Chapter 156: Rebuilding Once More!

"Master Mage!"

Emma's voice was cautious, her demeanor tense as she entered the room.

Merlin opened his eyes, and upon seeing her, a small smile appeared on his face. "Emma, I've called you here because I need your help to mix a potion."

"Mix a potion? But... I don't know how..." Emma initially seemed thrilled but then shook her head, uncertain.

"Not knowing isn't a problem; what matters is attention to detail. I trust you'll be able to do it! Now, time is running out, so let's get started. We need to make this potion as quickly as possible."

Merlin's urgency was evident. The corrosive poison in his body was spreading rapidly; if they could mix an antidote now, it could still be effective. If it spread any further, though, he would be in serious trouble.

The reason he chose Emma to assist him, despite her young age, was that he had detected a latent potential in her: she possessed the basic trait essential to becoming a mage—mental strength. Her mental power far exceeded that of ordinary people, something she herself had not realized, but Merlin, as a mage, had sensed it immediately.

If Emma's mental strength allowed her to focus more intently, she'd have a natural advantage in alchemy and potion-making, even surpassing the average person's skills.

Merlin then retrieved a series of glassware from his ring, each piece crafted for mixing potions. Emma's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she admired the delicate tools, and Merlin chuckled, explaining, "These are used in potion-making. Now, I'll show you the basics."

The potion they were about to prepare was a standard antidote in the Dark Spirit Domain, commonly known as Detox Potion. Though the corrosive toxin within him was potent, Detox Potion was known to be effective against such toxins.

Merlin began by explaining each step to Emma carefully. Using the Matrix No. 7 to ensure precise ingredient ratios and control over each step, Merlin had her repeat the steps multiple times to reinforce the process. Although Emma's first attempts failed due to inexperience, her efforts eventually paid off, and by her fifth try, she succeeded.

When Emma handed Merlin the Detox Potion, he couldn't help but smile.

"Thank you, Emma. You may go now," he said.

Emma, though having spent nearly ten hours on the potion, still appeared lively thanks to her mental resilience. As she turned to leave, Merlin hesitated, then spoke up, "Wait. Take this with you—a guide for mental training. Follow the exercises within."

He handed her a mental training manual—one of the intermediate-level techniques he had once acquired from his mentor, Leo. If Emma could successfully train with it, Merlin wouldn't mind guiding her toward becoming a mage.

But that would come after his recovery. For now, he waved her off, and with Emma gone, Merlin drank the Detox Potion.

The antidote required ingestion, and as he swallowed it, Merlin closed his eyes, waiting for it to take effect.

Two hours later, Merlin began to feel warmth spreading through his body as sweat soaked his clothes. The sweat carried an intense, foul smell, a sign that the corrosive poison was finally being expelled.

Several hours later, he let out a long sigh of relief. The antidote had worked, slowing the poison's spread. A few more doses of Detox Potion, and he could completely rid his body of the toxin.

In the following days, Emma visited daily to help Merlin prepare more Detox Potions, much to the delight of her father, Shebley, who grew increasingly enthusiastic toward Merlin. After taking six doses, Merlin had eliminated all traces of the poison, and he could now move his arm a little.

However, while the toxin was gone, his thigh—where he had gouged out infected flesh—would take at least two more months to heal fully, even with his rapid healing abilities.

※※※

A month passed, and Merlin's leg injury had improved significantly. He could now walk around a bit, which meant he could finally focus on something he'd been planning for a while: constructing his first level-one spell.

The past month had made him acutely aware of his limitations. Despite his vast arsenal of spells, he lacked power. If his opponent countered even a few of his spells, he'd be in a vulnerable position. Now that he had time to rest in Ditas, he planned to address this weakness.

The first spell he chose to construct was not his originally analyzed **Fury of Flame** but instead a defensive spell—**Guardian's Monument**, a solid choice for his skillset.

"Matrix No. 7, begin analyzing the model for 'Guardian's Monument.'"

With a deep breath, Merlin steadied his mind. He had done all the necessary preparations; now, he only needed the optimal spell model. He watched as the Matrix began its calculations.

"Task created, analysis commencing."

With the Matrix diligently processing the spell model, Merlin's mind became calm as he waited for the results.