: Hold an Impossible achievement / Wear a mana artifact capable of growth]
[Complete Conquest Reward: Worn artifact grows 1 stage]
Sang-hyeok's gaze stopped on the last line.
It was a chance to advance its growth by an entire stage at once—a process that might otherwise take an unknown amount of time.
Following that, cautionary notes appeared as well.
[The worn artifact cannot be unequipped during the trial.]
[The corridor's corrupted mana accumulates in the worn artifact.]
[If corruption reaches 100%, the artifact's functions will cease.]
[After completing the trial, you will return to the 5th floor selection room.]
Sang-hyeok checked the cautionary notes one by one.
After finishing the hidden trial, he could return to the 5th floor selection room.
If he then passed the standard trial as well, he could climb one more floor today.
There was no issue with his goal of "one floor per day."
The problem was the corruption.
If the corruption reached 100 percent, the <Spirit Vein Bracelet> he had just revived would lose its function again.
If he wanted to play it safe, he could give up the hidden trial and enter a standard trial.
But Sang-hyeok's gaze returned to the 1-stage growth reward.
If he was going to keep climbing one floor per day, he needed to raise his mana recovery ability as much as possible whenever he could.
'Let's do it.'
Having made his decision, Sang-hyeok approached the dark-red stone door and placed his palm on it.
「Entering the hidden trial <Corrupted Spirit Vein Corridor>.」
Rumble!
The stone door opened inward.
Dark-red mist poured from the gap and coiled around Sang-hyeok's ankles.
A cold, sticky force tried to creep up his pant legs.
Just as Sang-hyeok raised his right hand to use <Erasure>, an invisible force from inside the door pulled at his body.
Fwoosh!
Dark-red light covered his vision, and the sensation beneath his feet vanished.
Tap.
A moment later, both feet touched a damp stone floor.
As the dark-red light receded, a long corridor stretched out ahead.
The corridor was filled with dark-red mist, and black, rotted stains spread across the walls and floor.
The farther in he went, the thicker the mist became.
[Hidden Trial: <Corrupted Spirit Vein Corridor>]
[Objective: Reach the end of the corridor.]
[Corrupted mana continuously accumulates in the worn artifact.]
[If corruption reaches 100%, you will fail the trial.]
Sang-hyeok took his first step.
Sssss.
The dark-red mist around him moved rapidly and surged toward his wrist.
The <Spirit Vein Bracelet>, which absorbed ambient mana, had drawn in even the corrupted mana mixed into the mist.
Dark-red stains spread across the once-clear silver ring.
[Corrupted mana accumulates in the <Spirit Vein Bracelet>.]
[Current corruption: 1%]
Before he could even take another step, the number rose again.
[Current corruption: 2%]
The corridor was long enough that the end was nowhere in sight.
At this rate, the corruption would reach 100 percent before he even got halfway.
Sang-hyeok looked down at the dark-red stains spreading across the <Spirit Vein Bracelet>.
Even now, the corridor's mist was seeping into the <Spirit Vein Bracelet>, widening the stains.
Within the mist, pure mana that could grow the <Spirit Vein Bracelet> and corrupted mana were mixed together.
'In that case...'
Sang-hyeok's eyes flashed.
'I just have to erase the corrupted mana the moment it comes in.'
Then only pure mana would accumulate in the <Spirit Vein Bracelet>.
Sang-hyeok covered the <Spirit Vein Bracelet> on his left wrist with his right hand.
'<Erasure>.'