Chapter 12: Choice
"But if humans also have powerful bloodline abilities, then why aren't we using Knight Techniques to fight goblins?"
[That's because the purity of the average human bloodline is minimal. The same applies to other widespread races like goblins, orcs, kobolds, and such. Only races with low reproduction rates—like Elves, Dragons, and a few others—have retained high-purity bloodlines. That's why humans turned toward the Wizard Pathway, which relies more on elemental affinity.]
"But I don't even have any elemental affinity," Raven muttered, brows furrowed. "And I don't even know when I'll next get a chance to use the Devouring ability on a magical beast's corpse."
[True, affinity is crucial—whether you're a mortal or a Warlock. But thanks to the Bloodline Devouring System and the Memory Library, you can obtain a wide variety of abilities. Over time, you can even brew affinity potions yourself. The Alchemy Pathway will help you enhance your body and spirit strength. And don't forget: you possess exclusive access to countless potion recipes.]
"How many abilities can I gain in total?"
[I'm not sure. Typically, a Bloodline Warlock can wield up to six abilities—sometimes more. But your case is… unusual. Your soul suffered immense damage during reincarnation. When the system awakened, I had to separate a harmful anomaly within it. I used the System Core to stabilize your soul and modify its structure to prolong your lifespan. Now, your soul, body, and consciousness are fused into a single entity.]
"I have no idea what you're saying." Raven frowned in frustration.
[Then let me explain another way. Long ago, a 'Taboo Existence' introduced a new Pathway to the universe—the Class Gem Pathway. It allowed individuals to embody multiple roles at once—Wizard, Warlock, Knight. These hybrids were called Dual-Class Mystics. Through this path, it was discovered that a human soul could hold more than 14 abilities—six or seven from the soul, and six or seven from the body. Some even gained unique skills, though that came at the cost of slowing their progress.]
[In your case, since your soul, body, and consciousness are one, you could absorb more than ten Warlock bloodline essences without resistance. But even with that potential, you must still choose wisely. Only the most potent bloodline spells will be worth your time.]
Zera's explanation only deepened the fog of confusion in Raven's mind. But one thing had become clear—he would have to kill monsters, and maybe even people, to grow stronger.
With that heavy thought hanging over him, Raven closed his eyes and slipped into the Memory Library.
[Now that your lifespan has stabilized, you must choose. Option one: learn a new skill from a Skill Book, which could give you an edge in upcoming challenges. Option two: continue studying Adept-rank Alchemic Theory and deepen your understanding of potion-making. But once you start, you can't turn back midway. Choose wisely.]
The sudden proposition startled him.
'Alchemy or a new skill...' he frowned.
'Studying the past won't help right now. Even "Wonder Sense" feels wasted in my current situation. Ever since I joined the Elementary School, all I do is attend classes and return home. My sister doesn't even let me go out alone. And two official Knights are guarding the school gate every day.'
He exhaled sharply.
'This will continue until I turn fifteen and graduate from the Knight Training School anyway. Better to invest in something long-term.'
"I've made my choice," he said aloud. "I'll focus on Adept-level Alchemy."
[Wise decision. While theoretical alchemy may seem dull now, the benefits will become clear once you reach Adept rank. With dedication, you might even surpass a natural genius in six months.]
Raven nodded and strode toward the towering shelves.
[Adept-level alchemy books are located from the second to the twelfth shelf. Around 500 books per shelf. You should begin at once.]
"Five thousand five hundred books?!" His voice cracked slightly.
But as he opened the first volume and began to read, something changed.
"Wait… my reading speed—it's doubled?"
[That's the result of your spirit power reaching 2.0. It's on par with a 1st Circle Acolyte Wizard. The stronger your spirit, the quicker your mind works. A wizard's analytical prowess is what makes them so fearsome.]
'Then… can I learn Spirit Techniques to boost my spirit further?'
[Not yet. Learn those after you enter a Wizard Academy. That way, you won't draw suspicion.]
After a brief pause, Zera asked something unexpected.
[By the way… what is your aim, Raven? Do you have a dream, a purpose? I can't decide your path for you.]
The question hit deeper than he expected.
Raven stayed silent, then smiled faintly as he recalled the warm faces of Athena and Shirley.
"I want my sister and aunt to smile. To live without worries. But… I think something's been weighing on them."
He hesitated, then voiced a long-standing doubt.
"I wonder if it has something to do with me. With my title. Why did the Zenith Emperor abandon his children? Was it because of me?"
Even though he had Athena and Shirley, Raven had long been curious about his birth parents. Whenever he asked, they always dodged the subject. Once, as a child, his sister had broken down in tears while describing their mother's beauty. It was the only time he'd seen her cry.
That memory had stayed with him ever since.
"If my parents are the problem," he muttered, "I won't hesitate to stand against them."
[Your father isn't some wandering drunk, lad. He's the Emperor of this entire Empire. If he wants to erase you or take your sister back, he only needs to issue the order.]
Raven's eyes widened.
"Is he… a bad man?"
[I don't know. But one thing's certain—he's a bad father.]
"Even so… I'll stop him. I'll protect my sister, no matter what."
[Hmph. I expected no less. But protecting the people you love is harder than any battle. Unless you become an Emperor yourself, don't expect it to be easy. For now, focus on your alchemy.]
Raven nodded firmly and dove back into his books.
…
The Next Day
He asked his sister to bring him two blank notebooks, and immediately copied two new Knight Techniques.
Unlike the old ones, these came from the Class Gem Pathway—specifically a Rank-2 [Holy Knight] class. But they were more than that. They were hybrids—melding Class Gem magic with the ancient Knight Pathway of the Faith Plane.
Shirley's technique was called the Inferno Vanguard Technique, a ferocious combat style built for frontline devastation.
Athena's was the Nether Stride, a swift, evasive technique focused on agile movement in battle.
Both immersed themselves in study.
Shirley, already a veteran of many battles and at the peak of Elite Knight rank, found herself reinvigorated. Though she hadn't broken into the realm of Radiant—or Holy—Knights, the new technique doubled her effectiveness.
But before she could master it, duty called.
An escort mission arose—transporting the Baron's third son to the Royal Capital for the Crows' Misery Academy entrance exam.
Unlike the common Knight Training Schools and Elementary Schools found even in rural towns, Crows' Misery was the sole Wizard Academy in the Empire.
After graduation, students with high-ranking or above affinities received a selection letter from the Academy.
But acceptance was far from easy.
To qualify, a candidate had to pass the Physical Fitness Test, Written Test, Will Test, Spirit Test, and finally, the Practical Test.
Out of over 10,000 annual applicants, only a few dozen were accepted.
Noble houses or powerful organizations often recruited the rest.
For many, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to walk the path of wizardry.
The Baron wasn't going to let it slip away.
During the trip, Shirley secretly sold the Orc thigh bones and Trollsbane glands at the Royal Auction House. Their rarity drew the attention of blacksmiths and ritualists alike, earning her 250 gold coins.
Although the Baron's son failed in the fourth round and sank into depression, the group stayed in the capital a few more weeks.
Shirley used the time wisely, visiting the black market and purchasing essential alchemical tools:
Three Mystic Alembics Twenty-five Luminescent Vials Four Crucible Bowls A Starlight Mortar and Pestle Ethereal Stirring Rod Arcane Siphon Syringe Volumetric Measuring Beaker Filtration Funnel Incense Burner, Burner Stand, Infusion Funnel, Smoke Distiller Cone...
Fifty gold coins well spent.
Back home, Raven transformed the store room into a fully equipped alchemy lab.
However, due to the shortage of rare herbs and essential ingredients in the local market, he could only produce a handful of Mortal-grade potions, each with a meager 20% success rate. Still, even that slim chance was enough to earn him a tidy profit, just enough to purchase materials for ten more attempts.
Just as he felt a flicker of pride in his first successful concoction, Zera's voice rang coldly in his mind, slicing through his excitement like a blade.
[Even if you raise your success rate with Mortal potions to 100%, you'll barely manage to brew a Low-Rank potion with a 5% chance of success. A beginner alchemist can do twice that without effort. You still have a long way to go.]
The words stung more than he expected. For a moment, disappointment threatened to creep in, coiling around his resolve. But he didn't let it take root. Instead, he clenched his fists and turned back to the cauldron.
He would use these Mortal potion recipes—not for profit, but for practice. For mastery. Every failure would bring him closer to true alchemy. He couldn't afford to stop now.
Time passed swiftly—three years blinked by like falling leaves in a storm.
In that time, Raven had dedicated himself relentlessly to the art of alchemy. Day and night blurred into one long experiment as he honed his craft, reaching a 100% success rate in Mortal-Rank potion concoctions. It was a milestone most apprentice alchemists only dreamed of.
But progress demanded more than skill. It demanded resources, and Darkcross Town's local herbal market offered little more than dried weeds and moldy roots.
If not for the rare ingredients his Aunt Shirley smuggled in from the Royal City's black market, he doubted he could've brewed even a single Low-Rank potion.
In three years, he succeeded in crafting only two.
The first was a Paralysis Potion—potent, effective, and completed on his fifth attempt.
The second... was far more remarkable.
A Life Affinity Potion.
His first-ever affinity-based concoction.
His heart had soared when it worked—his biggest achievement to date. But the cost had nearly emptied his pockets: 250 gold coins, all burned away in trial and error.
"Twenty sets of materials... and only one success. It was sheer luck," Raven thought.
Still, the effort hadn't been wasted. The experience taught him more than success ever could.
[Affinity potions are hard to create, lad,] came Zera's voice within his mind. [No one in this world has succeeded in crafting them—not truly.]
"I know," Raven murmured aloud, his tone filled with frustration and hope. "But if I can get better ingredients, I can go even further."
Despite the lack of resources, he continued to improve. He'd memorized 40% of the Adept-level alchemy books and made over a hundred Mortal-Rank potions using leftover ingredients. He sold those through under-the-table channels, slowly building his wealth.
"Even after subtracting material costs, I've got about 430 gold coins saved up," Raven mused. Surprisingly, Athena and Shirley refused to take a single coin from his earnings.
He knew why. Though they no longer feared his death was imminent, both had doubled down on their efforts. But no matter how hard they trained in the new Knight techniques, they saw no breakthrough.
[It's the shackle,] Zera explained. [They'll need a Class Gem or an Awakening Potion to break it. Gems of that level are out of reach, so we must focus on the potion.]
"Even if Athena reaches the peak of Knight Training... it won't be enough?" Raven asked.
[No. Not without the potion. When your aunt next visits the capital, have her search for the materials. Affinity matters—but your safety comes first. With two Radiant Knights beside you, you'll be far safer. Even official Wizards won't dare stand in your way.]
"Knights can overpower Wizards?" Raven's brows rose.
[Not all Wizards are untouchable, lad. I once knew a Wizard—my creator—who was arrogant enough to challenge a higher being. He ended up... as a crown. Don't be like him. Stay cautious. Stay humble. And keep earning. You'll need wealth to walk the path of a true Alchemist.]
He understood. Every potion, every breakthrough, came at a steep price.
Still, Raven's priorities were shifting.
Athena now held a vital position in Darkcross City. After slaying the Orc Commander, her name spread like wildfire. She'd been promoted to Superintendent, overseeing the Industrial and Commoner Districts—and all narcotics crime investigations. She was constantly at risk.
That alone made Raven decide.
"The Awakening Potion... I'll make it for her first."
Meanwhile, Shirley had taken on more commissions, funneling her earnings into savings. Together, the sisters had managed to gather over 660 gold coins. Combined with Raven's stash, their household had over 1,090 gold coins—enough to bid on the Miracle Life Potion at the next Royal Auction.
Even better, Raven still held two Feral Eye Crystals and a Mutant Magic Stone in his inventory.
'Those might fetch over a thousand gold coins,' he thought. But Zera had warned him not to rush into selling. Wizards might come sniffing around.
Caution, once again, prevailed.
But one issue continued to gnaw at him—his injured soul.
'Twelve years might seem long... but life doesn't wait.'
That concern led him to his next goal—Crow's Misery Academy. Zera told him his current Ice Affinity would make him eligible—if he healed his soul and improved his affinity rank.
But getting accepted?
Only the top few out of 10,000 students were chosen.
"Can I beat them all?"
[Impossible?] Zera scoffed. [You're impatient, not incapable. Focus on your alchemy—study affinity potions. Gather materials. Let everything else come in time.]
He took that advice to heart.
He buried himself in books. Studied formulas. Memorized techniques. He also completed his fifth year of elementary education and enrolled in the Knight Training School.
Unlike elementary school, Knight Training focused on combat tactics, strategy, and physical endurance. But the tuition was steep—2 gold coins per month. Many students dropped out, including his closest friend, Robert, who returned to help his father's merchant business in Baron's Highhold.
Raven had wanted to help. But Zera had warned him.
[Keep a low profile. Especially from Teacher Elizabeth.]
…
Age of Rune, Year 1415 — August 16th. 9:00 PM.
Raven lay on his bed, staring at the wooden ceiling above.
[What are you thinking, lad?] Zera asked.
"Tomorrow, I start weapon training," he whispered. "Should I pick up swordsmanship? If I train alongside my sister, I can improve faster, right?"
But he hesitated—for in his inventory sat a forgotten item: Frozen Ender, a mystical spear.
[You have no affinity for swordsmanship, Raven,] Zera replied flatly. [Even if you train for twenty years, you won't be able to produce a single spark of Sword Aura.]
"Can't I make a swordsmanship affinity potion?" he asked, hopeful.
[There's no such thing. Weapon affinities can't be brewed. They must be born or awakened through hardship and enlightenment. My creator had no interest in weapon arts—so there's nothing in the library about them either.]
Raven frowned.
"Then why did he give me that spear? Was it useless?"
Zera went silent for a long moment.
[I wonder myself... but my creator never did anything without purpose. If he left you the Frozen Ender, it means something.]
There was a pause, then Zera's tone shifted.
[Though I have little hope in this path, I'll at least teach you the basics of spearmanship.]
Raven felt a tug on his mind, and suddenly, the world shifted.
He stood on the first floor of the Memory Library, surrounded by silent shelves and floating tomes.
Above, a familiar figure descended the spiral staircase—the beautiful elven woman, serene and radiant.
She stepped forward and conjured a silver-covered book from thin air. The cover bore the image of a warrior astride a silver wolf.
[This is the Wintermoon Spear Dance,] she said softly. [A foundational spearmanship technique with ten stages. This volume contains the first four. Memorize them. Practice each one diligently.]
Raven accepted the book and opened it to the first page.
Chapter 1: Gripping
"Hold the spear with both hands, spaced apart for balance. The leading hand should grip closer to the spearhead, offering control. The trailing hand supports and stabilizes the weapon..."
He continued reading, eyes widening with each word.
"Overhand Grip—A traditional grip where both palms face downward. The leading hand presses the thumb along the shaft, while the index and middle fingers maintain control. The rear hand anchors the shaft for stability..."
Raven's heart pounded.
"I'll only give you one hour per day for reading about Spearmanship, lad. In the remaining time, you should focus on improving your knowledge in Alchemy," Zera said, dampening his excitement.
"Okay," he replied with a nod, suppressing his enthusiasm and returning to the book.
Once the allocated hour ended, he shifted to the Adept Rank Alchemy books and memorized the theoretical knowledge with full concentration.