The first and last disciple of the Divine Alchemist
"You didn't really want me to inherit only your legacy. You were merely sugarcoating the real reason," Karsha said in a calm voice. "You wanted someone to do what your beloved was meant to do. She was supposed to take the Hell trial, wasn't she?" he then asked.
The old man gave him a casual nod. "I know you might look down on me, but know this: I am doing this because of two things. First, I want to save my world from what I saw in the vision. You might see this as me dreaming about something impossible, but I believe whoever the 'Hell Sister' chooses has the potential to achieve what many have failed to do.
Second, I want to revive my beloved's legacy. Yes, I want someone to bring back the Lost Asura clan. I know it is a long stretch, but I believe with the preparations I have made, you will be able to achieve this if you are up for it.
You can, of course, choose to ignore this and simply wish to be taken out of this dimension. I won't force it on you. But before you do that, know that should you choose to accept this legacy and the assignment that comes with it, you will be able to achieve your dreams faster than you had hoped," the old man said.
Karsha, who was skeptical at first, started to see a path opening for him. For some reason, his blood began to boil when he heard the old man talk about the benefits and the possibility of him walking the Hell Path. He felt inexplicably drawn to the path and the mention of Asura.
He knew it would be more dangerous than he had hoped, yet there was no uncertainty in his mind. He was certain he wanted to follow the path being laid in front of him, the path that led to walking the Hell Path, or as most people called it, the Hell Road.
Inheriting the legacy of perhaps the most influential person in the world, even if the legacy had nothing to do with fighting, also sounded like a good thing. Unbeknownst to him, should he choose to accept the legacy, he would walk away with something far more valuable, knowledge, wealth, and a lot of charm -lol.
"Do I have a timeframe to accomplish all you want from me? I'm not stupid; I don't want to undertake something I wouldn't be able to control at my own pace," Karsha inquired.
"There is no timeframe. It will depend on your strength and how fast the prophecy comes to pass. So I encourage you to get stronger faster because no matter how powerful the individuals in the world are, the threat I saw in the vision can only be stopped by the one who walks the 'Hell Road,'" the old man clarified, and for a moment, Karsha felt the pressure.
"What about Alchemy? Would I be able to make money from it?" Karsha asked again, a question that brought a huge smile to the face of the old man. "You can't count your money since the mere fact of you even becoming an Alchemist comes with its own benefits," the old man said. Despite being a mere consciousness, Karsha could feel he had succeeded in convincing the young man.
"Good. Tell me about Alchemy first, and if I like your answer, I will accept the legacy and bring glory to your name and the Asura clan," Karsha stated.
The old man then proceeded to explain all there was to know about his legacy. He would impart the entire legacy to him, but only a small fraction would be assimilated into his memory. The rest would only unlock as he began mastering the craft. Upon accepting the legacy, he would become a Grandmaster capable of concocting 100% pure pills.
Karsha wasn't familiar with the jargon the old man was using, but he assured him he would understand once he accepted the legacy. In the world of Alchemy in Quinox, there were stages to it: Beginner, Master, Grandmaster, Saint, Sage, King, Expert, Emperor, Divine, and God.
Becoming a Grandmaster instantly was an achievement nobody else would be able to match. However, he was now set to become the first and last disciple of the Divine Alchemist. Such a status would make him the most talented alchemist in the entire world.
Karsha asked a series of questions, which the old man answered to the best of his abilities. He then proceeded to describe the things Karsha would need in his quest for greatness.
"You will be bestowed with a divine fire that can only be used for alchemy. However, it will remain locked until you break into the Sage stage of Alchemy. So, for now, find an alchemy shop and purchase any fire that you feel confident you can control. Additionally, my divine cauldron will remain locked until you reach the Sage level.
Unfortunately, there are no gold coins for you at this stage. You must work and earn your own money, which I believe becoming a Grandmaster will make easier. But fear not, as you ascend in the field of alchemy, you will uncover most of my hidden knowledge and wealth.
Also, share your knowledge with those you deem worthy to possess the wisdom of the divine alchemist.
Lastly, can you tell me which class you've taken? Don't leave anything out. I want to understand why you've been chosen by the 'Hell Sister,'" the Old man asked.
For someone to be chosen by a Hell Sister, signifies potential. Hell Sisters are beings born when the legacy of a long-dead or ascended beings who are seeking out a successor to inherit their mantle. Their purpose is to seek out the perfect candidate to carry on their Master's legacy.
They don't choose randomly; for Karsha to be selected, there must be something special about him. The question remains: how can they discern which being has the potential to inherit their master's legacy?
The answer is simple: they gauge the person's potential from the class they've awakened. In Karsha's case, he had awakened a unique class, prompting the Hell Sister to travel 120 miles just to take a look.
What she saw intrigued her, so she began to follow Karsha closely, ensuring she wouldn't choose the wrong person, despite his immense potential. After a few weeks of observation, she concluded that Karsha was indeed the one she sought.
To lure him, she employed her grilling skills.
Karsha stared at the old man for a few moments before speaking, "I have awakened a unique class called 'Berserker Swordsman,'" Karsha revealed, causing the old man to gaze at him with puppy eyes for a full five minutes.
"Keep this class a secret, and when the time comes, make the right choice," he advised, surprising Karsha with his lack of probing.
"Very well, Master. How shall we proceed?" Karsha inquired, but his answer came quicker than he had anticipated.
< Does the host wish to accept the legacy of the Divine Alchemist? >
-- Yes
-- No
Karsha chose to accept, and immediately upon doing so, the old man's voice resonated in his mind, 'Bring glory to the Asura clan.' His vision then darkened as countless pieces of information flooded into his consciousness.
Yet this time, there was no sign of pain in his expression, leaving him to wonder if the system was to blame for his earlier discomfort.
A torrent of knowledge about various flowers, herbs, fruits, recipes, monsters, and nearly everything else inundated his mind. As time passed, he began to feel drowsy.
The sheer volume of information proved overwhelming for his mental capacity to handle. However, just as he was about to lose consciousness, a system message appeared.
<Mind Vault has been activated>
-- The mind Vault will serve as storage for excess memory and can only be accessed when the host is eligible to do so.
< Vault Transfer activated >
Karsha felt his mind lighten immediately, prompting a sigh of relief. After two whole days, he opened his eyes. He anticipated seeing the old man, but instead found himself back on the riverside, where two large tilapia were perfectly grilled and spiced for consumption.
Beside the grilled fish lay a ring atop a note. He quickly picked up the note, reading, "Hi, I know you might be upset about what I did to you. I have no excuse, but I hope you don't take offense. Also, I hope you accept the legacy and become the first and last disciple of the divine Alchemist.
To make amends, I've grilled the best tilapia you'll ever taste in your entire life. I've also left something small for you. The ring is a spiritual item that requires soul contracts before use. Form a contract with it to access the things available at your current level. As you ascend, your access will expand.
Additionally, the nearest town is 10 miles north of the river. Lastly, the recipe you requested will be transmitted to you upon forming a contract with the ring.
Thank you for accepting this gift, and I hope we meet again.
Goodbye,
Hell Sister."
Karsha observes the ring for a few seconds before trying to put it on his finger. However, before the ring could enter his finger, the system window appeared before his eyes.
< Does the host wish to form a soul contract with the 'Nine Calamity' Ring >
-- Yes
-- No
"Nine Calamity, huh?" Karsha mused before selecting yes. His consciousness was sucked out for a moment, making him blink in surprise. When he gained his composer, a new message appeared.
< Congratulations on forming a contract with your first spiritual item >
< Nine Calamity Ring >
Category: Storage Space
Rank: Spiritual
Segment: Nine Segment.
Note: The host can only access the first segment. The remaining segments will be unlocked as the host rises in rank.
===========
Without even bothering to check the content in the ring, he just slipped it on his finger and started devouring the grilled fish with a smile as he read the last message.
< You have learn a new recipe; Grill like a pro >