"But what exactly does this Water of Oblivion do?" Finn couldn't contain his curiosity, though he inwardly cursed his own ignorance about rare treasures.
Kael smiled faintly. "It's one of the most extraordinary water-based forces on the continent. Legends say drinking it erases all sorrows—though that's likely just a myth. What's undeniable is the terrifying concentration of water-elemental energy within it."
No wonder the winged serpent had stubbornly guarded this cave. The Water of Oblivion was a priceless boon even for such a beast, though it could only consume a dozen drops per month at most—which explained why the spring remained intact.
Pale blue water-elemental particles shimmered in the air, thickening near the spring. The closer they got, the more palpable the latent power became.
"No doubt about it…" Finn's eyes widened. "This is the real deal. 'Water of Oblivion'—even the name sounds poetic."
Ella stared dumbfounded. As a water mage, this was the rarest treasure she could ever hope to encounter. With it, her strength might surge exponentially.
"Ordinary glass won't preserve it," Kael explained. "Only crystal containers can maintain its purity and prevent energy loss."
Storing the Water of Oblivion demanded precision: the purer the crystal, the better.Fortunately, Kael's spatial ring held an abundance of high-grade crystals. He filled two large vials to the brim—a deceptively small quantity, given that mere drops would profoundly benefit a mage like Ella.
Without hesitation, Kael portioned a share for her. Finn watched enviously, wishing his martial arts aligned with water attributes. For water mages, this was as transformative as Earth's Essence for geomancers.
As for the remainder? Kael set aside a fraction for Amelia and reserved the bulk for the World Tree.
Exactly.
Water nourishes wood. Kael was certain the Water of Oblivion would catalyze another explosive growth spurt—and the stronger the World Tree grew, the more formidable his miniature world would become.
After the battle with the winged serpent, Kael truly grasped the boundless utility of his miniature world. Without it, he might have already ended up as the serpent's meal.
Having securely stored the Water of Oblivion, Kael was thoroughly satisfied—this expedition had been an overwhelming success.
Still, wary of overlooking any hidden treasures, he meticulously combed through the cave once more, confirming nothing of value remained.
"Let's head back," Kael declared only after ensuring every last scrap had been scavenged.
The little cat couldn't help but marvel at his thoroughness. "Turns out looting is an art form. I've been doing it all wrong—what a disgrace to my draconic heritage!" it exclaimed, equal parts admiration and theatrical despair.
Finn rolled his eyes at the pair. A big miser and a little one—perfect match.
Truthfully, Kael had little choice. The formidable might of the Renault family left no room for complacency. To face such adversaries, he had to seize every opportunity to grow stronger, no matter how trivial it seemed.
With everything settled, the group departed.
Ella struggled to contain her excitement. Thanks to Kael slaying the Level 10 serpent and sharing those precious drops of Water of Oblivion, a glimmer of hope had reignited within her.
Though just a few drops, for a water mage like Ella, they were transformative.
Kael noted her exhilaration with quiet approval. Ella's growth meant the fiefdom's strength grew—and as his disciple, her power was now his as well.
Upon returning to Rafay's territory, the group gathered in anticipation. When Kael finally withdrew the serpent's colossal corpse from his spatial ring, the collective gasp was deafening.
"A Level 10 magical beast!" Lone Wolf, with his extensive experience, recognized it at a glance. His voice trembled with shock: "A winged serpent—my lord, did you...?"
As he spoke, his gaze locked onto Kael, brimming with disbelief. Facing a Level 10 beast, only Ella could have offered Kael marginal support—Finn would've been little more than a spectator.
"Did you and Ella slay this serpent together, Senior Brother?" Grace blinked her large eyes, equally astonished.
Ella shook her head. "No. My lord defeated it alone."
"What?!"
A collective gasp erupted. Kael had single-handedly battled a Level 10 winged serpent—and won!
Even more staggering—he emerged without a single visible injury. The group's expressions shifted from shock to outright awe.
This defied all reason.
Under their stunned scrutiny, Kael merely shrugged. "The serpent was molting. Its strength was diminished. I just seized the opportunity."
His casual explanation only deepened their reverence. Lone Wolf, in particular, felt his respect swell. The stronger Kael proved, the brighter his hope for vengeance became.
"I'll now craft armor from its scales and prepare some potions," Kael announced. "Return to your duties. I'll summon you when ready."
The group dispersed obediently, though Amelia lingered to offer an encouraging smile.
Alone at last, Kael turned to the materials.
With The Book of Immortality in hand, he stood as a dual grandmaster—alchemy and blacksmithing. Every resource would be perfected.
Magical flames roared to life as Kael forged the serpent's scales into armor. His hammer, prepped long ago, struck rhythmically in the city lord's basement.
A grandmaster's craftsmanship was terrifying. Like a butcher parting oxen with surgical precision, Kael completed multiple sets of armor in record time.
No rest followed. His focus pivoted to potion-making.
Winged serpent blood, blended with rare herbs from his stash, dissolved under his meticulous control. The alchemical process had begun.
Brewing the winged serpent's blood proved far simpler for Kael. Compared to the physically demanding work of forging, potion-making felt almost leisurely.
The medicinal properties merged seamlessly under the cauldron's influence, while magical flames crackled steadily, refining the serpent's blood.
If successfully distilled, this potion could dramatically enhance a cultivator's strength—especially for warriors. The blood's properties excelled at fortifying physical constitutions.
However, winged serpents were venomous by nature. The blood's inherent toxicity had to be purged before it could be safely utilized.
For Kael, this posed no real challenge. After meticulous purification, he finally exhaled in relief, having eradicated every trace of poison.
Beads of sweat dotted his forehead. The sheer volume of blood here was staggering—enough to potentially supply an entire battalion.
In fact, Kael realized with growing excitement, this could be the foundation of an elite corps. The more he considered it, the more feasible it seemed.
With the last of the blood properly stored and processed, he stowed his equipment, allowing himself a satisfied smile.
There was no doubt: Rafay Territory's strength had just leaped forward. Against the Renault family, his odds had improved yet again.
As Kael stepped out of the basement, Amelia came hurrying over. "Kael! Ethan needs you—it sounds like his research on the magic crystal cannon has borne fruit!"