NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 35: Viewer Sympathy
"System Store, open!"
The air rippled as the system interface materialized before Adam, translucent panels filling his vision with countless options.
Rows of items scrolled past his eyes, each categorized neatly for selection.
[System Store]
[Weapons]
├── Tempered Steel Shortsword (150 Gold) – A finely crafted blade with increased durability and sharpness. Ideal for consistent performance.
├── Venomtip Dagger (300 Gold) – A lightweight dagger coated with a permanent paralytic agent. Small cuts can slow enemies.
├── Titanforged Battleaxe (750 Gold) – A heavy, two-handed axe reinforced with rare metals, increasing impact force and armor penetration.
└── Windcarver Spear (1,200 Gold) – A balanced spear that slightly enhances the wielder's speed and agility, making attacks faster and more precise.
[Utility Items]
├── Health Potion (20 Gold) – Restores 50 HP over 10 seconds.
├── Mana Recovery Elixir (40 Gold) – Regenerates 30 MP instantly.
├── Shadow Cloak (250 Gold) – Grants temporary invisibility for 10 seconds.
└── Portable Barrier (500 Gold) – Deploys a temporary energy shield capable of withstanding three hits.
After purchasing a Mana Recovery Elixir, he immediately bought something else.
"Go to signal disruptor devices!"
Adam commanded.
The store menu shifted instantly, listing various devices designed to interfere with signals and energy transmissions.
[Signal Disruptors]
├── Basic Signal Jammer (100 Gold) – Disrupts weak signals within a 10-meter radius for 30 seconds.
├── Pulse Disruptor (250 Gold) – Sends out an electromagnetic pulse that temporarily disables all technological functions for 15 seconds.
├── Void Interference Beacon (3000 Gold) – Completely nullifies energy transmissions within a 50-meter radius for five minutes.
└── Absolute Severance Device (78000 Gold) – Permanently cuts off all linked connections within a targeted area.
Adam's eyes locked onto the Pulse Disruptor.
It was expensive, but he had just enough gold from viewer donations.
Without hesitation, he made his choice.
"Purchase Pulse Disruptor!"
[Purchase confirmed! 250 Gold deducted.]
The device materialized in his hand.
A compact, metallic sphere with a small activation button on its side.
He didn't have time to waste.
The corpse, having sensed his momentary distraction, lunged toward him, its grotesque form stretching unnaturally.
Its movements were erratic, as though it were being puppeteered by unseen strings.
Adam reacted instantly, activating [Body Blood Magic], not to attack, but to enhance his physical capabilities.
A surge of raw power coursed through his veins, strengthening his muscles as he leaped backward, barely avoiding the corpse's outstretched claws.
The impact of his landing cracked the stone beneath his feet, sending dust into the air.
With no room for delay, Adam pressed the button on the Pulse Disruptor.
A faint sound resonated from the device, followed by an invisible wave of interference spreading outward.
The moment the energy pulse expanded, the corpse faltered mid-motion.
It sensed something odd that was disrupting the connected between it and its source of power.
Its limbs twitched violently, as if something inside it was resisting the disruption.
Then, its movements became sluggish, uncoordinated.
Its once-fluid motion turned rigid...
Like a marionette with half of its strings cut.
A strained voice, deep and distorted, came from the corpse's mouth.
"How odd... how did you figure it out...?"
Adam paused before smiling a little.
"Hide well, Celestia."
The moment the name left his lips, the corpse's empty eye sockets widened in shock.
The eerie glow within them flickered.
"You—"
It tried to speak further, but Adam had no intention of letting it finish.
He activated [Body Blood Magic] again, this time forming several blood-forged spikes that erupted from the ground, piercing the corpse's limbs and holding it in place.
It struggled, thrashing against the restraints, but its previous fluidity was gone.
The body froze.
For a brief moment, the eerie energy that had animated it seemed to linger, resisting death.
Then, with a final convulsion, it collapsed to the floor.
The severed head rolled to a stop, its mouth still slightly open, as if trying to form unfinished words.
[Trespassed Corpse has been slain.]
[+2030 Exp, +1 Basic Soul Core.]
[+100 Gold]
[Level 11 → Level 12]
[Mana Capacity has been increased slightly]
[E-tier Item has been found!]
[All-Purpose Key] : A one-time use key that can open any doors and locks.
Adam barely glanced at the rewards.
His breath was heavy, his muscles tensed with lingering adrenaline.
He turned sharply, his eyes locking onto Evelyn's unconscious body against the cold stone wall.
Blood pooled beneath her where her arm had been torn away, her pale skin taking on an alarming pallor.
Adam crossed the distance in an instant, kneeling beside her.
Her breathing was faint and shallow.
His hands trembled a bit as he hovered them over her wounds, but he clenched his teeth.
He had no healing abilities... he could only apply pressure and try to stop the bleeding.
[Streamer, The Chosen Conduit, asks if any of his viewers have healing abilities]
[5th Style Sword Master shakes his head]
[Frog Eater looks away]
[Mads_1401 has donated 10 coins]
[Mads_1401] : I don't have much coins, but have it. Maybe you can purchase healing items on the system store...
Seeing this, the other viewers followed along.
[PrinceAether has donated 5 coins]
[Bird Hunter has donated 10 coins]
[nonexnihilio42069 has donated 30 coins]
[Prankster of Kingdoms is thinking]
[Prankster of Kingdoms has donated 200 coins]
[Experienced Old Knight has donated 20 coins]
This was the advantage of having viewers who were now attached to you and your life.
To them, your needs and wants were just as important as their entertainment!
However, at the same time, Adam definitely needed to expand his viewer count...
Not because he wanted to be famous, but he definitely needed more viewers to expand his options to cast [Temporary Copy] on!
More viewers meant more abilities, and more abilities meant survival would be higher...
He tore off a piece of his already ruined coat, wrapping it tightly around her shoulder to slow the blood loss.
Then, just as he was about to purchase a basic healing potion from the system store, a sudden noise was heard.
Boom!
The heavy doors burst open. Guards flooded into the room, weapons drawn.
Adam barely had time to react before they surrounded him, their blades aimed directly at him.
"Step away from her!"
One of the guards barked.
Instinct told Adam to raise his weapon in defense, but he forced himself to remain still.
He took a slow, deliberate breath before lifting his hands, letting his sword clatter to the floor.
"I can prove my innocence..."
He said, voice steady despite the tension crackling in the air.
"When she wakes up, she'll confirm it."
The guards exchanged wary glances, but they did not lower their weapons.
One of them, likely the leader, stepped forward and gestured for two others to check on Evelyn.
The moment they saw her missing arm, their expressions darkened.
One of them pulled out a small vial, pouring a glowing liquid over her wound.
The bleeding slowed, the flesh around it stabilizing as the potion worked its magic.
It wouldn't restore the limb, but at least it kept her from getting worse.
"Take her to the medics..."
The lead guard ordered.
...
In a dimly lit chamber, illuminated only by the flickering glow of strange, ethereal candlelight, a tall woman stood in silence.
Her long black hair cascaded over her shoulders, framing a face of sharp elegance.
One of her eyes gleamed with an eerie silver hue, while the other burned with a deep crimson glow... a contrast as unsettling as it was mesmerizing.
Her fingers traced the curve of her cheek, an idle gesture that betrayed the thoughts racing beneath her composed exterior.
Though her gaze was fixed forward, it was not upon anything visible...
As though she was staring into something beyond the naked eye, beyond ordinary perception.
"How did he figure out my name..."
A pause.
Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, yet laced with undeniable intrigue, she muttered...
"Two dangerous entities are now climbing the tower…"