NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 37: Permanent Copy
[Level 24 → Level 25]
[Body Blood Magic damage has been increased by 1%]
Reaching level 25 within a week was an achievement, but Adam knew he couldn't let himself slow down.
If he was going to challenge the floor boss, he needed better equipment... gear that would complement his abilities as a mage and enhance his [Body Blood Magic].
Opening the [System Store], Adam browsed through the options carefully.
His magic revolved around blood manipulation, meaning he needed items that enhanced magic power, mana efficiency, and durability in close combat.
He scrolled through various weapons and armor, filtering out anything that didn't align with his fighting style.
After a few minutes, he made his decisions.
[System Store]
[Mage Equipment]
├── Eldritch Mantle (3,200 Gold) – A flowing dark-red robe that amplifies magic power by 20% and increases mana regeneration rate by 15%.
├── Runed Arcane Gloves (2,500 Gold) – Inlaid with mystical inscriptions, these gloves enhance spellcasting speed and boost the potency of magical attacks by 10%.
├── Sanguine Ring (1,500 Gold) – A crimson-etched ring that passively enhances blood regeneration, reducing the cost of blood-related magic.
└── Blood Crystals (Remaining Gold) – Crystallized essence of condensed blood energy. Used as a catalyst for blood magic, replenishing both health and mana over time.
Adam made his selections without hesitation.
[Purchase Confirmed]
- Eldritch Mantle - 3,200 Gold
- Runed Arcane Gloves - 2,500 Gold
- Sanguine Ring - 1,500 Gold
- Blood Crystals (600 Gold worth)
With a total spend of 7,800 Gold, Adam finalized his purchases and immediately equipped the items.
As he donned the Eldritch Mantle, he felt a surge of mana coursing through him.
The fabric was unnaturally light, yet a faint feeling of magical energy pulsed from it.
His mana flow became noticeably smoother, and the additional regeneration would ensure he lasted longer in prolonged battles.
The Runed Arcane Gloves fit snugly around his hands.
As soon as he clenched his fists, the runes embedded in the gloves flickered with a soft glow.
He could already tell that his spells would now activate faster, giving him an edge in combat.
Finally, he slipped the Sanguine Ring onto his finger.
A subtle warmth spread from the ring, synchronizing with his own blood flow.
The reduction in his blood magic cost was small but significant.
Every advantage counted, especially when he had to maintain high mana efficiency in fights.
His remaining coins had been converted into Blood Crystals, small deep-red stones stored in his inventory.
They would serve as emergency resources, restoring his vitality and mana if a battle dragged on longer than expected.
With his preparations nearly complete, there was only one last thing left to do.
It was finally time to use [Permanent Copy].
Adam hesitated, his finger hovering over the system panel.
This was not a decision to be taken lightly.
[Permanent Copy] was one of his most valuable abilities, allowing him to permanently acquire a skill from a viewer.
He had initially planned to wait...
Ideally until he encountered a well-known and powerful viewer from his past life.
Someone with an ability he knew would be indispensable in the long run.
But that opportunity had yet to present itself.
Time was against him.
He had to challenge the floor boss soon, and unlike before, this time the boss had a [True Body].
That single difference changed everything.
In his previous life, the first-floor boss had been a lesser version of itself, a weakened form that lacked true intelligence or the full extent of its power.
But now, it would be different.
Stronger, smarter, and most likely more unpredictable.
The risk of death was real, and he couldn't afford to underestimate it...
His mind weighed the options before him.
First, he could delay the fight and continue leveling up.
The problem was that the first floor's monsters offered increasingly diminishing returns.
He estimated that grinding to level 40— the recommended level for challenging the boss— would take at least a month.
That was far too long!
If he wasted that much time, he might not reach the tenth floor before the eleventh floor unlocked. That was an unacceptable outcome.
The second option was to use [Permanent Copy] now.
Doing so would give him an immediate boost in power, increasing his chances of survival against the boss.
However, the drawback was was that once used, he wouldn't be able to use it again until he ranked up from Ember to Stone, which required fifty Soul Cores.
And then there was the third option...
Proceed without using [Permanent Copy].
Trust in his current strength, his strategy, and his new equipment to carry him through the fight.
But Adam knew better than to let arrogance cloud his judgment.
Playing it safe had kept him alive this long.
He had already lived through one life and knew that death was absolute in this tower.
Preparation was important... hence he had made his decision.
He would use [Permanent Copy] now.
Taking a deep breath, he pulled up his system panel.
The choice he made here could determine how far he'd go in the coming floors, and he wasn't going to take it lightly.
[Streamer, The Chosen Conduit, asks who amongst his viewers has the strongest abilities?]
A wave of responses flooded in almost instantly.
[Frog Eater]: Not me... all my personalized abilities are C-tier, just at high ranks.
[Experienced Old Knight]: I have a B-tier ability! It's carried me through countless battles.
[5th Style Sword Master]: Not to brag, but all my personalized abilities are B-tier.
[Prankster of Kingdoms]: What's this? Are you choosing a Main Sponsor based on strength?
Adam just smiled to reply.
"No, it's not like that. I'm just curious."
[Bird Hunter]: Liar... you're definitely picking based on strength.
[Bird Hunter]: But listen, tiers don't mean everything! My personalized ability is only C-tier, but it lets you track anything or anyone as long as you have an item they used to carry. You can find anyone, anywhere. Think about it!
[Experienced Old Knight]: What is he? A detective? My ability lets me grow stronger the more enemies I face! Just by surviving battles, I get stronger over time. What's better than that?!
[5th Style Sword Master]: Quite ambitious. But what's the point of getting stronger if you're already dead? My abilities allow me to reflect all attacks back at my opponent. Doesn't matter how strong they are... if they attack me, they're the ones taking damage!
Adam narrowed his eyes as he considered.
The [5th Style Sword Master] had a point.
Reflection abilities were extremely powerful if used correctly, especially against high-damage enemies.
But [Experienced Old Knight]'s ability was also tempting...
An ability that scaled infinitely sounded like something that could carry him through the long run.
Just as he was about to settle between the two, another message popped up.
[Prankster of Kingdoms]: I'm an A-tier ability user ^^.