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 Preface

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 Chapter One. The Citadel.

    But over the past fifteen years, he had not taken a single visible step in the direction he needed. He had gained perfect knowledge in alchemy, medicine, and monsterology, at least by the kingdom¡¯s standards, but that was not enough. Especially in the latter discipline. The knowledge of the kingdom¡¯s scholars, as he now understood, was superficial, shallow. Yes, they had created a bunch of monster catalogs, but even in them, Valm found numerous discrepancies.

    ¡°If you want something done right, do it yourself!¡± he increasingly recalled his father¡¯s words. And silently agreed with them. If he wanted to achieve his goal, he could no longer delay. Time was the one thing he couldn¡¯t buy with money, and it was running out. Valm was already twenty-seven¡­ and among the other students, he felt like an old man.

    Finally, the bell rang. The last one for this course. The students immediately began to chatter loudly, scraping their chairs, and like a herd, headed for the exit. The professor smiled contentedly and pulled a thick cigar from its case. He did it as if performing a ritual only he was familiar with. He bit off the end of the cigar with his teeth, spat it on the floor at his feet, and comfortably settled into his chair. A bright flame appeared on his palm, and then plumes of blue smoke rose into the air. It became quiet.

    Valm sat and watched the professor, who didn¡¯t notice him. And that annoyed Valm. Eighty gold. That¡¯s how much this half-year course with the professor cost. A decent sum¡ªan average household in the kingdom had an annual income of twenty gold. Valm realized that the course wasn¡¯t worth it within the first two months, but he still attended the lectures, hoping to learn something new. And now Valm was pondering whether to call the professor a fraud or give him a punch in the face.

    Punching him was risky¡ªthis instructor had been an adventurer before, and a B-rank one at that¡­ And just calling him out could have gotten Valm a punch in the face too. So Valm just sat silently in his seat. Finally, the professor noticed that one of the students was still in the auditorium.

    ¡ª Did you want something, eee¡­

    Of course, he had forgotten the name. But¡­ an idea arose in Valm¡¯s mind on how to make those eighty gold not such a waste after all.

    ¡ª Yes, professor! I heard that you were once a powerful adventurer, the captain of a squad! You see, I want to study the behavior of monsters in the wild more deeply, but as you know, I don¡¯t have the strength to do it alone. Could you recommend a team that could help me with this? I know I can leave a request with the adventurers¡¯ guild, but there are so many frauds around these days, as you can imagine¡­

    ¡ª Ha! That¡¯s easy! My old team is still at the top of the league in our city, Tatan, just go to them!

    ¡ª Then one last request, professor, could you write me a short letter of recommendation for them¡­ Otherwise, I fear they won¡¯t let me through the door¡­

    The professor looked at the tip of the smoldering cigar, now covered with translucent ash, with a serious look.

    ¡ª Ah, youth! Can¡¯t do anything without us, the old guard!

    He took a piece of paper and spent a couple of minutes writing with sweeping strokes.

    ¡ª Here you go! he said, folding the letter in thirds, The ¡®Silver Dragons¡¯ team! I hope you can at least find their headquarters on your own?

    ¡ª Thank you, professor!

    Valm didn¡¯t bother answering the question, recognizing it as rhetorical. So he simply bowed, took the letter, and left the auditorium.

    Well¡­ it was time to implement the plan that had been brewing in his mind for several years. This useless course with the professor had just put the final punctuation mark on it. He tucked the letter into his inner pocket and walked briskly toward the exit of the academy.

    No, he didn¡¯t go straight to the ¡°Silver Dragons¡± headquarters; that would have been a waste. First, he had to prepare a place for his scientific research. Remote. Quiet. And sturdy. A place where he could keep monsters alive for experiments, without disturbing the city¡¯s residents. Everything else he needed had long been waiting for its time in the ring-shaped vault on his left hand. The last thing Valm wanted was to get into trouble with people. So, he headed to his small rented apartment.

    Yes, by the kingdom¡¯s standards, Valm could be considered a wealthy man¡ªvery wealthy, even. And if the people around him found out about his money, they would have called him nothing but a miser. But for Valm, his wealth was simply a tool for achieving his goal, and nothing more. ¡°What difference does it make how many bedrooms your house has when you only sleep in one?¡± he reasoned with himself, and his whole life followed that principle.

    With great enthusiasm, Valm began his search for a place where he could set up his laboratory, to the point that he didn¡¯t even go to the academy the next day for the monsterology graduation ceremony. That useless piece of paper didn¡¯t interest him at all. He absolutely had to take this first step, even for himself.

    Finally, he found a rundown workshop of the craft guild a few kilometers from the city. The location itself wasn¡¯t safe¡ªoutside the city gates, it was easy to run into unsavory characters even during the day, let alone at night. But he had no other choice, as he couldn¡¯t bring live monsters into the city¡­ So, he decided that he would simply have to invest more in securing the building, not only from the inside but also from the outside. The only thing left was to buy the place.

    The head of the craft guild¡¯s branch did not share Valm¡¯s enthusiasm, and the negotiations¡­ well, let¡¯s say they went slowly.

    ¡ª Young man, it seems to me that your joke, and I can¡¯t call that offer anything else, has gone too far! It is impossible to seriously offer the guild one silver coin for an industrial property! Even if it is a bit neglected!

    The head of the guild, a middle-aged man who was once strong but now struggled with excess weight, clenched his fists. Valm¡¯s words had angered him so much that even the deep bald spots on his head turned red and were covered in sweat.

    ¡ª Mr. Makhur, ¡ª Valm did not back down ¡ª look at this more broadly, as a comprehensive deal. I¡¯m not only freeing you from a loss-making and illiquid asset, which costs you a lot in annual taxes, but I¡¯m also offering you a profitable contract for the reconstruction of this property! Of course, through a tender, but your offer will be a priority! And if you don¡¯t see any profit in this, then I doubt I came to the right person!

    With each of Valm¡¯s words, Makhur¡¯s face turned redder. He truly understood the young scholar¡¯s calculation, but for him, the head of the guild branch, to be treated like this, with a slap in the face¡ªthis could not be forgiven. But keeping that property on the guild¡¯s balance sheet any longer would be unreasonable¡­

    ¡ª Priority! I¡¯ve remembered your words, Mr. Valm!

    Makhur extended his hand to Valm to confirm the agreement. Valm, in turn, smiled sincerely and shook it.

    ¡ª I¡¯m glad we¡¯ve come to an understanding! I look forward to our continued cooperation!

    From that moment, one could say, Valm¡¯s path of revenge began. And so did the headache of many city dwellers. The first to feel it were the architects, whom he approached with a technical assignment. Two of them immediately refused when they heard that the future building had to safely house monsters up to the fifth class, and withstand a possible long siege from the outside. They even twirled their fingers at their temples as Valm walked out the door.

    However, the third one, a short, thin man with graying hair, after carefully listening to the young scholar, agreed. He spun the magical sketch-projection, which Valm had created himself, above the table, leaning back in his chair, and said:

    ¡ª Your wishes are our work, esteemed client! And my office will gladly take it on.

    ¡ª And¡­ when will you be able to start working on my project?

    ¡ª Immediately, Mr. Valm, just immediately! And believe me, our quality and our prices will pleasantly surprise you! I think the entire project documentation will be ready in no more than a month!

    The young scholar thought for a moment that they might be trying to trick him, but he quickly brushed that thought away. There was no point in being picky now, as this was the only architectural office with a good reputation in the city. If he couldn¡¯t trust them, then who else?

    ¡ª Can I visit you about twice a week during the process? Perhaps you will have questions for me, or I may want to make minor changes?

    ¡ª Of course, Mr. Valm, what¡¯s the problem! You can come whenever you like and change anything. Some stages of the design may entail additional costs, but everything will be within reason, I promise you!

    Valm didn¡¯t even realize how he signed the contract that had unexpectedly appeared under his nose, and then found himself outside, near the steps to the architectural office. ¡°They really are professionals¡­ at swindling people for money¡­¡± he thought as he stuffed his now lighter wallet, after paying the advance, into his pocket.

    It was still too early to return home, so he decided to head to the crafts guild to finalize a deal for preparatory and auxiliary work on the old workshop he had bought from them. Valm wanted to clear the construction site to walk on it himself. Maybe some new ideas would come to mind. It wouldn¡¯t hurt to try his sketch on-site as well.

    There was another problem he had to solve. Valm usually traveled on foot through the streets of Tatan¡ªhis rented apartment was only a few hundred meters from the academy. But now, with so many things on his plate, this mode of transport was wasting too much time. Spending two or three hours a day this way was completely inefficient.

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    His options were limited ¡ª he could buy a mechanical means of transport from the crafts guild, a magical device from the mages¡¯ guild, or a riding animal from the stables of the trade guild. The magical device was immediately ruled out¡ªgiven Valm¡¯s mana reserves, it would be easier for him to walk. A riding animal was also an option, but he was too weak to ride a domestic monster. So, only option one remained.

    This time, Makhur greeted him like a close relative, especially when he heard the word ¡°contract.¡± He even gave him a discount on transport, which Valm immediately bought. The vehicle resembled a gray oval capsule on four wheels, powered by the cores of monsters. Although it moved quite slowly compared to other means of transport, it turned out to be convenient and easy to manage. After agreeing that the work would start the next day, Valm said goodbye to the head of the crafts guild.

    For the next few weeks, Valm walked around in a cheerful mood. He was pleased to see how easily and without problems everything he started was progressing. Occasionally, in the evenings, a bit of melancholy would hit him when he remembered how much time he had wasted. But it quickly passed as he returned to the present.

    The architects truly did not disappoint ¡ª as agreed, the project was ready in a month. All the necessary drawings with an explanatory note of a hundred pages, as well as a three-dimensional holographic model of the Citadel. That¡¯s what Valm called this object ¡ª the Citadel.

    And the construction object truly lived up to its name ¡ª incredibly strong natural building materials combined with protective and defensive magic made this building even more impenetrable than the royal treasury. And it cost no less, Valm thought sadly as he handed over piles of gold coins to Makhur, the mages, laborers, and various other contractors.

    The construction went quickly, and within two months, the outlines of the Citadel could easily be recognized by the forest of scaffolding. At the same time, inside, massive steel cages for monsters were being built. Another month later, the laboratory deep within the Citadel would begin to take shape. Medical and alchemical equipment, which had been ordered earlier, also started arriving from various corners of the kingdom.

    The most valuable part of the entire construction, the laboratory, was somewhat special. It stood like a heart in the Citadel and could easily be removed from it and transferred into Valm¡¯s ring-vault. It was here that he intended to conduct his experiments on monsters and would protect it at all costs, under any circumstances. And that¡¯s why he made it mobile.

    But that was still a long way off, so Valm was on a hill near the construction site, practicing his alchemy skills while occasionally watching the contractors. Nearby, a large alchemical cauldron quietly bubbled, its contents gradually changing color from gray to light pink.

    Valm suddenly remembered how his journey into alchemy had begun. His teacher had been a stubborn old man who couldn¡¯t stand young people, considering all young men to be good-for-nothings without brains or a drop of intellect. His first task was to prepare a duck. That¡¯s right ¡ª he threw a headless bird at Valm¡¯s feet on the very first lesson and told him to cook it.

    When the boy asked how a dead duck could be related to alchemy, he received curses mixed with a long sermon that every alchemist is a cook, but not every cook is an alchemist. Eventually, amidst thousands of those insulting words, the whimsical essence of the monologue emerged: how could you handle hundreds of magical and alchemical ingredients if you can¡¯t even deal with regular meat?

    Then, Valm¡¯s first attempt flew straight at the teacher¡¯s head as soon as the teacher sniffed the cooked duck. As did the second. And then the third. At that time, Valm didn¡¯t understand that he was learning to control magical fire under the cauldron, and also training his sight and sense of smell as he carefully monitored the transformations that the bird¡¯s body underwent in the alchemical cauldron.

    Valm smiled at these memories. His teacher tasted his culinary attempts a week later. He spat for a long time, shouting that dogs are better fed than he was treating his teacher, but this time nothing flew at Valm¡¯s head. And for the next six months, Valm studied how different temperatures affect proteins, fats, carbohydrates, fiber, and other compounds and individual chemical elements. Only after mastering that did the teacher begin teaching him real alchemy.

    Three years into his studies, his teacher died of old age. He hadn¡¯t managed to pass on all of his knowledge in that short time, but Valm bought everything related to alchemy from his foolish heirs for a pittance and continued his studies alone, relying on the numerous notes of the old teacher. And the old man had been meticulous, carefully recording each of his experiments.

    And now, standing on the hill, Valm was brewing a third-class restoration potion without any strain or chaos in his thoughts and movements. Calmly and precisely, as if he had decades of experience brewing this very potion. He knew that if he wanted to take the guild of alchemists¡¯ exam, he could easily earn the ninth, highest class in this discipline. But it wasn¡¯t necessary for him.

    Valm extinguished the magical fire formation under the cauldron and put the monster core of the sixth class, which had powered it, into storage. He opened the cauldron and looked at the slightly pink, transparent liquid, from which white steam was rising. He inhaled it through his nose. Excellent! The trade guild would snatch up such a product without even debating the price.

    Valm took out several dozen glass vials, a long-stemmed funnel, high-density paper filters, and began pouring the potion into the vials. The last one was slightly incomplete, and Valm frowned. He had done everything correctly, it was just that over the past decades, alchemists had reduced the vial sizes for potions to increase their profits, and now this resulted in an excess when an alchemist was following old recipes. For example, according to this recipe, Valm should have gotten fifty vials of the old size, but with the new vial sizes, he received fifty-six full ones and this one incomplete misunderstanding. Plus almost thirteen percent extra. And how can one not call modern alchemists frauds? But he didn¡¯t want to fight against the new order, so he just did as everyone else did and took his extra percentage. A bonus for silence.

    Valm noticed Mahur walking towards him, breathing heavily. It was not easy for the fat men to walk uphill¡­ Valm put his equipment away in storage, leaving just one incomplete vial in his hand.

    ¡ª Good day, Master Mahur! I hope you bring me good news?

    The head of the guild remained silent and stubbornly walked uphill. As he approached Valm, he bent over and began coughing violently and wheezing from the effort.

    ¡ª Ohhh, you¡¯ve made this hill so high, Master Valm! I¡¯m no longer in shape for such walks!

    That he was out of shape was obvious; he was just saying extra words.

    ¡ª Master Valm, all the external work is finished, and tomorrow we¡¯ll start removing the scaffolding, after which the mages can activate the Citadel¡¯s protective formations. I believe all internal work will be completed in a month, including setting up the laboratory equipment. I hope you¡¯re satisfied with everything?

    ¡ª Excellent, Master Mahur, just excellent! These are the very words I was hoping for! By the way, this is for you.

    Valm hid the incomplete vial and pulled out two new ones, handing them to Mahur.

    ¡ª Thank you, but what is this? ¡ª Mahur asked, accepting the gift.

    ¡ª Oh, just a little something. A third-class restoration potion. Drink one if you want to feel young and full of energy again. With your physical condition, I think it will last about a week.

    ¡ª Third-class?! And you made it yourself?! This is incredible, Master Valm! But I¡¯ll save it for a better occasion, if you know what I mean! And thank you for the gift. By the way, I have another question for you.

    ¡ª Go ahead, Master Mahur.

    ¡ª If you need workers after the construction is finished, or housemaids, feel free to ask my wife, she will find the best options for you.

    ¡ª Hmm, I haven¡¯t thought about that, but thank you for your care. If the need arises, I¡¯ll definitely use her services.

    Valm indeed thought about it when Mahur left. He remembered that in his childhood, his family had both house workers and many others. And they all perished along with his parents. Since then, he had lived alone and learned to do everything on his own. But the Citadel¡­ It was too big, and the damn chores would eat up all his time, leaving him no chance to work on what he truly desired. Well¡­ maybe, at the right time, he would ask Mahur¡¯s wife for help. But not now.

    Valm sat in his transport device, which he simply called ¡°the capsule,¡± and headed to the trade guild. The amount of potion he had just brewed was completely unnecessary for him. The guards at the city gate waved to him in greeting and let him through without any further checks. Over these months, each of their shifts had gotten used to the fact that the young scholar left the city every morning and returned after lunch.

    The small square in front of the trade guild gates was crowded and noisy, so Valm had to leave his capsule a little further away and walk through the crowd. Ahead, there were loud shouts, squeals, and the sound of a whip cracking.

    ¡ª You filthy bastard! Decided to disobey me! Shall I teach you again?!

    The screech of a woman¡¯s voice rang out over the square, and the sound of the whip hitting was repeated over and over. Valm walked a little further, to see a short young woman beating a rat-man. He was already bleeding and rolling on the cobblestones, trying to avoid the heavy strikes.

    ¡ª What¡¯s going on here? ¡ª Valm asked the onlookers.

    ¡ª The mayor¡¯s daughter is beating her servant again. ¡ª a man said indifferently.

    The rat-man squeaked quietly as the heavy whip struck his skinny body. Valm thought he could easily escape and hide in the crowd, but he didn¡¯t do that. And the alchemist didn¡¯t understand why he didn¡¯t. He also didn¡¯t understand why the trade guild guards weren¡¯t intervening, even though this foolish woman had blocked the entrance to the guild, where Valm was headed.

    ¡ª Enough, woman, you¡¯re disturbing the people! ¡ª he said unexpectedly, even for himself, and stepped forward.

    Not that he felt sorry for the rat-man, but he didn¡¯t want to stand here uselessly. The woman waved her hand, and a loud crack of the whip rang right next to Valm¡¯s ear.

    ¡ª And who are you, freak? Dare to stop me?!

    ¡ª It doesn¡¯t matter who I am, you¡¯re causing a disturbance, and¡­

    She didn¡¯t let him finish. The lash of the whip stung Valm right in the chest, tearing his clothes and skin. He hissed in pain and tried to press his hand to the wound while pulling a healing pill from his storage with the other.

    ¡ª That¡¯s right! It doesn¡¯t matter who you are! And since you dared to interfere with my business, you deserve punishment! ¡ª she screeched louder than before.

    Valm couldn¡¯t have imagined that just a few words from him would provoke such a reaction. The whip¡¯s lash, braided with the thin tendons of monsters, struck his back once more. Valm wasn¡¯t used to physical pain and screamed as the lash easily cut through his skin and scraped against his bones. Alchemists were indeed physically weak, and Valm was no different from them, that was true. But it was also true that any warrior, regardless of their strength, would want to maintain good relations with alchemists. A pill gleamed in Valm¡¯s fingers.

    ¡ª A fifth-class restoration pill to the one who breaks that crazy bitch¡¯s arms! ¡ª his shout echoed over the square.

 Chapter Two. A New Home.

    ¡ª Alchemist? ¡ª the whisper spread across the square.

    ¡ª Alchemist?! ¡ª The woman lowered the hand holding the whip, which she had already raised for another strike.

    Two strong men standing beside her suddenly stepped forward, shielding her with their bodies. Most likely, they were her guards. A small gray shadow slipped between them, and everyone in the square heard the loud crunch of bones followed by a woman¡¯s scream. The guards had only just begun to turn, reacting to the threat, but immediately collapsed, clutching their slashed throats. The small gray shadow was several times superior to them in strength.

    The shadow finally stopped, revealing a lean warrior clad in tattered leather armor and a conical hat made of white straw. With a swift motion, the warrior returned two curved daggers to the sheaths on his thighs and grabbed the woman, who was still screaming, by her hair.

    ¡ª Lord Alchemist, I have carried out your request, so if that¡¯s all¡­

    He spoke as he dragged the woman along the cobblestones like a sack of filth. Finally, he threw her at the alchemist¡¯s feet.

    Valm, still holding his hand to his chest, though the wound had long since healed under the effects of medicine, extended a pill to him.

    ¡ª Thank you! This madwoman would have beaten me to death if not for your help!

    ¡ª It¡¯s nothing, always glad to assist. ¡ª The warrior took the pill and held it up to his eyes. ¡ª And it really is fifth-class! Lord Alchemist, if you ever need my services again, just use this!

    He placed a small signal flare in Valm¡¯s hand.

    ¡ª If I¡¯m in the city, I will come, no doubt about it!

    ¡ª Thank you, and your name is¡­

    Valm wanted to ask the warrior¡¯s name, but he was already gone. Shrugging, he tucked the signal flare into his storage and looked down at the woman at his feet, who was now moaning softly, placing her broken limbs on her stomach.

    ¡ª You¡¯re already dead, scum! My father¡­ he will tear you apart in the city square for this! You bastard, you¡¯ll die in agony! ¡ª she hissed upon noticing his gaze.

    ¡ª Indeed, that¡¯s possible¡­ ¡ª he replied thoughtfully.

    Valm retrieved a vial filled with brown liquid from his storage and uncorked it. He leaned over the woman, who had already turned green from pain, and, grabbing her by the lower jaw, poured the liquid down her throat. She choked but swallowed.

    ¡ª But then you¡¯ll die as well. ¡ª Valm said, dropping her head onto the cobblestones. ¡ª Remember, your father has only one way out¡ªnegotiating with me. Without the antidote, you¡¯ll die in three weeks. And you will die in such agony that you¡¯ll regret ever being born! Do you understand?

    He nudged her ribs with his foot and, stepping over her motionless body, walked toward the gates of the Merchant Guild.

    Turning back one last time, Valm saw the ratman¡ªthe same one the woman had been mercilessly whipping just moments ago¡ªcarefully lifting her in his arms and carrying her away.

    What an idiot. Valm shook his head. He wasn¡¯t even sure whether he meant the servant or himself. Getting into trouble for no reason¡ªnow that took some skill.

    The guards at the guild gates let him through without a word, despite the spectacle he had just put on. On the move, Valm pulled out a wide cloak and threw it over himself to hide his tattered and bloodied clothes. Wasting time to return home and change would have been impractical, he reasoned as he ascended the wide gray stairs.

    ¡ª I would like to sell third-class restoration potions to the guild, ¡ª he said to the girl at the information desk. ¡ª Would such goods interest you?

    ¡ª Of course, Lord Alchemist! ¡ª a male voice sounded from behind him. ¡ª Apologies that the guild did not intervene in that unfortunate incident, but it took place outside our gates, so, formally, there was nothing we could do.

    Yeah. Nothing they could do¡­

    Valm turned and looked at a slender, dark-haired man in his thirties with a handsome face and an expensive haircut.

    They were just watching, unaware that I was an alchemist¡­

    ¡ª My name is Manager Pak. May I escort you to my office to discuss your proposal?

    ¡ª Well, let¡¯s go¡­ ¡ª Valm said obediently.

    The manager led him from the foyer down a dimly lit corridor to a pair of tall wooden doors and opened them.

    ¡ª Please! ¡ª he gestured invitingly toward the wide chairs. ¡ª How should I address you, Lord Alchemist?

    ¡ª My name is Valm. ¡ª He pulled the half-full vial of potion from his pocket. ¡ª And this is my product.

    Pak carefully took the vial, uncorked it, and brought it to his nose.

    ¡ª Excellent, Lord Valm! Your potion is impressive! And¡­ how much are you willing to sell to us?

    The alchemist smiled.

    ¡ª If we agree on the price, Lord Pak, then¡­ forty vials, let¡¯s say. At five gold coins each. Would such a deal suit you?

    ¡ª The price is quite high, Lord Valm¡­

    ¡ª But you won¡¯t find this quality anywhere else in the kingdom, will you, Lord Pak? I know the worth of my product. So, it¡¯s five gold per vial, or I¡¯ll find another buyer.

    Instead of answering, Pak slowly began stacking columns of gold coins on the table.

    ¡ª Exactly two hundred¡­ ¡ª Pak said, resting his chin on his interlaced fingers. ¡ª You are not an easy man to do business with, Lord Valm.

    The alchemist placed forty vials beside the coins, took the money, and moved on to the main reason for his visit to the guild.

    ¡ª I heard, Lord Pak, that the guild can procure monsters¡­

    ¡ª That¡¯s correct, we have many riding beasts, even some rather exotic ones if that interests you¡­

    ¡ª Wait, you misunderstand me. ¡ª Valm pulled out a piece of paper folded in four. ¡ª I don¡¯t need domesticated monsters. I need wild ones. This paper details exactly which ones and in what quantities.

    Pak narrowed his eyes but took the paper from the alchemist¡¯s hand.

    ¡ª Lord Valm, you know as well as I do that the transportation of live wild monsters into densely populated areas of the kingdom¡­

    ¡ª Lord Pak, I am not asking you to break any laws. Are you aware of the construction along the western road a few kilometers away? I need them there.

    The manager carefully reviewed Valm¡¯s list.

    ¡ª I don¡¯t even want to imagine what you intend to do with them, Lord Alchemist, but that¡¯s none of my business. The guild can, of course, fulfill your request, though I can¡¯t give you a price or timeline just yet¡­ I¡¯ll need a few days. Can you wait?

    ¡ª Fine, Lord Manager, I have the time¡­

    Valm smiled. Everything had gone exactly as he had planned. Hiring high-ranking adventurers to hunt first-to-third-class monsters would have been foolish. Expensive foolishness. That¡¯s why he had chosen to brew the potion¡ªto meet the Merchant Guild¡¯s manager personally and place this order with him. Everyone wants to have good relations with alchemists. The Merchant Guild was no exception.

    A few minutes later, after escorting the strange alchemist to the gates, Manager Pak returned to his office and sat deep in thought. Until today, he had never heard of alchemists being interested in live monsters.

    Could this spell trouble? After all, his personal well-being depended entirely on the prosperity of this city.

    Shaking his head, he reviewed the paper Valm had left him once more.

    Meanwhile, the alchemist, quite pleased with himself¡ªexcept for the incident at the guild gates¡ªreturned home and immediately set to cooking dinner. Today, he had taken another small step toward his dream.

    At the mayor¡¯s estate, however, chaos reigned. Ever since the ratman had brought his daughter home, no one had found a moment¡¯s rest. Servants ran from one healer to another, but none could understand why healing pills weren¡¯t working, and why the young woman¡¯s body convulsed in fits at random intervals.

    ¡ª Tell me again, are you sure that young man is an alchemist?! ¡ª the mayor shouted at the scrawny one.

    ¡ª Yes, Mr. Mayor! I saw with my own eyes how he gave a fifth-class pill to the warrior who crippled your daughter! And then he made her drink some potion when she started threatening him! And also¡­

    The ratman fell silent in fear, staring into the mayor¡¯s furious eyes.

    ¡ª What else?! Speak!

    ¡ª He told your daughter that she would die in three weeks if you didn¡¯t make a deal with him!

    ¡ª Bastard! ¡ª the mayor roared, kicking the ratman in the stomach.

    He was furious but powerless to act, which only drove him madder. The mayor knew all the alchemists in the city, and none of them were young men. So who had his daughter encountered that she now suffered so much and might even die soon? Clenching his fists, he headed for his daughter¡¯s room. He had to find that scoundrel! The ratman had said that after the skirmish, the alchemist went to the merchant guild¡­ Well, that was a place to start.

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    The next day, the entire city was buzzing with gossip about the mayor¡¯s daughter and the young alchemist. People gossiped endlessly, twisting the real events into absurd rumors, claiming that the unfortunate alchemist had poisoned his lover because she had betrayed him. And that lover turned out to be the mayor¡¯s daughter. It was a good thing Valm didn¡¯t hear it himself, or he would have been utterly dumbfounded.

    The mayor was traveling outside the city, accompanied by a small guard unit. He had cooled down somewhat after speaking with the head of the merchant guild, who advised him not to try solving this matter by force. Manager Pak persistently recommended that the mayor negotiate, as an alchemist as skilled as Valm surely had powerful warrior patrons. It had always been that way. And if harm came to him, it could lead to unpredictable consequences.

    That Valm possessed exceptional alchemical abilities was also confirmed by the three old cranks whom the mayor had dragged out of bed in the middle of the night to examine his daughter. Two of them were fourth-level alchemists, and the third was fifth-level. And none of them had the slightest idea what poison the mayor¡¯s daughter had consumed.

    And so now, all he could do was obediently travel and seek a meeting with Valm. He would have gladly ordered the boy dragged to the town hall with a hook under his ribs, but¡­ that would be an unjustified risk. And that was precisely why the mayor was now silently guiding his mount along the western road to the construction site, escorted by his guards.

    Valm was watching from his favorite hill as the builders removed scaffolding around the Citadel when he caught sight of an armed squad approaching the construction site at a leisurely pace. He immediately understood what was happening but decided not to make any unnecessary moves and simply continued observing.

    The squad reached the gates, where one of them started talking to a builder. After a while, the man gestured toward the hill where Valm sat in a folding canvas chair. The squad turned and headed toward him.

    Valm swallowed an antidote pill and clenched a small black vial in his palm. If things went south¡­ all it would take was a single break of the fragile glass, and within a fifty-meter radius, every living thing would perish in an instant.

    He was confident that, at least for now, these people had no hostile intentions. But the possibility of them using force still existed. And the gods favored the cautious. The alchemist sat motionless, as if completely unbothered by the approaching dozen armed soldiers.

    The mayor, riding within his loyal warriors, watched the young man in the folding chair carefully. He saw no trace of concern or fear on his face. He must have strong patrons to be acting so calm, the mayor decided. A weak alchemist wouldn¡¯t dare remain in place when an unfamiliar armed squad approached¡­ So who the hell was backing this guy, that he felt so confident in their shadow?!

    The monster riders reached the top of the hill and surrounded the seated alchemist.

    ¡ª You¡¯re blocking my view.

    Valm casually told the warrior whose mount was obstructing his sight of the Citadel. The man hesitated, glanced at the mayor, but eventually moved aside to avoid irritating Valm.

    The mayor was tense. He understood that he had to address this man politely, but it infuriated him. His only daughter was slowly dying because of this bastard¡­ And he was supposed to show courtesy?!

    ¡ª Master Alchemist, I am Gorp, the mayor of this city¡­

    Valm turned his head and looked him calmly in the eyes.

    ¡ª So what?

    Bastard! The mayor ground his teeth inwardly.

    ¡ª Never thought anyone would dare tear down that scammer¡¯s den and start such a grand construction project in its place! ¡ª The mayor gestured toward the Citadel.

    ¡ª You weren¡¯t supposed to. ¡ª Valm rubbed his temple. ¡ª You¡¯re the mayor in the city, but here¡­ here, you¡¯re just an ordinary citizen of the kingdom.

    The alchemist decided to set things straight immediately and put Gorp in his place.

    ¡ª You speak the truth, Master Alchemist. But I¡¯m here for another reason. Yesterday, an unfortunate incident occurred with my daughter ¡ª she accidentally offended a respected man, and they say¡­ They say that man was you, Master Valm. And that you showed remarkable kindness, not taking her life immediately and instead choosing to resolve everything directly with me. So what do you want?

    ¡ª Accidentally? An unfortunate incident? Mr. Mayor, are you mocking me?! Your daughter whipped me like a dog in front of hundreds of people! Am I right in understanding that you call that an ¡°unfortunate incident¡±?

    ¡ª Master Valm, perhaps you misunderstood me. I¡¯m here precisely to resolve this matter, not to escalate it to the point where it becomes deadlocked! I agree with your words that my little girl made an unfortunate mistake in offending you, but she is still young. Who hasn¡¯t made mistakes at her age?

    The alchemist grimaced at those words.

    ¡ª Deliberately whipping people is an unfortunate mistake, in your view? And if I weren¡¯t an alchemist, I would have died at her hands right there in the square? Is that what you¡¯re trying to say, Mr. Gorp?

    Valm clenched the black vial in his sweaty palm. A part of him wanted to end this conversation with it right now.

    ¡ª No, Master Alchemist, no! Just tell me what you want so we can resolve this problem and part ways¡ªif not as friends, then at least not as enemies.

    ¡ª The mayor of a provincial town thinks himself worthy of being my enemy?! And where does that confidence come from?! The only reason you¡¯re all still breathing is that I¡¯m not as bloodthirsty a bastard as your daughter, Mr. Mayor! You want to settle this matter? Fine, I have one condition. You do love your daughter, don¡¯t you? Otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t have come here¡­

    Gorp clenched his monster¡¯s reins. Tatan was the second-largest city in the kingdom, and this bastard called it a provincial town¡­ Just who the hell was he?!

    ¡ª State your condition, Master Alchemist¡­

    ¡ª I will give your daughter the antidote, but only after I whip her with the same lash she used on me. In the same square. How do you like that condition?!

    The mayor frowned. He already understood that this wouldn¡¯t be an easy negotiation, but this¡­

    ¡ª Master Alchemist, your condition is unacceptable! She is the mayor¡¯s daughter, and every strike against her is a strike against the mayor¡¯s reputation in this city. You must understand that!

    ¡ª Your daughter¡¯s entire life is one continuous blow to the mayor¡¯s reputation. And yet, you are still the mayor. So enduring a few lashes on your daughter¡¯s skin shouldn¡¯t be a problem for you.

    For Gorp, this was truly an intolerable condition. In his mind, he saw himself tearing this wretch¡¯s head off with his bare hands, sinking his teeth into his throat¡­ The mayor shook his head, chasing away these thoughts. No, he couldn¡¯t do that, not now. If this bastard died, there was no guarantee his daughter would be saved.

    Valm tossed him a thin vial filled with orange liquid.

    ¡ª When your daughter¡¯s convulsions become unbearable, give her this. It will buy you a few more days to think my offer over. Now get out of here while you still can!

    Gorp clenched the vial in his hand. He knew he had lost the first round of negotiations disgracefully. Perhaps coming here today had been a mistake. Maybe he should have waited a few days, a week, until the alchemist cooled down, and then¡­ But watching helplessly as his daughter writhed in pain¡­

    ¡ª Let¡¯s go! ¡ª the mayor barked at his escort, turning his monster around.

    Valm sighed in relief as they rode away, putting a few hundred meters between them. He stood up, folded his chair, and stashed it away. During their conversation, the workers had already gathered the remains of the scaffolding. Now, the mages could activate the Citadel¡¯s protective seals, and the alchemist wanted to see it with his own eyes. He slowly descended the hill.

    Gorp spurred his monster toward the city, sparing no effort. He was powerless. And furious. But what could he do? Capture the alchemist and torture him until he handed over the antidote? And if that didn¡¯t work? If he died under torture, then what? Or if his patrons found out? The wrath of powerful warriors¡­ There would be no escaping that. It could cost him his entire bloodline.

    For the first time in many years, the mayor felt trapped.

    ¡ª Bitch! Bitch! Bitch! ¡ª he screamed on his way back to the city.

    But no amount of shouting could calm him. The storm in his soul only grew stronger.

    ¡ª Find out everything about this bastard! Who he is! What he is! Who he sleeps with, what he eats! I want to know everything about him! ¡ª he roared at his men.

    Gorp needed this information to plan his next moves. Whipping his own child in the square, in front of all those commoners and slaves¡­ No, he couldn¡¯t allow it. Not this.

    Valm suspected that the mayor would start digging, trying to uncover his true identity. He grinned. Sooner or later, he would learn the name of his late alchemy master. And then he might reconsider making an enemy of Valm. ¡°Toxic Dragon¡±¡ªthat was what people called his teacher.

    Valm passed through the gates, where an old mage was just finishing one of the defensive formations. The alchemist closely examined the deep carvings in the dark gray stone, filled with pale blue paint. Even unactivated, the formation pressed against him with its magic. Valm once again regretted that he lacked an innate talent for it.

    ¡ª Master Valm, give me one more hour, and I¡¯ll show you my work in all its glory!

    ¡ª Oh, take your time. Quality over speed, Master Mage.

    Valm moved on. The inner courtyard was nearly complete, as was his new home. Only the laboratory and some technical rooms remained unfinished. But Valm decided that if the Citadel¡¯s defenses were successfully activated today, he would already be spending the night here¡ªall his furniture and belongings from his old apartment were safely stored in his ring.

    He walked through the residential quarters of the Citadel. Empty bedroom, study, kitchen, living room, and bathroom. Each step echoed through the rooms. The alchemist pulled a table from his storage and placed a few fruits on it. That¡¯s better, he thought, sitting on the edge of the table.

    Outside, workers were clearing the last of the pavement stones, loudly arguing over whose job it was.

    Valm smiled. Despite the quarrel, they were doing it together. That was something he had never been capable of¡ªworking as a team. The alchemist poured his whole being into any task he took on, so he expected the same level of dedication from others. But people¡­ They were not known for their devotion to work. Many preferred to ride on others¡¯ backs. It frustrated him and always led to shouting matches. Eventually, Valm concluded that it was better to work alone. That way, he had only himself to blame for any failures.

    ¡ª Master Valm, I¡¯m finished! ¡ª the old mage peeked into the room.

    The alchemist jumped off the table and hurried over.

    ¡ª Master Alkuss, show me!

    The mage handed Valm a thin metal bracelet.

    ¡ª With this device, Master Valm, you have full control over all of the Citadel¡¯s defensive formations. I just need a drop of your blood to activate it.

    He quickly fastened the bracelet around Valm¡¯s wrist, then pricked his other hand and ran the finger across the bracelet¡¯s surface, leaving a thin red streak. In an instant, the metal seemed to come alive, absorbing the blood, and faint blue flames flickered along its edges.

    ¡ª Now just press here lightly to open the Citadel¡¯s projection. See? Aha. And from here, everything is intuitive. If you do this, it raises a protective barrier over the entire structure! It¡¯s polarized¡ªyou can choose defense from the outside or the inside, or set it to work both ways¡­ Try it, Master Valm!

    The alchemist followed the instructions and felt a faint hum beneath his feet. He looked out the window and saw a thin, translucent blue film rising from the walls and closing over the sky like a dome.

    The old mage conjured a third-circle spell¡ªa frost spear¡ªand hurled it at the barrier. The shield merely trembled slightly, but the ice spear exploded into dust with a loud blast.

    ¡ª This was only a third-circle spell, but believe me, the barrier can withstand multiple sixth-circle magical attacks with ease. I can¡¯t demonstrate that now because using such magic inside is dangerous. And one more thing¡ªI zoned the protective dome so that when attacked from one side, you can focus more energy into that area. This will raise the protection level of the chosen zone by an entire tier, Master Valm!

    Valm was impressed. He rarely got to witness high-level magic in action. But now, before his eyes, was just that. This old man had cast a frost spear so effortlessly¡­ And he spoke of the Citadel¡¯s defenses as if it were an everyday affair.

    ¡ª Master Alkuss, you¡¯ve done incredible work!

    The old mage smiled with satisfaction. He was the best defensive magic specialist in the kingdom, and he knew it.

    ¡ª As agreed. ¡ª Valm pulled a small wooden case from his storage.

    ¡ª Wait a moment! ¡ª Alkuss exclaimed.

    He spread his arms and snapped his fingers, raising a mana barrier around them.

    ¡ª One must be cautious with such things, Master Valm. ¡ª he said, accepting the case.

    The old mage held his breath as he lifted the lid. Inside, resting on a dark violet cushion, was a translucent pill, glowing faintly, filled with swirling multicolored clouds that seemed to flow in a circle.

    ¡ª Panacea¡­ ¡ª the old mage whispered, unable to take his eyes off it.

 Chapter Three. The Laboratory.

    Yes, it was indeed the one¡ªthe Seventh-Class Pill, Panacea. Capable of instantly curing any human disease. Valm had created it a few years ago while traveling between kingdoms in search of the best healing academies. Luck smiled upon him¡ªhe accidentally stumbled upon a rare ingredient, a flower called Goddess¡¯s Tear. This capricious plant couldn¡¯t be preserved for long without special treatments once plucked from its stem, so Valm had to prepare the pills right there, in the middle of the mountain road. He managed to make three¡ªtwo of the eighth class and this one, of the seventh.

    ¡° Yes, Master Alkus. As promised, this is it. The Panacea. Seventh class.¡±

    ¡°You are an incredible alchemist, Master Valm!¡± said the old mage, closing the case. ¡°I know no one in the kingdom capable of creating a Panacea.¡±

    ¡° Oh, please, I was just lucky.¡±

    Alkus removed his barrier and headed for the door.

    ¡° Best of luck to you, Master Valm!¡±

    The alchemist gave a short nod and deactivated the barrier around the Citadel. It was time to arrange the furniture in his new home. Tonight, he would sleep here.

    For the past few days, a stifling atmosphere had hung over the mayor¡¯s estate. The servants moved around on tiptoe, careful not to make even the slightest noise. The only thing that prevented complete silence from consuming the place was the mayor¡¯s curses and his daughter¡¯s pitiful groans.

    ¡°Father! It hurts! It hurts so much!¡±

    ¡° Hold on, my dear, just a little longer. The alchemists and healers from the capital should arrive soon¡­¡±

    The woman lying under the thick blanket groaned again and arched her back. Her face shifted from green to a reddish-brown hue. A hoarse scream echoed through the mansion.

    ¡°Father, it hurts!¡±

    Gorp clenched his fists. It hurt him too. Hurt to watch his only child suffer. Deep down, he knew he bore some of the blame¡ªhe had seen his daughter beat servants to death with that cursed whip more than once but never said a word to her about it¡­ Yet he wasn¡¯t ready to acknowledge that or take responsibility.

    It was all that damned Valm¡¯s fault! His beloved Sari had simply been unlucky to cross paths with him. Nearly a week had passed since she began suffering like this, and no cure had been found yet. Perhaps the capital¡¯s alchemists or healers could help¡­ If only he could get his hands on a Panacea¡­ Gorp had searched every available auction house and trading company in the kingdom, but no one had such a pill.

    No other medicine, as the local alchemists had said, would help without knowing the exact recipe for the poison Sari had ingested. The mayor recalled the vial the alchemist had given him at their meeting. Should he give that liquid to his daughter? But what if it didn¡¯t ease her pain and instead made it worse? He would be the one to do that with his own hands¡­

    Gorp already knew that Valm wasn¡¯t a local alchemist. He had arrived in the city a few months ago and had been attending a monsterology course at the local academy. Strangely, neither the professors nor the students had any idea that Valm was an alchemist, as if he had kept it a secret. The mayor had also been informed that Valm had previously studied in the capital, also in the Faculty of Monsterology, but finding any older information about him was difficult. Gorp had even involved the Kingdom¡¯s Secret Service in the investigation. And yet, time kept slipping through his fingers like sand.

    Sari screamed again in pain. The mayor placed a hand on her forehead.

    ¡° Hold on, my dear, hold on¡­ The healers will be here soon; they¡¯re already on their way¡­¡±

    ¡° Father, I can¡¯t! It feels like I¡¯m burning inside!¡±

    Gorp jumped to his feet and left the room.

    ¡° Father! Don¡¯t leave me alone! Father!¡±

    He couldn¡¯t bring himself to look back, just as he couldn¡¯t bring himself to stay with her any longer. A maid stood silently outside the door.

    ¡° Watch over her!¡± he ordered.

    ¡° Master Mayor, Sir Ladbor is waiting for you in the parlor.¡±

    Gorp merely nodded and went to meet his guest. Ladbor¡­ Captain of the Silver Dragons and his daughter¡¯s fianc¨¦. Walking down the brightly lit corridor, the mayor pondered what to say. The captain thirsted for the alchemist¡¯s blood, and stopping him was becoming increasingly difficult. Ladbor had a fiery temper.

    ¡°How is she?¡±

    The moment Gorp entered the parlor, a young man in his thirties, clad in lavish armor with a large silver dragon on his chestplate, jumped up to meet him. Gorp shook his head.

    ¡° No changes. Neither better nor worse.¡±

    ¡° I¡¯ll kill that bastard, Gorp! First, I¡¯ll crush his arms and legs until he gives up the cure, and then I¡¯ll tear off his head and mount it on a stake!¡±

    ¡° Calm down! It¡¯s not time yet! First, we save my daughter, and then we¡¯ll kill him. But quietly¡ªso no one even thinks to look our way. Do you understand me, Ladbor?!¡±

    ¡° Gorp, I don¡¯t understand why you¡¯re hesitating¡­ You¡¯re not yourself.¡±

    ¡° Ohhh. Ladbor¡­ What class of alchemist do you think would choose you, a B-class adventurer, as a patron? Be honest.¡±

    ¡°Probably a third-class one¡­¡±

    ¡°Exactly. Valm is certainly above the fifth class. What kind of power do you think stands behind him? Can you handle the consequences? So shut your mouth and do as I say. Do you understand?¡±

    Ladbor turned red but silently swallowed the mayor¡¯s words.

    ¡° I asked if you understood!¡±

    ¡°Yes, Gorp. I understand.¡±

    The mayor sank into a chair and covered his face with his hands. Ladbor was an arrogant fool with the brains of a chicken. And if he weren¡¯t the strongest adventurer in the city, Gorp would never have agreed to his engagement to his daughter.

    At the same time, completely unaware of the storm brewing behind his back, Valm watched with excitement as his laboratory was being assembled. The moment the builders stepped away, even for a minute, he would approach and run his hand over the thick walls of stainless alloy. It was no ordinary metal¡ªits most remarkable property was its near-immunity to any magic. That was a necessary condition for the experiments Valm planned to conduct on monsters. They simply had to be as close to perfection as possible.

    ¡° You have a visitor, Master Valm!¡± one of the workers called out.

    The alchemist walked to the gate, where the head of the Merchant Guild awaited him.

    ¡° Manager Pak! You came personally¡­ I¡¯m honored to welcome you to my humble Citadel!¡±

    Pak looked around in fascination as the alchemist led him to his office.

    ¡° I wouldn¡¯t call this humble, Master Valm! There¡¯s so much magic here that it¡¯s hard for me to breathe. Your Citadel is¡­ quite something, I must say! But I¡¯m here for another matter.¡±

    He pulled out a thin folder containing a dozen pages inside.

    ¡°The contract for the supply of monsters, just as you requested. Do you need time to review it?¡±

    ¡° Oh, that won¡¯t be necessary, Master Pak!¡±

    Valm quickly read through the text, scrutinizing the numbers in particular, then signed both copies of the contract with a sharp motion.

    ¡° The advance payment, Mr. Manager!¡±

    Valm handed over a heavy purse along with the signed contract.

    ¡°A pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Alchemist! Since I¡¯m already here, would you mind giving me a short tour?¡±

    ¡° With pleasure, Mr. Pak, with pleasure!¡±

    Valm was truly proud of the Citadel, so he didn¡¯t stop talking for the next hour, showing his guest nearly every corner.

    ¡° But¡­ I still don¡¯t understand, Mr. Valm. What is all this for?¡± Pak twirled his finger in the air.

    Valm stopped abruptly, stunned. To him, it was so obvious¡­

    ¡°I want to create the largest and most accurate encyclopedia of the monsters of our world!¡±

    Pak didn¡¯t even know how to respond. The alchemist said it like a child. A child who believes in a fairy tale. It was so sincere¡­

    ¡°A noble goal, Mr. Valm!¡±

    On his way back to the city, Pak pondered¡ªhow could an adult so vastly overestimate his own strength? Dozens of scholars worked on various monster catalogs, and this young man wanted to create the largest encyclopedia all by himself?! Was he an idiot, or just na?ve? Pak shook his head. No, if there was one thing that alchemist certainly wasn¡¯t, it was an idiot. No idiot could have cornered the mayor like that. The manager understood that sooner or later, in this confrontation, he too would have to pick a side. But for now, he was unsure.

    From the day the contract for the supply of monsters was signed, Valm started badgering the head of the craft guild to speed up the installation of laboratory equipment. The alchemist, though not very skilled in reading technical blueprints, stuck his nose everywhere, which, in truth, hindered the work more than it helped. Yet, given his enthusiasm, none of the workers dared to say so.

    And over the next week, two significant events took place. First, the trade guild delivered a dozen first-class monsters, partially filling the empty cages of the Citadel. And second, Valm received a letter from the mayor, agreeing to let the alchemist strike his daughter twice with a whip in the square in front of the trade guild. But because Valm, overjoyed by the arrival of the monsters, had sat down opposite the cages to make the first sketches for his Encyclopedia, he had shoved the letter from Gorp into his pocket and completely forgotten about it.

    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    The monsters in the cages hissed, growled, screamed, and some even spoke, observing Valm with as much curiosity as he observed them. The alchemist himself sat opposite the cages with a clipboard and several sheets of paper, sketching diligently. He tried to capture each monster from multiple angles and in motion. And he was succeeding¡ªhis drawings turned out better than most engravings in the monster catalogs he had seen.

    No one was happier about this than the laboratory equipment installers¡ªthe client was neither seen nor heard at the site. It was almost idyllic, until one day, Gorp arrived at the Citadel in person. Hearing him bellowing at the gates, Valm frowned and set his sketches aside.

    ¡° Mr. Mayor, I believe I know the reason that brought you to me today.¡±

    Gorp nearly went mad at those words. He had waited four whole days for a response to his letter, holding his suffering daughter by the hand. The hope that the capital¡¯s healers and alchemists could help her had proved futile.

    ¡°Then perhaps you¡¯ll finally answer now, Mr. Alchemist¡ªwhen would it be convenient for you to settle our matter?!¡± he hissed through clenched teeth.

    Before the letter to Valm had been sent, a brief report from a Kingdom Secret Service agent had landed on the mayor¡¯s desk. Not even a report¡ªjust a simple note. It contained only one sentence: ¡°Valm is the last apprentice of the Toxic Dragon.¡± But it changed everything. And at the same time, it put things into place.

    The Toxic Dragon. Mothers across the world used this name to scare their disobedient children. That merciless beast eliminated enemies of the empire¡ªor those whom the emperors designated as enemies. And it didn¡¯t matter if it was a single person or an entire people¡ªwhen the Toxic Dragon came for them, they were already corpses merely walking their last steps by inertia. And those old monsters who had stood behind the alchemist¡¯s teacher were feared even by the emperors who once commanded the Toxic Dragon. No one could say for certain whether they were now standing behind Valm, just as they once had behind his master.

    ¡° Now. There¡¯s no need to delay. I¡¯ll be at the square in an hour.¡±

    Valm returned to the Citadel and got into his capsule. He even felt a bit guilty for having completely forgotten about the mayor¡¯s letter. The alchemist sped toward the city at the maximum speed his capsule could manage, eager to get it over with and return to his sketches. He still had three monsters left to draw, and now this mayor with his daughter was in the way.

    When Valm stopped his capsule at the square, Gorp was already there with his daughter in a wheelchair, along with several attendants. As the alchemist noticed, Gorp¡¯s guards had quickly cleared out any onlookers. Perhaps, if Valm had more time, he would have been outraged by such actions, but right now, he didn¡¯t care.

    Valm wasn¡¯t skilled with weapons, and he had never held a whip in his hands before. So when Gorp placed it in his hands, he hesitated. The alchemist was also surprised by the weight of the whip. How do they even swing this thing? Watching from the side, it seemed so easy and simple¡­ He gripped the handle tightly, letting go of the tightly coiled loops. The firm lash, woven from monster sinews, fell onto the cobblestones, scratching the stone.

    ¡° Just do it already, you freak!¡± Sari screamed and immediately doubled over from the pain in her insides.

    As if in a dream, Valm pulled his hand back and to the side, then swung it forcefully toward the woman in the wheelchair. The whip came to life, hissed, and accelerated along the trajectory he had given it. But the lash fell helplessly to the ground, missing Sari by several meters. Of course, the distance¡­ A still somewhat dazed Valm hadn¡¯t even considered it.

    Around him, a few of the mayor¡¯s attendants chuckled quietly.

    ¡°That was your first strike, Mr. Alchemist!¡± Gorp immediately pointed out.

    Valm frowned. It wasn¡¯t that he particularly wanted to hurt Sari¡ªhis poison had already been enveloping her nerve endings with acid over and over, slowly burning them away. And that pain was far worse than anything a whip could cause. But he had come here, so he had to finish the job. Four meters¡­

    Valm took five steps forward and repeated the same strike as before.

    Sari saw the lash flying toward her and, even seated, would have bowed¡­ But a fresh wave of pain surged through her body, forcing her to bend forward¡ªright into the path of the lash. And at that moment, they met¡ªthe thin skin of Sari¡¯s face and the tightly woven monster sinews.

    Valm¡¯s strike wasn¡¯t strong¡ªphysically, he couldn¡¯t have managed that¡ªbut the speed of the whip¡¯s tip did its work.

    Sari¡¯s nose was split in two, the delicate cartilage of the nasal septum torn apart. Then the lash ripped through her upper lip, knocking out her front teeth and driving them into her lower jaw, before finally slicing through her chin to the bone.

    Sari gasped and recoiled so violently that the frail wheelchair couldn¡¯t withstand it and toppled over with her. Meanwhile, as Valm slowly approached, rolling the whip back into tight loops, Gorp looked in despair at his daughter¡¯s bloodied face.

    ¡° You¡¯ve fulfilled your part of the deal. Now it¡¯s my turn.¡±  the alchemist said, returning the whip to the mayor. ¡°Where¡¯s the vial I gave you at our first meeting?¡±

    The confused mayor, in front of his daughter, pulled a thin vial from the storage and handed it to Valm. The latter quickly tore off the cork, leaned in, and, grabbing Sari by her bloodied cheeks, poured the liquid into her mouth, forcing her to swallow. Within moments, the woman¡¯s brownish-green skin began to turn pale.

    ¡°So, all this time, the cure was¡­¡± Gorp couldn¡¯t believe it.

    For nearly three weeks, his daughter had suffered unbearable, hellish pain, while the cure had been lying peacefully in his own storage.

    ¡° I told you to give it to your daughter when the pain became unbearable. Wasn¡¯t she in pain?¡±

    Valm let the empty vial drop onto the pavement and, turning around, headed toward his capsule.

    ¡° Father?¡±  Sari, despite how awful she felt, immediately understood everything.

    Gorp seethed with rage. He didn¡¯t even notice that blood was still trickling from his daughter¡¯s pale face. That alchemist¡­ That bastard had made it so that all of his daughter¡¯s suffering was on his, Gorp¡¯s, conscience. He clenched his fists.

    ¡° You¡¯d be better off dead, you scum!¡±  the mayor shouted at Valm¡¯s back.

    The alchemist walked on, paying no attention to the cries. He had done exactly as he was supposed to¡ªand as he wanted. Only when he was near his capsule did he pause for a moment, feeling a heavy gaze on his back. Valm turned around but saw no one. So, shrugging, he silently got into the capsule and headed to the Citadel.

    Ladbor, who had been watching Valm from the rooftop of a tall building several blocks away, jumped down onto the sidewalk from a height of over fifteen meters. He had memorized the alchemist¡¯s face well. And he was sure they would meet again. No matter how big this city was¡ªit was too small for the both of them.

    By the time Valm reached the Citadel, he had already forgotten about Gorp and his daughter. Monsters¡ªfinding their weakness¡ªhad to be his only goal. The alchemist believed that all these creatures, regardless of their strength, had a common weakness. Just like monster cores were their shared trait. The key was to find it.

    In some ways, he followed the example of his late master¡ªwho had known human weaknesses so well that many of the poisons he created were impossible to detoxify. Unfortunately, however, poisons had no effect on monsters. Not even the strongest ones on the weakest of them. The moment a poisonous substance entered a monster¡¯s body, the mana within its core neutralized it instantly.

    For Valm, this was both incredibly fascinating and deeply frustrating. He had fought so hard to become the Toxic Dragon¡¯s apprentice for the sole purpose of destroying monsters with poisons. And he had already experimented extensively. By now, he knew with certainty that it was pointless to use natural poisons derived from plants, animals, or microbes. Synthetic poisons weren¡¯t any better. He had tested various delivery methods¡ªinhalation, ingestion, contact¡­ The mechanism of action didn¡¯t matter either¡ªwhether neurotoxic, hemotoxic, asphyxiating, cytotoxic, carcinogenic, hepatotoxic, or nephrotoxic¡­ The monsters¡¯ bodies simply didn¡¯t react to these substances at all! Everything that killed humans effortlessly did nothing to these creatures.

    Valm sat down again in front of one of the cages and placed a clipboard on his lap.

    ¡°Your turn, you freak!¡± he said to the monster crouched silently in the corner.

    It was a Pamlak¡ªone of the weakest known monsters. The creature resembled a grotesque, not particularly massive being with a skin texture like rough, weathered tree bark or cracked stone. Its massive maw was lined with sharp, yellowed teeth, giving it a menacing look, while its cold, blue eyes gleamed with an unsettling glare. A bony protrusion¡ªperhaps a skull or some kind of growth¡ªcrowned its head, adding to its eerie appearance.

    Its shaggy fur¡ªor whatever material covered its body¡ªlooked chaotic and unkempt, resembling tangled smoke or wild moss. Its eyes and mouth radiated a restrained aggression and ruthlessness, embodying an image of primal, untamed force. This monster inhabited dark dungeons and forests, though, fortunately, it was far from a dominant predator, occupying the lowest rung of the food chain.

    Despite its fearsome maw, all four of its limbs were comically short, ending in cloven hooves like a pig¡¯s. In the wild, this made it incredibly slow, forcing it to subsist mainly on plants or rotting carrion. Alone, it posed no threat to humans¡ªone could easily outrun it even at a walking pace. But everything changed when Pamlamaks gathered into massive swarms of several thousand. Then, moving like a living avalanche, they devoured entire villages, leaving behind only barren, dung-covered wastelands.

    Over the next hour, Valm meticulously sketched the monster, then picked up a stick to prod it into changing position. He wanted to make sketches from every possible angle. But the moment the stick touched its skin, the creature lunged forward with a feral growl, snapping it in half with its powerful jaws.

    ¡°Damn beast!¡± Valm barked.  ¡°I swear, you¡¯ll be my first test subject!¡±

    The alchemist pulled out a new stick from storage and struck the monster several times from above¡ªon its head and thick back. The Pamlak, unable to jump, responded with an irritated screech before grudgingly waddling to the other corner of the cage.

    Satisfied, Valm hummed contentedly and returned to his chair to sketch the creature¡¯s back. He was nearly finished when he noticed the head of the artisans¡¯ guild standing nearby.

    ¡°Master Mahur? Do you need something?¡±

    A wide grin stretched across the guild leader¡¯s face.

    ¡° We¡¯ve completed the installation of your laboratory, Master Valm!¡± he said cheerfully. ¡° Please come and personally conduct the test launch and verify that everything meets your requirements!¡±

    This was the best news the alchemist had heard in a long time. He jumped to his feet and nearly ran toward his new toy.

    From the outside, the laboratory looked strikingly minimalistic¡ªa simple steel cube, twenty meters per side. No windows, no visible doors.

    ¡° As you requested, it is fully autonomous, with internal power sources. Air, water, and other supplies are constantly renewed. Nearly one hundred percent resistance to external and internal magic, though it is itself an artifact of spatial magic! This baby could withstand being submerged in a volcano for weeks!¡±  Mahur boasted enthusiastically.

    Valm approached the steel wall and placed his palm against it.

    ¡° Open.¡±  he commanded.

    The surface rippled like liquid, and a rectangular opening appeared in the half-meter-thick steel wall¡ªlarge enough for two people to walk through side by side.

    ¡° The entrance and exit will form wherever you touch the surface and give a command!¡± Mahur added proudly. ¡°And it will adjust to the size you need to pull any monster inside!¡±

    Indeed, the laboratory was a spatial artifact¡ªthe interior was at least two hundred meters across. The moment Valm stepped inside, overhead lights flickered to life one by one.

    ¡° What¡¯s the minimum and maximum energy consumption?¡±

    ¡°Under normal, planned operation, two first-class cores per day. But if you activate additional external defenses or try to contain a powerful monster alive¡­ it¡¯s hard to say. Energy consumption could become unpredictable. Perhaps even a fifth-class core per hour¡­¡±

    Valm nodded and walked between the rows of equipment, lightly brushing his fingers over the instruments. Stopping at the central control station, he activated all the holographic displays and powered up the manipulator arms.

    ¡° I told you, bastard¡­ You¡¯ll be the first.¡±

    He muttered to himself.

 Chapter Four. Assassination.

    The laboratory came to life. With a quiet rustle, the manipulator arm shot forward like a snake, passed through the wall, flew into the cage with the pamlak, and gripped the monster¡¯s neck with its steel tentacles. The moment it did, the cage bars plunged downward into the ground, and the manipulator arm pulled the creature into the center of the laboratory. Within seconds, it was suspended in midair.

    Mahur didn¡¯t want to see this. The usually soft-spoken Valm, even from behind, now terrified the head of the craftsmen¡¯s guild. Was he¡­ ruthless? Mahur couldn¡¯t understand why he suddenly felt so unwell and scared that even his knees trembled. Were all scientists like this? The monster hanging in the air and shrieking evoked pity. So who was the real monster in this laboratory now? Mahur didn¡¯t want to know the answer.

    ¡°Master Valm, perhaps I should leave?¡±

    He thought his question took the alchemist by surprise.

    ¡°So you won¡¯t be watching me test the equipment? I thought that was why we were here¡­ But if you wish to leave, I won¡¯t stop you. We¡¯ll finalize the transfer papers and the payment tomorrow after I complete the testing. Do you agree, Master Mahur?¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes, of course, whatever is most convenient for you, Master Alchemist!¡±

    The guild head dashed through the door, which Valm had obligingly opened for him, and immediately bent over, resting his hands on his knees. His heart pounded wildly in his chest, and something heavy rose in his throat. Damn it! Mahur wasn¡¯t a timid man, but right now¡­ The lighting, the metallic clicking of medical equipment and instruments¡­ He had heard stories about the dungeons of the kingdom¡¯s Secret Service, but the laboratory was far more terrifying than those rumors when that young alchemist was in charge. Looking up at the sun, Mahur resolutely walked away. His feet would never set foot in the Citadel again, he promised himself.

    Valm, meanwhile, paid no attention to the guild head¡¯s state, too engrossed in the monster. From the floor beneath the hanging pamlak, a steel frame rose, and four metal rods shot out, grabbing the creature by its limbs. Quickly and silently, they stretched outward, spreading the monster so it couldn¡¯t thrash. The creature¡¯s screeching echoed under the steel ceiling of the laboratory.

    ¡°You¡¯re too loud!¡± Valm said.

    Then, with a flick of his hand, two wires from the manipulator arm¡¯s tentacles stabbed into the creature¡¯s throat, tearing through its vocal cords. Silence fell, broken only by the soft drip of blood onto the floor.

    ¡°Well, as much as I¡¯d love to dissect you right now, I must remain methodical.¡±

    Valm descended the stairs from the central control panel and approached the helpless monster. Just half an hour ago, the pamlak¡¯s eyes radiated the fury and cruelty of a predator, but now¡­ Only fear and submission remained in them. Valm didn¡¯t care about the creature¡¯s emotions. From a large tray floating beside him, he took an instrument resembling a large scalpel and cut off several tufts of fur from different parts of the monster¡¯s body.

    Each tuft was placed in a separately labeled compartment to avoid confusion later. After finishing this simple procedure, he turned and walked toward an area filled with various medical instruments for sample analysis. Each tuft was tested for tensile strength, for the force required to cut it with blades of varying sharpness, and for the temperature at which it burned in fire. This took him over an hour. Every result was carefully recorded on a neatly lined sheet of paper.

    Once done with the fur, Valm changed into a spacious blue suit that covered his entire body except for his face, put on a transparent mask, picked up a texture meter, and returned to the monster.

    ¡° First, the back, then the head and sides¡­ the abdominal area will be last¡­¡± he murmured to no one in particular.

    Raising the instrument, he made the first puncture in the lower back. The monster trembled as the sharp blade pierced its skin. Valm withdrew his hand and looked at the scale.

    ¡°450 M?utols¡­ Thirty times stronger than human skin¡­¡±

    Shaking his head, he turned to the floating tray, where a schematic of the monster was laid out, and wrote the number over the corresponding area on the diagram. Then he returned to the pamlak. Again and again, he made punctures, diligently recording each result. To prevent excessive blood loss, he quickly smeared each wound with a foul-smelling blue paste, soon making the creature¡¯s body look like a strange, gray mass speckled with tiny blue stains.

    At the end of the experiment, Valm made a note on the schematic: ¡°Strongest area ¡ª forehead, 1280 M¡¯utols; weakest ¡ª abdomen, 100 M¡¯utols.¡±

    Stepping aside, he removed the now bloodstained blue suit and tossed it into the trash with disgust. Then, retrieving a bottle of restorative potion from storage, he took a small sip.

    ¡°Why are you shaking?¡± he asked, looking at the monster. ¡° This is only the beginning!¡±

    With these words, he walked toward the shelves lined with surgical instruments, selecting an array of cold steel tools whose mere sight would have terrified any ordinary person. Once he had gathered everything he needed, he returned to the creature and donned a fresh blue suit.

    ¡°You know what I¡¯m curious about?¡± he asked, staring into the monster¡¯s terrified eyes. ¡° Why doesn¡¯t my poison work on you freaks?!¡±

    The cold scalpel gleamed in his hand as Valm swiftly and precisely sliced off a massive piece of skin from the monster¡¯s chest. The creature arched in agony, but the steel was stronger than living flesh, even the flesh of a monster. Carefully, the alchemist removed the fatty layer, exposing the muscles of the ribcage, and cauterized the thin blood vessels to keep the muscle surface dry.

    ¡°So first, we¡¯ll test the effects of alkalis, then acids, and finally, some of my poisons¡­ Actually, I already have a theory, so this experiment is just to confirm it. So don¡¯t let me down!¡±

    After saying this, he slapped the monster¡¯s abdomen and carefully applied a small amount of alkali to the exposed muscle with a fine brush. Instantly, the affected area began contracting under the command of the nervous system. Within seconds, the monster¡¯s mana surged, neutralizing the foreign substance.

    Valm nodded silently and repeated the experiment with acid, then with several of his strongest poisons. The result was the same. He frowned, turned away, removed his mask, and walked to the main control panel, where he wrote for a long time, then paused to think, then wrote again. After some time, he set the paper aside and headed for the surgical equipment shelves.

    ¡°You know what I don¡¯t understand?¡± he said to the monster, holding a surgical circular saw in his hands. ¡° How does your damn body react so fast to deadly substances that they don¡¯t even have time to harm you? That really intrigues me!¡±

    His gaze fell on the chronometer he had started at the beginning of the experiment.

    ¡°Damn, I¡¯ve already spent twenty hours on you!¡± He set the saw down on the tray. ¡° You hang tight, alright? I¡¯ll be back soon.¡±

    Valm stripped off the blue suit and left the laboratory. He needed to feed the monsters in the cages and visit the head of the craftsmen¡¯s guild to finalize their business.

    He threw chunks of spoiled meat between the bars of the cages, and the monsters greedily snatched them up, swallowing without chewing. The monsters were hungry. Very hungry. And the scraps Valm fed them were not enough. After gulping down the meat, they kept their eyes fixed on the alchemist. Some of the monsters even tried to squeeze through the thick steel bars of their cages, swiping their clawed limbs.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, your turn will come soon. I¡¯ll find out what you¡¯re made of, you freaks.¡±

    After these words, Valm looked at the horned goblin. An interesting specimen. A head taller than regular goblins, with a well-developed musculature and even some level of intelligence. This species of creature even had its own language, though primitive compared to human speech.

    To hell with it, it¡¯s time to leave. The alchemist headed to his bedroom to change and caught himself thinking that he did, after all, need household workers. Well, that was another reason to visit the head of the craftsman¡¯s guild today.

    Ladbor was riding his mount at a furious speed north of the city. Unfortunately, this adventurer compensated for his lack of cognitive abilities with a vengeful nature, so he decided to break the mayor¡¯s order. But he was smart enough not to do it with his own hands¡ªhe found outsiders to take revenge on Valm. And the Grey Ravens were the perfect choice.

    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    The Grey Ravens were a gang of unregistered adventurers who, apart from hunting weak monsters, engaged in rather unlawful activities, such as smuggling and the trafficking of forbidden creatures. Occasionally, when offered an enticing enough reward, they even accepted contracts for assassinations. In short, their sense of morality and respect for the kingdom¡¯s laws were at a rather low level.

    Ladbor knew this well, as it wasn¡¯t his first time dealing with the Grey Ravens. His dealings with them were almost routine. When other adventurers got in his way, he didn¡¯t handle them personally¡ªhe simply hired the Grey Ravens, and within days, the unfortunate soul who had dared to cross him would simply vanish. Of course, even such ¡°coincidences¡± aroused suspicion within the Adventurers¡¯ Guild, but no direct evidence was ever found. The Grey Ravens knew their craft well.

    Ladbor turned off the main road and followed a winding path into the low, forest-covered mountains, eventually stopping in front of heavy gates made of thick logs. Being a B-rank adventurer, he had already sensed several arrows aimed at him.

    ¡°Ladbor has come to see First Raven! I have a job for you!¡±

    He felt the arrowheads lower slightly before the gates swung open, allowing him inside.

    Beyond the gates, in a large courtyard, stood several large wooden buildings resembling barracks. Ladbor was led into one of them and seated at a table, ordered to wait. A few minutes later, a burly warrior in leather armor reinforced with metal plates entered the room.

    ¡°Ladbor, aren¡¯t you visiting us a bit too often?¡±  he rasped, adjusting his long black beard.

    ¡°So what? I bring the money, you do the job. Same as always!¡±

    The old chair creaked as the warrior sat down.

    ¡°So, who¡¯s the unlucky one this time?¡±

    ¡°Some freak. But he¡¯s an alchemist.¡±

    ¡°An alchemist? Then why don¡¯t you just rip his head off yourself instead of coming all the way here?¡± First Raven watched the adventurer¡¯s face intently. ¡°Ah, so he¡¯s not just any alchemist?¡±

    ¡° He¡¯s a nobody¡­ But the mayor doesn¡¯t want me to handle it myself.¡±

    The warrior leaned his elbows on the table and remained silent for a moment.

    ¡°The mayor is against it¡­ Ladbor, I¡¯m no fool. That¡¯s not a coincidence. Who is this alchemist? And don¡¯t lie to me this time.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s really a nobody. Fourth rank, as far as I know. But he¡¯s loaded with money¡ªbuilt himself a real fortress outside the city.¡±

    The mention of money piqued First Raven¡¯s interest.

    ¡°Five thousand gold coins!¡± he said with a wide grin.

    ¡°Are you insane?!¡±

    The price outraged the adventurer¡ªhis previous contracts had only cost him a few hundred. The burly man spread his arms.

    ¡°That¡¯s my price, Ladbor. If you don¡¯t like it, you can leave¡­¡±

    The adventurer clenched his fists. Even for a B-rank, that was a hefty sum. But his options were limited. He had to bring the alchemist¡¯s head to Saria to prove himself worthy of her. Ladbor¡¯s face twisted, and he pulled a hefty pouch from his storage.

    ¡°Deal, Raven!¡±

    A massive hand caught the pouch and tossed it up, the sound of gold coins rubbing against each other filling the room.

    ¡°See how easy that was?¡± First Raven exclaimed. ¡° Now, describe this alchemist to me.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll do better,¡±  the adventurer pulled a small crystal orb from his pocket. ¡°I¡¯ll show him to you.¡±

    He infused it with a bit of aura, and above the orb appeared a high-quality holographic image of Valm.

    ¡° Hah, a wimp.¡±

    Saying this, the warrior took the orb from Ladbor¡¯s hands.  First Raven was pleased. His gang had plenty of experienced killers who left no traces. And this job seemed both easy and very profitable.

    Valm, of course, had no idea about this conversation from a few days ago¡ªhe had no clue that someone was planning an assassination attempt on him. He walked out of the craftsmen¡¯s guild building with satisfaction, having made the final payment and arranged for workers for the Citadel.

    Just as Valm opened the door of his capsule, he felt a sudden blow to his back.

    The alchemist tried to turn around, but a sharp pain shot through his entire body, forcing him to his knees, his trembling fingers clutching at the capsule¡¯s door. Out of the corner of his eye, he managed to glimpse a tall man casually walking past.

    He felt his whole body seize up, his heart falter. Who, if not an alchemist, would recognize the symptoms of poison?

    With his last strength, collapsing onto the cobblestone pavement, Valm retrieved a small case with a pill from his storage and struggled to open it with his stiff fingers.

    He was lucky the effects of the restoration potion he had drunk nearly a day ago hadn¡¯t yet worn off¡ªotherwise, he would already be dead. But even that wasn¡¯t enough.

    His fingers felt like wood, refusing to grasp the pill that lay right before his eyes.

    With a rasping breath, Valm exhaled for the last time, and his body simply ignored the brain¡¯s command to breathe.

    His hands weakened, dropping the case, and his head, on a tense neck, slowly began to lower toward the cobblestone. Damn it! Just like that, so stupidly?¡ªthe only thought hammering in his mind. Just as his vision was clouded by a white mist, he managed to make out something resembling white fluffy paws standing beside his face.

    Valm regained consciousness in an unfamiliar bed. He stared at the uneven wooden ceiling, trying to recall where he had seen a similar pattern before. The alchemist listened to his body. The terrible pain from the poison was gone; only a slight prickling remained in his back near his right lung. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn¡¯t remember how he had managed to take the antidote¡ªit was all a blur.

    Valm sighed and tried to sit up. Though his head swayed and reeled, he still managed to do it. On a small table beside the bed stood a bell. Shrugging¡ªan action that made him feel the pain again¡ªhe quietly rang it, then retrieved a fresh set of clothes from his storage and began to dress. Mahur entered the room.

    ¡°Master Valm, how are you feeling?¡±

    Ah, that¡¯s why the ceiling pattern seemed familiar. The Craftsmen¡¯s Guild building.

    ¡°Better than a dead man, Master Mahur. Thank you for your help.¡±

    ¡°Oh, no need to thank me. But this incident worries me. Even though we caught that damned rabbit-girl who attempted to assassinate you, she refuses to confess, insisting she only gave you the pill you were holding in your hands.¡±

    Valm recalled the white paws he had seen before losing consciousness.

    ¡° A rabbit-girl? Master Mahur, she likely saved me rather than tried to kill me. The attacker was human¡ªI¡¯m certain of it. Take me to her.¡±

    The guild leader hesitated but, after waiting for Valm to finish dressing, led him down to the basement. As they walked through the guild¡¯s corridors, he handed Valm a strange object, resembling a large hollow needle with a handle and a button on it.

    ¡°Master Valm, this was stuck in your back¡­¡±

    The alchemist took the instrument, sniffed the hole at the needle¡¯s tip, and grimaced. They could have used a better poison instead of this garbage with unnecessary impurities. But he did like the needle itself.

    ¡°Do you know which guild or master makes these?¡± he asked Mahur.

    ¡° I¡¯ve never seen anything like it before. Likely, this device isn¡¯t even from our kingdom¡ªthe metalwork quality is too high for our craftsmen. I¡¯d say it was made in the Empire, but I won¡¯t swear to it.¡±

    Valm nodded and stored the assassin¡¯s tool away. If used with the right poison, it would be quite handy.

    ¡°We¡¯re here, Master Valm,¡± Mahur said, opening a heavy wooden door with a barred window.

    Inside the cold, dimly lit room stood a chair, to which a beastkin girl, around fifteen years old with rabbit ears, was chained with thick links. It wasn¡¯t hard to guess that she had been badly beaten recently¡ªthe bruises on her exposed skin and the blood on her face left no doubt. Valm shook his head, silently condemning the actions, and retrieved a fourth-class healing pill from his storage.

    ¡°Forgive my friends. They misunderstood everything. I know you saved me, not letting me die¡­¡± with these words, he pushed the medicine into her mouth.

    Unable to resist, the beastkin swallowed the pill but continued to glare at Valm and Mahur with hatred in her red eyes.

    ¡°So, if you hadn¡¯t survived, your friends would have beaten me to death for nothing? That would be my reward for helping you? I recognize humans¡­¡±

    The alchemist glanced at the head of the guild. Mahur only sighed. Who could have known?¡ªhis expressive look seemed to say.

    ¡°Then, Master Mahur, maybe you should release her? And what¡¯s with that collar?¡±

    ¡°Ah, that¡¯s to keep her from transforming into a beast¡­¡± Mahur pulled out a key and removed the collar from the girl before starting to unlock the chains. ¡°These beastkin¡­ They¡¯re damn strong in their beast forms. Even if it¡¯s just a rabbit.¡±

    ¡° My name is Valm. What¡¯s yours?¡±

    ¡° I¡¯m Nima. You¡¯re an alchemist?¡±

    ¡°How did you guess?¡±

    ¡°I could say you have too many good pills¡­ But honestly, those idiots who beat me kept mentioning who you were.¡±

    ¡°Well, yes, I really am an alchemist. But now I have a few questions for you. First, how can I repay you? And second, did you see who attacked me?¡±

    ¡°And why should I answer you? After such a warm welcome and the sincere gratitude I¡¯ve felt over the last few hours, you know¡­ I just want to tell you both to go to hell.¡±

    ¡° I truly understand your anger, and I apologize again, but I¡¯m a practical man¡ªI know everything has a price. So¡­ Tell me what you want in exchange for answering my question honestly.¡±

    The alchemist pulled a hefty purse from his storage and placed it in the beastkin¡¯s hands. Usually, they were always in financial trouble, and her ragged clothing confirmed as much. But this time, Valm was mistaken.

    ¡° Money¡­¡± she sneered in disdain. ¡°You humans try to solve everything with money¡­ I don¡¯t need it!¡±

    The rabbit-girl dropped the purse at her feet, continuing to stare into Valm¡¯s eyes. He was puzzled. He really wanted to repay her, but he had no idea how, except by giving her gold.

    ¡°Then¡­ Tell me what you want, and if I can do it¡­¡±

    The beastkin rubbed her wrists, where the chain marks were still visible. Then she shook her head, stretching her neck, making her ears amusingly sway from side to side, and looked straight at Valm again.

    ¡°Teach me alchemy!¡±

    Hearing these words, Mahur, who had been folding the chain, burst into laughter. Everyone knew beastkin weren¡¯t suited for alchemy. But Valm was thinking about something else. She wasn¡¯t stupid. She refused the fish to get the fishing rod. Though¡­ A beastkin alchemist¡­ That was truly impossible.

    ¡°Sorry, but I can¡¯t do that. Ask for something else.¡±

    The girl¡¯s eyes flared red.

    ¡° Can¡¯t, or won¡¯t, alchemist?¡±

    ¡°I really can¡¯t. No one¡¯s ever succeeded, and if I promise you, I¡¯ll just be lying¡­ I¡¯m a decent alchemist, but I¡¯m not capable of that.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re worried about a possible future, but I won¡¯t accept that refusal. The condition remains the same¡ªyou will teach me alchemy!¡±

    Valm was at a loss. He could try, of course, but in his mind, such a promise was as good as a lie, and he told the beastkin so directly.

    ¡°If that¡¯s your condition, then fine, I¡¯ll teach you. But in my opinion, you¡¯ll never become an alchemist. Does that promise satisfy you?¡±

    The girl¡¯s eyes sparkled with joy.

    ¡°Aha! Deal! I forgive all of you! I¡¯ll find you in a few days¡ªgoodbye!¡±

    She leapt from the chair, swiftly picked up the purse from the floor, and walked past the bewildered Valm and Mahur toward the exit.

    ¡° Hey! What about the attacker?¡± the alchemist called after her.

    ¡° I didn¡¯t see him!¡± the girl shouted back from the hallway.

    The alchemist and the guild leader exchanged glances.

    ¡° It seems, Master Valm, that you¡¯ve just been played¡­ She got both a teacher and money without giving anything in return¡­¡±

    Valm shrugged.

    ¡° Well, at least she forgave us¡­¡±

 Chapter Five. The Guardian.

    ¡°I think I¡¯ll need a couple more living quarters in the Citadel, Master Mahur¡­¡±

    The guild leader had no desire to return to that dreadful place, so he quickly replied, ¡°Of course, Master Alchemist! I even know exactly where to arrange it! Everything will be ready soon!¡±

    Valm was walking briskly toward the exit of the crafts guild, while Mahur struggled to keep up. But right before the gates, the alchemist suddenly stopped. The guild leader thought he had something else to discuss, but instead, Valm pulled out a small signal flare and launched it into the air. A green light shot up with a whistle, then exploded into a red sphere with a blue fire disc inside. The passersby on the square in front of the guild lifted their heads to see what was happening.

    ¡°Master Valm?¡± Mahur was just as intrigued.

    ¡°Hmm. Looks like he left the city¡­¡±

    The alchemist sighed. Most likely, those who had tried to assassinate him already knew he had survived. For a strong warrior, tracking his aura from a few kilometers away wouldn¡¯t be a problem. And that meant only one thing¡ªthe attack would undoubtedly be repeated in the future. Valm had wanted to seek help from the warrior who had saved him in the fight against Sari. But minutes passed, and the warrior in the white straw hat did not appear.

    Reaching the Citadel alone could be an impossible task for the alchemist. He had every reason to believe that another attack could happen the moment he stepped outside the guild gates. Should he turn to Mahur for help? The guild¡¯s security was likely strong enough¡­ But he didn¡¯t want to be in Mahur¡¯s debt.

    ¡°Do you need my help again, Master Alchemist?¡± A soft voice sounded behind him.

    Valm flinched slightly in surprise, once again realizing how easy a target he was for people like this.

    ¡°Yes. I need protection.¡±

    Mahur glanced at the two guards standing by the gate. How had they even let this person pass? Had they noticed him at all?

    ¡°Protection¡­ That is possible. I am a mid-tier Battle Master, so my services¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll raise your level by one tier, to a high-tier Battle Master,¡± the alchemist interrupted. ¡°In return, you¡¯ll guard me for three years. Deal?¡±

    Three years to advance a whole tier among Battle Masters¡­ That was incredibly fast. With his offer, Valm had practically taken away the warrior¡¯s right to refuse.

    ¡°Deal, Master Alchemist! But may I ask why you need my help?¡±

    Valm pulled out the strange needle that had been stabbed into his back.

    ¡°A few hours ago, someone stuck this into me.¡±

    The warrior took the assassination tool and examined it carefully.

    ¡°The strongest aura I sense belongs to a third-class mid-tier warrior. In fact¡­ this aura feels familiar, though I can¡¯t quite recall where I encountered it. If that¡¯s the extent of your enemies¡¯ strength, then protecting you will be no trouble at all, Master Alchemist.¡±

    ¡°Good. Call me Valm. And your name?¡±

    ¡°I am Grem, Master Alchemist.¡±

    Valm nodded, said farewell to Mahur, and confidently stepped beyond the guild gates. At first, he intended to head straight to the capsule to return to the Citadel, but suddenly, a thought changed his plans. Smiling, he turned toward the city market instead.

    Grem didn¡¯t care where he had to protect his employer. As long as the enemies¡¯ strength didn¡¯t exceed his own, the Battle Master was confident in his abilities.

    The market was noisy and crowded, filled with the stench of human sweat and animal dung. A bit lost, Valm stretched his neck, trying to see past the throng of people, but with little success.

    ¡°Master Valm, what exactly are you looking for?¡± Grem pitied the sight and decided to help.

    ¡°Ducks. I need ducks.¡±

    The request didn¡¯t surprise the guard at all¡ªwho knew what strange things alchemists needed? Using his aura, he quickly located the stalls selling poultry and led Valm there.

    ¡°How much for a duck?¡± the alchemist asked a hunched old man standing beside a cart full of birds.

    ¡°Three bronze coins.¡±

    ¡°And for a hundred?¡±

    ¡°Twenty-eight silver,¡± the seller replied without hesitation, offering a slight discount.

    Valm silently handed over the money, then walked up to the cart and started twisting the birds¡¯ necks himself, stacking the lifeless ducks into his storage. The merchant carefully counted, making sure the client didn¡¯t sneak in an extra one.

    The alchemist was smiling. If his student had appeared so unexpectedly in his life, then he would walk the same path Valm once had. And these ducks were meant precisely for that.

    As he left the market for the capsule, Valm kept thinking back to his own time training under the Toxic Dragon. Sometimes he even sighed, feeling something like nostalgia and sadness for his teacher. Though, to be honest, back then he had often hated him.

    He opened the capsule door.

    ¡°Get in,¡± he said to Grem, nodding toward the opposite door.

    The warrior shook his head.

    ¡°This toy will only get in my way if something happens on the road. It¡¯s too small inside. But don¡¯t worry¡ªI¡¯ll be right beside you.¡±

    Of course. Valm got inside and started the capsule. This speed was nothing to a Battle Master¡ªjust a casual stroll. Sometimes the alchemist regretted not having any aptitude for magic or martial arts. He even envied those who did. Back in the day, that envy had driven him to study tirelessly to become the best in alchemy and healing.

    ¡°If you like, you can use the library for now,¡± he told his new guard when they returned to the Citadel. ¡°And I¡¯ll need to draw some blood from your vein to create the serum for your advancement.¡±

    With that, the alchemist hurried to his laboratory¡ªhe had been away for several hours longer than expected. And the monster was still waiting.

    Pamlek was hanging there patiently¡ªwhere else could he go from that frame? Valm noted how much the wound he had left on the creature had healed. No doubt, the regeneration of these beasts was insane. No human could do such a thing without pills and potions.

    The alchemist sighed and pulled on a fresh blue suit. Before putting on his mask, he took another sip of his restoration elixir.

    Not good¡ªrelying on these things unnecessarily was bad for the body. Even if it was his own carefully crafted potion with almost no side effects. But still¡­ it was like borrowing energy from himself¡ªhe¡¯d have to repay the debt later.

    However, Valm wanted to finish with Pamlek already, to complete his notes and draw his conclusions.

    ¡°Shall we continue?¡± he asked the monster, picking up a scalpel.

    Pamlek only trembled in response, eyeing the sharp steel in the alchemist¡¯s hands.

    With quick, precise movements, Valm removed the fresh layers of skin that had grown over the creature¡¯s chest in the past few hours. Then, carefully, he began separating the muscles from the bones of the ribcage. He had to clamp down on some of the larger blood vessels, while the smaller ones he simply cauterized, keeping his workspace clean.

    ¡°Whew,¡± he finally said as he exposed the bones within the cut section of skin. ¡°I want to see how your core works when you regenerate. Ready?¡±

    The surgical circular saw buzzed softly, cutting into the white ribs. The monster¡¯s body twitched in pain, so Valm had to pull out a few more steel rods from the frame to secure its torso more tightly. Tiny clouds of bone dust continued to rise from the saw¡¯s disc for a while, forcing the alchemist to occasionally wipe the glass of his mask.

    ¡°Now, let¡¯s see what we have here!¡±

    He said, carefully placing the instrument on the tray behind him. Then he grabbed the separated part of the ribcage. He tried to remove it easily, but it wouldn¡¯t budge. He tugged once, then twice¡­ Finally, with a sickening squelch, it came loose so abruptly that the alchemist nearly fell.

    ¡°Perfect, wonderful¡­¡± he murmured, pulling aside the tall, thin membrane of the diaphragm and the fatty tissue growths that were in the way.

    The monster¡¯s heart pounded wildly before his eyes, its rhythm accelerating by the minute.

    ¡°Hey, freak, you¡¯ll go into fibrillation at this rate! Don¡¯t you dare die before I finish my study!¡±

    The alchemist had no way to medically influence the monster¡¯s condition¡ªno substances affected their bodies. That left him with only one option: to speed up his work while the creature was still breathing. Cursing the wretch with every word he knew, Valm quickened his pace and exposed the white sac between the monster¡¯s heart and right lung. Thin white strands connected it to the organs, and inside, something glowed with a red light.

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    ¡°There it is!¡± he exclaimed joyfully.

    Taking his scalpel, he carefully incised the sac, partially exposing the monster¡¯s red core. And it glowed.

    Valm had theorized that the core transferred mana to the monster¡¯s body, sustaining its life. But this¡ªthis was a discovery. No book had ever mentioned that monster cores glowed. He had seen them shine in various magical devices and mechanisms, but this¡ªthis was glowing inside a living organism!

    ¡°Dammit! Is this real?!¡±

    Valm had so many questions, so many ideas for further experiments on the monster. But at that moment, the creature¡¯s heart gave out, and one of its ventricles simply exploded, dousing the alchemist in a stream of blood.

    ¡°You bastard!¡± Valm bellowed in frustration.

    But there was nothing he could do¡ªthe monster was dying rapidly, convulsing in its final throes.

    ¡°Fucking wretch! Ten minutes! I just needed ten more minutes, and you had to die?!¡±

    Abandoning the idea of immediately extracting a new monster to repeat the experiment, Valm began methodically separating the internal organs and individual muscles, exposing the skeleton for documentation and the creation of a monster carcass atlas.

    After spending hours on the task, he then spent even more time cleaning up his workspace, scrubbing it to a shine. The dissected corpse itself would be used to feed the other temporarily living creatures locked in the Citadel¡¯s cages.

    Exhausted and sleepy, the alchemist left the laboratory and went straight to bed. He was hungry too, but¡­ sleep was more important.

    ¡°I¡¯ll check on you in a few hours,¡± the alchemist told Grem before collapsing onto his bed without undressing and instantly falling asleep.

    Those ¡°few hours¡± stretched out quite a bit, and eventually, construction noises woke him up. Even before opening his eyes, he mentally wished Mahur good health and many long years in this world. Then he sat up in bed. His head buzzed a little, and he was both thirsty and hungry. Likely, the symptoms were also due to the restoration potion he had taken.

    While standing under the hot water in the shower, he heard someone clattering dishes in the kitchen. Then his sensitive nose caught the smell of delicious food. So, it wasn¡¯t just the builders¡ªthe entire staff he had ordered from the head of the craftsman¡¯s guild had arrived.

    For the first time in many years, Valm didn¡¯t eat breakfast alone. He invited Grem to join him. He even wanted to strike up a casual conversation, but all he managed was a question: how long had Grem been at his current level of strength, and had he ever used alchemical substances to boost it?

    Hearing in response that it had been nearly ten years and that no, he hadn¡¯t used anything, Valm smiled.

    ¡°Then there won¡¯t be any problems. Follow me.¡±

    Together, they walked to the laboratory, where Grem immediately sensed the lingering aura of the monster. And that aura told the Battle Master a lot. A shiver ran down his spine as he felt the despair in which the creature had died.

    He froze in front of the needle with a thin transparent tube at the end, which the alchemist held out to him.

    ¡°Roll up your sleeve. I need blood from a vein.¡±

    Grem swallowed hard. This man frightened him. This place, too¡­ was unpleasant. The aura of the monster, which had died a painful death, unsettled the Battle Master.

    And how could this weak alchemist stand here? Did he not feel it?

    ¡°Grem, do you hear me? Give me your arm!¡± Valm repeated.

    ¡°Huh? Oh, yeah. Sure.¡±

    Grem quickly removed part of his armor, baring his sinewy arm up to the elbow. Valm worked deftly. With his left hand, he pinched the vein above Grem¡¯s elbow, and with his right, he precisely inserted the needle. Even without a tourniquet, dark crimson venous blood flowed into the small vial at the end of the transparent tube.

    ¡°Done!¡± Valm said after a few seconds. ¡°Now I can easily create a safe formula for your breakthrough to the next level.¡±

    He withdrew the needle and sealed the puncture with blue paste¡ªthe same one he had used earlier to patch up the monster¡¯s skin. It didn¡¯t heal wounds, but it mechanically sealed tissue, posing no threat to the body.

    Grem hastily grabbed his discarded armor piece and darted his eyes toward the exit, his nerves fraying.

    ¡°Thank you, Master Valm!¡±

    But his voice was unsteady. Grem himself didn¡¯t understand what was happening to him or why he felt so uncomfortable here. He sighed with relief when the alchemist finally opened the door.

    ¡°I¡¯m never setting foot in this cursed place again!¡± he thought, echoing the very same sentiment once expressed by the head of the craftsman¡¯s guild.

    And he wasn¡¯t a coward or a sensitive man¡ªhe had fought in many battles where only the strong survived.

    But this place¡­

    This place evoked an irrational terror.

    Valm didn¡¯t even notice the state of his guard, completely immersed in analyzing the blood. The blood of a Battle Master. To a skilled alchemist or healer, this substance could reveal a great deal¡ªunveiling both the warrior¡¯s past and the potential of his future. Droplets of blood passed through one medical device after another, and gradually, the alchemist pieced together a complete picture in his mind. Not a prodigy of martial arts, but with the right approach, Grem¡¯s strength could be developed to the level of a high-stage Battle Ancestor. Valm was certain of it.

    He smiled and stepped outside. Finding a quiet corner in the Citadel where no one would disturb him, he pulled out his alchemical cauldron, a couple of sixth-class monster cores, and around thirty wooden cases filled with alchemical ingredients. He had no recipe for what he intended to create, but that wasn¡¯t necessary. The important thing was that the alchemist knew the foundation¡ªten key components. Everything else was just additional elements best suited to crafting pills specifically for Grem. For others, this preparation would be useless, perhaps even harmful.

    Blue flames with orange sparks engulfed the cauldron, into which Valm tossed several plants from the cases. After a while, his nose caught a faint sweet aroma, prompting him to start counting the seconds¡­ one¡­ two¡­ three¡­ At the precise moment, he added a few more plants and began shaping the first pill with his spiritual energy.

    Valm created seven pills in total. They now lay before him, each in its own separate case. The alchemist carefully closed them one by one, meticulously numbering them from one to seven. He was satisfied. In alchemy, he could be called a perfectionist, given how meticulously he approached his work.

    ¡°When you¡¯re ready,¡± Valm said to the guard, ¡°take one pill each day according to the number on the case. Remember, you must not skip a day! At first, you¡¯ll feel discomfort, as if you¡¯ve caught an illness, but don¡¯t pay it any mind¡ªthat¡¯s just your body beginning to restructure. By the end of the eighth day, I guarantee you¡¯ll break through your current level.¡±

    He handed the pill cases to Grem and, ignoring his words of gratitude, returned to the laboratory. With a satisfied smile, he clapped his hands and rubbed them together.

    ¡°Who¡¯s next?!¡± the alchemist asked himself.

    He ascended to the control station and activated it with a practiced motion. The manipulator¡¯s mechanical arm came to life.

    Meanwhile, tensions boiled in the mayor¡¯s estate. Gorp had quickly learned about the assassination attempt on the alchemist, nearly suffering a heart attack himself. That damned Ladbor¡­ On top of that, his own daughter hadn¡¯t spoken to him for days. In frustration, the mayor hurled a plate of finely sliced fruit against the wall. Everything could fall apart at any moment.

    If Valm discovered the name of the one who ordered the hit and then connected the adventurer to the mayor¡¯s daughter¡­ It would all be over. A disciple of the Toxic Dragon. He was certainly no fool. And not the type to forgive easily. The mayor clenched his fingers around the edge of the table with such force that the wood cracked and broke off. All because of one idiot.

    ¡°Master Gorp, Lord Ladbor is here to see you,¡± the servant said quietly.

    ¡°How timely!¡±

    The mayor stormed out of the dining hall, striding toward the sitting room with such urgency that he nearly knocked over the frail servant.

    ¡°Master Gorp, I¡¯ll fix everything!¡±

    Ladbor¡¯s outcry was interrupted by a resounding slap as the mayor¡¯s palm struck his cheek with full force.

    ¡°Fix it?! You brainless fool! Were you even listening to me?!¡±

    Another loud slap rang out as the mayor backhanded him across the other cheek.

    ¡°Do you remember my order, you idiot?!¡±

    Gorp grabbed Ladbor by the nape of his neck, pressing their foreheads together.

    ¡°I told you not to touch him, you damn bastard!¡±

    A heavy punch to the ribs crumpled the adventurer¡¯s ceremonial armor.

    ¡°You swore to me that you wouldn¡¯t lay a finger on him!¡±

    The second blow landed in the same spot, shattering the armor and breaking several of Ladbor¡¯s lower ribs.

    ¡°And now, not only did you disobey, but that damn alchemist survived your assassination attempt!¡±

    The third punch, rupturing his spleen, sent Ladbor crashing to the floor, curling up in pain. He gasped for air, struggling to hold back the nausea rising in his throat. The mayor tossed him a third-class healing pill like one would throw a scrap to a dog. He looked down at the writhing adventurer beneath his feet and straightened his hair.

    ¡°And you even used my Gray Ravens squad! Did you think I wouldn¡¯t find out?! I turned a blind eye when you ordered all sorts of trivial jobs from them, but this is a disciple of the Toxic Dragon, you fool!¡±

    A powerful kick shattered the bones of Ladbor¡¯s thigh, splitting them in half. This time, the adventurer couldn¡¯t suppress his groan of agony.

    ¡°Master Mayor! I¡¯ll fix it! I swear I¡¯ll fix everything!¡±

    ¡°Fix it?¡±

    Gorp crouched and grabbed the adventurer¡¯s hair in his fist.

    ¡°Do you realize that thanks to your actions, we are practically dead men? I¡¯m giving you one week. Either the alchemist disappears, or the Gray Ravens do. And they must disappear in a way that leaves no trace leading back to us. Do you understand? No more stupid mistakes?¡±

    Ladbor nodded frantically, leaving strands of his hair in the mayor¡¯s grasp.

    ¡°Yes, Master Mayor! This time, I¡¯ll do it right!¡±

    Gorp exhaled and slammed Ladbor¡¯s head against the floor before wiping his palm clean with a fine silk handkerchief.

    ¡°A week. Remember that.¡±

    The mayor left the room, abandoning Ladbor to writhe helplessly on the floor. Rage boiled within the adventurer. The mayor had beaten him like a helpless beggar over the Gray Ravens¡¯ failure. If they had just done the job properly from the start, this wouldn¡¯t have happened!

    Ladbor lay there, feeling his shattered bones gradually mend under the effects of the healing pill.

    He had to go to them. He had to ensure he received satisfaction for today¡¯s humiliation. And at the same time, make it clear that he wasn¡¯t playing games.

    After a few minutes of thought, the adventurer carefully pushed himself to his feet and hobbled toward the exit of the estate.

    And as for this disgrace¡ªthe mayor would pay for it in time.

    Ladbor paused at the gate, looking back at the mayor¡¯s mansion.

    He would pay.

    And it would all begin with his marriage to Sara.

    Ladbor grinned.

    This time, the duffu monster proved more resilient than the previous pamlak. It endured the dissection of its chest cavity quite well and only perished during the cranial trepanation, when Valm attempted to study the connection between brain activity and the monster¡¯s core.

    Initially, based on its reaction speed, the alchemist assumed the core was linked only to the peripheral nervous system, but the evidence didn¡¯t add up. Even after mechanically severing the nerves along the spine, the core continued to react to stimuli, indicating that the brain was involved in the process.

    If only they could speak¡­

    Valm gazed regretfully at the mutilated carcass of the monster. A pity it had died so soon. Figuring out how to sever the link between a monster and its core was becoming an increasingly perplexing mystery.

    The alchemist sat down to sketch individual organs of the duffu, intending to compile an anatomical atlas of the monster.

    If only he could find the chain that bound them and understand how to break it¡­ Without a core, any monster would become nothing more than an ordinary beast¡ªeasily slain by a common swordsman.

    Valm sighed again, realizing the immense challenge he had set for himself.

    But¡­ He had only just begun. Two pathetic first-class monsters were a mere fraction of the hundreds of existing species.

    Sooner or later, he would find the answer.

    Finishing his notes and sketches, the alchemist stored his records and cleaned up his workspace until it gleamed.

    After wrapping up, he stepped out of the laboratory to dispose of the experiment¡¯s remains, when Grem called out to him.

    ¡°Master Alchemist, there¡¯s a beastwoman at the gate asking for you. She insists she¡¯s your apprentice, but I think she¡¯s lying.¡±

    Valm laughed, and at that moment, a high-pitched but loud feminine voice rang out:

    ¡°Alchemist! Did you think you could deceive me?! If you don¡¯t open this gate right now, our next meeting won¡¯t end well for you!¡±

    ¡°She really is my apprentice, Grem, as strange as that may seem.¡±

 Chapter Six. A Slightly Foolish Alchemistâ€™s Apprentice.

    ¡°Ooh¡­¡± The guard hesitated. ¡°But she speaks so arrogantly¡­¡±

    The shouting at the gates didn¡¯t subside, so Valm hurried over. Over the past few days, the beastkin girl had changed into newer and intact clothing. Unlike their first meeting, when she had worn a simple, ragged dress, the rabbit girl had now come to the Citadel in a hunter-style outfit with a very small hat perched atop her head. It fit precisely between her tall white ears.

    ¡°I see you wasted my money,¡± Valm said, examining the rabbit girl in the daylight.

    She was sitting under the gates on a gigantic alchemical cauldron turned upside down.

    ¡°Alchemist!¡± she shouted. ¡°I¡¯ve been yelling my throat dry here for half a day! Is this how you keep your promises?¡±

    ¡°First of all, I am not ¡®alchemist¡¯ to you¡ªI am your teacher! Show more respect unless you want to lose those long ears and be sent away! Understood?!¡±

    ¡°Ahhh¡­ Yes, teacher!¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s your name, anyway?¡±

    ¡°My name is Qian, teacher.¡±

    ¡°Come in.¡± Valm opened the gates.

    To his surprise, the delicate rabbit girl easily grabbed the heavy cauldron by its rim and carried it inside the Citadel with one hand. Indeed, beastkin were much stronger than ordinary humans.

    ¡°You¡¯ll stay in the kitchen for now until a house is built for you, understood?¡±

    ¡°Yes, teacher! And when will you start teaching me? I¡¯m ready!¡±

    ¡°Teaching, you say¡­¡± The alchemist pulled a duck from storage. ¡°Cook this, and then we¡¯ll see.¡±

    He tossed the dead bird into the rabbit girl¡¯s hands and turned toward the laboratory.

    ¡°I¡¯m not a cook! Teacher¡­¡±

    ¡°Cook. The damn. Duck!¡± Valm growled through clenched teeth.

    Confused, Qian remained standing in the courtyard beside her cauldron, the duck in her hands, unsure of what to do next.

    Was this alchemist¡­ mocking her? He was making her live in the kitchen, though he said it was temporary. He ordered her to cook a duck¡­ That¡¯s how kitchen maids lived, wasn¡¯t it?

    Not to mention, rabbitfolk didn¡¯t eat meat, so Qian had no idea how to prepare it.

    Humans were strange, she decided.

    Qian didn¡¯t have much experience interacting with them. Only a few months had passed since she had turned fifteen¡ªthe age of adulthood for beastkin¡ªand left her tribe to travel the great world. It was something all rabbits had to do; otherwise, the tribe wouldn¡¯t be able to feed its many prolific members. The rule was simple: come of age¡ªgo make your own way.

    Usually, people eagerly hired rabbits as house servants or field workers, sparing them any worries about their fate. But things didn¡¯t go so smoothly for Qian. She didn¡¯t know how to show respect in conversations or obediently follow orders. Or rather, she did, but her pink tongue usually worked faster than her brain. So every attempt to find work ended in spectacular failure at the very first conversation with a potential employer.

    Qian was desperate. No money, no job¡­ Not even a single copper to buy a carrot.

    Then, by chance, she saw a well-dressed man in town struggling to drink some medicine, clearly on the verge of death.

    She decided to help him. And, of course, rob him afterward¡ªtaking all the valuables from his pockets as a reward for her assistance.

    But things didn¡¯t go as planned.

    The moment she shoved the pill into the dying Valm¡¯s mouth, several strong hands grabbed her, clamping a cursed device around her neck that prevented her from shifting into her beast form. And in her human form, she had no chance of escape.

    They dragged her into the guild¡¯s basement, chained her to a chair, and gave her a beating. Not too severe compared to the fights in her tribe, but humiliating nonetheless. And the people hitting her kept accusing her of attempting to murder the esteemed alchemist.

    That was the moment she hatched her plan¡ªto become an alchemist herself.

    She had no doubt that Valm was alive; she could sense his aura several floors above her. Now she just needed to wait for him to come and force him to teach her alchemy.

    Then her life would be set.

    Every beastkin knew that alchemists made money hand over fist and were held in the highest regard by society.

    After easily extracting a promise from Valm¡ªand swiping his coin pouch for good measure¡ªQian was certain that fortune had finally smiled upon her.

    But now¡­ Now her red eyes were on the verge of tears.

    Cooking a duck was definitely not alchemy. Even an idiot could see that.

    And she was no idiot.

    Well, maybe just a little.

    She looked around and saw a warrior in a white straw hat watching her closely.

    ¡°Where¡¯s the kitchen?¡±

    The warrior gestured toward a large building near the fence.

    ¡°Follow me.¡±

    He led her inside, and just as she set her cauldron down on the floor, he firmly grabbed her ears.

    ¡°Now listen here, rabbit girl. If you ever disrespect Master Valm again or even think of harming him, I will tan your white fluffy hide so badly you won¡¯t be able to hop for a month. Got it? I know you¡¯re strong in your beast form, but you still wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against me! Do you understand?¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir! Let go!¡±

    ¡°My name is Grem. Just call me Grem,¡± he said, releasing her ears.

    ¡°Alright, si¡­ Grem. You care a lot about my teacher¡­¡±

    The guard adjusted his hat.

    ¡°He¡¯s my client. I protect him.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t do a very good job¡­ A few days ago, teacher nearly died¡­¡±

    She instantly received a light smack on the head.

    ¡°He wasn¡¯t my client back then, you idiot!¡±

    ¡°Aaaah¡­¡± Qian fell silent for a moment. ¡°Grem, what kind of person is my teacher?¡±

    ¡°Master Valm? He¡¯s an incredible alchemist, the best in the kingdom!¡± Grem paused. ¡°He¡¯s generous and kind¡­ But not as simple as he seems. Sometimes, he even scares me, especially with his experiments. And remember¡ªhe never says anything without a reason. Every word and action of his has meaning.¡±

    ¡°Experiments? What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°This place, the Citadel,¡± the guard spun his finger in the air. ¡°Master Valm studies monsters here. I don¡¯t know exactly what for, but there are cages full of creatures in the back courtyard.¡±

    ¡°Whoa¡­¡±

    They fell silent.

    Just as Grem was about to leave, Qian stopped him with another question.

    ¡°How do I cook a duck?¡±

    She lifted the unfortunate bird by its head.

    ¡°A duck?¡± Grem shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know, I¡¯m not a cook. But you definitely need to pluck it first and then boil it.¡±

    With that, the guard left the kitchen, leaving Qian alone.

    ¡°Pluck it first, then boil it¡­ Got it!¡±

    Qian straddled her alchemical cauldron and enthusiastically began plucking feathers from the bird.

    While dissecting yet another monster, Valm knew that the duck preparation task would be incredibly difficult for his apprentice, but he had no intention of making things easier for her. Of course, he could have taken the easy route and forced her to memorize hundreds of complex recipes like other alchemists¡¯ students did, and then it wouldn¡¯t be his problem anymore¡­

    But as mentioned before, Valm was a damn perfectionist when it came to alchemy. The nose of an alchemist¡­ It had to become a living laboratory with numerous detectors, allowing instant understanding of the processes occurring in an alchemical cauldron. His teacher had understood this better than anyone, and later, so did he. And cooking was the best way to achieve it.

    ¡°What do you think, will she manage?¡± he asked the monster while opening its skull. ¡°Yeah, I think so too¡ªnot a chance. Whoa, if not for your hypertrophied hypothalamus, I¡¯d think I was looking at a lizard¡¯s brain!¡±

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    Valm placed the skull cap on the floor and quickly noted down an observation about the underdeveloped prefrontal cortex.

    ¡°And how did your species even manage to survive without aggression inhibitors? Your strength is pathetic¡­¡±

    The monster started convulsing when Valm carefully removed a small portion of its brain, and its core flared up brighter.

    ¡°You feel pain from this?! But that¡¯s impossible, the brains of living beings can¡¯t¡­ wait a minute!¡±

    A vague idea was swirling in the alchemist¡¯s mind. He rushed to the shelves of medical equipment to grab the necessary instruments, but he was too late¡ªthe monster had already died before he returned.

    ¡°Heeeeeeeh,¡± the alchemist sighed. ¡°This one too¡­¡±

    He returned the equipment to its place and began studying the monster¡¯s structure, making sketches and notes. This time, Valm wasn¡¯t at all worried about not having had enough time to research everything he wanted¡ªthe trade guild would bring him as many creatures as he needed.

    Valm left the laboratory late in the evening and found Qian waiting patiently at the doorstep.

    ¡°Why do you look so happy?¡±

    ¡°I cooked the duck, Master! Please come to the dining room!¡±

    Valm smiled.

    ¡°You¡¯ve even intrigued me¡­¡±

    He sat down and sniffed the air in the house. Damn! It was even worse than he had expected. Beaming, Qian placed a tray with the bird in front of him. Dozens of boils, like gray pustules, stuck out from the duck¡¯s white skin, and its dirty beak seemed to mock him: ¡°How do you like me? Pretty? Tasty?¡±

    ¡°Qian¡­ If I throw this duck into a tub of water right now, it will start quacking happily. Do you understand that?¡±

    The joy on the rabbit-girl¡¯s face turned into confusion. She had plucked it, boiled it¡­ What the hell was wrong now?

    ¡°You boiled it with its guts, you fool! The intestines have to be removed!¡±

    But¡­ Grem hadn¡¯t said a word about that! He had only told her to pluck and boil it¡­

    The unfortunate bird, along with the tray, went flying straight at Qian¡¯s head.

    ¡°Throw this garbage to the monsters in the cages. And cook the duck properly!¡±

    Valm pulled a new bird from storage and shoved it into the girl¡¯s hands. Then, pressing his lips together until they turned white, he headed for his bedroom. The door slammed shut.

    Upset, Qian sat on the floor, hugging the bird her master had given her. How? Why? Maybe Grem knew something? She jumped to her feet and ran off to find the guard.

    After hearing her out, Grem burst into laughter.

    ¡°Wait, wait! Say that again¡ªyou really boiled it with the guts?! Ahahahaha, I can¡¯t!¡­ Poor Master Valm, I can just imagine what it¡¯s like for him when his only apprentice tries to feed him crap! Ahahahaha!¡±

    ¡°Grem! But what do I do now?¡±

    ¡°Ooooh, Qian, hold on, let me laugh some more,¡± the guard wiped his eyes several times. ¡°Listen, the cook will arrive in the morning¡ªask her for help, okay?¡±

    He drew his dagger and swiftly beheaded the duck that Qian was holding by its feet.

    ¡°And drain the blood, or even a cook won¡¯t be able to help you if it congeals inside the carcass, got it?¡±

    The strike was so fast that Qian barely saw it happen. ¡°So quick!¡± she thought. The guard was only a step stronger than her in her beast form, but his speed was astounding. A thin stream of blood trickled to the ground from the bird¡¯s neck.

    ¡°Drain the blood?¡± She didn¡¯t understand.

    ¡°Of course. In Master Valm¡¯s storage ring, time stops for objects, so you have to do it immediately after he gives you a bird.¡±

    ¡°Oh! Got it!¡±

    ¡°Well then, Master¡­ Tomorrow, I¡¯ll surprise you!¡± she decided as she carried her failed culinary experiment to feed the monsters.

    Shutting the bedroom door, Valm immediately collapsed face-first onto his bed, his shoulders shaking. With laughter he couldn¡¯t suppress. This was unbelievable¡­ Maybe she would finally realize that alchemy wasn¡¯t her path and leave? Valm would be perfectly fine with that.

    In the morning, Valm noticed Qian intently gutting a headless bird. Grem was meditating in the courtyard after taking another pill the alchemist had created. ¡°Did she figure it out on her own?¡± Valm wondered as he walked toward the laboratory.

    Standing at the central control panel, he pushed all other thoughts aside and focused as he dragged a new monster into the lab. This time, he changed the order of operations, beginning immediately with a craniotomy to study the brain¡¯s structure.

    One could say that during this experiment, the monster remained stable, although its heart rate and blood pressure spiked due to fear. Perhaps he should try removing the adrenal glands so that adrenaline would stop entering the bloodstream? Valm picked up a scalpel and approached the restrained monster from behind.

    The idea, in the alchemist¡¯s opinion, wasn¡¯t bad, but the monster still died from pain shock before he even finished cutting open its chest.

    Thus, the experiment concluded with the finding that adrenaline was crucial for monsters, allowing them to suppress fear and continue attacking relentlessly even when maimed. Underdeveloped prefrontal cortex, hypertrophied hypothalamus, dependence on adrenaline¡­ With each new study, the mosaic became more expansive and colorful. And more difficult to decipher.

    After quickly completing the anatomical analysis and cleaning up, Valm left the laboratory, deciding to take a short lunch break.

    From the Citadel courtyard, he caught the scent of roasted duck. It surprised him so much that he stopped in his tracks, pondering what the trick was. He had no doubt that this was some kind of deception by his apprentice.

    ¡°You want to play games? Fine!¡± Valm decided, confidently heading inside.

    ¡°Master! I cooked the duck! And this time, without the crap, I swear!¡±

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re surprising me!¡± the alchemist feigned ignorance.

    He waited eagerly in the dining room to see what Qian had come up with this time. She quickly appeared and placed a roasted duck in front of him.

    Valm closed his eyes and focused on the scent. He took another deep breath before picking up the knife and fork. Carefully, he separated a leg, examining the joint. Then he placed it on the plate and sniffed the sauce. He grimaced.

    ¡°This time, the duck won¡¯t be flying at your head only because the cook prepared it instead of you.¡±

    ¡°Master, how did you¡­¡±

    Valm raised a hand, stopping her.

    ¡°Give it to Grem. It¡¯s roasted well enough for his standards, but it¡¯s absolute garbage for mine. If you want, I can tell you what¡¯s wrong with it.¡±

    Qian quickly nodded, turning her ears toward the alchemist.

    ¡°Just so you know, duck is one of the most demanding poultry to prepare. It has tough skin that must not be dried out and a thick layer of fat beneath it. The meat itself is quite firm. So, it needs to be roasted at low temperatures to keep the skin tender while allowing the slowly melting fat to be fully absorbed into the meat. And this particular specimen, as you can see¡­ The skin may have a pleasant color, but it¡¯s as tough as a boot sole. All the fat has simply drained away, leaving the meat tough and tasteless. Conclusion: it was roasted too quickly at a temperature ten or twelve degrees higher than necessary.

    Now, about the prune sauce. Not a bad choice when honey and ginger aren¡¯t available, but¡­ Dried prunes must be roasted before being pureed to fully release their sugar! And instead of that, you¡±¡ªValm jabbed a finger into the sauce, licked it, then quickly wiped his tongue with a napkin¡ª¡°added cane sugar! And all just to mask the natural acidity of the fruit! What idiots! Get this garbage away from me!¡±

    Valm was fuming. He was less offended by the attempt at deception than by how badly executed it was. Frightened by his outburst, Qian snatched up the plate of duck and dashed outside. The sauce dish flew after her.

    ¡°You forgot the sauce!¡±

    Without realizing it, Valm was now acting exactly like his own teacher, the grumpy old man everyone called the Toxic Dragon. He went to the kitchen, quickly prepared a simple tomato omelet for himself, and sat down to eat. He tore into the hard crust of black bread with strong teeth and scraped his fork against the bottom of his plate.

    ¡°Grem, the master ordered you to have this¡­¡± Qian placed the plate in front of the guard. ¡°But the sauce, unfortunately, well¡­¡±

    The Battle Master chuckled and tore off a wing.

    ¡°Not bad!¡± he concluded. ¡°Master Valm didn¡¯t like it again?¡±

    ¡°Nope. Not only did he immediately figure out that the cook had made it, but he also said that, in simple terms, it was no good.¡±

    ¡°Well, if he said that, he must have explained why, right?¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­ But I still didn¡¯t understand any of it.¡±

    Grem wiped his greasy hands with a napkin and pushed the plate aside.

    ¡°Think about his words, kid. Try to recall exactly what he said and how he said it, and reflect on it. I¡¯ll leave you to it.¡±

    Grem pulled his white straw hat low over his eyes and walked away. He actually found Valm and his apprentice¡¯s interactions amusing. Life in the Citadel was dull for the Battle Master, so this was at least some form of entertainment.

    He settled in a quiet corner and resumed meditating. A few days ago, the alchemist had surprised him by giving him pills to raise his level. Grem had expected that to happen much later¡ªperhaps in the second half of their agreed period¡ªbut for it to come so soon, within the first few days of his service¡­ It seemed Valm had decided to trust him.

    The Battle Master focused on the changes in his body and marveled again at how smoothly it all was happening. He had heard countless stories from other warriors who had increased their level using alchemy. According to them, it was supposed to be difficult and painful. But with Valm¡¯s pills, it was the opposite. As the alchemist had warned, the first two days had left him feeling weak, as if he had dropped a rank, but now¡­ A tremendous power surged inside him, urging him to move, to act, to do something¡­ Yet, Grem had approached breakthroughs before, so he remained as composed as possible. In the sleepy Citadel, that wasn¡¯t difficult.

    But it wasn¡¯t just his physical body that was changing. Grem noticed his thinking becoming sharper and deeper, his memory surfacing details he had long forgotten. Quite by accident, he recalled where he had previously sensed the aura left by the assassin on that strange needle when it was stabbed into Valm¡¯s back.

    Grem didn¡¯t know the man¡¯s name, but he had no doubt¡ªhe was from Gray Ravens.

    Years ago, the guard had helped an adventurer who had been attacked by the Ravens. Grem wasn¡¯t overly bloodthirsty, so he had simply let the attackers go after breaking a few of their bones¡­ Looks like he shouldn¡¯t have let them go after all.

    Now, however, he faced a dilemma that kept him from fully concentrating on his meditation. Should he tell Valm, or keep quiet and leave things as they were? He had no way of predicting the alchemist¡¯s reaction to such news. Would he become afraid and lock himself inside the Citadel? Or, on the contrary, would he order Grem to attack Gray Ravens himself?

    One thing was certain¡ªthose bastards would try to kill Valm again.

    Grem wasn¡¯t afraid of them. Even now, at an intermediate level, he could easily defeat any one of them in a one-on-one fight. And after his breakthrough to the next rank of Battle Master? No contest. But the problem was, there were a lot of Gray Ravens¡ªno fewer than fifty killers. If they all came at once, he wouldn¡¯t just fail to protect Valm; he probably wouldn¡¯t survive himself.

    That troubled him.

    From Grem¡¯s perspective, there was no good option right now.

    So he decided that telling Valm the truth was the best course of action. The guard believed that the intelligent and level-headed alchemist would find the right way to deal with Gray Ravens once and for all. After all, his very survival depended on it.

    Valm sat in the dining hall, staring at his empty plate, berating himself for the outburst he had unleashed on Qian. Yes, she was still a fool, but she had at least tried to do her best. At least from her own perspective.

    The alchemist pulled out a stylus and some sheets of paper and began writing.

    A recipe for roasted duck.

    The one his teacher had never given him, the one he had developed on his own after countless trials and even more mistakes.

    This wasn¡¯t just a simple recipe listing ingredients and temperatures¡ªno. Valm carefully detailed every step, explaining why it was necessary and what would happen as a result. Each spice, its importance, its color, its grind consistency, its aroma¡­ And most importantly, how to combine everything correctly to achieve the best result.

    When he finished, he read through it again, nodding to himself in a rhythm only he understood.

    Perfect.

    An explanation so clear and detailed that even a child could grasp it.

    Humming to himself, he stepped outside to hand the papers to his apprentice. She was just returning from the monster pens, where she had fed the kitchen scraps to the creatures. Upon seeing her teacher, she flinched, hesitated between two directions, then finally froze in place. It would be odd for a student to start avoiding her teacher, she decided.

    ¡°Once more, Qian, prepare a duck!¡±

    Valm pulled a fresh bird from his storage and placed it in her hands.

    ¡°And this¡±¡ªhe set the papers on top¡ª¡°is a recipe with instructions and explanations. I hope this time you get it right.¡±

    Qian was shocked by her teacher¡¯s behavior; she simply couldn¡¯t understand why he was acting like this.

    ¡°Yes, Master! I will!¡±

    Before his eyes, she tore off the duck¡¯s head with a single motion to let the blood drain.

    Valm recoiled.

    She¡¯s insane! That¡¯s what knives are for¡ªthey were invented for this!

    ¡°Uh¡­ well¡­ all right then¡­ I¡¯ll be going, and you should too¡ªgo handle your tasks¡­¡±

    But just as he took a few steps toward the lab, Grem called out to him.

    ¡°Master Valm, wait! I have something to tell you!¡±

    ¡°Is it urgent?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s for you to decide. I just need to report¡­ Do you remember that needle you were attacked with?¡±

    Qian, who had already walked a few meters away, stopped and turned her ears toward Valm and Grem.

    ¡°Yes. What about it?¡±

    ¡°Today, during meditation, I remembered who that aura on the handle belongs to! It¡¯s a member of Gray Ravens!¡±

 Chapter Seven. The End of Gray Ravens.

    ¡°Gray Ravens? Never heard of them.¡±

    ¡°A gang of scum. They say they¡¯re somehow connected to the city mayor, but there¡¯s no proof. The only fact is that the gang has existed for more than ten years, and no one has tried to deal with them.¡±

    ¡°So that¡¯s how it is¡­ Alright¡­¡±

    Valm went to the laboratory, leaving Grem in complete uncertainty. The guard hadn¡¯t expected the alchemist to be so indifferent to his words. It was unsettling¡ªand frightening. People who conceal their thoughts and emotions can be very dangerous and unpredictable.

    Meanwhile, the alchemist strapped down another monster, securing it on a frame. His actions were precise and methodical, though his mind was entirely occupied by Grem¡¯s words. Valm had already suspected that the mayor was behind the assassination attempt, but without direct evidence, he didn¡¯t want to start a feud. And even now¡­

    Valm cut off one of the horns protruding from the monster¡¯s spine and went to the medical section to conduct a quick analysis of its composition, checking the calcium and phosphorus levels in the tissue. If he was lucky, he might even identify compounds that negatively affected the creature¡¯s health and development.

    But even now, Valm didn¡¯t have the strength for open war with the mayor. As for those scumbags¡­ If he wiped them out, he could protect himself from future assassination attempts and, at the same time, sever¡ªso to speak¡ªone of the mayor¡¯s arms. If they were truly connected, that is. The alchemist retrieved the horn fragments from the device and recorded the experiment¡¯s results.

    ¡°So, what do you say?¡± he asked the monster while peeling its scalp. ¡°Endure it, or give them a slap in return?¡±

    A cloud of white dust burst from beneath the surgical saw as it bit into the creature¡¯s sturdy skull. Carefully cutting around the perimeter, the alchemist lifted the skull cap and removed the protective brain membranes with a scalpel. He paused, visually assessing the brain¡¯s size and structure, as if searching for abnormalities.

    ¡°Ah, you won¡¯t tell me anything, you dumb freak. At least not with your tongue. But your body¡­ your body can reveal something.¡±

    The alchemist carefully separated the thin gray strands growing from the back of the skull, stretching down to the spine. Most likely, they connected the brain to the monster¡¯s core. Valm walked around the frame, locking eyes with the restrained creature.

    ¡°If I¡¯m right, you won¡¯t die quickly. And that means we¡¯ll have a lot¡­ a lot of time to talk.¡±

    Though the monster didn¡¯t understand his words, it still trembled. Not from pain¡ªfrom fear. Scholars of this world all claimed that monsters did not know fear. They were wrong. At some point, every creature that encountered Valm began to fear.

    The alchemist¡¯s scalpel made a lightning-fast incision down the monster¡¯s chest, barely missing the bones. He separated the soft tissues, staunching the bleeding from dozens of small vessels. Then the saw whirred again as it met the tough ribs of the creature¡¯s chest.

    Valm worked confidently and swiftly, stopping only when he saw the glowing core of the monster. He smiled. This time, things would be different. He pulled a tray of glass vials closer to the restrained creature. It was time to test some of his alchemical results on its insides.

    The experiments lasted several hours. Injecting poisons into the bloodstream, applying toxins to internal organs¡ªhe observed their effects and the time required for the monster to regenerate. In the end, the creature¡¯s core cracked and crumbled to dust as its mana was depleted. The monster was dead.

    Valm sighed. He had no effective poisons in his arsenal. He would either have to invent them or find another solution.

    The alchemist sat down to draw an anatomical atlas of the monster, but his thoughts kept returning to Gray Ravens. Should he try to buy them off? After building the Citadel, he had little money left¡ªfar less than the mayor, who had been plundering a city of millions. Valm didn¡¯t believe in the loyalty of scum like Gorpo. So¡­ kill them?

    Ladbor, now recovered from the injuries inflicted by the mayor, was once again racing north along the road to Gray Ravens¡¯ lair. As always, the heavy gates swung open, and the adventurer was led inside to wait for the First Raven.

    But instead of a calm conversation, he immediately lashed out at the warrior who entered the room, cursing furiously.

    ¡°You bastard! You failed the job and set me up! Are you so fucking incompetent that you can¡¯t even get rid of a pathetic alchemist?!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not like that! He had help!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t give a damn! You were supposed to kill him!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll complete the job. Gray Ravens always finish their work, one way or another. So don¡¯t worry¡ªhe¡¯ll die!¡±

    ¡°Five days! You hear me? You have five days. And don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you!¡±

    Ladbor stormed out, slamming the door. If they didn¡¯t take out the alchemist, he would personally carve them up.

    The First Raven sat motionless at the table.

    ¡°You heard?¡± he asked the empty room.

    From the darkness beneath the roof, a black shadow emerged, taking on human form.

    ¡°Yes. What should we do?¡±

    ¡°Gather the men.¡±

    ¡°How many?¡±

    ¡°All of them. We may have to storm a small fortress.¡±

    The figure faded back into the shadows and disappeared. The First Raven lowered his head into his calloused hands. Because of that one failure, his gang was now going to suffer losses. The alchemist had locked himself inside his Citadel, refusing to leave. And that warrior beside him now¡­ A cornered prey could become a hunter.

    Valm didn¡¯t enjoy killing. Unlike his mentor, he actually cared about human lives. If it hadn¡¯t come to this, he never would have dared to take his next steps. The alchemist twirled a small glass vial between his fingers, filled with something black. It had no cork, no lid¡ªit was completely sealed.

    Apparently having made a decision, Valm stood up and left the laboratory. He ignored Qian, who jumped to her feet excitedly, and went straight to the guard.

    ¡°Grem, what do you know about Gray Ravens?¡±

    The man grinned. It seemed the uncertainty was over.

    ¡°A gang of scum, numbering a few dozen. They have a sort of base outside the city, along the northern road, where they collect tolls from merchants. Or, to be precise, they just rob them.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s their strength?¡±

    ¡°As far as I know, a few third-circle mages, and the rest are warriors of various classes. But they also have some lower-tier Battle Masters. Why do you ask?¡±

    ¡°I want to pay them a visit.¡±

    Grem froze. He hadn¡¯t ordered him to go and kill them. He had just said he wanted to go there himself?

    ¡°Uh¡­ Sir Valm, I think it¡¯s a bad idea to go alone. They¡¯ll kill you. With their numbers, even I won¡¯t be able to protect you.¡±

    ¡°Grem, it¡¯s much simpler than that. I¡¯m not asking you to protect me. The plan is entirely different.¡±

    The alchemist pulled out the sealed vial he had been holding earlier.

    ¡°How far and how accurately can you throw this bottle?¡±

    The Battle Master took it in his hands, tossing it a few times in his palm.

    ¡°Two kilometers, with an error margin of plus or minus half a meter. What is it?¡±

    ¡°A little gift that will make them call off their hunt for me.¡±

    ¡°Oh, is this your alchemy?¡± Qian¡¯s voice came from behind. ¡°I¡¯m coming with you¡ªI want to watch!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re still a kid!¡± Valm snapped.

    ¡°You¡¯re wrong,¡± Grem interjected. ¡°Your apprentice is not much weaker than me, if you didn¡¯t know. An extra strong fighter wouldn¡¯t hurt.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re not going there to fight.¡±

    ¡°All the more reason. Nothing bad will happen to her on a walk. And if something does, her help will be useful.¡±

    Grem wasn¡¯t speaking out of kindness. If Valm¡¯s plan went sideways, two Battle Masters would always be better than one.

    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    Valm sighed. ¡°Fine. She can come.¡±

    ¡°Great!¡± Qian cheered, jumping in excitement.

    And then she started undressing.

    ¡°What the hell are you doing?!¡± the alchemist shouted.

    ¡°Teacher, this is my only outfit, and if I shift into my beast form without undressing, it¡¯ll be ruined!¡±

    ¡°Oh, I see. Alright.¡±

    Qian¡¯s body began to grow, covered in thick white fur. There were no signs of pain or discomfort, though the alchemist¡¯s ears picked up something that sounded like cracking bones. Her face contorted¡ªher lips nearly disappeared, her nose flattened, and the shape of her eyes stretched toward her temples, making them narrow and almond-shaped. Her feet and hands grew several times larger, with long, sharp white claws extending from them. Qian stretched and rolled her neck, twisting her head from side to side.

    In front of Valm stood not a girl, but a beast. And not just any beast¡ªa dangerous predator. And they called these things rabbits?! The alchemist tried to find any resemblance to the fluffy little animals, but aside from the long ears and soft white fur, there was nothing. This creature was nearly two hundred kilograms of bone, sinew, and lean muscle¡ªmockingly wrapped in fluffy white fur.

    ¡°What the hell happened to you?!¡± he blurted out involuntarily.

    ¡°Evolution, Teacher. Our kind could only survive against werewolves under two conditions. Either we reproduced at an extraordinary rate compared to other species, or we became strong and dangerous enough to fight back. We chose both, grrrr.¡±

    Even Qian¡¯s voice had become deeper and raspier. She swung her paw, and Valm heard the air whistle as her claws sliced through it. I should probably be friendlier to her, he thought.

    ¡°Hey, rabbit, I¡¯ve got something for you!¡±

    Grem rummaged through his storage bag for a moment and pulled out a massive war hammer with a long handle. Qian instantly grabbed it, spinning it over her head until the air around her hummed.

    ¡°I like it! I¡¯m ready!¡±

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go,¡± the alchemist said, opening the capsule door.

    ¡°Wait, Master Valm!¡± Grem stopped him. ¡°With this thing, we¡¯ll be limited to traveling only on roads.¡±

    ¡°And what do you propose? Otherwise, I¡¯ll slow you both down.¡±

    The guard pointed at Qian.

    ¡°She¡¯ll carry you.¡±

    ¡°No way! Qian is my student, not a riding animal!¡±

    ¡°Ah, Teacher, forgive this Qian, but he has a point!¡±

    With that, she effortlessly hoisted Valm onto her back and leaped over the Citadel¡¯s towering wall. The alchemist barely had time to activate the Citadel¡¯s security mode on his bracelet.

    ¡°There was a gate!¡± he groaned into her fluffy ear.

    ¡°Follow me, rabbit!¡± called Grem, who had already pulled ahead.

    They sped up. Through his clothes, Valm could feel the intense strain of Qian¡¯s muscles as she surged forward, trying to keep pace with the mid-tier Battle Master ahead. Yet, at the same time, her breathing remained steady and measured. Likely, this was a speed she could maintain for a long time.

    They dashed across fields and small forests, leaving the city on their right. Even as the low hills gave way to mountains, they did not slow down. For the first time in his life, Valm was moving at such speed, and despite the fear, he felt¡­ exhilaration?

    Grem stopped at the top of one of the mountains.

    ¡°We can¡¯t go any further, or they¡¯ll sense our auras, Master Valm.¡±

    Qian set the alchemist down, and he stood beside the guard, following Grem¡¯s pointing hand. A few long wooden buildings, resembling barracks, stood enclosed by a palisade. Gray Ravens¡¯ base was laid out before them like an open book.

    ¡°How far?¡±

    ¡°About two and a half kilometers.¡±

    ¡°Can you throw it that far?¡±

    ¡°Easily. Do I need to hit a specific spot?¡±

    ¡°No, but preferably the center, and it needs to break on impact¡ªnot land in soft soil.¡±

    Valm pulled out a glass vial, gripping it with whitened fingers. Suddenly, doubt crept in.

    ¡°Are there only Gray Ravens there? No civilians?¡±

    ¡°Master Valm, you say that as if you¡¯re about to kill them,¡± Grem chuckled. ¡°But to put your mind at ease, I doubt regular people would be hiding in a den of those bastards. And after your little gift, the rabbit and I will easily sort out who¡¯s who.¡±

    The Battle Master didn¡¯t know what the alchemist was holding. Typically, alchemy could only paralyze an opponent temporarily, cause coughing, or irritate the eyes. In rare cases, it might slightly poison them. Warriors, however, were damn resistant to such things. Grem simply didn¡¯t know who Valm¡¯s teacher was¡ªotherwise, he wouldn¡¯t be treating that vial so lightly.

    The alchemist looked at Gray Ravens¡¯ base once more. About seventy meters across. The guaranteed effective radius of the substance in this vial¡ªat least a hundred meters. So not a single one of them outside the palisade would survive¡­ And even as he extended the vial to Grem, his fingers refused to let go of the damned glass.

    ¡°How many are there?¡±

    ¡°I sense fifty-four auras,¡± the Battle Master replied, yanking the vial from the alchemist¡¯s hands.

    Valm pressed his lips together until they turned white. Fifty-four souls that would forever be on his conscience. Surely, not all of them deserved death¡­ He could cancel the order. He still had time before Grem threw the poison, but¡­

    ¡°N¨C¡± he began, but the vial was already halfway to Gray Ravens¡¯ base.

    Valm clenched his fists. Grem and Qian looked at him in surprise at his outburst. Neither of them saw the moment the bottle shattered into thousands of tiny shards against the wooden wall of the barracks. Nor did they see how the people inside froze in place as if instantly turned to stone before collapsing. It didn¡¯t matter whether they were mages or warriors¡ªtheir strength level made no difference. The poison affected them all the same.

    Within seconds, Grem¡¯s pupils began to widen. He was still staring at Valm, his face betraying shock, disbelief, and fear.

    ¡°They¡¯re dying one by one!¡± the Battle Master exclaimed. ¡°I¡¯ll go check!¡±

    ¡°Stop, Grem!¡± the alchemist called. ¡°You can¡¯t go there yet!¡±

    The guard halted.

    ¡°This is impossible¡­¡± he muttered, to no one in particular.

    ¡°It was the safest solution.¡±

    Valm sat down. He felt disgusted, yet at the same time, relieved.

    ¡°I have no right¡ªand no desire¡ªto risk your lives. That¡¯s why I did what I did,¡± the alchemist wiped his hands as if they were dirty. ¡°We won¡¯t go there for at least two hours. The gas needs time to break down into harmless elements before the area is safe again.¡±

    Unexpectedly, it was Qian who lightened the mood.

    ¡°Ahahaha! This is my teacher!¡± she laughed, sitting beside the alchemist and slapping his back with a furry paw. ¡°Now I know I made the right choice becoming your student!¡±

    Valm coughed.

    ¡°You have strange standards,¡± he muttered.

    ¡°What¡¯s so strange? Half a hundred enemies wiped out in one move, just to protect me and Grem!¡±

    Valm remained silent, though he thought to himself that she had invited herself along in the first place.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure all of them were my enemies¡­¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t know who the Ravens were, Master Valm,¡± the Battle Master sat down on the other side. ¡°Believe me, ever since they took the contract on you, every single one of them was your enemy.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t try to comfort me, Grem.¡±

    ¡°Does it look like I¡¯m trying?¡±

    They all fell silent, staring at the still base of Gray Ravens.

    ¡°Teacher, what was in that bottle?¡±

    ¡°A poisonous gas.¡±

    ¡°And it can kill anyone?¡±

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t think so. I imagine War Gods would only cough a little.¡±

    ¡°And Battle Ancestors? High-tier mages?¡±

    ¡°They wouldn¡¯t stand a chance.¡±

    ¡°Are there poisons,¡± Grem couldn¡¯t hold back, ¡°that could kill a War God?¡±

    Valm gave a short nod. His answer shocked both Qian and Grem. War Gods¡­ They stood at the pinnacle of strength in this world, alongside archmages. There were so few of them that no one even hoped to meet one in their lifetime.

    ¡°Teacher, can you create such a poison?¡±

    Qian¡¯s red eyes were now burning with excitement.

    ¡°Probably.¡±

    Valm didn¡¯t tell the truth. He knew at least ten poisons from his master that could easily take the life of the God of War¡ªif they made it into his system, of course.

    ¡°Cool! Can I learn to do that?¡± The girl was overflowing with enthusiasm.

    ¡°Qian,¡± the alchemist looked at his student with sadness, ¡°you can¡¯t even handle a duck yet. Forget about such complex compounds as poison. At least for now.¡±

    The silent bodyguard let out a short laugh at those words. Today, he had seen with his own eyes something he had personally considered impossible¡ªan alchemist, playing around, killing warriors and Battle Masters. And he even openly said that this was far from his limit. Grem had respected Valm ever since he took a fifth-class pill as his assistant¡¯s fee. And since then, that respect had only grown. But today¡­ Today, it soared to the heavens. This physically weak man was the strongest of anyone he knew.

    ¡°Two hours have passed,¡± said Grem, who had been keeping track of time without pause.

    ¡°Drink this.¡± Valm pulled three vials of yellow liquid from his storage. ¡°Just in case the poison residue hasn¡¯t fully broken down yet.¡±

    The alchemist¡¯s companions gulped down the potion without hesitation, even faster than Valm himself. He merely shook his head. One shouldn¡¯t be so trusting in this world.

    Qian picked up her teacher and leaped forward. Within seconds, they were already standing before the heavy wooden gates of Gray Ravens¡¯ base.

    ¡°Will you open it?¡± Grem asked her.

    ¡°Grrrr,¡± came the response.

    Qian carefully set Valm on his feet and, swinging her heavy hammer, shattered the sturdy wooden logs of the gate into splinters with a single blow. As the dust settled, silence reigned.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go. We¡¯re looking for any leads on their clients and getting out of here¡ªno delays.¡± Valm entered first.

    And he saw what his poison had done. Bodies lay everywhere¡ªon the courtyard, in the barracks, even along the high fence. Horribly twisted, with bloody tears streaming from their eyes onto blue, contorted faces. Every muscle in their bodies had been torn apart by convulsions. That was why the grimaces of pain distorted the faces of the dead so much.

    Valm crouched beside one of the corpses and removed a storage pouch from its belt. To his surprise, he felt absolutely nothing. Even the pity that had lingered in his soul two hours ago had vanished. Not hidden¡ªcompletely gone. And the alchemist moved on to the next body, and then another¡­ As if he had looted corpses his whole life.

    ¡°Master Valm, we¡¯re done. We can leave,¡± Grem called out.

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    He trusted the Battle Master¡¯s words. If Grem said they had finished searching, then that was that. Valm was confident in Grem¡¯s experience. And he obediently climbed onto Qian¡¯s back. On the way back, the alchemist felt mentally exhausted, while the girl and the Battle Master, on the contrary, joked cheerfully with each other. Valm closed his eyes and rested his head against the warm, white fur. I¡¯ll have to watch the mayor¡¯s reaction closely, he thought before dozing off for a moment.

    ¡°Master Valm! Master Valm!¡± Grem gently shook the alchemist¡¯s shoulder. ¡°We can¡¯t go inside¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh, right¡­¡±

    The drowsy Valm deactivated the Citadel¡¯s protective barrier.

    ¡°You know what I¡¯m curious about?¡± he asked his student. ¡°How long can you stay in this form?¡±

    ¡°Forever, if I want,¡± the girl shrugged. ¡°Why, do you like me better this way?¡±

    ¡°You have very nice fur,¡± was all he could say. ¡°Let¡¯s go see if there¡¯s anything interesting.¡±

    A few minutes later, Valm, Grem, and Qian¡ªnow in her human form¡ªgathered in the living room. The Battle Master methodically activated the storage pouches and rings with his blood, pouring their contents onto the floor. He handed the last ring to Qian.

    ¡°Take it. I noticed you don¡¯t have a storage item. Now you do.¡±

    The girl activated the ring and emptied all its contents.

    ¡°It pays to be a scumbag,¡± Valm remarked.

    Yes, the pile contained outright junk, but there were also plenty of valuables¡ªmonster cores, money, and even some rare items.

    ¡°Account books!¡± Grem exclaimed.

    He pulled out a stack of thick ledgers and handed them to the alchemist.

    ¡°Usually, these record who paid how much for each job. Though the names of the clients are altered and only known to the book¡¯s owner¡­ who, let¡¯s say, died rather unexpectedly.¡±

    ¡°Thanks. I think I¡¯ll figure it out.¡±

    Valm took the stack, sat at the table, and began flipping through the pages. This was more than just a record book¡ªit was a complete financial log of Gray Ravens for the past ten years. As Grem had said, the names were encrypted in some wild jumble of letters and numbers.

    Valm picked up the ledger marked for this year and opened the last filled pages. The mention of his assassination was one of the final entries.

    ¡°Five thousand?! They agreed to kill me for only five thousand?!¡±

    Valm was outraged by such a price. He would have valued himself much higher.

    Grem approached and held out a small glass orb.

    ¡°I found something, Master Valm.¡±

    He channeled a drop of his aura into it, and an image of the alchemist appeared in the air.

    ¡°I remember this day! That¡¯s when I flogged Sari in the square!¡± Valm, excited, got up from the table. ¡°But the angle of the recording¡­ It definitely wasn¡¯t taken from the square where it happened!¡±

 Chapter Eight. Bloodlust.

    Did someone do it on Gorp¡¯s orders? If not, then Valm had an enemy he wasn¡¯t even aware of. And that meant his entire theory¡ªthat Gray Ravens¡¯ attack on him had been initiated by the mayor¡ªwas worthless.

    ¡°You can sense the traces of the aura of the person who brought this orb to Gray Ravens?¡±

    ¡°Unfortunately not, Master Valm. All traces have been erased.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± he said in disappointment.

    So was it the mayor or not? Right now, the alchemist was confused. There was no way to decipher the names in Ravens¡¯ notebook; the one who knew the code had been dead for a long time. Valm sighed. Well, at least this much. He had eliminated the immediate threat, and that was no small thing.

    While he was pondering, the Battle Master and Qian had sorted the pile on the floor into three roughly equal parts.

    ¡°If this works for everyone¡­¡± Grem said, gesturing at the items.

    ¡°I feel like a bandit,¡± the alchemist sighed again, stowing his share in his storage.

    ¡°Rob the robbed!¡± Qian exclaimed, taking her portion. ¡°Master, are you sure it was only Gray Ravens who wanted to kill you? Maybe there¡¯s someone else?¡±

    The Battle Master and the alchemist exchanged glances and shook their heads in perfect unison, expressing utter disappointment.

    ¡°So, what about the duck?¡± Valm asked her.

    Qian¡¯s expression instantly turned gloomy.

    ¡°I¡¯m on it, Master¡­¡±

    ¡°You do realize the mayor won¡¯t stop, Master Valm?¡± Grem asked. ¡°Sooner or later, he¡¯ll find new assassins. Maybe we should strike first?¡±

    The Battle Master made a meaningful gesture, drawing his finger across his throat.

    ¡°Although the likelihood is high, I¡¯m not even sure anymore that Gorp was really behind it. Besides, killing the mayor will definitely attract the royal court¡¯s attention, an investigation will begin, and I don¡¯t need that right now. So, no. We¡¯ll just stay vigilant.¡±

    ¡°As you wish.¡±

    He was about to leave when the alchemist stopped him.

    ¡°What¡¯s your level now?¡±

    ¡°Tomorrow, I take my last pill. Everything¡¯s great, Master Valm! I think this will be my easiest breakthrough yet!¡±

    ¡°Glad to hear it. Once you¡¯ve adapted to your new rank, we¡¯ll see what else we can do to raise your level again.¡±

    Grem left the house, his eyes shining and his heart pounding from the alchemist¡¯s words. Raise his level again?! He could make him a Battle Ancestor?! For such a service, Grem would be willing to guard him for life! In the entire human kingdom, there were no more than five people at that level of power! Damn! That decision to help the alchemist on the square had turned out to be the best one of his life!

    Ladbor was approaching Gray Ravens¡¯ base, seething with rage. Five days had passed, yet the damn alchemist was still alive. Sometimes his fury was interrupted by fear of the mayor, which only intensified his turmoil and emotional swings.

    ¡°Something¡¯s wrong!¡± the thought flashed in his mind as he turned off the road onto the crooked path leading to the base. The adventurer sensed no auras there, only a few birds and beasts. Had those bastards just run away? Ladbor tightened his grip on the reins and urged his mount forward.

    Reality turned out to be far worse than he had imagined a minute ago. The adventurer stood before the remnants of the heavy gates, which had been destroyed with a single strike. Not that he himself couldn¡¯t strike with the same force, but still¡­ The courtyard inside was filled with the corpses Ravens. Twisted, some already torn apart by scavengers¡­ Ladbor had never seen such a brutal massacre before.

    Being an experienced adventurer, he could easily tell how excruciatingly these people had died. And if at first he thought the killer was the one who had destroyed the gates, a few glances at the bodies were enough to determine the true cause of death. Not a single wound on them¡ªexcept for those torn apart by beasts. But at the same time, all their muscles were shredded¡­ This wasn¡¯t the work of a warrior or a mage. This was definitely poisoning!

    Ladbor recalled the mayor¡¯s words about Valm: ¡°He¡¯s the disciple of the Toxic Dragon!¡± A cold sweat trickled down the adventurer¡¯s spine. He remembered all the tales and childhood horror stories about the old alchemist. Damn it, they weren¡¯t lies! And if Valm was even half as skilled as his master, then¡­

    Ladbor abandoned his examination of the bodies and ran, searching for the First Raven. That damn recording orb¡­ He had wisely erased his aura traces when he passed it on, but if a strong enough expert wanted to, they could still find clues. And then¡­ If Valm decided to kill him, the adventurer wouldn¡¯t stand a chance!

    The First Raven lay in the middle of the barracks, his right hand clutching his own throat, as if in his final moments he had realized the poison in the air and tried to stop it. From the scratch marks on his neck, even a fool would understand that he had been holding his throat with both hands before death! Damn it! He had already been searched, and his storage was gone. Just in case, the adventurer rummaged through all the pockets on the First Raven¡¯s clothing. Empty¡­

    In frustration, Ladbor punched the floor, smashing through the thick planks. Now what? The bodies had been there for about thirty to thirty-five hours, and if Valm hadn¡¯t found him yet, then¡­ There was a chance the alchemist didn¡¯t have someone strong enough beside him to track Ladbor down by the aura remnants on the orb.

    There was nothing more he could do here, so he had no choice but to go and report everything to the mayor. Ladbor wasn¡¯t sure if he should mention that damned recording orb, which could doom them both. The adventurer grinned. No, since he had already sunk into this mess because of the mayor and his daughter, then, if it came to it, he¡¯d drag them to the grave with him. So, not a word to Gorp about the recording orb.

    Qian had barely slept that night. Having thoroughly studied the recipe her master had given her along with the bird carcass, she began cooking. Carefully plucking the feathers, she rinsed the bird in salted boiling water, then patted it dry with napkins and let it air out in the hot draft above the stove. When the skin became as her master had described in the recipe, she set the carcass aside and started preparing the marinade¡­

    Well-rested after a good sleep, Valm could smell the pleasant aroma from the kitchen even while still in bed. It was far from perfect, but several times better than all of Qian¡¯s previous attempts¡ªor the cook¡¯s. Deciding that this was something he definitely couldn¡¯t miss, the alchemist was seated at the dining table within minutes.

    ¡°Master! I did it!¡± Qian proudly placed a large plate with the duck before the alchemist.

    Valm closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. Garlic¡­ The scent was much stronger than it should have been, and it seemed somewhat yellowed and burnt. The ginger, instead of a fragrant aroma, had turned bitter. Valm tore off a drumstick and took a bite, assessing the crispness of the skin.

    ¡°It¡¯s still garbage, but if you¡¯re starving, it¡¯s edible. If you hold your nose while eating. Your main mistakes were these: I described exactly how finely the garlic and ginger should be chopped for a reason. Crushing them into a paste with your fingers didn¡¯t release their flavor properly¡ªinstead, they lost their juice, dried out quickly in the oven, and burned. So¡­ This time, the duck isn¡¯t flying at you only because I¡¯m in a good mood this morning. Keep practicing.¡±

    He pulled out a new carcass and handed it to Qian before heading to the laboratory, waving a duck thigh in the air like a conductor¡¯s baton. The girl smiled quietly and, grabbing a plate, ran off to find the guard.

    ¡°He ate it! He ate it!¡± she whispered loudly.

    ¡°Who ate what?¡± Grem asked mockingly.

    ¡°The teacher ate the thigh! He called it crap, but he still ate it!¡±

    ¡°Crap, you say?¡±

    The Battle Master tore off the other leg and tasted it.

    ¡°Not bad!¡± he exclaimed, snatching the plate from Qian¡¯s hands. ¡°Leave it here. I¡¯ll return the plate later.¡±

    Qian was pleased with herself. Yes, she had been wrong to deviate from the teacher¡¯s recipe. She had thought that humans chopped things finely with a knife because their fingers were too weak to grind the ingredients into a paste. But now she understood¡­ No matter. Next time, she wouldn¡¯t make that mistake.

    Valm tossed the bone into the trash, wiped his greasy fingers with a napkin, and entered the laboratory. He had to admit, Qian was making clear progress with the recipe, even though it disrupted his original training plan. But to hell with it.

    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    The alchemist stood at the central control panel and dragged a horned goblin into the lab. A worthy specimen. Even strapped to the frame, the monster struggled, fighting for its life.

    The horned goblin was a unique species among its kin, possessing distinct physical traits and often leading small packs of two or three dozen creatures. Standing a little over a meter tall, they carried themselves with pride to appear taller than regular goblins. Their skin, dark green or gray with crimson or black spots, gave them a terrifying appearance. Their horns grew from their foreheads, curving backward like those of a goat or ram, covered in cracks and scratches. Their blue eyes, with round or oval pupils, lurked beneath heavy brow ridges.

    Horned goblins had large, pointed ears, often pierced with metal rings or earrings. However, most had their ear cartilage broken multiple times, leaving their ears hanging down like a cow¡¯s udder. Their slobbering mouths were filled with small, sharp, dark yellow teeth. Their arms and legs were long, thin yet strong, with sharp claws they frequently used as weapons.

    Looking at the bound creature, Valm thought he wouldn¡¯t want to encounter one in the wild or a dungeon. They were semi-intelligent and often surprised even experienced adventurers with their cunning and treachery in battle. But now, the alchemist felt nothing but mild disgust toward the horned goblin. It was merely research material.

    ¡°Since you¡¯re here, let¡¯s begin¡­¡± the alchemist told the creature and sawed off its horns, which would have interfered with the trepanation.

    Even with its vocal cords torn, the horned goblin managed to emit a sound resembling a squeak. It completely lost its mind in terror when its own gray scalp hit the floor before its eyes, and the circular saw bit into the bones of its skull.

    The next day, Grem ascended to a higher rank of Battle Master. He couldn¡¯t share the news with anyone except Qian, as Valm had locked himself in the laboratory and hadn¡¯t come out since. Monsters vanished from their cages one by one. Even with new shipments from Manager Pak, the number of creatures in the Citadel¡¯s cages continued to dwindle. The alchemist worked like a madman.

    In the rare moments when Valm did emerge, Qian brought him roasted duck, which he invariably criticized¡ªafter eating a thigh. But his criticism grew milder each time, which still gave the girl hope and a bit of optimism.

    Every time the laboratory doors opened, Grem and Qian, no matter where they were in the Citadel, shuddered. A staggering aura of despair, pain, and suffering burst out from within. It made their hearts feel like they were being torn apart. And each day, that sensation only grew stronger.

    The girl and the guard couldn¡¯t understand how the alchemist could remain inside nearly all day when they were shaken to the core just from the momentary exposure. Did Valm not feel it? The lab¡¯s metallic, magic-resistant walls contained the deadly aura, preventing it from dispersing into the surroundings. And one way or another, it led to irreversible changes.

    Grem was the first to notice. At first, he didn¡¯t want to say anything to Valm, as he couldn¡¯t believe what he was seeing himself. But three days later, Qian approached him.

    ¡°Grem, this might sound crazy, but lately, the teacher¡¯s bloodlust is suffocating me. I can even see it around his body.¡±

    ¡°You too? I thought I was just imagining things!¡±

    ¡°I wish that were the case, but it¡¯s physically hard to breathe around him¡­ Every time I set the duck on the table and wait for his reaction, I can barely stay conscious. I know it¡¯s impossible, but it¡¯s real! My claws extend involuntarily out of fear, even without shifting forms!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand how an ordinary human can have such overwhelming bloodlust, Qian.¡±

    ¡°But Grem, maybe you should talk to him? Figure out what¡¯s going on? Something tells me he doesn¡¯t even realize it himself.¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t want to stick my nose into the client¡¯s business¡­¡±

    ¡°Grem, but this is dangerous¡ªespecially for Valm! Someone might mistake it for an attack and strike back. And then what?! Damn it, my teacher isn¡¯t a warrior¡ªhe could be killed with a single finger!¡±

    The Battle Master hesitated. Qian was right. The physically weak alchemist could be easily slain by even a first-class warrior.

    ¡°So¡­ should we try to find out the cause and talk to him?¡± he asked, still uncertain.

    ¡°Agreed. I¡¯m not very smart, but I think it¡¯s because of his experiments and that metal coffin.¡±

    ¡°It makes me sick too¡­¡±

    ¡°Then tomorrow morning?¡±

    ¡°Agreed. Tomorrow morning.¡±

    The next day, the Battle Master wandered around the courtyard, waiting for Valm and Qian to step outside. Feeling the alchemist rise from his seat, he moved toward the stairs.

    ¡°Master Valm,¡± he addressed him as soon as the alchemist stepped through the door. ¡°There¡¯s something very important we need to discuss!¡±

    Valm raised an eyebrow in surprise.

    ¡°You¡¯ve ascended to a higher rank of Battle Master?¡± he guessed. ¡°Congratulations!¡±

    Grem exchanged glances with the girl standing behind the alchemist.

    ¡°Uhhh¡­ yes, a few weeks ago, but that¡¯s not what this is about, Master Valm!¡± Grem took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. ¡°Master Valm, you¡¯ve developed a bloodlust! And even though these words may sound like nonsense to you, it¡¯s the truth!¡±

    ¡°Hahaha! A witty joke, I must admit!¡±

    ¡°Master, it¡¯s true! And it¡¯s not a joke!¡± Qian exclaimed.

    Valm¡¯s gaze turned serious.

    ¡°That is physically impossible, Grem. I can¡¯t even release my aura to enhance myself physically, so what bloodlust are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand it myself,¡± the Battle Master shrugged, ¡°but you already have it, and one way or another, you need to learn how to control it before it controls you. Walking around like this could be dangerous for both you and those around you. Even your student finds it difficult to be near you¡ªso what about ordinary people?¡±

    These words made Valm uneasy. As a scientist, he knew that human knowledge had more gaps than actual facts, so anything was possible¡­ And neither the guard nor his student would spout nonsense. Yet, Valm himself felt no bloodlust at all.

    ¡°Well¡­ I believe you, but I have some urgent matters to attend to right now, so let¡¯s continue tomorrow.¡±

    The alchemist slipped past Grem like a snake and darted into his laboratory. Grem simply didn¡¯t dare stop him. Valm shut the door behind him and leaned his back against the cold metal surface.

    Bloodlust¡­ The ability of warriors to terrify their opponents with their sheer intent to kill. For first-class warriors, it was barely perceptible, extending only a few centimeters from their bodies, but¡­ the stronger a warrior, the more potent and tangible their bloodlust became. The strongest of this world¡ªthe Gods of War¡ªcould spread their bloodlust over vast distances, killing all living things around them. Killing with the mere fear of death!

    Valm shook his head. No, now wasn¡¯t the time to think about that. He had very little left to do¡ªjust a dozen more monsters to study before completing the material for the first volume of his ¡°Encyclopedia,¡± which would catalog all first-class monsters of this world! This wasn¡¯t just his priority; Valm saw it as his duty, both to himself and to humanity.

    With determined steps, he headed to the central control point and dragged yet another creature into his laboratory.

    ¡°Don¡¯t despair!¡± he commanded it. ¡°To serve humanity in this way should be an honor for you, you wretch!¡±

    And yet, late at night, after finishing his research and cleaning up, Valm couldn¡¯t resist analyzing his own blood.

    Nothing. Absolutely nothing. The blood of an ordinary human. No warrior markers like those in Grem¡¯s blood.

    ¡°Miracles¡­ they¡¯re right beside us,¡± Valm thought as he stepped outside.

    The next morning, the Battle Master was already waiting for the alchemist in the courtyard.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m ready,¡± Valm told him. ¡°Teach me how to control it.¡±

    ¡°Master Valm, as you know, bloodlust is an ability of warriors¡­¡±

    ¡°Wait, Grem,¡± the alchemist interrupted, ¡°I know perfectly well what bloodlust is, where and how it manifests in warriors¡¯ bodies, and so on. Just teach me how to control it¡­¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ alright¡­¡± Grem fell silent for a moment, pondering how to go about it. ¡°Master Valm, do you want to kill someone?¡±

    ¡°Me?¡± The alchemist laughed. ¡°No, why would I?¡±

    ¡°What about monsters?¡±

    ¡°No, Grem, killing monsters isn¡¯t my thing.¡±

    ¡°But you do kill them, Master Valm.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re mistaken, Grem. I only study them. And the fact that they die during the research¡­ Believe me, I¡¯d prefer if they were much, much tougher¡­ and didn¡¯t just drop dead suddenly in the middle of the process.¡±

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, try imagining that you want to kill someone!¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­ Like who?¡±

    ¡°Anyone. Even that damned woman who whipped you in the square. But don¡¯t just think ¡®I¡¯m going to kill you¡¯¡ªwish for it with all your heart, make it your only goal, channel all your thoughts and strength into it¡­¡±

    Grem abruptly fell silent and jumped back.

    Up until that moment, Valm¡¯s bloodlust had been gray and semi-transparent. It had quietly wavered about a meter or so around his body. But now¡­

    The Battle Master had never seen anything like it.

    Crimson tongues of bloodlust burst from the alchemist¡¯s body, absorbing and strengthening themselves with the calm gray part of his aura. They lashed forward for several meters, attacking everything in their path¡ªbugs, tree branches, small stones on the courtyard pavement¡­

    ¡°I can see it¡­¡± Valm said in shock.

    ¡°Master Valm! Don¡¯t waste time! Control it, make it obey you, don¡¯t let it act chaotically! It must become your third arm, your third eye, your weapon! And if there¡¯s no need to kill¡ªsheathe your weapon!¡±

    ¡°Understood, Grem!¡± Valm shouted.

    The alchemist had hoped it would be easy. It wasn¡¯t.

    On the contrary, the red-gray storm around him only grew, destroying everything in its path. Valm noticed Grem stepping further and further back, while Qian quickly stripped off her clothes, preparing to shift into her beast form.

    Damn it, how was this even possible?! Was it time to panic already?

    Valm gritted his teeth. In his mind, images flared up again and again¡ªhe was tearing that bitch, Sari, to shreds, ripping out her entrails with his own hands and wrapping them around her neck¡­

    Damn it, he should¡¯ve done this in the lab! Because if he lost control now, Grem and Qian would get hurt! That thought angered him the most. But Valm wasn¡¯t a great scientist for nothing.

    Even as emotions overwhelmed him, part of his mind continued analyzing what he could use to counteract this madness around him.

    Spiritual energy. The force that made him a ninth-circle peak alchemist. The power that easily separated and processed ingredients in the alchemical cauldron, almost at the molecular level.

    The energy that effortlessly manipulated millions of components when creating high-ranking pills¡­ And if he wove it into this wild bloodlust¡­

    It was worth a try!

    Valm directed it in thin strands into the crimson-gray tongues. Invisible, it easily pierced through them, releasing thousands of delicate threads along the way, which coiled into anchors, firmly embedding themselves inside the unruly flames of bloodlust.

    Gradually, one by one, those flames fell still. They trembled with tension, resisting the strange spiritual force of the alchemist, but steadily lost. The moment they all froze, a fragile equilibrium was achieved.

    Valm became calm. Absolutely. His mind processed millions of signals per second. He felt every twitch of his bloodlust, every impulse, and forbade it. The bloody visions vanished from his thoughts. That¡¯s right¡ªbloodlust was just a tool. And would Valm ever submit to a tool?

    ¡°Come on, Master, you can do it!¡± Qian shouted, waving her fluffy paw with razor-sharp white claws.

    The alchemist smiled.

    ¡°Return!¡± he commanded in his mind, amused at himself.

    He had never done that when controlling his spiritual energy. And with bloodlust, it would be no different. If spiritual energy was his third arm¡­ Then this would be his fourth!

    The crimson-gray flames coiled around Valm, softly enveloping him in a spiral from the ground up.

    It felt good, like some wild and untamed force had suddenly become obedient.

    The alchemist stretched out his hand, and one of the flames glided forward obediently, slithering like a snake.

    Valm touched Qian¡¯s discarded clothes, which lay in a pile on the ground, lifted them, and handed them to her.

    ¡°You can get dressed. It¡¯s over.¡±

    ¡°Mmm¡­ Materialized!¡± Grem¡¯s eyes went wide as saucers.

    The materialization of bloodlust, where it became dense enough to affect the physical world¡­ Only warriors of the highest circles could do that.

    Higher than Grem himself.

    ¡°And now tell me,¡± Valm turned to him, ¡°how do I make it disappear?¡±

 Chapter Nine. Training Abilities.

    ¡°Well, the same way you released it, just in reverse¡­¡±

    Grem was confused. First of all, warriors learned to control their bloodlust from the very beginning, when it was like a liquid mist, not like this thing the alchemist had. And second, Valm¡¯s bloodlust wasn¡¯t like anything he had ever seen in his life. That meant the Battle Master could only give general advice.

    ¡°Are you kidding me?!¡±

    ¡°Not at all, Master Valm! Try to relax and think of something pleasant! Usually, bloodlust is either drawn back into the body or dissipated into the surrounding space. It should lose its power when a warrior no longer wants to kill their opponent.¡±

    Valm tried. He attempted both methods, but it was all in vain. The alchemist used his spiritual power, trying to pull the long red-gray tendrils back inside, but they only gathered into massive bundles. After half an hour, Valm gave up. Dozens of bloodlust tendrils sprouting from his body lay limply on the ground like giant laminaria.

    Grem and Qian dared to step closer, even smiling as they watched the alchemist¡¯s attempts. At this moment, he didn¡¯t seem dangerous at all.

    ¡°Teacher, if you train every day, you¡¯ll definitely succeed!¡± Qian decided to encourage him.

    Valm didn¡¯t understand.

    ¡°Go cook the duck, rabbit ears!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, yeah, I¡¯m going!¡±

    The girl started backing away slowly, but with each step, the smile on her face grew wider.

    ¡°Damn it!¡± the alchemist swore.

    In frustration, he began gathering up the cursed red-gray tendrils into a bundle, wrapping them around himself, and throwing the ends over his shoulders. And just like that, he went to the laboratory. The tendrils growing from his back trailed behind him like meter-long, wavy ribbons. It was so comical that Grem couldn¡¯t hold back and snorted into his fist.

    Valm locked himself in the laboratory and released the tangled bundle onto the floor.

    ¡°What am I supposed to do with you?¡± he asked rhetorically.

    The tendrils lay motionless on the floor and didn¡¯t even seem to think about disappearing. In general, they caused almost no discomfort. Valm pulled at the collar of his shirt to peek inside and examine how they had grown from his body. Nothing unusual. At the point where they emerged, his skin was only slightly stretched in the direction of their growth. Valm completely withdrew his spiritual power and sighed. He tugged on one of the tendrils. Strong¡­ Maybe he should conduct a few experiments?

    The alchemist went to the medical equipment section. The long red-gray ribbons trailed behind him, rustling softly against the steel floor and occasionally catching on the legs of shelves and tables. Valm sat in a chair and took one of them. He lifted the end to his eyes for a closer look. A sharp, needle-like tip flared outward into two wavy blades. The alchemist picked up a sheet of paper with his left hand, gripped the edge of the tendril firmly with his right, and ran it across the paper. The sheet split cleanly in two.

    ¡°Sharp enough¡­¡± Valm murmured thoughtfully.

    He effortlessly twisted the tendril into a tube with his fingers, but the moment he let go, it quickly unraveled.

    ¡°¡­pliable and resilient¡­ What should I do with you?¡±

    A scalpel blade gleamed in the alchemist¡¯s hands as he struck the gray edge of the bloodlust tendril. Sparks flew. Valm stared at the damaged scalpel in his hands. Then he struck the flat side of the tendril with force. Meeting no resistance, the scalpel passed through it and embedded itself into the table surface. The tendril in Valm¡¯s hands twitched, bent, and slipped off the scalpel. The hole in its red surface vanished quickly.

    ¡°Damn it!¡± the alchemist shouted, jumping up from his chair. ¡°You¡¯re alive?!¡±

    The bloodlust tendrils rustled and slowly wrapped around Valm¡¯s body like a soft blanket. Last time, they did the same when he controlled them with his spiritual power. Were they¡­ learning?

    Valm once again spread his spiritual energy through the red-gray tendrils and began performing various tasks¡ªpicking up items from a shelf, flipping through a book, and so on¡­ It was so fun that he completely lost track of time and his primary work. Several hours passed before he finally snapped out of it.

    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough for today.¡±

    The red-gray tendrils, following the example of his spiritual energy, obediently retracted into his body and seemed to dissolve inside him. Proud of himself, Valm headed to the central control point to drag another monster into the laboratory. Ha! Training every day to learn this, she said¡­ He was a genius who figured it out in just a few hours!

    But Valm couldn¡¯t see the faint gray mist that began gathering around his body again as soon as he spread the monster out on the frame.

    ¡°Master Grem, do you think the teacher will manage?¡± Qian asked, sitting beside the guard on the house¡¯s steps.

    He shook his head.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. You saw that freakish thing growing out of him. Have you ever seen anything like it?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Me neither.¡±

    They fell silent for a moment.

    ¡°Qian, what did you feel when it touched you?¡±

    The girl tried to recall. A tendril had indeed brushed against her paw when returning her clothes.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I felt absolutely nothing, even in beast form.¡±

    ¡°No fear at all? Absolutely nothing?¡±

    ¡°Well, I was wary when it got close to me like that, but it definitely wasn¡¯t the fear caused by bloodlust.¡±

    Grem pondered this for a few minutes.

    ¡°You know, I¡¯m not even sure anymore if that really is bloodlust. After all, only War Gods and some Battle Ancestors can materialize it. But Master Alchemist is physiologically just an ordinary human¡­¡±

    ¡°I agree. But I think it¡¯s both bloodlust and not bloodlust at the same time. Or bloodlust mixed with something else, something unknown to us.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve completely confused me.¡±

    ¡°Yeah. I confused myself too. When I came to talk to you, I hoped you¡¯d explain it.¡±

    Grem sighed and got to his feet.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anyone in the kingdom who can explain that.¡±

    Qian remained sitting alone. She was worried about her teacher¡¯s condition, not only because she had recently seen him as a stepping stone to a better life but also because, lately, she had begun to like him as a person. And yet, she had no idea how to help the alchemist.

    The next morning, for the first time, Valm was completely satisfied with the duck Qian placed before him. He slowly ate one leg first, then broke off the second.

    ¡°At last, my apprentice, you are ready for further training.¡±

    The girl froze at his words, not knowing how to react. Over the past months, she had grown so accustomed to the cursed ducks that she even feared losing this daily ¡°duty.¡±

    Valm set the bone on the plate, wiped his hands with a napkin, and retrieved a thick herbal compendium and a large notebook filled with his handwriting from his storage.

    ¡°Every alchemist,¡± he said, ¡°must be able to gather materials for their alchemy. Here, you will find most of the plants used to create potions and elixirs of the first, second, and third classes. And in this notebook are my notes on how to properly collect and store them.¡±

    He paused for a moment, carefully watching Qian, then pulled out several more sheets.

    ¡°Here are your tasks for the next month: the herbs, berries, and mushrooms you must collect, as well as the recipes you must memorize within this time.¡±

    The girl even stopped breathing, her red eyes fixed on her teacher¡¯s hands.

    ¡°And remember¡ªno alchemical shops or store-bought ingredients! I will be able to determine when, how, and by whom they were gathered¡­ Qian, with your strength as a lower-tier Battle Master, it shouldn¡¯t be a problem for you to collect everything yourself. Are you listening to me?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Master!¡± she barked. ¡°I can do it! I¡¯ll gather everything myself!¡±

    Valm smiled at her determination.

    ¡°You have one month. Once it¡¯s over, I will be waiting for you to train with the alchemical cauldron. You may go¡­¡±

    ¡°Thank you!¡±

    Qian jumped up, gave the alchemist a quick hug, and dashed outside.

    Valm laughed and tore off a wing. Looks like Grem would be skipping breakfast today¡­

    Qian, wasting no time on lengthy preparations, left the Citadel gates and headed toward the northern mountains, where adventurers had been gathering herbs for alchemists and healers for generations.

    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

    Grem paused his training, watching her go with a smile. He had heard every word Valm had spoken to her inside the house. That alchemist¡­ He had effortlessly taught a stubborn and fiery beastkin patience and the ability to work long hours on something tedious. That was something not just anyone could do.

    The Battle Master picked up his daggers again and resumed practicing his strikes.

    ¡°Master Valm,¡± Grem said when the alchemist stepped outside, ¡°your uncontrollable bloodlust has surfaced again.¡±

    ¡°Damn it!¡± Valm swore, inspecting himself from the front and back.

    The Battle Master shook his head.

    ¡°It¡¯s the part of it you can¡¯t see.¡±

    The alchemist halted.

    ¡°Then what should I do?¡±

    ¡°Most likely, to gain full control over it, you¡¯ll have to start training in the ways of a warrior. I have no other ideas¡­¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s difficult¡­¡±

    ¡°Not easy, I agree.¡±

    ¡°And with the physical capabilities of an ordinary person, it¡¯s ten times harder.¡±

    ¡°Probably. But without it, the difficulty won¡¯t just be high¡ªit¡¯ll be deadly.¡±

    Valm sighed.

    ¡°And you¡¯re going to train me?¡±

    Grem nodded, waiting for the alchemist¡¯s response.

    ¡°Let¡¯s try¡­ But we¡¯ll start not today, in two days¡ªI have something to finish first.¡±

    ¡°Agreed, Master Valm. I¡¯ll be waiting for you here in the morning, two days from now!¡±

    The frustrated alchemist headed to his laboratory.

    A small red tongue suddenly flickered out between his ribs, beginning to blend with the gray bloodlust. Valm slapped at it a few times to make it retreat. Well¡­ it seemed he wasn¡¯t just bad at controlling the invisible part of it.

    The alchemist hurried. Only seven more monsters separated him from completing the largest volume of the ¡°Encyclopedia,¡± as the number of first-tier monster species was the greatest. And now, he was at the final stage.

    Yes, there were already second-tier monsters in some of the Citadel¡¯s cages, placed there by Manager Pak ahead of schedule, so Valm wouldn¡¯t be left without work anytime soon.

    It was a little disappointing that even after uncovering all the secrets of these monsters¡¯ existence, the alchemist still hadn¡¯t found substances capable of killing them instantly. He was on the right track, having determined that the best method was to chemically sever or block the connection between the back of the brain and the monster¡¯s core, but the problem was that he simply couldn¡¯t invent the necessary compound.

    So lately, he had been dissecting creatures, creating anatomical atlases, and documenting their physical traits, identifying their weak points.

    Just as he had planned, by the evening of the second day after his promise to Grem, he stitched the final page into the thick tome with a brown cover¡ªone he had crafted himself from the tanned hide of a horned goblin.

    ¡°Encyclopedia: First-Tier Monsters¡± was embossed in gold letters on the cover.

    Satisfied, the alchemist slowly flipped through the pages, admiring the hundreds of detailed illustrations accompanied by his calligraphic notes.

    An incredible work.

    One could say that Valm was happy to hold this book in his hands.

    Just a little more left¡ªto distribute it across the continent so that everyone could read it and find their own way to fight the creatures.

    The alchemist sighed and tucked the tome away.

    He would deal with that tomorrow.

    After training with Grem.

    The next morning, the Battle Master was already waiting at the steps when the alchemist stepped outside.

    ¡°First,¡± Grem said, involuntarily taking a step back from the heavy bloodlust radiating from Valm, ¡°we¡¯ll warm up with a short run around the Citadel. I think ten laps should be enough for the first day.¡±

    The alchemist shrugged. Running it was, then.

    And he set off at a trot through the gates.

    Grem ran slightly ahead, setting the pace for Valm and encouraging him as they went.

    Running turned out to be much harder than the alchemist had expected. One lap was roughly five hundred meters, and halfway through, Valm was already sweating and gasping for breath.

    Barely making it back to the gate, he pulled off his upper garments, remaining in just his pants and light canvas shoes.

    Breathing heavily, he bent over, resting his palms on his legs.

    And this was just one lap?!

    ¡°Grem, can I use potions during training?¡±

    His ears were ringing as if someone were blowing bellows in a forge.

    The Battle Master gave Valm a pitying look.

    He knew the alchemist was physically weak, but he hadn¡¯t expected his condition to be this bad.

    Valm had a decent skeletal frame, but it was as if he had no muscles at all, his spine protruding beneath his skin. Meanwhile, despite his young age, a few fingers¡¯ worth of fat had already accumulated on his stomach.

    ¡°As long as it¡¯s within reason¡­¡±

    Grem didn¡¯t have time to finish before two vials flashed¡ªone with a healing potion, the other with a stamina potion.

    ¡°Let¡¯s continue!¡±

    Valm threw away the vials, wiped his lips, and was the first to run forward.

    It felt like hell. His weak, atrophied heart, affected by a sedentary lifestyle, could hardly supply his organs with oxygen, barely pushing thick blood through narrow vessels. His lungs burned as if on fire. By the third lap, a sharp, cutting pain began near his diaphragm¡­ But Valm did not give up. Ten laps¡­ Just ten laps¡­

    Thin fingers flashed with vials again. By the seventh lap, he thought he had gone deaf, as he could hear nothing but the loud tolling of his pulse in his ears. Yet he stubbornly kept moving his legs to the rhythm Grem had set. On the ninth lap, nausea kicked in from the amount of potions he had consumed in that time. But even that did not stop him¡­

    After the tenth lap, Valm sat down, leaning his sweaty back against the cold black stone of the fence, and coughed as spasms wracked his insides. His legs trembled uncontrollably, unable to support him any longer.

    ¡°You did well, Master Valm!¡±

    The alchemist looked at Grem, who was still breathing evenly, and grimaced. Yeah, ¡°did well.¡± If not for the potions, he would have been sprawled under the fence long ago. And that thought was dangerously close to reality. While running, Valm¡¯s body constantly broke down, only to be instantly restored by the healing potions.

    And it grew stronger. Each torn muscle fiber was immediately replaced by two new ones. Valm wasn¡¯t thinking about it, but in reality, he could have kept running all day¡ªor at least until he ran out of vials in his storage. Yes, through immense pain and suffering, but he could.

    A few minutes later, the weakness faded, and the alchemist stood up.

    ¡°What¡¯s next?¡±

    Grem estimated how much potion Valm had already downed and shook his head. Truly a golden training session, if measured by the cost of those vials at the Alchemists¡¯ Guild. No point wasting it.

    ¡°The second part¡ªstrength training.¡±

    They returned to the courtyard, and the Battle Master pulled a strange contraption from storage.

    ¡°Here, you can do three basic strength exercises for the major muscle groups you need most. Deadlifts for your back, bench press for your chest and arms, and squats for your legs. We¡¯ll start with the lightest weight¡ªfifty kilograms¡­¡±

    If Valm had thought running around the Citadel was hell just a minute ago, now he felt all its circles. That damned iron tore his muscles and tendons, ground his joints to dust¡­ But the healing potions wouldn¡¯t let death even approach him. Grem merely collected the empty vials, stacking them in a corner.

    Mother of gods! No one could train at such an expense!

    Given how much potion the alchemist had drunk, the Battle Master decided to abandon standard beginner training. Instead, he drove Valm through round after round on the equipment.

    ¡°Alright, Master Valm, ten minutes of rest, then we move on to the third part¡ªweapon training!¡±

    Valm sat on a bench and relaxed. His entire body buzzed, as if thousands of ants were crawling under his skin. His stomach growled, and the alchemist felt the strongest hunger of his life. He could digest anything right now! Thin slices of dried beef vanished into the furnace of his gut one after another, burning away instantly.

    ¡°Break¡¯s over! Master Valm, you have a good build for either a rapier or long twin daggers in combat. A rapier would be better, but unfortunately, I don¡¯t specialize in it, so¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t bother, Grem,¡± Valm waved a hand. ¡°I won¡¯t even reach First-Class Warrior, so none of this really matters¡­¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ That¡¯s fair.¡± Grem pulled twin daggers from storage. ¡°Today, I¡¯ll show you how to perform a simple diagonal strike and block.¡±

    Grem set up a heavy wooden post in the middle of the courtyard, with the outline of a human body drawn on it. Slowly, he demonstrated a diagonal strike with his right hand, returned to position with a double-dagger block, then delivered another diagonal strike with his left hand.

    ¡°Got a good look, Master Valm? Try it.¡± He handed the weapons to the alchemist.

    After lifting heavy iron just minutes ago, the daggers felt weightless. Their suede-wrapped handles fit comfortably in his palms. Valm executed the strike and followed with the block.

    ¡°Excellent, Master Valm!¡± Grem encouraged. ¡°Now, the main goal of our training! Each time you strike, imagine that this isn¡¯t just a damn log¡ªit¡¯s your enemy! The one who will kill you if you don¡¯t strike first!¡±

    Nonsense!

    Valm struck with all his might and blocked, but the solid steel barely left faint scratches on the dark, aged wood. The Battle Master silently observed this nonsense for several minutes. The thick, gray haze of bloodlust that wavered around Valm¡¯s body merely followed his movements, showing no intention of attacking. The problem was clear¡ªValm had no ability to set killing as his goal.

    Grem was baffled.

    A man who had slaughtered half a hundred people so easily a few months ago¡­ now couldn¡¯t do something this simple?

    ¡°Master Valm, if you don¡¯t pull yourself together right now, the Gray Raven will stick that damned needle in your bony spine again!¡±

    The alchemist remembered that pain, the way he had collapsed, clutching the door of his capsule¡­ But more than that¡ªthe fear when he realized he was about to die, and not even a miracle could save him¡­

    That memory changed everything.

    A wild, primal hunger for survival instantly destroyed all rational thought.

    Dozens of frenzied, twisting red ribbons erupted from Valm¡¯s body, mingling with the gray haze, wrapping tightly around his flesh¡ªforming something akin to the aura armor of warriors. His movements changed too¡ªhis legs bent slightly, channeling their momentum into each dagger strike. His blows became faster, no longer leaving mere scratches but deep gouges in the wood¡­

    ¡°That¡¯s not enough!¡± Grem shouted in shock at the transformation. ¡°You¡¯re not here to tickle him, Master Valm! You¡¯re here to kill him! Kill to survive!¡±

    Valm began turning into a shadow¡ªhis strikes accelerating to a blur.

    ¡°Not enough, not enough, not enough, not enough! It¡¯s not enough!¡± echoed a single thought in the alchemist¡¯s mind.

    If he couldn¡¯t become a warrior, then he had to become a terrifying monster!

    Valm recalled hundreds of his experiments, countless theories and discoveries about how creatures¡¯ bodies functioned¡ªhow their nervous systems issued commands, received feedback, processed signals, and sent out new orders¡­

    ¡°Faster-stronger! Faster-stronger! Kill! Tear apart! Destroy! Destroy! Destroy!¡±

    The red-gray ribbons crept forward, slithering from Valm¡¯s wrists onto the daggers, consuming the fragile metal¡ªbecoming indestructible steel themselves¡­

    Valm¡¯s diagonal strike sliced through the cursed post like butter, and the second cleaved it mid-air.

    ¡°Stop!¡± Grem¡¯s voice barely reached through the haze.

    Valm halted, breathing heavily. Wrapped from head to toe in bright red-gray tendrils, he stood, gripping two daggers the same color as himself.

    ¡°It¡¯s over, you killed him, Master Valm. He¡¯s dead. He¡¯s gone¡­¡±

    Grem was in shock at the sheer fury the alchemist had unleashed. He had likely never seen such concentrated bloodlust in a single person before.

    ¡°Now, use your mind and emotions to accept that you¡¯ve slain your enemy¡ªand dispel the bloodlust. Immediately!¡± the Battle Master commanded.

    Valm¡¯s breathing steadied. Ribbon by ribbon, the raging bloodthirst retracted into his body, revealing his head, then his hands, then his gaunt torso and legs.

    The alchemist stood, unarmed.

    The twin steel daggers Grem had given him half an hour ago¡­ were gone.

    Valm stared at the remains of the post at his feet, then at the Battle Master, waiting for his reaction.

    Grem saw no trace of gray mist around Valm.

    Just an ordinary, tall, lean young man, looking slightly lost¡­

    How, in all hells, had he cut that post down? And with the second strike¡ªmid-air, no less?!

    Even Third-Class High-Tier Warriors couldn¡¯t do that!

    And where in the blazes had his weapons gone?

    Could it be¡­

    ¡°You did well, Master Valm! You dispelled your bloodlust so cleanly, I can¡¯t even sense it. But there¡¯s one more thing I¡¯d like you to work on right now. Can you control your bloodlust without losing your mind? Try to do it slowly, step by step¡­¡±

    The alchemist nodded.

    ¡°Alright, I see what you mean. A beast is always prey. Only the hunter in the pair has reason.¡±

    Valm exhaled and focused his thoughts.

    One by one, those bright red ribbons with dark gray edges burst forth again, wrapping around him, leaving only thin slits for his eyes in seconds.

    Grem felt the crushing weight of Valm¡¯s bloodlust, instinctively reinforcing himself with his own aura.

    Now this¡ªthis truly felt like raw, concentrated killing intent!

    But¡­

    There were no weapons in Valm¡¯s hands.

    The strange red daggers hadn¡¯t appeared¡­

    A foolish suspicion swirled in Grem¡¯s mind.

    ¡°Master Valm, would you mind a little experiment?¡±

    ¡°An experiment?¡± The alchemist¡¯s voice sounded muffled beneath the ribbons wrapped around his face. ¡°I love experiments!¡±

    ¡°Good!¡± Grem exclaimed.

    He drew his own daggers, reinforced them with his aura, and unleashed his own bloodlust toward Valm.

    In that instant, four blades¡ªtwo black, two red¡ªclashed, echoing like thunder!

 Chapter Ten. Wasted Effort.

    Grem was mistaken. The force of the blow was so great that Valm was nearly shattered into pieces. Those strange crimson daggers, formed from bloodlust, had indeed sliced through the aura defenses of a Battle Master and left deep gouges in his weapon. But in the next moment, the alchemist¡¯s body was sent tumbling across the courtyard¡¯s cobblestones, kicking up clouds of dust. Valm was as weak as a kitten against Grem¡¯s true strength.

    ¡°Master Valm! Master Valm! Are you all right?!¡±

    A few red-gray ribbons unraveled, revealing the alchemist¡¯s bloodied face.

    ¡°Feels like I ran headfirst into a stone wall¡­¡± he answered weakly.

    Valm pulled a fifth-class healing pill from his storage and popped it into his mouth.

    ¡°Sigh, my little tricks are nothing compared to real power¡­¡± he said bitterly after a moment.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Master Valm. That was my mistake¡­ When you cut through that log so easily, I thought it was some kind of miracle and wanted to test it for myself, to feel it firsthand¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, Grem. This bloodlust of mine is already a miracle¡­ Expecting two miracles at once? I¡¯m not that lucky.¡±

    The Battle Master sat down beside the alchemist, who was still lying on his back.

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say that, Master Valm. You withstood a blow from a high-tier Battle Master. No ordinary person could do that. Yes, physically, you¡¯re weaker than most ordinary men, but your speed and resilience¡­ I¡¯d say you have a decent chance against a first-class or even a second-class warrior. The key is to avoid getting hit.¡±

    ¡°Ahaha!¡± Valm burst out laughing and immediately coughed. ¡°I don¡¯t plan on testing that theory. But I¡¯ll continue training. This turned out to be unexpectedly fun, Grem!¡±

    The bright red-gray ribbons began to retract, sinking back into the alchemist¡¯s body. The Battle Master helped him sit up.

    ¡°I admire your enthusiasm, but you use so many potions¡­ Is it really worth it?¡±

    ¡°You mean these?¡± Valm produced several vials of different colors in his hand. ¡°I have plenty. More than plenty. You see, my alchemy teacher¡­ he was a bit unhinged. And during my first year of training, after I finally managed to properly prepare that damned duck, all I did was brew potions. Every single day, several alchemical cauldrons a day. No weekends. No holidays. My teacher¡­ he believed that an alchemist should be able to practice alchemy under any external conditions. I brewed potions in thunderstorms, in blizzards, under scorching sun, or even during his lectures while he explained new material. And in the end, I had to admit he was right.

    Grem, did you know that, according to old recipes, a single standard alchemical cauldron yields fifty bottles of potion? One bottle contains ten vials like these. I brewed thousands a day, Grem. Thousands of these damned vials. For more than a year. So yes, I do have plenty. More than plenty. Ah, I¡¯ve started rambling. Let¡¯s continue in the morning, Grem.¡±

    Valm got up and walked into the house, leaving the bewildered Battle Master alone. Grem was astonished. The defining trait of alchemists was control¡ªthe very thing that set them apart from ordinary people. An alchemist had to oversee the entire process of creating an alchemical product in the cauldron, precisely and unceasingly. Hundreds of parameters, sometimes thousands of ingredients, millions of processes every second¡­ It caused immense mental and spiritual exhaustion. That was why alchemists typically only prepared potions once a month, sometimes twice, if the recipe was low-level and simple.

    Yet Valm had said his teacher forced him to brew multiple times a day?! What kind of monster was he?! Was that even possible? Even a high-level alchemist wouldn¡¯t be able to lift a spoon the next day after preparing a potion! Multiple times a day?!

    But Grem still believed Valm¡¯s words. And he admired him even more. A shiver ran down his spine as he realized he had almost killed this man! What a brainless fool! All strength and no sense?!

    Grem looked at his daggers. Beautiful, fourth-class¡­ had been. Deep gouges cut nearly a centimeter into the blades¡ªbeyond repair. Ha! And this was done by an ordinary human? The enhancement of a high-tier Battle Master¡¯s aura was destroyed like a toy? Not a chance!

    Grem bared his teeth in a grin. He¡¯d have to spend a hefty sum on new weapons.

    ?

    Valm stood under the steaming torrents of water, washing away sweat mixed with blood. He felt no pain anymore¡ªthe heap of potions and a fifth-class pill had done their job. Only a pleasant fatigue lingered in his body. He wanted nothing more than to collapse into bed and curl up under a blanket, but¡­ He couldn¡¯t. The Encyclopedia had to see the light of day as soon as possible. Every lost day meant dozens of human lives taken by monsters.

    ¡°We¡¯re going to the Trade Guild!¡± he called to Grem as he climbed into the capsule.

    For the first time in months, Valm left the Citadel, and the road to the city felt unbearably long. People bustled back and forth along the trade route, adding to the chaos. I should go into the city more often, the alchemist thought as he passed through the city gates. The crowded streets were somewhat uncomfortable¡­

    Manager Pak met Valm in the foyer. How he had known about his arrival was a mystery, but his face bore the usual wide smile, his signature hairstyle was in place, and his clothes looked fresh from an expensive tailor¡¯s workshop.

    ¡°Master Valm! A pleasure to see you! How can I assist you this time? Have you come to sell something, or place an order?¡±

    ¡°Oh, Manager Pak, today I¡¯ve come with something special and very important! I believe you¡¯ll be thrilled!¡±

    The guildmaster led the alchemist into his office, where Valm pulled a folio from his storage and handed it over to Pak.

    ¡°Simply incredible work!¡± Manager Pak exclaimed after twenty minutes.

    ¡°Thank you! I tried to do my best.¡±

    ¡°And you succeeded, Master Valm! This is the first time in my life I¡¯ve seen such a perfect bestiary of first-class monsters! You didn¡¯t miss a single one of those creatures my guild delivered to you! I even feel somewhat involved in the creation of this grand book!¡±

    ¡°Oh, come now, your contribution was truly significant, Manager Pak.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Master Valm! But I¡¯m a bit puzzled, as I still don¡¯t understand the purpose of your visit¡­¡±

    ¡°Manager Pak, I would like to publish this book. Would your guild be interested?¡±

    The guild leader closed the folio and remained silent for a while.

    ¡°Master Valm, even at the risk of damaging our relationship, I must be honest with you¡ªthis is not a commercial project.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me?¡± the alchemist asked, stunned.

    Pak sighed.

    ¡°You see, to reproduce all the illustrations, copy the text¡­ It¡¯s a massive and meticulous job, and considering the production costs, such a book would cost several dozen gold coins on the shelves. But this only covers first-class monsters¡­ Master Valm, I¡¯m afraid the guild won¡¯t be able to find buyers for your Encyclopedia, even if you forgo royalties entirely. I deeply regret telling you this, Master Valm, believe me¡­¡±

    He wanted to believe him, but¡­ Valm felt like he¡¯d been punched in the gut. This was not what he had hoped for when he came here, and he felt something close to¡­ offense? Disappointment? Anger that all his work had been in vain?

    ¡°I see¡­¡± the alchemist said quietly. ¡°I never thought about it that way.¡±

    Several dozen gold per copy. Valm didn¡¯t have the spare funds to sponsor a reasonably sized print run himself.

    ¡°My apologies again, Master Valm!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine¡­ Then, I¡¯ll be going?¡±

    Unexpectedly, Pak once again saw that childlike naivety in the alchemist¡ªjust like when he had told him about his goal in the Citadel. The manager felt awful. But the Trade Guild wasn¡¯t a charity; he couldn¡¯t approve a knowingly unprofitable project when the market was already flooded with simple and cheap catalogs.

    ¡°My deepest apologies again, Master Valm.¡±

    They left the office and headed toward the exit through the trading hall, where Grem was examining a pair of fourth-class daggers.

    ¡°Pick something better,¡± Valm told him. ¡°Because of me, you lost your weapons¡­ Manager Pak, do you have a pair of fifth-class daggers?¡±

    ¡°Yes, of course, allow me to show you!¡±

    He led them to a display case, where two crossed gray daggers hovered in midair, illuminated by a soft white glow. Pak removed the protective spell from the case and took them out, skillfully twirling them in his palms.

    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    ¡°Excellent fifth-class weapons, suitable for both standard and reverse grip!¡±

    ¡°Alright, put them on my account.¡±

    Valm took the daggers from the manager¡¯s hands and handed them to Grem. They were nearly identical in shape to his previous ones, so the old sheaths should fit perfectly.

    ¡°Master Valm! This is too much, I won¡¯t be able to fully unlock their potential¡­¡±

    ¡°You won¡¯t for now, Grem. For now¡­¡±

    ¡°Master Valm,¡± Pak interjected, ¡°let these weapons be my gift to you today, alright?¡±

    The alchemist froze for a moment.

    ¡°Mhm. Alright, Master Pak.¡±

    And he walked sullenly toward the exit.

    Sitting in the capsule, he pondered what to do next. Pak¡¯s words had been a heavy blow to his goal. Should he take this matter to Mahur, the head of the Crafting Guild? No, unlikely. Craftsmen didn¡¯t deal with publishing at all. So what now?

    Suddenly, another idea struck him. If it couldn¡¯t be sold, that didn¡¯t mean the Encyclopedia couldn¡¯t be used for teaching. Of course! Valm smiled and set off toward the academy, where he had once taken a course in monsterology.

    Waiting for an audience with the rector was no easy task, but the alchemist patiently sat for several hours in a reception chair. Loyal Grem stood beside him, his aura unsettling the secretary and the professors who occasionally entered the office for their own matters.

    ¡°Come in!¡± a loud voice rang out, even through the closed doors.

    ¡°I won¡¯t waste your time, Rector,¡± Valm said to the distinguished gray-haired man seated behind a broad desk. ¡°My name is Valm, and I would like to propose that your academy adopt a curriculum based on this work. Specifically for the monsterology course.¡±

    Valm took out the Encyclopedia and placed it in front of the rector.

    The man¡¯s disdainful expression vanished within minutes as he flipped through the pages of the folio.

    ¡°I¡¯m not a specialist in this field, but this work has impressed even me!¡± he exclaimed. ¡°And I will call the monsterology professor immediately, as he is the one responsible for the course content.¡±

    The rector continued to read Valm¡¯s Encyclopedia with great interest during the twenty minutes it took for the professor¡ªa familiar face to the alchemist and a former rank-B adventurer¡ªto arrive.

    ¡°Is something urgent?¡± he asked the rector.

    ¡°Yes, take a look at this! Do you think it would be beneficial to redesign the course and base it on this work?¡±

    The professor stepped up to the desk and picked up the folio.

    ¡°Interesting¡­ Interesting¡­ A fine piece of work!¡±

    At last, he looked at Valm.

    ¡°I remember you! You were that older student who attended my course about a year ago! Did you create this?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Professor. So, what do you think? Is my work worthy of being taught to your students?¡±

    ¡°Your book is indeed quite good, but¡­ it¡¯s not suitable for teaching monsterology.¡±

    ¡°Not suitable? Why not?¡±

    ¡°The entire course lasts only six months. In that time, I cover material on all monster classes. How do you expect me to teach using such an extensive amount of information on just first-class monsters, you fool?!¡±

    A fool?! Valm flared up inside like a matchstick.

    ¡°Your course, Professor, isn¡¯t worth a single copper coin. A children¡¯s book about monsters would provide more useful information than what you cram into six months of lectures!¡±

    ¡°You little bastard!¡± the professor roared, lunging at the alchemist.

    A thin gray blade at his throat instantly stopped his outburst.

    ¡°You do not touch Master Valm, idiot! Otherwise, he¡¯ll be kicking your empty head around town, got it?¡±

    The alchemist silently retrieved the Encyclopedia. His completely emotionless face now resembled stone.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go, Grem. These fools don¡¯t even understand what they¡¯re rejecting.¡±

    After the Battle Master deliberately slammed the door on his way out, the professor collapsed onto his rear. With a trembling hand, he felt his sweat-drenched neck. He¡ªonce a rank-B adventurer¡ªhad just stared death in the face.

    The rector shook his head.

    ¡°You really are an idiot, Professor. You may leave. That was the only matter I called you in for.¡±

    Valm was disheartened.

    Upon returning from the city to the Citadel, he locked himself in his laboratory and didn¡¯t come out until late at night. Grem watched as a gleaming metal arm pulled a second-class monster inside and shook his head.

    The Battle Master had managed to glimpse a few pages of the alchemist¡¯s work when the rector had flipped through it. He couldn¡¯t call himself a professional monster hunter, though he had faced them in battle many times. Yet even those few pages had been enough to grasp the sheer magnitude of labor behind them.

    Valm struggled to fall asleep. To dispel his bitter disappointment, he had stayed in the lab until late at night, dissecting a monster, but even that didn¡¯t help.

    Had he been wrong, and his work was worthless? That thought gnawed at him. So many painstaking hours, so much effort¡ªall for nothing? How could that be? Should he give up and dedicate himself fully to alchemy? Or stubbornly follow his winding path to achieving his dream?

    Unable to decide, the alchemist finally drifted off near dawn.

    By the time the sun was high, he stepped onto the porch.

    Grem sat on the steps of his house, waiting to see if Valm would be in the mood to train today or not.

    ¡°So, shall we run?¡± the alchemist asked him.

    Grem grinned. A temporary failure would not break his employer. This weak-looking man was stronger in character than anyone else in this kingdom! The Battle Master, just like yesterday, was setting the pace.

    Running came much easier to Valm today, and he drank his first potion only after the second lap. Yes, his breathing was still short, and his pulse pounded as if it would tear through his eardrums, but the unpleasant nausea did not come. His knees did not tremble. Only his heart pounded in his chest, and his lungs burned. But that was easily remedied with a potion, which the alchemist had no intention of sparing. So, even without resting, Valm moved on to the strength portion of his training.

    Grem was slightly confused, as he still could not decide how to conduct the third part of the training when the second was already nearing its end. In the end, instead of a wooden log, he set up a thick metal post. And the alchemist, as if clad in armor of red-gray flames, practiced simple diagonal strikes and double blocks on that steel.

    The Battle Master observed closely, ready to correct any mistakes in Valm¡¯s technique at any moment¡ªbut there were none. Of course, his strikes might have seemed weak, might have seemed slow, but technically, they were flawless. ¡°This is what the alchemists¡¯ control ability means! They perfectly replicate anything on the first try!¡± Grem thought in admiration. And he wasn¡¯t far from the truth.

    ¡°Master Valm, let me show you a straight strike now, along with a short combination of straight-block-diagonal!¡±

    The alchemist stopped and took a few steps back, carefully watching the Battle Master¡¯s movements as he demonstrated the strikes as slowly as possible, providing numerous comments along the way. Once again, he was astonished at how flawlessly Valm replicated his movements.

    ¡°This is not enough, Grem,¡± the alchemist stopped half an hour later. ¡°I want a sparring match!¡±

    ¡°Master Valm, that¡¯s dangerous. I don¡¯t dare after yesterday¡¯s incident.¡±

    ¡°Now you know exactly how strong I am. Are Battle Masters so weak in control that they can¡¯t adjust to an opponent like me in a sparring match?!¡±

    That was a low blow to the Battle Master¡¯s pride.

    ¡°Fine, Master Valm. You attack, I¡¯ll defend.¡±

    Grem sighed and, enveloping himself in an aura of armor, drew his daggers. It turned out to be even easier than he had expected. Knowing only two strikes, Valm couldn¡¯t create long, varied combinations, so he attacked in a direct and predictable manner. And in half an hour, without his potion, he was utterly exhausted.

    ¡°Thank you, Grem! We¡¯ll continue tomorrow!¡±

    The alchemist was pleased. After training, even the bad thoughts disappeared. They didn¡¯t need the encyclopedia in this place? Well, someone would find it useful elsewhere! Or the old emperor would finally die, and Valm would have the chance to return to the empire. He truly had to leave after his teacher¡¯s death. Valm had been given an unspoken choice¡ªeither flee in secret or serve the emperor like his old master had. He chose the former, and he had never regretted it.

    The alchemist entered the laboratory, quickly activated the equipment on the control console, grabbed the monster in the cage with a manipulator arm, and dragged it inside.

    Second-class creatures differed little from first-class ones. The main differences were threefold. Their cores were orange instead of red and contained several times more mana. The connection between the back of the brain and the core was made of slightly different tissue, providing faster transmission of information impulses. And their muscle composition had a higher percentage of slow-twitch fibers, increasing the monsters¡¯ physical endurance. In short, they were faster, stronger, and more resilient than first-class creatures.

    The change in that connection turned out to be an unpleasant surprise. If Valm managed to invent some kind of chemical signal blocker between the core and the brain, it would only be effective against one class of monsters and useless against the others.

    ¡°Well,¡± the alchemist patted the back of the creature strapped to the frame, ¡°what will you surprise me with?¡±

    The creature did surprise him¡ªby its resilience. Valm experimented for a long time on the regeneration of muscle tissue, trying to determine the exact time needed to restore a stable volume of tissue, which he periodically removed from different muscle groups. The discovery was that the regeneration speed remained unchanged until the monster¡¯s mana was completely depleted and the core was destroyed.

    That was odd because, logically, mana should be distributed more economically, prioritizing the restoration of critical organs necessary for survival. So was this a flaw in the evolution of this species or a critical weakness of all second-class monsters?

    Engrossed in this question, Valm cleaned up his workspace and, despite the late hour, dragged the next test subject into the lab.

    And so, the routine was established. In the morning, Valm trained, then worked late into the night in the laboratory, which increasingly unsettled Grem with that ominous aura seeping out of the open doors. The creation of the second volume of the ¡°Encyclopedia¡± was steadily progressing, and that consistently lifted Valm¡¯s spirits.

    There were other changes, too. Besides improving his physical condition, Valm noticed that his vision had also sharpened. He had never complained about it before and barely understood the details¡ªespecially as a healer. But in the mirror, he saw that his iris had changed from brown to amber, and his pupils had first become oval, then vertical altogether.

    Such metamorphoses, of course, did not escape the Battle Master¡¯s attention. At first, he thought Valm was drinking some potion that caused it, but¡­ Along with these physical changes, the alchemist¡¯s reaction speed in sparring matches had also significantly improved. And Grem couldn¡¯t hold back any longer.

    ¡°Master Valm, are you drinking some kind of potion that made your eyes¡­ different?¡± He gestured vaguely.

    If the Battle Master had asked directly, the alchemist might not have known what to say. But Grem had inadvertently provided the lie himself.

    ¡°Yeah, experimental.¡±

    ¡°And how is it? I¡¯ve noticed that your reaction speed in sparring has improved as well.¡±

    ¡°Well, so far, I haven¡¯t observed any serious negative effects, but it¡¯s still too early for definitive conclusions.¡±

    ¡°Master Valm¡­¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    Grem took off his hat, which was a rare occurrence. He awkwardly scratched the back of his head.

    ¡°Master Valm¡­ When you finish it¡­ will I be able to get some too?¡±

    Damn. What was he supposed to say?

    ¡°Uh, Grem, I think it would be harmful to you right now.¡±

    ¡°Why, Master Valm?¡±

    ¡°You see, I want to analyze your blood again soon to find the right path for your breakthrough into the Warrior Ancestor class. Your body must be completely clean, Grem. No alchemical compounds in your system, or I might make a mistake in my calculations, which could have fatal consequences!¡±

    Listening to the honeyed words the alchemist poured into his ears, Grem even forgot to breathe. The Warrior Ancestor class! Valm was saying it again! To hell with that potion and the enhanced reaction speed it provided! If he managed to break through, he would become an order of magnitude stronger than he was now! Grem swallowed hard, his throat dry.

    ¡°Thank you, Master Valm! I understand! I swear, from today¡ªno potions until you allow it! I won¡¯t let you down, Master Valm!¡±

    ¡°Oh, come on, why are you so tense? Let¡¯s check your blood in about two weeks?¡±

    The Battle Master only nodded. Valm didn¡¯t understand him. Tens of thousands of people in the kingdom followed the warrior¡¯s path. But only a handful reached the pinnacle, becoming Warrior Ancestors. Not long ago, Grem himself had thought that the middle rank of a Battle Master was his ceiling for life.

    Valm exhaled in relief. That was close. But he couldn¡¯t relax¡ªhis one and only beloved apprentice was due to return to the Citadel any day now!

 Chapter Eleven. Alchemy Lesson.

    ¡°Teacher! Open the gates, your student has returned from her mission!¡± Qian¡¯s voice rang out over the Citadel early in the morning.

    ¡°Damn it, it¡¯s barely dawn! And why have you come back so early?¡± Valm thought as he sat up in bed, wrapping himself in a sheet. Finding his slippers with his feet, the alchemist sluggishly shuffled outside. It was cool and damp from the morning dew. He had despised this time of day with all his soul since childhood.

    ¡°Teacher, your loyal student begs you to let her in, for she is exhausted from the long journey she endured on her weak little paws at your command!¡± Qian persisted outside the gates, shouting even louder.

    ¡°Shut up, you fool!¡± the alchemist groaned, disabling the Citadel¡¯s defenses before opening the gate.

    The girl strutted into the courtyard with a deliberately regal gait, holding her head high¡ªand her white rabbit ears even higher.

    ¡°Teacher, I¡ª¡± Qian fell silent as she looked at Valm. ¡°You¡¯re not my teacher!¡±

    She began circling him, even making an attempt to sniff him.

    ¡°Hmm. But you do seem like him. Just¡­ different,¡± she mused aloud. ¡°My teacher is thinner and scrawnier, but you, uncle¡­ You really do resemble him¡­ Yet you have a decent build, unlike my master Valm.¡±

    ¡°My master Valm? You¡¯ve lost all respect in the past month, haven¡¯t you?! Do you want to go prepare a duck?!¡±

    ¡°Oh, Teacher, is it really you?¡± Qian jumped up close to the alchemist, peering into his eyes. ¡°What the hell happened to you?! Your eyes¡­ Did you rip them from a dragon? When did you change them? Does it hurt?¡±

    A bird carcass appeared in Valm¡¯s hands.

    ¡°Cook. The damn. Duck!¡± he gritted through his teeth before turning around and heading back to bed.

    ¡°It¡¯s really my teacher!¡± Qian exclaimed in delight. ¡°He hasn¡¯t changed a bit! A rock! My deepest respect!¡±

    ¡°Enough of riling him up already!¡± Grem called out irritably from his house window.

    In response, the girl merely burst into a ringing laugh and carried the poor bird¡¯s carcass to the kitchen. Her tongue always worked faster than her brain.

    Valm finally woke up when the aroma of roasted duck reached his nose. It seemed his student hadn¡¯t lost her skills over the past month. After quickly taking a shower, he sat at the dining table, where Qian was already waiting for him, tray in hand.

    ¡°Does it taste good, Teacher?¡± she asked the moment the alchemist sank his teeth into the meat.

    Valm sighed but didn¡¯t unclench his jaw, chewing instead. It was delicious.

    ¡°So, how was your mission?¡± he changed the subject.

    ¡°Oh, Teacher, it was tough, but I completed it¡ªand even overfulfilled it! I gathered not only the ingredients you listed but many more!¡±

    The alchemist examined her closely, his gaze even lingering on the short one-handed sword hanging at her belt. That hadn¡¯t been there before. Remembering the fate of his wallet during their first meeting, Valm reached a rather obvious conclusion.

    ¡°You robbed people, didn¡¯t you?¡± he asked bluntly.

    ¡°Oh, well, people¡­ and monsters¡­¡± She hesitated. ¡°You know, they guard those herbs as if their lives depend on them!¡± At that moment, she clapped her hand over her mouth. ¡°Oh, what am I saying! It was actually the other way around, Teacher! You wouldn¡¯t believe how many scoundrels tried to rob this delicate, defenseless girl and take by force the herbs she gathered with her sweat and blood! I begged them, pleaded with some, even ran from others¡­ But they were relentless, so poor Qian had no choice¡­ No choice but¡­ Teacheeerrrr¡­ It was so scary and so hard¡­¡±

    If Qian could fake-cry, tears would be streaming down her face right now.

    ¡°Alright,¡± Valm replied simply, just to end the performance.

    ¡°Alright?¡± she repeated in disbelief. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡±

    ¡°Exactly. But if any of those people come looking for revenge, it will be your problem, understood?¡±

    Qian grinned widely.

    ¡°They won¡¯t come. I guarantee it.¡±

    The alchemist didn¡¯t bother asking why she was so confident¡ªit didn¡¯t really concern him.

    ¡°Well then¡­ As promised, today I will start teaching you how to brew potions. Be ready in three hours, understood?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Teacher!¡± Qian barked.

    Valm wiped his hands, took off his shirt, and stepped outside.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go, Grem!¡± he called to the Battle Master.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go?!¡± Qian repeated in confusion. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?! Wait! Explain!¡±

    By the time she ran outside, the two were already beyond the gates.

    An hour later, Qian watched in fascination as her teacher trained on the equipment. Grem had forbidden him from using excessive weights to avoid stimulating the growth of fast-twitch muscle fibers, which, while granting explosive power, would strip him of speed. And in dagger combat, speed and endurance were key. So instead, he performed an insane number of sets with moderate weight.

    To many, Valm¡¯s physique might have seemed too lean and wiry, but¡­ The agility and speed he had gained over the past month were well worth it. At the same time, the alchemist had not stopped consuming large amounts of various potions. He could do without them now, but he noticed they still contributed to his physical development.

    When red-gray flames of bloodlust enveloped Valm¡¯s body, and its heavy pressure spread across the courtyard, Qian leaped to her feet in surprise. His sparring session with Grem was mesmerizing. There were no heavy strikes¡ªGrem mostly stayed on defense¡ªbut¡­ Her teacher executed incredible attack combinations! Some series consisted of just a few dozen, others of hundreds of offensive and defensive maneuvers!

    Qian found herself wondering whether she could withstand such a barrage. If her teacher were on equal footing with her in strength, then¡­ no, definitely not. The thought sent shivers down her spine. And this was after just a month of training? What a pity that such a talented fighter would never be able to break through to even the first-class warrior level. Life was unfair¡­

    ¡°Can I, uh¡­ spar with you too?¡± she asked her teacher when he finished training and was heading inside.

    ¡°Rabbit-Ears!¡± the Battle Master barked at her.

    But Valm stopped him.

    ¡°You, Qian, will compete with me in alchemy, understood?¡±

    The girl pressed her lips together. Was this arrogance? Or confidence that he would train her into a high-level alchemist?

    ¡°Half an hour, Qian!¡± the teacher called from the doorway. ¡°You need to be ready in half an hour!¡±

    Qian was ready. Or at least, she thought she was.

    At the appointed time, Valm stepped out of the house, set up a table and chair in the courtyard, and ordered Qian to sit and listen to him. Grem, for whom alchemy was just as much a mystery, sat on the steps of his house, completely focused. Valm didn¡¯t mind.

    ¡°So, what is alchemy, Qian?¡± he asked. ¡°Specifically for you¡ªwhat does it mean?¡±

    The girl definitely didn¡¯t expect that.

    ¡°Ehhh, teacher¡­ the path to success and a carefree life?¡±

    ¡°Pay closer attention, Qian. I wasn¡¯t asking about your goal, though it has the right to exist. How do you see alchemy? What associations come to your mind when you hear that word?¡±

    ¡°Well, different potions, pills¡­¡±

    At these words, Valm closed his eyes and sighed sadly.

    ¡°That¡¯s just the result. You don¡¯t have any other ideas?¡±

    With a guilty smile, Qian shrugged.

    ¡°Alchemy, in my view,¡± said Valm, ¡°is any action capable of taking something created by nature and, through transformation, granting it properties needed by the alchemist. For example, a simple first-level strength potion contains five ingredients, none of which affect a person¡¯s physical strength. And even if you simply mix them together and force some unfortunate soul to swallow that mixture, they will most likely die from poisoning. So, the key here is transformation! In short, alchemy is transformation. You might say that people also transform grain into bread, so is that alchemy? And the answer is no! Baking bread from grain is not alchemy because it¡¯s merely a process of improvement. You can chew the grain thoroughly and eat it as is. It won¡¯t taste good, but the effect will be roughly the same as eating a crust of bread. Now, listen carefully! When creating an alchemical product, an alchemist breaks down ingredients into their components, isolates them, processes them, combines them, transforms them, and assembles them into what they wish to create. The unnecessary part, or slag, is removed.¡±

    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    During his speech, Valm paced back and forth in front of the table, gesturing emotionally. Qian didn¡¯t take her eyes off him, and over time, it had a hypnotic effect. The girl heard her teacher¡¯s words as if through cotton, the meaning of his lecture began to fade, and her eyes started closing.

    ¡°Qian!¡± The alchemist loudly slapped his palm on the table, making her jump in her chair. ¡°Are you listening? I always thought that beastfolk of your level had decent concentration. You disappoint me, Qian!¡±

    ¡°Sorry, teacher! That won¡¯t happen again!¡±

    She felt embarrassed about it herself.

    ¡°So, let¡¯s now discuss how an alchemist performs the necessary transformations. Most people think it¡¯s done with an alchemical cauldron. I won¡¯t argue, it¡¯s important, but far from the most crucial element. Otherwise, alchemists would be everywhere. Others believe the recipe is the key component, but they¡¯re mistaken too. Some even claim that without celestial fire,¡±¡ªhe extended his hand, and above his palm, a nearly transparent white flame flared up, its heat felt even by Grem. Valm held it for a few seconds before extinguishing it with a clench of his fist¡ª¡°one cannot become a great alchemist. And that¡¯s wrong as well. All alchemical cauldrons today are made with formations that transform monster cores into the fire that fuels the cauldron. So what is the most important thing?¡±

    The alchemist fell silent, looking at Qian. Seeing no answer from her, he continued.

    ¡°Intelligence! That is the primary tool of an alchemist! The mind maintains control over processes and simultaneously generates spiritual energy, which carries out the transformation! It sounds complicated, but you will understand and see for yourself the moment you attempt to create a potion on your own!¡±

    At these words, Valm dramatically raised a finger, as if emphasizing the importance of his statement.

    ¡°And just like muscles, the mind can be trained by anyone. Your level of spiritual energy will directly depend on this. I¡¯ll be honest, training the mind is far more difficult than training the body. That¡¯s just how our brains work¡ªthey are lazy, selfish things that would rather choose rest over any work, no matter how easy. Qian! I will not be a lenient teacher to you. I will demand so much work from you that blood will flow from your eyes¡­¡±¡ªhe looked into her naturally blood-red eyes¡ª¡°No, from your ears! But know that it will all be for your success! Do you understand?¡±

    ¡°Yes, teacher¡­¡± The mention of blood from her ears made her uneasy.

    ¡°Alright. I think it¡¯s time for you to show in practice how well you¡¯ve learned my recipes and how good the ingredients you¡¯ve gathered over the past month are. So let¡¯s start with the potion I already mentioned today¡ªthe first-class strength potion!¡±

    ¡°Uh-huh!¡±

    Qian pulled out her enormous cauldron from her storage. Valm wrinkled his nose at the sight of it.

    ¡°Qian, that thing is only good for feeding livestock¡­ Put that monstrosity away and take this.¡±

    Valm handed her a standard alchemical cauldron, one very similar to his own.

    ¡°But I paid twenty gold for it!¡±

    ¡°You were robbed. That trough isn¡¯t even worth silver. All recipes are written for standard cauldrons for a reason. How did you plan to brew potions in that thing? Even I would break my brain doing the calculations!¡±

    ¡°Understood¡­¡±

    It was obvious she felt sorry for the wasted money. But, to be honest, she had bought that monstrosity with Valm¡¯s gold when she had swiped his purse.

    ¡°And one more thing, Qian. I wouldn¡¯t have brought this up, but¡­ Do you know why there are no alchemists among the beastfolk?¡±

    ¡°We are worse than humans¡­¡±

    ¡°No, idiot! Who taught you such nonsense? You¡¯re not worse, you¡¯re different. When a beastfolk encounters a difficult situation or danger, they reflexively shift from human form to beast form. That is the reason I was asking about. The brain of a beast, due to the chemical and biological processes occurring within it, is incapable of fine control! And without that, alchemy is impossible as a discipline! Do you understand?¡±

    ¡°Yes, teacher! I understand!¡±

    ¡°What did you understand?¡±

    ¡°That beastmen can shift¡­¡±

    Valm covered his face with his palm and shook his head.

    ¡°No! You were supposed to understand that during alchemy, you must never shift into your beast form! Under no circumstances! Now, do you understand?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Master! No shifting into a beast during alchemy! But I have a question.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°Can I shift before the process starts?¡±

    Valm froze. How the hell was this even possible?!

    ¡°No, Qian, you can¡¯t. Only after the process is complete and you¡¯ve bottled the potion, only then can you shift into a rabbit.¡±

    ¡°Now I understand everything perfectly, Master!¡±

    At that moment, Valm asked himself if it was too late to refuse. But, remembering how quickly she mastered the roast duck recipe, he decided to give the girl a chance. She was stubborn, persistent, and had a decent memory. Her analysis skills were a bit lacking, but even those like her sometimes grew into decent alchemists.

    ¡°Then let¡¯s begin! First-class Strength Potion! Set up the cauldron, configure the heating temperature for the first phase, and prepare the ingredients.¡±

    Qian secured a third-class monster core under the alchemical cauldron, causing the magical formation etched into its walls to glow a deep red. Using her aura, she turned the dial on the cauldron¡¯s lid, and the glow gradually shifted from red to pale yellow. Valm nodded in satisfaction¡ªso far, she was doing everything right.

    ¡°Right now, you have little spiritual energy, so you can process the ingredients using your aura¡­¡±

    ¡°Got it.¡±

    Qian filled two-thirds of the cauldron with distilled water, then four bundles of various herbs flew out from her storage.

    ¡°Blue Wama, Laspur, Milchak, Garsis¡­¡± she repeated aloud.

    The herb bundles separated into individual stems before crumbling into powder.

    ¡°Separate the Laspur skin,¡± the alchemist reminded her.

    A portion from the leftmost cloud of powder detached and fell to the ground.

    ¡°Temperature?¡± he asked, just to ensure Qian didn¡¯t forget to monitor the cauldron.

    The girl¡¯s eyes started to wander. This was her first mistake¡ªprocessing the ingredients away from the cauldron. She should have done it in front or behind it; that way, she would only need to adjust her focus¡­ But it was too late to think about that now.

    ¡°Stay sharp, Qian! Now!¡±

    The cauldron¡¯s lid shot into the air, and the prepared ingredients flew inside. The girl sighed in relief and covered it again.

    ¡°Set pressure for the working and safety valves?¡± the alchemist pressed on.

    ¡°One point fifteen, one point two.¡±

    ¡°Alright, that should work in this mode. Watch the Blue Wama¡ªit¡¯s about to break down, and you¡¯ll have only three or four seconds to remove the sludge.¡±

    Qian focused her spiritual energy, but the cauldron¡¯s walls blocked her. She could understand something from the scent, but she couldn¡¯t fully see the process.

    ¡°Master! I¡­ I can¡¯t see! I can¡¯t handle this!¡±

    Valm furrowed his brow. Should he force her to break through on her own? Repeat his master¡¯s method, or¡­

    ¡°Watch closely, Qian! You¡¯re about to see what¡¯s happening inside your cauldron with your own eyes!¡±

    The alchemist raised his right hand, fingers tensed as if gripping an invisible apple. A Heavenly Flame burst from his palm, stopping beside Qian¡¯s cauldron and forming an exact replica of it. A tight stream of water shot out from Valm¡¯s storage, filling the flame-formed cauldron exactly two-thirds full. The water boiled instantly. Four bundles of herbs followed, separating, purifying, and grinding into powder mid-air. The moment the ingredients entered, the Heavenly Flame sealed itself shut at the top.

    Valm closely watched Qian¡¯s cauldron, precisely replicating the entire process in his transparent, fire-formed copy.

    ¡°Now, Qian, my cauldron¡¯s process is a moment ahead of yours. You must make the right decisions¡ªgo!¡±

    Grem, watching from the side, barely dared to breathe. Legends spoke of ancient alchemists who crafted potions without cauldrons, simply in the air¡­ But were those really just legends? Or was Valm himself a legend?

    Qian steeled herself. If her master had decided to help her, then¡­ She had no right to give up! Suppressing the urge to shift into a rabbit with all her might, she deftly used her spiritual energy to expel the sludge through the working valve.

    Then came the swirling¡­ Separation¡­ Mixing¡­ More sludge removal¡­

    Thanks to Valm¡¯s live demonstration before her very eyes, Qian fully grasped every process happening inside her cauldron and, at last, saw them clearly. From then on, the potion-making process went in perfect sync. Valm even laughed. He was so pleased that he didn¡¯t notice his apprentice¡¯s nosebleed from spiritual exhaustion. He was too entertained watching two people perform an identical process in perfect unison, both in time and space. It almost resembled¡­ a ballroom dance?

    The alchemical transformation was complete in half an hour. A light blue sphere of potion hovered in the air beside the cauldron, which contained the exact same potion inside. Valm noticed that Qian hadn¡¯t turned off her cauldron¡¯s heat, though she should have. He glanced around, saw his unconscious apprentice, sighed, then shut off her cauldron and removed the monster core from the formation. Then, he single-handedly bottled one hundred thirteen and a half bottles of potion and sighed again.

    By old standards¡ªones everyone tried to forget¡ªthere should have been exactly one hundred bottles. Thirteen percent for silence, he reminded himself.

    When Qian woke up, her master was sitting on the house steps, sipping tea from a small cup.

    ¡°My potion!¡± the girl cried, glancing around in shock.

    Valm pointed at the bottles standing in the yard.

    ¡°Thank you, Master!¡±

    She correctly guessed who had finished her work and felt ashamed.

    ¡°Did I¡­ fail?¡±

    ¡°Why would you?¡± Valm took a sip. ¡°The potion was already finished when you passed out. A few bottles would¡¯ve evaporated if left for too long, that¡¯s all¡­¡±

    Qian frowned in deep thought for a few seconds.

    ¡°Then¡­ am I a real alchemist now?¡±

    ¡°Well, how should I put it¡­ You¡¯re more of an alchemist¡¯s parrot right now. But if you keep training, you¡¯ve got a decent shot at becoming a real one.¡±

    The girl nodded.

    ¡°Master, can I ask you about the Heavenly Flame?¡±

    Valm held out his palm, where a white flame danced.

    ¡°This one?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. They say it¡¯s hard to find¡­¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not true. I bought mine at an auction. It¡¯s not hard to find, but hard to obtain¡ªtwo different things. If you try to fuse the Heavenly Flame into yourself without a high level of control, it will simply burn you. And that will be the end of your path as an alchemist¡­ and as a person, really.¡±

    ¡°But why don¡¯t alchemists use such a power in battle? If you wield the strongest flame in the world, then¡­¡±

    The small white flame shot from Valm¡¯s palm, struck the girl in the chest, and passed straight through her back. Qian gasped in shock and frantically checked for a hole in her body. The alchemist laughed.

    ¡°Heavenly Flame doesn¡¯t kill or destroy¡ªit only creates. The only exception is when you try to subjugate it by fusing it into yourself. There¡¯s a theory that the Heavenly Flame is a quasi-intelligent being and, during fusion attempts, it temporarily goes into a rage and destroys the attacker.¡±

    ¡°And is that true?¡±

    Valm just smiled and said nothing.

    ¡°Well, I see you¡¯ve rested enough. Time to return to training,¡± he said. ¡°Same task¡ªbrew a first-class Strength Potion.¡±

    ¡°Another one?!¡± Qian gasped. ¡°Master, what about the rule of one cauldron per month?¡±

    Valm sighed. What a lazy girl.

    ¡°Rule? What rule? Never heard of it.¡±

    ¡°But they say¡ª¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t care what they say. I¡¯m the one teaching you, not ¡®they¡¯! So wipe your nose, get up, and start brewing!¡±

    ¡°Understood, Master¡­¡±

 Chapter Twelve. A Fine Manicure.

    For the past few months, Ladbor had been staying at the headquarters of the adventurer team ¡°Silver Dragons.¡± More precisely, he had been living there. The brutal murder of the entire flock of Gray Ravens had made him fear for his life like never before. And then there was that missing recording bullet¡­

    And Ladbor drank. After his last meeting with the mayor, where he was told outright that the wedding with Sari would have to be postponed, he started drinking. Not to complete oblivion, but whenever the Silver Dragons had no missions, he was never sober. Any movement outside the headquarters was only within the team¡¯s center. The headquarters was always under heavy guard. And there was alcohol. Such was the new daily life of Ladbor, a B-rank adventurer.

    And all because of one damned alchemist.

    The alchemist himself, who had caused the adventurer¡¯s suffering, had no idea of the latter¡¯s existence. At that moment, Valm was concerned with three things. Or rather, not concerned but fully occupied: training with Grem, teaching Qian, and working on the second volume of the Encyclopedia.

    It was progressing slightly slower than the first volume, not only because his time was also taken up by the other two tasks, but because studying the structure of second-class monsters was harder than first-class ones. Despite this, the alchemist hoped to finish the volume faster since the variety of second-class creatures was somewhat smaller.

    Another task was creating a means to elevate Grem to the level of a Battle Ancestor. As promised, the alchemist had taken a blood sample and studied it thoroughly. It wasn¡¯t an impossible task, but it certainly wasn¡¯t easy. Within a few days, Valm had developed the necessary formulas for the breakthrough, but unfortunately, he didn¡¯t have all the required ingredients in his storage.

    For several more days, he built models, trying to determine whether he could somehow synthesize them from the ingredients he had, but in the end, he gave up. Not everything was within the power of alchemists, even at his level. Otherwise, they would have long since been creating potions and pills out of thin air. Valm wrote down the ingredients he needed, described them, and left the laboratory. It was already late.

    ¡°Grem,¡± the alchemist began the next morning as they ran around the Citadel, ¡°about raising your level¡­¡±

    ¡°Is it impossible?¡± The Battle Master felt a twinge of disappointment.

    ¡°Did I say that? On the contrary, it¡¯s very possible. But I¡¯m missing two ingredients. One of them is fairly common¡ªI think it can be bought even in this city¡­ But the other one¡­¡±

    ¡°What about it, Master Valm?¡± Grem felt relief wash over him. Just two ingredients!

    ¡°The other one is the fruit of the Gray Olam, a very tricky thing. Not only do they spoil quickly, but this flaw also affects the final product. Even if I obtain a fresh one, I will have very limited time to prepare the pill. And you¡¯ll have to take it immediately. But that¡¯s not all¡­¡±

    Damn! Grem was sweating as he listened to the alchemist. And not just because they were running non-stop.

    ¡°Grem, you know that the body structures of a Battle Master and a Battle Ancestor are somewhat different, right? They have different aura centers and channels¡­ So, after taking the pill, you¡¯ll need to shut yourself away for meditation for about six months¡­ You won¡¯t be able to make sudden movements or even walk during that time.¡±

    ¡°But Master Valm, if we store the fruit in a vault, then its time¡­¡±

    The alchemist shook his head.

    ¡°In that lies the problem. Olam is a seventh-class plant, and it has its own internal time, unaffected by external factors.¡±

    ¡°Seventh?! Then what class of pill can be made from it?!¡±

    ¡°It varies. But if the fruit is fresh, I hope I¡¯ll have enough strength to create an eighth-class pill. Just the kind you need.¡±

    Grem forgot to breathe. An eighth-class pill! And for whom? For him, a worthless Battle Master? Even the legendary Gods of War would tear each other¡¯s throats out for a pill of that class.

    ¡°Maybe we shouldn¡¯t?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t what?¡± the alchemist frowned.

    ¡°The pill¡­ Master Valm, I¡¯m just a nobody, a mere Battle Master. Using such a high-class pill on me is¡­¡±

    ¡°Idiot! If I make it, then I alone decide who gets it! Understood?!¡±

    Valm quickened his pace, unwilling to listen to the insecurities of the Battle Master. If an alchemist forges his weapon, he doesn¡¯t care about the opinions of those around him. Or even the opinion of the weapon he¡¯s forging.

    Grem didn¡¯t try to catch up, having perfectly understood Valm¡¯s mood. What he couldn¡¯t grasp, however, was why someone as extraordinary as Valm was even in this kingdom. Those capable of creating such high-class alchemical products¡­ Grem just shook his head, unable to imagine where and how alchemists of such caliber actually lived.

    Even during sparring, which Qian watched closely, he felt as if he had been struck on the head. Noticing this, Valm increased his pressure and, at one moment, grazed the Battle Master¡¯s elbow with his bright red dagger. Startled, they both immediately broke distance and halted.

    ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to!¡± Valm quickly retracted the tightly interwoven red-gray flames that enveloped him.

    A few drops of blood fell to the ground.

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Master Valm, it was my own carelessness.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s enough for today, I think.¡± The alchemist pulled out a healing pill, but the Battle Master refused.

    ¡°I¡¯d like to keep this scar as a reminder, if you don¡¯t mind?¡±

    Valm shrugged and pulled out the paper he had prepared yesterday.

    ¡°Here are the two ingredients I need, Grem. Try to buy the first one and find any leads on the second, alright?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Master Valm, I¡¯ll handle it!¡±

    With that, the Battle Master disappeared, leaving the alchemist and his apprentice alone in the Citadel.

    From that day, Valm¡¯s schedule changed again¡ªhis sparring sessions with Grem were gone. But he didn¡¯t abandon running or training. He also made Qian¡¯s lessons more difficult by lecturing her while she brewed potions. To ensure she was paying attention, he had a special trick¡ªmidway through a topic, he would start spouting nonsense, and Qian had to catch it immediately. Slowly, she adapted to this method of teaching and even wanted more.

    Qian didn¡¯t realize it yet, but her spiritual power had grown several times over, allowing her to brew three or four cauldrons of first-class potions before collapsing. It always happened unexpectedly, leaving no time to prepare. The consequences, however¡­ She cursed the hours spent scrubbing the alchemical cauldron clean.

    Grem returned two weeks later, on the very day Qian attempted to brew a second-class endurance potion for the first time. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him hand her master a wooden box before disappearing again, saying something like, ¡°Master Valm, I have a lead on a lead.¡±

    The alchemist didn¡¯t expect Grem to vanish for even longer this time. A week passed. Then another. And another¡­

    The ingredients Qian had gathered for her training ran out. Deep down, Valm didn¡¯t want to, but he still wrote a letter to Manager Pak and handed it to his apprentice.

    ¡°Qian, go to the Trade Guild, find Pak, and give him this letter. He¡¯ll buy all your potions at a fair price,¡± he said, then pulled out another stack of papers. ¡°And here¡¯s your next ingredient-gathering assignment. Do your best, understood?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Master! You can count on me!¡±

    Like any beastkin, Qian was bad at reading human facial expressions. Otherwise, she would have noticed how reluctantly Valm let her go. But¡­ ¡°A student must learn!¡± the alchemist told himself, closing the gates behind her.

    He walked through the quiet courtyard. Alone. Alone again. Only occasionally, the roaring of monsters in their cages could be heard.

    Without Qian, life in the Citadel became purely mechanical. Valm woke up early, ran, trained on the equipment, and then went to the laboratory, where he remained until late at night. Sometimes he would glance at the bracelet that controlled the Citadel, checking if it had broken. But the device worked flawlessly. No one came¡ªexcept for Pak¡¯s men, who delivered new monsters. And they weren¡¯t ones to talk¡ªno one was eager to chat with the oddball who bought wild monsters alive. By the hundreds.

    Valm didn¡¯t know which week it was when he started talking to the creatures. Not like before¡ªa sentence here, a sentence there¡­ but constantly. It felt as if his tongue worked separately from his brain because he conducted his research with focus and precision¡­ without ever falling silent. Even when he wrote the final pages of the second volume.

    One day, he put the final period and closed the tome, whose brown cover bore the golden inscription: ¡°Encyclopedia, Volume Two.¡±

    Unlike the day he completed the first volume, he had no immediate urge to show it to people. No, he had to finish all his work. To create a complete description of monsters from the first to the seventh class, and only then¡­ Only then would he present it to the world!

    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    Valm smiled and ran his fingers over the firm leather cover, leaving a few thin scratches on it.

    Surprised, the alchemist looked at his nails and, to his shock, realized how much they had changed. He furrowed his brow. When had this happened? Instead of the usual neatly trimmed, pink nails¡­ there were narrow, elongated, and sharp¡ªclaws?!

    Valm jumped to his feet. This wasn¡¯t normal!

    He grabbed a pair of manicure scissors and tried to cut them. The steel bent and creaked softly until the rivet holding the two halves together snapped, leaving the alchemist holding two separate pieces of the tool.

    This was definitely not normal!

    Anxious, Valm grabbed a scalpel from the tray beside him, placed the tip of a claw against the table, and tried to slice it off¡­ But the blade merely slid across the surface of the claw, not even leaving a scratch!

    With a curse, the alchemist flung the scalpel at the wall. It let out a pitiful clink, fell to the floor, and slid back to his feet. What the hell was going on here?!

    Valm rushed to the trash bin and frantically pulled out blood-stained blue suits and thin medical gloves. Those bloodstains¡ªhe remembered them from yesterday. And the gloves¡­ full of holes! How had he not noticed?! It had always been right before his eyes!

    He couldn¡¯t check the older suits¡ªthey had long since been burned in the waste incinerator.

    So when had this happened?

    Valm sat back in his chair, trying to focus. The day before yesterday? Last week? Nothing¡­ It was as if his memory was blank when it came to his nails.

    A blank spot in the alchemist¡¯s memory?

    Valm burst into laughter. Impossible! An alchemist¡¯s memory couldn¡¯t fail to retain such crucial details! Unless¡­ unless his brain itself had deemed them unworthy of attention.

    First, the bloodthirst, then the eyes, now the nails¡­ That was far too many impossible changes within the past year! He would be a poor scientist if he didn¡¯t at least try to connect this to his research, which had started right before these¡­ disruptions in human physiology, as Valm cautiously termed them.

    He quickly took a blood sample from his vein and began an analysis. Even more thorough than the one he had done for Grem.

    Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Just ordinary human blood. Slightly low blood sugar, but that was only because he had skipped lunch today. Valm bared his teeth. Was it time to start panicking?

    The alchemist glanced around, searching for something else to attempt cutting off even a small piece of the claw. A surgical disk saw? No¡ªif his scalpel hadn¡¯t even scratched it, the saw would just take off a whole finger.

    But¡­ he had an idea.

    Releasing several tongues of bloodthirst, he wrapped them around his right hand. A bright red dagger with a gray cutting edge formed in his grasp.

    Placing the index finger of his left hand on the table, he carefully pressed the blade against the tip of the claw. The weapon that could slice through the aura-forged armor of a Battle Master barely managed the task.

    Sweating from the effort, Valm picked up the fragment of claw and carried it to the shelves of medical instruments for analysis. And once again¡ªnothing! Ordinary keratinized cells. Every instrument confirmed that Valm was examining a human fingernail.

    Over the past year, the alchemist had studied dozens of monster claws, and by their composition, the sample before him definitely didn¡¯t belong to them. But in shape and physical properties¡­

    Damn it!

    If Valm didn¡¯t know what he was looking at¡ªif he judged only by form and durability¡ªhe would call this the claw of a perfect monster!

    Valm was far from thinking he had lost his mind, but he couldn¡¯t solve this puzzle. Utterly exhausted, the alchemist left the laboratory at dawn. He didn¡¯t even have the strength for a shower. Valm simply collapsed onto the bed and instantly fell asleep.

    His first thought in the morning was¡ªhad he imagined it all? No, it was real. Valm examined his left hand. Even the piece of the claw he had so painstakingly cut off yesterday had already grown back.

    The alchemist sat up sharply and kicked off the boots and socks he hadn¡¯t removed last night. And on his feet too¡­ Not as long, and more curved downward than on his hands, but claws were present on his toes as well. Valm sighed and fell back onto the bed.

    For now, should he just accept it with philosophical calm? Since there was nothing he could do about it anyway¡­ The alchemist lay there for a long time, thinking. For the first time in months, he skipped his morning run. Taking his time, he stood under the shower, made himself breakfast, and stepped outside.

    Gazing at the training equipment with a thoughtful look, he waved his hand dismissively and headed for the laboratory. There, the first of the third-class monsters was waiting for him. Grem was in a hurry.

    For weeks, he had been rushing from one clue to the next, but they turned out to be either complete nonsense or led him to arrive too late¡ªwhen the Gray Olam Fruit had already been picked.

    Damn it, the level of a Battle Ancestor was so close, yet so far at the same time!

    These fruits could grow both on the surface and in dungeons, and in some regions of the continent, they weren¡¯t even considered rare¡­ All because of their short shelf life. They couldn¡¯t be transported over long distances¡ªunless some God of War or high-circle mage took on the delivery.

    That was why Grem was dashing from dungeon to dungeon across the kingdom, hoping to find the plant.

    Mr. Valm, out of his kindness, promised to create an eighth-class pill for him, and Grem could not let him down or force him to search for that damned fruit himself! He gritted his teeth. Having agreed to protect the alchemist, he had already been riding across the kingdom and raiding dungeons for several weeks¡­ He was consciously breaking his agreement with Valm!

    Grem had always considered himself a man of his word and demanded the same from others, and now what? Had he compromised his own principles just because he didn¡¯t want to lose the chance to become stronger? And who would need his strength if it couldn¡¯t be relied upon? Such thoughts burned him from the inside.

    The exhausted monster, barely breathing, stopped in front of the stable near the Istu Dungeon. The Battle Master tossed the reins to the stable hand along with a silver coin.

    ¡°One week!¡±

    The stable hand nodded and silently led the weary monster away to wash it down with water, cool it off, and clean its long fur. At the dungeon entrance, Grem had to pay another silver coin as a toll to the royal treasury for passage.

    The wide metal gates swung open, and the Battle Master stepped into the cave, illuminated by dozens of torches. Far ahead, the light of the exit was visible. Grem quickly passed several small teams of adventurers who had stopped to check their gear and make final preparations.

    The first level greeted him with a bright, sunny day. The Battle Master halted at the exit and carefully surveyed the vast valley surrounded by towering mountains beneath his feet. Dungeons¡­ They were like small shards of worlds with their own ecosystems. No one among humans truly knew how they were structured, yet that didn¡¯t stop daredevils from raiding them for precious resources.

    But every adventurer knew a simple rule¡ªthe entrances to the level were in the hundreds, hidden in caves around the valley, but there was only one exit, located in a small cave at the center. And that was precisely why the valley¡¯s center was the most dangerous place. Not because of monsters, as one might assume, but because of people. Some chose the easy path to riches.

    Grem began his rapid descent, carefully scanning the path several hundred meters ahead with his aura. Usually, those descending from the upper levels faced no threats, but the return journey¡­ Some might ask you to share your spoils. In previous dungeons, Grem had already gutted a few ¡°gentlemen¡± who had tried to do just that with him.

    Thanks to Valm, the Battle Master¡¯s strength was now at its peak for his level, so few in this kingdom could pose a threat to him¡ªexcept for the Battle Ancestors, of whom, it was said, there were only five in the entire state. But they didn¡¯t venture into dungeons, occupied with more important matters.

    Even so, Grem remained vigilant, easily bypassing several teams along the way. Every conversation was time lost. Moving swiftly along narrow monster-made trails, the Battle Master reached the valley¡¯s center by midday. Near the cave entrance, signs of a recent battle were visible, but Grem saw no bodies nearby, nor did he sense any living auras. So, he boldly proceeded forward.

    On the second level, the sun was just rising over the mountains, casting long shadows. The Battle Master sensed a few goblin auras not far from him. Just his luck with the level entrance¡­ These monsters posed no real physical threat to him, but if he fought them, someone stronger might hear the commotion. There was no strict hierarchy in the dungeon, so high-class monsters could be encountered even at the first level¡¯s entrance. Rarely, but it did happen.

    That was precisely why Grem disliked dungeons. He knew many who had lost their heads due to miscalculated risks, and he had no intention of joining that list.

    The Battle Master concealed his presence as best he could and leaped down from the cliff where tall trees grew. Flying precisely between the dense canopies without so much as brushing a leaf, he landed softly on the leaf-covered ground. Despite the sun in the sky above the mountains, it was still night here. But for people of his level, the presence of light was irrelevant.

    He ran, flawlessly avoiding dangerous spots, heading toward the valley¡¯s center.

    His goal was the third level, its western part. That was where, several years ago, the Gray Olama fruit had been found. Grem knew this because he had personally interrogated the adventurer who had discovered it and brought it out of the dungeon.

    The Battle Master grimaced at the memory. That damned fool hadn¡¯t wanted to trade information for money, so in the end, he exchanged it for pain. Not that Grem enjoyed torturing people, but when necessary, he didn¡¯t shy away from such actions.

    Before entering the passage cave to the third level, Grem sensed several auras of third-class warriors of varying degrees nearby. They sat motionless, as if in ambush.

    For a moment, the Battle Master considered whether he should kill them now to avoid obstacles on the way back. But he let it be¡ªwasting time wasn¡¯t worth it. At the exit to the third level, he immediately heard the sounds of battle. And in the western part of the level, no less. Damn it, that¡¯s where the plant he had come for was located.

    The battle was intense, but from this distance, it was impossible to determine the strength of the combatants. Cursing again, the Battle Master dashed in that direction. Whatever was happening¡ªhe had his goal.

    The sounds of battle in the west concerned not only Grem but also the third level¡¯s inhabitants. Many weak creatures were fleeing from that direction, straight toward the Battle Master. He even had to draw his daggers and slit the throats of the blindest and dumbest among them¡ªthose who, in their panic, attacked him despite the difference in strength.

    At one point, Grem stopped. Now, he could clearly sense the auras of the fighters. And he gritted his teeth in frustration. Why was he so unlucky?

    How the hell had a Battle Ancestor and a sixth-class monster ended up in a duel here, on just the third level?! What were the odds of such an event?! The Battle Master wiped the blood from his daggers and spat bitterly.

    Should he go forward, hoping he wouldn¡¯t be noticed and try to find that damn Olama? Or wait until one of them emerged victorious? But every moment of the battle increased the risk of the plant being destroyed!

    Grem groaned in frustration. To hell with it! Concealing his presence as carefully as possible, he rushed forward again. He ran, orienting himself by a lone peak resembling a clenched fist. According to that unfortunate adventurer, at the foot of that mountain lay a shallow, elongated ravine, always filled with thin mist, and that was where the plant grew.

    And it seemed the battle between the Battle Ancestor and the monster was happening just slightly to the side. The Battle Master had a good chance of slipping through unnoticed. Suddenly, the battle sounds ceased, and a silence so profound fell that it felt as if the air itself hummed.

    Grem could no longer sense the monster¡¯s aura, only the Battle Ancestor¡¯s, but even that one wavered uncertainly. The Battle Master wasn¡¯t curious. And approaching an unfamiliar, heavily wounded Battle Ancestor wasn¡¯t a good idea. The ravine¡¯s edge appeared abruptly, a deep fissure in the hard ground.

    Grem leaped down and moved slowly along the slope, descending into the mist. Everything was just as the adventurer had described! The Battle Master clearly remembered Valm¡¯s description of the plant, so he carefully scanned every bush and tree along his path with his aura. There! A slender shoot, about a meter tall, with five broad purple leaves at the top!

    The Gray Olama!

    If the plant had five leaves now, it should bear three fruits! Grem felt luck finally smile upon him. He rushed to the plant¡­

    On the ground beside it lay two crushed, juicy gray fruits, stomped under the heel of a boot. Grem growled with rage. The aura on the footprints was identical to that of the Battle Ancestor now lying wounded a few hundred meters away.

    ¡°You bastard!¡±

    If you hadn¡¯t done this bullshit, you would¡¯ve had a better chance of surviving. The Battle Master¡¯s fingers tightened around the hilts of his daggers.

 Chapter Thirteen. They Returned.

    The Battle Master didn¡¯t hesitate for a moment to question why that bastard had done what he did. There had been three fruits, two now lay crushed, so the third must undoubtedly be in the hands of the Battle Ancestor. And Grem needed it. That alone decided everything.

    If the Battle Ancestor hadn¡¯t been crippled in battle, Grem wouldn¡¯t have had a chance. Hell, even ten of him wouldn¡¯t have stood a chance, not even managing to draw a single drop of blood from their opponent. But now¡­ As he launched his attack, he knew the odds of winning weren¡¯t small.

    The Battle Ancestor, completely absorbed in his attempts to heal, truly missed Grem¡¯s attack, allowing the latter¡¯s dagger to stab under his collarbone and slice almost all the way through, nicking the aorta. He was sitting on the ground, leaning his back against a rock, and due to this posture, the Battle Master had to attack from the side. If he had the chance to strike from behind¡­ Grem would have killed him with a single blow.

    Despite the lightning-fast assault, the Battle Ancestor managed to strike back. He had no weapon in his hand, but as Grem stopped after his attack, he felt hot blood trickling down his stomach. He looked down. Not good. That bastard had pierced through his defenses, ribs, and diaphragm with a bare finger and even damaged his liver. The pain followed his gaze. Grem hissed as he felt fragments of his ribs embed themselves into his internal organs.

    The Battle Ancestor wasn¡¯t moving, despite the dagger still lodged under his collarbone, pulsing with each beat of his heart. He was a sight to behold¡­ His left arm was nearly torn off at the shoulder, a hole that had already begun to heal gaped in his stomach, and both his legs were shattered so completely that they resembled a mess of flesh, bones, and armor more than actual limbs. Grem thought that he must have killed the monster right when it had been chewing on the Battle Ancestor¡¯s body.

    The Battle Master followed the bloody trail stretching from the Battle Ancestor¡¯s feet for several dozen meters to the side. To the massive corpse of the monster, nicknamed ¡°Stag¡± because of the giant antlers on its head. Though now, that head had been blown apart from the inside¡­ So the monster really had been chewing on him when it died.

    Grem pulled out a vial containing a few fourth-class healing pills and groaned as he remembered Valm¡¯s warning about any kind of alchemy in his body being strictly forbidden. Damn it, he wasn¡¯t even sure now if the Gray Olama fruit was with this barely alive bastard. After all, the left hand with the storage ring was missing¡­ The Battle Master clamped down on the hole in his ribs with his aura as best as he could. Internal bleeding was bad too, but even so, he could hold out for a few days.

    ¡°Do you have healing pills?¡± The Battle Ancestor spoke for the first time. ¡°By the way, not a bad attack¡­ for a Battle Master.¡±

    Grem had to strain his ears to make out what he was saying, his voice was so weak, his bloodied lips barely moving.

    ¡°It would¡¯ve been a good one if it had actually killed you!¡±

    ¡°Pills¡­¡± the Battle Ancestor repeated.

    ¡°I have a few¡­¡± Grem spun the vial in his hand.

    It was pure mockery. They both knew that neither of them was going to give the other any pills. After Grem¡¯s treacherous attack, he had become an enemy to the dying Battle Ancestor. And saving him, only to then die himself? The Battle Master wasn¡¯t stupid enough to make that mistake.

    ¡°Do I know you? Did I ever wrong you somehow?¡±

    ¡°Those two fruits¡­ Why did you crush them?¡±

    ¡°Felt like it¡­¡± A thin trickle of blood dripped from his mouth and clung to his red beard. ¡°And all this¡­ just over some damn fruit?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Where¡¯s the third one?¡±

    The Battle Ancestor didn¡¯t answer, but his glance and the direction toward the monster¡¯s body spoke volumes.

    ¡°The Stag ate it? Shit¡­¡±

    The Battle Ancestor stretched a bloody grin across his face.

    ¡°You don¡¯t actually think my friends will just let my death go unanswered, do you? You¡¯d be better off giving me those damn pills. Then I¡¯d kill you quickly and painlessly¡­¡±

    In some ways, he had a point. Judging by the aura traces left at the scene, it wouldn¡¯t be difficult for the Battle Ancestor¡¯s allies to reconstruct what had happened. And erasing his presence here wasn¡¯t an option for Grem. And Battle Ancestor always had other Battle Ancestor as friends. Well, if Grem had been afraid of revenge, he wouldn¡¯t have started this fight. The Battle Master grinned.

    ¡°Screw your threats, bastard! Whether your friends find me or not is unknown. But I will definitely finish you off like a slaughtered pig¡­ that¡¯s for sure!¡±

    ¡°Well, come on then, pup! Let¡¯s see who dies first!¡±

    Grem cursed in his mind with the filthiest words he knew. This dying bastard might still give him trouble¡­ But he couldn¡¯t waste any more time. First, the Gray Olama fruit, wherever it was, was slowly losing its properties. And second, the Battle Ancestor¡¯s friends really could show up. If not now, then later. And the only way for Grem to survive would be to become a Battle Ancestor himself before they arrived.

    The Battle Master pulled out bandages and tightly wrapped them around his lower ribcage to stabilize his broken ribs and free up at least a fraction of his aura. Even a fraction of a percent could be useful in battle. And he needed a strategy. A direct approach was out of the question. He couldn¡¯t attack from the right. But that bastard was expecting an attack from the left, where his arm had been torn off¡­ Grem gripped his dagger tighter and lunged forward like lightning.

    No matter how fast he was, the Battle Ancestor was faster. The dagger¡¯s blade was caught between two fingers, and his grotesquely twisted arm struck Grem¡¯s forearm with his elbow, shattering the bones. The Battle Master went tumbling across the ground.

    ¡°You¡¯ve lost¡­ with just one arm¡­¡± the Battle Ancestor rasped.

    ¡°Really?¡± Grem cut him off.

    In the Battle Master¡¯s left hand, a thin steel wire glinted. The Battle Ancestor managed to glance at the hilt of the dagger, which had been embedded in his body near the aorta for quite some time. And the other end of that wire was now tightly wound around the hilt. Grem yanked with all his strength. The blade easily sliced through the aorta and, tearing through everything in its path, flew straight into Grem¡¯s hands.

    ¡°Clever bastard¡­¡± the Battle Ancestor wheezed with his last breath.

    ¡°Aha. Everyone complains before they die¡­¡± The Battle Master looked at his forearm and grimaced. ¡°Given your condition, you have about three minutes left. Got anything to say?¡±

    The Battle Ancestor wanted to, really wanted to. He had spent hundreds of years developing his strength, certain of it. And all for what? To die in a stinking pit at the hands of a worthless Battle Master? He stared at the thick streams of blood that his heart was pumping out and wanted to say it all¡ªin vivid detail and with curses. But he had just enough strength left to take one more breath.

    ¡°You dead already, you wretch?¡±

    Still not believing that the Battle Ancestor¡¯s heart had stopped, Grem asked again.

    ¡°Dead, indeed¡­¡± The Battle Master fell to his knees.

    And once again, he thanked Valm. For the fifth-class daggers he had gifted him. With his old fourth-class weapons, killing that bastard would have been unlikely. As best as he could, the Battle Master splinted his right arm. After returning the daggers to their sheaths, he pondered for a moment before stowing the Battle Ancestor¡¯s body away in his storage. He couldn¡¯t leave it here. As they say¡ªno body, no problem. But right now, the most important thing was to find the left hand with that bastard¡¯s storage.

    ¡°Curse you all¡­¡± he groaned, slicing open the belly of the massive monster.

    The stench was nauseating¡­ Grem dug through the creature¡¯s guts for nearly an hour without stopping before he finally found the Battle Ancestor¡¯s shattered, acid-burned hand, still bearing a ring on its index finger. Activating the storage, he pulled out a strange glass casket. Inside it was the Grey Olama fruit! It had all been worth it¡­ Grem grinned predatorily and rushed upward, heading for the caves that would lead him to the second level. He didn¡¯t forget to grab the sixth-class core that belonged to the antlered beast.

    Running was hard. Inside, it felt like a fire was burning, and the pain in his right arm pulsed with every step. Grem only gritted his teeth. No pills¡­ Especially now, when his goal was so close! Four more days, five at most, and he would be at the Citadel. And there was Lord Valm. Lord Valm would definitely figure something out to make everything right! The Battle Master pushed himself forward.

    On the second level, they tried to attack him. The same bastards he had left alive on his way down. But even wounded, Grem was a high-tier Battle Master, so a few random warriors¡­

    ¡°He¡¯s injured!¡± one of the attackers shouted, spotting the blood-soaked bandages on Grem¡¯s body.

    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    ¡°And you¡¯re dead!¡±

    The head of the middle-aged idiot who had been the first to rush at him with a sword fell to the ground and rolled, gathering dust in its gaping mouth, from which blood poured. The others, who hadn¡¯t even seen the moment of the strike but had gotten a good look at the fountains of blood from their headless comrade, turned and ran. Grem didn¡¯t chase them. He had more important things to do.

    It took him nearly two days to climb from the third level of the dungeon to the surface. Running while injured, constantly going uphill¡­ it was hellishly difficult and painful. Only the thought of his goal kept him on his feet. And it was close¡ªvery close¡ªwhen Grem leaped onto his well-rested mount and raced toward the Citadel at full speed. Three days. The beast had to endure this mad sprint.

    The Battle Master miscalculated. Not the time required to cover the distance, but the endurance of his mount. The creature collapsed dead on the road just as Grem saw the lights of the Citadel. He tumbled several meters, rolling head over heels, and groaned as a wave of pain seared him from within. Despite the dizziness, Grem got to his feet and walked. Then ran.

    The lights at the Citadel¡¯s gates danced wildly with each step, but they were still like a beacon to him. Grem growled. He felt worse than ever before. His body, as if wrapped in fire, was trembling with cold for some reason. The Battle Master¡¯s fist pounded against the gate.

    The third-class monsters were already noticeably different from the first two. Most of all in the way that Valm could almost physically feel the creature¡¯s desire to kill with every fiber of his being. It was like being plunged into a cold, stinking well with a lid slammed shut over your head¡­ No light in that darkness. Just the stench, the cold, and the sticky fear creeping down your spine.

    ¡°You really think you can affect me with such a pathetic thirst for blood?¡±

    Valm bared his teeth in a wicked grin and suppressed the subconscious urge to slit the monster¡¯s throat with a single scalpel strike. He hadn¡¯t pinned the beast to a frame and secured its body tightly just for that. Research. That was his true goal. And this research would be completed, one way or another.

    The alchemist paused for a moment. That thirst for blood¡­ How did monsters even generate it? After all, they lacked the same connection that human warriors had between their aura centers and their brains. It was precisely this stimulation of the brain by aura that allowed some members of the human race to display what was known as bloodlust. As for himself, Valm considered himself an exception to the rule. He still hadn¡¯t figured out how his own bloodlust worked.

    ¡°So, pretty boy, what are you going to show me?¡± Valm smacked his palm against the monster¡¯s bare belly a few times.

    The creature¡¯s skin, reinforced by the mana of its core, had become an impenetrable barrier for the scalpel in the alchemist¡¯s hand. Valm felt his wrist muscles cramping after just a few minutes of effort, and his fingers could no longer hold the tool steadily. The alchemist looked at the ruined blade edge and even whistled.

    ¡°You know, for a moment, I actually got mad¡­ But your will to live, to resist death in such a hopeless situation¡­ Damn, I¡¯m actually impressed by how much interesting stuff you¡¯ll be able to show me before you croak!¡±

    Valm burst into laughter and went to fetch the surgical bone saw¡ªsince a scalpel clearly wouldn¡¯t cut through this bastard. Carefully inspecting the tool, he replaced the blade with a new one to ensure the cleanest possible incision.

    It seemed the sound of the saw in the alchemist¡¯s hands had an effect on the monster. The disc hadn¡¯t even touched its skin when the creature¡¯s eyes filled with blood, and its muscles nearly tore apart from its frenzied struggle to break free.

    ¡°You decided to get serious?¡±

    Valm carefully examined the metal rods that held the monster securely in place. They seemed sturdy enough. The thin saw blade buzzed as it dug a few centimeters into the creature¡¯s skin, sending a spray of blood behind it. The alchemist noted that cutting the bones of second-class monsters had been easier than slicing through this bastard¡¯s hide.

    ¡°You son of a bitch¡­ Are you mocking me?!¡±

    Valm set the saw aside and watched as the wound he had just inflicted sealed itself at an impossible speed. This was ridiculous¡­ Neither first- nor second-class monsters regenerated skin damage, probably considering it an inefficient use of mana. But this freak¡­

    ¡°So, you want to keep your secrets?¡±

    Valm placed the saw on the tray behind him, catching sight of the wavy distortions in its edge out of the corner of his eye. Just a minute ago, that blade had been new.

    ¡°Heeeh¡­ Listen, at this rate, you¡¯re going to strip my lab of all its tools¡­ Don¡¯t do that!¡±

    Several bright red tongues of bloodlust, streaked with gray, shot out from the alchemist¡¯s body and tightly wrapped around his right hand. Valm¡¯s grip now firmly held a blood-red dagger. With a swift motion, the alchemist traced the outline of the area on the chest that he needed to expose. His left hand acted immediately after his right. Five sharp claws plunged into the monster¡¯s chest, and with a sharp movement, Valm tore away the flesh along with the muscles from the creature¡¯s body. The monster¡¯s body trembled, spraying blood from its ruptured vessels.

    ¡°That¡¯s how it should have been from the start¡­ Instead of all this ¡®I don¡¯t want to, I won¡¯t¡­¡¯¡±

    Valm quickly cauterized the thin vessels with red-hot iron and clamped the larger ones shut with steel forceps. Having finished with that, he carefully examined the bones of the ribcage to determine the best way to cut through them.

    And once again, he was wrong in his assumptions. The surgical saw didn¡¯t cut, even after replacing the disc. It only slid over the surface, spraying blood and fat into the air as fine dust. Valm set the tool aside. For the first time, he began to feel tired¡ªeven before reaching the core stage of the experiment.

    ¡°Listen here, you freak, you¡¯re really starting to piss me off!¡±

    The red dagger reappeared in the alchemist¡¯s hand. And now, for the first time, Valm truly appreciated the metamorphosis his body had undergone over the past year. The tools he had once spent a fortune on, the ones that had become useless against the body of a third-class monster, were no longer needed. The incredibly sharp red blade felt like an extension of his own limb¡ªmaking incisions with extreme precision, while his sharp claws could replace everything else, from delicate tweezers to massive pliers.

    The only thing Valm regretted was that this hadn¡¯t happened earlier. Now, his work had accelerated tremendously.

    The alchemist paused briefly, studying the structure of the brain. In its central part, there was something resembling a small node, something he hadn¡¯t observed in first- and second-class monsters. And it seemed Valm had already figured out its function. After all, distinct connections extended from it to the sac containing the monster¡¯s core. This was where the creature¡¯s bloodlust originated.

    It was easy to confirm by severing the thin veins. The sensation of a deep, dark abyss immediately vanished. So, this area transformed the monsters¡¯ raw mana into that thirst¡­ Interesting, very interesting. Completely unlike humans, whose aura stimulated the entire brain rather than just isolated parts.

    Valm still returned to training the next day. But all the remaining time he spent in the laboratory, dissecting monster after monster. By the time he reached the tenth, he had even forgotten¡ªor simply hadn¡¯t considered it necessary¡ªto test his poisonous compounds on their bodies. Eventually, he resumed that aspect of his experiments, though he already sensed its futility. The first and second classes had shown complete resistance¡­

    Valm lost track of the days and weeks he spent working alone in the Citadel. He had grown accustomed to it, and it suited him just fine. The rapid pace of research, the silence, no outside distractions¡ªall of it contributed to the fact that the pages of the third volume of the Encyclopedia were filling up at an incredible rate.

    Until the day his bracelet let out a loud beep.

    The startled alchemist didn¡¯t immediately realize what the sound was¡­ And when he did¡ª

    Without even taking off his blue suit, now heavily stained with monster blood, he dashed out of the laboratory and ran to the gates.

    ¡°Master! Open the gates! Your one and only, most beloved, absolutely amazing, stunning apprentice has returned from her mission!¡±

    Qian¡¯s ringing voice echoed over the Citadel.

    As soon as a crack appeared in the gate, the girl lunged forward, attempting to embrace her teacher. But upon noticing his blood-soaked suit in time, she abruptly halted, ending up in a low bow with her long ears flopping comically.

    ¡°Master, I¡­¡± She lifted her head without straightening her back. ¡°What a fabulous manicure you have¡­¡±

    Her eyes were right at the level of Valm¡¯s fingers. And although he wore medical gloves, they had long been pierced by the claws at his fingertips.

    ¡°Interesting, interesting¡­ So, which poor soul did you eviscerate this time to get yourself such a treasure? Definitely not werewolves, and not any of the bloodsuckers either¡­ This was something serious.¡±

    ¡°Ahem! You¡¯re mistaken, my dear apprentice! This is merely a minor side effect from a potion I¡¯m currently developing. It will pass soon enough!¡±

    ¡°Oh, so it¡¯s just because of a potion? Here I was thinking about illegal experiments on beastfolk¡­¡±

    ¡°Shut up, you fool! One of you in the Citadel is more than enough for me!¡±

    Qian straightened up, peering into Valm¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°You want to experiment on me, Master?! You can¡¯t just say things like that right away! At least give me a carrot first!¡±

    The alchemist let out a guttural growl at her shamelessness.

    ¡°Enough, rabbit-ears! Get inside already, stop loitering at the gate!¡±

    Giggling softly, Qian stepped forward, allowing her teacher to shut the heavy doors behind her.

    ¡°So, how did your journey go this time? It seems to me you stayed out longer than the period I allowed. If I¡¯m not mistaken¡ªand I¡¯m not¡ªyou were gone for a whole three months longer!¡±

    Qian twirled on one foot, showing off her nearly new fourth-class women¡¯s armor.

    ¡°Damn it! You robbed humans again, didn¡¯t you, rabbit?!¡±

    ¡°How could you even think such a thing, Master?! These armor pieces were custom-made just for me! Do you know any human girls with a figure like mine? With such a slim waist and such big br¡­¡±

    ¡°And where did you get the money? The potion you sold to Pak wouldn¡¯t have been nearly enough!¡±

    Qian had no answer to that.

    ¡°You totally robbed them!¡± Valm was now certain of his guess.

    ¡°Master! It wasn¡¯t me who started it! They attacked me first, and then¡­ And then their heads went crack-crack, and that was it¡­ What, was I not supposed to collect compensation for my deep, painful, bloody wounds¡­ my emotional wounds¡­¡± she added under Valm¡¯s stern gaze.

    ¡°Fine. But remember, if they come looking for revenge, then¡ª¡±

    ¡°¡ªthen it¡¯s my problem! They won¡¯t come, Master, I promise!¡±

    The alchemist shook his head and walked into the courtyard. Qian quietly followed, keeping in step with him. Suddenly, he stopped again, nearly causing her to bump into his back.

    ¡°And the ingredients? Did you gather everything from the list I gave you?¡±

    ¡°Of course! Just take a look!¡±

    Qian darted ahead and began piling up heaps of various herbs, crates of berries, fruits, mushrooms, sacks of seeds, and more in the middle of the courtyard.

    ¡°Wait¡­ You didn¡¯t rob any alchemical gardens, did you?¡±

    The sheer amount of ingredients she had gathered was staggering. It would be enough for her to brew potions non-stop for several years. There was no way she had collected all this on her own in such a short time!

    ¡°I¡¯m no fool, Master! They gave it all to me, under contract!¡±

    ¡°What?!¡±

    He couldn¡¯t believe his ears. This little fox had managed to make contracts with alchemists?!

    ¡°And you know, Master, those alchemists are so poor¡­ Some of them even still owe me. They promised to pay up next time I visit.¡±

    Valm didn¡¯t want to hear any more. The schemes she had pulled on her victims scared him¡­ Though, come to think of it, wasn¡¯t he one of those victims himself? The alchemist shook his head and sighed heavily. This was probably his fate.

    ¡°Master, where¡¯s Grem? I brought him a gift¡­¡±

    Oh, so that¡¯s how it was. She brought a gift for the guard, but not for her beloved and only teacher? Fine, rabbit¡­

    Though her question did have merit. Grer¡¯s long absence troubled him as well.

    ¡°He went off on business. He¡¯ll return¡­ when he returns. And as for you¡­ Tomorrow morning, you¡¯re starting a new potion-making course.¡±

    ¡°Got it!¡±

    With that, Valm hurried back to the laboratory, where another monster was bleeding out, stretched on the frame. Their numbers in the third-class were quickly dwindling. As was the completion of yet another volume of his work.

 Chapter Fourteen. Ninth-Class Pill.

    ¡°¡­I brought it,¡± Grem wheezed, losing consciousness.

    It was dark near the gates. But the stench of bandages and the dry, burning skin of the Battle Master told Valm far more than his eyes ever could. The alchemist grabbed the guard¡¯s left wrist, feeling for a pulse. Strong, erratic, uneven¡­ Not good.

    ¡°Teacher! He¡¯s burning up!¡±

    ¡°Shut up, long-ears! I can see that! Close the gates and help me!¡±

    Qian shut the gates and rushed to the Battle Master, a healing pill appearing in her fingers as she tried to shove it into Grem¡¯s mouth. Valm barely had time to slap her hand away to stop her. The white pill rolled off the cobblestones onto the green lawn.

    Qian didn¡¯t understand. At all.

    ¡°Teacher, what are you doing?! I¡¯m trying to save him!¡±

    ¡°And I just saved you, idiot! You think he doesn¡¯t have pills on him? That he didn¡¯t take them just for fun?! Now shut up and do exactly as I say. Not a single unnecessary move!¡±

    She had never seen her teacher this angry. But what had she done wrong? She only gave a short nod in response. She¡¯d ask her questions later.

    Despite not being particularly tall or muscular, Grem¡¯s body¡ªhaving undergone four transformations of the martial path¡ªwas heavy. Much heavier than one would expect just by looking at him.

    Valm and Qian grabbed the guard under his arms and dragged him toward the house.

    ¡°Undress him, quickly!¡±

    Giving orders was one thing¡­ Battle Masters¡¯ armor was never simple, and Grem¡¯s was custom-made for his fighting style, where speed was paramount. Those damned fastenings¡­ The alchemist had no idea where they were or how they worked.

    ¡°Screw this!¡± he snarled.

    A few tongues of bloodlust coiled around his hand, forming a bright red dagger in his palm. Without aura reinforcement, the armor shattered like chaff in a storm.

    Valm looked at Grem¡¯s swollen, blue arm and shook his head. A complex fracture with displacement, internal bleeding¡­ The skin was covered in a fine network of cracks.

    But the worst came when he cut away the bandages on his torso.

    In all his three years in the Healers¡¯ Guild, Valm had never seen such neglected wounds. Even afterward, to be honest, he hadn¡¯t.

    For a moment, he considered just shoving a pill down the guard¡¯s throat and saying to hell with it¡­

    No. Grem would never forgive him for that. If he had made this choice himself, it wasn¡¯t up to an alchemist to go against it. Even if the guard died in his hands.

    This was the choice of a Battle Master, and it had to be accepted.

    Valm looked again at Grem¡¯s belly, now tinged with green, and the hole beneath his ribs. It was almost sealed shut from inflamed tissues swelling around it.

    With one swift motion, the alchemist swept everything off the table behind him.

    ¡°Lay him here! And prepare thirty¡­ No, better make it fifty liters of one-percent saline solution. Warm¡­ Like human body temperature¡­ Now!¡±

    He barked the last command when he saw Qian frozen, staring at the wounded man.

    ¡°Grem, I don¡¯t know if you can hear me, but I¡¯ll do everything I can. If I fail¡­ I hope you won¡¯t be too mad at me when we meet in the next life!¡±

    With a single stroke, he sliced open the abdominal cavity from chest to groin.

    He wasn¡¯t trying to heal him¡ªwithout potions or pills, that was no longer possible. Valm only wanted to stabilize the Battle Master for the next few days, ten at most, until the breakthrough pill¡ªone he still had to create¡ªbegan to work. After that, it would all depend on Grem¡ªwhether his body could withstand a full reconstruction in this state.

    Qian dragged a giant cauldron filled with warm saline into the room and stood beside her teacher. The sight of the guard¡¯s open belly raised even more questions, but she held back.

    An alchemist killing to heal?

    That didn¡¯t make sense in her head.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t use it for feeding livestock, as I told you, but now it came in handy!¡±

    Valm glanced at the alchemical cauldron he had once harshly criticized and smirked.

    ¡°Now, Qian, I¡¯ll give you another lesson. It has nothing to do with alchemy, but since we have the opportunity¡­¡±

    ¡°What lesson, Teacher?¡±

    Qian¡¯s eyes widened in fear at Valm¡¯s smile.

    ¡°How to wash your friends¡¯ intestines!¡±

    ¡°Teacher, you¡ª¡±

    ¡°Yep! In the most literal sense.¡±

    She swallowed hard.

    Had her teacher completely lost his mind in that damn monster lab?!

    Washing the intestines of a living person?!

    Ignoring his student¡¯s doubts, Valm got to work. He knew exactly what needed to be done.

    The most important thing was that Grem could endure it.

    The cleansing and flushing of the abdominal cavity from inflammation and pus, along with surgery on his right arm, took over six hours.

    After placing the last stitch, the alchemist smiled and collapsed into a chair.

    The Battle Master had endured.

    And now, with the root cause of the inflammation removed, he should have no trouble lasting until the breakthrough pill took effect.

    ¡°Now listen carefully, Qian.¡± He held up a large bottle of some clear liquid. ¡°You¡¯ll use this to clean the skin around the stitches every six hours. I¡¯ll be outside preparing the pill for Grem, and it¡¯ll take a few days. But remember¡ªno matter what you see, no matter what you hear¡ªdo not come near me! Understood?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Teacher! Can I watch from the porch?¡±

    ¡°You can watch, but don¡¯t forget about Grem.¡±

    ¡°Mm-hmm!¡±

    She sniffed the liquid in the bottle and grimaced at the strong smell of alcohol. It seemed even the tips of her fluffy ears turned red.

    Valm stepped outside. A grade-eight pill¡­ It wasn¡¯t that its creation made him doubt his abilities, but the unusual natural phenomena accompanying the process would reveal him to everyone. Even those he wished to avoid. If not for Grem¡¯s condition, the alchemist would have found the deepest hole on the continent and prepared it there. Unfortunately, there was no time for that.

    Once the pill was ready, all the powerful figures in the world would want to snatch it for themselves. Back when he was a teenager studying under the Toxic Dragon, Valm had witnessed a battle between two Gods of War over a grade-eight pill his master had refined. It had been thrilling¡ªand terrifying as hell.

    The alchemist set the Citadel¡¯s defenses to maximum power and sighed. This thing would hold back Battle Ancestors for a while, but as for Gods of War¡­ he could only hope none were within a thousand kilometers. Otherwise, Grem risked losing everything.

    Valm sat in the courtyard and pulled out several bottles of high-grade restoration and endurance potions. The backlash would be brutal¡­ To ease his future ¡°hangover,¡± the alchemist tossed a grade-five healing pill into his mouth. With these preparations done, he could begin.

    From his storage, he retrieved several hundred small boxes made of various materials, from wood to stone. Among them was the glass one Grem had brought. Taking one last deep breath and sharpening his focus to the peak, Valm turned his right palm upward and curled his fingers as if holding a large apple. White, translucent fire ignited over his claws and, in an instant, surged upward, growing tenfold.

    Qian, sitting a good twenty meters away on the house¡¯s steps, watched her master in fascination. She could feel the warmth of the celestial flame. As it flared particularly brightly, the fire split into dozens of separate flames, forming a large circle around Valm. At this point, the alchemist closed his eyes and worked solely by relying on his inner vision, senses, and spiritual power.

    The various boxes began opening on their own, their ingredients flying directly into the flames, each of which became a separate, tiny alchemical cauldron. Inside, the materials disintegrated into dust, instantly expelling impurities straight through the fiery walls of the cauldrons. Qian¡¯s nose caught a complex mix of aromas, making her head spin. Yet Valm, seated at the very heart of it all, remained still and calm, like a marble statue.

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    After several hours, all the boxes around the alchemist were empty. The number of flames had increased by a few dozen, forming a second, smaller circle. Once all the cauldrons stabilized, the circles began rotating slowly¡ªouter to the left, inner to the right.

    Suddenly, one of the cauldrons in the inner circle shot forward and collided with a flame in the outer circle. A burst of rainbow light erupted from the impact, then the two flames merged into one, and the circles continued their movement.

    Qian clutched her hands to her chest, watching anxiously as the rainbow light struck the Citadel¡¯s protective dome, then slowly descended, scattering across the courtyard before fading.

    But before it fully vanished, another flame from the inner circle leaped out and merged with one in the outer ring, sending another burst of radiance skyward. This pattern continued, at least one fusion per hour, and within a day, the inner ring of flames had completely disappeared.

    The first beads of sweat appeared on Valm¡¯s forehead.

    From the moment the celestial flame ignited above his palm, he hadn¡¯t moved a single muscle. Watching him, Qian couldn¡¯t believe a living being could possess such concentration. She struggled to control a single alchemical cauldron for a grade-two potion, yet her master¡­ He was managing dozens at once, not just overseeing the internal processes but even shaping the vessels themselves!

    Awe swelled in her chest, bordering on reverence. Could she ever become like him? Would she ever be able to practice alchemy at even a fraction of his skill?

    ¡°My master is incredible!¡± she thought, nodding to herself.

    On the second day of the pill refinement, heavy black clouds began gathering over the Citadel in the otherwise clear sky.

    Qian watched in amazement. The sky remained pristine in all directions¡ªexcept above them, where the clouds not only thickened but started to swirl.

    She glanced from Valm to the sky and back again.

    Was this because of him?!

    Was he creating something so powerful that even the world¡¯s laws reacted?!

    Air hissed through Valm¡¯s clenched teeth.

    It was time.

    Eighty-eight translucent fiery cauldrons revolved around him. Suddenly, two collided, merging, and a rainbow pillar of light shot into the sky.

    A loud rumble echoed from the clouds, and a short bolt of lightning struck toward the Citadel.

    Qian yelped and jumped, clamping a hand over her mouth immediately, fearing she had disturbed her master.

    She needn¡¯t have worried.

    Right now, Valm heard and saw nothing except the processes occurring within the eighty-seven remaining cauldrons.

    One of the reasons he had ordered his disciple not to approach him was exactly this.

    Minutes later, another fusion occurred, sending a fresh surge of rainbow light skyward¡ªfollowed by another peal of thunder and another flash of lightning.

    The cauldrons were now merging much more frequently. Thunder and lightning cracked every few minutes, until only forty-four remained.

    A long pause followed.

    During this time, the clouds over the Citadel changed. They grew darker, larger, but in the very center, a clearing appeared¡ªrevealing a glimpse of bright sky above.

    A bead of sweat rolled down Valm¡¯s brow and fell, but froze mid-air before reaching the ground.

    Two flames out of the forty-four merged, triggering an explosion in the heavens.

    A massive lightning bolt split the clouds from within, this time striking the ground several hundred meters from the Citadel.

    Qian shot to her feet, sensing the aura of a Battle Ancestor swiftly approaching.

    Less than a minute after the first fusion, another occurred.

    The rainbow light no longer had time to dissipate, instead spreading across the courtyard, crashing against the protective dome.

    For nearly half an hour, thunder and lightning roared and flashed continuously over the Citadel.

    Qian felt the Battle Ancestor¡¯s aura stop a few kilometers away. Most likely, he was afraid to approach, wary of being caught in a strike powerful enough to incinerate him in an instant.

    As twenty-two cauldrons remained, Qian thought her master looked¡­ different.

    His body seemed to have dried out, making him appear taller, even while sitting.

    His eyes had sunken inward, swallowed by darkness.

    An unfamiliar energy spread around him, making her body tremble.

    During a brief pause, another fusion occurred, unleashing a wave of light that surged outward from Valm.

    Thunder rumbled nonstop.

    As the light washed over her, Qian felt a surge of strength¡ªand something like a purification of her mind.

    But before she could process it, another wave passed through her.

    The lightning above the Citadel was now so frequent that the courtyard barely dipped into darkness beneath the black clouds.

    If Valm weren¡¯t entirely focused on refining the pill, he would have explained to his disciple that these waves of light repeatedly passing through her were echoes of the Laws of Alchemy.

    And that, in fact, she should sit down and meditate right now¡ªto better grasp the rules he had already taught her and those he had yet to.

    Such a phenomenon was rare but could occur when an alchemist infused new formulas into the creation of a high-level product¡ªones that had never existed in the Laws before.

    In other words, it could be called a revelation¡ªan invention.

    When only eleven flames remained around Valm, the clouds above the Citadel began spinning faster. The center fully cleared, allowing a single, thin beam of sunlight to pierce down.

    The calm didn¡¯t last.

    One cauldron fused with another.

    The sky seemed to lurch downward, sending a shockwave rippling for miles.

    Dozens of blue lightning bolts crashed to the ground, enveloping the Citadel like a shroud.

    ¡°Ten¡­¡± Valm¡¯s dry lips moved soundlessly.

    But as soon as they stilled, the sky trembled again.

    Another shockwave tore outward, toppling trees and ripping the earth apart around the Citadel.

    ¡°Nine¡­¡± His cracked lips bled.

    Qian sensed several more powerful auras approaching¡ªundeterred even by the falling heavens and relentless lightning.

    ¡°Eight¡­¡± Blood trickled from the alchemist¡¯s nose.

    Fires flared around the Citadel, ignited by the storm.

    ¡°Seven¡­¡±

    The new strike extinguished some fires but ignited new ones, fanned by the wind from the sky.

    ¡°Six¡­¡±

    ¡°Five¡­¡±

    ¡°Four¡­¡±

    The very ground was burning now, the stone itself ablaze¡­ Black clouds of smoke, frequently slashed by flames, could easily compete with the dark storm clouds in the sky.

    ¡°Three¡­¡±¡ªnow thin streams of blood trickled even from the corners of Valm¡¯s closed eyes.

    Lightning cascaded from the heavens like a waterfall, unceasing. Because of the constant thunder in the sky, Qiang fell to the ground and covered her white ears with her hands. But it was futile¡ªthere was no escaping it.

    ¡°Two¡­¡±

    ¡°One!¡±

    Bathed in the light of the lightning, Valm slowly rose above the ground. Terrified, Qiang caught sight of his thin, withered figure from the corner of her eye. A final cauldron, woven from heavenly fire, drifted toward his bent arm. It seemed that the moment it touched those slender fingers, her teacher¡¯s body would ignite like a bright spark and crumble into dust¡­

    But that did not happen. Unhurriedly, the heavenly fire settled onto Valm¡¯s fingers and gradually disappeared into them, leaving a pill in his claws that shone like a tiny star. Valm opened his eyes. His amber gaze burned brighter than the pill in his slender claws.

    ¡°Ninth¡­ Ninth rank!¡± he whispered softly.

    There was no time to waste. Valm could not sense the auras circling the Citadel like hyenas, waiting for the lightning barrier to dissipate, but he was sure they were there. The grand spectacle he had orchestrated could not have gone unnoticed by the powerful figures of this world.

    Clenching the pill tightly in his fist, he descended to the ground and strode toward the house where the unconscious Grem lay. Qiang also rose to her feet, intending to follow him, but something caught her attention, and she froze.

    ¡°Teacher¡­ The Battle Ancestors are fleeing!¡± she cried out just as Valm was placing the pill into the throat of the Battle Master.

    This could mean only one thing¡ªthe God of War was approaching the Citadel¡­ and the hyenas were fleeing from the lion.

    ¡°Stop!¡± a commanding voice thundered from the sky.

    ¡°Go to hell¡­¡± Valm muttered quietly, pushing the pill as deep into Grem¡¯s esophagus as possible with his finger.

    ¡°You dare defy me, alchemist?!¡± the voice roared.

    The protective dome over the Citadel crumbled into sand, which quickly dissolved on the courtyard pavement. An unimaginably powerful aura knocked Qiang off her feet and pressed her harshly to the ground. However, the aura avoided Valm himself. The God of War likely still hoped to negotiate with him.

    The alchemist slowly stepped out of the house and looked up. A middle-aged God of War hovered several dozen meters above him.

    ¡°Esteemed God of War, I fail to understand how I could have offended you so greatly that you would attack my humble home¡­¡±

    ¡°Wretched alchemist! You dared to choose that worthless Battle Master over me and fed him a ninth-rank pill?! And you do not consider that disrespect toward me?! I am Sart, a mid-tier God of War! Do you think I cannot rip out that half-corpse¡¯s throat and take the pill that should rightfully be mine?!¡±

    Perhaps he wanted to intimidate Valm into doing it himself¡­ But¡­

    ¡°Damn, how familiar this all feels¡­ Still the same arrogant and brainless fools¡­¡± Valm muttered under his breath before loudly declaring, ¡°Esteemed God of War Sart! That pill was created by me, so only I decide who is worthy of it and who is not¡­ As for your strength and capabilities¡­ You may try, but be warned that everyone in my estate is under my protection, and since that is the case¡­¡±

    Valm spread his arms wide and looked up at the sky above him. From his chest burst forth a colossal green dragon, woven from emerald mist. It circled above the alchemist and Sart for a time before freezing in place, forming a massive magical seal over them.

    ¡°You¡­ You are a Stepchild of the Law?! Please, esteemed alchemist, accept my apologies. I never expected to encounter one in this wilderness¡­¡±

    The God of War withdrew his aura, descended to the ground, and, bowing, approached Valm. At that moment, the alchemist was at his most vulnerable. That green dragon¡ªhis very soul¡ªwas proof that the Laws of Alchemy had accepted him as their Stepchild. There were few such people on the continent.

    Valm¡¯s body swayed slightly until the magical seal once again transformed into a giant dragon, which plummeted from the heavens onto him and was absorbed into his being. The alchemist¡¯s eyes regained clarity as he looked at the God of War before him.

    ¡°And otherwise what? You would have killed me, esteemed Sart?¡± Valm asked, almost mockingly. ¡°With your strength, that would be easier than lifting a finger¡­¡±

    Killing a high-ranking alchemist was already an extremely risky endeavor, as other alchemists would immediately place such a bounty on your head that every stray dog on the continent would hunt not only you but also your entire lineage, just to lure you out of whatever hole you chose to hide in. But killing a Stepchild of the Law of Alchemy¡­ That was a guaranteed death sentence. And humans wouldn¡¯t even be needed¡ªthe Law itself would end you.

    So Sart no longer cared about the pill. Not just that¡ªbetween potential gain and certain death, the choice was¡­ obvious. And the God of War chose life.

    ¡°Now, now, esteemed alchemist, this God of War has never laid a finger on a single member of your alchemical guild in all his long years¡­ I am truly saddened by your words¡­¡±

    ¡°Very well, esteemed Sart, I must apologize for my suspicion. Surely, you understand how difficult it is for us alchemists to survive in this world of the strong¡­¡±

    The God of War barely managed to suppress his grimace at that brazen lie. Difficult to survive? People treated alchemists like priceless relics, blowing dust off them just to gain favor and enter their close circles. But he did not say this aloud.

    ¡°Esteemed alchemist, if you ever require the assistance of this God of War, or even a small favor¡ªplease, break this tablet, and I will surely come to your aid!¡±

    Sart placed a small tablet of fine white stone into the alchemist¡¯s hand. Valm was unsure whether he should accept it, but wanting to end the conversation quickly, he stored it away. After all, it did not obligate him to anything.

    The God of War smiled with satisfaction.

    ¡°Well then, esteemed alchemist, I shall not waste your time any further and will take my leave, with your permission.¡±

    Sart took one last glance at the house where Grem lay motionless with a ninth-rank pill in his throat. Sighing, he leaped into the sky.

    Valm watched him disappear into the horizon, lost in thought. Even though everything had ended well, the situation itself was already bad.

    Now that one of the Gods of War knew about him, the others would soon know as well. And sooner or later, that madwoman would learn of his existence. At that point, Valm¡¯s life would likely turn into sheer hell once again¡­

    The alchemist sighed bitterly, but his heavy thoughts were interrupted by Qiang, who had finally managed to stagger up to him.

    ¡°Teacher¡­ Did you really create a ninth-rank pill?¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­ At first, I aimed for the eighth, but the Olamas Grey fruit was so fresh that I decided to try¡­¡±

    ¡°You are incredible, teacher! I always knew you were!¡±

    What a lying little rabbit¡­

    Valm saw the pavement rushing toward his forehead.

 Chapter Fifteen. On the Threshold of Change.

    Valm didn¡¯t want to wake up. Through his gentle morning slumber, he felt something warm and fluffy against his back, making him clutch the large pillow under his cheek even tighter. If only it weren¡¯t for that foreign breathing behind him¡­

    Breathing?! There shouldn¡¯t be any breathing behind him¡­

    Sleep vanished in an instant. The alchemist turned around in a flash, locking eyes with a broad, flattened pink nose beneath which short but sharp fangs were visible. Raising his gaze higher, he met a pair of predatory, blood-red eyes.

    ¡°Dammit, Qian! What are you doing in my bed?!¡±

    ¡°Oh, teacher, you were sleeping so sweetly, so why are you shouting now?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t try to fool me! I asked, what are you doing in my bed?!¡±

    Qian rolled onto her back and placed both paws behind her head.

    ¡°What am I doing¡­? Warming you up, teacher. You were trembling so much that I didn¡¯t even know what to do. I put two blankets over you, but you were still shivering¡­ I wanted to add a third, but I was afraid it would crush you.¡±

    ¡°And so you¡­¡±

    ¡°Yep, I decided to warm you up this way. It was warm, wasn¡¯t it?¡± The girl turned onto her side again, playfully glancing at Valm. ¡°Come on, admit it, it was warm, wasn¡¯t it?¡±

    Her already narrow red eyes grew even more predatory with mischief. And those sharp fangs flashing right next to his nose¡­

    ¡°Yeah, warm¡­¡± he decided not to escalate things. ¡°And now get out of my bed!¡±

    So much for not escalating¡­

    Qian sighed, which sounded more like a growl, and sat up on the bed, her back to him. Then she began transforming into her human form.

    So that¡¯s how it works¡­ That fluffy fur doesn¡¯t shed¡ªit retracts into the body. Interesting.

    ¡°Have you seen enough, teacher?¡± the girl asked while putting on her underwear.

    ¡°Oh, sorry. Yes, I¡¯ve seen enough. How long?¡±

    ¡°How long what?¡±

    ¡°How long was I asleep, of course. What else would I be asking?¡±

    ¡°Almost three days.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Qian. I know you took care of me as best you could.¡±

    The girl snorted in an unclear manner and left the room. But a moment later, she peeked back in.

    ¡°Teacher, stay in bed for now. I¡¯ll roast a duck for you!¡±

    ¡°And what about Grem?¡±

    ¡°Oh, same as always¡ªa log among logs¡­¡±

    Valm smiled. If he was still alive, then he wouldn¡¯t die.

    This time, three days¡­ That was good¡ªit meant he had grown much more resilient over the past few years. The last time he had prepared a ninth-class pill on the orders of that crazy bitch, he had been unconscious for nearly a month. But that was when he became a stepson of the Law of Alchemy, which ultimately granted him freedom. Even she, that lunatic, hadn¡¯t dared to risk his life and had let Valm escape. Whether she had done it intentionally or not, the alchemist still wasn¡¯t sure.

    With an effort of will, he forced himself to stop dwelling on those dark times and turned his thoughts to Grem. After taking the ninth-class body transformation pill, there should be no limits to his development. The level of a Battle Ancestor would no longer be an unbreakable ceiling for him.

    Valm chuckled quietly. Grem was in for a surprise when he woke up!

    But then he sighed. Now, the alchemist couldn¡¯t even guess when that would happen. The body transformation pill he had made was the first of its kind in history. And as for calculations¡­ Grem had been severely wounded, and at the time, it had been impossible to determine his true condition. Right now, any calculations would be as useful as fortune-telling with flower petals.

    Valm got out of bed and headed to the bathroom. He needed to check on the Battle Master and assess his condition. After all, Qian¡¯s ¡°a log among logs¡± wasn¡¯t exactly informative.

    The hot water streams refreshed the alchemist, washing away all worries.

    When he entered the house where Grem lay motionless on the table, Valm finally understood the girl¡¯s phrase. He examined the body, where the traces of surgical intervention were barely visible. The wounds had healed quite well¡­

    Valm used his claw to cut the stitches and pulled out the threads. The small openings in the skin closed up before his eyes.

    The ninth-class body transformation pill was working even better than his boldest expectations. The alchemist checked Grem¡¯s pulse¡ªstrong, steady¡­ If all went well, in a few months¡ªmaybe half a year¡ªthe Battle Master would awaken as a Battle Ancestor.

    Valm smiled again. Maybe he should write a paper on this transformation? It would cause a sensation in the world of martial arts!

    Leaving Grem¡¯s house, Valm wrote a short letter to Mahur, the head of the craftsman¡¯s guild, and asked Qian to deliver it.

    ¡°Teacher, what about the potion I need to brew?¡±

    ¡°Shush! Do you want me to repair the road to the Citadel myself? My capsule wouldn¡¯t even make it past the gates!¡±

    Thus, sending the girl off to the city, Valm finished his breakfast and headed to the laboratory.

    Just as a door-shaped opening appeared in the metal wall, the alchemist felt a chill down his spine. He turned sharply, but no one was there. Still, the sensation was unpleasant, almost physically real.

    ¡°What the hell¡­¡± he thought as he closed the door behind him.

    Later, he dismissed it as mere nervous exhaustion from the grueling work of creating a ninth-class pill. Yet, work progressed more slowly than usual. That day, his research into the anatomy of monsters brought him no joy. He worked mechanically, and his mind failed to generate any logical insights or hypotheses.

    Perhaps that was why he finished earlier than usual.

    Even Qian noticed. Her teacher never left the laboratory before eleven at night. Yet now, with the sun still up, he was wandering the courtyard. Sitting on the porch for a while, then standing by his training equipment like a scarecrow.

    ¡°Teacher, is something bothering you?¡±

    But Valm just waved his hand without answering.

    Not wanting to alarm his student with his behavior, he went to bed, where he tossed and turned for a long time before finally falling asleep. But sleep brought no peace. Over and over again, his dreams were haunted by someone he had long tried to forget. Someone who had once made him tremble¡ªnot with joy, but with fear.

    ¡°What the hell¡­¡± he whispered to himself the next morning. ¡°Why am I remembering her again? No! Today, only work!¡±

    With that command to himself, Valm completed his morning exercises, then spent two hours practicing third-circle alchemy with Qian, before finally shutting himself in the laboratory once more.

    Days passed, and at last, Valm regained his much-desired inner peace.

    Grem remained motionless on the table. Qian diligently brewed potions.

    And Valm dissected monsters¡ªuntil there were no more left.

    The alchemist closed the third volume of the ¡°Encyclopedia¡± and stretched lazily. He was almost halfway there¡­ Only the monsters of the fourth through seventh classes remained, and his work would be complete. Though his inability to find an effective poison against the creatures was a bit disappointing, and he acknowledged it.

    There was another problem. Monsters of the fourth and higher classes were very rarely encountered on the surface. So rarely that there were probably only a few dozen in the entire kingdom. And that meant only one thing¡ªValm would have to descend into the dungeon himself. No guild would be able to supply him with monsters of these classes alive. Corpses¡ªsure, as many as he wanted. But alive? Only in one case¡ªduring a dungeon break.

    But he didn¡¯t need monster corpses. After all, he wasn¡¯t a butcher. Valm pulled out a recommendation letter from storage, the one given to him by the academy professor over a year ago, and twirled it in his fingers. The B-rank adventurer team ¡°Silver Dragons.¡± The strongest team in the region. With them, he could descend to a level with fourth-class monsters without excessive risk. And as for solving the problem of mixed weak and strong monsters on the same dungeon level¡ªValm already had an idea.

    Typically, in the dungeons of this continent, even on the first level, high-class monsters occasionally appeared, leading to numerous adventurer casualties. But there was one exception to this rule¡ªdungeons after a break. When the catastrophe ended and the dungeon lay empty, its levels remained isolated from one another for several decades while the monster population recovered. During this time, creatures couldn¡¯t wander between levels, but people¡­ people could!

    So, Valm decided, it was time to put that recommendation letter to use.

    The next morning, he was already traveling along the newly repaired road to the city. Passersby, even those he didn¡¯t know, greeted his capsule with a wave or a smile. At first, the alchemist was surprised, but he quickly figured out the reason for this attitude toward him. The terrifying natural phenomenon caused by the creation of a ninth-class pill, followed by the appearance of the God of War near the city, had made him famous. Very famous.

    Stolen story; please report.

    Sitting at the capsule¡¯s controls, Valm had to nod and smile in response, so by the time he reached the headquarters of the Silver Dragons, both his cheeks and his neck were aching. He sat motionless for a while after stopping, trying to regain his facial expressions and relax his cramped muscles.

    The headquarters was located in a large mansion almost in the city center, which must have cost the team a fortune. But as the top-ranked team, they had to maintain their status. The alchemist shook his head. Status¡­ The most useless thing in his personal system of values, yet most people chased after it with all their might. What nonsense¡­

    Valm stepped out of the capsule and pressed the doorbell button at the gate. He expected at least a few questions before entry, but instead, the large gates simply swung open before him, inviting him inside.

    Walking along the wide yellow-brick path leading to the tall porch, he pulled the letter from storage.

    Being just an ordinary human, Valm couldn¡¯t sense how many eyes were watching him¡­ And among them was one pair filled with fear and hatred.

    Ladbor.

    When he felt the alchemist¡¯s aura approaching headquarters, he sobered up instantly. Not long ago, while watching the sky near the city, he had truly understood who the alchemist was. And when he sensed the aura of the God of War flashing above the city, he had nearly suffered a panic attack.

    And though he blamed the alchemist for all his troubles¡ªhis fallout with the mayor and the indefinite postponement of his wedding to Sari¡ªhe had grasped one simple truth: he needed to stay as far away from Valm as possible.

    But now this bastard had come to him!

    And the adventurer had every reason to believe that Valm might have come specifically for his head.

    However, suppressing his panic, he ordered the alchemist to be let in. If Valm had any ill intentions toward him, he wouldn¡¯t have come so openly¡ªhe would have sent¡­ well, the God of War himself, who had recently visited the Citadel.

    ¡°Good day, I¡¯d like to place an order for an escort mission. I have a recommendation from¡­¡± Valm began to say to the warrior who had opened the entrance door for him.

    ¡°Please come in, Master Alchemist. Our captain has ordered that you be taken directly to the negotiation room.¡±

    The warrior led Valm into the room, where three members of the main team were already waiting.

    ¡°Welcome, Master Alchemist. What brings you to the Silver Dragons?¡± Ladbor asked impatiently.

    ¡°Good day, my name is Valm. Here is my recommendation letter from the previous captain of the Dragons. I¡¯d like to hire your group for an escort mission.¡±

    The adventurer took the letter and set it aside after barely glancing at it.

    ¡°No recommendations are worth more than your true reputation, Master Valm! If you allow me to introduce myself, I am Ladbor, the team captain, an attacker, rank B. This is Skrait, a defender, rank B,¡± the adventurer gestured toward the giant sitting by the window. ¡°And this is Tani, a fifth-circle mage, also rank B.¡±

    Valm quickly looked them over. Rank B was equivalent to a mid- or even high-level Battle Master. A strong team for this kingdom. If the other members were of the same level, he could even venture into fifth-class monster territory with them.

    ¡°Then I won¡¯t waste your time, gentlemen, and I¡¯ll get straight to the point. I would like to hire your team to escort me into a dungeon. The mission is long-term¡ªaround three months, I believe.¡±

    ¡°Master Valm, as the captain, I need more details about the mission to approve it and determine a fair price.¡±

    ¡°I study monsters, and the mission¡¯s goal is to research fourth-class monsters. To preempt your concerns about mixed monster strengths on the levels, I¡¯ll say right away that my target is the Tik-Tak Dungeon. I assume you¡¯ve heard of it.¡±

    The adventurers exchanged glances. Of course, they had.

    ¡°Master Valm, I¡¯m not sure if you¡¯re aware, but Tik-Tak is heavily damaged, and traversing it is no simple task,¡± Ladbor frowned.

    ¡°Difficult, but possible, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    Silence fell. In truth, Ladbor had already made his decision, but for formality¡¯s sake, he waited for his teammates¡¯ input.

    ¡°Only fourth-class? No question about it¡­¡± Skrait rumbled in his deep bass voice.

    ¡°Not a problem for me either. I¡¯m sure the others won¡¯t mind¡­¡± the mage¡¯s voice was clear and slightly grating on the ears.

    Ladbor smiled. That settled it.

    ¡°Very well, Master Valm. The Silver Dragons accept this mission. As for the price, it will be ten thousand gold per month for the duration in the dungeon, two thousand gold for travel time, plus incidental expenses up to five percent of the total campaign cost. Do you agree?¡±

    The mage, unable to hold back, let out a quiet croak and stared at the captain. That price was almost double their usual rate. The alchemist also raised an eyebrow in displeasure. The cost was as if he were hiring an A-rank team. But the alternatives weren¡¯t great either.

    ¡°I agree.¡±

    By agreeing, Valm knew full well that he currently lacked the funds for this deal. So he immediately added,

    ¡°As for the payment schedule, the best option for me would be to pay a seventy percent advance of the contract itself now, with the remaining thirty percent, along with travel and incidental costs, paid upon mission completion. Would that be acceptable to your team?¡±

    This condition was different from standard dungeon mission contracts. Due to high risks, full payment was always required upfront. But aside from not having enough funds at the moment, Valm also figured that an unpaid portion would make the adventurers more inclined to protect him in the dungeon.

    Ladbor grinned. The advance alone exceeded their usual hiring fee.

    ¡°Of course! Shall we sign the contract now?¡±

    A few minutes went into filling out the standard Adventurer Guild contract form, after which Valm pulled an entire chest of gold coins from storage.

    ¡°Would you like to count it?¡± he asked Ladbor.

    ¡°That¡¯s unnecessary, Mr. Valm. A person of such prominence wouldn¡¯t risk their reputation for a few gold coins.¡±

    The alchemist gave a sour smile. He had been stripped clean like a helpless child.

    ¡°So then, Mr. Valm,¡± Ladbor said, escorting the alchemist to the door, ¡°we¡¯ll be expecting you exactly two weeks from now!¡±

    ¡°Yes, farewell, Mr. Ladbor.¡±

    As the adventurer returned to the negotiation room, Tani rushed up to him.

    ¡°Ladbor, have you completely lost your mind?! Ten thousand a month?!¡±

    ¡°What are you unhappy about? That Valm makes so much money from his pills that we could never even dream of! How much do you think that War God paid him the other day?¡±

    Skrait didn¡¯t bother listening to the rest of the argument and left the room. What was the point when the alchemist had already paid?

    Meanwhile, sitting in his capsule, Valm was pondering where to find cash in the next two weeks. He could, of course, sell a large quantity of potions, but the price for a bulk sale would be pathetic. He sighed and headed toward the Merchant Guild.

    The alchemist never quite understood how Pak managed to meet him in the foyer every single time, the moment Valm stepped over the guild¡¯s threshold. But today, as always, it was the same¡ªhis trademark smile, immaculate hairstyle, and a suit as if fresh from the tailor¡¯s needle.

    ¡°Mr. Valm! A pleasure to see you again! Need more monsters?¡±

    The alchemist smiled helplessly.

    ¡°Not really¡­ Today, I need money¡­¡±

    For a moment, Pak was struck speechless. An alchemist asking for money?! What in the devil¡¯s name was happening to this world?!

    ¡°Well, our bank can offer you a loan. As a valued client, your interest rates would be¡ª¡±

    ¡°I think I misspoke. I want to put a pill up for auction this Sunday.¡±

    Pak¡¯s eyes gleamed.

    ¡°Mr. Valm, I believe we should continue this conversation in my office.¡±

    ¡°So, which pill are we talking about, Mr. Valm?¡± he asked once they were comfortably seated in his office chairs.

    The alchemist pulled out a small gray casket and opened it. A faintly sweet, fruity aroma lingered in the air. Inside, lined with black velvet, lay a large, translucent pink pill. If one looked closely, they could see eight strange pink clouds slowly swirling and intertwining within it.

    Pak froze and leaned in toward the casket.

    ¡°The Eighth-Class Youth and Beauty Pill,¡± Valm said.

    He had plenty of these in his storage¡ªfailed attempts at creating a Ninth-Class pill for that crazy witch. The alchemist sighed. Another bitter reminder.

    ¡°Mr¡­ Mr. Valm! I¡¯m not sure our auction is worthy of presenting such a treasure! There simply won¡¯t be any buyers in the kingdom capable of offering you a fair price!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s fine, Mr. Pak. A starting price of fifty thousand will do. I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll quickly find a new owner.¡±

    ¡°That may be true, but¡ª¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s alright, this is my decision. Please list it for the upcoming Sunday auction.¡±

    ¡°Of course, as you wish. Mr. Valm, I feel like you¡¯re rushing this. Otherwise, I would suggest¡ª¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right, Mr. Pak. I¡¯ll be leaving the city for a few months.¡±

    ¡°Ah, it¡¯s good to take a break sometimes, go on a vacation¡ª¡±

    ¡°If only¡­ But this journey is work-related, so not this time.¡±

    ¡°Oh, Mr. Valm, that¡¯s unfortunate to hear,¡± Pak said, tucking the pill away and standing up to escort the alchemist. ¡°But don¡¯t forget to take care of yourself. Working too much isn¡¯t good for you.¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes,¡± Valm shook hands with Manager Pak. ¡°Farewell.¡±

    ¡°Goodbye! If you¡¯d like to attend the auction, come at four on Sunday. Or at nine if you prefer not to!¡±

    The alchemist just waved in response. He didn¡¯t like auctions and only attended when he wanted to bid on something interesting himself. Well, the cash problem was practically solved; now, he just needed to make the final preparations for his journey.

    First, he visited the market, meticulously selecting and purchasing plenty of food and spices. Once that was done, he decided he wouldn¡¯t always have time or opportunity to cook, so he spent the rest of the day visiting several restaurants, ordering almost the entire menu at each one. In truth, the alchemist disliked food prepared by others, as he couldn¡¯t help but methodically analyze its smell and taste, identifying dozens, if not hundreds, of mistakes made by the cooks. But, oh well, he decided.

    The next day, he tackled another important task¡ªthoroughly cleaning his laboratory. Despite daily cleanups of blood and monster remains, dust had still gathered in the corners. By midday, he realized he had overestimated his stamina. Doing it all with just two hands turned out to be exhausting. Thus, the cursed cleaning dragged on for two days.

    Satisfied with his work, Valm locked up the laboratory and took one last look at it before storing it away. When the massive metal cube disappeared into the ring on his finger, the yard took on a desolate look, revealing the now-empty monster cages.

    Qian, who had just stepped out of Grem¡¯s house, let out a surprised gasp.

    ¡°Master, what happened? Are we moving?¡±

    ¡°We aren¡¯t, but I¡¯ll be leaving for a few months.¡±

    The girl¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement.

    ¡°As your devoted disciple, I¡ª¡±

    ¡°Are staying in the Citadel,¡± Valm finished for her.

    ¡°Why-y-y?!¡±

    ¡°Because I need you to look after Grem.¡±

    ¡°But if something happens to him, what could I possibly do?¡±

    ¡°Nothing will happen to him. He¡¯ll just keep lying there until he wakes up.¡±

    ¡°And if nothing happens, then why can¡¯t I¡ª¡±

    ¡°Because I¡¯m going somewhere dangerous.¡±

    ¡°Where?¡±

    ¡°The dungeon.¡±

    ¡°Then I definitely have to go with you, Master! Someone has to protect you from the monsters, since you¡¯re so fragile!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve already hired an entire team for that.¡±

    ¡°With me, you¡¯ll be twice as protected!¡±

    ¡°Shut it, rabbit ears! You¡¯ll just get in their way!¡±

    ¡°But Masteeer¡ª¡±

    ¡°Shut it, I said! You¡¯re staying here and focusing on alchemy! And if you don¡¯t do well, I¡¯ll test my experimental potions on you!¡±

    Qian stared into Valm¡¯s eyes, then at his claws¡­

    ¡°The same ones you drink? Well, I guess I could try¡ª¡±

    ¡°No! Even more experimental! I¡¯m scared to even sniff them. Want some?¡±

    ¡°Never mind! I¡¯ll just stay here and brew some potions¡­¡±

    She pretended to busy herself and was about to leave when Valm stopped her.

    ¡°Give me your blood.¡±

    ¡°Okay, now that¡¯s just too much! Such intimate requests shouldn¡¯t be made so¡ª¡±

    ¡°For setting up the bracelet, idiot! How else are you going to control the Citadel without me?¡±

    ¡°Ohhh, well, why didn¡¯t you just say so?¡±

    The alchemist adjusted the bracelet, granting Qian the same access rights he had.

    The following days, he dedicated entirely to his apprentice, teaching her the secrets of third-level alchemy, as well as some tricks that made experimenting with new formulas easier. This was no longer standard alchemy. He spoke of things he had discovered on his own¡ªthings not even his teacher, the Toxic Dragon, had known.

    On Sunday evening, Valm headed to the Merchant Guild. Despite the late hour, the foyer was packed with excited auction-goers, eagerly discussing the final lot¡ªa Class Eight pill that had sold for nearly eighty thousand gold coins.

    Valm smiled as he walked toward Pak¡¯s office. Not bad. He was so deep in thought that he didn¡¯t even notice Pak hadn¡¯t greeted him as usual.

    The guildmaster sat at his desk, silent and pale, when Valm opened the door without knocking. The alchemist was just about to greet him when his nose caught a faint trace of a familiar perfume.

    And who, if not Valm, would recognize it?

    ¡°Damn it! This is impossible! How did she¡­¡±

    The thought barely formed before the alchemist sprang backward toward the door.

    But he was too late.

    A slender feminine finger barely touched the door, and it slammed shut with a terrifying crash, sending ceiling decorations tumbling to the floor.

    Valm¡¯s heart stopped, gripped by horror, and all thoughts vanished from his mind.

    ¡°Darling, where are you rushing off to?¡± a melodic female voice asked.

 Chapter Sixteen. The End of an Old Life.

    At the first sounds of her voice, Valm trembled and felt his heart beat unevenly. Mad bitch! And, by the way, he wasn¡¯t the only one who called her that. The unruly Goddess of War of the highest rank. The most unpredictable and uncontrollable person on the continent. And¡­ his own executioner. As well as his savior, incidentally.

    Valm tried to grasp the door handle, but it was instantly crushed into a small steel ball that fell to the floor.

    ¡°I need to¡­¡± he barely managed to squeeze out.

    ¡°Everyone needs something, Valmyk, but¡­ no one is going anywhere while I¡¯m here.¡±

    ¡°I think we¡¯ve already been through this¡­ once before.¡±

    The alchemist still couldn¡¯t turn his head, but from the corner of his eye, he saw the white crown of the Goddess of War as she playfully ran a finger with a short pink manicure over his lips, silencing him.

    ¡°But I still have a few questions about that time when you so deftly disappeared and even managed to disguise your aura in a rather peculiar way. Don¡¯t you want to explain anything? Although, wait, we have extra ears here.¡±

    At these words, Pak, along with the chair he was sitting in, flew out the window, shattering the glass into thousands of shards. Valm watched in sorrow as his money disappeared into the night. The Goddess of War created an aura cocoon around the entire room, blocking out any external sounds.

    The alchemist realized that she no longer held him. But he no longer attempted to escape. Too late.

    ¡°Honorable Goddess of War Aisha, I ask you to stop this¡­ this pressure on me!¡±

    ¡°Honorable?! Aisha?! And where¡¯s your usual ¡®Mad bitch,¡¯ ¡®Idiot,¡¯ ¡®Damn hag¡¯? Damn it, Valmyk, what happened to you in these three years? Nails¡­ Eyes¡­ Even some semblance of bloodlust¡­ My dear, don¡¯t you want to tell me something?¡±

    ¡°Honorable Aisha, I have no desire to discuss this with you. Please remove your aura and allow me to leave. I have much to do.¡±

    ¡°Oh no, you¡¯ve got hearing problems too¡­ Or is it your brain? Didn¡¯t you hear what I said?! No one leaves until I allow it!¡±

    Valm grimaced. That was her all over. Tyrannical in her own strength. An old hag acting like a foolish child.

    He looked at the beautiful face of a young girl¡­ But he saw another¡ªwhat she had been before taking his ninth-class elixir of eternal youth and beauty. And yet, he decided to try persuading her once more.

    ¡°Honorable Aisha, I heard you perfectly and I understand. But since the day I fulfilled the ¡®duty¡¯ you imposed on me, I consider our relationship completely over. So once again, I ask¡ªremove your aura barrier and let me go.¡±

    ¡°Oh, Valmyk, why are you so cold and distant? I thought we were on better terms.¡±

    ¡°There can be no relationship between us, Honorable Aisha.¡±

    ¡°Are you saying that the two years we spent together meant nothing?!¡±

    At her words, something snapped in the alchemist, and he continued without even trying to be polite anymore.

    ¡°Spent together?! Mad bitch! You kept me in a dog cage for two years! And you call that ¡®together¡¯?¡±

    ¡°Oh! Now I recognize the real you! And no, Valmyk, it¡¯s not ¡®what I call together¡¯¡ªit¡¯s a fact. And don¡¯t deny the obvious. We were made for each other; you just haven¡¯t realized it yet.¡±

    ¡°You old bitch¡­ You¡¯ve completely lost your mind after seven hundred years! No one is made for anyone! How old are you now? Six hundred forty? Six hundred fifty? I don¡¯t even remember anymore¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m five hundred forty! Five hundred forty, and you damn well know it!¡±

    ¡°Exactly! And I¡¯m only twenty-eight!¡±

    ¡°So what? Do I look bad?¡±

    Objectively speaking, Aisha was the most beautiful woman Valm had ever seen in his life. But there was one problem¡­

    ¡°You think I don¡¯t understand the effects of the elixir you forced me to create for you?¡±

    No matter how hard Aisha tried to maintain a friendly demeanor, she couldn¡¯t hold back this time. Her eyes narrowed into slits, and her lips twisted into a horrible grimace.

    ¡°You little bastard¡­ You made it for yourself! So you wouldn¡¯t feel ashamed standing next to me! And wasn¡¯t it you who got the biggest benefit from it? If my memory serves me, it was during the creation of that elixir that you became the stepson of the Law of Alchemy! And now you have the audacity to reproach me?! You should be kissing the ground I walk on for giving you that opportunity!¡±

    ¡°Sitting half-naked for two years in an outdoor dog cage is an opportunity?! You think I can¡¯t create ninth-class elixirs without your pressure? You old idiot, you were nothing but a hindrance!¡±

    ¡°Ungrateful wretch! I pulled you from the claws of the imperial court! What would you be now if not for me? A submissive lapdog of that worthless emperor? Just like your pathetic teacher?!¡±

    A loud slap echoed through the room. She didn¡¯t even try to dodge, watching as Valm¡¯s palm slowly approached her cheek. But the only one who felt pain was the alchemist himself. Even his claws couldn¡¯t leave a mark on the Goddess of War¡¯s skin.

    ¡°Don¡¯t mention my teacher, you old bitch! If not for his kindness, your bones would have been scattered by stray dogs across the empire long ago!¡±

    ¡°Oh, go ahead, throw a tantrum, Valmyusha, I know you can!¡±

    The alchemist trembled with rage, forgetting his fear of her. She had won again. As always. The bitch had centuries of experience. He turned away and took a few steps back.

    ¡°Go to hell, you damned bitch! If that¡¯s all, then our conversation is over. I made you the elixir, you returned my freedom. From now on, we each go our own way.¡±

    ¡°Oh, Valmyusha¡­ You¡¯re still so passionate¡­ But really, think about it¡ªwhat¡¯s so bad about coming back with me? With your skills and my power, we could dictate our own terms to everyone around us, live as we please¡­¡±

    Valm had plenty of words ready to fly from his tongue, but he forced himself to remain silent. If only she would just leave.

    ¡°Silent? I admit, maybe I came to you at a bad time. But I want you to remember¡ªonly I can guarantee your safety on this continent, understood? Or turn your life into a living hell whenever I decide it¡¯s necessary. Your fate is not in your hands!¡±

    The alchemist remained silent. No matter how much he wanted to kill her, it was impossible. For anyone on the continent. But no matter how much she boasted, she also had no desire to confront the Law of Alchemy directly. And her pride wouldn¡¯t allow her to deal with him through others.

    Though, of course, she could still make his life miserable.

    Aisha sighed and approached the alchemist, firmly grasping his head and looking into his eyes.

    ¡°Amber¡­ A pleasant color¡­ Valm, I don¡¯t want to force you or drag you away against your will. I still hope you¡¯ll make the right decision. So we¡¯ll leave it at this for now, but I¡¯ll be back in a few weeks, understood?¡±

    Without waiting for an answer, the Goddess of War withdrew her aura cocoon and flew out the window.

    Valm sat in his chair and sighed with relief. At least for now, this unexpected problem had retreated.

    Expecting Aisha to forget about him was foolish. His only hope was to deceive her again and escape for a few more years.

    The office door opened, and Manager Pak, in a tattered suit, walked in and sat beside him.

    ¡°You have some interesting friends, Mr. Valm.¡±

    ¡°Did she ask about me?¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡±

    ¡°And you told her everything?¡±

    ¡°Master Valm, we are friends, of course, but lying to that mad¡­ that Goddess of War would be suicide on my part. So yes, I told her everything she asked about you as honestly as possible.¡±

    Valm sighed. So, she knew everything about his last year in this city.

    ¡°And does she know that I¡¯m planning to leave for a few months?¡±

    ¡°No, she didn¡¯t ask about that, so I didn¡¯t say anything.¡±

    Well, then it wasn¡¯t all bad. Maybe he could pull off that aura-masking trick again. Valm extended his hand to Pak.

    ¡°Seventy-six thousand gold coins. Four thousand is the auction commission.¡±

    He placed a small storage pouch in the alchemist¡¯s palm. Valm stood up.

    ¡°Farewell, Master Pak.¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­ farewell¡­¡± Pak replied, surprised.

    As Valm returned to the Citadel, his thoughts were not on the upcoming journey to the dungeon, but on what to do afterward. It was a shame to admit, but he would have to leave the Citadel. That Mad Bitch already knew about it. She wouldn¡¯t be lying in wait, of course, but once she lost track of his aura, she would start checking in from time to time. And it would be a disaster if she found Qian and Grem there. The alchemist gripped the capsule¡¯s steering wheel tightly. Damn bitch!

    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    It pained Valm to leave the Citadel, into which he had poured so much effort and wealth. Again and again, he questioned whether he had made the right decision in creating that damned pill, which had given away his location. For over three years, he had successfully hidden from Aisha, only to throw away his peaceful life with one careless action. Well, it was too late for regrets¡ªhe needed to figure out how to escape from her again.

    The next morning, as the girl was preparing for her alchemy lessons, Valm stopped her.

    ¡°Qian, go to the market and buy transport suitable for moving Grem to another city.¡±

    ¡°So we are moving after all?¡±

    ¡°Not ¡®we¡¯¡ªyou.¡±

    ¡°Master, I think you owe me an explanation¡­¡±

    Valm sighed. She was right.

    ¡°You see, Qian, your master has¡­¡± He scratched his chin with a claw. ¡°Let¡¯s say, enemies. And yesterday, they found him¡­ This time, your master managed to talk his way out¡ªfor a while¡ªbut they will come back, no doubt about it. So, it will be better for you and Grem to hide in the capital of the kingdom for now, where I will find you after I return from the dungeon. After that, I¡¯ll figure out what to do next. And please, no arguments or suggestions¡ªjust do as I ask, alright?¡±

    Of course, the girl didn¡¯t like it. Of course, she wanted to say a lot. But the expression on Valm¡¯s face was so troubled that she silently took the money and left for the city.

    Inwardly, she cursed the alchemist with dirty words until she realized that the true reason for her frustration was fear. She was afraid of losing the peaceful life she had with Valm in the Citadel. Everything was collapsing before her eyes like a house of cards. And for the first time in a long while, she wanted to cry. Just what kind of enemies were they, that even Valm had to run with his tail between his legs? He was anything but a coward.

    At the city market, Qian bought a large two-axle cart with new suspension and big rear wheels so that Grem wouldn¡¯t be shaken too much on the road¡¯s potholes. Then she sat behind the levers. If they had to leave, they had to leave¡ªshe didn¡¯t have much of a choice. Either obey her master¡¯s orders or abandon him. And that, she was definitely not ready to do.

    ¡°Rent a house in the outskirts of the kingdom¡¯s capital and live quietly, without causing trouble. Understood?¡± Valm gave his final instructions.

    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t argue with the neighbors, don¡¯t rob people, don¡¯t beat up idiots, and don¡¯t mess with alchemists. Got it?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±

    ¡°And one last thing. So that I can find you¡ªevery Sunday, four months from now, go to the fountain in the central square at noon. Don¡¯t wait too long, just walk around it and then go home. Understood?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Masteeer¡­¡±

    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s this? Tears from the biggest troublemaker of a beastkin I know?¡±

    Qian clung to Valm¡¯s neck, sniffing.

    ¡°I don¡¯t¡­ I don¡¯t want to go anywhere! What if you don¡¯t come? What will I do then?!¡±

    The alchemist firmly grasped her shoulders and pulled her away.

    ¡°Qian, remember this¡ªnothing will stop me from coming back. Nothing, understand? Alchemist¡¯s word! Now get on the cart and go. It¡¯s time.¡±

    Holding back her tears, the girl climbed onto the driver¡¯s seat and rode out through the gates. She wanted to look back just once, but she was afraid to do so. So she just kept her eyes on the road ahead. Valm would come. He had to. An alchemist¡¯s word¡­ it had to be as solid as a rock.

    Valm closed the gates and activated the Citadel¡¯s highest level of protection. Well, since his location was already known to everyone, it was time to engage in real alchemy, not just low-level potions. Valm grinned and pulled out fifty alchemical cauldrons from storage. He wouldn¡¯t be making ninth-class elixirs, of course, but even this would be more than enough for them all! A celestial flame flared over his palm.

    Over the next week, the people of Tatan learned what true elemental terror was. Thunder rumbled ceaselessly, lightning flashed, thick fog with a stinging stench rolled in, rain froze into ice the moment it touched the ground despite the heat, snow fell that set tree leaves ablaze, and the sun in the sky changed colors¡ªfrom red to green¡­ But then, one night, everything vanished as suddenly as it had appeared.

    Satisfied, Valm got to his feet and packed away all the alchemical equipment spread across the courtyard. It was time. He took one last walk through the Citadel, collecting monster cores from the defensive formations. If he ever gained the necessary strength¡­ that Mad Bitch would pay him back for everything!

    Opening the gates, Valm took one last look at the place where he had spent so much time training with Grem and teaching Qian. Then he pulled out a large flask filled with red liquid and tossed it into the middle of the courtyard. ¡°Good luck tracking my aura now, bitch!¡± he thought, quickly speeding away from the Citadel on his capsule.

    A minute later, behind him, a thin red beam shot into the sky and then crashed down, erupting into a massive sphere of flame that any seventh-circle mage would envy. It was so hot that the ultra-durable natural stone from which the entire structure was built melted like butter on a frying pan.

    It was already morning when the alchemist stopped his capsule near the crowded market and stored it away. Slipping like a snake into the crowd in the square, he removed a ring from his finger on the move and turned the thin band with a claw on the inner side of the storage. Putting the ring back on his finger, he pulled out an old gray cloak and quickly headed toward the Silver Dragons¡¯ headquarters.

    If someone strong enough had been nearby, watching Valm, they would have noticed how incredibly his aura had changed. As if these were two entirely different people. But there was no one like that at the market.

    However, such people were present among the adventurers waiting for Valm near two large carts harnessed to third-class monsters. Ladbor watched in surprise as a tall, slender figure in a gray hooded cloak approached him and greeted him in the alchemist¡¯s voice.

    ¡°Good morning, Master Ladbor! Am I very late?¡±

    ¡°Is that you, Master Valm?¡± he asked in surprise. ¡°No, get in the second cart with our mages¡­¡±

    The alchemist climbed into the cart he was directed to and greeted the magician he already knew¡ªTani.

    ¡°Hello, Tani. Won¡¯t you introduce me to the others?¡±

    Inside sat two more mages and a sorceress. Tani started with her.

    ¡°This is Kyra, our healer, a fifth-circle light mage, rank B.¡±

    Kyra was a short, thin woman of middle age with white hair and a dull face that seemed to have lost all human emotions. Even her smile upon meeting Valm felt more like a duty than a desire.

    ¡°This is Nonk, a water and defense mage, fifth circle, rank B.¡±

    The red-haired young man smiled warmly, amusingly adjusting his neatly trimmed beard. Based on temperament and appearance, Valm would have called him a fire mage rather than one of the water element.

    ¡°And this is Turan, just like me, a fire and metal mage of the fifth circle, rank B.¡±

    Valm looked at the man with gray hair, just like Tani¡¯s, and couldn¡¯t help but notice the resemblance in their facial features.

    ¡°Are you¡­ relatives?¡± the alchemist couldn¡¯t hold back.

    ¡°Yes, she¡¯s my younger sister.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ Well, I¡¯m Valm, an alchemist studying monsters¡­ which is why we¡¯re heading to Tiktak, so I can research some of them.¡±

    For a moment, silence reigned, broken by Nonk.

    ¡°Excuse me, but why would an alchemist study monsters?¡±

    Valm smiled, just about to answer when Ladbor¡¯s voice rang out.

    ¡°Move out!¡±

    The cart jerked as the driver lightly whipped the monsters on their backs.

    ¡°Some will say it¡¯s the whim of a crazy alchemist; some will think it¡¯s an attempt to discover something new¡­ You see, humanity has always survived and triumphed only by thoroughly studying its enemies. You wouldn¡¯t deny that monsters are humanity¡¯s enemies, would you?¡±

    ¡°Hah! What¡¯s there to study? Just kill them and rip out their cores, that¡¯s all.¡±

    ¡°Not so fast. Tell me, do you know how much tougher a horned goblin¡¯s skin is compared to a human¡¯s? Where its weak points are? How much force is needed for a weapon¡ªor, in your case, a spell¡ªto reach the monster¡¯s critical organ to kill or disable it?¡±

    ¡°A horned goblin? I wouldn¡¯t even think about it, it dies from a first-circle spell¡­¡±

    ¡°Sure. If it¡¯s alone. But what if there are a thousand of them? Ten thousand? No one around to give you time to cast a high-level spell¡­ What then, Nonk? Will you die of mana exhaustion?¡±

    The mage fell silent. He had no answer to such questions since mages never fought monsters without warrior protection. So he just waved his hand dismissively. Valm smiled again.

    ¡°But with what I¡¯ve learned from studying monsters, you could kill them using far less mana. No need to smash a fly with a sledgehammer.¡±

    Turan couldn¡¯t hold back and joined the conversation.

    ¡°Valm, what do alchemists know about a mage¡¯s mana and how it¡¯s spent? Do you think it¡¯s just simple math with a linear dependence? It¡¯s much more complicated¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh, Turan, believe me, alchemists know just as much about mana, mages, and their mana circles as mages themselves. Perhaps even more since they create things like this.¡± Valm pulled out a vial of mana restoration potion and shook it in the air. ¡°And potions are just the tip of the iceberg of our knowledge about mages and their mana.¡±

    ¡°You say that as if your kind has already uncovered all the secrets of the universe,¡± Turan replied discontentedly.

    ¡°Wait,¡± Nonk interrupted him. ¡°Valm has a point. Mages can indeed invest different amounts of mana into the same spell, regulating its power. But to use that in battle against monsters, when split seconds decide whether you¡¯ll live or die the next moment¡­ No mage would perform that many calculations just to save a fraction of mana for the next spell. A mage would simply drink a potion. Or receive an enhancement spell from a healer.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± the alchemist replied to them both at once. ¡°And while alchemists don¡¯t yet know all the secrets of the universe, they do understand mana overuse and the limitations of healer support. Throughout history, alchemists have fought for the rational use of resources¡ªwhether it¡¯s mana for mages or ingredients for their own potions. And I hope my research will help people spend fewer resources of any kind to destroy each unit of monsters.¡±

    They continued talking about alchemy, magic, and monsters for a long time, even the initially silent Tani and Kyra joining in. Some views aligned, some differed¡­ That was always the case between mages and alchemists, and Valm didn¡¯t try to change it, only standing by his own perspective.

    The conversation ended only in the evening when Ladbor stopped the carts for the night near a large roadside inn at the intersection of six highways. Remembering the agreement that Valm would cover travel expenses only after the expedition, he took a separate room and went upstairs without joining the communal dinner. The kitchen¡¯s smells reeked of spoiled vegetables anyway, something an alchemist physically couldn¡¯t stomach.

    Valm locked himself in his room, took a shower, prepared his own meal, and collapsed onto the bed, exhausted. Traveling all day in a cart turned out to be more tiring than it seemed at first glance. His back and everything below it ached mercilessly.

    Morning came at dawn for the alchemist, along with the bustle and noise of travelers preparing to set off again. The thin walls seemed to amplify the sounds from the corridor and neighboring rooms. Irritated, Valm quickly got ready and stepped outside. None of Ladbor¡¯s team was there yet, except for the drivers tending to the monsters.

    Shedding his cloak and upper garments, the alchemist ran along the highway, occasionally shivering from the chill and morning dew. The habit of exercising seemed to have taken root in him. Too bad there was no time to pull a trainer out of storage. Finishing his run, the alchemist poured cold water over himself from a well and approached the carts where the adventurers were gathering.

    ¡°Valm, you¡¯re not just an oddball, you¡¯re the oddest of all oddballs for an alchemist!¡± Turan shouted.

    All the mages laughed. But the warriors, on the contrary, looked at Valm¡¯s lean figure approvingly.

    ¡°Morning exercise lifts the mood and saturates the brain with oxygen, which helps thinking. Mages could use that too because I don¡¯t know how you plan to walk to the mid-levels of the dungeon. Or do you think I¡¯ll obediently pay you in full for idle hours due to your inability to walk long distances, Master Mage? I assure you, that won¡¯t happen. Alchemists always use resources rationally. And money is one of the most important resources.¡±

    Now the warriors laughed, while the mages collectively turned red.

    ¡°No matter how trained you are, you¡¯ll never catch up to even a first-class warrior, so you shouldn¡¯t¡ª¡± Turan tried to retort.

    Valm just shrugged.

    ¡°The contract states in black and white that the executor, meaning the Silver Dragons, escorts the client, meaning me. That means I decide the group¡¯s pace. If I want to walk slowly, everyone walks slowly. If I want to go fast, everyone goes fast. If I want to stop, everyone stops and waits. Or do you think I¡¯ll adjust to every weakling mage? You think too highly of yourselves. Or¡­ you¡¯re planning to breach the contract.¡±

    ¡°Some alchemist is going to tell the Silver Dragons what to do?¡± the mage shouted so loudly that spit flew from his mouth.

    ¡°Enough!¡± Ladbor growled. ¡°Master Valm, no one plans to break the contract, though our mages are indeed¡­ slow, let¡¯s say.¡± He stepped up to Turan and hissed in his ear. ¡°Just shut your mouth and stay out of the alchemist¡¯s way!¡±

    Valm had deliberately escalated the situation to test the team¡¯s resilience to stress. And now he saw¡ªthey had none. Only Ladbor¡¯s fist held everything together. Reaching this disappointing conclusion, the alchemist shook his head and climbed into the cart. Perhaps he had chosen the wrong team.

 Chapter Seventeen. The Tiktak Dungeon.

    The conversation after the morning skirmish wasn¡¯t flowing well, so Valm sat silently with his eyes closed until Kaira addressed him with a question.

    ¡°Master Alchemist, could you explain what¡¯s better for people¡ªyour potions or support mages¡¯ magic, like mine?¡±

    Valm opened his eyes, trying to determine whether she was mocking him. But it didn¡¯t seem like it.

    ¡°That¡¯s actually a rather complex question with several layers of answers. But I¡¯ll try to explain, and you can decide for yourself which is better. First, your support magic doesn¡¯t work the same way on mages and warriors, even though you use the same type of spells. With mages, you simply transfer your pure mana¡ªthat¡¯s straightforward. But with warriors, you only stimulate their muscles and nerve endings, allowing them to keep fighting even when exhausted. And while your enhancement is painless for mages, for warriors, it¡¯s quite the opposite. Eventually, they experience backlash from your spell because all that enhancement is drawn from their own internal resources. Second, the number of times you can use your enhancement is limited¡ªnot only by the depletion of the support mage¡¯s mana but also by the internal safeguards in the warriors¡¯ bodies.

    ¡°Alchemists, when creating their potions, took a different approach. They made specific formulas for their needs. For mages¡ªmana restoration potions, potions that stimulate magical circles, and so on. For warriors¡ªrestorative potions, strength potions, agility potions¡­ too many to list. And potions, if chosen correctly, hardly have the same backlash effect. Their only downside is their lower efficiency compared to support spells and something we alchemists call saturation¡ªwhen taking more potions in a short period no longer has any effect. But these drawbacks don¡¯t apply to high-tier alchemical pills. Their only drawback is their price. So, that¡¯s about it. What¡¯s better? That¡¯s for you to decide.¡±

    By the end of his explanation, all the mages were listening to Valm.

    ¡°Master Valm,¡± Kaira began hesitantly, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the Empire¡¯s alchemists have created pills for mages that can raise their level. Is that true?¡±

    ¡°It can be considered partially true.¡±

    The mages looked at the alchemist intently, waiting for an explanation, as they didn¡¯t understand what he meant by ¡°partially true.¡±

    ¡°The thing is, creating a new magical circle around a mage¡¯s heart is nothing like transforming a warrior¡¯s body. It¡¯s more related to the mind, consciousness, and even the mage¡¯s soul. And these aspects are so delicate that the consequences of interference are nearly unpredictable. There are indeed pills that help a mage form a new circle. According to those who manufacture them, they expand consciousness, plunging the mage into a trance through hallucinations, where they can choose the right path. Or maybe not¡ªand remain forever trapped in illusions. Simply put, they go mad. Lose their mind. That¡¯s why I wouldn¡¯t recommend taking such pills. Even the Imperial Court forbids its mages from using them due to the high risk of failure.¡±

    The mages were disappointed by Valm¡¯s words. Each of them wanted to believe that somewhere, there was a magical pill that could make them stronger.

    ¡°But,¡± the alchemist smirked at them, ¡°that doesn¡¯t mean there aren¡¯t other, more indirect means. Simple fifth-class mana circle expansion pills. With regular consumption, existing mana circles reach their full potential, and a mage¡¯s mind almost always forms a new one.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I see,¡± Nonk interrupted him, ¡°but I¡¯ve never heard of such pills¡­¡±

    The alchemist pulled a small cylindrical case from his storage and poured out two yellow-orange pills. The wagon filled with a sweet and sour aroma.

    ¡°Here they are. I believe you can buy or order them from the Merchant Guild or the Alchemists¡¯ Guild. Just ask them.¡±

    ¡°Wow! And how many would, say, a fifth-circle water mage need? And how much do they cost?¡±

    Valm put the pills away and thought for a moment before answering. He didn¡¯t want to be bothered with unnecessary requests.

    ¡°The number varies for each mage¡ªI can¡¯t tell for sure without running a bunch of tests. It could be anywhere from a few pills to a hundred¡­ As for the price, a few years ago, they were selling for four to five hundred gold per pill.¡±

    Valm lied. He could easily determine the required number of pills just by looking at a mage¡¯s mana circle projection, down to a few pills¡¯ accuracy.

    Tani clicked her tongue and shook her head.

    ¡°Those pills aren¡¯t cheap¡­¡± she said. ¡°Even if the average needed is fifty, that¡¯s already twenty to twenty-five thousand gold.¡±

    Valm shrugged.

    ¡°If a mage brings the necessary ingredients to an alchemist, the price drops by half. But buying them yourself isn¡¯t a great idea¡ªalchemists buy them in bulk at discounted rates. Unless you gather the ingredients yourself in dungeon raids.¡±

    The mages exchanged glances instantly. Damn, where were they headed for several months? At the same time, a fire of excitement ignited in their eyes.

    ¡°Master Valm!¡± For the first time, Kaira¡¯s voice carried emotion. ¡°Do you happen to have a list of the required ingredients?!¡±

    The alchemist laughed.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have a list, but it¡¯s not hard to write one down when you have the recipe in your head¡­ Give me a piece of paper and a stylus.¡±

    The fifth-class mana circle expansion pill wasn¡¯t complicated and contained only thirty-two ingredients. So, after quickly compiling a list with the required quantities per pill, he handed the sheet to Kaira. Four pairs of eyes eagerly scanned the list, but confusion quickly spread across their faces.

    ¡°This is kind of¡­¡± Turan hesitated. ¡°I only recognize a few plants on this list¡­ Are these some rare herbs?¡±

    ¡°Not at all, they¡¯re quite common. About a third of them even grow on the surface.¡±

    The alchemist actually enjoyed watching them. The arrogant mages now looked like schoolchildren who hadn¡¯t done their homework. Valm closed his eyes and pretended to doze off, but in reality, he was listening to their hushed conversation. By giving them something resembling hope with his list, he had actually backed them into a corner.

    ¡°Damn it, that Crazy Bitch used to do the same thing to me all the time,¡± he thought.

    Ladbor stopped the group for the night in a small clearing in the middle of the forest. Even though the sun was still high, he ordered them to set up camp. This decision slightly surprised and even irritated Valm, as he thought they were wasting time. But he didn¡¯t argue.

    He sat apart from the others and took out his cooking utensils and two alchemical cauldrons from his storage. Since he had a few free hours, why not prepare some food for the next few days?

    First, he sliced the beef into thin strips across the grain, then used the flat side of a heavy kitchen knife to tenderize it. After greasing one of the cauldrons with oil, he began frying the strips in small batches until golden brown, ensuring they didn¡¯t start stewing. The cooked meat was immediately transferred to the second, only mildly warm, cauldron.

    Once the meat was done, he sliced several large onions into half-rings and saut¨¦ed them in the same oil until soft. Then he added half a cup of flour, stirred, and fried it for another minute before pouring in nearly a liter of sour cream without hesitation. He kept stirring constantly to prevent lumps until the mixture in the cauldron started to boil.

    The delicious aroma spread over the clearing, and before long, the Silver Dragons¡¯ warriors began circling Valm in uneven loops. The first to sit nearby was the burly Skrite.

    ¡°You can cook, Master Valm?¡± he asked, almost surprised. ¡°And not like a simple tavern cook, judging by the smell¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not surprising. Knowing how to combine ingredients properly is the essence of an alchemist¡¯s skill. And there aren¡¯t that many here, as you can see.¡±

    With these words, Valm emptied the meat from the second cauldron into the first, closed the lid, and set the correct pressure on the working valve.

    ¡°Don¡¯t say that, Master Valm. We cook too, but compared to you¡­¡±

    After waiting ten minutes, the alchemist removed the lid and began adding spices. Once that was done, he tossed in a few medicinal herbs, then closed the cauldron again and lowered the heat.

    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s just that I have more experience¡­¡±

    The aroma escaping from the working valve along with the steam made everyone in the clearing double over from sheer hunger. Three more warriors sat down next to Skrite, whom he introduced to Valm.

    ¡°Malik, like me, defense, rank B. Junga, attack and close combat, rank B. And Phram, our archer, rank B.¡±

    Each of them raised a hand at the mention of their name. Damn, Ladbor had really assembled quite a solid team for this kingdom. Nine B-rankers were a formidable force¡­

    Valm turned off the heat completely and waited for a bit. But as life had already shown him, hoping they would leave was futile. The alchemist sighed, pulled out a large loaf of bread, a plate, and opened the cauldron.

    ¡°Join in,¡± he offered, seeing no other way out.

    The warriors grinned broadly and pulled out deep bowls. A full alchemical cauldron, which would have lasted Valm several days, was emptied in a minute. The warriors were certainly not shy. The clearing filled with the clatter of spoons against metal bowls.

    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    Nearby, the redheaded Nonk casually approached, but upon seeing the empty cauldron, he sighed bitterly and walked away.

    After finishing his meal, Valm poured water into the cauldron and began washing it.

    ¡°Let me do it, Master Valm!¡± Malik offered.

    The alchemist just shook his head with a smile.

    ¡°Sorry, but I¡¯ll do it myself. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t trust you, but an alchemical cauldron needs special cleaning¡ªit¡¯s not an ordinary pot.¡±

    ¡°Ah, I see¡­¡±

    ¡°Guys, did you notice? The meat wasn¡¯t just regular meat,¡± Phram suddenly said. ¡°All my fatigue is gone, but my body still feels relaxed. Master Valm, was there something else in there besides regular spices?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re sharp! Yes, I threw in a few tonic herbs. I always do that when I cook dinner. Helps you sleep better. So, off you go, I¡¯m heading to bed¡­¡±

    Valm packed up his cauldrons and cooking tools and went to the wagon, leaving the warriors behind. He caught the end of their conversation, where they were trying to figure out how to handle night watches now.

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t just shove anything that smells good into your mouth,¡± he thought as he drifted off to sleep.

    The next morning, the alchemist was the first to wake up. Only Malik was on watch, sitting next to the almost extinguished campfire.

    ¡°Morning, Malik!¡± Valm greeted him. ¡°Do you happen to know how much farther we have to Tiktak?¡±

    ¡°Good morning, Master Valm. I¡¯d say about two and a half more days.¡±

    ¡°Thanks.¡±

    The alchemist stripped off his outer clothing and started running. Two days. Just two more days, and he would descend into a dungeon for the first time in his life. The thought sent a thrill through his body.

    A place not meant for long-term human habitation. And it wasn¡¯t just about the monsters that could kill him, but the very mana filling the dungeon. The mana of the monsters.

    That mana negatively affected human bodies, and at high concentrations¡ªlike in the deeper levels¡ªit could even slowly destroy them. Where they were going, the concentration wasn¡¯t dangerously high, and nothing critical would happen in three to four months of exposure. But Valm had still prepared a few detoxification pills for himself. Just in case.

    Judging that he had run far enough, the alchemist turned back toward the camp. And¡­ Fourth-class monsters. He had never seen them alive before, only their corpses. Watching them, studying them, dissecting them¡­

    Valm shook his head. What do you mean, dissect? Study them! Study! That¡¯s how a true scientist should think!

    But his heart was still pounding. And not from the run.

    By the time the alchemist returned, Ladbor¡¯s team was already up and preparing breakfast. Torn between his desire to eat something delicious and his reluctance to wash the cauldron again, Valm pulled out one of the dishes he had ordered back at the restaurant in town and quickly ate it.

    He was about to join the mages when Skrite invited him to ride with the warriors that day, saying they weren¡¯t as boring and that the journey would be more entertaining with them.

    Why not? The alchemist thought, jumping onto their wagon.

    ¡°Master Valm, may I ask you something?¡± Malik said as the wagons started moving.

    ¡°Go ahead¡­¡±

    ¡°We all felt it a few weeks ago when the God of War came to your estate. Is he your friend?¡±

    Ladbor immediately perked up. This question had been bothering him for a long time.

    ¡°Well, not exactly a friend. It¡¯s more accurate to call him a client.¡±

    ¡°Do you have any friends among the Gods of War? What are they like? Can you tell us?¡±

    Of course. Who else would interest and excite a warrior? Only stronger warriors. And the Gods of War were like living legends to people like Malik. Naturally, even the smallest scraps of information about them were intriguing.

    ¡°The Gods of War don¡¯t have friends, Malik. Only situational allies. So no, I don¡¯t have any friends among them.¡±

    ¡°Do you know many of them personally?¡±

    ¡°A few.¡±

    ¡°Are they strong? Who among them is the strongest?¡±

    ¡°Of course they¡¯re strong; that¡¯s why they are the Gods of War! But do you really think a mere alchemist can determine which of them is the most powerful?¡±

    At these words, Ladbor realized that Valm was either lying or withholding something. The whole city knew that the Mad Bitch had come to him two weeks ago¡ªa presence recognized by almost every warrior on the continent. So why hadn¡¯t he named her as the strongest?! Damn it! Did they have a bad relationship? Or were they even enemies? And calling himself a mere alchemist¡­ The Gods of War don¡¯t visit ordinary people!

    Ladbor barely suppressed the fury rising in his chest. If there was a chance for the dungeon to swallow up this arrogant fool¡­ Ladbor would take it.

    The adventurers continued to press the alchemist with questions about the Gods of War before shifting the topic to boasting about their weapons and armor. Valm examined all the swords, shields, and arrows, noting that only a few of them reached the fourth class. They were even worse than Grem¡¯s old daggers, which the alchemist had accidentally ruined with his red blades.

    The warriors were right about one thing¡ªit was definitely more entertaining to travel with them than with arrogant, dull mages. The next two days passed quickly and unnoticed, except for the constant noise that left his head throbbing by evening. Fortunately, a deep sleep at night easily remedied that.

    ¡°In a couple of hours, we¡¯ll be there,¡± Ladbor announced on the morning of the fifth day of travel.

    Everyone in the wagon gradually quieted down and began checking their gear. Valm observed their seriousness before moving to sit next to the driver.

    The road passed through a sparse forest, dotted with small glades and crisscrossed by shallow rivers and streams.

    Soon, far ahead, they could see a purple glow in the sky. It was hazy like a mist, lacking clear contours. Valm had read that it was merely a projection of the magical seals binding the ruined levels of Tiktak, preventing them from spreading out of control.

    Several decades ago, first a breach and then a complete collapse had occurred in the dungeon. When the initial waves of monsters surged forth, one of the Gods of War carved a path through them to the entrance of Tiktak and descended. The waves of creatures vanished, and for a few hours, all was silent. Dozens of powerful warriors finished off the remaining monsters on the surface, waiting for the God of War to return. Then, suddenly, the ground trembled with a massive explosion.

    No one truly knew what had happened. The warriors could only deduce from the lingering aura in the air that the God of War had used a desperation strike¡ªdetonating the core of his aura, annihilating both Tiktak and himself. Gods of War rarely resorted to such measures, as it meant the absolute end. Only when all hope was lost, and the enemy was worse than death itself, would they take such a step. But who could have been a foe so terrible for a high-ranking God of War in a mere dungeon?!

    The answer was lost forever¡ªhis explosion had erased everything.

    When the echoes of the blast faded and the waves of destruction on the surface calmed, the surviving warriors approached the enormous crater that had appeared where the dungeon entrance once stood. Peering inside, they saw a deep chasm, stretching for dozens of kilometers downward, cutting through all the levels of ruined Tiktak. Before their eyes, massive purple magical seals began appearing on their own. One after another, they layered over the dungeon¡¯s levels, separating them from each other.

    Some warriors claimed they saw ten seals, others insisted there were fourteen, and some even counted seventeen before the dense purple weave became too thick to see beyond the fourth level.

    From that moment, the dungeon began to regenerate. Within a decade, the first daredevils were forming teams and venturing down. The results of those explorations were disappointing¡ªmany passageways between levels were destroyed and had not yet recovered. The vegetation was still sparse, lacking the high-quality ingredients that Tiktak had been famous for. The monsters were few, completely isolated on their respective levels according to their strength.

    But time passed, and the dungeon kept rebuilding itself. Now, according to seasoned adventurers, it resembled the old, legendary Tiktak. The only difference was that the monster segregation remained unchanged. Teams hunting monster cores had to descend quite deep¡ªeven for third-class cores. It had been precisely determined: two dungeon levels per monster class. Meaning Valm, to study fourth-class monsters, would have to descend to the seventh level.

    Lost in thought, the alchemist hardly noticed as they neared a massive hill, several kilometers high, at the base of which lay the dungeon entrance. At its summit, covered with sparse trees and bushes, a bright purple glow shone. They said a giant hole, sealed by a magical barrier, still remained at the peak. Few dared to go there willingly due to the mana storm that had raged there since the catastrophe.

    Ladbor halted the wagons near the stables, where hundreds, perhaps thousands, of adventurers left their mounts before venturing into Tiktak¡¯s depths. Taking them down was strictly forbidden, as even the best-trained creatures inexplicably reverted to wild, aggressive states in the dungeon, immediately attempting to devour their owners.

    While the team stretched their legs after the long ride, Ladbor went to speak with other groups who had just emerged from the depths, hoping to gather up-to-date information. He needed to know if anything had changed before their raid began.

    ¡°They say it¡¯s unchanged, at least on the first four levels. The climate and vegetation are fine, but there are too few monsters, so we have to hunt them rather than the other way around. No one here has come from deeper levels, but rumors say it¡¯s the same down there. So, if everyone¡¯s ready, we can begin. Everyone¡¯s ready, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re good to go!¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s move!¡±

    Valm simply nodded, feeling a faint tremor of unease creeping over him. Was it fear of the monsters, no longer caged but roaming free? Or just fear of the unknown? Damn, he¡¯d never even heard of other alchemists venturing into dungeons!

    The team advanced, and he followed, shoving his sweaty hands into the pockets of his gray cloak.

    At the entrance, when it came time to pay the toll and register, a problem nearly arose¡ªValm didn¡¯t have an adventurer¡¯s token. Ordinary people were rarely allowed into dungeons due to the near-certain death rate.

    ¡°Token?¡± the guard asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have one, but I¡¯m going with them,¡± the alchemist pointed at the Silver Dragons.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t have a token, they can go in, but you can¡¯t!¡±

    ¡°But¡ª¡± Valm tried to protest.

    Ladbor noticed the issue and stepped up to the registration desk.

    ¡°Hold on, captain,¡± he said to the guard. ¡°He¡¯s our client, and we¡¯re escorting him into the dungeon. Here¡¯s the contract, signed by the Adventurers¡¯ Guildmaster, meaning he can enter with us. All by the rules, correct?¡±

    The guard scrutinized every page of the document, even holding it up to the sun to check the watermark on the guild¡¯s official paper.

    ¡°Alright, he can go,¡± the guard finally relented. ¡°But make sure the first bug down there doesn¡¯t bite his head off. Your team takes full responsibility! Understood?¡±

    Valm handed over a silver coin as his entrance fee, signed the registry, and hurried to join the waiting Silver Dragons at the massive metal dungeon gates.

    Beyond the gates, he saw a long cave reinforced with towering stone columns, their tops vanishing into the darkness beyond the reach of countless torches below.

    The echo of ten pairs of boots rang through the cavern, making Valm glance around warily. His slit pupils narrowed like those of a beast on the hunt, and a surge of bloodlust threatened to rise from within. With immense willpower, he suppressed it before the others could notice¡ªthough some of the warriors seemed to sense something and shot him cautious looks.

    The tunnel was straight and long. Nearly half an hour passed before Valm saw bright light ahead.

    And after another ten minutes, the Silver Dragons and their alchemist stood on a vast, flat natural terrace high in the mountains.

    Valm took a deep breath of the warm air and looked up.

    There, higher than even the sun, a massive purple magical seal stretched across the entire sky, from horizon to horizon.

 Chapter Eighteen. First Level

    ¡°What a beauty!¡± Valm exclaimed.

    Everyone lifted their heads and stared at the sky for a while. That lilac glow truly transformed the landscape into something strange, fundamentally different from the surface the human eye was accustomed to.

    ¡°First time in a dungeon?¡± Jungo asked him.

    ¡°Yes. Although I¡¯ve read a lot about them, what I see now¡­ It¡¯s nothing like what¡¯s described in books.¡±

    ¡°To be honest, Tiktak is nothing like the others because of these seals¡­¡±

    ¡°Enough chatting, let¡¯s go!¡± Ladbor interrupted them.

    Jungo gave the alchemist an apologetic smile and hurried forward to take his position in the second row of their formation. Valm also took his place among the mages.

    The descent was difficult. There was no proper road, just a path winding between frequent small rocks on its way down. The alchemist immediately thought that the way back would be much harder.

    From time to time, the warriors sent out heavy waves of their aura around the group to drive away the rare monsters lurking along the path. Valm used his absolute sense of smell to its fullest to create the most accurate picture of Tiktak in his mind. His receptors often caught the scents of medicinal plants that were either very rare on the surface or didn¡¯t grow there at all. And this was just the first level! What irony! If only the alchemist had free access to all these freshest ingredients, what pills could he create? What heights could his alchemy reach?

    A sharp pang of regret and resentment, like in childhood, filled Valm as he realized he lacked the strength to explore dungeons on his own whenever he pleased. He looked at the broad backs of the warriors ahead, who hadn¡¯t even broken a sweat during the arduous descent, and envied them. Even though he had become one of the best alchemists on the continent, was that truly what he had always desired?

    He watched with sorrow as Malik¡¯s boot crushed a Silver Horn, a second-class plant used to make fifth-class healing pills.

    Brainless brutes¡­ All they know is how to swing their weapons¡­ Why couldn¡¯t he have their strength along with his intellect?

    His concern for the precious ingredients was interrupted by the heavy breathing of the mages. Already? So soon? They had only been descending for an hour!

    ¡°Ladbor!¡± Tani called out. ¡°We need to rest!¡±

    Valm couldn¡¯t see Ladbor¡¯s face, but even from behind, his displeasure was obvious.

    ¡°Break for twenty minutes!¡± he commanded loudly.

    The alchemist, who easily endured the descent thanks to his training, looked at the sweaty mages who immediately sat down on the ground and said he would gather herbs nearby.

    ¡°Malik! Go with him!¡± the squad captain ordered.

    The adventurer showed no sign of displeasure and approached Valm. Thanks to his strength, he could keep up this pace around the clock without feeling tired.

    ¡°Master Valm, are there really alchemy herbs here? So close to the entrance?¡± he asked in surprise.

    ¡°You crushed a Silver Horn with your boot a few minutes ago, so I¡¯m sure there¡¯s plenty to find.¡±

    ¡°Is it expensive?¡±

    ¡°The Alchemist Guild would pay a gold coin for it easily¡­¡±

    ¡°Damn!¡± Malik looked at the sole of his boot as if expecting gold to be stuck to it. But there wasn¡¯t even any dirt.

    ¡°Nothing to be done now. Let¡¯s go!¡± Valm called out.

    He moved slightly off the path, down the slope, where a light breeze carried the scents of several familiar plants to him. And indeed, fifty meters away, small blue flowers had sprouted from under a large boulder.

    Valm smiled, crouched down, and pulled out a wide knife, beginning to dig the fine gravel around the flowers¡¯ roots.

    ¡°Did you find something interesting?¡± Malik asked.

    ¡°Yes, this flower is called Gornok. The petals are used to make third-class stamina potions, but the root¡­ The root makes a pretty potent poison. It acts instantly and, if you add a few more ingredients, is completely painless for the victim.¡±

    ¡°And¡­ if you don¡¯t add them?¡±

    ¡°Have you ever drunk burning oil, Malik?¡±

    ¡°No, of course not!¡±

    ¡°People poisoned by this root often said they¡¯d rather drink it than die like that.¡±

    The adventurer swallowed, imagining the pain.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Valm reassured him. ¡°For someone of your strength, it¡¯s almost harmless. At worst, you¡¯d vomit for a couple of days.¡±

    The alchemist stored the flowers away and saw from the adventurer¡¯s expression that his words hadn¡¯t been very reassuring.

    ¡°Master Valm, so you can make poisons too?¡±

    ¡°Damn it, Malik, you sound like a child. Many alchemists can make both medicines and poisons. In general, I¡¯d say they¡¯re two sides of the same coin. Any medicine can become a poison, just as any poison can become a cure. Especially if you look at it from a philosophical¡ªor a cannibalistic¡ªpoint of view¡­¡±

    Malik didn¡¯t understand the alchemist¡¯s last remark. But few would, without knowing that Valm had been a student of the Toxic Dragon¡ªthe imperial court¡¯s most notorious cannibal.

    Suddenly, a breeze carried the scent of rotting flesh to Valm¡¯s nose. He thought for a moment and decided to check it out.

    It was the corpse of a pamlak, which was quite surprising since the mountains weren¡¯t a habitat for these monsters.

    ¡°It¡¯s just a dead pamlak, Master Valm, nothing interesting.¡±

    ¡°You think so? I wouldn¡¯t say that.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Well, first of all, pamlaks live in forested areas, not mountains, because their limbs simply aren¡¯t built for this terrain. Someone must have driven it up here from below. And second, judging by the sword wounds on the carcass, that someone was an unskilled novice who was just toying with it.¡±

    ¡°How did you figure that out?¡±

    ¡°Tell me, how would you kill such a monster?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d just hit it with the edge of my shield¡­¡±

    ¡°Exactly. One strike. Even the weakest adventurer can kill it in two or three hits at most. Now look at these chaotic and shallow wounds on the carcass. The strikes were just meant to cause pain.¡±

    ¡°But that doesn¡¯t prove it was just for fun.¡±

    ¡°The core, Malik. The killer didn¡¯t take the core. Even though it¡¯s only worth five silver, an adventurer who came into the dungeon for money would never waste a few extra seconds to take it. No, whoever did this drove the creature up here from the mountain¡¯s base just for amusement.

    ¡°And judging by the wounds, I can say he was about a meter seventy to a meter seventy-five tall¡ªit¡¯s clear from the angle of the strikes. Armed with a thin, one-handed sword, but not a rapier. More likely a ceremonial sword rather than a proper weapon for hunting monsters. And he¡¯s not cruel, no¡­ He just thinks he is. He¡¯s a little unhinged, but he only believes himself to be ruthless!¡±

    Malik mentally took off his hat. He was an experienced adventurer, but he would never have noticed the details the alchemist had just pointed out.

    ¡°Ah, to hell with him, Master Valm. Dungeons are full of all kinds of fools. Don¡¯t worry about it, the Silver Dragons will protect you from both monsters and idiots!¡±

    Valm burst into laughter.

    ¡°Thank you, Malik!¡±

    He kept silent about the fact that, after spending several years in the empire¡¯s capital, he had already seen enough aristocrats¡¯ and wealthy men¡¯s children who ventured into dungeons purely for such entertainment. And he had learned how to defend himself from such brats. The adventurer glanced toward where their team had remained.

    ¡°Sir Valm, the break is over, they¡¯ve already moved on.¡±

    The alchemist shrugged.

    ¡°They¡¯ll be walking this same path anyway, so they¡¯ll catch up with us eventually.¡±

    After all, he was the one paying the Silver Dragons. And if he wanted to collect ingredients, then he would do just that. So, he did. Valm walked with Malik, gathering herbs, while the squad slowly advanced along the path. This continued until evening, which, by the way, was vastly different from what the alchemist was used to on the surface.

    Here, the sun didn¡¯t set beyond the horizon like it did above. Instead, it seemed to pass through some kind of barrier, resembling a film, becoming hazy before gradually fading. But true darkness never came. The lavender light from the massive magical seal overhead, without the sun¡¯s rays, seemed even brighter, filling the dungeon with a gentle glow.

    At the foot of the mountains, Ladbor announced a stop for the night. The mages, exhausted from hours of marching, collapsed onto the ground and immediately fell asleep. Valm, who had walked much farther, also felt his legs aching. Yet, despite his fatigue, he sat down to prepare dinner. And suddenly, he caught himself thinking that he liked it here.

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    Even the distant growls of monsters, occasionally breaking the silence, didn¡¯t frighten him. This world, under the magical seal in the sky, looked like something out of a fairy tale.

    He was quickly frying vegetables, diced into small cubes, when Skrait got to his feet and raised his shield.

    ¡°We¡¯re not alone,¡± he said briefly.

    Valm didn¡¯t know what to do in such situations, so he simply continued cooking. Malik stood next to Skrait, also setting his heavy shield on the ground. But no matter how hard the alchemist stared in the direction where the adventurers¡¯ eyes were fixed, he still saw nothing. Pram silently leaped onto a tall, sprawling tree near the camp and readied his bow. Ladbor stepped forward.

    ¡°If you¡¯re just passing through, then go on your way, no need to disturb us,¡± he shouted.

    Ten minutes later, a group of two dozen adventurers approached the camp. But on the faces of the Silver Dragons, the alchemist noticed no sign of concern. That was good. It meant that this group was much weaker than theirs.

    ¡°Apologies, gentlemen!¡± one of them called out. ¡°We¡¯re just heading back up and suddenly sensed strong auras along the way. We didn¡¯t realize you were simply camping here. We¡¯ll just pass by so as not to bother you!¡±

    ¡°Go ahead,¡± Ladbor ordered curtly. ¡°What level are you coming from?¡±

    ¡°The fourth.¡±

    ¡°How is it down there now?¡±

    ¡°Quiet. With the strength of your squad, you definitely have nothing to worry about.¡±

    Valm watched as the other team cautiously walked along the path past their camp, heading in the direction from which the Silver Dragons had come. They looked visibly weary, but all were unharmed, with only a few bearing signs of battle on their armor. Well, perhaps the lower levels were truly calm.

    Skrait spat loudly on the ground as they passed.

    ¡°Damn it, as if there are no other paths here¡­¡±

    ¡°What do you mean, Skrait?¡± the alchemist asked.

    The warrior put away his shield and sat next to Valm.

    ¡°In dungeons, approaching other teams is considered bad manners. In such cases, it¡¯s generally assumed that, at the very least, they want to take your loot, and at worst¡ªyour life.¡±

    ¡°Strange. And what, the Adventurers¡¯ Guild doesn¡¯t regulate this in any way?¡±

    ¡°What happens in the dungeon stays in the dungeon, Sir Valm.¡±

    In short, adventurers here behaved like common bandits. The alchemist shook his head in disapproval, carefully watching the meat simmering in the pot. Pram sat down next to them, followed shortly by the others. Even Ladbor. Except, of course, for the mages, who weren¡¯t roused even by the divine aroma of meat stewed with vegetables.

    But in the end, with the warriors¡¯ appetites, nothing would have been left for them anyway¡ªthe pot was emptied within minutes.

    ¡°Ah, Sir Valm, if you weren¡¯t such a distinguished alchemist, I would¡¯ve asked you to join our team three days ago. I¡¯ve never eaten anything better in my life,¡± Malik said with a sigh.

    ¡°If I weren¡¯t such a distinguished alchemist, as you say, my cooking wouldn¡¯t be nearly as good either.¡±

    Everyone laughed at that. Though Valm¡¯s words were not far from the truth.

    After dinner, the alchemist lay on his back for a while, examining the intricate details of the lavender seal. It was reflected in his amber eyes.

    Who had created it? Or what?

    Valm had seen what the archmages of this continent were capable of and was certain this was far beyond their abilities.

    Perhaps there was a Law here as well, something like the Law he himself was an unwilling stepchild of?

    And without realizing it, he fell asleep, pondering that question.

    By morning, Ladbor woke them up and ordered them to pack up. The groggy mages immediately drank recovery potions, as the short sleep was not enough to rid them of the fatigue from yesterday¡¯s journey. Valm also felt his legs still aching, so he pulled out a vial and took a small sip of the potion.

    The local sun, now from the east, broke through the barrier and bathed the forest¡¯s edge, where the camp was located, in bright rays. Valm got to his feet and did a few light jumps on the spot to shake off the drowsiness completely.

    ¡°Form up and move out!¡± the squad captain shouted. ¡°Today, we need to get past that forest ahead, so no distractions!¡±

    As he said this, he glanced toward the alchemist.

    Was this an attempt to assert his authority?

    Valm mentally shrugged¡ªhe hadn¡¯t intended to stop collecting ingredients if they happened to be along the way. And for protection on the first dungeon level, Malik alone would be enough for him.

    ¡°Let¡¯s move ahead, Malik,¡± he ordered the adventurer.

    The man hesitated, glancing between Ladbor and the alchemist, unsure of what to do. One was the captain, the other their employer.

    Ladbor curled his lips.

    ¡°Go with him. But make sure you don¡¯t fall behind.¡±

    Valm smiled triumphantly and was the first to step into the thicket. His nose had already distinguished numerous interesting scents among the smells of decaying leaves. But within a few minutes, the alchemist realized he had underestimated this forest. From the outside, it had seemed sparse enough to walk through freely, but that turned out to be far from the case. A thick layer of leaves on the ground, tree roots sneakily protruding in loops, thorny bushes, and vines made the trek not impossible but certainly challenging.

    Valm cut a mushroom from the trunk of an old tree, its surface covered with a thin layer of blue mist, and stored it away. A better ingredient for a sleeping draught or painkiller would be hard to find. A pity there was only one on the tree.

    ¡°Master Valm, the squad has already moved quite far ahead¡­¡±

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s pick up the pace. I promise to stop only if I find something truly interesting.¡±

    And though he made that promise sincerely, there turned out to be so much of interest that they only caught up with their squad when Ladbor halted the Silver Dragons for a lunch break. Valm didn¡¯t stop, continuing ahead while stuffing some kind of pie into his mouth. Since Malik had no choice but to follow him, he was fed in the same manner.

    ¡°Malik, how long until we reach the transition to the second level?¡±

    ¡°Beyond this forest, there¡¯s a forest-steppe, then open steppe. And past that is the transition itself. If Ladbor keeps the team¡¯s current pace, we should reach it in three days.¡±

    ¡°And each subsequent level will be a copy of the previous one?¡±

    ¡°Yes and no at the same time. The natural zones will remain the same, but the distances will increase since each lower level is larger than the one before.¡±

    ¡°How much larger?¡±

    ¡°It varies. Sometimes by ten percent, sometimes by thirty¡­¡±

    Valm imagined the dungeon as a bottle, its walls expanding unevenly but continuously towards the bottom. The thought unsettled him so much that he even stopped walking.

    ¡°So, to reach the seventh level, we¡¯ll be traveling for more than a month?¡±

    ¡°About that, Master Valm. Certainly no less.¡±

    Valm sighed. The time he had originally planned for the raid was stretching further and further. Under ideal conditions, he would need at least two months to study all fourth-class monsters. A month to descend. Even longer to ascend, since they would be climbing the entire way¡­ He had told Qian to wait for him in four months. And Valm had no idea how to speed things up. No transport could traverse these paths. Unless he put the mages on the warriors¡¯ backs and made them run.

    The thought made Valm chuckle. The arrogant mages would never agree to such a thing. Damn it, and he was paying each of them thirty-five gold a day just for slowly moving their feet through the dungeon! But he couldn¡¯t dismiss the mages either¡ªhe needed their mana shields to capture fourth-class monsters alive. So his only choice was to keep paying.

    ¡°To hell with the money!¡± he decided philosophically. At least he had time to gather ingredients. Though most of what he found now was second- and occasionally third-class, deeper levels might yield higher-class materials. So Valm shoved those concerns aside and immersed himself entirely in the scents his sensitive nose detected.

    By sunset, the Silver Dragons had not yet emerged from the forest, but Ladbor decided against setting up camp and led the squad onward for a few more hours under the lilac glow of the magical seal in the sky. The scenery looked so enchanting that even Valm stopped collecting and walked quietly with the team, admiring the path on either side.

    And as endless as the forest had seemed throughout the day, the trees finally parted, revealing low, grass-covered hills. Tall trees continued to grow only in the valleys between them.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough for today. Camp!¡± Ladbor commanded loudly.

    Even Valm was exhausted from the trek, so after hastily dining on a prepared restaurant meal, he went to sleep under the reproachful gaze of five pairs of eyes.

    ¡°We¡¯re stuck with salted meat, folks¡­¡± Pram said mournfully as he sat down by the fire.

    Traveling through the forest-steppe was much easier, and Valm thought that even his capsule might be able to move slowly here. He was just about to suggest this to Ladbor when the squad¡¯s path was suddenly blocked by a narrow but deep ravine. Damn it, that thing hadn¡¯t even been visible a few dozen meters back.

    The warriors took turns carrying the mages across before reforming into marching order and moving on¡ªonly to encounter another similar ravine a couple of kilometers later. No, there was no way to use a vehicle here. Valm sighed in disappointment and silently continued on with the team.

    By evening, the hills began to fade, giving way to an endless steppe covered in tall grasses and flowers. There, Ladbor called for the night¡¯s camp. Today had been an easy day, and Valm didn¡¯t feel like going to sleep under those resentful stares again, so he pulled out his cauldrons. That alone lifted everyone¡¯s spirits.

    Noticing that the mages were also making no effort to sleep, or even showing any intention of doing so, the alchemist pulled out a third cauldron¡ªtwo wouldn¡¯t be enough for everyone. For a few moments, he pondered what he wanted for dinner, and then a sly smile spread across his lips.

    He began rapidly pulling ingredients from his storage: a massive slab of beef, bacon, a sizable barrel of red wine, carrots, onions, garlic, flour, oil, and a heap of spices. Lastly, he retrieved a giant red mushroom, nearly half a meter in diameter, which he had found in the forest the day before. Just as he was about to start cooking, he noticed nine pairs of hungry eyes watching him.

    ¡°Junga, they say you¡¯re the best with knives in this squad?¡± Valm asked. ¡°Cut the beef into cubes two fingers wide, the bacon into cubes one finger wide. Got it?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Master Valm!¡±

    ¡°Start with the bacon. Then the beef. After that, I need the carrots sliced into thin rounds, about two millimeters thick, and the onions cut into half-rings of the same thickness. Can you manage?¡±

    Junga unsheathed two massive knives and grinned, revealing strong white teeth. The moment the bacon was cut, it went straight into the cauldron to fry until golden brown. Meanwhile, Valm patted the beef dry with paper napkins and seasoned it generously with salt and pepper.

    Seeing that the rendered bacon fat was insufficient, he simply added a generous amount of olive oil and began searing the beef in batches, removing it as soon as a golden crust formed. The vegetables were cooked last.

    Dividing the seared meat and bacon evenly between three cauldrons, he added flour and fried it for a few minutes, stirring thoroughly. When that was done, he added spices and poured in enough wine to fully submerge the meat. Stowing away the now nearly empty barrel, he covered the cauldrons, set the temperature and pressure on their alchemical valves, and waited.

    Before long, an aroma filled the camp that made everyone¡¯s mouths water¡ªeven Valm¡¯s. Steam hissed from the valves, creating a mist that enveloped the surroundings, while nine pairs of hungry eyes never left the cauldrons. But one thing still unsettled the squad¡ªthe large red mushroom that remained untouched on the table.

    ¡°Now, I need everyone to step back at least thirty meters unless you want to be covered in sores!¡± Valm called out.

    No one questioned or doubted his warning; the nine adventurers quickly scattered around the camp. The alchemist took out a vial of clear liquid, drank it, waited a few minutes, and nodded to himself in satisfaction.

    Then, with incredible speed, he sliced the red mushroom into thin strips, pink juice seeping from each cut. He had to use his spiritual energy to envelop each strip separately, preventing the juice from evaporating.

    When he was done, Valm unlatched the cauldron lids with a single motion, releasing fragrant steam into the night sky, and tossed the mushroom evenly into the dishes. After resealing the cauldrons, he stepped back and sat down, closing his eyes. The most delicate phase of cooking remained¡ªone requiring absolute control.

    This was no longer mere cooking. Using his spiritual energy, Valm began to break down the beef fibers, saturating the meat cubes with a perfect blend of mushroom juice, wine, and bacon fat. He was so absorbed in the process that he forgot to tell everyone they could return.

    Half an hour later, he opened his eyes and looked around.

    ¡°Why are you all still over there?¡± he asked, surprised.

    ¡°Well, Master Valm, you did say something about sores¡­¡± Ladbor scratched his head. Even from this distance, he could smell the divine aroma, torn between Valm¡¯s warning and his own senses.

    ¡°That was only while I was cutting the mushroom. The steam from its juice is highly toxic. You need special skills to handle it.¡±

    ¡°And what¡¯s in those cauldrons is actually edible?¡± Pram asked hesitantly.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t want any, don¡¯t eat. More for me,¡± Valm said, grabbing a bowl and serving himself a generous portion.

    No, what the adventurers had smelled before the alchemist opened the cauldrons was not the true scent of the dish. Now, upon actually smelling it, even the most hesitant ones cast aside their doubts and rushed forward, pulling out deep bowls as they ran.

    Once the alchemical cauldrons were emptied and everyone sat around the fire, savoring the meat, the warriors began turning their heads and listening intently, one after another.

    ¡°Incredible¡­ Even the damn monsters have gathered just to get a whiff of this!¡± Ladbor growled, spreading waves of his aura around the camp.