Chapter 16: The Aftermath and the Crystal
The dungeon, once a pulsating cavern of danger, was now eerily silent. Kaelen lay on the ground, his body screaming in protest, every muscle aching from the intense battle. The blinding purple flash had left him disoriented, but the System notifications were already flooding his mind, a testament to his victory.
[Congratulations! You have leveled up to Level 6!][Attribute Points gained: 5.][New Skill gained: Mana Overload (Active).][New Latent Ability gained: Mana Affinity (Activated).]
Kaelen gasped, pushing himself up. The pain was still there, but a new surge of energy coursed through him, alleviating the exhaustion. He opened the System screen, his eyes widening in shock at the changes.
[Name: Kaelen][Level: 6][Experience Points: 0/1000][Available Attribute Points: 5][Health: 600/600][Mana: 150/150]
[Attributes:]
Strength: 10 (+1)
Agility: 10 (+1)
Endurance: 8
Vitality: 6
Intelligence: 7
Luck: 3
[Abilities:]
Analysis (Active)
Dimensional Vision (Active)
Mana Control (Active)
Mana Sense (Active - Level 2)
Mana Overload (Active) - New
[Latent Abilities:]
Mana Affinity (Activated) - New
"Mana Affinity..." Kaelen murmured, a sense of profound understanding washing over him. This explained the immense surge of power he had felt when he plunged the crystal into the "Leader." It wasn't just a skill; it was a fundamental connection to mana itself, allowing him to draw it from the environment with greater ease and efficiency. This was the true source of his power, a path to transcending human limits.
He immediately distributed the five attribute points: two in Strength, two in Agility, and one in Vitality to increase his physical resilience.
[Strength: 12 (+1)][Agility: 12 (+1)][Vitality: 7][Mana: 150/150]
Kaelen felt his awareness expand. His "Mana Sense" skill had evolved, allowing him to detect beings and threats with much greater precision. He could now perceive mana flows everywhere, even in the air itself, with a clarity he hadn't experienced before.
He also noticed a new notification:
[New Location Discovered: Mana Nexus.][Location: Science Faculty Building, Basement.][Danger: Very High. Reason for Danger: Unstable Mana Flow, Third Wave Monster Activity.][Note: This location is a primary source of unstable mana flow in the university, strongly attracting creatures.]
"A Mana Nexus..." Kaelen muttered, his eyes darting towards the direction indicated by the System. This wasn't just a random dungeon. This was a focal point, a source of threat, and perhaps a key to a deeper understanding of the catastrophe.
He looked at the scattered essence crystals from the "Leader." They were larger and more numerous than any he had collected before. He absorbed them, feeling his mana reserves replenish and his body invigorate.
After a moment, Kaelen spotted something else amidst the dissipating dust: a single, large, black crystal, shimmering with a faint, stable aura. It was different from the essence crystals. He picked it up.
[Mana Crystal (Tier 1) - Highly Concentrated.][Properties: Contains pure, stable mana. Can be used for mana replenishment, crafting, or as a catalyst for awakening.]
"A Mana Crystal..." Kaelen murmured. This was a direct product of the "Leader's" destruction, a condensed form of the raw mana. It was far more potent than the regular essence crystals. This discovery confirmed his suspicion: these "Leaders" were not just threats, but also sources of valuable resources.
Kaelen began his journey back to the shelter. His body was exhausted, but his mind was in a state of extreme alertness. He knew that everyone had felt the immense mana explosion. He had to report to Harun, but more importantly, he had to understand the implications of this "Mana Nexus" and his newly acquired "Mana Affinity." The world was changing, and he was changing with it.