Chapter 264: A Little Showdown
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 264: A Little Showdown
Cold, clear moonlight fell into the churning waters of the hot spring.
In an instant, the pool became preternaturally still.
This was the power of the Silent Moon, a fragment of authority from a former Evil God. It still possessed the terrifying might to reduce all things to a deathly silence.
The violent conflict within the pool was suppressed by this stillness.
Teacher Mela’s fingers twitched slightly, golden threads shimmering at her fingertips. Profound fluctuations continuously billowed from her petite frame, pouring into the golden waters.
She was using external force to drive the transformation forward.
Muen could feel the scorching heat within his body beginning to subside. In this silent, cold desolation, the alchemy core—constructed from dead matter—and the magic matrices began to gradually bridge that natural barrier, merging completely with his flesh and blood.
Teacher Mela watched with bated breath. Even with her level of composure, she couldn't help but feel a flicker of tension.
If they succeeded this time, it would mean one of the most difficult parts of the plan had been thoroughly resolved.
It would effectively pave a smooth road for everything that followed.
Because of this, she focused even harder, her smooth forehead breaking out in a fine layer of sweat.
Muen gradually settled into a state of calm.
It seemed the unbearable, agonizing pain had receded from his body. He looked as if he were truly soaking in a pleasant hot spring, a tranquil smile even playing at the corners of his mouth.
Through Teacher Mela’s crimson eyes, which seemed capable of seeing through all things, the changes within Muen had reached the final stage.
Under the influence of the external force, those complex magic matrices had fully integrated with his flesh, as if they had truly become his own meridians.
As for the most important part—the alchemy core—it was only a hair’s breadth away.
Once this last bit was finished, it would be—
"Ugh!"
Suddenly, Muen let out a pained grunt from within the spring.
That grunt quickly escalated into a blood-curdling scream.
His entire body went into violent spasms, as if he had been struck by high-voltage electricity.
Grievous wounds manifested inexplicably across Muen’s torso. Crimson blood sprayed out, dyeing the entire golden pool red in an instant!
A red flare of fire ignited, but even that flame couldn't keep up with the speed at which his wounds were tearing open. Within a few short breaths, Mela could feel Muen’s life force draining away at a terrifying rate!
"Damn it!"
Mela’s eyes darkened.
Without a moment's hesitation, she pointed a finger.
Dong—
A melodious bell tolled as a massive phantom of a clock manifested behind her.
Countless gears turned beneath her feet.
The long hand on the clock suddenly swept backward!
Dong—
The bell tolled again.
The change began.
Like a film being played in reverse.
The blood in the pool flowed back into Muen’s body, and his wounds sealed shut. His expression shifted from agonizing contortion to calm, then back to contortion.
A sliver of moonlight flew out of the water and landed back in Mela’s palm.
The alchemy core and magic matrices inside Muen returned to their original state, as if everything that had just happened was nothing but a dream.
The golden pool water began to churn once more.
"So it appeared after all? A rejection reaction."
The massive clock phantom vanished, and Mela tucked the moonlight away with a flick of her wrist.
After a brief moment of annoyance, she quickly regained her composure. Emotional outbursts solved nothing.
Besides, she hadn't come away empty-handed.
"It’s confirmed now: this path is a dead end."
"The Silent Moon's power can indeed suppress the violent conflicts during the transformation, but it cannot change the fundamental nature of the process."
"Turning death into life... a transformation capable of overturning the existing system of alchemy is indeed not so easily conquered."
"I need to think of another way. Let me think..."
But as she pondered, Mela suddenly dithered.
She felt... like she was forgetting something?
"Holy motherf—!"
Almost the exact moment the thought occurred to her, a roar—composed of three parts shame, seven parts pain, and ninety parts pure rage—echoed through the entire flower sea.
"ME! LA! TEA! CHER!"
"Ah, right. I forgot about my idiot disciple. He’s still soaking in the water."
Finally remembering what she’d forgotten, Mela looked up blankly, only to see a figure as red as a boiled shrimp leap out of the pool.
Feeling the searing heat as if he’d been cooked alive, Muen nearly burst into tears. He glared at Teacher Mela with grief and indignation, his teeth gritted.
"What are you trying to do?! Are you trying to boil your only disciple to death? Your cute, handsome, gentle, and charming disciple?!"
"Oh dear, there was a little accident. I accidentally turned the water temperature up a bit too high."
Teacher Mela spread her small hands, acting cute. "Come now, dear disciple, won't you forgive your teacher?"
"What do you mean 'a bit too high'?! Don't think you can act like nothing happened just because you reversed time!"
Muen was furious. "I’m connected to the Eternal Clock too! I don't lose my memories after a time reversal!"
"Oh my."
Mela blinked, then smiled nonchalantly. "I almost forgot about that. So, my silly disciple, what do you want to do about it?"
"I..."
Muen pursed his lips tightly, staring at Mela as indignation surged within him like a tide.
This was too much!
It was one thing to torment him normally—at least she used to give him a heads-up.
This time, she didn't even let him prepare himself mentally before jumping straight into the deep end?
He had clearly felt himself standing on the precipice of death just now!
Even with time reversal, you don't just play around like that!
In this moment, Muen felt like a child getting a shot. Just as a pretty nurse had distracted him with candy and he was smiling happily, she’d suddenly jabbed a needle into his butt. It was a confusing, agonizing mix of bewilderment, anger, the heartbreak of being deceived, and the lingering sting of a pain that was both there and not there!
No way. He couldn't let this happen ever again!
"Teacher Mela, I’m going to make you realize that even if I am your lab rat, I have rat rights!"
Muen took a deep breath and suddenly crouched, raising his hands in a boxing starting stance.
"Oh? You want to go a round with me?"
Looking at her overconfident, foolish disciple, Mela raised an eyebrow with interest and lifted her small hand.
"Fine. I can play with you for a bit."
"Wait!"
Muen suddenly called for a timeout.
Seeing Mela’s familiar starting stance, a bad memory surfaced in his mind, and he instinctively clutched his head.
"Unfair! This is totally unfair! Bullying people with your age and realm—what kind of hero does that?!"
"Hmm?" Mela asked with a half-smile. "Then what do you want?"
"What do I want..."
Muen’s gaze swept over Mela, then he looked down at himself.
His eyes suddenly lit up, and he slapped his thigh.
"Let’s have a fair duel! No mana, no fighting spirit, and no special items or methods allowed!"
"Using nothing at all? Then what exactly do you want to showdown with?"
"We’re going to showdown..."
Muen puffed out his chest and stood tall. He suddenly raised his arms halfway and dropped into a semi-squat—a classic bodybuilder's pose. He pushed his muscles to the limit, showcasing a physique that wasn't overly bulky but was defined by graceful, leopard-like lines and explosive power.
┗|｀O′|┛
"We’re going to have a muscle-off! ♂"
"Muscles?"
Mela’s willow-leaf brows shot up again.
She looked at Muen’s solid biceps and pectorals, then glanced at her own slender, delicate, pale arms that lacked even a hint of excess fat. She gave a brilliant smile.
"Fine by me."