It had taken Liam some time to make another batch of Weak Powdered Paralytic Adder Venom. When he entered the Poison Crafting Room it was almost four in the afternoon. It was now almost five. During that time, he had finished making the batch of Powdered Venom for his next project, placed them in two medium sized containers the size of a coin jar, and also decided to make Weak Liquified Shadow Mana Extract and Weak Liquified Lunar Extracts. He didn’t have a lot of time, so he decided to make seven small vials of each.
After he placed the powdered venom that wasn’t going to be used in this next step in containers and away into his inventory, he cleaned the place up. He didn’t want to leave the place in a pigsty even though they said it was alright, something inside of him wouldn’t let him do it.
Once the equipment was cleaned, the air in the room purified, and everything put back in its place, Liam proceeded to the next room. He kept his Shadow Hands active in case he still needed their help for the next part. As he opened the door and stepped in, Liam took a good look and was shocked. The room he walked into looked almost exactly like a mixture of a chemistry class and a laboratory.
A few long desks were spread out throughout the room. Sitting along the walls were glass cabinets filled with equipment. Compared to the Poison Craft room, this one had a lot more of them. As Liam looked at each one he understood. There were more equipment varying in different shapes and sizes.
There were some that he recognized, while there were more he didn’t. The ones he recognized were Cucurbits, Alembics, beakers, graduated Cylinders, Vials, Funnels, Mortar and Pestles, and Bunsen burners. There was one that looked a lot like a Distilling Flask, something that looks a lot like a dropper, bowls, and long graduated tubes with spigot or a valve like attachment, and more.
Liam knew this room was going to be a lot different compared to what he was used to, but he never expected it to be this different. Even Galin’s equipment couldn’t compare to some of these tools. Although, he had a sneaking suspicion that Galin didn’t have all of his equipment when he went to the Tutorial Area.
After Liam got a good look around at everything, he made his way to a desk that was slightly bigger than the others. He figured he would need more space not just for the equipment, but for the materials he was going to use as well.
As he looked for his Beginner’s guide to things that go Boom!, Liam had his Shadow Hands go and grab a couple of vial rack holders. After pulling it out, Liam searched for the page that contained pictures of each piece of equipment he needed as well as the set up.
The set up, like most of the Alchemy crafting stations, was completely different. The level of Potion Making he had been at only needed a Cucurbit, an Alembic, a Bunsen burner, and a beaker or container for the contents to fall into. You didn’t need to worry about using any form of Mana Control either since there wasn’t a need for it. You could set it up and let it do its own thing while you worked on something else.
Poison crafting at the beginning needed a cauldron and a stirring spoon. While the equipment was less and a bit bulkier than the Potion Making equipment, the process to craft it was a step up and required more of your focus as well as three mana skills. Mana Channeling, Mana Control, and Mana Manipulation. You needed those in order to make sure the extracts and poisons you were mixing blended perfectly together. One slip up and the whole process could fail, destroying all the materials in the process.
Chemical Creations on the other hand…that was a craft that was a step up even more than the other two. As Liam had studied up on Chemicalized Creation, he started to understand why it was something you couldn’t start learning until you reached a certain level in the Mana Skills as well as practicing the other two sections. While there was no risk with Potion making and the risk of Poison Crafting was getting poisoned by the materials if you weren’t careful as well as destroying the materials; the risk wasn’t entirely life threatening.
The risk of crafting Chemicalized Creations was a different story. If you didn’t pay attention to the different Mana Type Extracts, one wrong move and the entire session could blow up in your face. While the lower quality materials wouldn’t cause much harm, maybe you’ll get hit by the shattering glass, the higher quality materials cause more damage. From rooms to buildings, the explosions caused can kill you on the spot if you’re not careful. Everything you do from the start of your Alchemy crafting sessions; they were all practice getting you ready for Chemicalized Creations. Now the same could be said for the Magic Potion section of Alchemy, but Liam hasn’t done any research into it yet to really know if that is the case.
After taking a few minutes making sure the equipment was in the proper place, Liam took a step back and marveled at the set up. Clamped with just the right amount of pressure were two round bottom flasks with a glass side arm angled at a fifteen degree angle. Both of these were right above a Bunsen Burner sitting as far away from each other as possible. He learned that these round bottom flasks with side arms were indeed called Distilling Flasks.
Connected to each side arm was a rubber tube that was stretched far enough to keep straight right towards a small flat bottom flask. The hoses were placed into a hole on each side of the stopper that plugged the flat bottom flask. In the middle of the two hoses sticking out from the stopper was a thin metal straw.
There was a single hole for metal straws in the stoppers for the Distilling Flasks, but the purpose for those were different than for the one on the flat bottom flask. The purpose of the metal straws for the Distilling Flasks was to allow pressure that would build up while the mana extracts boiled to slowly escape so the glass flasks don’t strain from the pressure. The purpose for the other metal straw was to allow the powdered mixture to enter while the two extracts start to mix in the flat bottom flask.
While it is customary to use regular bone powder when you make your first Chemicalized Creation, Liam didn’t want to wait. He had some faith that the powdered poison he had made would work the same. That was the reason why he mixed extra bone powder when he crushed the poison powder with crushed bone powder. It was so the extracts and the poisoned powder would blend without any issue.
Liam grabbed two small vials of Weak Liquified Gravity Mana Extracts and poured them into one of the distilling flasks. After he did that, he grabbed two small Weak Liquified Air Mana Extracts and poured them in the other distilling flask. After that he plugged both of them with the stoppers he had prepared.
He made sure everything was plugged in tight and there weren’t any holes where there shouldn’t be. Once he confirmed everything was just right he chanted his Light and Burn spell twice, placed them on the Bunsen Burners, checked the temperature of the flames, and adjusted them to the right temperature.
He then watched and waited for the liquid in both distilling flasks to start boiling. This part of the process was delicate. He needed to make sure the flames were hot enough to make the mana liquid extracts boil, but he also needed to make sure they didn’t boil too fast.
The reason for that was because when the Liquified Mana Extract boiled, the vapors that escape from the liquid becomes pure concentrated mana that isn’t in liquid form anymore. At the same time, the condensation created from the boiling liquid inside the distilling flask that forms at the entrance of the side arm mixes with the concentrated mana and recreates a distilled form of the Liquified Mana.
If the Liquified Mana Extracts were to boil too fast then majority of the vapors of pure concentrated mana would exit the distilling flask through the metal straw. While some of it escaping was needed, if majority of the purely concentrated mana escaped then it would make the finishing product a dud.
He needed both the purely concentrated mana and the recreated liquified mana extract made from the condensation to evenly push through the side arms, down the rubber tubes, and into the flat bottom flask.
He needed both to slowly enter that flask and slowly fill. After the flask was filled with a certain amount of both forms from each distilling flask, he would add the powdered poison. The bone dust mixed in the powdered poison would swirl and stabilize all four just enough for them to not overwhelm the other and cause an unstable reaction. Without the properties of the bone dust, the mana would wage war against each other and trigger the effects that they were creating inside which would then push the runes placed on the flask pass the point of no return, breaking the flask entirely.
Liam watched as the liquids in both distilling flasks start to boil. The bubbles that formed at the bottom of the flasks were tiny and slow to move to the top. Liam activated his Mana Sight to see if he could notice anything else. As he peered through his shadowy goggles, he noticed something very interesting. Each bubble that broke the surface and popped turned into a wisp of mana that danced inside the flask.
The heat that filled the glass container made the vaporized mana swirl and twirl as they made their way to the top. After reaching the top of the flask, the amount that didn’t enter the metal straw and escape out, circled like a draft had spun it around. It then slowly drifted down back and forth before entering the side arm where it started to build up into the tube.
Liam noticed the purely concentrated mana just sit there. The amount building up looked like it was stuck. He watched as it moved forward, but then backwards. He was confused as to why this was happening. Did he need to channel some mana and give it a push? No, he remembered reading in the book that during this part of the process he shouldn’t channel any of his mana.
The warning left stated that if one were to channel any of their mana to help guide the concentrated mana or recreated liquified mana then it would contaminate the materials. It would add in an element that could cause the ingredients that entered the flat bottom flask to either react negatively or weaken the ingredients thus making the whole thing a complete failure.
He needed the purely concentrated mana and the liquified mana to move on their own through the tubes. However, watching the concentrated mana just move back and forth like that as if something was breathing through the tube made him wonder what he should do.
If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.
His worries were dispelled not too long after that as the heat filled the flask creating condensation in certain areas. One of those areas was the top entrance of the side arm. A glob of liquified mana quickly formed along the entrance of the side arm, pushing a small amount of purely concentrated mana forward.
As if that’s what it was waiting for, both the glob of liquified mana and the pocket of purely concentrated mana started making their way down the tubes, towards the flat bottom flask. Once they made it to the end of the tube, both forms of mana dropped inside towards the bottom. The purely concentrated mana from both sides hit the bottom first.
However, the liquified form that was attached to the vaporized mana swiftly switched places. This made it so the liquid was touching the bottom while the vapors were right above the liquid. The next notable thing Liam noticed was the purely concentrated mana didn’t remove itself from the top of the liquified mana. Instead, they looked like they were glued to each other.
Liam theorized that the time these two forms spent rolling through the tubes created an inseparable connection. If this theory was correct, then he could understand why there would be a volatile reaction when all the different mana types finally connected. The liquified mana was one thing, but the vapor of the purely concentrated mana that had created a connection with its liquid counterpart would not like anything else to get in between them.
Liam nodded as he started to understand the purpose of the bone dust that needed to be mixed in with it. While bones were known to have a magic absorption property in its raw or whole form, the dust version had similar properties but just weaker. Since the dust was able to move freely it could spread out and attach itself in areas where the reactions were the strongest.
It would absorb just enough of that instability and keep it in check, at least until the flask shattered. Once the flask shattered then the dust would not be able to keep things in check since it would swirl and bring along with it the instability throughout the entire mixture, thus allowing the effects and properties to do its job.
Liam continued to watch as more liquid and vapors began filling the flat bottom flask. He need to keep an eye out for the moment the two different types of mana touched. Once they did he needed to add a very small amount of the powdered poison to start creating that stability.
He also needed to watch the amount he poured in. If he poured in too much then it would make the whole thing too stable. If it was too stable then when he wanted to use the item nothing would happen. However, if he added too little then the instability would create a reaction he didn’t want to happen.
Since this was his first time doing this the only thing he could do was remember what he saw when Galin had made one of these in front of him back in the Tutorial Area as well as trust his judgement on the amount.
Liam was brought out of his thoughts as he noticed the two sides were starting to get closer to each other. He had one of his Shadow Hands grab a funnel and attached it to the metal straw. He then grabbed a spoon and scooped out a small amount of the powdered poison and readied himself.
He waited as the two different mana types in their two different forms slowly approached each other. With every drop that entered the flat bottom flask, the more they were pushed closer to each other. They were starting to get dangerously closer after a few seconds had passed, but Liam didn’t want to drop it in too soon. He didn’t know if there would be any adverse effects if it was put in too soon. He only knew about the ones if it was poured in too late.
He focused his attention on them both, waiting for a sign. It didn’t take long for him to notice it when it happened. Almost like a spark, Liam noticed the two forms of the two different manas suddenly clash as they bled into each other. It was faint, but he felt the manas start to charge up. Liam lightly shook the spoon to allow a very small amount of the powder to fall through the funnel and down into the mixture. The small amount fell through the vapors first before entering the liquid.
Liam shook his head. That observation wasn’t entirely accurate. The small amount of the powdered ingredient had split. A small portion remained in the vapor of the purely concentrated mana while the other fell through and dispersed into the liquid.
Liam was both amazed and in awe as he watched this happen. The charge he felt running through the different forms of mana had settled down, but that wasn’t what he was amazed about. It was how the powdered ingredient split itself. The powdered poison floated throughout the vapor of the purely concentrated mana while the plain bone dust floated inside the liquified mana.
Liam was amazed by this because he wasn’t entirely sure how this part was going to happen. While he needed the poison powder to mix with this, he knew that if it mixed with the liquid part of the creation then it would just dissolve. There wouldn’t have been any reason to turn it into a powder if it was just going to dissolve in the liquid. However, he now had an answer as to if that would happen. The poison powder remained in its powdered form and floated throughout the vapor section of the experiment.
As Liam marveled at this he didn’t realize that the flask was starting to grow and mix with more of the incoming vapors and liquid at a faster pace. The heat from the fire underneath the distilling flasks had continued its job in earnest after getting into the groove. The amount of powdered poison he had mixed in had stabilized a decent amount of the concoction, but since more had entered and filled there wasn’t enough of it to help keep it in check.
Liam snapped out of his thoughts and felt that charge he felt earlier. After seeing that the flask was half full and still filling in with more, Liam poured in the rest of the powdered poison he had left in the spoon. He watched as the powdered mixture split again and was excited to see it stabilize it once more, however, it didn’t stabilize at all.
The amount of powdered poison he added wasn’t enough to keep everything in check. He scooped a bit more of the powdered mixture and slowly poured another small amount. It didn’t help at all. The amount of liquid and vapor pouring in was too much for the powdered mixture to spread out and try to stabilize it. He needed to add more.
As he thought that something inside the flask started to happen. The flask started to vibrate as the liquid and vapor began to swirl inside. Liam felt his blood run cold. He remembered reading that if this started to happen then he needed to channel his mana into both mana types and try to freeze them in place and add in as much of the powdered mixture as he needed to. Freezing it in place would help the powdered mixture to spread out and stabilize the areas that had begun to react badly.
Liam placed the spoon inside the container of the Powdered Poison and placed his hands around the outside of the flat bottom flask. Before he started channeling his mana into it he saw more vapor and liquid mana roll inside the flask.
Cursing himself mentally, Liam blew out the flames under the Distilling Flasks to stop any more from rolling into the flat bottom flask. After cutting off the source of the extra mana forms, Liam started channeling his mana and poured it into the flask. He tried to grasp the two different mana types and freeze them in place, however the moment his mana went to grasp them, they both slipped right through.
“What the fuck?” Liam muttered to himself as he tried again.
Once more the two different mana types slipped right through. That wasn’t entirely accurate. It felt like he was able to grasp one, but the other slipped by. During the next attempt the same thing happened except he was able to grasp the opposite mana type while the other slipped by and pushed the one he had gripped out of his control.
“Seriously? What the hell!?” Liam shouted as frustration started to build inside him.
He wasn’t entirely sure how or why this was happening. Taking a deep breath in and trying to calm his mind, Liam tried to swiftly think things over. He was able to grasp one type of mana, but not the other. When he tried to grasp the other one, the one he was able to grasp would slip out. This was a mystery to him. Normally when he tried to manipulate a mana type he was able to grasp it easily.
“But that was because I was manipulating one type of mana not trying to manipulate and grasp two at the same time,” Liam muttered to himself as he felt like he was on to something. “If that is the case then do I need to try and channel two different types of mana at once? But how can I do that? Can I do that?”
Liam knew the answer was yes. He vaguely remembered it, but he was able to channel, control, and manipulate Shadow and Lunar at the same time during his fight against that giant shadow man. But he wasn’t in control of himself when he did it. Could he do it as he was right now?
Laim looked at the flask that was continuing to become unstable. He needed to do it. If he didn’t then this flask was going to explode, and he didn’t need a mixture of glass, gravity, air, and poisoned powder exploding in his face.
Liam looked at his hands and tried to concentrate. First he knew he didn’t have any control over Air Mana so he couldn’t use that. He would need to use his Arcane Mana for that one. So, if he was using his Arcane Mana for the Air Mana part he would then need to channel Gravity mana for the other since he did have levels in control over that mana type.
Liam tried to focus as hard as he could as he started channeling mana all around him. He could see the gravity mana mixed with his arcane. He tried to focus on the Gravity Mana portion, but as he did this, both hands started to coat with it.
“Shit,” Liam cursed as he stopped himself. He then tried again and focused even harder. Once more, Gravity Mana started coating his hands.
“Are you serious right now?!” Laim roared feeling irritated as he looked back at the flask.
The contents inside the flask was starting to pick up speed. The faster it got the more the flask vibrated. He felt that if he didn’t get this down soon, it was going to explode.
He attempted once more. As both his hands started coating with Gravity Mana Liam let out a frustrated grunt as he pushed his will to stop the gravity mana that was coating his right hand.
To his surprise the gravity mana that was coating that had stopped. Pushing his will even more, the small amount of Gravity Mana that had coated his hand shrunk away and made its way over to his other hand, giving it a thicker coat than usual. Replacing the Gravity Mana on his free hand was now his Arcane Mana. Just like the Gravity mana on his left hand, the Arcane Mana looked a bit thicker than usual.
Not wanting to waste any time on that mystery, Liam turned his attention back to the flask and manipulated both mana types into the container. As Liam pushed both mana types he felt a heavy strain. It felt like to Liam that they were trying to resist his will and control. Not wanting to deal with that, Liam used brute force to demand obedience on the two mana types he was manipulating.
He then focused on them to grasp the two mana types causing chaos inside the flask. The Gravity Mana he channeled easily connected with the rampaging Gravity Mana while his Arcane Mana tried to grip the Air Mana.
At first the Air Mana slipped through his grip making him feel like maybe this idea wasn’t what he was supposed to do. However, after trying three more times after that, the Air Mana started to connect with his Arcane Mana. After the fifth try he was able to freeze it in place, but he felt a strong resistance. Almost like it was fighting with everything it had to get free.
Letting out a breath of air, Liam felt triumphant. At least for a split moment before he realized he needed to pour in the Powdered Poison. He mentally sent a command to one of his Shadow Hands. Luckily for him they moved normally.
They quickly poured in four scoops of the powdered poison as fast as they could. Liam watched as the powdered mixture started to sperate and find all the areas it needed to go to, to stabilize the creation.
As the powdered mixture was doing its thing, Liam felt his control over the Air Mana start to slip. He grunted as he tried to focus his mana to hold on a bit longer. However, a powerful thump crashed inside his head causing him to lose control over his Gravity and Arcane Mana allowing the Air Mana and Gravity Mana to swirl once more.
Liam placed a hand over his temple as his head started to pound. He watched in frustration as the contents swirled faster and faster. He braced himself for the flask to explode. However, the container never broke. To Liam’s surprise the swirling slowed down to a stop.
Confused about what happened, Liam stared at it. A second later, he placed both hands on his head as a chime sound echoed and a notification appeared.
----------------------------------------
“Congratulations! You have created Weak Poisoned Null Zone!”
----------------------------------------