Chapter 25: Pre-preparation.

Adam’s POV

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I left Dara’s office with a fresh, bright red handprint plastered across my face.

The woman who had tried to enter earlier stood just outside, her mouth hidden behind a stack of papers. Judging by the slight shake of her shoulders, she was either suppressing a laugh or too stunned to react.

“Sup,” I said, giving her an upward nod as if the chaotic events in Dara’s office hadn’t just unfolded in full view.

She didn’t reply, only stared at me as I walked past, heading straight for the barracks. Once there, I collapsed onto my bed with a sigh. The day was winding down, but my mind was already racing with things I needed to prepare for.

During my time outside, I’d visited a small mine, foraged, and hunted some monsters. My spoils included six golden-furred boars, classified as tier 1-star creatures. All the materials I harvested from them—meat, fur, and bones—were also tier 1.

For reference, materials like wood, stone, and dirt are considered tier 0.5-star. The boar materials were a step up, but they were still a long way from anything groundbreaking.

Then there were the four three-handed chimps I encountered. They’d attacked in a pack, their speed giving me trouble at first. Thankfully, with the aid of my Valkyrie armor, I managed to take them down. These creatures were classified as tier 1.5-star, slightly stronger than the boars but still manageable.

Unfortunately, I hadn’t come across anything tier 2-star or higher. Those materials would’ve been game-changers—ideal for upgrading my soul armor again. But realistically, I wasn’t ready to take on creatures of that level yet. With the soul armor’s help? Maybe. But I’d need better weapons and abilities to stand a real chance.

As things stood, my current gear left much to be desired. My dagger was just a basic iron blade, functional but nothing special. And while my slingshot could create mini shockwaves to enhance arrow speed and power, it was slow to reload. It wouldn’t stand up against faster monsters or those with ranged attacks of their own.

Still, lying on my bed, I felt a sense of resolve. Closing my eyes, I shifted into my core nexus area, ready to work.

With about 420 NEP left after the day’s activities, I knew I had to be careful. My first task was to create some basic alchemical equipment—specifically, an alchemical circle to streamline future transmutations. Efficiency was key, and the circle would allow me to conserve NEP while improving the quality of my creations.

The type of alchemical circle I created would determine the quality and nature of the Nexus cores I’d make. But that wasn’t all—I also planned to brew potions. Healing potions would be useful, sure, but what I really needed were potions to regenerate NEP. Running out of NEP in the middle of a fight or project wasn’t an option.

Nove had already explained how circles worked. While I could make a general-purpose alchemical circle that handled a bit of everything, it wouldn’t be as effective as specialized ones. Specialized circles focused on enhancing specific aspects, making the resulting products more potent.

But for what I had in mind, versatility was key. I couldn’t afford to create multiple specialized circles right now, so I decided to stick with a general-purpose one.

Here was the plan: I would craft three types of core nodes and brew three kinds of potions.

For the potions:

* One for health restoration.

* One to regenerate NEP.

* One to replenish stamina.

For the core nodes:

* One to boost strength (STR).

* One to increase intelligence (INT).

* One to enhance endurance (END).

I had ten Nexus crystals in total, which meant I could make ten core nodes. However, I’d need to grind one crystal into dust for the alchemical process, leaving me with enough material for nine core nodes. I’d make three of each type I planned.

As for the potions, my foraging trip had left me well-stocked with flora, Nexus blood, and monster materials. With a wide variety of ingredients, I could experiment and create potions tailored for different effects.

The reason behind producing such a variety of items wasn’t just to sell them for money—though that was a nice bonus. My real goal was information. By observing what sold well and what resonated with people, I could learn more about the general populace and refine my future projects.

With my plan set, it was time to get to work. The first step was creating a general-purpose alchemical circle.

I needed a board to inscribe it on—something not too big, but not too small either. About the size of a stovetop seemed perfect. Using the stone and marble I’d gathered from the cave earlier, I crafted a sturdy board. The combination of materials made it tough enough to endure repeated use while remaining soft enough for precise carvings.

The next step involved another Metalweaving technique I’d picked up from the terminal: Inscribe. This method allowed me to carve intricate patterns into strong materials, effectively engraving them with precision. However, this was a task I left entirely to Nove. Even the tiniest deviation in the design would render the alchemical circle useless, and Nove’s precision far exceeded mine.

Once she finished the inscription, the board looked like a masterpiece. Multiple interconnected patterns of intricate magic circles now adorned its surface, the lines glowing faintly as if alive with latent energy.

The next step was to prepare the binding material: a mix of crushed Nexus crystal and Nexus blood. This congealed material would act as the conduit for the alchemical board, enabling me to use it for production.

To do this, I employed another Metalweaving technique I’d learned—the Crusher. This technique allowed me to break down materials into fine dust, but its efficiency depended heavily on factors like stats, material density, and size. Thankfully, the palm-sized Nexus crystal I had was manageable, though the process drained a significant amount of NEP.

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With effort, the crystal was finely crushed into glittering powder. I mixed the dust with Nexus blood, creating a shiny, red, congealed substance that resembled molten slime. Carefully, Nove spread the mixture across the board, ensuring every groove of the inscription was filled. Using a bit of alchemical arts, we heated the board until the mixture fused with the patterns, forming the final product.

When it was done, I picked up the alchemical board, still slightly warm to the touch. Its smooth, polished surface shimmered faintly, the inscribed circles now embedded perfectly.

“Huh…” I murmured, admiring the craftsmanship. “This… is nice.”

I glanced toward the large, floating golden orb in the dark space—Nove’s presence. “With this, even I can create so many things now,” she said with a hint of pride.

I nodded in agreement, though my excitement was tempered by the toll the process had taken. My NEP had dropped to 310, the Metalweaving techniques consuming far more energy than I’d anticipated. Alchemical abilities were much less taxing, which was fortunate since the hard part was over. From here on, it was all about execution.

First on the agenda: crafting the nine core nodes.

Nove got to work immediately. She placed a monster brain on the board alongside some Nexus blood, carefully aligning the materials. Using alchemical arts, she burned the combination, reducing it into a thick, shimmering liquid. Once complete, she poured the liquid into a stone cup I’d made days ago when I was stuck in the cave.

“I feel like I’m looking at something forbidden,” I muttered, staring unflinchingly at the process unfolding before me. The glowing alchemical circle on the board pulsed faintly, the swirling materials within it taking on a life of their own.

“Since we’re using a general-purpose alchemical circle, we’ll need extra materials to balance the process,” Nove explained, her golden hue flickering softly with each word. “Otherwise, the stats and abilities might end up randomized.”

“I see…” I said, watching as Nove placed a Nexus crystal into the center of the circle. The crystal began to heat rapidly, glowing a fierce red as the juices extracted from the boar’s brain slowly mixed into it.

The circle responded, glowing bright white as energy coursed through it. I felt my NEP draining steadily, the pull subtle but noticeable. The materials within the circle coalesced, forming a sphere that began to cool as steam rose from its surface. Moments later, the completed core node floated gently into my hand.

The node was still warm to the touch, and as I held it, a stat screen materialized before me:

Golden boar Spike node (3/6 star tier):

* Stat increases:

Intelligence (INT): +5

Endurance (END): +2

* Special Abilities:

(Lvl:1) Rock Skewer: Will pull out two large spikes made of rocks from the user’s side to skewer the enemy with.

My eyes widened as I read the details. Oh my god, I thought, gripping the node tightly. This is exactly what I want for myself.

But I had to resist. As much as I wanted to keep it, I couldn’t. The plan came first. Stay focused.

Nove didn’t stop there. Using other parts of the boar—its muscles, bones, and various tissues—she crafted the remaining core nodes with the same precision. By the end of the process, I had three INT-based nodes, three END-based nodes, and three STR-based node created from the three-handed chimps I’d fought earlier. Each was meticulously crafted and detailed:

Golden boar Body node (3/6 star tier):

* Stat increases:

Endurance (END): +5

Strength (STR): +2

* Special Abilities:

(Lvl:1) Rock Body (Passive): Reduces all damage received by 10% (Note: Max damage reduction cannot be raised higher than 80%)

Chimp’s Muscle Node (3.5/6 Star Tier):

* Stat increases:

Strength (STR): +6

Endurance (END): +2

* Special Abilities:

(Lvl:1) Strength of three arms (Passive): Reduces the carry weight of wielded weapons by 30%

(Lvl:1) Triple Strike: Strike three times in an extremely quick succession.

I stared at the nodes, my resolve wavering. These were incredible. The stats, the abilities—they’d be game-changers for me. I was so close to just taking one of each for myself. My hands even twitched at the thought.

The core nodes I was currently using paled in comparison to the ones Nove had just created. Their stats and abilities were leagues ahead. But for now, it didn’t matter. None of the new nodes boosted my Metalweaving stat—something I desperately needed alongside Strength.

With the core nodes complete, the next task was potions. This part, Nove took on entirely herself, utilizing the alchemical circle to produce a significant quantity of potions. The results were as follows:

Lesser Health Regen Potion:

Regenerates health at a rate of 10/s for 6 seconds

Lesser NEP Regen Potion:

Regenerates NEP at a rate of 10/s for 6 seconds

Lesser Stamina Regen Potion:

Regenerates Stamina at a rate of 10/s for 6 seconds

Seeing the potions take shape was satisfying, but one detail caught my attention: I apparently had a stamina bar alongside my health and NEP bars. Nove explained that Alper had previously asked her to hide the stamina stat, which was why I hadn’t noticed it until now. With it revealed, my stats currently looked like this:

Health Points (HP): 125/125

Nexus Energy Points (NEP): 126/600

Stamina Points (SP): 67/110

While the potions were useful, I couldn’t help but wish for something more immediate—potions that would restore health or NEP instantly rather than over time. Unfortunately, common flora, herbs, and basic materials could only achieve so much. Still, these were better than nothing and would serve their purpose for now.

The final step was to distribute the potions into proper containers, ensuring the correct amounts. That was where I hit a snag: I didn’t have any glass containers.

Maybe I could borrow some from Dara? I thought, but the idea of facing her in the morning made me grimace. After the chaos in her office earlier, I wasn’t ready to tempt fate again so soon.

Just as I was preparing to call it a night, I heard someone calling my name. The sound pulled me from my thoughts, my body tensing instinctively.

“Adam!”

The voice was familiar and authoritative, cutting through the quiet of the barracks. There was only one person who spoke like that.

“Dara?” I muttered, slowly opening my eyes. Sure enough, there she was, standing beside my bunk bed. Around us, a few others paused to glance in our direction before hurriedly returning to whatever they were doing. It seemed like everyone here was just a little afraid of her.

Our eyes met briefly, and I caught a faint blush spreading across her tanned skin as she quickly looked away. But then, as if realizing her reaction, her expression shifted. Her face contorted with irritation, and she crossed her arms in an attempt to regain her composure.

“I’ll help you…” she mumbled, her voice barely audible. It was so quiet that no one else nearby could hear it but me.

“Help me?” I asked, sitting up straighter, intrigued.

Still avoiding my gaze, Dara sighed, her shoulders tensing. “I’ll help you… so you help me too,” she said, her tone more firm this time. The usual cat-like inflection in her voice was gone, replaced by a serious, businesslike tone.

From the corner of my eye, I caught a flicker of movement. A faint “kya!” sound came from somewhere in the distance, followed by the unmistakable shuffle of feet. I glanced past Dara, noticing shadows darting behind doorways and out of sight.

What the hell? I thought, frowning slightly. It was a little odd, but I decided to ignore it for now.

Instead, I focused on Dara, who was still standing awkwardly by my bed. “Thanks,” I said with genuine appreciation, offering her a small smile. “You’re a real lifesaver.”

Her lips twitched slightly, as if she were holding back a retort. With a quick nod, she turned on her heel and strode out of the barracks without another word.

Coincidentally, she went towards where I saw the shadows moving followed by the noises of Dara scolding someone people.

“What is going on over there?”