Upgrading equipment was no easy task. Most of the arcane artifacts Edwyn owned were second-rate items with no room for enhancement.
Crafting new gear, on the other hand, required magical schematics.
Though Joron had quite a few in his possession, trading for them came at a hefty cost. Edwyn had just splurged in a massive round of purchases and was nearly out of Mana Stones. Completing a full upgrade in a short time was out of the question.
Thankfully, he wasn't in a rush.
....
Time flew, and before he knew it, Edwyn had spent seven years at the Academy.
Two years ago, aided by his intermediate-level meditation technique, his Spiritforce had broken through the 30-point threshold, officially making him an Intermediate Apprentice. By now, his Spiritforce had reached 32, and thanks to the rebound effect, his Physique had also risen to 30.
While not the fastest among formal apprentices, his progress was leaps and bounds ahead of average students.
After all, a mid-level meditation method worth 2,000 Mana Stones wasn't something most could afford.
And in that time, Edwyn hadn't slacked on his equipment upgrades either.
Central Black Tower, Floor 56.
As he finished inscribing the final rune, Edwyn leaned back with a long sigh.
On the table before him lay a massive black sword etched with dense runes, pulsing with magical energy.
"Finally done." He stretched lazily.
Crafting this sword had taken him six whole months. He had poured all the Mana Stones he'd saved over the past two years into acquiring the schematic from Joron.
But it had been worth it.
The sword was called the MagicDevourer and was exceptionally complex. As a Mage Apprentice, it had taken Edwyn half a year just to complete the first stage of its construction.
Even so, its first-stage effect was powerful.
Its core enchantment, "Greedflame," not only burned with intense heat but also consumed magic. Spells like mana shields that came into contact with Greedflame would see their energy consumption skyrocket severalfold.
For most apprentices, who barely had enough Mana Stones to cast spells in the first place, that kind of pressure was devastating. They'd have no choice but to cancel their spells.
Of course, using Greedflame came at a cost, Edwyn would have to expend a lot of his own mana.
But he had no shortage of resources.
His monthly profits reached 400 Mana Stones, a fortune in the Academy.
Aside from the Devourer of Magic, he had also crafted several other items:
Cloak of the Hidden One: Suppresses magical presence and visibility. When combined with stealth and silence spells, it could even fool hasty scans from full-fledged wizards.
Guardian Pendant: Automatically triggers a 30-second mana shield upon magical attack. The shield could withstand up to 50 energy levels. Each activation used a third of a Mana Stone.
Vine Ring: Summons a twisted vine to entangle enemies.
Farseeing Goggles: Grants Eagle Sight spell for long-range reconnaissance.
Magmatic Repeater: Uses anti-magic bullets.
Storage Pouch: Holds up to two cubic meters of material.
Boots of Swiftness, Mindshield Ring, and a number of alchemical utility gadgets.
Altogether, these upgrades cost him around 7,000 to 8,000 Mana Stones.
But the results were undeniable.
He now had layered protections against both physical and magical threats, enhanced mobility, crowd control, and even long-range combat capability.
At this point, he was practically a walking fortress.
Packing away his sword, Edwyn headed to Joron's lab on the 99th floor to do some casual looting.
The place was full of treasure. Even the professor's discarded drafts and scrap materials could solve problems that troubled apprentices for years.
But for Edwyn, that wasn't the best part.
What he really had his eye on were the tools Joron regularly used, like the surgical scalpel currently in his hand.
[Material: Enchanted Surgical Scalpel]
[Extractable Technique: Joron's Biological Dissection Method]
[Extraction Cost: 40 Spiritforce]
[Proceed with Extraction?]
Edwyn gulped and quietly put the scalpel back.
Forty Spiritforce? He wasn't crazy.
Just as he was scavenging through the lab, the door suddenly opened, Joron and Agnes walked in together.
"Oh! Edwyn," Joron said cheerfully. "Haven't seen you in half a year. Finished your magic-eater sword?"
Edwyn awkwardly turned as Joron's gaze landed on the scalpel in his hand. The professor's expression shifted instantly. A tendril of mana shot out and yanked the scalpel away.
"This one's off-limits," Joron said sternly.
Edwyn scratched his head in embarrassment.
He had a habit of pilfering things whenever he visited the lab. Joron tolerated it to an extent, quills, parchment, minor tools, but this scalpel was clearly too valuable.
Agnes chuckled at the exchange.
"Ahem… good to see you both, Professor, Agnes," Edwyn said, trying to change the subject.
"Good to see you too." Agnes smiled. She stepped closer and compared their heights.
"You were only this tall when you entered the Academy."
She gestured to her chest. Edwyn was now taller than her.
Something clicked in his mind.
"Agnes… you're taking the Mage Trial?"
Agnes nodded. "Yes. In a few days, I'll enter the Dean's private dimension for the test."
The Mage Trial, the final trial of an apprentice.
Passing it meant earning the right to ascend and become a true Mage.
"You'll do great, Agnes," Edwyn said sincerely. "You're the most brilliant disciple Joron has trained in a thousand years."
Agnes smiled sweetly, and Joron stroked his beard with pride.
"Edwyn's right. You're just too nice, you don't even know how pathetic the other candidates are. As my prized student, you'll pass for sure."
Agnes didn't respond. Truthfully, she wasn't worried about passing the exam.
She was worried about surviving the ascension.
There was a 30% chance of failure. And if one failed… they'd be barred from ever becoming a Mage again.
Nothing scared an apprentice more than that.
After a few more pleasantries, Edwyn noticed they had other business and excused himself, returning to his room on the 56th floor.
"Mage Trial… my trial isn't far off either."
He glanced at his calendar.
Only a month remained before the Academy's Blood Trials, a brutal elimination test where over 4,000 apprentices would battle for survival.
Winners advanced. Losers became fertilizer.
Rumors said at least half would be culled. In some years, only 1 in 3 or 1 in 4 survived.
A strange emotion stirred in Edwyn's chest.
He felt there was something wrong with the Academy's system, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
Still, he quickly buried that feeling.
Survival of the fittest.
He couldn't change the rules.
So he'd just have to master them.