More Logs and the Birth of the A-Series

Year 4, Month 5, Day 9, Hour 16.

This experiment... I've been working on it for 3 Years and 3 Months.

Since the last time my creations were rejected for being 'not good enough' I have been working on something extraordinary.

A simple drug that enhances the abilities of the user. Not just Stats, but Skills and Arts as well.

Well, I say it's simple but honestly, it's one of my best works.

The only side effect now is a shortened life span of approximately 5 - 8 years if our calculations are correct.

The effects are definitely permanent, till now I have not seen any decline in ability from the test subjects.

After diving into the idea of using drugs, half of my team left. Half of my trusted companions left in fear that we might just make something that should not be made.

...I was disappointed by their lack of resolve.

Now, they all rest eternally at the graveyard on the castle's side.

Not a good place for a graveyard but I digress.

My invention... at first it was just poison but as the saying goes: All medicine is poison.

In turn, all poison is medicine.

Or I at least think that's how the saying goes.

Nevermind.

The drug at the first stage could enhance physical prowess by a small margin but it also killed the consumer in a matter of minutes.

It was made from rare Silver Summer Snake Blood and Basilisk Poison.

Maybe too many ingredients relating to poison, I see that now.

But since we got those rare ingredients, of course, I'm going to use them.

The second stage of the drug worked better. The subject would stay alive for an hour or two at most before their heart stops and they slowly turn to dry husks.

The increase in power now worked on not only physical aspects but also mana related aspects.

It took me about 4 months to get to the second phase.

In comparison, it's really fast compared to phase three and phase four which took me 2 years and 8 months.

The differences between phases two and three were clear.

The subject could survive for a week at most while increasing their battle proficiency by about 30-70%.

If an Immortal rank soldier used this, just how terrifying would they be?

But It was still not ready in my eyes.

I knew that the royals would take the method of production and ready-made drugs but then still send me back to my lab saying it wasn't good enough.

So I started work on phase four the moment the effects of phase three were recorded.

After many long days in the lab, mostly alone, I finished the product.

Phase Four Enhancement.

Since the consumer dying was a big flaw, I planned to use something in compensation for the lost life.

For that, I used life itself.

By using an extremely rare youth elixir found from a pond at the top of a neighbouring kingdoms mountain range and a large dose of Silver Summer Snake Blood and some crushed scales from the unknown creature that we previously used for weapons, the heart of the consumer would be strengthened and refined in exchange for your lifespan.

A good trade.

I was proud. Very, very proud of my finished product.

It had essentially no flaws and I finished it practically all on my own.

I took it to get examined by the Royalty.

...

'Not good enough.'

'Not perfected.'

'Lifespan is something that should not be traded.'

That... THAT GATHERING OF INFIDELS!

My perfect creation. Yet they try to make me share the glory and payment with the ingrates that did nothing but disrupt my work and sleep on their asses!

They said it wasn't a worthy sacrifice and pushed me to work on something else.

Fine!

I'll show you something else!

End of Log 2.

...

Year 4, Month 7, Day 22, Hour 3.

I made something. Something new.

I told my 'colleagues' I would be late for work.

I set up a bomb.

They'll learn. Taking the glory of my own creation. Oh, they'll learn.

End of Log 3.

...

Year 4, Month 7, Day 22, Hour 4.

I heard an explosion.

End of Log 4.

...

Year 4, Month 7, Day 22, Hour 9.

I went to talk with the Royals.

I told them that a product I was working on had malfunctioned when I was not there.

I blamed my incompetent colleagues and requested more monetary assistance and new co-workers.

I received a slap on the wrist for being late to the job but my requests were accepted.

My new team was better. They had the same mindset as me.

Now... I just had a great Idea.

If we can't make soldiers stronger, we'll just have to Make Strong Soldiers.

I'll propose this idea to the royals and my new team tomorrow.

End of Log 5.

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Log 6. Empty.

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Log 7. Empty.

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Log 8. Empty.

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Log 9...

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Log 10.

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Log 22.

Year 5, Month 2, Day 9, Hour 18.

I commemorate this log entry to our first success.

A-Series Subject 22, hereby known as A-022.

...

Meanwhile, under a certain tree on a certain hill.

There was no blood, no corpse. Only pollen in the wind.

In the ground, beneath the flowers and dirt, is a skull. Its outline barely visible.