--- Chapter 73 ---
"Good, keep running."
Scathach's voice echoed in the backyard while Xiao Xiao and Ma Xiaotao ran like their lives depended on it. A massive shadow approached them with immense presence and dragged the area like an ocean.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
A Shadowy Swordfish violently chased over them like a hungry beast and stabbed part of their bodies, ripping internal organs mercilessly. Painful groans echoed one after another, but they couldn't slow down because they would die.
They would die, but they wouldn't die because Regeneration Primordial Rune was "constantly." activated to keep them running for days. Scathach, the demonic teacher, is well-known among the Dragon Nest Community because she would destroy and mold you into a strong warrior. Her method is somewhat unorthodox but "extremely." effective, having the result that no one can't argue.
Even though Dragon Nest hasn't accepted Shrek Academy's proposal to become an alliance, Scathach has trained Xiao Xiao and Ma Xiaotao because she is interested in their potential. One is a cold-blooded girl, while the other is a pure newborn phoenix.
Scathach grinned and declared, "Yes, show me! Show me you're worthy enough to be closer to my disciple. This training is nothing compared to what I gave him when he was 6. Failing this means you're a failure in his eyes too."
"Ugh... Looking at their suffering brings bad memories." Qianye Ying'er leaned on her room's window and used Kenbunshoku Haki to peek into the bounded field. Her mastery is high enough to be considered a master in the One Piece universe. Being an Ancient Holy Human gave her high talents in all areas.
The bounded field was invisible to normal eyes, but a technique that allowed someone to see the future bypassed that anti-spy protection. And Scathach only created a low-leveled barrier, so Qianye Ying'er could easily see through it.
"Hmm?" A frown appeared on Qianye Ying'er face because her future sight detected an annoying event. She sighed weakly and whispered, "Of course, they would find me sooner or later. That trashy father is truly living up to his sinful nature."
"By the way, what are you doing there, Yuhao?" Qianye Ying'er glanced at the rooftop.
Huo Yuhao has a big pot above the rooftop with Thunderfire burning below. He was making a 2nd Awakening Potion with Star Essence because he finally found a way to eliminate the poison after witnessing Ma Xiaotao's Rebirth.
"Me? Well, just casually making a potion here." He answered while pouring a bluish-colored vial full of Star Essence inside the pot. He stirred for a moment and used Kenbunshoku Haki to detect impurities inside the mixture.
"Star Essence is no different than Divine Water, but since it would be poisonous for a mortal. I had to create a substance with a purifying effect. 10.000 years old Blood Ginseng was known for increasing one's Inner Energy and purifying poison inside one's body."
"And by adding several Heavenly Herbs and a few drops of Naga's blood, I should be able to create a rapid reaction where the Star Essence's effect becomes higher."
Huo Yuhao watched the white liquid inside the pot become pitch black. He frowned and asked Evo to scan his creation because failure would waste the Star Essence. He only had a limited amount of Star Essence because Star Luo Empire's Royal Family kept it somewhere hidden from public eyes.
[Name: Nameless]
[Type: Consumable]
[Grade: SS]
[Description: An unknown potion with an effect to awaken one's martial soul. And it was created with several rare ingredients and a few drops of Divine Dragon's Blood, having a 75% chance of 2nd awakening]
"That's disappointing." Huo Yuhao commented while looking at the grade and Description. Even though the chance of success increased by 73%, the SS Grade and effect don't meet his general requirement.
It's not a bad thing by any means, but for Huo Yuhao, who was sure all his four Martial Souls exceeded SS Grade, this potion is basically useless.
He chuckled and continued, "I want to name it Disappointment for some reason. And I wondered why Grid named his greatsword, Failure."
"Our naming sense is not that different, I guess."
"Anyway, Evo. Upgrade Disappointment with Black Gold Upgrading Ticket."
[Using 1 Black Gold Upgrading Ticket to Upgrade Disappointment(SS)]
[Upgrading...]
[...]
[You acquired Disappointment(SSS)]
[Name: Disappointment]
[Type: Consumable]
[Grade: SSS]
[Description: Disappointment is a Divine Wine that accidentally was created by the Host using Divine Water, a few drops of Divine Dragon's blood, and several Heavenly Herbs blessed by the God of the Moon and Drink, Soma. And have an effect awakening one's hidden potential by 100% chance]
"Upgrade is op." Huo Yuhao laugh maniacally.
He looked down at the pot and noticed the pitch-black liquid turned into a honey-like color with a sweet yet floral scent. It is somehow enough to make one drunk by sniffing it alone.
"Soma, huh? That guy should be the God from Danmachi." He picked a clean spoon and tried a drop of Divine Wine. "What a strong, good damn wine..."
Huo Yuhao felt something was awakening inside his soul, but he only tasted a drop of Disappointment. The effect is not fully activated.
[You need to take a whole pint glass of Disappointment to awaken your potential and Martial Souls, Host] Evo answered after scanning the effect of Huo Yuhao's newest creation.
Huo Yuhao brought out some pint glasses Yun Han gave him a few months ago from his inventory and carefully collected the Disappointment. And to his surprise, he could only fill up to five-pint glasses.
"Ying'er, come here." His head peeked out of the roof, making Qianye Ying'er tilt her head in confusion.
Qianye Ying'er jumped off the window and created a wall of light to jump for the second time. She landed on the roof successfully and looked at five-pint glasses weirdly.
"Um, you wanted me to drink alcohol?"
"Does Yun Han finally affect you, Yuhao?"
Huo Yuhao couldn't help but roll his eyes at that accusation and answered, "You know we got Star Essence from the Dragon Auction Event, right? I've created a potion or Divine Wine that could awaken one's potential."
"I only have five shots here, leaving only two for others because you, Shishou, and I would drink it here."
"That sounds amazing, but doesn't Star Essence only have 2% of success?" Qianye Ying'er walked to Huo Yuhao and checked the Divine Wine with her amethyst-colored eyes. "Oh, it smells sweet."
"100%." Huo Yuhao grinned at the golden-haired girl.
"My Divine Wine has a 100% chance of awakening one's potential."
Qianye Ying'er eyes widened in wonder, "No way..."
"What are you two busy about?" Scathach suddenly teleported herself onto the rooftop, leaving dying ladies inside the bounded alone. Her nose twitched a little when smelling Disappointment's scent.
"Y-You... Yuhao, you created Divine Wine?"
"This student of yours is the best." Huo Yuhao winked playfully.
Scathach and Qianye Ying'er could only stare at this young man with disbelief. They always regarded him as the greatest for years but still underestimated his ability to create a miracle.
Huo Yuhao pushed two pints at them and said, "Well, let's talk about the details later. Drink!"
"Just one shot of Disappointment."
"Cheers!" He took his pint and downed the whole Divine Wine in one motion. Scathach and Qianye Ying'er stared at each other, shaking their heads. They followed him and drank the Disappointment, triggering the effect immediately.
Huo Yuhao, Scathach, and Qianye Ying'er were stunned on the spot and felt something burning inside their chests. The necromancer, Eluxia, gradually frowned because she sensed a significant shift of Spiritual Energy in the area.
[You have ingested Divine Wine...] Evo's voice echoed inside Huo Yuhao's head.
[Awakening Host's Hidden Potentials]
[Four Hidden Potentials detected...]
[...]
[...]
[True Lord of Dragons(SSS)]
[Limit Breaker(SSS)]
[Boundless Emperor(SSS)]
[Dimensional Conqueror(EX)]
[Error detected?!?!?!]
[Dimensional Conqueror hasn't fully awakened]
[Ding! The System has started the Main Quest]
[Name: World Domination]
[Objective: Conquer Random World(0/1]
[Reward: Dimensional Conqueror fully awakened, Platinum Upgrading Tickets(3), and Amethyst Upgrading Ticket(1)]
[Penalty: Upgrade Function sealed for ten years]
[Time Limit: 2 years]
[Do you want to accept the Main Quest?]
[Yes/No]
Huo Yuhao was speechless inside when hearing a series of notifications from Evo. He slowly opened his eyes and stared at the Main Quest's panel, feeling somewhat troubled when reading the penalty.
"Ten years. That would be annoying..." He frowned while thinking about something because he couldn't accept the Main Quest that easily, but Dimensional Conqueror is EX grade.
After thinking deeply about his decision, Huo Yuhao opened his mouth and asked, "Evo, what does the objective mean by A Random World?"
"Don't tell me the system would give me a gacha where I had to randomly pick a world to conquer?"
[Yes, Host]
"God fucking DAMN IT!" Huo Yuhao cursed while slamming his hand against the pot, sending it down to the Housing Dorm. A wide hole "instantly." was created from the rooftop or the basement. Fortunately, no one was under the rooftop because they would die by getting hit.
BOOM!
Huo Yuhao groaned in frustration because everything was perfect for six years straight, but one thing always made him skeptical. Even with EX Rank Luck, Dice, and High Roller Passive that increase the odds of winning, he was still afraid of Gacha. The greatest archenemy from his previous life.
'Are you okay, Yuhao?' Tian Meng asked worriedly.
'Yeah, just tell us if you have a problem.' Bing Di added confidently.
"Do you need a hug?" Eluxia said while materializing herself in front of Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao looked at his contracted spirits and smiled, "Thank you for the concern, everyone. I'll be fine."
Scathach and Qianye Ying'er were meditating beside Huo Yuhao, listening to Huo Yuhao's random ranting with confusion. They wanted to help, but the young man seemed to talk with himself before his Contracted Spirits started a conversation.
"Fuck it. Yes, I accepted the quest." Huo Yuhao said while looking at the system panel.
[Do you want to pull the World now?] Evo asked with a dull tone.
[Yes/No]
He breathed in and answered, "Yes."