Realm of Myths and Legends

Chapter 1149 Lightning Ridge and Mind of Solitude

After listening to Izroth speak, Pill Master, Blue Quill, and Iron Cauldron were stunned. They knew that the quality of some pills could slightly deviate from one another. However, this was their first time hearing about pills having a hidden grade to them.

”How can some hidden rank make a grade one pill work better than its grade two counterpart? Isnʼt it a little too unbelievable?” Blue Quill commented to Pill Master and Iron Cauldron.

Iron Cauldron let out a long sigh as he shook his head and said, ”Aye… There are many unknown secrets in RML. A pill having a hidden rank that can affect it to this extent isnʼt that surprising when you think about it.”

”Hey, whose side are you on?” Blue Quill frowned.

Iron Cauldron rubbed the back of his head and replied, ”Iʼm just speaking the truth. Besides, Palace Master Izroth seems to have a greater understanding of pill crafting than a grade three Apothecary like Elder Pill Master. Doesnʼt this mean heʼs at least a grade three, or maybe even a grade four Apothecary?”

”Hmph!” Pill Master let out a disgruntled grunt as he glared at Iron Cauldron, causing him to fall silent.

”What hidden pill rank? A grade one pill with those effects he mentioned would be equal to some grade three pills. That brat just has a few tricks up his sleeves. He wonʼt be able to keep it up for the rest of the trials. When that happens, Iʼll repay this humiliation a hundred times over!” Pill Master thought to himself.

”A grade two pill recipe that grants fire resistance and bonus damage—even though itʼs only the first trial, weʼve already earned quite a bit.” Mystic Lock stated.

”Thatʼs half true. It may grant temporary fire resistance, but the true benefit of this pill is that it gives bonus damage based off of your total fire resistance. This means that it serves a purpose even aside of facing fire-type monsters. The materials are a bit expensive, but even a person with no fire resistance will deal at least 30% bonus damage because of the fire resistance granted by the pill itself. If produced and sold, it will be quite popular as a damage booster. Which brings me to my next point.” Haishe explained as he looked toward Izroth.

He then continued, ”Palace Master Izroth, I want this pill recipe to be exclusive to my Fatal Touch. Of course, I wonʼt ask that you not craft it for yourself or friends; however, I want exclusive rights to mass produce and sell it.”

”Oh? Iʼm sure youʼre aware that youʼre making a rather shameless request.” Izroth stated calmly.

”I realize itʼs a little shameless, but Iʼm not so thick-skinned that I would ask this for nothing in return. I will be sure to compensate you. Itʼs just that this pill is one of the things I need right now.” Haishe responded.

While the Spiraling Flames Pill was an amazing pill, if there was one thing Izroth did not lack it was pill recipes. His Mystical Realm Palace was in no desperate need of it. That being said, Izroth did not plan to willingly give up something that belonged to him for free.

ʼTo my knowledge, Fatal Touch doesnʼt have a foothold in the pill market. Is he trying to establish one?ʼ

Izroth understood that Haishe had not been the leader of Fatal Touch for that long. He figured this trial dungeon and the Spiraling Flames Pill recipe was something Haishe wanted to use to help solidify his status as the organizationʼs leader. After all, if one did not show results in an organization like Fatal Touch, they would be tossed aside or overthrown.

”Recently, a member of my Fatal Touch discovered a place that someone like Palace Master Izroth would be interested in. We can go into details about everything after we clear this place. Until then, I hope Palace Master Izroth can seriously consider things.” Haishe said confidently.

ʼA place that I would be interested in? There arenʼt that many places that can catch my attention. For him to say that so confidently, perhaps itʼs worth hearing him out once things are over.ʼ

...

〈System Alert: The second trial «Lightning Ridge» and the third trial «Mind of Solitude» will start in 10 seconds!〉

Time swiftly went by as the start of the second and third trials were right around the corner.

Ever since the first trial ended, the room had transformed back into that platform and garden. At the moment, everyone stood on the platform and patiently awaited what was soon to come.

”I wonder what pill itʼs going to have us craft this time. Since the first trial was a grade two pill, maybe it wants us to craft a grade three pill?” Blue Quill commented.

”If it really does want us to craft a grade three pill, Iʼm afraid it will have to be up left up to Elder Pill Master.” Iron Cauldron noted.

”Thatʼs right. Weʼll only be able to sit back and watch. I really hope itʼs another grade two pill.” Blue Quill said as he placed his hands together.

〈System Alert: The second trial «Lightning Ridge» and the third trial «Mind of Solitude» has started!〉

〈System Alert: All stats will be automatically adjusted based on the trial!〉

Bzzzt...! Crrrckle...!

Out of nowhere, the surroundings underwent another drastic change. Before the party knew it, they were standing atop a mountain ridge. All sides of the ridge below were covered by a thick mist that was impossible to see through. The skies above were covered with dark gray clouds that one could see bolts of lightning jumping around within as the sound of thunder echoed above the ridge.

The crackling sound of thunder sounded as a bolt of lightning struck a few meters before the ground, causing most of them to instinctually cover their ears and winced over from the booming noise.

At the same time, golden text swirled in the skies above as the lightning momentarily died down.

[The journey of an Apothecary is not an easy one. Although I was a hailed as a genius by all those around me, even I had to face my fair share of challenges. There are things that are invaluable to an Apothecary when it comes to crafting higher grade pills. Therefore, I, Franz Winsor, will lend you a helping hand in realizing what that invaluable thing is. Good luck, young Apothecaries.]

The next moment, the golden text dissipated into the air as an open golden scroll appeared before Izroth, Pill Master, Blue Quill, and Iron Cauldron.

As for the others, they received a system alert that essentially barred them from participating in the second and third trials. In other words, they would only be able to act as observers. This time around, it was entirely in the hands of the Apothecaries.

Izroth swiftly read over the rules on the golden scroll that materialized before him.

ʼI see. So, itʼs that kind of challenge. Iʼm afraid it will be rather difficult for the others this time around.ʼ

The rules were simple. One just needed to make it to the other side of the ridge within ten minutes.

In order to reach the other aside of the ridge, one had to travel approximately twenty meters. Covering such a distance in one minute, let alone ten minutes was too easy. Of course, no one present was foolish enough to believe thatʼs all there was too it.

For this challenge, the number of points one could earn was based on how quickly they reached the other side of the ridge.

0:00-2:00 minutes would grant 75 points, 2:01-4:00 minutes 50 points, 4:01-6:00 minutes 25 points, 6:01-8:00 minutes 10 points, and 8:01-10:00 minutes 5 points. If one took longer than ten minutes, not only would they receive no points, but it will be considered as them having failed the trial. As a result, they would no longer be able to continue to participate in future trials as an Apothecary.

Furthermore, if one was struck by the lightning on the ridge, they would be automatically disqualified.

〈System Alert: The timer has started! [00:00]〉

The moment the timer started, the lightning that previously stopped immediately began to rain down, striking the only narrow pathway on the ridge that led to the other side.

”How are we supposed to get across like this?” Iron Cauldron questioned with furrowed brows.

”This challenge seems like itʼs more for tanks or those with agility-type classes. Weʼre Apothecaries—why do we have to do something like this? How will this help us with crafting pills?” Blue Quill scoffed.

ʼHm?ʼ

Izroth looked down at his hand and noticed that he was seeing three of them as his surroundings started to spin.

All of a sudden, an intense wave of dizziness washed over Izroth and the other three Apothecaries.

”I think Iʼm going to be sick...!” Blue Quill said as he covered his mouth with his hand while struggling to maintain his balance.

Pill Master and Iron Cauldron were also not fairing well as even standing upright was a challenge in and of itself.

”H-how are we supposed to cross the ridge in this state while avoiding the lightning? Itʼs impossible...!” Iron Cauldron stated as he tried to focus on the ridge in front of him.