When Daisuke initially unlocked the alchemy skill, he genuinely had no interest in it because of the horrors that took place at Percival’s mansion. Or to be more specific, it reminded him of Sheba and Ruth and how miserably he had failed at protecting them.
But that was only partly the reason.
The other half stemmed from the frustratingly vague and complicated description of the skill. What is the Aether Field? And how exactly does one tap into it using mana? Despite perusing texts on transmutation circles and diagrams in Reginald’s library, putting them together to make any kind of sense required extraordinary understanding of the formula, which was akin to deciphering a complex programming language.
“It was clearly stated that Cedric left nothing but breadcrumbs behind,” Daisuke pondered aloud, frustration evident in his tone, “so how exactly am I supposed to figure this out? And the last time I checked, Reginald’s manor was engulfed in flames so there may be no significant information about alchemy left.” He shook his head in resignation. “No matter how I look at it, the alchemy skill just seems like a lost cause.”
“Rawrwu,” Zephyr gave a soft whine as he tenderly head-butted his distressed friend in the stomach.
“You’re right,” Daisuke murmured, his hand gently stroking the canine’s head. “Frying my brain about this won’t yield any results. Alright, I think we’ve rested enough,” he declared as he leaped from his perch and conjured a map. “Come to think of it, I never did take a closer look at this.”
As he unfurled the parchment, a holographic window materialized before him, displaying the game’s integrated map. Typically in MMORPGs, players enjoyed the luxury of effortlessly viewing the entire world’s topography. This simplified planning, navigation, and monster hunting. Unfortunately, Sehreneti Online wasn’t so charitable.
Apart from the few locations Daisuke had personally visited, a staggering 99.99% of the map lay disappointingly blank. In a bid to once again emulate reality, the game’s creators imposed a daunting challenge: players had to either meticulously explore and map the terrain themselves or pay a hefty sum to acquire maps from those who had. But the fact still remained that people were tasked with mapping the expansive world themselves, and it was no easy feat as no other game in history boasted a map as vast and diverse as Sehreneti’s.
DING!
[New geographical information has been acquired. Your map has been updated!]
Following the notification window, the details on the physical map momentarily blurred before seamlessly transferring to its digital counterpart, which promptly became more populated with newfound information.
Daisuke’s eyes widened in astonishment. “Did it just copy over the information?”
“Kyuu?” Zephyr tilted his head.
Setting aside the now redundant physical map, Daisuke directed his full attention to the digital screen, immersing himself in the detailed topography of the region.
Within the vast expanse of the Arcanium Kingdom, he observed numerous small settlements and villages under its jurisdiction, yet only one substantial town stood as its tributary.
Unlike the numerous towns, cities, and thousands of smaller settlements found within other kingdoms on the continent, Arcanium was a fledgling nation, still in its infancy.
Using his finger as a guide, Daisuke traced a route from the Fleecia Forest to Dusthaven in the west, then to Wonderelle in the northeast. Finally, he shifted his attention to his own location, marked by a small arrow indicating the direction he faced.
“Looks like we’re only a few hours outside of town,” Daisuke observed, a hint of relief evident in his voice. “It’s a good thing, really. After practically emptying the inventory for Elmridge Village, we’re left with just your fur and the shirt on my back. Supplies are running dangerously low.”
“KRRRRGH!”
Suddenly, from the surrounding brush, an angry horde of Kobolds and sprites emerged onto the scene. They were obviously out for revenge, their eyes ablaze with unmistakable bloodlust. The duo instinctively took slow and steady steps backward as the menacing beasts gradually closed in on their location.
“Go Zephyr, I choose you!” Daisuke encouraged, his voice brimming with determination as he brandished his daggers.
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The canine glanced nervously at the rigid horde of monsters that was practically frothing at the mouth with rage, then back at Daisuke.
“Zephyr, with the power of friendship, I know we can defeat this very pissed off and murderous mob of monsters.”
The pup scoffed before turning tail and fleeing, his expression seemingly saying, “Yeah, well… good luck with that.”
“Hey, wait up!” Daisuke cried out, following suit.
Dried leaves and twigs crunched and snapped underfoot as they fled through the dense forest, pursued relentlessly by the menacing horde of Kobolds. The beasts’ gleaming fangs, claws, and swords promised a grim fate, their hisses and growls sounding like dark curses in the air.
But their ominous chorus was abruptly replaced by a thunderous, rhythmic pounding that reverberated through the forest. Daisuke and Zephyr glanced back just in time to witness the Kobolds vanish, driven off by the foreboding drumming that drew closer with every beat.
“I have a bad feeling about this,” murmured Daisuke.
BOOOOOOM!
An Orc burst forth from the thick foliage like a primal force of nature, its massive fingers narrowly missing Daisuke’s face as it lunged forward. Wheeling around, the Orc gave chase, its powerful strides quickly gaining ground on its prey.
“An Orc?!” Daisuke exclaimed incredulously. “You’ve got to be kidding me!”
“Puny human!” the creature bellowed. “Stop! Accept dinkidoo!”
Daisuke’s expression twisted in confusion. “What the hell did that Orc bastard just say to me?”
“Dinkidoo! In you!”
Daisuke felt a shiver down his spine.
The beast pursued them with frantic determination, its flushed cheeks and glazed eyes hinting at a disturbing desire. Its enormous package swayed from side to side within its furred garb with every stride. Daisuke sprinted for his life at the unsettling sight of that, the urgent need to escape driving him forward with every heartbeat.
As it became terrifyingly evident that they wouldn’t be able to outrun the perverted fiend, Daisuke cast a calculating glance at the towering trees flanking the beaten path, then back at the salivating Orc practically blasting steam from its nostrils.
With a cunning smirk, Daisuke conjured a skill.
The Orc, consumed by lust, failed to spot the trap until it was too late. Its eyes widened in shock as a shimmering golden chain materialized between two trees across the path.
“UWAHHH~”
The Orc’s saliva-coated tongue shot out. A pained grunt escaped its jaws as its neck collided with the chain at full speed. The violent impact sent its body into a dizzying flip before crashing to the forest floor.
But that wasn’t enough to keep the creature down. Its crotch twitched and shifted around beneath the garb, as if it had a mind of its own. As the Orc rose off the ground, defying gravity and radiating light like a monster version of Jesus, Daisuke decisively made his move.
Seizing the moment, he closed in with the Sturdy Club, delivering a swift and mighty blow to the Orc’s head. A steaming bump erupted on its skull from the powerful strike, and its body slowly settled back to the ground, all signs of divinity gone.
[Sturdy Club]
[Rank: Normal
Type: Blunt Weapon
Melee Attack Power: 64~77 | Durability: 11/59 | Attack Speed: -12%
The Exiled Hilitroll Chief’s trusty weapon, hewn from the limb of the millennia-old oak known as the Tree of Ascension. Legend holds that every former chieftain’s weapon was cut and carved from this ancient tree.
▪︎ Strength +4
▪︎ Knockback Chance +82%
Conditions of Use: Lvl 16+ | Strength 60+ | Stamina 25+]
“Dammit!” Daisuke cursed, his frustration evident as he glanced from the blunt weapon to the Orc’s soul clinging onto the creature’s tusk for dear life. “I lost one point of durability from that single attack? You’ve got to be kidding me! Just how hard is your head anyway, you green bastard?!”
Grinding his teeth in annoyance, Daisuke planted a firm stomp onto the Orc’s face. However, instead of a pained grunt, the unconscious monster blushed, as if deriving pleasure from the rough treatment.
As another disturbing shiver slithered down his spine, Daisuke swapped out the Sturdy Club for the Lipanthyer’s Fang, intent on dispatching the deplorable fiend and its struggling soul to monster heaven. But just as the blade was about to quench its thirst for blood—”
“…Wait,” Daisuke murmured contemplatively.
Zephyr tilted his head curiously.
“This is an opportunity,” he mused, his eyes glinting with excitement. “It’s the perfect time to test whether or not it’s possible to store a live monster.”
“Kyuu~”
Daisuke’s brow furrowed deeply, his eye twitching with suppressed irritation. “Ideally, I should put an end to this bastard after all the psychological damage it just inflicted on me, but…”
Before the beast could regain consciousness, Daisuke tentatively rested his hand on its shoulder and willed the creature into his inventory. With a faint blue glow, the Orc’s body dematerialized and vanished, much like the corpses before it.
Without hesitation, Daisuke summoned his inventory. Each item was represented by a name and thumbnail image. The Orc’s entry displayed a particularly unenthused profile photo, reminiscent of a criminal’s mug shot.
Juvenile Honeywasp Orc | Lvl 24 | General
[A juvenile Orc, while on its Right of Passage to become a warrior, found itself lost and disoriented after a series of unfortunate events. While attempting to forage for food, a skill it had yet to master, it unwittingly ingested the insidious Blissbloom—a plant renowned for its hallucinogenic and aphrodisiac properties.
Rescued by a group of goblins and taken into their fold, the young Orc discovered an unconventional sense of belonging among them. In this peculiar camaraderie, it was introduced to the pleasures of human flesh—and much like the effects of the Blissbloom, it became ensnared by an insatiable addiction. Unconcerned by distinctions of gender, the Orc surrendered to its primal urges time and again, unable to resist the intoxicating allure of its newfound desires.]
Daisuke’s expression contorted, another unwelcome shiver coursing down his spine. “What the hell is up with this description? This isn’t PG-friendly material at all!”