Michael’s eyes narrowed slightly. He kept scrolling.
> [4] Ironleaf Bark – Natural armor-like properties.
Cost: $6,500 per piece.
He stopped there for now, eyes hovering over the list. A few things already stood out.
With his wealth, he could afford all of them in small quantity.
Ghostroot Resin and Ironleaf Bark, for example, looked like what would be suitable for Fade and Beginning, respectively.
Shadowweave Fungus was good too.
Also, if it was within his power, nothing was stopping him from using multiple materials at once.
Lily who used multiple equipments to evolve proved this.
The Mirror Lotus Petals intrigued him too.
Michael kept scrolling.
> [17] Vital Moss – A rare moss that feeds off energy. When refined, can produce mild regeneration-type enhancements.
Cost: $19,000 per piece.
[18] Dusksilk Threads – Naturally occurring fibers from a rare mana-spun cocoon. Cloaking properties that adapt to nearby shadows. When refined, can be infused into gears to grant low-grade invisibility under certain light conditions.
Cost: $22,500 per strand.
[20] Mindveil Sap – Sap drawn from the Mirage Willow tree. Grants passive mental cloaking and can interfere with weak detection abilities.
Cost: $31,000 per bottle.
Michael tapped the screen.
Dusksilk Threads. That was a maybe—for Ghost or Fade. It synergized with what he wanted, and the end price wasn’t absurd. If he combined it with Shadowweave or Ghostroot, it might create a stealth core unlike anything seen in early ranks.
As for Mindveil Sap, it looked useful for Blue or Purple.
Then came the next block of entries.
[21] Abyss Amber – Hardened mana stone found in mana-dead zones. Increases mana resistance and is often used in armor or undead shell enhancement.
Cost: $26,800 per shard.
[22] Glimmer Quartz – Crystal that amplifies illusionary effects, often used in projection-type spells. Ideal for creatures developing mirage-type mutations.
Cost: $27,000 per crystal.
[23] Stoneheart Resin – Thick sap that hardens into a rock-like shell over time. Used to reinforce armour. Especially effective when fused with iron-based materials.
Cost: $30,000 per unit.
[24] Hollowcore Shell – Shell of a Hollow Beetle. Naturally resists sound and energy detection.
Cost: $44,500 per shell
Michael nodded slowly.
Abyss Amber and Stoneheart Resin too. He imagined the two combined might make Lily and Beginning virtually unbreakable at Rank 2.
Glimmer Quartz—that one was definitely for Purple and Blue.
Michael soon made a list.
For Fade & Ghost: Shadowweave Fungus, Ghostroot Resin, Dusksilk Threads, Hollowcore Shell
For Blue & Purple: Mirror Lotus Petals, Glimmer Quartz, Mindveil Sap
For Lily & Beginning: Ironleaf Bark, Stoneheart Resin, Abyss Amber, Vital Moss
Michael shut off the screen.
His mind had already begun sorting combinations, potentials, and fallback options.
Michael memorized each name carefully, repeating them mentally as if etching them into stone. He intended to add them to the material list he’d submit to Mage Lian tomorrow night.
Hopefully, the Kingdom’s reserves had these items and even better alternatives hidden away.
Michael washed the plates he used to eat, the rhythmic sound of water splashing against the ceramic providing a sense of calm. His mind, however, was still occupied with the growing list of materials he’d need for his undead.
The knowledge he’d gained from his conversation with Mage Lian was reassuring, but the urgency of his preparations still hung over him. With everything to consider, time was a luxury he couldn’t afford.
Once he was finished, he returned to his room. But before he could focus on shifting his consciousness back to his body in the Land of Origin, his phone vibrated, breaking his concentration. Michael glanced down and saw it was a group text message.
The notification indicated it was from the group created by the teacher in charge of the Awakeners tied to Bright Academy, the school his sister Lily attended.
Curious, Michael tapped the message and began reading it. The content was brief but impactful:
"The date for the upcoming college entrance exams has been set. The exams will start ten days from now and will last for three days. Part of the exams will be public."
The latter part caught Michael off guard. Public? Why would the exams be broadcast? He wondered if it was an attempt by the federation to allow the general public a glimpse into the world of the supernatural.
With a soft sigh, Michael pocketed his phone and shifted his focus to the task ahead. There was a lot to do in the coming days, and now more than ever, he needed to stay focused on the materials he was gathering for his undead and his own preparations.
Michael sat cross-legged on the bed. He took a slow breath, letting the calm settle over him before reaching into his storage space.
With a flicker of mana, a small, cloudy-white crystal appeared in his palm.
It wasn’t a Rank 2 spirit crystal—those were far too valuable. They took time to refine, time to absorb.
This one was unranked. Perfect for quick absorption.
He still had a few Rank 1 crystals as well, but those too he had been saving—for Lily, mostly. She would be able to use them soon, and he hadn’t felt much need for them himself.
Michael stared at the crystal for a moment longer, then clenched his fingers around it.
"I’ll get my intelligence stat to 200 today," he muttered.
There was no dramatic surge of light, no burst of mana, just a soft pulse. Energy flowed into him. His body accepted the spirit crystal’s contents eagerly.
Michael closed his eyes, breathing evenly as the energy coursed through him.
Once the energy was almost entirely absorbed, he allowed his breathing to slow.
His fingers relaxed. The crystal in his hand crumbled to ash.
Only then did he shift.
Not because he wanted to stop his meditation but because something else made him do so.
It also wasn’t because of the exhausted spirit crystal.
[Your mana is overwhelming]
[You have gained the skill {Telepathy}]
A/N: Sorry it came late guys.