Chapter 46 | First Layer Items, Buying a Staff
After finally advancing to Tier-1 after a month of relentless grinding and core absorption, Alicar finally muttered "status" to gaze at his updated status panel.
---
[Name: Alicar Soulveil]
[Class: Soulless (Unique), Elemental Mage (Special), Martial Demon (Special), Platinum Tank (Special)]
[Talent: Infinite Evolution]
[True Title: Soulless One]
[Level: 10 (0%)]
[Constitution: 19]
[Strength: 21]
[Agility: 21]
[Spirit: 37]
[Attribute Points: 0]
[Skills: Six-Elements Affinity (+), Elemental Attack (+), Demonic Arts (+), Platinum Body (+)]
[Class Skill: Contract Slot (3/3)]
---
’I can gain levels again, and actually access the First Layer,’ Alicar’s grin widened, a surge of excitement coursing through him. ’Finally.’
The chains of events did leave him slightly shocked though: he had met Viktor, and only a few minutes afterward, he had recruited him as his third vessel.
This was unlike Iris who he had known for years in the academy or Leon, who he had spent some days with in the secret realm.
The process felt extremely fast, almost reckless, and yet in the end, the outcome was the same: both he and Viktor were much stronger than before.
’I’ll have to meet him in the First Layer it seems,’ Alicar thought, his mind already planning their eventual reunion.
Other than that, Alicar’s stats had also increased thanks to the Tier-0 reward, making him much stronger and more resilient than before.
It was said the Tier-0 Advancement Task reward was the weakest among all of them since it served as a "Tutorial" for awakeners to learn the basics.
Which also meant that the Tier-1 task would likely hold much better rewards, especially with Alicar’s unique class and abilities.
Either way, none of this was relevant to Alicar at the moment, all he wanted was to acquire more Contract Slots, that way he’d be able to recruit more people and grow even stronger.
The fact he had four skills was already beyond what anyone else could obtain at his level, making him a true anomaly in the awakener world.
In fact, it was safe to say that Alicar had been the strongest Tier-0 awakener in the entire Eternal Realm’s history, a feat that would be spoken of in legends if anybody knew about it.
But now that he was a Tier-1 awakener, though he was still strong, he was still weaker than people like Alex, Daan and Levi, who had a much higher level than him.
’For now,’ Alicar thought, a determined fire burning in his eyes.
Alicar returned to the Awakener Association at that moment, and after asking around and going through the formalities, he was officially promoted as a Tier-1 awakener!
This meant he could access deeper parts of the forum, more facilities, and more importantly, the higher floors of the Trading Centre where the real treasures were kept!
"You may access Floor 2 to 10 now that you have advanced, sir," the receptionist bowed lightly, his voice carrying a note of respect. "Thank you for being patient."
"No problem," Alicar nodded as he turned around, heading toward the Trading Centre with an excited look on his face.
He took the elevator to the second floor as he was told, his heart pounding with anticipation, and before him, an entire new world opened.
Much more awakeners than before were present, their equipment gleaming with magical energy, gazing at the items on the display or trying to trade with the many sellers stationed throughout the floor.
In addition to that, the sheer power of everyone present, as well as the strength of the magical items on display, was like heaven and earth compared to the first floor’s meager offerings.
But also, the one thing that hit Alicar hard was the price, the sheer cost of everything around him.
The power and price of items climbed the more floors you climbed, each level offering more powerful and expensive equipment.
Meaning second floor items might be decent at best, while floor ten items were extraordinary even for Tier-1 standards, sought after by the strongest awakeners as they might be useful even in the Second Layer.
And the very first item Alicar found on this floor almost made him choke when he saw the price tag.
[Price: $90,000]
Several awakeners passing by looked at Alicar as if he had lost his mind, his reaction clearly out of place, and he simply coughed as he looked around, trying to compose himself.
The prices were all around that range, yet nobody even seemed to be bothered by it, treating these sums as if they were pocket change.
In fact, he even heard a conversation between two passing awakeners that made his eyes widen.
"Thank god these things are affordable, I spent $250,000 on that sword in the fifth floor, so I don’t have much left for now."
"Guess you’ll need to go back into the First Layer to gain more, heh?"
These types of prices seemed completely normal for their kind, a reality that Alicar was only just beginning to understand.
’Just how much information is the Awakener Association hiding, cause a normal civilian would never imagine that people spend this much on a single item...’ Alicar thought, his mind reeling.
$90,000 was enough to live an entire year in a decent apartment in Tempest, a sum that would have changed his life just a month ago.
Of course, it wouldn’t be the high value districts, but you’d be average for sure, living comfortably without worrying about bills.
Alicar kept looking around the second floor for about half an hour, examining item after item, until eventually, he found something he wanted.
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[Cinderwood Staff]
[Tier: 1]
[Rank: E]
[Description: A staff crafted from the rare Cinderwood trees found in the First Layer. It channels elemental energy with remarkable efficiency, enhancing the user’s magical capabilities. +8 Spirit. +10% Mana.]
[Price: $100,000]
---
This was literally the only thing Alicar could buy right now with his remaining funds, but still, if he used a staff, he knew for a fact that his spells would be even more devastating than before.
He took the item in hand, feeling its smooth surface and the faint warmth emanating from it, and brought it to one of the many salesmen located in the floor.
And then, he was pleasantly surprised.
"Oh!"
Alicar was face-to-face with Brian, the man he had sold the S-Rank Sun Beast core to when he returned from the Initial Stage.
Brian seemed extremely happy to see Alicar and greeted him very warmly, a genuine smile spreading across his face.
"Hello sir, thanks to you I was finally able to be promoted," Brian said, his voice filled with gratitude. "Ask me anything and I’ll be glad to help."
"Just let me buy that thing," Alicar smiled as he placed the staff on the table, his expression eager. "I’ll be going to the First Layer soon."
"Alright," Brian nodded, his expression turning slightly more serious. "Be careful though, sir, I heard that the First Layer is... more dangerous. Not just the monsters, but also the humans you’ll encounter."
"I appreciate it," Alicar replied as he paid for the staff and took it in hand, feeling its weight. "I’ll be careful."
Just like that, Alicar had made his first purchase of an actual weapon he could use, making him feel both satisfied but also left him broke.
[Current Balance: $5,507]
But at least he wasn’t in debt anymore, right? That was a victory in itself.