Chapter Fifty-Eight: A Qualitative Leap (Part Two)

Beside the large pool in the secret valley, Huey stood silently with his eyes closed.

"Spirits of water! Hear my call, display your majestic power with your might—Water Sprite Summoning."

As Huey chanted the incantation, the water elements in the air rippled like waves on a pond, drifting and condensing invisibly. Slowly, the massive form of a water sprite began to materialize beside the pool.

Aside from having the most branching trees and the ability to defend against multiple schools of magic, water-type magic possessed another prominent characteristic: a high number of summoning spells.

What Huey was performing at this moment was the tier-three water spell, Water Sprite Summoning.

Brian Buckler had put his red cloak back on, a greatsword strapped across his back, as he stood by and watched Huey cast the spell.

His brows were deeply knitted.

After a moment of thought, he said to Huey, "How long can it be maintained?"

"Very short," Huey replied. With a wave of his hand, the water sprite dissolved into a spray of mist that scattered across the sky. "I have never touched water-type magic before. Although I possess Bogel's power, all spells must be learned from the lowest tier. Tier-three magic is currently the upper limit of what I can manage in the water element."

"Just as I thought," Buckler muttered, rubbing his chin. "Huey, don't you feel that you are learning too many miscellaneous things?"

"Yes," Huey answered earnestly. "This is precisely what troubles me right now. Lilith recommended you to me. She believes that even though you are not a mage, you can still offer me great help. When it comes to the problem of my development, I need some good advice."

"I thought you were always a person with strong convictions."

Huey gave a wry smile. "All convictions usually stem from not having too many choices. The more options we have regarding matters before us, the more dazzled and confused our eyes become, often leading to a sense of helplessness. At times like this, listening to other people's opinions is beneficial."

"Very well," Brian Buckler laughed heartily. "Then Huey, you currently possess five affinities: wind, soul, space, undead, and water. In the days to come, you might even strip away fire, nature, and other magical abilities. But you cannot cultivate so many types of magic simultaneously. The abilities you strip away only grant you sufficient mana, yet they do not allow you to truly unleash their power. If this continues, you might become a mage of high mana but low capability—someone who knows a little bit of everything, but masters nothing of real substance."

"That is precisely what worries me," Huey sighed.

His biggest problem right now was that after inheriting and stripping away the powers of Ablit and Liev Bogel, the spatial and water magical energies within his body had vastly increased. His mana shunt conduits were widest in these two areas, and the spells he could release were the most powerful, yet he lacked a sufficient foundation to wield them properly.

Conversely, his wind and soul foundations were much more solid, but his mana conduits restricted him from using high-tier spells for the time being. He still had to break through the original barriers step by step to elevate himself.

This created a conflicting choice regarding which aspect of his abilities he should prioritize improving, leaving him unsure of how to proceed for the time being.

"Huey, in this world, no one has ever possessed the good fortune you have—the ability to achieve mana source-sharing and shunting." Since he needed Buckler's guidance, Huey could no longer keep this secret hidden. Moreover, as time passed, the bond between Huey and the Locust Town gang had gradually deepened. If their previous relationship was one of mutual utilization, now there was finally a touch of irrational factor mixed in. Such irrational factors often played a more decisive role than mere interests.

Buckler continued, "Yet no matter how good your fortune is, you still need to be able to grasp it yourself. The greatest advantage of mana shunting and source-sharing is that you can cultivate multiple spells simultaneously without worrying about the backlash of mana conflict. However, from the perspective of using magic and strengthening oneself, this kind of fortune actually doesn't yield much practical benefit. On the contrary, it has even misled you, steering you onto the magical cultivation path of being broad but not proficient. That is a major taboo."

"What you say is entirely correct," Huey already had a deep realization of this point. It was precisely because of his unique mana structure that he could learn one spell after another without any scruples. He had originally thought this was a way to display his talent, but the result was that he gradually deviated from the correct path of cultivation. It was much like the fable of waiting by a tree for a hare: a directional error in behavior caused by a minor gain, resulting in the loss of much more.

A path of cultivation based on self-exploration, while helping him form his own unique style, inevitably showed signs of taking detours. No matter how brilliant a genius was, this was unavoidable. Fortunately, Huey himself had realized this.

"Then Brian, what do you think I should do next? I know I should focus on one primary spell and one secondary spell, but right now I have too many choices and I don't know how to handle them."

"What is your innate talent?" Buckler asked.

"Wind. Though my soul affinity has also improved somewhat."

"Then focus primarily on wind, and secondarily on soul," Buckler said decisively.

"But my water mana conduit has already reached tier five. I believe that given enough time, I can master all water-type spells. Without a doubt, this will be much faster than upgrading through dedicated cultivation of the wind element."

"Yet your development in water-type abilities will also remain capped at the fifth tier." Buckler patted Huey's shoulder and said, "Huey, I know you are eager to grow strong quickly, but the strength of the Lance Empire is not something you can easily deal with simply by mastering more high-tier spells. What you can truly use to contend with this empire is your mind, not your personal combat prowess. Therefore, there is no need for you to rush into elevating yourself within a short timeframe. You are still young; you shouldn't block the path to future greatness just for a temporary gratification."

Huey fell into a brief silence. After pondering for a moment, he nodded and said, "You are right, Brian. It's just that I currently have three memory gems in my possession, and all of them can only record water spells. I don't want to waste them. You know human nature is always greedy; we always yearn to utilize every scrap of available resource in our hands rather than letting it sit idle."

"On this matter, I don't think you need to worry. You can completely pair the memory gems in your hands with specialized mastery of water spells."

Huey was startled. "You mean..."

"I remember there is a tier-two spell in the blood magic branch called Blood Flash Escape, which is a very practical combat spell. It can complete a short-range spatial displacement using very little mana, much like your Void Slash. The reason it is only tier two is because the casting time for this magic is too long, making it impractical in battle. However, with a memory gem, this flaw can be largely compensated for. Liev Bogel was an idiot, and in truth, the vast majority of mages are idiots in combat. They always like to use different spells to deal with enemies and rarely repeat the same spell. But for warriors, simple and effective repeated moves used frequently in battle are the most normal thing in the world. If you can break free from the narrow, one-sided thinking pattern of mages who pursue flashy and varied combat, you will find that you can solve this problem very easily." Buckler winked at Huey. "No rule states that memory gems must record different spells every time, right?"

"Dammit," Huey cried out excitedly. "Why didn't I think of that? You're right. In the battle against Bogel, it was precisely the Blood Flash Escape that allowed that fellow to dodge one of my effective attacks. But neither Bogel nor I realized the practicality of this spell! It's only a tier-two spell; I don't need to spend too much time to master it."

"Exactly. You don't need to spend too much energy on water magic. Since you have three memory gems, you only need to purposefully master a few practical spells—enough to record them is sufficient. A warrior's battle never requires fancy tricks, and magic can be the same," Buckler said with a smile.

"Indeed it is," Huey said gratefully.

"Not just that. Huey, answer me: what do you think is your most powerful combat capability at present?" Buckler suddenly asked.

Huey was stunned for a moment, then shook his head. "There is no single most powerful one. Perhaps there will be in the future."

"No," Buckler said with certainty. "You do have one, but you've overlooked it. Don't forget you are an alchemist. That is your true profession, and your greatest ability. Think back carefully: in all the battles you've experienced, what did you truly rely on? Without your alchemy, did you really think you could rely solely on your pets, your low-tier spells, and your combat skills to kill Ablit, to kill the subterranean rat-fiend, or to kill someone like Liev Bogel? To be honest, without alchemy, you are nothing—you are a complete weakling!" At this point, Buckler's voice suddenly rose, rumbling like thunder across the sky above the valley.

Huey stared blankly at Buckler, whose expression was extremely grave.

At that moment, numerous scenes of his past battles flashed through his mind.

In the Lanya Grand Theater, he used a magical array in coordination with himself to kill Ablit. Without the spatial energy restriction array created by Electra, he would have long since died under Ablit's energy storm.

Outside the valley, when the rat-fiend lurked underground, it was alchemy that forced this cunning creature out, rendering it unable to use earth-type spells and sealing half of its magical capabilities.

And in Royu City, it was likewise alchemy that allowed Bogel to be teleported into the valley by him, creating a one-on-one situation. It was also the diamond puppets and undead rat-fiends created by alchemy that granted him formidable combat strength.

Alchemy—this was his true might.

His genuine profession was that of an alchemist, not a mage. Yet he had clearly forgotten this point.

"But alchemy is not suited for use in unprepared combat states."

"Then change that situation!"

Change that situation? Huey's heart shook violently.

Yes, who said alchemy could only be used under prepared conditions? Why couldn't it be changed? Wasn't he, Huey Gleire, best at doing things others couldn't? What was it that made him cling so rigidly to traditional thinking?

Damn it! Huey cursed himself inwardly.

His single-minded dedication to fighting the empire had caused him to overlook many things.

Buckler continued, "Huey, do you understand now? Your alchemy is your greatest strength. But you haven't combined your combat abilities with your alchemy. You've simply been using them one by one. In the past, no alchemist was proficient in magic, so no one attempted to combine magic and alchemy. But tell me: Electra was a mage, and that's why he succeeded, becoming the greatest alchemist in this world. Now you are also a mage; why can't you achieve everything Electra did? Therefore..."

"Therefore, my magical cultivation should serve my alchemy, developing my own unique combat style," Huey blurted out.

Buckler chuckled. "Have you finally seen yourself clearly? Yes, Huey, let your magical abilities serve your alchemy. That is the most suitable choice for you, just like Electra."

"Yes, just like Electra," Huey murmured in response.

At that moment, a sudden flash of insight struck his heart.

Buckler's reminder finally established a clear direction for Huey in his magical cultivation.

Up until now, his alchemical abilities had been serving his magical cultivation. He cultivated soul magic by creating flesh puppets and absorbed spatial magical energy through energy-restriction arrays, but he had never considered how to apply magic to alchemy.

Electra had never revealed the secrets of this aspect from beginning to end, leaving him with nothing to study.

Yet at this moment, a flash of inspiration sparked in his mind.

He recalled the magic puppet assistant's evaluation of him: Electra was the kind of genius who dedicated all his wisdom to inventing unknown products, whereas he was a genius who exerted every effort to enhance the capabilities of known products.

The reason he could not comprehend Electra's achievements was because he and this legendary grand alchemist were simply not the same kind of person. Although they shared the same innate endowments, differences in personality and interests doomed them to walk different developmental paths.

Since he could not understand how Electra applied magic to invent new alchemy, he simply wouldn't try to understand or research it. Instead, he would directly focus his energy on enhancing the capabilities of known alchemical products. Since Electra could use magic to help himself invent hundreds and thousands of alchemical products, Huey would directly endow alchemical products with greater capabilities, maximizing their value.

And to achieve this, the best method was—supportive magic.

Once he figured this out, he immediately gained a brand-new perspective and understood what he needed to do. Huey no longer focused on the rapid elevation of his personal abilities or the simultaneous cultivation of multiple spells. Instead, he began to concentrate on his innate magic and supportive magic.

In an era abundant in resources, mass-producing alchemical products was undoubtedly the most appropriate approach.

In an era barren of resources, striving by all means to increase the utility value of a specific alchemical product suited the needs of the times far better.

If the alchemical puppets of the past had emerged in legion form to conquer the mainland, relying on unified command and absolute obedience, then the puppets and other alchemical products in Huey's hands would redefine the meaning of an alchemist's existence, shocking the world with an entirely brand-new visage.

He had finally truly stepped onto the alchemical path of the former Electra—using magic to advance alchemy.

Three days later.

In Electra's secret valley.

Huey stood solemnly.

Behind him, five fully repaired diamond puppets stood in quiet rows.

"Wanton and unrestrained wind spirits, hear my utterance and grant me the power to command the gale—Wind Spirit Protection!"

The swirling winds kicked up the worldly dust and fog, howling with a piercing whistle. Fine, glowing specks materialized in the air, scattering around like stardust and fog, enveloping Huey and the puppets behind him.

Countless stardust specks landed on the bodies of the diamond puppets, connecting with one another to form a hazy shroud of light around their frames.

"Fourth form, Charging Spikes." Huey's magic-infused command echoed in the air. All five diamond puppets transformed simultaneously, densely growing ferocious, jagged spikes all over their bodies.

"Spirit of the Wind's Flight, All-Out Charge!"

Every diamond puppet lunged toward a massive boulder in the distance simultaneously, rushing forward like fierce tigers and flashing like lightning.

Blessed by the Spirit of the Wind's Flight, their speed became even more unstoppable than before.

"Wind Reinforcement!" Huey's voice arrived once more.

The light mists enveloping the diamond puppets instantly condensed into an ethereal barrier of light.

"Bang!" The giant boulder was smashed into a sky-filling cloud of fine powder by the immense impact.

The five diamond puppets emerged from the billowing dust and smoke, their steel spikes fierce and intact, without the slightest bit of damage.

"Very good," Buckler strode over from a distance. "Are these the effects of the Spirit of the Wind's Flight and Wind Reinforcement? Your diamond puppets have grown much stronger again."

"I've only just mastered these abilities, so their use isn't entirely smooth yet," Huey said indifferently.

With Buckler's prompt, Huey had been training wholeheartedly in wind and supportive magic. Advancing low-tier spells was inherently much easier than high-tier ones. Huey had already been a tier-two wind mage for some time, and coupled with his sufficient mana support and well-laid foundations for advancement, it only took him three days to break through the tier-two wind barrier and become a tier-three wind mage.

After the breakthrough, the first thing Huey did was strive to master the tier-three wind supportive spell.

There was only one tier-three wind supportive spell: Wind Spirit Protection.

By attaching a massive amount of wind elements to the target, multiple effects could be achieved according to command, including the Spirit of the Wind's Flight and Wind Reinforcement.

Spirit of the Wind's Flight, a tier-three wind spell and an advanced version of the Wind Flight spell, granted the target a lighter body and lightning-fast speed.

Wind Reinforcement applied the power of a wind shield to the target's exterior, reducing damage.

The greatest characteristic of wind supportive spells was their wide casting range, primarily focused on buffing oneself, and they were especially skilled at enhancing physical movement and offensive capabilities. Therefore, wind mages were usually the most welcomed supportive mages among warriors, whereas Huey applied this capability to his own puppets.

"If we don't consider the existence of the undead rat-fiend and the troll god, your diamond puppets might already be the most powerful puppets in this world," Buckler said earnestly. "Each of them is at least equivalent to a tier-five warrior. When combined, their might is even more formidable and terrifying."

"They can become even stronger," Huey replied. "From Electra's notes, I learned of a magical array called the Memory Array. This array can record a portion of a human mage's magical abilities and bestow them upon a puppet. Unfortunately, this array can only record the alchemist's own spells. To the vast majority of alchemists, this array doesn't hold much significance; after all, an alchemist's magical abilities are limited, and most of them cultivate offensive spells, which are useless to puppets that cannot use magic. But for me, none of these difficulties are obstacles. I can use this method to greatly enhance their combat capabilities."

As he spoke, Huey waved his hand, and the undead rat-fiend appeared before him.

Taking out the soul pearl and installing it onto the rat-fiend, Huey said, "As for this one, it already possesses the highest speed of the undead rat-fiend. What it needs is no longer the lightness of the wind, but the fury of thunder."

"Thunder of the Four Quarters!" Huey suddenly roared up at the sky.

He beckoned with a single hand toward the air, and a bolt of lightning flashed across the clear blue sky like a leaping spirit-serpent, dancing wildly with crackling snaps as it connected the horizon to Huey's palm.

"Attach!" Huey casually grasped the lightning bolt and cast it onto the metal skeleton of the undead rat-fiend. An aurora current surged all over the rat-fiend's body, and its eerie blue bones emitted a dazzling radiance as countless flashes of lightning stimulated it like a harsh polar glare, making it hard for people to open their eyes.

"Magnetic!" The rat-fiend emitted a harsh screeching sound akin to grinding metal.

Thunder of the Four Quarters, one of the water-element thunder branch supportive spells, caused the target's entire body to carry intense lightning, increasing furious attack power and automatically counterattacking opponents with electricity when struck.

Watching the eerie transformation of the rat-fiend, the electric gleam of excitement flashed in Brian Buckler's eyes.

"Brian, interested in having a match with my puppet? To allow it to withstand the augmentation of the Thunder of the Four Quarters, I spent quite a bit of effort modifying it. Now, I believe that even without borrowing my Void Slash, it could defeat Cail back then. I'd love to know whether you, also a tier-seven warrior, can defeat my rat-fiend."

"Then let's give it a try!" Buckler roared as he drew the greatsword from his back, charging fiercely toward the rat-fiend...

The fierce battle came to an end.

Buckler slumped powerlessly to the ground.

His body was covered in wounds—scratches left behind by the undead rat-fiend's sharp claws, alongside burn injuries caused by the Thunder of the Four Quarters.

As he drank a healing potion, Buckler shook his head in admiration. "I never imagined that the furious power of the Thunder of the Four Quarters would have an even better effect on a puppet than on a human."

"Regardless of that, it still failed to win against you," not far away, the undead rat-fiend—almost beaten apart by Buckler's single sword strike—lay on the ground, accepting repairs from Huey.

"But that's because your magical ability is still insufficient. When you grow stronger and possess more and better supportive spells, perhaps your puppets will soon be able to defeat even stronger warriors," Buckler answered earnestly.

"That's a certainty," Huey said with full confidence.

Looking at Huey's confident expression, a chill suddenly rose in Brian Buckler's heart.

His spur-of-the-moment suggestion had brought Huey a brand-new breakthrough. With the techniques, resources, innate talent, and cleverness he currently possessed, Huey Gleire was bound to command a terrifying army of puppets in the near future.

Before this, no puppet had ever been able to rival a warrior above the tier five, and in single-handed duels, no puppet could defeat a tier-four warrior.

Yet now, the puppets in Huey's possession were each incomparably powerful. A single diamond pulley could easily defeat a tier-five warrior, while an undead rat-fiend could contend with a peak tier-seven warrior.

When Huey commanded a sufficient number of these powerful puppets, even Sanctuary-tier powerhouses would likely have to retreat in defeat before them.

He had inadvertently opened Pandora's box, and the master of the box was now frantically unleashing his revenge upon the empire.

At that moment, Buckler did not dare to imagine further.

He dared not imagine what kind of chaos Huey would bring to this world in the days to come.

However, one thing was already visible to him.

At that moment, he muttered:

"Huey Gleire, you are driving human warriors off the stage of history," Buckler sighed.

"That stems entirely from your guidance." Huey bowed deeply to Buckler. This time, his gratitude toward the bandit leader from Locust Town was completely genuine. It was precisely his words that had allowed Huey's strength to undergo a qualitative leap in such a short span of time. "Next, I will still need your continued help in another aspect."