Lukas leaned against the stone wall of the barracks, his arms crossed as he watched his soldiers regroup. The encounter with the Dark Commander weighed heavily on his mind. His body still bore the marks of the battle, but the deeper wounds were in his spirit—his pride had been shaken. For the first time, he had felt utterly powerless, facing an enemy far beyond anything he had encountered before.
He had retreated.
But the fight wasn't over. It had only begun.
Zane and Marcus stood nearby, their faces shadowed with tension. The other soldiers murmured amongst themselves, their morale shaken. It was clear that the Dark Commander's overwhelming power had left an impression on everyone.
"I don't like this, Lukas," Marcus finally spoke, his voice rough. "We barely survived out there. This enemy… he's something else."
Lukas didn't reply immediately. He had been thinking the same thing. This enemy wasn't just a powerful cultivator—he was something darker, more twisted. And the fact that he had let them retreat meant that the Dark Commander had far bigger plans in mind.
"I know," Lukas replied at last, his voice steady. "We need to strengthen ourselves—fast. This wasn't just a defeat. It was a warning."
Zane stepped forward, his arms folded. "The men need to train more, but it's not just about training. They need cultivation, and quickly. If we're going to stand a chance next time, we have to push their levels higher. They need more power, more skills."
Lukas nodded, his mind already calculating. The system had granted him tools to create pills, potions, and techniques to accelerate cultivation, but it would require significant resources. They needed to grow quickly, and that meant the time had come to make use of his alchemical knowledge.
The system flickered in his mind, responding to his thoughts.
[New Quest: Rebuild Your Forces. Strengthen your troops through advanced cultivation techniques. Prepare for the return of the Dark Commander. Reward: Advanced Pill Formula.]
"We'll get them there," Lukas said, standing up straighter. "I have the means. But first, we need to secure the materials."
---
The marketplace was bustling, filled with the sounds of traders haggling and the scents of exotic spices and rare herbs. Lukas and Zane moved quietly through the crowd, their cloaks drawn up to conceal their identities. The defeat against the Dark Commander was still fresh, and Lukas didn't want word spreading too quickly about their weakened state.
They had come to secure the ingredients for the pills he planned to create, essential items for boosting the cultivation of his elite forces. He had studied the system's alchemical manuals carefully and knew exactly what he needed to increase the strength of his men—and his own.
"Are you sure we'll find everything here?" Zane asked, his eyes scanning the various stalls.
Lukas nodded. "We'll find what we need. The system identified the necessary ingredients, and this marketplace has a reputation for trading rare items. But we need to be discreet."
They passed by stalls selling everything from weaponry to cultivation manuals, and Lukas kept his senses sharp. The system's interface helped identify key vendors with the materials he sought—ether-infused roots, moonstone petals, and thunderberry extracts. These were all components of the advanced pills that could push his troops to higher cultivation levels.
As they moved toward a particular stall that sold rare herbs, Lukas felt a familiar presence nearby—someone watching. He turned his head subtly, catching a glimpse of Aurelia in the distance. She hadn't noticed him yet, but her presence in the marketplace intrigued him.
Zane nudged Lukas. "What is it?"
Lukas gestured with a subtle nod. "Aurelia. Over there."
Zane frowned. "Does she know you're here?"
"I doubt it." Lukas watched her for a moment longer before turning back to his task. "Let's focus. We don't want to draw attention."
They approached a stall lined with vials and jars filled with various herbs and alchemical substances. The merchant eyed them carefully as they began to sift through the items.
"I'm looking for something specific," Lukas said in a low voice. "Ether-rich roots, and any extract that enhances cultivation."
The merchant's eyes narrowed slightly, his hand resting on a shelf behind him. "That kind of thing is expensive."
"I didn't ask for the price," Lukas replied, his tone sharp. "Do you have it or not?"
The merchant hesitated for a moment, then leaned forward, lowering his voice. "I have what you need, but there's a lot of demand for these items. It won't come cheap."
Lukas reached into his cloak, pulling out a small pouch filled with gold coins. "This should be enough."
The merchant's eyes gleamed as he took the pouch, quickly counting the coins before motioning to a back shelf. "You'll find what you're looking for here. Be quick. These kinds of transactions are best done quietly."
---
Later that evening, Lukas sat in the alchemical lab of a temporary estate he had acquired, the ingredients spread out before him. The system hummed in the background, displaying the recipes for the pills he would create. These were no ordinary pills—they were designed to accelerate cultivation, pushing the body's limits and allowing his men to grow stronger at a faster rate. But there was a cost. Each pill required careful precision, and any mistake could be dangerous.
[Pill Formula: Ether Surge Pills]
Description: Increases cultivation speed and strength for a limited time. Allows users to break through cultivation bottlenecks faster.
He began the process, grinding the ether-rich roots and mixing them with thunderberry extracts. His hands moved with precision, guided by both his previous experience and the system's instructions. The concoction glowed faintly, and the air was thick with the scent of herbs and energy.
Zane entered the room, watching as Lukas worked. "You think this will be enough?"
"It'll be enough to push us past our limits," Lukas replied, pouring the mixture into small vials. "These pills won't make us invincible, but they'll get us closer to standing on equal ground with the Dark Commander."
"And for you?" Zane asked, his voice low.
Lukas paused for a moment. "I'll take the risk. I need to push my own cultivation as well if I'm going to face him again. But we'll start with the men. They need this first."
Zane nodded, his expression serious. "We're with you, Lukas. All the way."
Lukas offered a small smile. "I know."
He handed Zane one of the vials. "Take this to Marcus and the others. We'll begin the next phase of our training tomorrow. It's time we started fighting back."
As Zane left, Lukas turned back to his work. His mind was clear, his focus sharp. The Dark Commander had given them a taste of what true power looked like. Now, Lukas would make sure his forces were ready for the battles to come.