Hail Mary.

Potion Proliferation Arc: Chapter 9.

"Exceed Limit. Power Boost. Speed Pace. Ability Rush." 

Lyle Cass activated four martial skills that were granted to him via the [Martial Advice] Worldly Talent. Respectively:

Exceed Limit increases the user's information processing speed, somewhat slowing time.

Power Boost increases the strength and speed of the user.

Speed Pace raises the speed and agility of the user.

Ability Rush slightly increases the duration of any activated martial skills.

Martial skills are easier to acquire than magical spells. A dedicated and hardworking person may acquire two martial skills in a year. They are basic, any [Accomplished] can work for it, however, it was time-consuming.

The Everflow Potion Lyle consumed earlier was a potion that greatly increases stamina and fatigue regeneration. Activating a martial skill under its effects was almost a zero-cost activation.

"I have to knock her out before the goons and summons arrive."

Lyle Cass rushed at her, tackling her against the desk and breaking it. They both collapsed to the floor.

"AH!" Alanna Steppes cried out in pain, her expression turning into anger. Her figure disappeared, teleporting to a faintly glowing rune and chanting an activation spell.

A single fire elemental golem appeared, accompanied by two flying fire imps. The sight of the summons caused a huge frown on Lyle Cass's face until he realized the situation.

(Wait! Fire-type summons! She's planning to erase the whole lab! This can work to my advantage!)

Lyle Cass realized as Alanna Steppes hastily limped away, escaping through the hidden entrance. She gritted her teeth, muttering several slurs while activating several traps along the stairway.

The fire golem curled itself, radiating in scorching heat. It was charging up a huge controlled blast while the two imps hurled several firebolts, protecting the fire golem.

(The best-case scenario would be this hidden lab blowing up and me managing to scavenge a few potions. Let's try to aim for that!)

Lyle Cass thought as another two fire imps came out of the fire golem, the two fire imps instantly charged at him. Their claws burning fiery bright.

He took out the combat knife sheathed beneath his shirt, deciding that it was now or never. Time was running out fast, the fire golem was going to explode in a few minutes.

"Greater Exceed Limit, Durability Ward, Greater Power Boost!"

Greater Exceed Limit further increases the user's information processing speed, slowing time. This can cause massive headaches at the end of the duration.

Durability Ward increases the defense against physical damage but slightly slows the user.

Greater Power Boost further increases the strength and speed of the user. This can cause muscle tearing and massive regional pains.

The imp clawed at him, barely missing his face. He managed to dodge in time, bumping into a table and knocking over several empty vials.

He buried a dagger in the flying imp's head and then threw said imp at the other oncoming imp. Hitting it straight in the body and sending it to the ground. A fireball hurled past him, narrowly dodging again.

The flying fiery imps will explode a few seconds after death, knowing that. He hurriedly tossed the two imp corpses at the charging fiery golem.

*Bam!* The corpses exploded, slightly disrupting the charging. The two flying imps screeched, increasing their firebolt firing rate. In an instant, Lyle Cass closed the distance between the imps.

Stabbing them both in haste then kicking away the corpses. The charging golem was almost at its peak. It was going to burst. Fire golems have a core inside them and upon their destruction. Their forms would effectively cease to function.

He was aware of that fact due to extensively reading the various beasts scattered throughout the world of

(It's covered in fire, but if I don't do it. This whole lab will explode along with the precious loot!)

With a single thrust, he forcefully punctured through the golem's gap. Painfully scorching his hand yet striking and destroying the core, effectively powering down the golem.

*Clang!* The golem's remains scattered throughout the floor before vanishing since it was a summon.

Lyle Cass held out his hand, writhing in pain as he hurriedly looked for a healing potion. A potion that escaped the potion prohibition laws due to its practicality.

He found one on the table, pouring it all over his heavily scorched hand.

"Isn't this a student? Why didn't she kill this one on her own?"

"Like she said, she panicked since she's currently very hot."

There were two people behind him, eerily watching. Lyle Cass looked back and spotted two magically darkened figures, emanating from them were several streaks of black smoke. Only their eyes were visible, the rest of their body were shadowed.

The two menacing figures were dual-wielders, a sharp dagger in each hand. Lyle Cass instantly looked back, recognizing the danger.

"Cute Puppies." He weakly muttered, recognizing the two men's affiliations.

"You know of us, boy? That's quite impressive."

"Shouldn't we ask how he knew of our organization? We don't even say our group's name to our clients. This is worrying." The other assassin asked, furrowing his brows.

"You can ask your questions after I am done with him."

(Assassins for hire and worshippers of the god of death. They're well-trained assassins, leaving no room for error and boasting a ninety-eight percent successful kill rate. Despite their rather strange name.)

Lyle Cass thought as his confidence wavered.

"I'm dead."

He blankly muttered, eyeing the two assassins. There was no way out of this. His 'transmigrated' life ends rather early. 

"Yes, you are quite right. No last words, no last meals, no last pleasures. Just a quiet peaceful death." The assassin stepped forward, waving two daggers. The gleam in the assassin's eyes said otherwise, he was not going to deliver a merciful and swift death.

*Bang* *Fzzt* *Crack!* *Fwoosh!* *Wham!* Several activations of the traps that the herbalist, Alanna Steppes, activated earlier were going off left and right.

Whoever was descending had no mind for deactivating the magical traps, simply walking through them. The steps grew closer causing the assassins and Lyle Cass to focus their gazes on the stairway.

A sheathed silver rapier was the most striking sight that the three beneath noticed. Then the white and pristine uniform, somewhat glowing in white brilliance. A golden-eyed and blonde beauty descended from the stairway with not a single damage on her.

*Bam!* Her long hair graciously reacted to the trap's explosion behind her. Lyle Cass and the assassins couldn't help but stare at the divine beauty. It was Mary Anne Grace.

She unsheathed her rapier and pointed it at the two assassins, daring them to charge forward. The two assassins laughed heartily, impressed.

"You've made quite an entrance girl. You made me and my partner nervous. Bonus points for that." 

The closest assassin slowly approached Mary, confident.

"Power Boost. Exceed Limit. Ability Rush."

The three continuous activations surprised Lyle. Without a martial-related talent, three activations would put a strain on the body. These assassins were well-trained and conditioned.

(It's way too early. The story just barely started, she has little to no fighting experience. I need to help her. There's no way she can survive this!)

Lyle Cass thought, chugging several differently colored potions behind him. He drank three potions, risking severe potion sickness.

Warped Giant's Strength Potion is a lesser version of a superior strength and endurance potion.

Numbskin Potion dampens the sense of pain and other aching.

Phoenix Touch increases the healing rate.