The cat and mouse game continued on for the whole day. The Saberwolf seemed to have unlimited stamina as it was still vigorously chasing Basil. It was natural, since its physical ability was incomparably higher than normal human.
Even though Basil had practiced [Star Withering] for three days, the accumulation time of practice of the technique wasn't more than 18 hours. No matter how godly the technique was and how vigorous he trained, short time of practice wouldn't produce too significant result.
However, despite being able to run away from the Saberwolf many times, he didn't do it. It was because the Saberwolf was proven useful for his stamina training! What could speed up one's progress aside from talent? Urgency!
The more dangerous the situation he was in, the faster his improvement. Whenever he was tired, he would find a gap and hid himself to recover. Right after that, he would 'accidentally' reveal himself to the Saberwolf.
Just like that, along with gathering 4 out of the 8 required ingredients to create Crystal Clear, he was improving each time.
"Huuh..."
Hazy black smoke was expelled from his mouth. It was already night, however the Saberwolf didn't show any sign to stop chasing him. Currently, he was resting his body on a branch of a big and tall black tree. This tree was none other than Black Sandalwood.
"So, I coincidentally found this high quality Black Sandalwood while 'running'. Funnily, it hides my smell from the Saberwolf. It was all thanks to the Saberwolf. It isn't so bad meeting it at the cliff."
Reminded with the rope he had left at the cliff made him sigh. He shook his head and took out his ration box out of his backpack. All of the food contained inside the box maintained its condition. He had no worry of rotten fruits or cold food.
It was thanks to the ration box that had a [Stagnancy] rune carved on it. With that, anything inside would maintain its condition indefinitely, as long as the rune wasn't destroyed. Although it seemed awesome to an ordinary person's eyes, it wasn't so.
Normally, anyone capable using Mana would use a storage space to keep their stuff whenever they were traveling. While Mage use their Spatial Bracelet, Knight would use their Spatial Ring.
The only difference laid on the process of the making. Mage could make their Spatial Bracelet by carving an [Alternative] rune on a magic steel. In the other hand, Knight could make their Spatial Ring with a special ore along with a special forging technique.
Unfortunately, Basil wasn't given this facility. The reason was simple, he couldn't use magic. Of course, it would change in this week.
A strange feeling filled his chest. A feeling that he hadn't felt for quite a long time, an eagerness to get stronger faster than anyone. A smile full of nostalgia adorned his face. Unfortunately, from the other's perspective, it was no different than a chilling a smile.
"Ah.. it's the feeling of... being weak. I am baffled that I even miss this feeling."
Being on top for too long would slowly make you lose your motivation. It had been also the case for Basil. Back then, he had gradually lost his urge to get stronger. Although his power had always improved, he didn't do it to get stronger. It was only for the sole purpose of seeing where his limit was.
Unfortunately, he couldn't find that either due to his untimely death. He wasn't old, he had stopped aging since his late twenties. Therefore, his appearance remained young and that also meant he wasn't old.
He did die untimely!
"Hmph! Why would I care about my age?"
Immediately, he closed his eyes and leaned his body on the trunk of the tree. He quickly drifted off to sleep.
...
It didn't take long for Basil to sleep. At most it was 4 hours. Knight naturally had a higher physical ability compared to normal person. Heightened sense, inhumane stamina, crazy strength, all of them were traits of Knight.
Obviously, Basil had nowhere enough power to be called insanely strong. However, he would sure achieve it.
The sky was still dark as it was 3 in the morning. He stood uprightly on the branch and cut some of the small branches with his machete. Of course, dealing with magical plant wasn't easy. He had to utilize his Qi meticulously to be able to cut the branches.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
Three consecutive slash filled with power was executed flawlessly. Due to [Reinforcement], the ordinary yet well crafted machete glinted briefly and managed to cut it.
Basil didn't stay idle though. He quickly collected the branch he had cut, before they fell to the ground. He bundled them up and carried them on his back. Reaching out to his pouch, he quickly took out a tube like steel with a scoop like end.
It was Sap Extractor. It was used to extract the sap out of a tree. Naturally, Basil needed this to extract the sap of Black Sandalwood.
He was befuddled at first. The sap of Black Sandalwood was known to have a paralyzing effect when it entered human's system. However, he later found out from the knowledge the Guide had engraved, that with the right dose, it could ease one's body and lessen the fatigue.
Stab!
The Sap Extractor was quickly stabbed into the trunk. There was no need to wait for long since on it was engraved a special rune created by the Alchemist Association, Philosopher.
All of the extracted sap was put in a vial. It was roughly 500 milliliters. Although he didn't need it that much in the original formula, he needed it for the sake of his research. He was determined to make the formula his!
Quickly jumping down the tree, he reinforced his hand and used it to slow down his falling speed. The tree was 30 meters tall. For the current him, jumping down from that height would result in bone fracture. He didn't want that!
This time he didn't want to wake up the Saberwolf, the last ingredient he was about to find, aside from Clear Water, was located in a rather bothersome place. That place was ironically a Saberwolf's cave.
There was a special grass that could only grow in that place. Saberwolf always dug a hole before defecating. This grass grew on top of the soil that contained the feces of the Saberwolf. It was called Adrenaline Grass.
As its name suggested, it gave the same effect as a stimulant. It stimulated the nerves on the body, which in turn heightened the sense of the consumer. Naturally, it was all possible if processed correctly.
With a complicated face, Basil moved his feet toward the closest cave of a Saberwolf pack. He wasn't worried of the Saberwolf though. Because —
'Does this mean I, Basil Pacifer, will indirectly eat a magical beast's feces!?'
— he was thinking about an entirely different case.
While thinking of that important matter on the way, with his top speed, he reached the cave within 20 minutes. With a leisure step, he casually entered the cave.
Bold!
However, it wasn't reckless. Since the start he was running, his step never produced any sound. He didn't bother to hide his smell, because Saberwolf's sense of smell was lowered when they were sleeping. Although it wasn't enough to make it easy sneaking on them, it was enough for the current him to be seemingly non-existent in front of them.
He could isolate his smell with his thin Qi barrier. Although it wasn't perfect, for the currently sleeping Saberwolves, a faint smell was the same as non-existent to them.
He quickly packed up all the Adrenaline Grass he could find in the cave in his pouch. He turned his body toward the entrance of the cave, and there he found —
Grrr!
— an old acquaintance.
The man stood silently, the beast growled motionlessly. Basil frowned his face. He couldn't believe that the Saberwolf he had toyed with would find him here. He looked at his surrounding and saw the sleeping Saberwolves.
'If it somehow wake its pack right now, I would be in a pinch.'
He was thinking at miles an hour. However, in the end —
'Whatever, it's not that I can't escape. I will be hurt, however I won't die.'
— he shrugged his shoulder.
Quickly unsheathing his machete, he swung it once and gestured the Saberwolf to come. It was baffled for sure. It was plain on its face. It even stopped growling. However, in the next moment, it gestured its head outside, prompting Basil to go out of the cave.
'Hm?'
He was puzzled, however he shrugged his shoulder and went outside. There, the Saberwolf was already waiting while growling at him. It was pissed for not being able to catch him for an entire day. This time it was determined to finish its game.
However...
'Hmph! Do you think I'll fight if I have a choice not to? Who do you think I am? If I killed you here, your pack would be hot on my tails.'
Sadly, he met Basil. It would be difficult, however he could already kill a Saberwolf. That was just how awesome of a technique [Star Withering] was. He quickly disappeared from the dumbfounded Saberwolf's view. Its face turned incredulous in the next moment.
Isn't he a shameless human!?
That expression was plain on its face. Sadly, this time around, it didn't manage to catch Basil's trace.
...
After six hours of running without rest, Basil finally reached into the inner part of Vyres. It was the place he chose to concoct Crystal Clear, and also the place where the last ingredient he needed was located.
In front of him was a beautiful waterfall. There was a small natural pond below it. And this pond was none other than Clear Water. The view was breathtaking enough for one to gasp in awe.
However, Basil was different. Quickly taking out a small jug from his pouch, he put it below the waterfall. Clear Water was ceaselessly entering the jug. It might be small, however it was engraved with a Spatial Rune on it. Therefore, it could contain more than ten liters of Clear Water.
Compared to Spatial Bracelet or Spatial Ring, the jug was dirt cheap. It was because it didn't have any [Stagnancy] rune to preserve anything inside. Water wouldn't rot anyway. Furthermore, for some reason, stealing liquid didn't need that much requirements. Therefore, it was easy to make a Spatial Jug.
Although accessible to ordinary person, Spatial Jug was still considered luxury. Most of the users were merchants selling liquor.
Right after filling the whole jug, Basil quickly stored it and undressed himself. A faint trace of muscles was already visible on his body. His previously thin build had buff a little bit. Graciously, he dipped his body inside the Clear Water pond.
He quickly practiced [Star Withering] while his body was in the Clear Water. Due to the abundance of Star Energy in the water, his Body Forging speed was heightened. The impurity of his Core was quickly expelled out of his each breath.
Before he knew it, his Black Core turned brighter. Then, it turned white before being replaced with a dark red color Core. Just like that, he advanced to the Red Core stage. Now, he could finally be able to call himself a beginner Knight.
There was no longer hazy black smoke was expelled out of his mouth. It was no different than the usual breath. He opened his eyes and looked at the peak of the waterfall. There, laid a secret of the Clear Water pond.
"My trip will be over soon. It is quite plain without that Saberwolf. However, I am not alone, am I?"
He was referring to the Guide. However, at that moment —
[Answering the Host's ignorance...]
[The Host is not alone, there is another entity resides inside the Host.]
— an outrageous truth was unveiled.