When I returned from the abyss realm, the first light of dawn was breaking over the horizon.
"Ugh… another night without sleep," I muttered, rubbing my aching shoulders as I headed toward my quarters. "Sigh… I better clean myself up before class."
Hoxrrary Academy: Durand Classroom
I slouched in my seat, mind racing despite my exhaustion. The report I sent to Her Empress still hasn't received a reply, I thought, drumming my fingers against the desk. And I'll need to go back there soon to gather more intel. What else will I uncover in that cursed place?
Lost in thought, I didn't notice the bright voice calling out until it was right beside me.
"Ashura! Geez, you didn't wait for me again!" Edmond grinned as he leaned closer, studying my face.
I sighed, meeting his energy with my usual flat tone. "It's still early morning, and you've already got this much energy?"
"Hehe, well, someone has to balance out your constant gloom," Edmond teased, flashing his usual bright smile. "If you're all negative, then I have to be extra positive!"
I couldn't help but wonder for the hundredth time how this guy ended up in Durand Class. With his attitude, he could easily fit in among Varmont elites. But asking would just exhaust me further, so I let it slide.
Before I could respond, a familiar voice cut through from behind Edmond.
"You look more tired every day," Jarek commented, his sharp eyes narrowing as he sat down.
"Don't know, ask my blood flow," I quipped dryly, earning a surprised laugh.
"Oh my… Ashura making jokes? That's rare," Larieth chimed in from behind me. As usual, he'd somehow inserted himself into the conversation uninvited, his extroverted energy filling the room.
I didn't even bother responding. Larieth had this way of talking like we'd been best friends for a decade, and dealing with that much energy before breakfast was too much.
The chatter died down when Professor Cedrick entered the room, signaling the start of class. I leaned back in my seat, stifling a yawn. Another long day ahead.
###Hoxrrary Academy: Alchemist classroom
The Alchemist Classroom—a haven of bubbling concoctions and faintly glowing alchemical sigils etched into the tables. Usually bustling with students and professors, the room was silent now, save for the faint hum of my burner. No professors to breathe down my neck, no classmates to gawk—perfect.
"Alright then," I muttered, spreading out my materials on the table. "Let's take this to the next level."
Among the usual ingredients—Serpanthrax Acid, dragon bone powder, and Thalmaril leaves—I pulled out a small, glinting shard I'd been keeping close. It wasn't just any shard. This was a fragment of the Serpanthrax's core, left behind when I devoured it.
The shard pulsated faintly, a mixture of deep crimson and green, as if the beast's raw, ancient power still lingered inside. A relic like this wasn't something an ordinary alchemist would dare to use. But then again, I wasn't exactly ordinary.
"If this works," I muttered, a grin tugging at the corner of my lips, "this potion's going to make history."
I started with the basics, heating the Ironbark sap until it simmered, the golden liquid casting a warm glow across the room. Thalmaril leaves came next, stirred clockwise until the mixture turned that familiar vibrant green.
I uncorked the Serpanthrax Acid carefully, the pungent smell curling into the air. Two precise drops sizzled into the flask, the mixture bubbling furiously before settling.
Now, the real gamble. I held the shard of the Serpanthrax core above the mixture, watching the faint pulse in its surface. This wasn't in any alchemy guide. Whatever happened next would be uncharted territory.
"Here goes nothing," I murmured, dropping the shard into the flask.
The reaction was instant and violent. The potion roared to life, the liquid twisting into a storm of colors—green, crimson, and black. Energy crackled in the air, making the sigils on the table hum with faint vibrations.
I gritted my teeth, steadying the flask as the concoction fought to stabilize. Quickly, I added the dragon bone powder and powdered obsidian, their weight dragging the chaos back under control.
The liquid finally settled, glowing a dark crimson with faint streaks of green running through it. It looked alive, throbbing faintly with energy.
I sealed the potion in a crystal vial, letting out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. "Now this is a true masterpiece."
Just as I stepped back to admire my work, the classroom door creaked open.
"Ashura," came a sharp, familiar voice.
I turned to see Professor Cedrick, his gaze locking instantly onto the faintly glowing fragment of the Serpanthrax core still resting on my table.
"What, exactly, do you think you're doing?" he demanded, his tone a mix of suspicion and irritation.
"Professor!" I exclaimed, my heart racing as he stepped into the room unexpectedly.
Professor Cedrick's sharp gaze met mine, and I could feel the weight of his suspicion settle over me like a storm cloud. "You do know," he said slowly, his voice a mix of concern and stern authority, "that any alchemical experiment requires a professor's supervision, right?"
I tried to mask my panic, forcing a smile. "Uh… yeah, I know. I just wanted to… try something, you know, out of curiosity."
He crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe with an expression that was both worried and calculating. "Curiosity is one thing. But this?" He glanced at the shards of Serpanthrax core still glinting ominously on my table. "It's something else entirely."
My stomach dropped. This is it. He's figured me out. He knows about the core… about the poison… about everything.
"Ugh..." I stammered, trying to gather my wits. "I didn't mean to go against the rules, Professor. It's just—well, I thought it might help me with some things… energy… recovery… you know?"
His brow furrowed deeper, and I could see the flicker of doubt in his eyes. He took a step closer, his gaze darting from the glowing vial to the Serpanthrax fragment. "A recovery potion, you say?"
I nodded quickly, but the words felt flimsy, like a mask that was about to crack. "Yeah, it's just a recovery potion," I repeated, my voice strained. Come on, Ashura, think.
Jarek's words—"you look more tired every day." The memory hit me like a lifeline, and I latched onto it. "I've been feeling a bit drained lately… so I thought making something to restore my energy would help."
The Professor's eyes lingered on me a moment longer than I was comfortable with, as if he were dissecting every syllable I'd spoken. The silence stretched taut, suffocating.
"Hmm," Cedrick finally muttered, but there was something in his tone—a faint hesitation, a suspicion he couldn't entirely suppress. "I see…"
He was still unsure. I could feel it. His gaze flicked back to the Serpanthrax core, then to the glowing potion, before settling back on me. I've said too much. I've said too little. I don't know which one is worse.
But, after what felt like an eternity, he nodded slowly. "Well, I suppose that's reasonable. But remember, Ashura, next time you choose to experiment, you must have proper supervision. Understand?"
I could barely hold in my sigh of relief. "Yes, Professor! I understand. Thank you."
He hesitated for a final moment before turning toward the door. "I'll be keeping an eye on you, Ashura. Just… be careful."
The door clicked shut behind him, and I slumped against the desk, my pulse hammering in my chest. That was too close. Too damn close.
I quickly turned my attention back to the glowing vial. The core's energy hummed in the air, and for a moment, I considered the risk. One wrong move, and I could've been caught. But I'll make sure next time... next time, I won't get so lucky.
I hurriedly exited the alchemist room, the Bone Strengthening Potion still clutched tightly in my hand. The dark crimson liquid swirled in the vial, its faint green glow teasing the edges of my vision, promising power. This is the boost I need... the one thing that might tip the scales in my favor against a Level 12 Abyss.
The thought of the monsters in the Abyss sent a chill through me, but the potion in my hand offered a strange, twisted sense of security. As I made my way back to my room, each step felt heavier, the weight of the vial almost symbolic of the weight on my shoulders. I couldn't afford to fail. Not again.
I slammed the door behind me once inside my room, and with a quick, shaky breath, I unscrewed the vial. My hand hovered over the liquid, the dark, viscous potion swirling with a faint glow. Without thinking, I threw my head back and downed the entire contents in one swift motion.
The moment the liquid hit my stomach, the world seemed to shift. A bone-deep agony erupted in my body, unlike anything I had ever experienced before.
My bones... they cracked.
It felt like every single bone in my body was being crushed from the inside out, the sharp, jagged pain tearing through me like I was being shattered and remade. My ribcage felt as though it were splintering, my spine twisting with excruciating force. Each bone, every joint, felt as though it were being forced into an unnatural position, grinding against itself as if the potion were reshaping me from the inside.
I gasped for air, my chest heaving, but the pain—it wouldn't stop.
I stumbled, falling to my knees, unable to hold myself up as my bones restructured, twisted, and shattered into something stronger. The pressure in my skull built, a pounding in my temples that threatened to burst my mind apart. I screamed, my voice echoing in the empty room, but it barely drowned out the sickening cracks, like dry twigs breaking underfoot.
Every movement was a new hell—my arm felt as if it was being stretched and contorted beyond its limits, my fingers spasming as the pain reached unbearable levels. I could feel my leg bones shifting, stretching, the joints forced out of alignment, then snapping back into place with a violent jolt. It was as though my entire body was being torn down and rebuilt, from the inside, piece by piece.
I bit down on my lip to stifle the scream, my teeth sinking into the flesh as I trembled on the floor, unable to stop the pain that was ravaging my body.
Time seemed to blur as the agony continued to tear through me. I clutched my chest, feeling my ribs contract and expand like they were being compressed under the weight of an anvil. My vision grew blurry as the pain washed over me in waves, dizziness creeping in from the periphery.
This is it. This is how I die. The thought flickered across my mind, fleeting but intense, as my body threatened to give way under the strain. I could feel my heartbeat in my throat, blood rushing in my ears.
But then, slowly, the pain began to subside, fading into a deep, throbbing ache as my bones finished their painful transformation. My limbs still burned, every inch of me still sore, but the crushing weight had lifted—just barely. The sensation was still raw, my body still trembling with aftershocks of the transformation.
I gasped, my breathing shallow and ragged, as I collapsed onto the floor, soaked in sweat, my hands gripping the edges of the bed as I tried to steady myself.
"F-fuck," I breathed out shakily, my voice hoarse. That… that was hell.
But as I lay there, feeling my bones settle into their new form, I realized one thing: I was stronger. I could feel it in the deep, aching thrum of my body. It was as though the pain had carved power into every inch of me.
This power… I could already feel the difference. My bones were stronger, more resilient, and I knew deep down that it would take a lot more than a few Abyss monsters to break me now.
But the cost... The cost was worth it.
I took a long, shuddering breath, still trying to steady my shaking body. "This will have to be enough," I whispered to myself. "I'm ready for whatever comes next."
But I couldn't ignore the lingering ache in my bones, the reminder of how close I had come to breaking completely.
Next time… I'll be ready.