chapter 119 the Trump card

In a world where knowledge is power, Raven has something no other player possesses—a Grandmaster of Alchemy backing him. While most players struggle through alchemy's slow and tedious learning curve, experimenting with basic ingredients and relying on trial and error, Raven has direct access to Varian, a legendary figure who holds the deepest secrets of the craft. This advantage alone sets him apart from every other alchemist in Mortal Online because, with Varian's guidance, Raven is not just learning faster than others—he is learning things no one else even knows exist.

Alchemy in Its Infancy – A World of Unknowns

One of the biggest reasons Raven's advantage is so significant is that alchemy in Mortal Online is still an untapped frontier. Unlike combat, where players can develop their skills through repeated fights, or crafting, where formulas are relatively straightforward, alchemy is a mystery to most players. Recipes must be discovered, combinations tested, and effects understood before they can be replicated or mass-produced. For the majority of players, this means long hours of painstaking experimentation, wasting resources, and facing constant failures before they even begin to understand how to make anything useful.

But Raven skips all of that.

With Varian decoding the forbidden pages, Raven is not limited to what the general player base knows. He isn't relying on publicly available formulas or common knowledge. Instead, he has access to long-lost techniques, rare ingredient interactions, and ancient alchemical principles that no one else can even begin to study. While others are still figuring out how to craft basic potions, Raven is already working with high-tier elixirs, complex brews, and experimental alchemical enhancements that break the limits of what players believe is possible.

This instantly separates him from all competition. Even if a guild dedicates an entire team of alchemists to uncovering recipes, they will still be working within the boundaries of known alchemy—whereas Raven, with Varian's guidance, is creating new rules altogether.

The Impenetrable Gap – Why No One Can Catch Up

Raven's lead in alchemy is not just about knowing more than others—it's about ensuring no one else can ever catch up. The key reason behind this is that knowledge in Mortal Online is not easily transferred. A player cannot simply buy their way into alchemical mastery; they must discover, practice, and perfect their craft over time. Even if a superguild wanted to catch up to Raven, they would need to:

1. Find an equivalent teacher – Nearly impossible, as Varian is not just a mentor but an Alchemy Grandmaster with unique insights and knowledge.

2. Decode ancient knowledge – Without the forbidden pages, no other player can learn the hidden recipes Raven is mastering.

3. Replicate Raven's research – This would require years of dedicated learning, while Raven is progressing at exponential speed with Varian's help.

Even in the best-case scenario, where another player or guild somehow reaches high-level alchemy, they would still be years behind because Varian is constantly unlocking new knowledge. Every time others take a step forward, Raven is already miles ahead, gaining access to the next tier of forbidden knowledge before anyone else even realizes it exists.

The Power of Information Control – Shutting Out Competitors

Varian's support does not just give Raven knowledge—it allows him to control who else can learn. Since Raven is the one feeding Varian the forbidden pages, he alone chooses what information is shared and what remains secret. This means he can:

Keep critical formulas hidden, ensuring that no one else can reproduce his most powerful potions.

Leak false or misleading information, setting up traps for rival alchemists who try to steal his discoveries.

Control the flow of alchemy progression, deciding when and how new breakthroughs enter the market.

This level of knowledge monopoly means that even if a guild invests heavily in alchemy research, they will always be chasing shadows. They may discover scraps of useful techniques, but the most game-changing formulas will remain locked away, known only to Raven.

Perpetual Advancement – The Unstoppable Progression

Even if a rival guild somehow manages to close the knowledge gap, they face another insurmountable problem—Raven is never standing still. With Varian constantly deciphering new forbidden pages, Raven is always progressing.

If other alchemists finally figure out how to craft high-level healing potions, Raven will already be working on advanced combat elixirs.

If they reverse-engineer his poisons, he will already be developing alchemy-based enchantments or battlefield toxins.

If they start producing mana-enhancing brews, he will already be experimenting with game-breaking potions that alter the rules of combat itself.

The forbidden pages are not a one-time advantage—they are a continuous wellspring of innovation, ensuring that Raven never just stays ahead… he keeps getting further ahead with every breakthrough.

The Ultimate Conclusion – No One Else Stands a Chance

Varian's support is more than just a helping hand—it is a game-breaking advantage that ensures Raven's monopoly over high-level alchemy. While others struggle through trial and error, Raven is handed the keys to lost knowledge. While competitors waste resources trying to replicate his potions, he is already working on the next generation of brews. And while guilds attempt to train their own alchemists, Raven is ensuring that they will always be several steps behind.

At the end of the day, alchemy in Mortal Online is not just about mixing ingredients—it is about who controls the knowledge that makes alchemy possible. As long as Raven has Varian by his side, he alone decides who rises and who falls in the world of alchemy. Others can try to compete, but without Varian…

They are only playing in Raven's shadow.