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Talent Potion (Part 2)

Upon arriving at Thunder Valley, Forseti dismissed the animal trainer with a nod. "You can head back now," he instructed, settling the bill promptly.

Estimating that the Talent Mixture process would span several days—perhaps a week and a half—Forseti bid farewell to the trainer, who departed on a swamp behemoth without much ado.

Securing the medicinal ingredients and pharmaceutical tools in the three-room stone structure, Forseti locked the door, cautioning Shilut. "Stay here and wait for my return," he urged the young creature, who responded with a vague buzz, engrossed in his stone-munching.

Donning dragon leather armor, Forseti approached Thunder Valley's entrance, reviewing maps detailing the Lightning Tree's locations gathered from previous investigations. Satisfied, he activated Divine Protection and ventured into the valley.

Clad in dragon leather armor, Forseti's defense against lightning strikes was formidable, ensuring minimal risk during his divine-protected journey.

"Boom—"

Lightning struck, sparks scattering as Forseti pressed forward, aiming for the nearest Lightning Tree.

Two minutes later, he reached the destination but found no fruits on the tree, disappointed by the lack of results. Undeterred, he moved on to the next tree, enduring several more lightning strikes before securing a fist-sized Lightning Fruit. Blue with crackling electric arcs, it was a promising find.

Quickly identifying it using Holy Deed:

**Substitution Degree: 79% for Lightning Cores**

Though satisfactory, Forseti aimed for higher quality and continued his search. Despite enduring more lightning strikes, his dragon leather armor minimized injuries, allowing him to explore further.

Pressing on, he found four more Lightning Fruits after half an hour, securing a high-quality fruit with a 94% substitution degree. Though weary from prolonged exposure to lightning strikes, Forseti dared not linger. Downing a Swiftness potion, he hastened out of the valley.

"Boom—"

Thunder roared as Forseti stumbled. An unsettling feeling crept over him; he sensed that running faster somehow attracted lightning strikes more easily in this eerie place. He chuckled, musing about having Laufey conduct an experiment in Thunder Valley.

Nonetheless, Forseti maintained his pace, knowing prolonged exposure increased his vulnerability. Despite the risks, swiftness seemed the best defense.

"Boom!"

The final lightning strike hit as he leapt out of Thunder Valley's bounds.

Exhaling deeply, Forseti invoked a healing spell, easing the injuries sustained. After a brief recovery, feeling significantly better, he rose and returned home.

"Bzz!" Shilut waved as Forseti entered, engrossed once more in his stone-eating.

The rocks were plentiful; they provided ample sustenance for the creature.

Entering the pharmacy, Forseti retrieved the nine materials for the Talent Mixture: Silver Leaf Grass, Lightning Cores, Arcane, Heather, Golden Thorn, Sand of Time, Purple Lotus, Dragon's Blood, and Mountain's Blood Alternatives.

After over twenty years, he had finally assembled all required ingredients.

Taking a brief rest to regain his composure, Forseti initiated the meditative spell with full concentration to begin crafting the doses.

The Talent Mixture comprised three parts, each consisting of three medicinal materials, requiring meticulous steps.

While preliminary processing in Asgard had streamlined the process, the first dose still consumed nearly a day, primarily due to the Thunderbolt Fruit's recent acquisition necessitating initial treatments.

Subsequent production of the second and third doses proceeded swiftly, taking only half a day combined.

Overall, it took Forseti one and a half days to complete all three doses.

With over twenty years of pharmaceutical practice, Forseti executed the challenging Talent Mixture creation flawlessly, without a single misstep.

Now, three special crystal bottles stood before him, each containing a divided dose. Despite their separation, each emitted vibrant colors and potent energy fluctuations.

Indeed, each part of the Talent Mixture enhanced abilities independently, albeit at reduced potency.

Calm and composed, Forseti selected the second dose, slowly integrating it into the first.

As the doses merged, dazzling light flooded the pharmacy, enveloping the room in a kaleidoscope of colors—a breathtaking sight.

The blend, perfectly synchronized, occupied the space of a single bottle.

Next, Forseti poured the third dose, igniting another surge of brilliant light and powerful energy fluctuations, generating visible shockwaves that reverberated through the room.

Only the robust crystal bottles contained the commotion; ordinary vessels would have shattered.

Despite the clamor, the fusion process concluded seamlessly. The vibrant hues subsided, leaving behind a pure milky-white liquid.

Resembling milk in appearance, the Talent Mixture was also known as "Titan's Milk."

Gazing at the bottle, prepared meticulously over two decades, Forseti found himself surprisingly calm, lacking the anticipated excitement and ecstasy.

He smiled faintly, picking up the crystal bottle and leaving the pharmacy. He instructed Shilut before departing: "Stay put until I wake up. Understand?"

"Om," Shilut nodded.

Though spacious, the room lacked furniture, maintaining its rough, utilitarian nature.

Seated on a stone chair, Forseti grasped the Talent Mixture, gently swirling it in his hand.

Now, it was time to witness the miracle...

Forseti exhaled deeply, tilted his head back, and consumed the entire Talent Mixture in one gulp.

"What—"

Though milky in appearance, it tasted akin to wine—a fiery sensation surged from his mouth, spreading rapidly throughout his body like a blazing furnace.

Forseti broke into a profuse sweat, drenched from head to toe.

Surveying his perspiration, he was startled to find it a viscous red liquid, resembling blood.

His surprise was short-lived. Soon, fatigue overtook him, and he slumped unconscious onto the stone chair.

Over time, the red mucus spread across Forseti's body, gradually coalescing into a translucent, humanoid blood cocoon—a semblance of amber.

Within this crimson cocoon, a new power began to stir...