Underground Laboratory [Part 2] (Bonus Chapter)

Standing up from the tub after about fifteen minutes of resting, Alistar ran his eyes through the lab for some time before stepping out of it.

Aware that Lilith and the rest would be worried, Alistar didn't waste time as he began searching for what he had come for.

Around him, several rows of shelves could be seen. On each rack, there were a ton of bottles some contained viscous pitch-black liquid while a few had colorful Serums. Giving a sense of beauty to the dull-looking Lab he had found himself in.

"Must be expired Potions or something similar," Alistar said, picking up a conical bottle that had a black liquid within it. He observed it for a while before putting it back on the rack.

He didn't dare open its lid and take a peek inside when anything could go wrong. Even though Potions were made from organic substances, they could become toxic after a long time due to environmental factors and other things. A good example was the black gooey liquid in front of him.

Walking deeper into the laboratory, Alistar had only seen the same pitch-black gooey liquid in all the bottles he checked.

Although disappointed since he hoped to find a good Serum, he still kept on moving forward despite ninety percent of the bottles he found containing black goo and the other ten percent turning out empty.

Walking for an additional fifteen minutes, Alistar soon stopped in front of a vial that contained a light blue liquid.

Honestly, he had been expecting that he would come out empty-handed in his search for both Potions and Serums but it seemed his luck might have been better.

Gently picking the Serum, Alistar stared at it for some time before saying. "It must be either an Epic or Rare-grade Serum to survive this long."

Believing that it was the latter since it was easier to produce and cheaper than the former which could sell for almost a million coins, Alistar brought the Serum in front of a sliver-looking ring that he had removed from one of his intact pockets.

When the Serum was in front of the ring, it disappeared from Alistar's hand like it had never existed in the first place.

Unhesitatingly putting on the ring, Alistar grinned and said. "Storage rings never fail to deliver."

Even though there were other storage means better than a Storage ring, most of them were so expensive that even if a commoner enslaved himself and his entire lineage they wouldn't be able to afford it.

Heck, even Storage rings weren't cheap as one out of a thousand commoners can get one and at best its size is a measly two or one cubic meter. As for how Alistar had managed to get one, his father had given it to him on the night before he died.

"Thanks," Alistar said, kissing the ring on his finger before he continued walking.

****

It had been about fifty minutes since Alistar had begun exploring the laboratory and he had managed to find several Serums, the usual black substance, and even monsters roaming around but they were still young so it was alright.

And honestly, he was amazed by how his father had gathered so much knowledge to be able to make so many Potions and Serums.

It was common knowledge that Humans were a race who were able to do everything but specialized in none. For example, Humans might be able to make potions but at best they were all Rank 1.

The only thing Humans stood on top of was in Serums making since it was related to their Cultivation System but even that could be taken from them if highly intelligent Races decided to learn more about the Human Race.

Unlike other Humans who were only capable of concocting Rank 1 potion, Alistar's dad could concoct Rank 2 to 4.

And this wasn't a matter of talent as to concoct Rank 2 and above Potions, one needed to have the ability to see the Quantum realm, and the Human Race wasn't equipped with that.

"I wonder what would happen if word of a Human concocting Rank 2 and above Potions got out." Alistar chuckled, putting other Serums in his Storage ring with images of himself getting kidnapped after his relation to his dad was found out.

"Thankfully, that would never happen." He said, slightly shivering after imagining himself strapped on a cold metallic table.

Knowing he might inherit that method if it had something to do with his dad's genes, Alistar decided that it was best to limit its prowess if he ever inherited it.

He just didn't have the backing to concoct a potion of higher ranks with his status as a Human. A weak race that was only favored by the Universe in their ability to reproduce like Goblins and neutrality to Elements.

'Might as well make my Race better if I ever get to the peak.' Alistar thought after recollecting the shit Humans go through in the Universe.

Even though most of it was caused by them, they were like any other race and all races had flaws. These flaws would have been overlooked if they were at the top of the pyramid. But too bad they were near the bottom and their chances of climbing higher were nigh impossible.

Pushing those awful thoughts to the back of his mind, Alistar checked the items he had gotten from his hunt so far —they weren't too many but neither were they too shabby. Just the perfect definition of average.

"I have about half left," Alistar muttered, seeing what was left of the original two cubic meter space.

"I'll soon be leaving anyway."

Knowing that the last thing he wanted wouldn't even take up a quarter of the space left, Alistar began walking deeper into the lab wondering how large it was.

****

In less than an hour, Alistar had reached a rusted gate that stood firmly despite its brittle appearance.

Thud.

"Finally," Alistar said, sitting on his butt while slightly gasping for air.

This part of the lab was a place he hadn't explored during his younger days so it was pretty confusing finding his way here and if it wasn't for a few tips his dad had told him when he was young he might've still been walking in circles.

After resting for about two minutes, Alistar walked towards the gate before placing his right palm at its center and muttering. "It's time to see the Art he left behind."