Indra had always been fascinated by alchemy. The idea of mixing different elements to create something entirely new thrilled him. It was more than just an interest—it was an obsession. A puzzle where the right combinations could defy logic itself. What began as mere curiosity had now become one of his greatest assets.
And tonight, it would save his life.
Elixer stepped into the darkened chamber, his golden mana illuminating the space. The room was old, untouched by time, carrying an air of forgotten knowledge and something else—something sinister. His sharp gaze swept across the scene, analyzing every detail with the precision of a warrior who had seen countless battles.
Indra sat in the center of the room, his body covered in blood, his expression unreadable. He did not flinch, did not struggle. He simply sat there, his gaze fixed on the ground.
Elixer narrowed his eyes.
Something was wrong.
The silence in the room was thick, pressing against his senses like an unseen force. Every fiber of his being screamed at him to be cautious.
Then, for the first time since their fight began—Indra spoke.
A single sentence.
"You are not talented, but a hard worker."
The words echoed through the chamber, carrying a weight that felt far heavier than they should.
Elixer's golden eyes widened. In the blink of an eye, he moved—his speed like a gust of wind—grabbing Indra by the throat and lifting him off the ground.
A twisted grin stretched across his face.
"Hahah… What did you just say?" he sneered, tightening his grip. "You dare to call me… not talented?"
Indra remained calm, his crimson eyes steady despite the pressure on his neck.
Elixer's golden aura flickered wildly, the power of Spirit Integration: Sundesmos radiating from him.
"You see this form, don't you?" Elixer hissed. "Only a handful in the world can achieve it. You understand that, right? I am one of the chosen few!"
Indra exhaled slowly.
"That's not a real spirit," he said, his voice steady. "Your mana color doesn't match your aura at all."
Elixer's smirk faltered.
Indra continued, his words striking deeper than any blade.
"You haven't awakened your spirit power, have you?" he murmured. "No… it's not that. It's that you can't obtain it."
A flicker of doubt crossed Elixer's face.
"You and I… we're no different."
The room fell into a suffocating silence.
Then—
Elixer laughed.
A deep, amused chuckle that slowly turned into full-blown laughter.
"HAHAHAHA! A fox, indeed!" he said, his grip tightening again. "Do you think you can fool me? A non-spirit user can't perceive a Spirit Integration form, let alone analyze it!"
Indra tilted his head slightly.
"I can't see it with my eyes," he admitted.
Then, a smirk tugged at his lips.
"But what about these goggles?"
Elixer's laughter abruptly stopped.
His mind reeled.
A trap? No—
He had been lured here.
He had stepped into this room without noticing Indra had something covering his eyes—goggles that had been carefully hidden in the darkness.
His expression darkened.
"Only one person has ever analyzed my spirit form at first glance," he muttered. "And now… you."
A deadly gleam flashed in his golden eyes.
"I'll make sure that number returns to one tonight."
He squeezed Indra's throat with brutal force.
The boy gasped, struggling for air.
"It's unfortunate," Elixer said with mock pity. "I can't touch the other person who saw me like this, but you… you have no such protection."
His fingers dug deeper into Indra's neck.
"You have to die now, little fox."
Indra's vision blurred.
His body screamed in agony.
But then—
A whisper.
Barely audible.
"Thank you… for the time."
Elixer frowned.
"What?"
Before he could react—
Drip.
A single drop of Indra's blood—spilled from his earlier wound—hit the floor.
And in that instant—
A magic circle ignited beneath Elixer.
A crimson glow erupted around them, intricate symbols spiraling outward. The very air trembled with power.
Elixer's golden eyes widened.
"What—"
Before he could finish, a force ripped through his body.
His mana flickered.
His control over Spirit Integration: Sundesmos wavered.
Indra's bloodstained lips curled into a grin.
"Who said I was trying to suppress your power?" he whispered.
Elixer's heart pounded.
Indra's voice was quiet—but the weight behind his next words was deafening.
"I'll just cancel it altogether."
Indra lunged forward, locking his arms and legs around Elixer's arm, squeezing with all his strength.
Elixer's grip loosened from sheer shock.
And in that moment—
Indra twisted—pulling him down.
Elixer crashed onto the cold stone floor, his mana wildly fluctuating. The red circle beneath him pulsed dangerously, warping his energy.
"Y-You…!" Elixer growled, his body trembling from the disruption.
But he wasn't done.
A wild surge of mana erupted from within him.
"I underestimated you," he admitted, his voice venomous. "But this little mana disturbance circle isn't enough to stop me!"
His golden aura surged, roaring like a storm.
"I'll just obliterate everything here—including you!"
But then—
Indra looked down at him.
And smirked.
"You fool."
Elixer's attack blasted toward the ceiling—
And the alchemy bottles lining the shelves came crashing down.
The moment the liquids inside them touched the air—
The domain was born.
A black-red barrier formed around Elixer, enclosing him in a twisted vortex of energy.
Elixer's pupils contracted as he looked up—
And saw Indra's crimson eyes glowing in the darkness.
His body felt—heavy.
No—
His mana was being drained.
The domain expanded, absorbing every ounce of his energy.
Panic clawed at his chest.
"No… no, no, NO—!"
Then—
BOOM.
A deafening explosion shattered the entire cabin.
Smoke and debris filled the air.
As the dust settled—
Indra emerged.
His steps were slow, measured. His breathing steady.
Behind him—Elixer lay unconscious, his once-proud golden aura completely drained.
Indra stopped beside him.
He looked down.
And then—he spoke.
"Talent is not something all people are born with."
His crimson eyes burned.
"And it's not something to be proud of."
The wind howled through the ruined courtyard.
"Hard work is not something to be ashamed of."
He turned away.
"If you had understood that…"
His voice was quiet.
"You wouldn't have lost tonight."
He took one final step forward—leaving the fallen Knight of Ashwon, Elixer Rosenmold, behind.