...

The next day in RML...

Izroth was currently sitting at the center of his private room located within the Mystical Realm Palace.

It had already been several hours since he arrived at the Mystical Realm Palace; however, he came across an unexpected problem.

'Strange... It's been well over twelve hours, but the effects of Soul Weakness show no signs of disappearing. My skills are also still locked as a result of the backlash from my Compressed Lightning Movements while also utilizing Dragon Force. How long will it last?'

Ever since his return to the Mystical Realm Palace, Izroth spent his time thoroughly checking the state of his body. In addition, he circulated his Source Chant to help with the recovery process of his Essence.

However, even though his Essence had been fully restored, Izroth found that his stats were still reduced and his skills locked.

Izroth examined his stats once more; however, nothing had changed since the last time he inspected it.

'The assault on the Night Lord's Crypt should be taking place within the next couple of days. If I can't recovery before then... How troublesome.'

Name: Izroth

EXP: 82.35%

Level: 51(Stat Points: 0)

Title: Oathkeeper(Primary), Protector of Amaharpe(Secondary), Scholar(Solitary)

Class: Combat Master

[HP(Hit Points): 24,080/24,080 (100%)] -> 6,020(WEAKENED)

[HP Regen(In-Battle): 213 HP/s] -> 53(WEAKENED)

[Energy: 225] -> 56(WEAKENED)

[MP: 1,422/1,422 (100%)] -> 356(WEAKENED)

[MP Regen: 10 MP/s—] -> 2.5(WEAKENED)

[ATTACK: 2,734] -> 684(WEAKENED)

[DEFENSE: 1,258] -> 315(WEAKENED)

[AGILITY: 2,158] -> 540(WEAKENED)

[MAGIC: 146] -> 37(WEAKENED)

[Physical Resistance: 25%]

[Magical Resistance: 25%]

[Luck: 6]

[Critical Hit: 9.5%]

[Lifesteal: 6%]

[Armor Piercing: 10%]

[+19% Attack Speed]

[+10% Movement Speed(Doubles when out of combat)]

[-10% Spell Casting Time]

[+15% Water Resistance]

[+5% Permanent Experience Boost]

[+150% Crafting Speed]

[+45% Pill Crafting Speed]

[+8.9% Blessing of the Craft]

[-17% Mana Cost For Skills]

[+10% Bonus Damage for Sword-Type skills]

'At least it only seems to affect my main stats. Fortunately, my physical and magical resistance as well as some of my other stats are unaffected. However, it can only be considered a small victory. For now, at least until I regain the use of my skills, it is too dangerous to leave the Mystical Realm Palace.'

Izroth had many enemies. Some of these enemies were visible, but others lurked in the darkness—waiting for an ideal moment to strike. And, there was no better moment than now to do so. Of course, Izroth was well aware of his situation.

'The effects will most likely vanish by themselves if I give it time. Unfortunately, time is something I cannot spare with the way things have been progressing lately. I have to find a way to speed up my recovery as fast as possible. And, I may have just the thing to do it. But, I still have not heard back from him yet.'

Izroth did not spend his time in the Mystical Realm Palace solely trying to recover. Although he was waiting for Morrighan to deliver copies of the ancient scrolls, Izroth wanted to begin experimenting with the Blood of the Immortal Hydra. However, he immediately ran into a roadblock.

Since Izroth was using his Dark Abyssal Cauldron as a container for the hydra's blood, he was forced to use one of the cauldrons inside his Mystical Realm Palace.

Izroth knew that a D-rank or C-rank cauldron would not be able to handle the hydra's blood; therefore, he borrowed the only B-rank cauldron in his Mystical Realm Palace that he specifically prepared for Worldly Skies.

But, who would have thought that the B-rank cauldron would melt and fracture after receiving only a few drops of hydra's blood? In the end, the cauldron's durability dropped to zero and it was destroyed! Just like that, more than 630,000 RMB had gone down the drain! And, that was not even including the fire core needed to power the cauldron itself.

This is why Izroth asked Metronome to find another cauldron at least B-rank, as well as a virtually indestructible container that could hold even the most potent of poisons.

'It seems I am unable to start anything before I find a container capable of properly storing the hydra's blood. Since I'm stuck at an impasse, I suppose now is as good a time as any...'

Izroth accessed his inventory. The next moment, two objects had appeared before him.

It was the treasure chest he obtained from clearing the crusade's third stage along with a mysterious black box.

Izroth picked up the mysterious black box that was small enough to fit in the palm of his hand. This was the gift Tal'Nis mentioned just as Izroth was transporting out of the third stage.

'Let's see what gift you prepared for me.'

Izroth opened the mysterious black box and was greeted by the sight of three transparent vials no bigger than one's finger. Each vial had the same unique symbol of an hourglass embedded onto its front surface.

However, when Izroth read over the system information of the vials, a weak smile formed on his face as he could not help but slightly shake his head.

'Is this what they call searching for a coin under one's own foot?'

Name: Ageless Vial of Sen(Magical Item)

Rank: S

Durability: ∞(Indestructible)

Capacity: 0.00%

Usage: A vial capable of storing virtually any type of liquid or gas substance and keep it from degrading indefinitely. The user of this item can control the exact amount they want to store or use. This item cannot be used to store two distinct substances.

Special Note: A vessel crafted from a special stone unique to the Ageless Valley.

The gift Tal'Nis prepared for Izroth had been the very thing he was seeking—a container for the hydra's blood!

Tal'Nis probably realized that some of the Immortal Hydra's blood was in Izroth's possession and knew that he would have trouble finding a viable way to keep it stored. Still, he never thought that she would go out of her way to gift him not one, but three Ageless Vial of Sen! Even if their sole purpose was to act as a storage device, that did not change the fact that they were still S-rank magic items!

'To think she would give away three S-rank magic items without blinking. As expected of a crusade's owner.'

Izroth took out his Dark Abyssal Cauldron and was instantly hit by the overbearing stench of the foul hydra's blood.

«Resisted»

«Resisted»

'If not for my Heavenly Golden Body, it would be quite troublesome to work with. But, I should be fine as long as I don't come into direct contact with it.'

Izroth removed the cork-style seal on the Ageless Vial of Sen and held the empty vial above his Dark Abyssal Cauldron.

The moment he did so, the Blood of the Immortal Hydra inside Izroth's cauldron swirled upward into a spiral before flowing into the Ageless Vial of Sen.

A few seconds later, after taking in a little more than half of the hydra's blood, Izroth received an alert from the system. 

〈System Alert: The item «Ageless Vial of Sen» has reached 100% Capacity!〉

'It holds more than I expected for its size. I expect no less from an S-rank magic item.'

Izroth placed the first vial into his inventory before using a second vial to finish absorbing the rest of the hydra's blood down to the very last drop.

'It's just a bit shy of reaching full capacity.'

Name: Ageless Vial of Sen(Magical Item)

Rank: S

Durability: ∞(Indestructible)

Capacity: 98.95%

...

Izroth set the second vial into his inventory along with the unused third vial.

'It's strange... I'm certain I collected a larger amount of the hydra's blood with the Dark Abyssal Cauldron. The rest of it could not have just disappeared by itself without reason.'

Just as this thought crossed Izroth's mind, something unusual happened. The Dark Abyssal Cauldron began to shake uncontrollably as it unleashed a heavy aura of oppression.

'An overload? No... This aura feels familiar. It's almost as if I'm back at the second stage of the crusade.'

Grrrrr... Hssst... Raaawr...

Suddenly, the sound of lowing hissing and growls entered Izroth's ears as five lines of energy erupted from inside his Dark Abyssal Cauldron!

At first, the five lines of energy seemed formless and unstable. However, after a few seconds passed, they began to stabilize and take on an actual form.

'This is...'

Hsssst...

What appeared before Izroth was five serpent-like creatures made of pure energy—they were the heads of the Immortal Hydra!

〈System Alert: The item «Dark Abyssal Cauldron» rank has risen.〉

〈System Alert: The item «Dark Abyssal Cauldron» rank has risen.〉

〈System Alert: The item «Dark...

...

Out of nowhere, Izroth was bombarded by a small flood of system alerts.

〈System Alert: Congratulations, the hidden requirements for the item «Dark Abyssal Cauldron» have been met.〉

〈System Alert: A new feature has been unlocked.〉

〈System Alert: A new feature has been unlocked.〉