Flames of Rage

Will this work?

I'd succeeded ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in enchanting a preservation rune before.

Recalling that, I decided to try enchanting a different spell.

Not some preservation nonsense.

This time, a 2nd-class spell...

Unlike enchanting a 1st-class spell, this 2nd-class one wasn't easy.

Or maybe the compatibility was off.

The recovery potion's distinctive red began shifting to gray.

Like molten steel.

"This looks impossible to drink like that. Did it fail?"

"Theo-nim, you didn't make this to drink, right? It won't even come out of the bottle..."

"Just wait a second."

It felt incredibly sticky.

Thicker than honey.

No way to drink it like this.

The viscosity would choke anyone.

Can't give up here. If I add matter conversion...

As I layered on the second spell, the viscosity started to change.

Still gray, but now it flowed like water.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Another message popped up.

"It's done! Success!"

The potion stabilized, turning silver.

"Theo-nim, what is this...? I've never seen a potion like it! Never even heard of one..."

"Yeah?"

"Yes! Mercenaries would love it. No, knights would snatch it up first!"

"Knights? Those monsters? They fight fine without stuff like this."

"Knights are human too, Theo-nim. If one sip boosts survival odds... magic effects without a mage? Who'd say no? And it's not single-use—it's timed! This is revolutionary!"

"Huh. That good?"

Lena was unusually excited.

She knew this world far better than I did.

The potion seemed mid-tier, but its effects were outstanding.

Better than the 2nd-class spell Rock Skin.

Though the duration was short.

Three hours felt brief compared to my hunter days.

Still better than constant spellcasting.

Make one more first.

One wasn't enough.

I handed the Steel Skin Potion to Lena.

"Lena, drink this when they come. Then we start."

"Something this precious...? But is it that dangerous?"

"Our landmines make it dangerous. Got it?"

"Yes! I trust you, Theo-nim!"

Lena's face flushed—not from battle tension, but the potion.

The doll's intel said we had time for one more try.

Just in case. Try an attack spell?

Success bred greed.

Battle loomed; anything extra helped.

No hesitation.

I started right away.

Next: Wrath of Flames.

Expensive from the magic tome shop, but worth it.

High utility.

Not pricey for nothing.

Expecting something aggressive.

Forcing an attack spell into a potion.

"Theo-nim! It's dangerous!"

Lena, watching my experiment, shouted urgently.

The liquid in the vial boiled violently, ready to burst.

Nothing like the Steel Skin Potion.

Glowing red like lava, radiating menace.

"This is trouble..."

I tried controlling the flame mana with Elemental Control.

But it wasn't enough.

Sweat beaded on my forehead.

Should've stopped at Steel Skin.

"Lena, mana circuits?"

"Too unstable! At this rate..."

Even Lena saw the chaotic mana circuits.

It would explode like this.

"Then..."

I added Delayed Hourglass.

Delaying time to halt the mana surge.

The potion gradually stabilized.

Now dark red, settling calmly.

Messages appeared.

Finally, I could sigh in relief.

Success was good.

But the description was odd.

"Can you even drink this? Looks risky."

I peered into the finished potion.

The dark red liquid writhed ominously.

"What happens if you drink it?"

"Hmm, maybe gain flame power briefly? Fire affinity boost... but dangerous."

"So you die in the end?"

"Probably..."

Felt like it'd burn you alive.

Survive five minutes aflame for the affinity boost.

Attacks would add fire damage, sure.

No mention of pain tolerance.

Don't drink this.

Definitely.

Kinda a failure?

Bitter taste.

Wasted a mid-tier potion.

But a new idea sparked.

Do I have to drink it?

I reviewed the Flames of Rage Potion details.

Not made to drink.

Opposite.

Force it on enemies?

No, didn't even need to.

This... a grenade? No, a molotov?

Not for drinking.

Unstable from the start.

Throw at foes?

They'd ignite.

What's the range and power? Need to test...

But thoughts on the Flames of Rage Potion cut short.

Haft Viscount's supply unit was nearly here.

"Lena, drink the Steel Skin Potion and focus."

Pushing Flames of Rage aside, Lena and I downed Steel Skin Potions together.

Still sticky despite conversion—unpleasant.

But effects felt real.

Skin hardened like metal.

No time to analyze.

A message appeared.

The supply unit approached slowly.

Seeing mana circuits outside crafting helped in battle too.

Like now.

No knights. Lucky?

I scanned ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Haft Viscount's soldiers.

Checking for mana circuits.

None wrapped in them, as feared.

If any, prioritize them.

No mages either. Overconfident? Or standard?

Not used to this world's wars.

But experience let me conclude.

Not overconfidence from Haft Viscount.

With Baron Sellevan's castle sieged, mages and knights were crucial elsewhere.

Not enough to cover every supply route.

Our odds were good.

Great, even.

Just a bit more...

Soon, the lead wagon hit the first flame explosion mine.

Click—

BOOM!

The ground shook as the flame explosion mine detonated.

With more power than expected.

"Kyaa— Mmph!"

Lena yelped instinctively at the blast.

But covered her mouth, realizing.

Luckily, Haft's men didn't hear.

Bigger noises and chaos overwhelmed them.

"A-ambush!"

"Calm the horses! Now!"

"The, the wagon—the front one's gone?!"

"Damn it! Get it together!"

Palm-sized flame explosion mine packed a punch.

Hard-packed earth directed blast upward.

Shrapnel, dirt chunks flew with the flames.

Pummeling the enemy.

"Argh!"

"W-what is this?!"

"S-save me! My leg—my leg—! Help..."

Panicked soldiers.

But the commander reacted fast.

"Enemy attack! Find them!"

"Stay calm! Don't break formation! Calm the hor—"

BOOM!

Another mine exploded, mocking him.

Horses, spooked by blasts, trampled more.

As enemies reeled from the noise, I drew my Sunogi.

This was the moment.

"Lena, now!"

Tut-tut-tung!

Sunogi's rapid fire echoed through the chaos.