Ringwood Forest (2)

⟨You have leveled up!⟩

⟨You have received 6 stat points!⟩

⟨Agility 5 >> 7⟩

⟨Perception 5 >> 7⟩

⟨Stength 5 >> 6⟩

⟨Physique 5 >> 6⟩

Upon receiving stat points, Liam unhesitatingly distributed them in his attributes.

Typically, an Alchemist should focus on using these points to primarily increase the rank of their skills.

However, Liam differed from the usual Alchemist. He found the traditional role of an Alchemist boring. He doesn't want to be trapped in a room doing potions all day.

So, instead of following the usual approach of maximizing alchemy skills, he decided to take a different path—one that combined alchemy with combat.

He invested his stat points in Agility, simply prioritizing mobility.

This would allow him to move quickly and efficiently in battle, giving him an advantage in both performing and avoiding attacks.

He also allocated points to Perception, not just for enhancing his focus when making potions and crafts, but also to sharpen his senses—an essential trait for any combatant.

Liam put the Strength as only secondary priority, as he wasn't primarily using close-combat weapons. Moreover, he was not a pure blacksmith who used Strength to craft weapons.

This was the same for Physique, which governs constitution and resistance, as he preferred to stay agile rather than tanky.

As for Magic, which dictated magical damage and mana regeneration, Liam placed it as his least priority.

After all, he wasn't a heavy spellcaster, and with his ability to craft mana potions, he could easily replenish his mana whenever needed.

Overall, he was the type of player who differed from the norm. He found a thrill in making the Alchemist class hybrid.

Although this was now a reality, where a single death meant the end of everything, he wasn't worried because he had already proven this path in his previous life.

"This should be the last mana stone," Liam said after butchering the [Troll Berserk], collecting the red mana stone located in its chest.

He used [Converge] to clean the blood off his knife, then counted the number of mana stones.

Every monster had a mana stone, but they varied in type. Usually, the size and quality of the mana stone depended on the monster's rank. The stronger the monster, the higher the quality of the mana stone.

In the game, these things fetched a price due to their uses in different fields, and it seemed the same was true in the real world, as they became a source of income for both Players and Awakens.

Liam also checked the materials he had gathered so far, and once he saw that he had collected everything he needed, he returned to the outskirts.

He searched for a secluded place, away from the usual entrance of the forest, to avoid being disturbed. Once he found a suitable place, he began preparing a platform to craft.

⟨Horticraft: Table⟩ ⟨Horticraft: Bench⟩

Activating the ⟨Horticraft⟩ phase skill, he touched the fallen logs around him, turning them instantly into a wooden table and a bench.

'First, that item.'

Liam put two red mana stones he collected from the Troll Berserk on the table and applied [Crush], breaking them in a controlled manner.

The mana stones were crushed into sizes of 15-20 mm, which is roughly the same as the ordinary button. In the game, this is what the system considered as a lesser-sized material.

Pointing his right index finger into one of the crushed pieces, he chanted...

[Enchant: Bestow Fire]

Then, a fine, thin red mana membrane appeared on the stone piece, an indication that the fire enchantment was a success.

The mana stone was extracted from the Troll Berserk so it inherited the volatile nature of the berserker. In the Alchemy field, this nature was called ⟨Nature of Tendencies⟩.

What Liam did was amplify this chaotic tendency by bestowing enough fire mana for it to become highly unstable and prone to explosive outbursts when subjected to compressive force.

However, it was apparent that a mere stone the size of a button wouldn't produce enough explosive force to be of significant use. Individually, they could flare up, at best like a matchstick.

Hence, Liam proceeded to perform the next step, combining the pieces into one stone.

But this was no simple feat.

It wasn't just about physically rejoining the fragments, it required merging their volatile mana essence into a unified force. So, one wrong move could flare them all, turning them into useless ash.

Fortunately, he had retained the phase skill specifically designed for delicate tasks like this.

Bestowing all the the stone pieces with fire mana, Liam huddled them together then he extended his right hand...

[Merge]

With just a simple command, the stone pieces started to move, as if an invisible hand was guiding the pieces back together, layer by layer, until they merged into one cohesive stone.

⟨You have crafted a C-rank Intermediate Mana Bomb!⟩

⟨Error!⟩

⟨The excess rank is converted into a Mana Bomb's mutator!⟩

⟨Your expertise in Forging has greatly risen!⟩

⟨Modified Apprentice Forging 1 >> 8⟩

⟨You have received 50% EXP!⟩

'As I thought!'

Liam was instantly elated after seeing the notifications. His assumptions, of being able to make anything regardless of his Alchemist rank turned out to be correct.

"With this, I could definitely accelerate my progress." He muttered a hint of excitement in his voice.

Liam then put all the mana stones on the table turning them all into a mana bomb.

Afterward, he proceeded to create another batch of artifacts from the materials he had gathered in the outer ring of the forest.

He spent two hours crafting anything he could squeeze out from the materials.

What he couldn't create at the moment, however, were golems, since he hadn't collected the primary components necessary for golem creation.

Nevertheless, the things he created were sufficient for his next plan. He also gained two levels in which he allocated the stats points in the same manner.

⟨Agility 7 >> 11⟩

⟨Perception 7 >> 11⟩

⟨Stength 6 >> 8⟩

⟨Physique 6 >> 8⟩

Tidying up the place, Liam went back inside the forest, but this time, he fearlessly advanced to the next region.

"Oh, what a greeting."

Upon entering the third region, he quickly went to the familiar path where his objective was located, but what greeted him instead was a fight.

Ahead of him, at the center of the clearing, a party of four people was fighting desperately. Signs of fatigue were etched on their faces, anxious about what was going to happen to them.

Amidst their ranks stood a towering, muscular brute with scarred, leathery green skin. Standing twice as tall as its kin, it wielded a massive club—a tree trunk embedded with jagged stones.

[Goblin Behemoth - Lv 20]

'I see. It seems this is their first time fighting this goblin.'

Upon seeing the monster's name and the condition of the party, Liam could more or less guess what had occurred.

The Goblin Behemoth was undeniably strong, but it was easy to kite due to its repetitive attack pattern. However, what was dangerous about this monster, and why many succumbed to its massive club, was because of its hidden companions.

Two tiny green goblins, the size of a palm, were camouflaged in the surroundings, ready to ambush. Although they were not destructive, their bites could paralyze a player with less resistance.

From what he could see of the party, it seemed the goblins had successfully launched their ambush since the party's healer and mage at the back rank were currently paralyzed.

Liam remembered that the paralysis lasted for four minutes—short, but long enough to burden the party, especially when the two crucial members were affected.

The Behemoth continued to pummel the Shield Warrior with its club, while the recipient of the blows could only grit his teeth.

The swordsman in the rear swung his sword frantically, attempting to deal deeper damage to the enemy.

But both of them knew that the fight was futile. Any moment now, they would be annihilated, unless the two of them will abandon their paralyzed party members.

Liam observed the fight, as well as the people who were hidden on the sidelines.

'These people...'

Scavengers.

That's what they were called back in the game. They were waiting for the party to be wiped out, like hyenas lurking in the bush.

'Ha, but still amateurs.'

Liam had to suppress a chuckle. These Awakened individuals were clearly amateur in scavenging.

If this were to continue, a brawl would surely erupt, and scavenging that way is difficult. Hence, before it could happen, Liam took action. Stepping into the clearing, he addressed the party loudly.

"I must say, you're quite in a predicament. How about passing the kill?"