Avince exhaled slowly, his fingers absently tracing the smooth surface of the amulet that hung around his neck. He was preparing to use his ability again, but this time there was an edge of anticipation in his movements. The next material he needed was the Ignis Core—the most crucial component of the potion according to the recipe. While the Fireleaf and Emberhorn resin had been conveniently found in the same location, this next item would prove more challenging, as it could only be obtained from killing monsters.
Taking another deep breath, he closed his eyes and settled into a comfortable stance. His consciousness reached out like tendrils of thought searching through space, gently nudging his ability toward dungeons where Ignis Cores might be found. The response was almost immediate—a powerful pull that made his spiritual sense tingle. His consciousness latched onto a dungeon entrance with great precision, and suddenly, his mind was flooded with impressions of what lay within.
A molten cavern materialized in his mind's eye—a place where the very air shimmered with heat. Rivers of lava carved paths through ancient stone, their golden-red glow casting dancing shadows on crystalline walls. The concentration of fire mana was so thick it felt almost liquid, pressing against his spiritual senses like a physical weight.
His brow furrowed as recognition sparked in his mind.
The familiar pressure of the dungeon's aura stirred some recent memories—vivid recollections of a time when he and his father had ventured into the volcanic region of Ignis. The similarity was uncanny. Could his ability have somehow connected him to one of the dungeons in that same region? The magical signature certainly matched what he remembered of that dangerous place.
Just as he was about to fully commit to the transfer, allowing his ability to pull him inside, his instincts screamed a warning. Something felt wrong. The dungeon's presence wasn't just overwhelming because of its environmental conditions—there was something else, something that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.
Knowing when to trust his instinct, Avince forcefully halted the transfer process, his fingers clenching as he fought against the pull. Instead of retreating completely, he pushed his ability further, trying to get a more detailed read of the dungeon's essence. It was like attempting to swim through wet sand—each spiritual step forward required intense concentration and effort. But after several minutes of careful probing, the issue revealed itself with crystal clarity.
This wasn't just any dungeon. This was a B-rank dungeon—and a particularly powerful one at that.
His expression darkened as the implications sank in. "Damn," he muttered under his breath.
B-rank dungeons were entirely different beasts from what he typically dealt with. They were the kind of places where even small mistakes could prove fatal. The memory of his previous experience with his father in such a dungeon rose unbidden—a stark reminder of just how dangerous these places could be. Even with his current strength, entering one without proper preparation would be foolish at best, suicidal at worst.
Instinctively, he tried to redirect his ability, searching for a weaker dungeon that might still contain the Ignis core. But it was futile—like trying to grab smoke with bare hands. No matter how he adjusted his focus or changed his approach, no alternatives presented themselves.
Frowning, he pulled out his phone and began a thorough research. It didn't take long to confirm what he had begun to suspect: Ignis Cores were exclusively obtained from B-rank or higher fire-type monsters. They weren't simply monster cores—they were specialized mutations that only occurred when powerful fire monsters were exposed to concentrated lava mana over extended periods. The realization explained why his ability couldn't locate an easier alternative—there simply weren't any lower-ranked dungeons that could produce what he needed.
He clicked his tongue in frustration. "Well, that's certainly an issue." He ran a hand through his hair, considering his options. "Guess I'll have to tackle this one later."
With no other choice, he shifted his focus to the remaining two materials on his list—the Flame Serpent Scale and the Sunbloom Flower. Perhaps he could at least make progress with those while he figured out how to handle the B-rank dungeon situation.
Once again, he reached out with his ability, this time seeking a dungeon where both materials could be found. The shift was immediate and dramatic—the oppressive heat of the lava dungeon gave way to a different kind of warmth. As the new location came into focus, an endless expanse of rolling dunes stretched before him beneath a merciless sun, the sand glittering like countless tiny mirrors under the harsh sunlight.
Before taking his first step into this new environment, he conducted a quick search on his phone, determined not to walk in blind. To his surprise, he found the exact dungeon listed online. The information was reassuring—the dungeon’s boss was a Desert Anaconda, an early C-rank monster. The rest of the dungeon's inhabitants consisted mainly of D-rank desert scorpions and fire serpents, all well within his capabilities to handle.
Yet, this discovery only deepened his suspicion. Had his ability found another dungeon that existed in his world?
Shaking off the thought for now, he activated his ability once more, getting a rough sense of the dungeon’s layout. Though the dunes stretched endlessly in every direction, he could feel a subtle pull guiding him toward his objectives. With his path clear, he set off across the desert.
The first engagement came quickly. A group of desert scorpions burst from beneath the sand, their chitinous bodies nearly invisible against the golden backdrop. But thanks to his ability, Avince sensed their presence before they could spring their ambush. As the creatures lunged, he reacted instantly—his right hand shifted, flesh flowing like quicksilver until it was completely covered in a metallic sheen.
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Even with the silver transformation to increase his control and attempt to dampen his power, he could feel his magic straining against his control as he channeled it. The lightning bolt he cast was still more powerful than he'd intended, shattering the scorpions' carapaces with explosive force rather than the clean strikes he'd aimed for.
"Still too much," he muttered, flexing his silver-coated fingers. Despite his efforts to moderate his strength, his magic remained difficult to fine-tune. At least the creatures were defeated, even if not as elegantly as he'd hoped.
He took a moment to collect the fallen scorpions. Each of their sacs only contained a few drops of poison, but at one million Alliance Credits per liter, it was worth the effort. He carefully stored the intact bodies in his storage space.
As he continued his trek across the dunes, he encountered his next targets—fire serpents. Their bodies glowed like living embers as they slithered across the sand, leaving trails of heat-warped glass in their wake. These were the creatures he needed for their scales..
Unfortunately, the market for fire serpent scales was nonexistent. It seems like alchemy and forging experts still haven’t found any use of them. Their meat, while edible, wasn’t particularly valuable either, selling for a mere 250 Alliance credits per kilogram.
Before engaging each group, he would transform his hand to silver, the metallic sheen reflecting the desert sun. Despite this precaution, his spells still packed more punch than necessary. What should have been precise strikes often resulted in unnecessarily powerful bolts that left small patches of glass where they struck the sand.
He collected the serpents' entire corpses, knowing that proper harvesting required expertise he didn't possess. Better to preserve the materials intact than risk ruining valuable resources through inexperience.
Along his path, he discovered additional materials. Clusters of Spindlethorn Cacti dotted the landscape, their water-filled flesh worth five hundred Alliance Credits each. While not especially valuable, their practical utility made them worth collecting as they allow a fully grown man to not need water for a day. He also found patches of Fireblooms, their vibrant red petals adding splashes of color to the monotonous desert landscape. Though similar in appearance to the Sunbloom he sought, these common flowers were worth only five hundred credits each compared to the Sunbloom's half-million credit value.
Hours passed as he made his way through the desert, his ability steadily guiding him toward the oasis where the Sunbloom would be found. The sun beat down mercilessly, but he maintained a steady pace, gathering resources as he went.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of trudging through sand, he crested a dune and saw it—a large body of water shimmering like a mirror in the desert heat. The oasis. And with it, the certainty that the dungeon's boss was near.
Avince approached cautiously, his hand already slowly transforming into silver as he prepared himself. He felt the air pressure change, and the water's surface rippled ominously. He barely had time to brace himself before a massive snake erupted from the depths.
The Desert Anaconda burst forth in a spray of water, its scales shimmering like molten bronze in the harsh sunlight. Its body was easily as thick as a mature tree trunk, and its length, nearly 15 meters, seemed to go on forever as it rose higher and higher into the air. This was what the C-rank monster looked like—impressive, but not overwhelming
The serpent's hiss filled the air like steam escaping a pressure valve as it coiled its massive body, preparing to strike. Avince remained calm, channeling mana through his silver-coated hand, trying to moderate the flow of power.
The anaconda struck with frightening speed, but Avince was ready. He raised his transformed hand, and despite his attempt at restraint, he felt his magic surge forth with tremendous force. The lightning bolt that emerged was far more powerful than he'd intended, crackling through the air with the sound of a thousand birds taking flight.
The spell struck the serpent directly in its open maw, and the effect was spectacular—perhaps too spectacular. The anaconda's entire body lit up like a lightning rod, electricity arcing between its scales as it convulsed violently. The smell of charred flesh filled the air, and in less than a second, the mighty creature crashed to the sand, its body still smoking from the overwhelming force of the attack.
Avince stared at his silver hand, flexing the fingers with a mixture of frustration and resignation. "Still can't get it quite right," he muttered. Even with the transformation, his power was proving difficult to rein in. What should have been a clean kill had turned into something approaching overkill.
With the boss defeated, he turned his attention to his true objective. There, in the heart of the oasis, surrounded by crystal-clear water, stood a single Sunbloom Flower. Its petals seemed to capture and amplify the desert sunlight, creating a gentle golden glow that made the half-million credit price tag seem almost reasonable.
He spared a glance at the massive corpse of the Desert Anaconda. Unfortunately, it held little value—its meat could be sold for a mere 500 Alliance credits per kilo, hardly worth the effort of processing and selling. Sighing, he attempted to store the massive serpent in his storage space, only to feel resistance. The sheer size of the creature strained the limits of his spatial storage, making it clear that forcing it inside would be more trouble than it was worth.
However, his gaze shifted to the anaconda’s fangs—massive, curved, and unsurprisingly sharp. He recalled that a pair of Desert Anaconda fangs could fetch well over 100,000 Alliance credits. Now that was worth the effort.
Retrieving his axe, he set to work. With practiced precision, he carefully extracted both fangs before leaving the rest of the corpse behind.
With the fangs secured, he turned his attention back to the Sunbloom Flower. He approached cautiously, mindful of its delicate structure. The petals shimmered under the desert sun, their golden glow seeming to respond to his presence. With steady hands, he plucked the rare flower and stored it away with even greater care than he had used for all his other gathered materials combined.
His desert expedition was complete. But even as he prepared to leave, his thoughts lingered on the next challenge—the B-rank dungeon and the Ignis Core he still needed. That, however, was a problem for another time.
As he prepared to leave, he took one last look at his hand, now back to its normal flesh. The metallic sheen had fully receded, but the lingering sensation of power remained, thrumming beneath his skin. With a quiet breath, he willed the transformation once more. Silver spread across his fingers, the reflective surface catching the desert sunlight in a dull gleam.
The power thrumming through his body showed no signs of becoming easier to control even with the transformation, but at least he was making progress in finding ways to manage it. Small steps, he reminded himself, were still steps forward.
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