Alchemist World
From the sky, a red hue surrounds a vast mountain range, separating the Western Endless Forest from the southern part of the Divine Continent. Occasionally, flashes of red light can be seen emanating from the mountains. At the southern edge of the range, amidst the peaks, the foliage of a peculiar tree stands out.
Upon entering the mountain through this tree, one discovers a massive forest hidden within. Most of the animals and magic beasts within the forest appear to be burrowing into the ground as if fleeing from something. No birds or flying insects are present, except for those with fire attributes.
On the central tree's branch, a strikingly beautiful woman with pointed ears watches intently. Her gaze is fixed on a man seated on the forest floor, his eyes closed. Green lightning arcs and dances around his body.
Narisa marvels at the techniques Glenn displays. Each one holds the potential to become the foundation of a major clan, as none of the techniques have yet reached their limits for improvement.
Rain, seated on the ground with his eyes closed, could feel his body growing stronger, advancing from a mortal state to a first-rank body. As an alchemist, his path primarily focused on the soul, which had already reached the second rank. However, his body remained that of a mortal.
After receiving the Energy Bomb technique from the main body, he adapted it to this world, significantly improving his control over his outer vitality and elevating his realm to the peak of second-rank extraordinary.
The Energy Bomb was not a complicated technique and didn't rely on the surrounding environment. Instead, it utilized the genetic energy or vitality within the body as a means of attack.
The two worlds' energies were fundamentally different. The main body wielded genetic energy, while this body lacked any, as extraordinary energy was sealed within the Divine Continent by the gods. Although the volcanic regions contained abundant fire energy, his body required either life energy or neutral magic energy to transform into his magic energy.
While he could absorb fire energy, the process would be four times more difficult to transform it into usable magic energy.
Since he wasn't in urgent need of magic energy, he chose not to absorb the abundant fire energy, which signaled the impending eruption of the volcanoes.
Instead, he focused on understanding the fire rules within the energy, preparing for a future time when he would form a vitality flame.
Despite the differences between the two worlds, both of his bodies shared a common vitality energy within them.
Using this vitality energy, he mastered the Energy Bomb technique in this world, a process that resulted in the extinction of several rare magical beasts in the forest.
However, as mastering the technique consumed his vitality energy, he was forced to hunt and consume magical beasts to replenish it.
After mastering the Energy Bomb technique from the world of the main body, he shifted his focus to another technique from a clone like him in a different world.
The Thunder Sword technique, similar to the Energy Bomb, relied primarily on the body for mastery, with minimal dependence on the surrounding environment.
The Thunder Sword technique harnessed the bio-electricity within the body to form a sword of thunder for attack.
The lethality of the bio-electricity depended on the strength of the body—the stronger the body, the more potent and deadly the bio-electricity produced. Upon fully mastering the technique, it could also be used to comprehend the rules of thunder in the Star Immortal World.
However, he was uncertain whether mastering the technique in this world would allow him to comprehend the thunder rules unique to it.
The bio-electricity within his body also contributed to strengthening it. With the life seed fully merged into his body—except for his brain—it became much easier for him to detect and harness the bio-electricity. By controlling his vitality energy, he amplified the power of bio-electricity and used it to refine his body, shedding his mortal form and advancing to an extraordinary body.
This was great news for him but terrible news for the magical beasts in the forest. Their only refuge was among the fire-elemental monsters and magical beasts that had appeared due to the surge in fire energy in the region. This shift forced Rain to change his hunting targets.
Rain could feel his body growing stronger, but it seemed stuck, unable to push through a barrier—a figurative door that, once opened, would lead him to a new world. Meanwhile, Narisa, perched on the tree, vigilantly protected Glenn from any disturbances.
When she heard the barking of dogs from above, she climbed the tree to survey the mountain. She discovered that the hole in the mountain was surrounded by a pack of fire hounds, including two second-realm fire hounds—the same realm as her. Realizing the danger, she knew she couldn't let them enter the mountain.
Without hesitation, Narisa leaped from the tree, landing gracefully on the mountain peak. She launched an attack on the firehounds, drawing their attention to herself. With their focus diverted, she lured them away from the hole, leading them far below the mountain and away from the entrance to the forest within.
With the abundant fire element in the region, her wood-controller profession couldn't fully display its power.
This forced her to rely on her demon-seal profession to fight the firehounds. In the demon-seal profession, each realm allows the user to seal a magical beast's soul within their body, gaining its abilities.
Once the user fully masters the beast's abilities, they can advance to the next realm and seal another magical beast soul.
Narisa had reached the third realm of the profession. She had completely mastered two beast souls, allowing her to separate their phantoms from her body when she needed assistance in battle. In an instant, the phantoms of a rat and a deer appeared beside her.
Narisa stood at the peak, the hole to the mountain's hidden sanctuary at her back, her blade glinting in the fiery glow of the volcanic region. The pack of fire hounds—about fifty of them—growled and snarled, their flaming claws igniting the rocky terrain. At the forefront of the pack, the two second-rank firehounds radiated an oppressive heat, their bodies surrounded by raging flames. Narisa's grip on her sword tightened.
With a soft whistle, the Void Rat and Nine-Colored Deer materialized beside her. The rat's sleek, dark form shimmered faintly, as though it were barely tethered to the physical world, while the deer's radiant horn glowed with a mesmerizing array of colors. The firehounds paused momentarily, sensing the power of their opponents.
Narisa made the first move. Her figure blurred as she dashed into the pack, her sword slicing through the air with unnatural precision. The blade seemed to vanish and reappear, teleporting from one point to another, leaving an arc of destruction in its wake. Every firehound caught between the sword's starting and ending points was instantly cut down, their flames extinguished as they collapsed.
The Void Rat joined the fray, its body fading into a ghostly form to evade the snapping jaws of a firehound. Reappearing beneath its unsuspecting prey, the rat lunged, its sharp claws raking through the beast's throat. The firehound's howl was cut short as it fell lifeless to the ground.
Meanwhile, the Nine-Colored Deer stood its ground, absorbing the brunt of the pack's fiery assaults. Flames licked at its pristine white coat, but the damage was minimal, the deer shrugging off the attacks with ease. Its injuries healed rapidly, and a faint green glow extended to Narisa, mending her wounds as she fought. With a mighty leap, the deer's glowing horn impaled a firehound, sending it sprawling.
Despite their combined efforts, the pack's numbers began to press down on them. The fire hounds attacked in coordinated waves, claws slashing and fiery bites snapping. One leaped at Narisa, its body fully engulfed in flame. She twisted away just in time, her sword slicing through its midsection. Another hound lunged from her blind spot, but before its claws could strike, the Void Rat intercepted, phasing through its attack and sinking its fangs into the hound's side.
The two second-rank firehounds finally entered the fray. Their flames burned brighter than the rest, and their speed was unmatched. One charged at the Nine-Colored Deer, its entire body encased in fire.
The deer braced itself, taking the hit but remaining upright, its regenerative abilities keeping it in the fight. The other second-rank hound targeted Narisa, its claws glowing molten red as it slashed at her. Narisa parried with her sword, but the sheer force of the blow sent her skidding back.
Narisa gritted her teeth. The combined strength of the two second-rank firehounds was overwhelming. She moved like a blur, her sword flickering in and out of existence as she tried to cut through their relentless assault.
The Void Rat and Nine-Colored Deer fought valiantly, the rat using its phasing ability to strike and retreat, while the deer used its horn to unleash devastating counterattacks. But the tide of the battle began to shift.
As the minutes stretched into hours, Narisa's movements grew slower, her magic energy steadily depleting. The Void Rat's phasing became less frequent, and its attacks lost their bite. The Nine-Colored Deer's glow dimmed, its healing abilities weakening. Finally, with a faint shimmer, the two phantoms vanished, leaving Narisa to face the pack alone.
Her breath was ragged, her body aching from the relentless attacks, but she refused to back down. Her sword trembled in her hand as she stood against the fifty firehounds, the two second-rank beasts circling her like predators ready to pounce. She glanced briefly toward the hole behind her, silently willing Glenn to emerge.
"Just a little longer," she muttered, gripping her sword tightly. She steadied herself, preparing for the next wave.
The firehounds snarled and charged once more, their fiery forms converging on the lone warrior.
After hours of relentless combat, Narisa was exhausted. Her movements grew sluggish, and her energy was so depleted that she could no longer heal the injuries accumulating on her body. She felt the weight of her fatigue pressing down on her, making even the act of blocking attacks difficult.
The pack had surrounded her, cutting off any chance of retreating into the mountain to seek Glenn's support. The firehounds, sensing her dwindling strength, had ceased their aggressive assault.
Instead, they prowled around her cautiously, aware that her magic energy was down to less than 10%. With her reserves so low, the souls of the magical beasts she had summoned had vanished, retreating into her body.
The hounds understood their advantage. They didn't need to attack immediately. Her remaining magic energy would be consumed within a couple of hours if they simply kept her cornered. After that, within another hour, her body would be so weakened that even a hound pup could finish her off.
They only needed to wait—blocking her escape and avoiding any desperate attacks she might attempt to take them down with her.