The New Map, New Quest, The 3rd Variation

< Ding! Conftaulationson completing the Map Quest successfully>

< New functions have been added to the Map >

< New Function >

-- The location of the overlords will be marked by the golden color when in their section. This location will be updated in real-time ensuring the owner of the map where to go.

-- The gateway to the inner section of the island will be marked by orange color when the owner of the map kills all overlords.

Additionally, if the owner of the map manages to complete the quest assigned by the map, two new functions will be unlocked.

< New Quest >

< Kill Two Tier 5 Lesser Mutant monsters on this island >

================

After spending the whole night killing hundreds of monsters instead of just forty, Karsha unlocked the two additional functions on the map. It wasn't as easy as he had hoped; when night finally fell, he could only rely on his senses.

The snakes, on the other hand, had night vision, making the first few hours a nightmare for him. He got poisoned nine times, forcing him to consume all the antidotes he had prepared for the Grey Scale Cobra venom.

The only pill left in his possession was the 100% Pure Rank 1 Earth Grade Pill he had concocted, which led to his first enlightenment in Alchemy. During this enlightenment process, more information from the legacy flowed into his mind, deepening his understanding of the pill-making craft. He was now comparable to a Saint-ranked alchemist. However, since he hadn't yet concocted any Rank 2 pills, he still considered himself a Grandmaster.

The mysterious old man had hurried Karsha's trip to the island because he didn't want people to notice the light beaming in the heavens. This beam only occurred when an alchemist achieved perfect purity for pills of Earth grade and above. Although Karsha currently couldn't concoct a Heaven-Grade Pill, he knew that once his understanding of fire control advanced and he obtained a more powerful flame, he could surely attempt it.

Karsha's understanding of all forms of speech meant his comprehension had also improved. It wouldn't be long before he began concocting Heaven-Grade Pills—potent enough to topple kingdoms and empires. Even Rank 2 Earth-Grade Pills could spark bidding wars when auctioned.

"I guess I will have to stay for a few days until I finish the second quest before going back to the cave," Karsha muttered, storing the map away.

Ayarr, who had been watching all night, was shocked to see that Karsha always had an antidote whenever he got poisoned. She had expected him to be dead by now; however, whenever the redhead got poisoned, he simply put a pill in his mouth and continued fighting.

As a snake, the concept of alchemy was entirely foreign to her. She knew nothing about pills or antidotes. She wasn't very intelligent by human standards, but she understood that whatever Karsha was consuming was likely why he could withstand the venom's effects.

Still, she resisted the urge to make any move that might reveal her presence since she was on a mission.

"Two Tier 5 Mutants, huh? I guess the five days left will be more fun than I thought," Karsha said, taking out the pure Earth Grade Pill he had concocted.

< Grey Scale Cobra Antidote >

Type: Pill

Grade: Rank 1 Earth Grade

Purity: 100%

< Effects >

- Consume, and for the next 72 hours, you will be immune to the Grey Scale Venom from Tier 6 and below.

- Grants the consumer +200 HP for the next 72 hours

"I have three days to find and kill two mutants. No time to waste," Karsha muttered, darting toward the danger zone where he would spend the next three days hunting mutants.

The map surprised him. Whenever he encountered or was about to encounter a mutant, a dark dot would appear on the map. So using this reference, locating the mutants would become relatively easy.

===============

[ The small Waterfall - Karsha's hideout ]

The Tier 6 snake that came to investigate the death of its two fallen brethren finally arrived at the small waterfall. It began snooping around, searching for signs of the other three that had died a few days ago when Karsha was in his enlightenment.

After searching for a while and finding nothing, it decided to leave. However, as it exited the waterfall's vicinity, it stopped and blended into the surrounding dried leaves.

When their overlord had dispatched the first three Tier 6 snakes to investigate the mysterious white light, he expected them to return within a day. However, six days passed with no sign of them, prompting him to send two more.

Unfortunately for those two, they encountered the very person responsible for their comrades' deaths and met the same fate. When they also failed to return, another was dispatched.

It is a known fact on Snake Island that although the ten overlords will team up against the Purple Tail Anacondas, they don't like each other and truly despise one another. Despite this, the overlord sent another snake when the first five didn't return.

However, this new cobra was no ordinary Tier 6; it was a Tier 6 Great Mutant Cobra, far more intelligent and powerful than its predecessors. Under normal circumstances, it would have darted away after finding nothing at the waterfall.

But this time, it decided to stay hidden, patiently waiting for a clue or an opportunity to reveal itself.

Upon seeing the water and the cave that seemed to have been recently occupied, it sensed that someone would return. As a Cobra Captain, it was determined to uncover who had been bold enough to infiltrate their domain and slay their kin.

But it miscalculated; while it was casually lying in wait, Karsha was also heading toward the quadrant for the Mutant Cobra, and soon, he would paint the whole place red.

=============

"First target located," Karsha muttered to himself. Under a tree, a Tier 5 Mutant, spanning 10 meters long with two horns adorning its scaled head, lay sleeping. Eager to incorporate the Ever Freezing domain into his variations, Karsha stealthily advanced toward it.

He needed to be within 300 meters to cast the domain. Using his blink skill, he moved silently. The Mutant Cobra remained oblivious, continuing its slumber.

However, when Karsha closed the distance to within 100 meters, the cobra opened its eyes and raised its head. But it was too late. Karsha, leveraging the Red Eye Tiger skill, activated three abilities simultaneously.

"Huh, 400 meters radius now," he noted as the domain expanded. Instead of the usual 300-meter radius, a 400-meter domain opened. His late-night hunting had paid off.

"Stronger than even the Tier 6 cobras," Karsha muttered. With the second variation, Frozen Lightning Rain, already pouring down ice and lightning, the Mutant's HP quickly plummeted into the red zone.

Karsha eyed it, waiting for the perfect moment. With a swift blink, he appeared behind it, driving his two swords into its neck. He knew attacking while it still had high HP would be futile. Lacking stronger offensive skills, he relied on the domain for an advantage.

Taking a cautious approach, he waited until the snake's HP dwindled into the red zone. With a 70% debuff in place, it didn't take much effort to finish it off.

"One down, one more to go," Karsha muttered. After securing the body, he started following the dot again, heading deep into the forest. With his domain and newly enhanced variations, Karsha felt confident in his abilities to complete the task before continuing his hunt.

With the 100% pure antidote coursing through his veins, he knew he couldn't waste even a second of it. The 72 hours were a gift, and wasting time would mean squandering valuable resources.

------

"Finally, I've integrated the Ice domain into the third variation," Karsha murmured triumphantly, standing atop a Tier 6 snake. Five long ice spears crackling with electricity impaled the creature to the ground, blood flowing like a river.

It had been three days since he began hunting the mutants. In that time, he had managed to slay five Tier 5 mutants and three Tier 6 Cobras. Out of these eight kills, he had acquired two more drops, adding to the five he already possessed, each orb yet to shatter and reveal the items within.

One of the orbs came from a Tier 5 mutant, while the other came from the Tier 6 snake. Besides that, he had now added the Ever-Freeze Ice domain to the third variation.

The effect remained the same, but the lightning spears now had a solid form. The ice spears imbued with lightning could deal physical damage and temporarily immobilize the target.

After storing the bodies, he started heading back since his immunity to the venoms was over. He had to go concoct more pills with the Venoms he had acquired now.

==============

Two hundred meters from the cave, the Tier 6 mutant snake that had been lying motionless raised its head when it noticed sudden movement a hundred meters away.

Karsha, who had just blinked back to the waterfall, started moving toward his cave, oblivious to the danger approaching him.

Ayarr, hiding three hundred meters away, saw the Tier 6 mutant monster nearly reveal itself. However, when she looked northwest, she saw something huge making its way toward the waterfall at a very fast speed, so she decided to remain hidden.

But when she saw Karsha walking, unaware of the dangers closing in on him, she couldn't take it anymore. She threw a pebble toward the mutant monster.

Karsha heard the sound produced by the pebble. However, before he could turn, a brownish liquid slammed into his back, followed by a powerful strike from the mutant's tail, sending him flying five hundred meters away.

His armor immediately started corroding as the venom began eating through the leather. "It's over, human," the snake hissed as it began crawling toward Karsha, who lay lifeless on the ground.