Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

CH666 Alex’s Rune-Tech Alchemy II

***

The [Zaxan’s Transmutation] formations did indeed convert the substitute essences into the intended ones. However, the purity of the resulting essences left Alex less than satisfied.

Their purity had dropped from roughly 99% to around 93%.

For most alchemists, that level of purity would have been more than acceptable—excellent, even. But for Alex, who had spent the better part of his crafting career using AetherKindle and had grown accustomed to near-perfect, almost absolute purity, this was unacceptable.

Following its master’s intent, the AetherKindle splinter within the cauldron surged into the containment formations like a wrathful dragon.

Its flames burned through the contained essences, reducing every impurity foolish enough to remain in its path to nothing but cinders.

From one containment formation chamber to the next, AetherKindle swept through like divine judgement itself, leaving behind only purity and refinement in its wake.

Though this step alone cost Alex another hour or so, he did not mind in the slightest.

Only when even the lowest purity percentage of the formation chambers had been raised to 99% did he proceed to the next stage.

Following the precise order and ratios outlined in the modified formula Eleanore had created, Alex began the process of congealing the refined essences into a pill.

At this stage, the violent struggle occurring inside the cauldron finally became obvious to those outside.

The cauldron trembled violently as Alex forcibly fused the various ingredient essences together, creating a dangerous surge of pressure and energy within.

It shook so fiercely that no one would have been blamed for thinking it was about to explode—or at the very least, that the lid would blast clean off.

However, at that exact moment, strange glyphs unfamiliar to Lady Rosa Mercier and Dalton Asheton lit up across the surface of the cauldron.

They moved along its body like living chains, wrapping around the vessel as though physically forcing the lid to remain sealed shut.

In fact, they clustered so densely that it looked as though they were the only things keeping the cauldron from bursting apart entirely.

Then, vents suddenly opened along the sides of the cauldron, releasing high-pressure jets of steam containing the leftover impurities, and their cinders, that had somehow escaped even AetherKindle’s flames.

Yet surprisingly, the escaping vapour carried no medicinal scent at all.

Lady Rosa’s eyes flashed sharply.

That could only mean one thing—none of the medicinal efficacy of whatever was being crafted inside had leaked out with the steam.

’Is he trying to create a perfect potion?’

Her eyes widened slightly at the realisation.

Even Dalton, who knew little to nothing about crafting in general—much less alchemy—could tell that something extraordinary was happening.

Beads of sweat ran down Alex’s temples with increasing frequency.

It was obvious even to the observers that he was struggling. Yet the young man held on stubbornly, using his potent Spiritual Force to keep everything under control.

Then, suddenly—

Dark clouds formed above the garden.

Alex’s eyes snapped open as he looked up at the sky.

While Dalton and Rosa watched in shock, Alex—and surprisingly, Zora—remained calm. At this point, Alex was no stranger to tribulation clouds.

Alas, it seemed that just as he was familiar with tribulation clouds, they too were familiar with him.

Lightning flashed threateningly within the clouds for a moment. However, just as it was about to strike down—as if it had peeked below to see exactly who had caused this disturbance—the lightning suddenly retreated, and the clouds began to disperse.

’What’s going on? That’s not how the script is supposed to go.’ Alex blinked several times in confusion.

’Hey, come back. How is my pill supposed to reach its zenith if it doesn’t experience rebirth through your lightning?!’

No matter how much Alex protested internally, the natural order paid him absolutely no heed. The clouds simply withdrew like a fading mirage.

Eventually, the final product formed quietly within the cauldron.

Alex shook his head and sighed in disappointment.

Only then did he turn around and finally notice that he had guests standing behind him.

”Did the refinement fail?” Lady Rosa asked, concern evident in her voice as she noticed his expression.

”Oh, no.” Alex quickly shook his head. ”It was just that...”

He was about to explain that the source of his disappointment was actually the tribulation clouds refusing to strike. However, a deadly glare from Zora—unnoticed by the guests—immediately shut him up.

”You know what? Never mind. The refinement was a success.” He corrected himself at once.

The death stare vanished, and Zora’s perfectly professional smile returned.

Alex inwardly heaved a sigh of relief.

Truthfully, so did Zora.

The Trial of Heavenly Tribulation was a feared phenomenon on any world, something most cultivators regarded with terror and reverence. Yet Alex—this unreasonable craftsman—had experienced it more times in his short life than even most Legends or Epics would in their entire existence.

He had become both accustomed and desensitised to the fear and awe surrounding it. Especially after surviving the tribulation of the Trial of Elements and experiencing the boons that came after.

Alex’s mindset had gradually shifted.

Rather than fearing the torture of tribulation lightning, his focus now instinctively went to the boon that came after surviving it—which was, by every reasonable standard, not normal.

Just because his wives and party members had grown used to Alex’s particular brand of craziness (Calm Madness) did not mean he should display it so openly before outsiders.

”Did you bring the statues?” Alex asked.

”Yes, we did.” Lady Rosa nodded. ”Three of them,” she added.

The BattleBanes could only determine that the statues contained divine energy belonging to whatever deity the monster groups worshipped. They had no way of measuring the exact quantity of divine power stored within each one.

The monster tribes themselves were not especially large, so they did not expect the statues to contain an overwhelming amount of divine energy.

To be safe, they had chosen to bring more than one.

After all, in their minds, these statues had to be for their own treatment, since divine statues were effectively useless to anyone other than the deity to whom they had been consecrated.

”Good. We are going to need them for the next stage of refinement.” Alex said.

Zora called over a nearby Fury Knight.

”Please bring over the statues our guests delivered,” Alex instructed. ”Also, have someone fetch the tub and the barrels I set aside.”

The Fury Knight saluted and immediately left to carry out the order.

A few minutes later, the setup was complete.

The wooden tub was far larger than Dalton Asheton and Lady Rosa Mercier had expected.

It was large enough that even Mogal or Kavakan’s massive frames could comfortably bathe inside it.

As for the divine statues... they were, unsurprisingly, ugly.

In truth, calling them ugly was being generous—they were outright grotesque. Their twisted forms looked disturbing enough on their own, but the divine energy radiating from them made the sense of disgust even stronger, almost instinctive.

It was a vivid reminder of just how different the aesthetic sensibilities of humans and monsters could be.

Alex had the statues positioned around the tub in a triangular formation.

Then, barrel after barrel of pale golden liquid was poured into the tub until it was completely filled.

Alex stood before it, staring intently at the golden liquid within.

His eyes flashed with such fierce concentration that Lady Rosa unconsciously took a step backwards.

Alex’s hands moved rapidly, weaving through a series of complex hand seals while muttering in incomprehensible gibberish.

Well... not actually gibberish.

He was singing a song in English.

Unfortunately for everyone present, not a single person there could understand a word of it.

***