I opened my eyes to see my heart regenerating in the subway. The pain was excruciating like molten lava coursing through my veins, or being pierced by a thousand, no, a million needles at once. Then I glanced at the people around me, their faces frozen in shock, as if they'd seen a ghost. Well… maybe I actually was one, if not for my skill.
I tried to stand, but my legs gave out instantly. The backlash from pushing my {Hyper-Ultra Mana Sensitivity} past my body's limits hit me like a hammer. I could feel mana leaking out of me as if slipping away like water through cracked glass. So this was the side effect of that damn trait… {Mana Deficiency Syndrome}.
The trait {Hyper-Ultra Mana Sensitivity} lets me regenerate mana by absorbing and assimilating the mana floating in the atmosphere.
Which basically means… infinite mana.
Sounds great, right? Except for one little problem that every time I activate it, the pain is unbearable. The atmospheric mana forcefully floods into my body, tearing through me and draining my stamina, endurance, and mental fortitude like it's nothing.
But overusing it was the only way to counter the problem .And that's what gave me the trait {Mana Deficiency Syndrome}. Now, my mana pool, which used to overflow uncontrollably, is finally stable. My astral body constantly assimilates and absorbs the atmospheric mana while also draining the excess. It's a perfect balance… or at least, close enough.
The cracks in my astral projection can only be healed once I reach the Tower's fifth floor. So, you'd think I'd be in a hurry to get there but honestly, I'm not.
I'm actually pretty happy about it. I managed to kill not two, but three birds with one stone. I gained {Mana Confluence}–a skill every mage dreams of, {Mana Deficiency Syndrome}–a curse for most mages but a gift for me, and the item I manifested,
I manifested this weapon because it was my first creation in Infinite Abyss. I made it after hitting Level 30 ,th emax level in Blacksmithing and thanks to a bug the devs forgot to patch. But hey, if you want, I could show you how it worked.
---
[Item Details]
Item:Moon Cleaver.
Rank:A+++.
Grade: Mystical Unique.
Status: Weapon(Katana).
Type: Permanent Manifestation.
State:Silver(Lux).
Description:This weapon is your creation and was created from pure Mana in large quantities.This was caused the item to gain a random Blessing called:{Moon's Grace}.It is a blade forged from the pure Mana of ◼️◼️◼️'s Residue and in the image of the constellation:{Lady of the Dark Nights} and constellation:{The Slumberer on the Moon} in the silver state.
Item Skills:
1.Silver Edge:Allows the blade to cut through magic.(Active)
2.Moon's Grace:Enhances all stats by 10%.(Passive)
3.Slumberer's Awake:Allows the user to deal high damage when Mana and focus is on the blade and the body.(Active)
4.State Change:When the user puts elemental Mana of a specific attribute,the state changes.(Active)
---
I smiled as my gaze fell on the
[Your pain resistance has increased by 1%]
[A new skill can be unlocked at 10%]
[Current pain resistance: 1.1%]
Oh, for heaven's sake! How did my pain resistance go up that much? I mean, a near-death and a full-on death experience, and it shot up this fast? Even in the game, building pain resistance was brutal. Well… I'm not complaining. I'll take it.
I drew
[You have taken the 2nd bite]
[All of your stats have increased by 5]
A surge of power coursed through me. My muscles felt denser and stronger, my nerves more flexible, and my senses sharper. My thinking sped up, and my reflexes became razor-fast.
I secured the katana on my hip and dashed forward, unsheathing it mid-run. My body felt lighter, faster… almost too easy. Then, the system messages caught my attention.
[Strength:5.0→10.0]
[Agility:8.0→13.0]
[Stamina:7.0→12.0]
[Endurance:6.5→11.5]
[Defence:5.5→10.5]
[Mental Fortitude:9.5→14.5]
[Charima:9.5→14.5]
I focused my mana into the katana as I moved, dodging with precise control.
[Item Skill: {State Change} has been activated]
[State has been chosen as Crimson (Pyro)]
---
[Item Details]
Item:Moon Cleaver.
Rank:A+++.
Grade: Mystical Unique.
Status: Weapon(Katana).
Type: Permanent Manifestation.
State:Crimson(Pyro).
Description:This weapon is your creation and was created from pure Mana in large quantities.This has caused the item to gain a random Blessing called:{Pyro's Pride}.It is a blade forged from the pure Mana of ◼️◼️◼️'s Residue and in the image of the constellation:{The First Flame} and constellation:{The Night-Ignitinh Flame} in the crimson state.
Item Skill:
1.Scarlet Edge:Allows the user to send a slash of flames that deals physical damage.(Active)
2.Pyro's Pride:Enhances Fire Skills and Spells and allows the user to use Pyro infusion.(Passive)
3.Sun's Descent:Unleashes condensed solar energy from the blade, creating a burning domain that incinerates everything within range and nullifies regeneration. (Active)
4.State Change:When the user puts elemental Mana of a specific attribute,the state changes.(Active)
---
The blade turned crimson red, its weight suddenly lighter in my grasp.
I channeled my mana, coating the edge as the Mangrove unleashed a storm of writhing branches. In response, the blade erupted into flames, and with a single swing, I sent a fiery arc slicing through the air burning the branches into nothing but dust.
[Item Skill:{Sun's Descent}has been activated]
[Item Skill:{Sun's Descent} has evolved]
[You have acquired the skill:{Incandescent Dawn}]
Without wasting a breath, I extended my hand forward. Mana surged from my palm, forming a white magic circle before me.Its glow pure and sharp, marking it as a First Circle spell. In its center, a single word began to carve itself in light… the spell's name.
'Scorching Surge!'
[Pyro Spell: {Scorching Surge} has been executed]
A searing beam of fire shot forward, scorching the Mangrove as its writhing branches hissed and blackened under the intense heat. But it wasn't defeated yet. Its roots shot out like serpents, wrapping around my hands and legs, while countless branches launched themselves toward me in a deadly, chaotic barrage.
A smile tugged at the corner of my lips, and I quickly tried to hide it behind my hand. Then, with a decisive motion, I drove my sword into the ground and began pouring my mana into it.
A magic circle blossomed beneath me, glowing white as I activated it. It was a 1st Circle spell, and at its center, the name of the spell shone brightly.
"Has he gone mad? Just because he revived doesn't mean he's immortal," Kang Sok muttered, his voice laced with disbelief. He'd pinned all his hopes on me failing to escape the subway but here I was.
The spell on the ground was originally a 6th Circle wind spell that I had reworked into a weaker but efficient version.
'Maelstrom Gale!'
[Aero Spell: {Maelstrom Gale} has been executed]
Soon, a violent whirlwind erupted, shredding the roots and branches of the Mangrove. Now,
[Item Skill:{State Change} has been activated]
[State has been chosen as Turquoise(Aero)]
---
[Item Details]
Item:Moon Cleaver.
Rank:A+++.
Grade: Mystical Unique.
Status: Weapon(Katana).
Type: Permanent Manifestation.
State: Turquoise(Aero).
Description:This weapon is your creation and was created from pure Mana in large quantities.This was caused the item to gain a random Blessing called:{Wind's Grace}.It is a blade forged from the pure Mana of ◼️◼️◼️'s Residue and in the image of the constellation:{The North Wind of Winter} and constellation:{Holder of the Bad of Endless Storms} in the Turquoise state.
Item Skills:
1.Tempest Blade:Allows the user to send multiple blades of Wind.
2.Wind's Grace:Grants the wielder immunity to all air- or wind-dependent magic.
3.Gale Step:Infuse your movements with wind, increasing speed and agility. Leaves afterimages to confuse enemies and allows short-range air traversal.
4.State Change:When the user puts elemental Mana of a specific attribute,the state changes.(Active)
---
[Item Skill:{Wind's Grace}has been activated]
You might think that was reckless, but honestly… wasn't it entertaining? My Item Skill, {Wind's Grace}, protected me from {Maelstrom Gale} while effortlessly shredding the mangrove's roots and branches.
I exhaled, watching the shredded mangrove smoke and writhe. But then… a chilling voice echoed from the subway's depths. "You shouldn't have survived that, Kim Yujeo…"
My blood ran cold. Something far deadlier than this tree was waiting, and it was already moving toward me.
[To be Continued...]
[End of Chapter 9: Resurgence]