Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Soulstone (3)
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[Enhancement succeeded!]
— Enhancement +9 → +10
Soulstone of Overflowing Magic Power+10
[Grade: Legendary]
— Magic Power increases by 15(+10).
[+10 Enhancement Effect: Trait 'Overflowing Mana' awakens.]
— Overflowing Mana: Maximum mana increases by 500.
Soulstone Fragments in Possession
— 47,100 shards "Done...!" After finishing the soulstone enhancements, it was dark outside again. My body creaked like it was screaming from exhaustion. But my mind was fine, thanks to the dopamine surging through me. I summoned all the soulstones I had equipped.
Pulsing Life Soulstone+10
[+10 Enhancement Effect: Trait is enhanced.]
— Pulsing Life: 5% of maximum health recovers continuously every second. (...more)
Soulstone of Enlightened Principles+10
[+10 Enhancement Effect: Trait is enhanced.]
— Stable Amplification: Power of all magic used increases by 50%.
Soulstone of Overflowing Magic Power+10
[Grade: Legendary]
— Magic Power increases by 15(+10).
— Overflowing Mana: Maximum mana increases by 500.
Soulstone of Overflowing Magic Power+10
[Grade: Legendary]
— Magic Power increases by 15(+10).
— Overflowing Mana: Maximum mana increases by 500.
Soulstone of Overflowing Magic Power+10
[Grade: Legendary]
— Magic Power increases by 15(+10).
— Overflowing Mana: Maximum mana increases by 500.
"This is it."
Legendary-grade soulstones worth tens of millions each, all fully enhanced to +10.
I opened my status window.
Rain Astria
— Direct descendant of a fallen magic family
— Level: 20
— Class: Mage
— Magic Circle: 2nd Circle
— Strength: 12
— Agility: 11
— Vitality: 21
— Magic Power: 109 (+75)
[Status]
— Pulsing Life
— Stable Amplification
— Overflowing Mana x3
Possessed Mana: 1320 (+1500)
"Hm?"
Looking at my stats, not just Magic Power, but most of them had risen.
It seemed the soulstones' effects had grown my soul, influencing the other stats as well.
Having reached level 20, my Magic Power stat had risen quite a bit too.
From levels 1-20, main stat increases by 5 per level-up.
21-40: 10.
41-60: 15.
61-80: 20.
And 81-99: 25 per level-up.
My current Magic Power from soulstones is 75.
At level 20.
That means just from soulstones, my Magic Power stat is comparable to level 27s.
Plus the Soulstone of Enlightened Principles gives an irreplaceable 50% magic power amplification.
If I reach level 99, the soulstones alone will grant magic power transcending limits.
However... honestly, I've never built a setup like this before, so I can't gauge my power well.
The soulstones I used to wear were called the commoner set.
Five rare soulstones parked at +7 enhancement, the ultimate cost-performance setup.
In contrast, what I have now is the fully +10 enhanced legendary soulstone set that everyone dreams of.
"My mana has increased a lot too."
My current possessed mana is 1320 + (1500), totaling 2820.
The + (1500) at the end is from soulstones, noted separately.
Every 1 increase in Magic Power stat raises maximum mana by 1.
So raising mana solely through Magic Power increases is nearly impossible.
Instead, the more mana you use, the more it slowly grows.
My initial level 1 mana was 1000.
From Magic Power growth, I gained 170 maximum mana.
So beyond that from Magic Power, I've gained another 150 from diligently using mana.
Mana growth slows as it increases, but that's why you must diligently use magic every day.
"Alright then."
Power overflowing in my body—I wanted to head to the dungeon right away and test my magic.
"But there's still more."
I opened the status window and headed to the next.
— Price: 1000 Cash per draw
[Single Draw] [10 Draws]
— All drawn items are soulbound.
The 2nd Circle Shop had no packages either.
Single draw price was no different from 1st Circle.
[Purchase 100,000 tickets?]
— 100,000,000 Cash will be charged.
This time too, I paid 100 million cash to buy 100,000 draw tickets.
Then pressed the 10-draw button.
Flash!
Basic Vitality Recovery Rune x6
2nd Circle: Energy Bolt Magic Scroll★ x1
Basic Mana Recovery Rune x3
The 2nd Circle Shop draws were no different from 1st Circle.
However, recovery runes had about 1.5 times the efficiency of the previous tier.
I organized the runes and scrolls from the 1st Circle Shop to free up space.
Having obtained higher consumables, time to replace them all.
Alright.
Flash!
Pressing the draw button, my vision flashed.
Today, I'm gonna die drawing.
"Hoo..."
Is it because I drew all day?
Dark circles hung heavy under my eyes.
I could barely remember how many days it'd been since I just drew at home.
But the scary part was, my body wasn't particularly tired.
Probably because the trait Pulsing Life from the soulstone constantly healed my body.
However... even if soulstones heal physical wounds, they don't touch the mind—my consciousness was hazy.
Still, I couldn't sleep now.
[2nd Circle Magic Awakening Rune x4]
[Grade: Legendary]
— Awakens one 2nd Circle magic suited to the user's magic power traits and potential.
2nd Circle Magic Awakening Runes. Four of them, no less.
I'd been waiting just for this moment—I couldn't sleep without using them.
I pressed the first rune to my chest.
A chill like my heart freezing spread from my heart throughout my body.
As the chill subsided...
[Awakened new magic!]
2nd Circle: Frozen Spear
[Grade: Legendary]
— Fires a frozen spear at the target. The struck area freezes rapidly.
"Hoo."
First magic awakened.
My head throbbed from mental exhaustion, but it was bearable.
Three legendary 2nd Circle magics total.
I pressed the second rune to my chest.
Then...
[2nd Circle: Frozen Spear magic transcends the wall!]
2nd Circle: Frozen Spear+
[Grade: Legendary]
— Fires a frozen spear at the target. The struck area freezes rapidly.
If it hits an already frozen area again, critical damage applies.
[Your magic steps into a new realm. Experience greatly increases.]
[Level up!]
[Level up!]
[Level up!]
[Level up!]
[Level up!]
— Level: 20 → 25
"Already?"
The second legendary rune elevated Frozen Spear.
Thanks to that, my level rose by 5 to 25.
I carefully read the popped-up status window, checking for changes.
Nothing unfamiliar.
"Alright."
Two legendary runes left.
I used them without delay.
[Awakened new magic!]
2nd Circle: Satellite
[Grade: Legendary]
— Floats mana orbs in the air that absorb used magic. Absorbed magic can be reused via the satellites.
Satellites summon orbs floating around you.
If your magic hits them, it stores that magic.
Using wide-range magic maximizes effect.
You can also store magic in satellites and send them to intercept hidden enemies, etc.
Versatile uses abound.
"Now the last one?"
I used the final legendary rune.
Then...
[2nd Circle: Satellite magic transcends the wall!]
[!] Error!
— 2nd Circle: Frozen Spear+ magic has already transcended the wall.
Only one magic per circle can transcend the wall.
Acquire 2nd Circle: Satellite+ magic?
If acquired, 2nd Circle: Frozen Spear+ magic's tier will downgrade.
The used Magic Awakening Rune will be refunded.
"No."
I pressed cancel, undoing the Satellite awakening.
Satellite has high utility, but storage is limited.
Better to boost power, so keeping Frozen Spear's transcendence is preferable.
The wall-transcended Satellite reverted.
The 2nd Circle Magic Awakening Rune I used returned to my hand.
Pressing it to my heart again...
[Awakened new magic!]
2nd Circle: Absorption Barrier
[Grade: Legendary]
— Summons a mana barrier. When attacked, absorbs a portion of damage to recover the barrier.
Obtained the last 2nd Circle legendary magic.
Absorption Barrier is an extremely efficient barrier spell.
High damage block relative to mana cost.
Plus it recovers by absorbing some blocked damage.
It was iffy in the past with low mana.
But now, with soulstone-boosted mana, it'll be very useful.
"Hoo..."
Finishing the runes, I took a slow deep breath.
At the same time.
Crunch—
Immense pressure crushed my skull like it was squeezing it.
The backlash from using four Magic Awakening Runes at once.
Unlike previous mental exhaustion, a brain-crushing pain dominated my body.
"Kugh..."
In maddening headache, I rolled on the bed, eyes rolled back.
Seconds felt like hours in continuous agony.
Teeth clenched tight, no scream escaped.
But... I was still conscious.
'Please, just let me pass out...'
Too strong from soulstones?
No fainting—I had to endure every bit of pain fully.
"Hoo..."
Ten minutes passed like ten hours.
As depleted mental power recovered slightly, the pain slowly ebbed.
I shed my sweat-soaked robe and donned a new one.
"...Too small."
Come to think of it, I didn't buy a robe yesterday.
Having tasted superhuman agony?
Even without sleep for over two days, not tired at all.
"Shall I hit the dungeon?"
Can't sleep? Even better.
Robe's tight, a bit uncomfortable too.
I roughly packed and left the inn.
Trying to buy a robe at the market, nothing fit right.
Especially shoulders and upper body uncomfortable, so I decided on custom instead.
"Welcome."
Opening the specialist tailor's door, the owner greeted me warmly.
"Came for a custom robe."
"One moment."
The owner took out a wooden tool with notches for measuring.
Skillfully measured my sizes and noted them in the ledger.
"Wow... your body's symmetry is perfect. Like it was hand-sculpted..."
Is it?
Well... it was 10 years of poured-in customization, so hand-sculpted fits.
"Total 15 platinum coins. Takes a week to craft."
"Here."
I paid in full and left.
A bit uncomfortable, but I'd wear this robe for a while.
This much I can bear.
With the robe commission done, I headed straight to the dungeon.
Mountains of things to test.
Dungeon basement level 2.
Squelch.
Stepping on the damp dungeon floor, water squelched.
Heading to level 3, I sporadically conjured Mana Bolts.
- Zap.
A lizardman crumpled before spotting me.
"Not the taste I'm after."
These were one-shot with Mana Bolt from the start.
Can't waste 2nd Circle magic here.
My goal now: level 3 orcs.
Best for testing power, with the highest health in lower dungeon levels.
Without slowing, I reached level 2 boss room en route to 3.
"...?"
Unlike the empty level 1 boss room, level 2's bustled with people.
Looking around slowly, something odd caught my eye.
Dozens of plainly armed civilians blocked the boss room entrance.
"Halt."
As I approached, a man raised his hand to stop me.
Emblem on his chest... Dawn.
You guys again?
"For safety reasons, boss room entry is restricted. What brings you here?"
"Going to basement level 3."
"Your affiliation?"
"None."
"Then you can't pass."
The man shook his head.
Boss spawn still a day away.
No anomalies on just level 2.
Thus.
"... Controlling boss beyond treasure chests too?"
"For safety reasons."
He repeated the same line.
Killing boss yields items not in chests.
Like the Abyss Fragment from Abyss Door.
Hence, boss kills are pride contests between guilds.
Can't let them block my path.
'Blink past?'
Never used Blink in front of others.
Blink can't pass solid walls, but people? Easy.
Could Blink over boss room to level 3, but... a shame.
Showing Blink today might draw checks during tomorrow's level 2 boss raid.
Give up for today?
As I thought that.
"Wait."
Dawn Guild members gathered around me one by one.
They surrounded me completely, leaving space for two or three people.
"... What is this?"
"Orders from above."
I subtly gripped my staff, assessing.
This is level 2.
Knights nearby, they won't try anything stupid... but habits of caution matter.
Regardless.
The ones in front shuffled positions, then one slipped out.
Wait a bit more.
"Come in."
"?"
A narrow gap opened among the blocking civilians, enough for one.
Opposite side also ringed with people.
They made a path just for me.
... Quite the hospitality?
I followed the man ahead through the level 2 boss room door.
Inside, human walls of civilians stacked three deep blocked access.
Emerging through the gaps.
"Good to see you again."
Humphrey.
The Dawn man who'd visited my house bowed lightly in greeting.
... So he's the higher-up.
Humphrey's body bore intense battle scars.
No unmarred spots on his armor.
"... Ah. Level 3 boss raid today."
"Is that so."
Explains it.
Still, capable—several apparent subordinates from Dawn around him.
Humphrey approached slowly.
"Care for a word?"