CHAPTER 51: GROUP PROJECT 5

The sunlight dimmed as the dense trees loomed overhead, their canopies forming a dark ceiling. Shadows pooled on the ground, but my senses were alert, sharpened from countless hunts.A red-scaled Firescale Serpent, nearly a meter long, slithered silently across the undergrowth, its presence a faint magical hum in the humid air. I felt its presence immediately.

Every demon carries mana, and the serpent couldn’t mask its aura from my Magic Ruler. Its instantaneous movements were slower than mine, but its reach and body length made it a serious threat.For now, I let it think I was an easy target, walking with a casual, almost clumsy gait, my Magic Ruler discreetly tracking its every move.

The serpent, sensing vulnerability, coiled its body and sprang toward me, propelling itself off a tree trunk in a sudden, fluid motion. Its fangs were bared, its tail whipping like a lash.Paah!Its serpentine body moved with terrifying speed, a blur of red and green.

But I didn’t flinch. My sword materialized from the codex with a flash of blue light, a blade of pure mana that hummed with power.Kak!!The blade met its head with precision, striking the creature’s magical defense with a jarring thud. The serpent emitted a high-pitched, piercing shriek before collapsing in a heap.Keeek! Keek!I froze, staring at the fallen serpent for a moment.’Um... I think I just looked cool.’I had wanted to hold the pose longer, imagining someone witnessing it, but supporting the weight of the serpent with one arm began to strain my muscles."Ugh, stupid serpent, what did you eat to make yourself so heavy?" I muttered, dropping it.I stepped into its lair, eyes scanning for the Glowcap Mushroom.

The faint bioluminescent caps shimmered in the dim light, almost teasing me. They were beautiful, but their fragility made them difficult to harvest. I carefully plucked a few, their faint glow reassuringly intact, and stored them in my space expansion backpack.

The hunt wasn’t overly difficult, but it had its tense moments.Back at the academy, the class had already begun. The students were a flurry of activity, their cauldrons bubbling, their pestles clinking."Everyone, have you prepared the ingredients?" Clara’s voice cut through the classroom.The group presented their materials.

Clara Winslet and Silva laid out their herbs and berries. Nad, looking far more serious now, presented a jar of Wild Honey. I opened my box of frozen Glowcap Mushrooms, the faint glow reassuringly intact."This..."Nad’s eyes widened as she examined the mushrooms. She picked one up, her fingers trembling slightly. She had seen their rarity and importance firsthand."It’s fresh... Is it...?""Of course," I said casually. It had been harvested minutes ago, straight from its lair."...Seems you have an eye for ingredients," Clara said, smiling slightly."Have you studied the recipe in advance?""Of course.""Good. Now, the only thing left is to perfect it."Suddenly, the classroom door opened.

Three people entered, accompanied by Annie and Professor Edel Ty. They were the alchemists who would be evaluating the students’ projects, their presence immediately silencing the room.

They were unfamiliar to me, though the other students’ eyes sparkled with recognition. Clearly, they were competent and influential alchemists.When Ty announced the practice test, Clara clenched her fists with determination.But the determination shattered almost instantly."...The potion we will be making today is a Health Potion.

Have you all prepared the ingredients?"The other groups nodded, their faces a mixture of nerves and anticipation. My group, however, did not. Clara’s face was a mask of confusion, a look of dawning horror spreading across her features."Hold on, Professor.""What? Clara Winslet?" Professor Ty’s voice remained calm but firm."This task... I believe it was meant to be a D-grade Health Potion.""Oh? Didn’t you receive notice?" she said, her voice laced with a subtle hint of mock surprise. "It’s been upgraded to an A-grade Health Potion."Clara’s face fell."...I hadn’t heard.""Really? I made a clear announcement.

Right, everyone?"All other students nodded. I clenched my fists subtly, the pieces clicking into place.’Huh. So they’re playing dirty openly,’ I thought, a cold, calculating fury spreading through me. I hadn’t expected them to reveal it so boldly. Did they not fear punishment if wrong?’Even so, this is too much.’I wasn’t obsessed with grades, but the others were. Clara wanted a career, Silva and Nad had their dreams.

Looking incompetent would damage their start.I glanced at Selene, her group busy with their potion. She looked at me, puzzled, though I couldn’t tell why. Was it confusion over the rule change or something else?Ty addressed Clara."Cadet Clara, did you not prepare your ingredients properly?"".....""Um, that’s... difficult."Clara, Silva, and Nad paled.

The reality of failure crept closer. They had worked hard, and now, through no fault of their own, they were about to be publicly humiliated."For an alchemist, weaving countless possibilities into a single truth, losing focus or mismanaging ingredients is the greatest sin.""Ugh..."As students, they could only accept the professor’s decision."Sorry, but I have to disqualify your group..."Before the word fully landed, I stepped forward.

I could feel the gazes of the entire class, the alchemists, and Professor Ty herself, all fixed on me."Is the A-grade Health Potion all I need to make?" I asked, my voice calm, but with an undercurrent of steel."...What?""I can handle it with these ingredients." I scanned the endless floating data on my Vismora Glasses.

Alchemy had been one of my main interests in the game, and I meticulously recorded every recipe. I hadn’t forgotten a single one.One of my favorites?[A-Grade Health Potion]Originally, Professor Edel Ty intended to develop it herself. But I knew the recipe, the exact ingredients, and the precise process.

I hadn’t planned to attempt it, but circumstances had changed.’If they want to play dirty, I’ll match them,’ I thought."I will make it a potion crafted from different materials, performing better than theirs." I gestured to the other groups, their faces a mixture of shock and disbelief. This wasn’t just about passing the test anymore. This was a challenge.