v2c14: The Best Laid Plans…
“Flora, could you pass me that red potion? Thanks.”
Rebecca, her movements precise and efficient, worked on brewing another potion, this time an antidote for the toxin in this world’s air. The process was far more complex than the one she had used to revitalize her body, but it gave her an opportunity to recount her experiences in this world. Abyss stood behind her, assisting her, their movements synchronized despite their recent acquaintance. Perhaps it was due to the necromantic link, or perhaps Rebecca’s genius intellect allowed her to adapt quickly. Leona, having completed the tasks Rebecca had assigned her, grinding the ingredients into fine powder and meticulously processing them with her Dou Qi, sat on the ground, her chin resting on her hands, listening intently.
Although her skills were somewhat overkill for such mundane tasks, Leona basked in Rebecca’s praise. Her initial hostility towards Rebecca had dissipated, replaced by a sense of camaraderie. If she had a tail, it would be wagging furiously.
Despite multitasking, Rebecca still had the mental capacity to tell her story.
“Lannis might have told you, I’ve always been fascinated by spatial magic. After years of research, I realized that spatial magic wasn’t something mages could achieve through traditional methods, relying solely on spells and mana.”
“So I developed a new approach—etching magic crystals with potions, then soaking them in other potions to alter their properties, embedding spatial magic within them. My idea was considered unorthodox. Abyss, as a necromancer, you must understand how those ‘righteous’ mages look down on alchemy-assisted magic. But I succeeded. I initially thought these enchanted crystals could help me create a stable and convenient teleportation device, but it exceeded my expectations. It connected me to another world.”
“I was ecstatic. If I could use this technology to access other worlds, I could achieve so much more. Blinded by my success, I immediately began conducting numerous experiments—in secret from Lannis. I knew she wouldn’t approve of my obsession.”
“I used countless magic crystals, countless experiments, and finally achieved my goal. I discovered that this world contained an abundance of natural, high-quality alchemical solvents. It was an alchemist’s paradise. Overjoyed, I used potions to ward off fatigue, working tirelessly to create two devices. You’ve seen them both: the Gateway to the New World and the World Conduit. The inspiration came from my ancestor, but most of the design was my own. Spatial magic didn’t exist in his time.”
“Then, I foolishly entered this alluring world, equipped with everything I thought I might need. I was so naive. I saw only the abundant solvents, assuming this world was uninhabited, unaware that everyone here was already dead… This world is devoid of life, not even microbes remain. It’s completely silent.”
“As you can see, this world is filled with factories, abandoned millennia ago. Even this altar is a factory. The other factories produced various potions, some on a massive scale, with vast stockpiles of ingredients. They could operate continuously once activated. I found one such factory and assembled the other end of the World Conduit there, successfully activating it and sending a steady stream of solvents back to Hai-Teweru. That was the first step of my plan, a complete success.”
“Then… I realized my gas mask wasn’t as effective as I had thought. There’s a toxic element in this world’s air. It affects the mind, inducing suicidal thoughts. And it somehow bypassed my gas mask’s filters.”
Rebecca pointed at the gas mask Abyss was fiddling with, its straps dangling from his fingers.
“The gas mask I brought was better than yours. I activated its isolation function, breathing the stored fresh air, when the toxin’s effects were still mild. But I soon realized that if I didn’t retreat, this mind-altering toxin would kill me. I immediately started assembling a new portal, but… My other two magic crystals inexplicably shattered when I embedded them into the Gateway.”
She sighed.
“With limited air in my gas mask, time was running out. I had been exploring as I traveled, so the factory with the World Conduit was too far away to reach in time. It was the first time I faced a truly desperate situation… I had prepared extra crystals, but the best-laid plans often go awry.”
“I did manage to create an antidote, but I didn’t have enough materials. It wouldn’t last long. I was worried about the last remaining crystal. What if it also shattered? So, instead of retrieving it, I decided to try another approach.”
“I had discovered this factory within the altar. I analyzed the substances they produced here and, using the available materials, created a potion that could induce a temporary death-like state, stopping my breathing for a certain period, allowing me to wait for rescue. If no one came, it would awaken me before my life truly ended, giving me a final chance. It seemed like a safer option. I submerged myself in the potion… But no one came, and for some reason, the potion didn’t wake me up. I died.”
Abyss’s eyes narrowed. Rebecca might have regretted her recklessness, but her preparations had been meticulous. She had stayed up for days, creating an extra magic crystal specifically for unexpected situations. But those situations had occurred repeatedly, cutting off all her escape routes.
Who had guided Rebecca to this world, and who had orchestrated these accidents? Only one suspect came to mind: the Creator God!
Rebecca chuckled wryly. “But it’s alright. At least a necromancer came to rescue me in the end, a kind and gentle one at that.”
“I’m going to try again. I have enough materials now. Once I finish brewing the antidote, we’ll retrieve the last crystal and attempt to return home! But I’m not sure if it’ll still work after all these years. Hopefully, it won’t fail.”
“If that crystal isn’t reliable, can we create more?”
“Do you have magic crystals? No, that won’t work,” Rebecca said, shaking her head. “I need crystals from the Shadowed Depths(Shadowfall Wasteland)—people think they’re useless, that they shatter upon absorbing mana, but they’re actually the key to creating world-traveling crystals. No one would have those.”
“Actually, I have a few,” Abyss said, smiling. “A few thousand, actually. You can have them.”
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