Just then, Rogers brought over the food.
"Boss, you eat first. I still have a few things to handle here," he said.
Arya looked up from her magic studies. "Looks like you're very busy."
Don't be fooled by Rogers' calm demeanor; in reality, he was probably even busier than she was on most days. After all, while she could churn out hundreds of potions in a single batch, Rogers could only prepare a dozen or so meals at a time. It wasn't a matter of skill—his stove and cooking tools simply limited what he could do.
Still, he seemed to enjoy it. Especially on rare days off, Rogers threw himself wholeheartedly into the task. After everyone survived a major catastrophe, who wouldn't want to celebrate with some comfort food?
"Actually," Rogers added with a faint smile, "I got a title just now."
Arya raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"Yeah, the system said the food I made contributed to Karim, so it gave me a title."
"That's not bad," Arya replied. Rogers' nonchalant comment made her pause slightly. Titles given to others weren't really her concern, so she didn't pry. Maintaining boundaries had its merits.
After that brief exchange, Arya turned her attention back to her studies, eating her grilled skewers and mushroom soup while scrolling through the spell panel.
Explosion Flame, Mana Extension, Eye of Overlook, Gale Fist, Call Lightning, Snake Bowl, Martial Realm, Fog Summoning, Air Shockwave, Shattered Moon Step, Wave Shift… the sheer number of spells almost made her eyes glaze over.
Though varied and often bizarre, most spells could be classified broadly: attack, support, summon, or utility. But none of them suited Arya's current needs.
At the moment, she had only the Gathering Art (E) skill. To be honest, even when she had ventured out as a makeshift bomber, she couldn't kill a single monster. After a month in the server, her level was still stuck at 1. It was frustrating, and she couldn't help but feel the urge to grow stronger.
Arya, of course, remembered the saying: An Alchemist dedicates everything to Alchemy. But remembering didn't mean she had to obey blindly. Albert might have been a genius, and his theories could easily guide an amateur into the field—but survival came first. Theory had its place, but reality often demanded flexibility.
If she could find something that boosted her strength and tied into Alchemy, she wouldn't hesitate. With her Talent now leveling up, Arya was acutely aware of her limitations. Maintaining flight while carrying objects drained her mana quickly. She could sustain two existences for three hours—not a problem for routine work, but far too risky in combat.
She needed a skill that enhanced her ability to fight.
As she scrolled lazily through the panel, one skill caught her attention.
Soul Drain.
The name alone sounded sinister, and in practice, it lived up to that expectation.
[Soul Drain (C)]
Effect: Consumes 100 mana to deal 100 health damage to an enemy. Has a chance to restore 50 mana to self. Has a chance to obtain a soul crystal.
Description: An intermediate destruction magic. Causes both pain and devastation to enemies.
Arya immediately recognized the significance of the soul crystal. In both Albert's notes and Potionology texts, these crystals were treated as a rare and valuable resource, often even more prized than monster core crystals. Until now, she had assumed such items could only be obtained from high-tier monsters. But now, it was clear that magical attacks could yield them too. In a sense, they were a product of combat—just as valuable and essential for Alchemy as any creature's core.
She considered briefly how much easier her past research would have been with a Volcanic Worm's soul crystal in hand.
This skill was perfect: it restored mana, dealt damage, and produced materials crucial to Alchemy. Without hesitation, Arya selected it.
Feeling a small sense of relief, she moved on to examine the C-grade tools.
It was a familiar but overwhelming array: swords, spears, blades, halberds, axes, yue, hooks, forks, small hoes… the list seemed endless.
C-grade items were undeniably superior to their E-grade counterparts. Damage values were higher, attributes were improved, and some even came with modifiers—special enhancements that could change the tide of battle. For instance, the Blaze Staff (C) offered an additional fire-element attack, while the Wind Blade (C) also amplified fire damage. Certain swords came with increased sharpness or other unique effects.
Not all tools had modifiers, though. Arya's trusty moonstone dagger, for example, had none. But she didn't care. Weapons were not her main concern. While she paused to glance at bows and crossbows, she quickly dismissed them. High attack power was meaningless if she wasn't going to use it herself. She was more interested in tools that could support her strategy, not just enhance damage output.
Her priority was finding something that complemented Alchemy. But nothing in the C-grade selection seemed to fit. Even the small hoe, now sharper, wasn't much of an improvement over her old E-grade version. Arya muttered in frustration, "What exactly needs sharpening on a hoe? Digging zombie brains?"
Exhausted by the choices, she leaned back, resting her hand against her cheek. She scrolled absentmindedly, half expecting to give up entirely.
Then, suddenly—
"Hmm!"
Something caught her eye. It wasn't related to Alchemy, but it was interesting. And judging by its stats… perfect.
This was it. No further consideration required. This item would do.
Arya felt a spark of satisfaction, a rare moment of clarity in the otherwise tedious task of selection. She was ready for the next stage of growth, one step closer to surviving—and thriving—in this world.
Rogers, still quietly busy in the corner, glanced over at her. "Found what you wanted?" he asked, a hint of curiosity in his tone.
"Yes," Arya replied simply, eyes still fixed on the item panel. "This will do."
There was a brief silence. Arya knew that while she relied on her skills and tools, her strength ultimately came from careful choices like these—and from understanding the delicate balance between survival and experimentation.
Her mind wandered briefly to the spells she had yet to master and the monsters she had yet to face. Every new ability was a step forward, but every step carried risk. That was the way of this world: danger and opportunity always walked hand in hand.
Tonight, though, for the first time in a while, Arya allowed herself a small moment of satisfaction. The stew was warm, the skewers were perfectly grilled, and the magical panel now held promise.
With Soul Drain at her disposal and a new tool to assist her, she felt ready to push further. She wasn't just surviving anymore—she was preparing to take the next leap, one crystal, one spell, and one carefully chosen tool at a time.
And with Rogers quietly working beside her, she knew she wasn't entirely alone in this journey.
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