Chapter 337: Like a Platypus's Claw
Chapter 337: Like a Platypus's Claw
Catching a spy of Boiling Silence, becoming the son of Cyclic Life (not really) after a bit of "Tallulah-ing," and catching a slight glimpse of Iona’s obsession.
Many things had happened, but with everything finally settled, only one task remained: striking the army of Ugly Prosperity before they could fully assemble.
Naturally, we couldn't go alone.
Though I had finally reached the rank of High Magician, and despite my slight lack of experience, I could handle any number of mediocre foes...
The problem lay with the Cardinal-level cultists and Lord-class monsters. Encountering them would inevitably lead to a struggle, and in that time, we would be surrounded in an instant.
Furthermore, monsters of Ugly Prosperity generally possessed high intelligence, often becoming high-ranking priests. Prime examples included Succubus-type monsters and the Goblin King.
Aside from their Authorities, which might lack direct combat power, there were more than a few whose innate fighting prowess was substantial.
Thus, support from Alfheim was essential... but even with the utmost haste, it would take at least two days to gather the powerhouses scattered across this vast Great Forest.
In truth, even that was only possible because we were traveling on Nidhogg.
So, what should we do with the remaining time? The answer was already decided: use the World Tree series items received from Cyclic Life to increase our combat power, even if only by a little.
For that reason, I approached Fay, who had been holed up in the workshop since yesterday, and asked quietly.
"Senior Fay, can you do it?"
"...Yeah. I won't be able to bring out the absolute best quality, but I can make something better than your current gear within the time limit. Of course, I'll leave room for future improvements, so you don't have to worry about wasting materials."
"What about the elixirs?"
"I just finished them; they're on the shelf over there. The materials were so good that I didn't dare mess with the potency amplification. Instead, I custom-made them to be easy to absorb, so check the names and the order I wrote down before you take them."
Fay spoke without taking her eyes off the massive cauldron.
Peering inside, I saw the cauldron filled with liquids shimmering in various colors—white, green, yellow, and red. Familiar-looking ingredients were bobbing within.
Twigs of the World Tree, dragon scales and horns, and... is that a flower? It’s impressive that it hasn't melted.
Actually, an alchemy cauldron doesn't just boil things by raising the temperature; it dissolves materials using various solvents and alchemy. If Fay wanted, she could keep the original shapes intact inside the pot indefinitely.
Anyway, she looked busy, so I decided to take the elixirs and consume them first.
As I gathered the elixirs from the shelf, I watched Fay’s back for a moment.
"...I'm sorry for pushing so much work on you, Senior Fay."
"Mm-mm. It's fine. It's only two all-nighters, right? This much isn't even that hard."
"But when we first came here, I brought you along thinking there wouldn't be much fighting, or that it would be light work even if there was..."
"I told you, it's okay. In my heart, I want to fight alongside you too... but I'd only be a hindrance, right? So I'm doing what I can. I want to be helpful to you guys too."
"...I'm really grateful you say that."
"If you're grateful, give me a kiss."
"Pardon?"
"Hurry up. I can't take my eyes off this right now. Just come over, give me a kiss, and go."
"Ha... well, if that's enough, I'll give you as many as you want."
I walked up behind the focused Fay and gently embraced her. Then, I pressed my lips repeatedly against her soft cheek and the nape of her neck.
Mwah. Mwaaah. Mwah.
"Is this enough?"
"Yes! Now I can burn through the rest of my stamina!"
I let out a hollow laugh at Fay’s sudden surge of motivation and whispered.
"Then I'll trust you and head out."
"Don't worry about things here. You just focus on absorbing the elixirs with the others, Junior."
"Got it."
After one last kiss on Fay’s cheek, I finally left the workshop.
Milone had intentionally placed the lodging, workshop, and training room as close together as possible, so the trip was short.
When I opened the door to the training room, I saw the women gathered together.
Carla, who had been waiting at the front, came running over and asked.
"Master, how did it go?"
"The elixirs are finished, and she said she can somehow make the deadline for the equipment. Of course, time is tight, so we'll have to use them in an unfinished state... but she said they'll still be better than what we have now. We can finish them properly later."
"Really? I knew Miss Fay’s talent was extraordinary, but to think she's already at this level..."
"No matter how many research materials and rare books I provided, it was Senior Fay’s effort that brought her skills this far. I'm just grateful."
An essentially unlimited budget. Samples that couldn't be bought with money. Alchemy books obtained from dungeons or auctions.
I had even handed over the research records from when Fafnir created my body in his lair.
In other words, one could say she reached this level thanks to me... but if I had given the same support to someone else, would they have made it this far?
Probably not.
It was the combination of Fay’s talent and her passion for pouring everything into alchemy that allowed for such a growth rate.
I nodded with a satisfied smile and pulled the elixirs I had just gathered from my subspace.
"Let's take these first. We need to take them now if we want to finish absorbing them and sharpen our dulled senses by tomorrow."
"...Indeed. The energy coming from them is incredible."
Carla nodded, staring blankly at the World Tree elixir series Fay had refined.
I handed Carla the bundle of elixirs with her name on it.
Holding the rest in my arms, I called out to the others.
"Everyone, come and take the ones with your names on them. Helena, you too."
"Uh... Brother, I am a priest, though?"
"I'm not entirely sure either, but if Fay made a portion for you, wouldn't it be because there's something useful in it?"
"Hmm. I suppose so. Sister Fay isn't the type to play jokes in a situation like this."
Helena accepted her elixir with quiet compliance. Glancing at it, the amount was smaller and the color was different compared to the others.
Well... since increasing mana capacity or physical ability doesn't mean much to Helena, that makes sense.
Anyway, after distributing all the elixirs, everyone took their places, spreading out at a reasonable distance.
Usually, taking elixirs all at once isn't a good idea because you need someone to monitor your condition.
However, I had the ability to absorb elixirs instantly and with maximum efficiency thanks to the System's assistance.
We had already decided that I would take mine first and then look after the others.
Feeling their eyes on me, I let the corners of my mouth curl up.
"Well then, shall we see just how good the World Tree is for the body?"
"...Stop using that unnecessarily ominous tone!"
Iris shouted with a horrified expression, but I brushed it off and tossed my portion of the elixirs into my mouth in order.
The elixirs melted one by one, sliding down my throat like a mixed cocktail.
The absorption seemed to be going well, but for a moment I felt uneasy because no notification sounded.
Ding!
Only after I swallowed the very last drop did the long-awaited bell ring.
Ah? So it treated all of them as a single elixir?
It meant the System recognized that Fay had refined each elixir to have a synergistic effect.
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【Essence of the World Tree Consumed!】
Goodness! I don't know how you did it, but you've gathered World Tree parts quite thoroughly!
And to consume them in a form refined specifically for your body!
The World Tree is an avatar of Cyclic Life. So, to exaggerate a bit, it means you've just eaten a Goddess.
...In a physical sense, not a lewd one!
Naturally, that much power will be absorbed into your body.
But be careful. Your body, which was already a clump of all sorts of powers, has reached its limit with this.
If you cram anything more into it without a separate Enlightenment, you'll go pop! and explode.
Of course, that's not happening today, so feel free to celebrate for now.
======================
"Wait..."
Not only did my primary stats and status ailment resistances skyrocket, but I even gained resistance to the Authorities of the Evil Gods I was about to face—yet I couldn't simply be happy.
If I eat anything more, my body will explode? Why so grim!
Grumbling internally, I opened my status window to see just how much they had increased.
Ding!
======================
Name: Yandel
Title: Adversary
Basic Stats
Strength: 20 -> 21
Endurance: 20 -> 21
Agility: 20 -> 21
Dexterity: 21 -> 22
Magic: 27 -> 28
======================
Ah, okay.
I understand now.
My physical stats, which shouldn't have gone up further without the help of specific traits, had each increased by 1. Since the efficiency of my stats had also increased due to the World Tree's blessing, the perceived utility would be even higher.
But even that paled in comparison to the overwhelming Magic stat of 28.
I was now only two steps away from the stat limit of 30. For reference, 29 and 30 were values permitted only to Archmages, so the System's assessment was quite accurate.
If I increased my mana capacity any further without the mana control of an Archmage, it would surely spiral out of my control and go berserk.
The System's assistance only ensures that I perform tasks I am capable of without error. If there isn't even a sliver of possibility, the System cannot help.
In other words, I was currently bulked up to the absolute limit of my limits.
In terms of pure mana quantity, I was probably on a similar level to Iris or Iona.
Considering how much harder it becomes to increase mana as the quantity grows, this was truly incredible.
The various status ailment resistances that followed were likely due to the life force within the World Tree making my body overall more resilient.
As for the Authority resistance... perhaps my body had developed a resistance to divine power itself by accepting so much of Solari's and Cyclic Life's power?
Whatever the reason, it was a necessary resistance ahead of the battle with Ugly Prosperity.
I turned toward the women watching me and gave them a satisfied smile.
"It's your turn now."
The women nodded silently and began taking their elixirs. By the time their absorption was finished, we would be heading out to strike the flank of Ugly Prosperity.
Like a platypus's claw—a hidden and lethal dagger.