Chapter 309 Iron Armor Granny <TOC> Chapter 311 Boundless Silence
Translator: SumTLMan
Having instructed Toby not to leave the confines of the Dimensional Laboratory, Angel embarked on this alchemical endeavor.
However, before he could begin the refinement process, Angel needed to practice a skill: dual-line operation. The standard dual-line operation, or multitasking, could be accomplished by any wizard capable of entering a meditative state.
But to apply dual-line operation to highly complex alchemy, it wasn’t as simple as drawing a circle with one hand and a square with the other.
For instance, the dual-line operation Angel had to perform was significantly more difficult, involving inscribing a magical array enchantment while refining a spatial item simultaneously. Both tasks demanded focus, especially the magical array enchantment, which required not only a stable flow of magical power but also undivided attention.
However, this was only true for other enchantment alchemists.
For Angel, when he inscribed a magical array enchantment, he had the assistance of a holographic projection, which allowed him to follow the rune with ease. As for stable magical power output, the presence of the Universal Axis in his thought space made it a simple task.
For him, the real challenge lay in refining the spatial item.
In this dual-line operation, another significant hurdle, and the main reason for the scarcity of compounded-effect alchemical items, was the simultaneous inscription of magical runes.
This final step in his refinement plan involved not only inscribing the magical array enchantment but also simultaneously carving a contract magical rune on the other side. This step was even more difficult, requiring at least the mental arithmetic and control abilities of a formal wizard to complete.
Yet, enchantment alchemists who had reached the level of a formal wizard were very few.
This was why most compounded-effect alchemical items on the market were “mixed” rather than “enchanted.”
Of course, Angel overcame this step with the aid of a holographic tablet. Although the success of the process could be deemed forceful, there were no absolutes in alchemy. The path taken by predecessors was not necessarily the most convenient method.
Furthermore, mastering enchantment alchemy was a matter of practice. For instance, Angel initially relied on holographic projections to inscribe runes such as Sharpness, Frost, Armor Piercing, and Gold Touch. But after numerous practices, he could now inscribe these simple runes without holographic assistance.
Although it may have been forceful, he ultimately reached the same level as other enchantment alchemists. As long as the final result was the same, why bother worrying about the path taken?
After spending two days familiarizing himself with dual-line operation, ensuring every step was flawless and the timing perfectly aligned, Angel finally began the official refinement process.
This refinement took another two days.
Two days later, with dark circles under his eyes, Angel excitedly entered the final fusion stage.
On one side, the “Boundless Silence” reached its final stage, while on the other, the “Contract Magic Rune” approached its last step. As Angel manipulated two pairs of magical hands, holding two carving pens, slowly closing in from both sides along a line, a wondrous charm emerged from the blending point.
The solidification process began!
A burning passion erupted in Angel’s eyes, and just as he was about to cheer, he stumbled and nearly fell. Fortunately, the refining process had entered the solidification stage, so a slight shake didn’t affect anything.
He was utterly exhausted, having rested for less than five hours in four consecutive days.
Angel removed his clothes one by one until he was naked. His discarded clothes on the ground emitted a strong smell of sweat, and his bare back, still damp from excessive sweating, eventually developed white salt crusts. Angel manipulated the magical hands, grabbed a wet towel, and wiped himself down slightly.
The damp sensation seeped through his skin, and Angel’s tense back finally relaxed.
Though he performed these actions, his gaze never left the solidifying “ring.” The white light kept flashing, and when it reached the final step of solidification,
Angel thought to himself, “Success!”
A fierce radiance burst from the “ring,” and Angel’s already exhausted eyes were further irritated by the intense flash, causing tears to flow.
When the light faded and Angel wiped away his tears to open his eyes, he found himself in a dark, desolate land.
Surrounded by an unfamiliar environment, a crescent moon hung in the sky, and both distant mountains and nearby water were pitch black. Angel understood that the omen had finally arrived.
…
The Alchemy Omen was not merely a proclamation of the birth of an alchemical item. It was more of a test for the alchemist themselves.
A test to see if the alchemist could withstand this heaven-defying object.
Upon learning about the “Dark Cloud” omen, Angel immediately researched all available information on alchemical omens that night.
The emergence of any intermediate or higher-level alchemical item would trigger an alchemical omen, which manifested not only in the external world but also on the alchemist themselves.
The external manifestation, such as the oppressive dark cloud.
The personal manifestation, like the desolate land Angel now found himself in.
Only if the alchemist could overcome the omen would the alchemical item be considered truly successful. Otherwise, the item’s effectiveness might be compromised, or its quality might even be reduced.
Angel had wondered why he hadn’t experienced any unusual signs when he first crafted the Prelude of Death Revolver. It was likely due to his unique constitution, which may have already experienced the omen without his knowledge.
When the crafting was successful, dark clouds loomed outside, and wails of the undead filled his ears. Angel guessed that these wails were the so-called omens. At first, the wailing seemed strangely piercing to him, but as soon as the butterfly bone injury itched, the piercing sound had no effect.
Just like when he confronted Saka in the Sky Tower, any soul wailing from Silvia had no effect on him.
Any negative effects on the soul had no impact on him.
Back then, he could rely on the unique nature of his constitution to unknowingly overcome an alchemical omen. But now, he must face it personally and rely on his own strength to overcome this unpredictable omen.
Angel carefully examined the desolate landscape. Beneath his feet was dark soil, surrounded by a dark river and a gloomy forest, while shadowy mountains loomed in the distance. The sky was pitch black, with only a crescent moon hanging alone, devoid of stars and even clouds.
Angel looked at himself, wearing only a thin pair of pants on his lower body.
The night wind blew, chilling him to the bone.
Angel prepared to cast a spell to maintain body temperature but found that his magic could not be activated. The rolling magical power in his magic source had all ceased, just like the external environment, silent and indifferent.
Angel walked to the riverbank, where the dark river seemed to flow but without any sound. The world was eerily quiet, and the silence was terrifying.
Shivering, Angel followed a path forward.
This was the only road, with the forest behind and unknown darkness ahead. Angel chose to venture into the darkness, as the forest at night was too dangerous. No one knew if there were hidden threats lurking in the shadows behind each tree.
Trusting his intuition, Angel chose a path that at least appeared flat.
He walked for an unknown amount of time, perhaps an hour or a day, feeling exhausted but not stopping. He felt that something bad might happen if he stopped.
This was a gut feeling, and Angel believed in it without question. In the past, he had successfully left the Nightmare Domain during the talent test in Pat Manor due to his intuition, and later, he saved himself from a parasite because of it.
When he reached the end of the road, he discovered a small town.
It was a lively town, filled with people laughing and chatting, singing and dancing. There were street vendors selling snacks, neon paper lanterns, parties, and bustling children.
As Angel entered, all the previous silence vanished. Even the lonely crescent moon in the sky seemed gentler, and the moonlight no longer mournful but rather imbued with a soft charm.
This was a lively town where everyone was singing and dancing. Angel seemed to have been infected by the atmosphere, and as someone danced towards him, their gaze seemed to invite him to join in the dance. Just as Angel was about to step forward, his inner vigilance made him step back. As the person approached, Angel hid in a corner. The person noticed but didn’t care, instead continuing to look for someone else to dance with.
As Angel walked forward, more people approached. Their eyes revealed some wanting him to sing, others wanting to invite him to a bonfire feast, and still others wanting to toast and drink with him. Angel dodged them all, and as long as he avoided them, their attention wouldn’t linger on him.
It was strange that they were so enthusiastic and could clearly see him, yet they didn’t insist on inviting him.
While walking, Angel pondered what kind of place this could be – was it an illusion? However, as an outstanding disciple of the illusion arts, he didn’t sense any illusionary properties.
All his senses, tactile feelings, and feedback suggested that this place seemed real. Whether it was the desolate road, the chill of the night wind, or the icy river water, or this bustling town with its joyful songs, intoxicating aroma of wine, and enthusiastic crowd, they all conveyed this message.
But to create an entire real world just for an omen test seemed too extravagant, didn’t it?
Angel thought that perhaps this was something similar to the “inner demons” found in Earth’s fantasy stories. It seemed like an illusion but only bewitched your will; it seemed real but only deprived you of your senses.
It was like a virtual reality game, constructing a map according to the characteristics of the items you crafted, challenging you to pass through. If you succeeded, you’d be rewarded. If you failed, you’d be punished.
The question then arose: what were the characteristics of the spatial item he had crafted?
Chapter 309 Iron Armor Granny <TOC> Chapter 311 Boundless Silence