Elise kept walking, not slowing down for a second, her gaze landing on another table cluttered with herbs and glowing liquid vials.
“Jason, that mixture should be a translucent blue, not green. Did you add the Lathoros root too early? You need to wait for the Red Seraph Resin to fully dissolve before adding anything else.”
Jason, a tall alchemist with a nervous look, wiped his forehead and nodded quickly. “Sorry, ma’am. I’ll fix it right away.”
“Good. Fix it fast. We’re not in the business of creating toxic fumes in here.”
As they moved deeper into the lab, the equipment and potions became more advanced. Elise’s tone shifted, becoming sharper and more precise.
“Martina, I need a full analysis of the Mana Stabilizer Matrix within the hour. Double-check the elemental readings from the previous run. I don’t want to miss anything this time.”
Martina, a woman wearing a headband to keep her frizzy hair out of her face, scribbled down notes while her eyes remained glued to the holographic displays.
“On it, ma’am! I’ll make sure the runes are aligned correctly this time.”
“Good. Just don’t skip any steps.”
As they continued forward, Alister felt a small shift in the air, a sort of magnetic pull that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.
His gaze was drawn ahead to a massive cylindrical structure slowly coming into view, gleaming with a metallic sheen and pulsating faintly with a soft golden glow.
“Is that…” Alister’s thoughts trailed off as his eyes widened.
His pace quickened instinctively, and before he knew it, he was running past Yuuto and Elise to stand directly in front of the cylindrical structure.
Alister stood frozen in front of the massive cylindrical structure, his heart racing as the liquid inside shifted.
There, suspended within the glowing liquid, was a figure in patient clothing, her features softened by the surrounding environment.
His breath caught in his throat as he recognized her instantly.
“Miyu…” he called out softly, his voice barely a whisper, with a touch of hope and fear.
As if sensing his presence, her eyes fluttered open, and she turned her head slightly, though the oxygen mask obscured her face. The sight of his sister, helpless yet alive, sent a wave of relief crashing over him.
Just then, Elise and Yuuto arrived behind him. Elise quickly stepped forward as she spoke. “This is all part of a high detoxification potion we’ve been administering. It’s designed to slow down the rot caused by Aethelric Decay, which has already started affecting her organs. God knows if her brain hasn’t been affected too.”
“The decay appears to have reached the late stages, so her bones will soon start to-”
“I’ve heard enough!”
Alister gritted his teeth, his hands balling into fists. He snapped, his sharp tone echoing in the lab, cutting through the air.
Elise was taken by surprise by the intensity of his reaction, her brow furrowing in sympathy. “You must have known her,” she said softly, her voice tinged with regret. “I’m sorry for rambling. I didn’t realize.”
Alister took a deep breath, the anger fading away as guilt came over him.
“I’m sorry, Elise. I shouldn’t have yelled like that. I’m just… I’m frustrated, that’s all. Seeing her like this… it’s… unbearable.”
“I understand.”
He turned back to Miyu, his heart heavy. The sight of her suspended in the glowing liquid, the oxygen mask clinging to her face, was almost too much to bear.
He focused on her, and the familiar sensation of magic coursed through him. His dragon eyes glowed softly, and her status window materialized.
Player: Miyu Hazenworth
Level: 18
Class: Overlord (Unawakened) (No Talent) (N/E)
Stats:
HP: 67/450 [15/100%
MP: 50/200
Strength: 4
Agility: 5
Intelligence: 6
Endurance: 5
Dexterity: 4
Mana: 200
Luck: 10
Total Combat Power: 34 (F-rank)
Mana Regeneration: 2 MP/minute
Title(s): None
Skills:
Overlord Queen Song Lvl 1 (?? Rank)
Condition: Aethelric Decay (poisoned – rot)
Effects: (Stage 3) – Organs Weakening, Possible Neurological Impact
(Under High Detoxification Treatment)
Time left till target succumbs to poisoning: (16 days)
Alister’s gaze lingered on the status window, his heart sinking as his eyes locked onto the time left. The number seemed to weigh heavily on him, dragging his spirits down as a storm of thoughts swirled in his mind.
‘I have to come up with the necessary prestige points in that time,’ he thought, his brow
furrowing.
“But… Even if I managed to obtain the other item, and the total halves to 125,000… I’ll need to gain at least 7,000 points a day to obtain the elixir in time.”
He clenched his fists tightly, the frustration building as the sheer impossibility of it gnawed
at him.
‘Is that even possible?’
The pressure was unbearable, and for a moment, despair flashed across his face. He gritted his teeth, trying to push the doubts away.
Turning back toward Yuuto, he forced himself to speak, his voice strained but controlled.
“Thanks… for bringing me here… Sir.”
Yuuto, sensing the weight on Alister’s shoulders, simply nodded.
“No problem. You should get some rest after a long day,” he said with a faint smile, tapping
him lightly on his left shoulder.
Alister gave a small nod in return. “Yeah. I’ll head back to my room for the night.”
As he left, Yuuto watched him walk away, understanding Alister’s struggle but knowing there wasn’t much more he could do for him at the moment.
Once Alister disappeared down the corridor, Yuuto turned to Elise. “That’s all for now. You should continue with your work.”
Elise nodded in agreement, her mind already shifting back to the tasks at hand. “Right,
there’s still much to do.”
With that, Yuuto gave her a last glance and left the lab, leaving Elise to continue her tasks.
…
Alister returned to his massive living quarters, his footsteps echoing softly in the corridor. He approached the door, placing his hand on the fingerprint sensor. The door slid open with a
soft hiss, and he stepped inside, greeted by the warm, welcoming voice of the AI.
“Welcome back, Alister. I hope your day has been productive.”
He paused for a moment, taking in the expansive space of his room. The ambient lighting adjusted to a soft glow as he entered, creating a calming atmosphere.
With a weary sigh, Alister decided it would be best to take a shower and freshen up before he
stepped out again.
He needed to clear his head and prepare for what lay ahead. As he undressed and stepped into the bathroom, he felt the tension in his muscles begin to unwind.
The warm water came down over him, washing away the stress of the day. He let his mind drift, thinking about the steps he needed to take.
Once he was clean and relaxed, he stepped out of the shower, towel over his head and he dried
off quickly. He called out to the system and equipped his battle gear, feeling the weight of each of his equipments settle on his body.
A quick look around them he noticed they were damaged, “Must have been back from that
battle with Anya… Seems I’ll need to buy new equipment soon.”
“Although with my scales, I may not need anything new.”
“Either way, this will have to do for tonight…”
“I’ll summon my two new generals…”
“And I’ll go all out from now on. I can’t afford to hold anything back anymore.”