When this confrontation took place, someone had been a bystander all along, witnessing the entire process of this supernatural power showdown. It was truly fascinating. That was all Donning could think. When Alkmaar discovered Font's true identity and prepared to act, Donning had anticipated an intriguing confrontation.
From beginning to end, he observed the downfall of every wielder of supernatural powers. Uncle Egros, the night watchman of Kesseta, had told him tales of Holy Crusaders and their battles against dark forces. It was thrilling to hear about. Although tonight's skirmish wasn't as grand as those holy wars, it was still quite an event.
Nearly all the supernatural forces surrounding Gaitan and Alkmaar had been called into action. However, one crucial player was missing, which Donning found a bit disappointing. But at least one person he had hoped to encounter tonight did appear, and that was enough.
Donning clapped his hands and walked up to the two of them, showing a meaningful smile. "What an extraordinary confrontation. Font, you actually managed to convince this alchemist to take you on as a student. Your survival skills in critical moments are genuinely impressive."
No reinforcements arrived for Font; instead, a former ally who had already cut ties with him appeared. But that didn't change the situation. A cunning person, albeit without supernatural powers, facing an alchemist with the Golden Owl badge could hardly pose a real threat. Font remained silent, hoping that Rondo would swiftly eliminate this overly confident young man. Revenge, he decided, would have to wait for another opportunity, especially against the alchemist who had disfigured him.
Rondo stared at the young man who had appeared, his single eye narrowing as he evaluated him. After confirming that this young man had no supernatural powers, Rondo's tone turned condescending. "You fool. Don't you realize how precious life is? Anyone with any sense would have run far away the moment they saw me."
Donning turned to the disfigured Font with a smile. "My dear friend. When an old ally shows up, shouldn't you at least ask me for help? I wouldn't ruin your face or make you mute, unlike others."
Font remained silent, grieving for the fate that awaited his former ally.
"Oh, I almost forgot. You're a mute. A clever mute. Such a shame not to hear your voice," Donning taunted, as though oblivious to any danger.
Ignoring the alchemist with the Golden Owl badge from the start, Donning's provocations made Rondo's expression twist with anger. The alchemist pulled out a vial of black potion, clearly enraged. "You'll pay for your insolence."
Donning acted surprised, as though only now noticing the alchemist's presence. "Oh, I see. There's an alchemist with a Golden Owl badge here. My apologies, I didn't mean to be disrespectful."
Rondo couldn't hold back any longer. He uncorked the black potion and poured it onto the ground, intending to immobilize the young man. But the potion had no effect whatsoever.
Rondo's face, usually as stern as iron, twisted in shock. "My potion… it didn't work?"
Donning sighed, pretending to be annoyed. "Sir, I've already sincerely apologized. Yet you've gone and soiled my shoes. That's quite rude."
Font watched in utter shock, even forgetting the pain in his ribs. What on earth was happening?
Rondo, in a panic, frantically searched for a stronger potion, intent on eliminating this impudent young man. An alchemist with a Golden Owl badge couldn't afford to fail against a simple young man. If news of this spread, it would ruin him.
"Stop wasting your time, Mr. Rondo. It's story time." Donning wasn't interested in waiting for Rondo to experiment further.
"Shut up, you insolent fool," Rondo bellowed, visibly shaken.
"Very well. Those who don't listen carefully deserve punishment." Donning pulled out an intricately designed red stick. Unlike Walden's dark staff, this weapon was nearly a work of art, with fine engravings—clearly a firearm. Font could see that Donning had come well-prepared.
*Bang*
A loud gunshot echoed as smoke drifted from the barrel. Donning calmly blew the smoke away, looking smugly at Rondo. "If you keep up the rudeness, the next shot will be to your head."
Rondo's leg throbbed with pain. He looked down in shock to see blood oozing from a fresh wound. With a roar of pain, he searched his bag for a potent healing potion. The wound closed up quickly, but it would still take time to fully heal.
Donning then began his tale.
"There once was a great alchemist named Isaac Newton. His accomplishments in alchemy were unmatched. Because of his brilliance, he was awarded the Tulip Badge by the Pope himself. He had a clever student, a man who had once been nothing but a petty thief."
Rondo, who had been furious, turned pale. He gulped, his throat constricting with unease.
"This thief, too poor and hungry, broke into Newton's lab one night intending to steal a bit of money. But his luck ran out; Newton caught him red-handed. Moved by pity, Newton decided to let him stay as his assistant and servant."
"He wasn't very bright, but Newton taught him patiently. Eventually, the thief learned a few things, though he grew arrogant and flaunted his small skills to ordinary folk. This angered Newton, so he withheld further teachings as punishment."
Donning continued to narrate, swinging his gun. "The thief held a grudge. When disaster struck one day, he stole all of Newton's work, claiming it as his own. He even spread rumors that Newton was jealous of his supposed talent."
Turning to Rondo, Donning's tone grew more pointed. "Now, this same thief, an alchemist with a Golden Owl badge, stands before me."
Font stared in disbelief, realizing the truth behind Rondo's reputation.
Rondo's wound had closed completely by now, and he stood, shaken. How could this young man know about this? Only he and Isaac Newton were aware of these events.
Donning continued, "Mr. Rondo, Isaac Newton sends his regards."
Rondo, nearly driven to madness, shouted, "Impossible! He's exiled to the cursed lands. No one can return from there."
"I'm an exception." Donning glanced toward Kesseta in the cursed lands. "As Uncle Isaac asked, I'm here to send you to hell with his latest creation."
Donning pulled out an orange vial, unscrewing the cap. "Mr. Rondo, enjoy your journey to the underworld."
Rondo laughed bitterly, clutching a purple vial of his own. "So you know Isaac's story, but that doesn't mean you can kill an alchemist with the Golden Owl badge, someone who's mastered all his research."
"By the way," Donning added casually, "Uncle Isaac wanted me to mention that he's realized all his previous research was flawed."
Rondo refused to believe these "lies." He couldn't accept the idea that anyone could leave the cursed land. Deciding to end this, Rondo prepared his own attack. "To hell with you!" He opened the vial and released a deadly purple potion into the air.
Donning, unbothered, opened the orange vial containing the Silence Potion, which nullified all alchemy formulas. Spreading his hands, he taunted Rondo. "Seems like I was telling the truth after all."
Rondo clutched his head in disbelief, yelling, "None of this is real! Isaac could never send you from the cursed land!"
Donning, uninterested in prolonging things, raised his firearm—a masterpiece by Phoenix, the greatest engineer of Kesseta, capable of firing continuously.
*Bang*
With a single shot, Rondo's head exploded, his regeneration potion rendered useless by the Silence Potion. Death was the only fitting end for a traitor.