NOVEL NEXT Chapter 26: The Jungle’s Rewards – Power and Wealth Await
[Date: March 11, 2025 | Time: 12:45 PM | Location: Bengal Border Jungle – B+ Monster Territory]
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The jungle held its breath.
A silent moment stretched between the towering trees, the thick canopy above filtering the golden light of noon into dim streaks across the foliage below. Shafts of sunlight painted the forest floor in sharp contrasts—deep shadows swallowing everything beyond the patches of light.
The fallen Dire Serpent Beast lay sprawled across the ground, its once-magnificent black-scaled body already losing the ethereal glow of mana that had fueled its life. The massive creature, a ruler of these hunting grounds, had been struck down in an instant—so swiftly it hadn't even been able to release a death wail.
The jungle didn't understand such unnatural silence.
There had always been a balance here—the hunter and the hunted, the prey and the predator—but something had disrupted that natural order. And the creatures hiding in the shadows of the wilderness were beginning to realize it.
Ankush stayed absolutely motionless, perched high above in the dense foliage of an ancient mana tree.
From this 50-meter vantage point, he had the perfect line of sight across the jungle clearing where the Dire Serpent Beast had fallen. His sniper rifle rested against his shoulder, still warm from the single lethal energy pulse that had torn through the apex predator's skull.
His finger remained lightly resting on the trigger, his breath slow and measured.
The jungle had not yet reacted.
Not fully.
But he could sense it shifting—an almost imperceptible change in the air.
The predators were watching now.
Waiting. Calculating.
This was their home. They knew the rules.
And they were trying to understand whether he—this unseen hunter in the trees—was friend, foe, or something worse.
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[Battle Rewards – Experience & Loot]
The soft golden glow of a mana stone drop flickered at the corpse's side, barely visible beneath the thick layers of jungle foliage. The system interface blinked into view before him, a silent notification appearing in his vision.
[Kill Confirmed – Level 20 B+ Tier Dire Serpent Beast]
- EXP Gained: 3,200,000
- Mana Stone Dropped: 1 (B+ Tier)
- Corpse Loot: Mana-infused Dire Serpent Scales, Apex Venom Sac
Ankush took a slow, deep breath, his mind calculating swiftly.
The EXP gain was substantial—but his Legendary System's leveling efficiency demanded an astronomical threshold. Unlike regular awakened warriors, who could level up after a few successful battles, Ankush required 100,000,000x more EXP than an F- profession to upgrade.
For a normal hunter, a kill like this would be a life-changing boost.
For him, it was merely a drop in the ocean.
His progress would not come through grinding weaklings.
If he truly wanted to ascend beyond this world's limits, he needed to go deeper.
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[Mana Stone Market Analysis – Rarity & Economy]
His gaze flickered toward the Mana Stone resting beside the corpse.
A perfectly cut deep blue crystalline core, pulsating faintly with condensed energy.
These precious gems were the lifeblood of the awakened world. They weren't just currency—they were the very foundation of power.
A Mana Stone's value depended on both its level and tier, with stronger monsters dropping higher purity stones. In turn, these stones dictated mana absorption rates, energy storage capacities, and crafting potential.
Mana Stone Pricing Based on Monster Level & Tier
Level 1 Mana Stone
F- Tier: 1 CRG
F Tier: 2 CRG
F+ Tier: 4 CRG
E- Tier: 8 CRG
E Tier: 16 CRG
E+ Tier: 32 CRG
D- Tier: 64 CRG
D Tier: 128 CRG
D+ Tier: 256 CRG
C- Tier: 512 CRG
C Tier: 1,000 CRG
C+ Tier: 2,000 CRG
B- Tier: 4,000 CRG
B Tier: 8,000 CRG
B+ Tier: 16,000 CRG
A- Tier: 32,000 CRG
A Tier: 64,000 CRG
A+ Tier: 128,000 CRG
S- Tier and Above: Cannot Be Bought (Too Rare)
Level 10 Mana Stone
F- Tier: 10 CRG
F Tier: 20 CRG
F+ Tier: 40 CRG
E- Tier: 80 CRG
E Tier: 160 CRG
E+ Tier: 320 CRG
D- Tier: 640 CRG
D Tier: 1,200 CRG
D+ Tier: 2,400 CRG
C- Tier: 5,000 CRG
C Tier: 10,000 CRG
C+ Tier: 20,000 CRG
B- Tier: 40,000 CRG
B Tier: 80,000 CRG
B+ Tier: 160,000 CRG
A- Tier: 320,000 CRG
A Tier: 640,000 CRG
A+ Tier: 1,200,000 CRG
S- Tier and Above: Cannot Be Bought (Too Rare)
A B+ Level 20 Mana Stone could be sold for 320,000 CRG—a sum that would make any low-level hunter rich overnight.
But for Ankush?
Worthless.
S- and higher-tier mana stones were not even available on the market.
Why?
Because they were too rare.
Even the most powerful military nations and corporations hoarded them, refusing to sell even a single stone to outsiders.
And yet, those mana stones were the key.
The rich and powerful couldn't buy them. The only way to obtain them was through pure strength.
And Ankush was already planning to make them his monopoly.
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[Internal Thoughts – The Jungle's Response]
He remained motionless, senses sharpening.
A dead apex predator wasn't just a free treasure—it was an invitation.
He knew what was coming.
The jungle would not leave this kill unattended for long.
A massive mana presence had just vanished. Other creatures would notice.
They would come.
And they would not come alone.
Ankush's fingers tightened slightly around his sniper.
This was his real test.
He wasn't here to loot corpses like a scavenger. He was here to prove that he could dominate this world, even without the system's protection.
He let out a slow breath, calming his mind.
A normal hunter would already be scrambling to retrieve the mana stone and run.
He did not.
Instead, he did something no sane awakened warrior would dare to do.
He abandoned the loot entirely.
And he moved deeper into the jungle.
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[The Next Stage – Entering A-Tier Territory]
Each step he took carried him closer to the unknown.
The further he traveled, the denser and darker the jungle became. Towering trees intertwined with vines, their bark humming faintly with traces of ancient mana. The air grew thicker, charged with an eerie stillness.
And the creatures?
They watched him now.
He could sense their presence, hidden deep within the foliage, tracking his every move.
B+ territory was behind him now.
Ahead, A-tier predators lurked—beasts far beyond human control.
And no one had ever come back from this deep alive.
Ankush's lips curled into a silent smirk.
That was exactly why he was here.
The real hunt was just beginning.