Crafting Pills (Part 2)
Cyril leaned back in his chair, rolling the small Strength Pill between his fingers.
It wasn't much — a simple, low-tier consumable — but it was his first successful creation in Elden Online.
The game's new expansion, Alchemy Reforged, had changed everything, yet most players dismissed the Alchemist class outright.
They don't understand.
Alchemy wasn't flashy. It wasn't about brute force or overwhelming enemies with raw strength. It was a craft, an art that required patience, precision, and knowledge.
And Cyril intended to master it.
He glanced at his remaining materials. His Beginner's Alchemy Set had come with a limited supply, but there was enough for a few more attempts.
He wasn't going to leave this room until he had tested everything available.
Pulling his inventory up again, he examined the ingredients.
Crimson Thistle – Already used in Strength Pills, granting a small boost in power.
Ironroot Bark – A tough, fibrous material known for its fortifying properties.
Sootberry Extract – A mildly toxic liquid, typically used in poisons or resistance elixirs.
Silverfern Leaves – A delicate herb that had mild regenerative qualities.
Four ingredients, countless possibilities.
Cyril exhaled, feeling the weight of the challenge ahead.
He started with something simple — Endurance Pills. If Strength Pills could temporarily boost physical power, then these should enhance stamina and defense.
Taking the Ironroot Bark, he placed a small portion into the mortar and began grinding.
He had already gained an Intermediate Grinding Technique bonus earlier, and it showed — the process was noticeably smoother.
He controlled the pressure better, keeping a steady rhythm as the bark gradually crumbled into a fine, dark powder.
Next, he mixed in Essence Dew, watching as the substance thickened into a rich paste.
This time, the consistency was slightly different — denser, heavier. As expected, Ironroot Bark had a naturally rigid structure.
'Good. That means the pill should enhance endurance.'
After forming the mixture into small pills and letting the system stabilize them, the notification appeared.
[You have successfully crafted [Endurance Pills] x3!]
[Due to your improved handling, the effectiveness has increased slightly.]
---
[Endurance Pill]
[Grade: Low-Tier]
[Effect: Temporarily increases Vitality by +3 for 5 minutes.]
Cyril smirked. Another successful test.
'Alright, next one,'
He glanced at the Sootberry Extract, the vial of dark, almost ink-like liquid sitting ominously on his desk. Unlike the other ingredients, this one carried a risk.
Alchemy wasn't just about creating buffs and enhancements — it also dealt with poisons, toxins, and negative effects.
'Let's see how this works.'
Pouring a small amount of Sootberry Extract into an empty flask, he carefully diluted it with Essence Dew, watching as the liquid swirled together, turning a murky gray.
He needed a solid base ingredient to stabilize it, so he added a pinch of Ironroot Bark Powder — just enough to keep the potion from becoming too volatile.
The moment the powder hit the liquid, the mixture fizzled slightly, darkening in color.
[Alchemy in Progress…]
[Stabilizing…]
Cyril carefully stirred, making sure the consistency remained smooth.
The system had a built-in stabilization function, but the more he manually controlled the process, the better the results would be.
Finally, the mixture settled into a thick, blackish liquid.
You have successfully crafted [Lesser Poison Pills] x3!
---
[Lesser Poison Pill]
[Grade: Low-Tier]
[Effect: Applies a weak poison effect, dealing minor damage over time. Can be ingested or applied to weapons.]
Cyril's grin widened.
'Now that's useful.'
Most players wouldn't expect an Alchemist to use poison offensively, but this could be a game-changer.
He could coat a dagger with it, slip it into an enemy's food, or even mix it into a healing potion for a nasty surprise.
This was exactly why he chose Alchemy. Unlike warriors or mages who relied on brute strength, he had options.
He wasn't done yet.
The last ingredient on his list was Silverfern Leaves — delicate, light green herbs that gave off a faint glow. If his assumptions were correct, they had healing properties.
He crushed them gently, ensuring he didn't damage the potency of their natural essence, then mixed them with Essence Dew in a fresh flask.
The moment the two combined, the mixture gave off a soft, golden shimmer.
[Alchemy in Progress…]
[Refining…]
This time, the process felt different—smoother, almost effortless. Healing mixtures were fundamentally different from endurance or strength-based ones; they required purity and balance rather than brute force.
When the mixture settled, the system notified him of his success.
[You have successfully crafted [Lesser Healing Pills] x4!]
---
[Lesser Healing Pill]
[Grade: Low-Tier]
[Effect: Restores 50 HP over 10 seconds. Can be stacked up to 3 times.]
Cyril exhaled, rubbing his temples. Crafting required more concentration than he expected.
He opened his inventory and looked over his results:
Strength Pills x5 (+3 Strength)
Endurance Pills x3 (+3 Vitality)
Lesser Poison Pills x3 (Weak poison effect)
Lesser Healing Pills x4 (+50 HP over time)
For a first crafting session, this was a solid haul.
Not only had he successfully created multiple types of pills, but he had also gained valuable insight into the mechanics of Alchemy.
The game wasn't holding his hand — if he wanted to push beyond basic recipes, he would have to experiment and innovate.
Cyril leaned back, staring at the wooden ceiling of his rented inn room.
He had barely scratched the surface of what Alchemy could do.
These were just the beginner formulas — simple, low-tier concoctions meant for early-game players. But if even these had hidden nuances, then what about the higher-tier elixirs? What about the forbidden alchemic arts?
His mind buzzed with ideas.
What if he found a way to stack effects? Could he mix endurance and strength-enhancing properties into one pill? Could he refine poisons that ignored armor and directly corroded an opponent's insides?
The possibilities were endless.
Cyril sat on the edge of his rented inn bed, the weight of his successful crafting session still lingered in his mind, but it wasn't enough.
If he truly wanted to push past the limits of Alchemy, he needed to explore every feature available to him.
And that meant testing his Grandmaster's Codex.
He straightened his posture and called up his Status Screen.
🔮 Core Abilities
🜂 [Grandmaster's Codex] (Legendary) – A mythical alchemy manual that allows the user to break the system's limits.
🔹 Grants [Limitless Transmutation] – Allows alchemy to affect even intangible forces like time, space, and concepts.
🔹 Unlocks [Forbidden Alchemy] – Accesses arcane & eldritch formulas lost to history.
The Codex was his true weapon in this world. The game didn't provide details beyond the vague description, but he had a gut feeling that Transmutation was at the heart of it.
Taking a breath, Cyril raised his right hand.
A shifting, ethereal light materialized above his palm, swirling like molten silver. Then, in a slow, deliberate motion, it coalesced into a grimoire, its cover etched with ancient alchemic runes.
The air around it crackled with faint energy, as if the very game world recognized its significance.
Cyril's eyes locked onto the Codex as its cover unfurled on its own, glowing pages flipping before settling on a single one. A holographic interface snapped into view in front of him.
[Transmute – The Alchemist's ability to manipulate the material world at will. Convert, enhance, or break down substances into their base components.]