Chapter 19 Part 1 of 3 (Patreon)

Erik’s focus was centered on the alchemist cauldron in front of him and the flames dancing around it. In the flames one could see beasts moving around.

Within many of them, there were ingredients being refined. A large slumbering wolf lay in the center of the cauldron. Inside its half-translucent blue body was a pink and neon yellow liquid slowly revolving.

Flame beasts charged the wolf, their flames mingled with one another, as the prepared ingredients within the flame beasts were combined, the pink and yellow liquid changed to greens and reds, blacks and golds.

Sweat beaded on Erik’s forehead, controlling the flame beasts and maintaining the perfect conditions throughout the cauldron.

The cauldron started to rumble as ingredients were combined at an ever increasing rate. The flames of the sacrificial flame beasts turned into the greatest supplement for the central fire wolf.

With a few movements of his fingers, the flames were alive.

If one looked closely they would see threads of red, green and black energy enter the cauldron. They entered the flame beasts, altering the flames, they reached the ingredients at the center of the beasts. The pure Fire, Earth and Metal energies were a tonic to the ingredients.

The ingredients changed, grasses that had been dried and turned into a fine brown powder took on a deep azure appearance with metallic hints throughout.

A rough metal looking ingot made of silvers and blacks drew in the Earth element, it bloomed. The covering cracked, spreading to the sides as it opened like a flower. A healthy pale fruit-like flesh opened the exterior. It looked like a pale fuzzy pear as it finished, inviting one to take a bite.

Erik used his connection to the Earth and Metal elements as well, they had become part of his refining process.

“Reinforce. Compress!”

The cauldron stilled while all of the ingredients within the cauldron shuddered.

The last combinations were completed, leaving just three flame beasts around the wolf.

They turned and charged the large wolf. It stood up and howled, causing a tremor in the reinforced cauldron.

The beasts struck the fire wolf like rain hitting the surface of a lake.

Their ingredients, like a hidden payload continued on, flames embraced the ingredients and the partial concoction.

“Increase compression, decrease temperature, increase revolutions.” Erik spoke aloud, the elements leapt to his command as the ingredients were pushed together, impurities and smoke came off of the bean shaped item forming in the middle of his cauldron.

“More Earth and Metal mana,” Threads spread from Erik’s moving finger tips, passing through the  flame holes of the cauldron and into the forming concoction.

The beasts faded away in their forms. A nebulous cloud of pure blue flame wrapped the concoction, flames ran along the sides of the cauldron.

Cauldron strength and temp are good, ambient air temperature is good, pill internal temperature is low. I can increase the metal content of the pill slightly and it will heat up faster.

Black threads danced. The cauldron was a planet and Erik was the god controlling it.

Erik’s eyes were closed but his eyes shifted under his eyelids. His sight spells allowed him to see through his eyelids, through the cauldron, through the flames and concoction. His senses had all locked onto his task.

Erik took a slight breath as the concoction spun, it was a myriad of ugly colors spreading into one another. Smoke continued to rise.

Slowly, painfully compared to the action of moments ago, the concoction became smaller and rounder.

A large chunk cracked and released a powerful black gas, suddenly smoothing out a large part of the concoction.

Crap. Erik’s fingers flew, altering the flames. Come on stabilize will you?

Erik’s clothes were covered in sweat. The mana in the room danced to his rhythm and command.

The concoction stabilized. The concoction’s molasses like surface hardened.

Newborn pill. Erik relaxed slightly, he rolled his tight shoulders and neck, refraining from trying to clear the sweat on his face.

“Compress, lower temperature.”

Erik used his flames and Earth spells. The rough pitted and bumpy surface of the pill released tiny gas vapors, smoothing slowly.

Have to keep the compression and heat high enough to purify, but not too high that it starts to burn the ingredients. Some ingredients need high temperature over a short period to burn off, some need low temperature over a long time. Balancing out this shit sucks. Also need to increase the mana flow, again too much, too little and different amounts. Okay lower temperature, increase mana flow, that will balance out the Elder Weed so it doesn’t evaporate.

Erik walked a tightrope.

“Condensed.”

The bumps on the surface were smoothed out, but there was still the pitting.

Erik slowly drew away his flames and cancelled his spells.

He used mana manipulation to open the cauldron and pull out the pill storing it in a waiting pill bottle.

“One expert grade Revival pill.”

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Revival Pill (Condensed)

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Grade: Mid Expert

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Increases natural regeneration by 450% for 5 minutes.

Increases Stamina regeneration by 800%.

Heals blood vessels.

Heals respiratory system.

Heals bones

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Skill: Alchemy

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Level: 81 (Expert)

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Able to identify 1 effect of the ingredient.

Ingredients are 5% more potent.

When creating concoctions mana regeneration increases by 20%

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“I’ll need to make a lot more of those pills to get to the high expert ranks. Need more than just making a high level pill. They only increase a level a certain amount. Just like when I helped out Old Hei. It took me months to reach the skill I needed to actually produce pills that would increase my skill level more. Now I have a higher skill level but I need to prove it again and again to the Ten Realms.”

Erik grunted as he shifted, his muscles tight and weary.

“Ah shit.” He let himself drop on his shoulder, stretching out his legs and reaching his arms out, feeling the pops and cracks through his body, the stretch opening up those tight places in his body.

“Quick Heal.”

Erik let out a groan as the aches fell away.

He cancelled the spell and stood up. He stored his gear and used a clean spell on himself.

“Lost track of time, I must’ve been in here for a few days.”

He yawned, pulling out a stamina potion.

“At least we found some better flavoring for these things. Faster than eating a meal.” Erik drank from the potion and walked for the door, he opened it with his manipulation and walked out into the hall.

His Special team had switched again, team three waited for him.

“Hey boss,” Han Wu the second in command of Special team three looked up from the card game he and another team member was playing. Two others were watching the hallway of alchemy rooms. Alchemists entered and left the different rooms without a second glance.

“Rugrat told me to tell you that once you’re done you need to go dungeon raiding.”

“What’s he up to?” Erik asked.

“Been at the range, training in the dungeons, teaching,” Han Wu stored the game away.

“Alright, I need a shower first.” Erik started walking the group, moving around him.

“Anything change?” Erik sipped from his potion again, letting the others guide him out of the crafter hall.

“You’ve been in there for five [mc4] days. No change. Domonos came back and made a report.  Director Silaz has been gathering information on the traders and bandits at Vuzgal.” Han Wu passed Erik an information book.

“Yay.” Erik opened the book.

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Information Book: Summary for Lord West

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Do you wish to activate this Information book? Doing so will destroy this Information book.

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YES/NO

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“Sure.”

***

“Well you look like shit,” Rugrat said as Erik wandered into the barracks.

Erik flipped him the bird and moved to the panther that had been readied for him.

“Jimmy,” A reprimanding voice cut through the parade square as Rugrat grimaced.

“Momma,” Rugrat complained.

“You two are more like a married couple than brothers.” Momma Rodriguez moved to Erik.

He bent down and gave her a hug.

“Here is some thick chicken soup. Some fresh baked rolls. Eat up!” She said.

Erik opened his mouth and then closed it.

He pulled a table and chair out from his storage ring. Momma Rodrigeuz put down the bowl and plate of rolls with steam rising from them both.

She pulled out another table.

“Momma, let me!” Rugrat climbed down and jumped over the short stable wall.

“You best all eat up, can’t work properly on an empty stomach,” Momma Rodriguez pulled out a spread from her storage ring, setting it out.

“Tyrone you’re on cutlery, Han Wu get the plates out. Jackie, Dodd, you’re on chairs!” Gong Jin’s special team quickly stored their weapons and set to work.

Rugrat opened his mouth.

“I tried to make your favorite Enchiladas!”

“Hurry up and get the table set! We can’t go out on an empty stomach!”

“Could you pass the Guac?”

“Is that sour cream?”

They served one another, quickly devouring everything that Momma Rodriguez brought out.

Rugrat patted his stomach.

“I couldn’t eat another thing.” He said as Momma Rodrigeuz watched over them all with a smile on her face it faltered as the special team members started to stand up.

Rugrat stood up as well.

“Got a job to do Momma.” His voice was quiet but strong.

She put a hand on his arm.

“Be safe out there.”

Rugrat covered her hand with his.

“All of you hear me?” She looked at the rest of the group.

“Yes Momma Rodriguez.”

“Good!”

Almost as quickly as the feast and table had come together it disappeared, cleaned and then stored. Rugrat waved as they headed out, taking the road towards the totem.

“Where is this dungeon?” Erik asked.

“Third Realm,”

“Great, swamps.”

“Haunted swamp.”

“Even better, sounds like you’ll be right at home.”