Chapter 23: The Final Step
The dim light flickered as Dipak followed Dunn Smith down the cold, stone-lined passageway. Each footstep echoed louder than it should, reverberating off the narrow walls, magnifying the heavy silence between them. His heart thudded in his chest, each beat syncing with the steady rhythm of his boots against the hard floor. The cool air clung to his skin, making each breath feel slightly heavier than the last.
This is it—the point where the novel ended for me, Dipak thought, the weight of the moment pressing on him like an invisible hand gripping his chest.
Dunn's earlier warning played on repeat in his mind: "Once you drink the potion, there's no going back." His voice had been deep and emotionless, but each word carried the weight of an irreversible decision. Dipak shuddered, though whether it was from the cold or the thought of what was to come, he couldn't tell. The Seer potion loomed ahead, not just as a moment of transformation, but as the gateway to an unknown future—one he hadn't read in any book. A path not just of power but of madness.
He glanced at Dunn's back, the man's tall, rigid frame moving with purpose. The lantern in Dunn's hand cast long, dancing shadows on the stone walls, transforming the passage into something out of a dark dream. Was this how Klein felt at this moment? The question rattled in his mind, but he quickly shoved it aside. He wasn't Klein. He was Dipak—a third-year physiology student from another world, caught in the web of someone else's story. He'd read up to Chapter 30 of Lord of the Mysteries and skimmed some spoilers in the comments, but now... now he was beyond that. Beyond the story. Beyond the safety of foreknowledge.
This is where I must decide everything for myself.
His system hummed faintly in his vision, the plus sign glowing softly in the corner of his eye, reminding him that even in this unfamiliar world, he wasn't completely alone.
---
[Spiritual Power: 55%]
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Dipak acknowledged the notification but dismissed it quickly. 55%... still steady, he thought, feeling a small pang of relief. His Spiritual Power was holding, which meant he still had enough focus to handle the tension. But the growing weight in his chest was harder to ignore. He could feel it—like the creeping cold of winter, the nerves were pulling at the edges of his composure, gnawing away at his calm.
As they reached the alchemy room, Dunn pushed open the heavy wooden door. The hinges creaked, the sound echoing ominously in the quiet space. The room beyond felt like a place untouched by time—ancient, heavy with the scent of old wood, metal, and something deeper, something faintly chemical.
Dipak stepped inside, his eyes sweeping the room. Long tables were strewn with alchemical tools—test tubes, pipettes, scales, crucibles—each one carefully arranged, gleaming faintly in the low gaslight. The large cauldron in the corner seemed to dominate the room, its dark surface absorbing the flickering light, making it seem like an abyss. Arcane symbols decorated the walls, their meanings lost to him, but he could feel their presence—silent guardians of the room, waiting, watching.
The atmosphere was thick with tension. The air felt heavier here, dense with the weight of countless experiments and the lingering presence of arcane rituals. Dipak's breath caught in his throat as his eyes adjusted to the dim light, the shadows in the corners of the room seemingly stretching out toward him.
Just as Dipak was about to ask what came next, Dunn turned to him, his face impassive as ever.
"Oh right, I forgot something again," Dunn said, his tone matter-of-fact. "Your becoming a Beyonder is a result of you having to face danger and the need to find the notebook. The meritorious deed was only a part of it; therefore, you will not be a member of our team for the time being. You will still be a civilian staff member with a corresponding salary. You will still do what I instructed you to do previously. One additional thing is to learn more about mysticism with Old Neil. You can arrange the time with him."
Dipak nodded, feeling a mix of relief and disappointment. He remembered Klein's reaction in the novel—a bit disgruntled about the lack of a pay raise, but understanding of the rest. Dipak felt much the same. The idea of jumping straight into paranormal missions was terrifying, especially given how little he knew about his newfound powers.
"Alright," Dipak replied, mirroring Klein's response from the story. He watched as Dunn turned to leave, only to pause and turn back again.
"Another thing," Dunn said.
I knew it... Dipak thought, already growing accustomed to the captain's style of information delivery.
"We got something out of the Secret Order's actions," Dunn continued, his expression unchanged. "It's unlikely they will provoke you in the near future, but don't be careless. It has to do with them being temporarily unable to confirm whether the Antigonus family's notebook is important to them. From what we discovered, they have preserved some of the ancient customs and we can confirm that they are related to the Solomon Empire and the corrupted nobles of that period."
Dipak's mind raced, trying to process this new information. The Secret Order, the Antigonus family, the Solomon Empire—all elements he remembered from the novel, but now they were real, tangible threats in his new reality.
"Got it. Thanks, Captain," Dipak said, exhaling slowly as he watched Dunn leave.
As Dunn's footsteps faded away, Dipak turned his attention back to the alchemy room. He walked slowly around the space, taking in every detail. The room resembled a chemistry laboratory from his previous life, but more spartan and ancient. His eyes lingered on the huge cauldron, the dark wood ladle, and a translucent crystal ball. The Dark Sacred Emblem and other strange symbols adorned the walls, giving the room an air of mystery that both fascinated and unnerved him.
Dipak looked around with interest, but he knew better than to touch anything. He remembered Klein's caution in the story and decided to follow suit.
After a while, he heard footsteps approaching. Old Neil entered the room, carrying a tiny silver chest with complicated patterns. He was wearing his signature classic black robe that seemed anachronistic, matched with a felt hat with a rounded edge of the same color. The sight of the old man, exactly as described in the novel, sent a shiver down Dipak's spine. This was real. This was happening.
"Wait here," Neil said, his voice cutting through the stillness. "I'll fetch the materials. Watch carefully. This is one of the most important parts of mysticism. Don't touch anything. Some of it is very dangerous."
Dipak nodded mechanically, but his thoughts were far from the present. This is where Klein had stood in the novel. He remembered reading this exact scene—Klein waiting, filled with anticipation and anxiety, as the potion was prepared. This was the last part I read. Everything after this moment was unknown. He had no guide, no roadmap, just scattered fragments of spoilers.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
The Fool... the Tarot Club... hallucinations and madness... The cryptic warnings from the comment section buzzed in his head, filling him with unease. Is that what's waiting for me on the other side of this? He was about to hold his future—his very mind—in a cup filled with bubbling, dark-blue liquid.
A soft buzz from his system pulled him out of his thoughts.
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[Skill Improved: Observation (Level 2)]
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His eyes flicked toward the notification. The system had recognized his heightened awareness. Good. He would need every advantage he could get. His Observation skill had leveled up, but it was little comfort. The tension in the room seemed to press against his skin, making his nerves hum with anticipation.
Old Neil began unpacking the chest, carefully setting out the ingredients. Dipak watched as the old man's hands moved with practiced ease, laying out vials and herbs, each one more mysterious than the last. Night vanilla extract, gold mint leaves—the first few ingredients seemed almost ordinary, but Dipak knew better. Every drop, every leaf held power, the kind that could change a man forever.
As Neil worked, he unfurled a yellowish-brown goatskin, revealing words written upon it. Dipak looked from a distance and realized it was in Hermes, a language he knew Klein was very familiar with. He strained to read it, recognizing some of the ingredients: "Seer: 100 milliliters of pure water, 13 drops of night vanilla liquids, 7 gold mint leaves..." But the rest was blocked by Old Neil's wrist, preventing him from reading further.
Neil poured distilled water into the cauldron, and the room seemed to shift slightly. Dipak's system hummed quietly in his vision, tracking every change in his environment, though its cold, sterile readouts felt woefully inadequate in the face of what was unfolding before him.
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[Status]
Spiritual Power: 53%
Health: Normal
Fatigue: Low
Mental State: Tense
---
His Spiritual Power was holding, but the system flagged his Mental State as tense. No kidding, Dipak thought grimly. Every new ingredient Neil added seemed to carry a sense of finality. The dragon blood grass powder came next, its deep black powder swirling into the bubbling mixture, followed by the final ingredient: poison hemlock.
"Three drops," Neil muttered as he carefully measured the liquid. "This stuff will kill you if you're not careful."
Dipak shivered involuntarily. His mind flicked back to his physiology classes, remembering detailed lessons on how hemlock paralyses the nervous system, causing muscle failure. Yet here it was, casually being poured into the potion he was about to drink.
Another notification blinked into his vision.
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[New Status: Elevated Anxiety]
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His hands trembled slightly now, though he tried to still them. This is where it ends, he thought, a steady hammering of panic building in his chest. This is where the novel ends.
Old Neil's voice cut through the fog of anxiety clouding his mind. "Next is Lavos Squid blood. 10 milliliters. This squid's blood is extraordinary, you know. Connects to the spiritual world in ways we still don't fully understand."
The blood was an iridescent blue, bubbling faintly as Neil poured it into the cauldron. The room seemed to shimmer for a moment, the light bending, twisting as if reality itself had warped slightly. Dipak felt a strange pull, like something distant and powerful had noticed him. It was watching, waiting.
For me.
He glanced at the system interface again, hoping for some reassurance.
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[Spiritual Power: 52%]
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Not much had changed. The system hadn't offered any new abilities, no miraculous solutions to calm his nerves. What would Sherlock do? he asked himself, grasping for the rationality that had always guided his favorite detective. Sherlock would assess the situation. Sherlock would observe. Deduce. Plan.
All Dipak could do now was wait.
Old Neil moved with the same deliberate precision, adding the final ingredient—Stellar Aqua crystal—to the mix. The gelatinous crystal shimmered under the faint light, casting ethereal reflections across the room. As Neil stirred the potion, it began to glow faintly, a soft blue light that filled the room with an almost otherworldly ambiance. Dipak felt his pulse quicken. The moment was near.
Neil ladled a small amount of the thick, dark-blue liquid into an opaque cup. The light from the cauldron faded, leaving only the dim flicker of the gas lamps and the weight of the potion in the cup.
Neil turned toward Dipak, his eyes locking onto the young man's face. The weight of his gaze felt heavier than the cup in his hands. "It's done. Your Seer potion."
Dipak stared down at the cup, feeling its heft. The liquid inside swirled slowly, glowing faintly with a blue light, thick and viscous. This is it. The moment he had read about. The moment he had feared.
Another buzz from his system:
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[New Status: Severe Anxiety]
[Spiritual Power: 51%]
---
His hands trembled as he lifted the cup to his lips, but something held him back. This is it, he thought. This is the moment where the novel ends. The last fragment of foreknowledge he possessed. Beyond this—nothing.
His mind replayed the warnings from the comments. The Fool. The Tarot Club. Visions... madness. But no spoiler could prepare him for this.
He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, willing his body to steady itself. What would Sherlock do? What would Conan do?
They would drink.
Dipak tightened his grip on the cup, his mind a swirling vortex of questions, doubts, fears. He wasn't Klein. He wasn't a Beyonder yet. But he couldn't turn back now. He had to move forward.
He raised the cup to his lips.
____
Here's the Chapter 23 status screen for Dipak (Klein Moretti), incorporating the events and developments from the expanded chapter where Dipak is preparing to drink the Seer potion.
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Status Update:
Name: Klein Moretti (Dipak)
Age: 22
Sequence: Seer Path (Sequence 9 - Initiate)
Spiritual Power: 51% [Slightly drained by heightened anxiety and tension]
---
Attributes:
Strength: 6
Agility: 6
Constitution: 7
Intelligence: 10
Spirituality: 8
Luck: ?
---
Mental Skills:
1. Acting (Level 5)
2. Authority (Level 2)
3. Beyonder Knowledge (Level 4)
4. Beyonder Risk Assessment (Level 3) [Improved]
5. Cultural Adaptation (Level 3)
6. Deception (Level 4)
7. Dream Manipulation (Level 1)
8. Enhanced Perception (Level 3) [Improved]
9. Genre Savviness (Level 3)
10. Historical Analysis (Level 3)
11. Investigation (Level 3)
12. Negotiation (Level 3)
13. Novel Memory Recall (Level 6)
14. Observation (Level 4)
15. Occult Knowledge (Level 4)
16. Power Assessment (Level 3) [Improved]
17. Quick Thinking (Level 4)
18. Risk Manipulation (Level 2)
19. Self-Awareness (Level 3)
20. Seer Pathway Initiation (Level 1)
21. Spirit Sense (Level 1)
22. Strategic Planning (Level 2) [Improved]
23. Stress Management (Level 3)
24. Tactical Awareness (Level 3) [Improved]
25. Tarot Knowledge (Level 1)
26. World Awareness (Level 5)
---
Physical Skills:
1. Beyonder Abilities (Level 2)
2. Culinary Improvisation (Level 2)
3. Evasion (Level 3)
4. Fog Manipulation (Level 3)
5. Gathering Management (Level 1)
6. History (Advanced)
7. Marksmanship (Level 3)
8. Mystical Identity (Level 1)
9. Precognition (Level 1)
10. Talisman Making (Novice)
11. Walking Stick Proficiency (Level 2)
---
Status Effects:
1. Nighthawk Initiate
2. Seer Pathway Initiate
3. Increased Mental Stress
4. Severe Anxiety [New]
5. Heightened Alertness
6. Tension [New]
---
Condition:
Tense, Anxious, Preparing for a significant change
Mentally strained but determined to proceed with becoming a Seer
---
New Perspectives Gained:
1. Beyonder Worldview
2. Sealed Artefacts Knowledge
3. Tactical Urban Navigation
4. Advanced Deductive Reasoning
5. Advanced Threat Assessment
6. Domestic Espionage Awareness
7. Seer Pathway Considerations
8. Historical Potions Insight [New]
9. Beyonder Potion Preparation Understanding [New]
10. Risk Management in Mysticism [New]
11. Understanding the Weight of the Seer Path
---
Objectives:
1. Uncover the truth behind Klein Moretti's friends' deaths
2. Gain power and advance in Sequence
3. Find a way back to original world
4. Maintain cover story with family and friends
5. Investigate 4th Era notebooks
6. Research Augustus family history
7. Uncover the identity of "Roselle"
8. Prepare for Nighthawk duties
9. Begin Seer potion preparation and training
10. Proceed with consuming the Seer potion [New]
11. Evaluate potential risk of madness from the Seer pathway [New]
12. Control growing mental instability [New]
---
Warnings:
1. Increased risk of mental instability
2. Seer Pathway may lead to hallucinations and madness
3. Potential memory discrepancies
4. Caution advised during potion consumption
5. Unknown faction surveillance detected
6. Risk of losing control as Seer abilities develop
7. Heightened threat from potential pursuers
---
Current Equipment:
Revolver
Walking Stick (Heavy, ornate)
Seer Potion (In hand)
---
Relationships:
1. Melissa: Stable, protective
2. Benson: Stable, supportive
3. Professor Azik: Curious, potentially suspicious
4. Nighthawks: Neutral, pending first day of work
5. Unknown Pursuers: Hostile
, intent unknown
6. Dunn Smith: Mentor, cautious trust
7. Old Neil: Guide in mysticism, cautious
---
Next Steps:
1. Consume the Seer potion [Next]
2. Prepare for potential visions and hallucinations
3. Begin Seer training and skill development
4. Manage growing mental strain and instability
5. Evaluate changes in Spiritual Power post-potion
6. Build rapport with Nighthawk team
7. Track unknown pursuers
8. Adapt to new Seer abilities
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