Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2371: Chapter 2372: Hammering

Thawing ice, unsealing, administering medicine—all in one go.

After doing all this, Lyon’s condition seemed to improve somewhat. His lips no longer turned blue, gradually regaining some rosiness.

Nausicaa looked at the obviously ”improving” Lyon and asked Angel, ”Is he alright now?”

”Still far from alright. The Water of Forging only activated his potential, it didn’t directly help detoxify him.” Angel glanced back at Lyon, who still hadn’t woken up: ”Currently, he’s still in the phase of being transformed by the Water of Forging. He’ll probably awaken in a few minutes, and only then will the real detoxification start... However, whether he can actually endure it is another matter.”

After hearing Angel’s words, Nausicaa and the other surrounding physicians breathed a small sigh of relief.

As long as Lyon still had a chance to live, that was good.

After administering the medicine to Lyon, Angel casually mended Barona’s fractured skull on the side, then turned to Nausicaa: ”Let’s find a place to talk.”

Nausicaa nodded.

”Honorable sir, would you need a quiet room? The pharmacy next door has had some soundproofing, and there’s also a resting chamber inside.” A physician stepped forward to suggest.

Angel wasn’t particular about where to talk, and seeing this, Nausicaa gently nodded to the physician who stepped forward.

Since the pharmacy was just next door, and Flea had been there before, he volunteered to act as a Guide, leading Angel and the others to the pharmacy.

The pharmacy was somewhat larger than the medical room, filled with various iron medical instruments, and judging by the specifications, they were quite new.

There were some tools for purification and separation, clearly reflecting the style of mechanical reform in recent years.

Nausicaa, once a pirate captain, had naturally seen many pharmacies before, but this modern style was the first she had seen. As such, she instinctively took a few more glances.

Flea caught Nausicaa’s gaze and said, ”The pharmacy on the Moonlit Owl is larger and more advanced than the one on the Broken Blood. I was shocked when I first saw it yesterday.”

Nausicaa: ”After all, the Broken Blood is primarily a pirate ship focused on plunder, whereas the Moonlit Owl is a cargo ship running between continents.”

Flea nodded in agreement: ”Yes, the difference between pirates and legitimate merchant ships is huge. The Broken Blood doesn’t even have a proper pharmacy, only a medical room, and many of the instruments there are quite old. Later, upon my suggestion, the captain found an island and had a blacksmith create some instruments needed for modern medicine. But even so, they were basic and couldn’t compare to the precision of the instruments here.”

Flea looked around at the almost new medical equipment in the room, eyes filled with longing: ”Many of these instruments I’ve never heard of, and I don’t know how many generations they’ve been refined. I’m still using the first generation version from Axo Saintya, the difference is massive.”

After lamenting, Flea suddenly felt he had said too much, especially in front of two Transcendents.

He awkwardly ”coughed” twice: ”I’ll take my leave for now, distinguished sirs.”

Finished, Flea quickly turned back and walked out.

As Flea passed by Angel, Angel suddenly spoke: ”You mentioned Axo Saintya just now.”

Flea stopped in his tracks, a bit puzzled, and nodded: ”Yes, sir.”

Angel: ”Have you heard of the Land of the Great Serpent?”

Flea repeated in confusion: ”The Land of the Great Serpent? What’s that?”

Angel was silent for a moment, not explaining, but instead asked, ”Where did you hear about Axo Saintya? What do you know about it?”

Flea: ”My teacher told me. The teacher said Axo Saintya is the origin of modern medicine, a Holy Land for Physicians capable of creating miracles. Beyond that, I don’t know much.”

”And how did your teacher know about Axo Saintya?”

Flea pondered for a moment: ”I’m not sure, but when I was learning medicine, the textbooks my teacher used were medical books published by Axo Saintya.”

Axo Saintya also published medical books? Angel was quite interested and said, ”Where is that medical book? Where’s your teacher?”

Flea: ”My teacher passed away when I was fourteen. As for those medical books, my teacher cherished them greatly, so I buried them with him when he was laid to rest.”

Angel nodded slightly, not continuing the conversation.

After Flea left the pharmacy, Nis, who had already taken a seat on a nearby sofa, asked: ”You’re very interested in Axo Saintya?”

”A little.” Angel nodded.

”Because... of Dororo?” Nis didn’t know Angel had visited Axo Saintya but had heard long ago about this land of the Great Serpent that once housed the Baiyuanians. After Axo Saintya fell, the Baiyuanians disappeared completely, and the next person to encounter a Baiyuanian would be Dororo, a thousand years later. So, seeing Angel’s interest in Axo Saintya, Nis immediately linked it to Dororo.

”It is related to Dororo, indeed.” Angel quietly added to himself: but not entirely.

Nis didn’t ask further, but Nausicaa, curious, inquired: ”What is Axo Saintya?”

”A nation from the Fairy Tale World that ceased to exist a thousand years ago.” Nis explained casually: ”I remember; it was replaced by some kind of Royal Court.”

”Fuxu Royal Court.” Angel replied, ”I once saw some ruins of Axo Saintya, and indeed discovered many medical instruments there. Judging by their format, they differed from ancient medicine, rightly being the origin of modern medicine. However, after medicine was disseminated, knowledge of Axo Saintya dwindled.”

Nausicaa: ”Then Dororo...”

Angel: ”I encountered Dororo in the ruins of Axo Saintya.”

He did not mention anything about the Baiyuanians, as this pertained to certain secrets.

Nausicaa seemed to comprehend, nodded, and didn’t press further about Axo Saintya, instead shifting the topic to the Water of Forging.

”What kind of potion is the Forging Water?”

”A potion that activates potential, using human potential to resist internal damage. Toxins are one type that can be resisted.” Angel said.

Nis chimed in: ”I remember that Forging Water is a traditional potion of the Vanderval school, quite ancient, with significant side effects. It’s almost obsolete now.”

Nausicaa: ”Side effects?”

”Didn’t Angel just say it was excruciatingly painful? A pain worse than death.” Nis chuckled. ”It’s named Forging Water because it forges human potential as if hammering it out. The hammering process can potentially lead to physical and mental collapse.”

”In addition, there’s a greater side effect, which is the significant risk of entirely depleting bodily potential, directly lowering the original potential ceiling.”

”That’s why Forging Water gradually fell out of mainstream use, replaced by other potions.” As he spoke, Nis couldn’t help but glance back at Angel. ”I was shocked to see you take out Forging Water because it’s a rarity you can’t buy outside; you still carry it around with you?”

”During my earlier studies in potionology with the master of Magic Potion, Midora used Forging Water from the Vanderval school as a teaching example,” Angel replied calmly.

”I see,” Nis didn’t press further. What potions Angel carries is his own business; he was merely making an offhand remark.

After hearing about Forging Water, Nausicaa frowned: ”Given such severe side effects, why offer this option to Renko?”

Angel was about to explain when Nis interrupted, ”Surely because there are additional benefits to Forging Water.”

”Think about it, if Renko opted for direct recovery, a second-level trick Poison Cleansing Spell or a third-level trick Stubborn Poison Expulsion could solve most of it, and then use a Healing Spell, and Renko would almost be cured.”

This means if Renko chose the first option, a simple trick would suffice, without the need for a potion.

Yet, Renko used a potion. Even if Forging Water has been phased out, it’s still a nearly inaccessible transcendent potion for ordinary people. Not to mention, this is a potion personally refined by Angel, and given his status as a Research and Development Institute member, its base price is high.

Angel offering this option indicates substantial benefits within.

Nausicaa: ”So what are the additional benefits?”

Nis: ”As I mentioned, every ’hammer’ of Forging Water could lead to physical and mental collapse... You get my point?”

Nausicaa, being a Wizard Apprentice with extensive knowledge, grasped what Nis was implying.

Normally, Renko’s treatment addresses the physical body, with no real threat to the mind.

However, Nis specifically mentioned the potential for mental collapse, suggesting that Forging Water not only rebuilds the damaged body but also ’forges’ the mind.

Through each brutal blow, with potential being infinitely exploited and activated, the originally stable spiritual power may begin to fluctuate.

If he persists, there’s a significant chance his Mental Power Value will increase.

Earlier, Nis explicitly mentioned, ”Renko’s Soul Force is stronger than average, after death he should condense a Soul Body. But in terms of Mental Power Value, he hasn’t reached the standard of a Talented One, though he should be close.”

This suggests that Renko’s Mental Power Value is likely near 10, possibly around 8 or 9.

If Renko endures and reaches a Mental Power Value of 10, it means he will become a Talented One.

This means Angel is offering Renko a chance to step into the Extraordinary World.

Even if Forging Water exhausts bodily potential, gaining the status of a Talented One already makes it worthwhile. Becoming a Wizard allows one to address body and bloodline issues by other means.

Of course, all of this hinges on Renko’s endurance.

While Nausicaa pondered, a piercing scream came from the next room. — Despite the soundproofing in the apothecary, for Transcendents, this level of soundproofing is almost nonexistent.

”Looks like he’s already awakened,” Nis said.

Angel nodded, ”The potion has also started working.”

Nausicaa quickly discerned that the scream came from Renko. Undoubtedly, Renko had awakened, and the effects of Forging Water had begun on him.

Nausicaa, though not having much interaction with Renko, could see he was a resolute and stoic Knight.

A Knight of such caliber screaming so horribly under the ’hammering’ of Forging Water illustrated the severe aftermath of Forging Water.

It’s likely that ordinary people couldn’t bear it.

Even many Wizard Apprentices might not handle it, which is why Forging Water faded into the fringes.

The relentless screaming highlighted the extent of the pain.

This reminded Nausicaa of Angel’s brother Lyon.

Back when Nausicaa was in Fangling Hall, she learned about Lyon’s circumstances. His Mental Power Value hadn’t reached 10 yet. What ultimately made him a Talented One wasn’t Angel’s intervention but the Will Tempering Method from Suise.

Through intense, almost self-harming physical training, he tempered his will, eventually breaking through his mental limits.

Renko’s current situation is quite similar to Lyon’s training with the Will Tempering Method, they both strain their will.

Nausicaa softly sighed, secretly praying for Renko in her heart.

This is a quite precious opportunity, and since Renko chose Forging Water, it shows that he has seized the chance; as long as he endures, hope is ahead.