(Denzel's POV):
I continued to walk and I found one of the hidden rooms I made to stay in as a workstation room. This room was nearby the fountain so I used this trashcan lid as an entrance key.
There is a carved in part of a wall that has a perfect circle that fits the lid of a trashcan. So I inserted the lid of the trashcan to the carved in part of the wall. As a result it opened a secret door.
I entered the room and saw some brewing equipment. I closed the hidden door before entering deeper into the room.
I dusted off most of the apparatus as they have been left unused for quite a while.
"Been a while since I've been here."
It was my old alchemy station. I made this some time ago so I could create high grade boosting potions for early game but it seems that it has served its purpose after I finished constructing the crystal palace.
However, I didn't clean up the place as it should still be useful if I could make some things in here.
I moved to the main table and took out empty bottles. I placed them on three designated spots on the table and lowered them so I could fill it with water.
I then raised them back up to the table and I prepared the ingredients.
Different kinds of flowers with different kinds of effects. It's nice that I actually have more extra potions that mainly go for sustain and resistance.
What interested me is one simple thing that I picked from Seymour's garden. The plant that he gathered during his adventure towards the corrupted biome. Deathweed...
It doesn't seem to kill people or make some severe side effects. In fact, they are ingredients for a specific potion.
A potion that assists in farming.
It's called 'Battle Potion', taken from the game of Terraria. This potion increases the spawn rate of mobs around a one hundred meter radius from the player who drinks one of these.
The additional effect that was added for this game is that it sharpens senses due to the crappy taste it has.
"I am skeptical about this."
I used the game's crafting system to assist me in making the potions. But since this is the first time I'm making a Battle Potion, I have to brew it manually for aesthetic.
I took out a manually made mortar and pestle to crush the herb and poured it into the water bottle.
I activated the mixer which made the designated spots rotate in an axis.
After waiting patiently for the automated process the potion brewing has been completed.
"Finally."
A dark purple texture that looks like a dangerous cooking of some clumsy anime girl, I looked at the bottle with no other feeling but my skepticism.
"I should test it out somewhere safer."
I repeated the process in the other two bottles however, I added some sugar in the last one.
Now that I'm done here, I should go towards the inn.
I opened the exit door once again and left the area without any trouble. I properly closed the exit so nobody could enter this room.
Since I have quite a bit of time remaining before my turn repeats, so I went towards the inn.
I kept walking while keeping an eye to my surroundings. I made sure to leave no openings as I never know what would happen right now.
It took quite a bit of time of walking before I finally arrived to the designated inn.
Before entering I heard a lot of commotion inside the subjected inn, so I thinned out my presence before entering the inn.
I opened the door and I saw Malech apprehending Leo.
However, multiple micro portals around the room are aiming for Malech with a medium level elimination magic.
"Enough!"
Haaaaaaah, how much troublesome are these newcomers gonna get? Do they not get along with Malech well?
Malech and Leo instantly looked at me, Malech still kept Leo on check but, Leo casted an elemental spear to hit Malech.
I took out Omnitelum and converted it to Vajra. I then blocked the elemental spears one by one without failing to protect Malech. Luckily, to help out, Malech was clearing out the other elemental spears that are behind me.
It didn't stop, so I stepped on Leo to ensure he doesn't escape and activated one ability I didn't like to use.
And that ability is an anti-portal shockwave. It generates a surge of thick energy to disable everything mana related around me. As such.
"Mana shock!"
All kinds of magic that is in the atmosphere or imbued in items have been completely disabled temporarily. This includes my Vajra as it absorbs magic attacks to restore mine instead.
So I wouldn't be able to use any kind of mana because all of which was disrupted within ten meters around me.
So basically, I made a dead spot for both inner mana and atmospheric mana. I recently came up with this as well because of the jogging I went around earlier.
It'll slowly return to normal anyway since atmospheric mana spreads continuously.
Moreover, now that I blasted the mana around me, Leo cannot use any type of magic due to the lacking presence of atmospheric mana.
"How insolent you are, I expected you to be more mature in your passive aggressive mindset but, it seems like you are a bit in the troublesome side."
"It was him wh-" - Leo
"Even if I did, I had to set you straight you shit head!" - Malech
Malech stomped Leo to interrupt him.
"Malech, tell me the whole story later. Now, where's Miguel?"
"He's busy patrolling." - Leo
"Really now?"
Just in case I used a wide spread area scan to check where Miguel is.
And he's currently in the fountain taking in some fresh air while training himself.
"Now, what do you have to say? Considering that your actions might lead to your death."
"Kill me then!" - Leo
What a nuisance.
I chopped the back of his head to make him pass out normally.
So as he's currently in paralyzed state I went outside to check for a place where atmospheric mana was unreachable from my Mana Shock ability.
And so I made a self sustaining prison using ice that absorbs atmospheric mana to regenerate itself.
This makes sure that he can't get out.
Just in case I'll set up more stuff.
Malech told me that he has a bit of work to do outside the target area so I let him be.
Finally I went back to the inn and I hear nothing but silence.
"Rika's room?"
I walked through the hallway to check their rooms whether they are safe or not.
When I passed by Rika's room. I didn't feel any presence from her, so she's most likely asleep.
I did open the door to her room only to prove my point.
I stood by her bed and gently caressed her cheeks.
"This girl is really cute."
Smiling on instinct isn't my thing but, as I'm smiling without hesitation this means that I'm really happy with her in here.
"That looks like Gayle."
Rika's room was a large room. Just like Ashley's room, it contains a few beds, a few cabinets and work tables each for three people.
This is really a thing to think about. Since these kids see Rika as a mother even though she's only a year older to them, then if they see how much I love her, would they consider me as a father? I kinda like the hear of it, it enters my nerves positively.
Looks like Gayle and Thrish are sharing a bed, just like Angel, and Jilean who are currently asleep as well. Where's Bea?
I messaged Malech about Bea and he replied immediately.
"We're currently walking around the area." - Malech
Wow, how deft is he at love life?
Anyways, this means that there is an opportunity presented to me to kiss her.
In which I held back because I want her to witness me kissing her. Specially that Rika might become angry if I didn't tell her anything.
Regardless, my love for her is absolute.
The only problem is Miguel and Leo, I might have to kill these two to prevent anymore trouble like Malech nearly dying. However, it depends on Rika wants them dead or not.
Both of them are her friends after all.
But the ominous feeling is still there, I just have heavy suspicion on them.
For now I'll settle it as my imagination only.
I kissed Rika's cheek once more before leaving the room.
As I was about to leave sneakily I noticed Gayle looking at me.
"Denzel? Why are you here?" - Gayle
"I'm checking around the inn if everybody is here."
"I see, can I have a word with you?" - Gayle
Huh, did she see what I did? If she did then I might be screwed.
"Hmm, sure! Come with me, I'll go check on the others first. My benefactors are most likely asleep as well. So I gotta roll call them myself."
"I see." - Gayle
I went through the door to exit the room, Gayle followed and closed the door while chasing after me.
"What do you need?"
"Actually, thanks for helping us now. I'm not particularly sure about what to do if Malech kept the lead specially that we have Leo and Miguel that are older than him." - Gayle
"Pretty sure I told him to rely on me, or his other friends. Specially William because he has great leading potential."
"Yet, he did much better than Leo or Miguel." - Gayle
"I guess it's about who he got the techniques from. That person is me, which got the same technique from my leader which is Seymour himself."
"Okay, another thing to say." - Gayle
"What is it about? Hold on a bit."
We arrived to Ashley's room where she's currently asleep. I stuck my ear to the door and transmitted my senses through the door.
I can feel her thinning presence but there are still possibilities.