Chapter 212 Chapter210-News from the Master Craftsman
"Henry Powell?"
Upon hearing this name, a jolt of surprise struck Ethan's heart.
Sometimes, joy arrives unexpectedly, catching one off guard.
However, given the current circumstances, it was not the right moment to inquire about Henry Powell.
Instead, Ethan cautiously probed for information about the entity referred to as the Angry Dragon Haviss.
"Why not choose to eliminate it while it is trapped?" Ethan voiced the doubts harboring in his mind.
Hearing this question, Apothecary Old John gave a slight smile, while Eileen took the initiative to answer, "Quite simply, because we can't. The Angry Dragon is an immensely powerful dragon, immune to ordinary magic and far beyond the harm of physical weapons."
"Therefore, the only option was to trap Angry Dragon Haviss, allowing its life force to gradually diminish."
"But unexpectedly, Haviss has absorbed the power of the magma."
Learning from her teacher about the imminent escape of Angry Dragon Haviss, a deep despair enveloped Eileen's heart. Was Maya City destined for destruction?
In stark contrast to the desperate Eileen, Ethan seemed somewhat eager, contemplating that the Angry Dragon could potentially be a formidable adversary.
Of course, such thoughts were not to be voiced at this moment.
Ethan refrained from asking more about the Angry Dragon, steering the conversation back to the predicament of the soldiers at the front lines.
"In that case, what plans are there for the troops stationed at the front?" he queried.
"The commanding officer must have a plan," Eileen asserted, adding, "Even if Angry Dragon Haviss intends to break free, it won't happen in a few days. We have at least half a year to organize the evacuation of the civilians."
She spoke based on the information provided by her teacher, despite not being privy to the latest updates.
Continuing, Eileen said, "Black Dragon, originally I wanted to have you assist with your Holy Light, experimenting alongside the professor. But now, with this significant turn of events at the front, you might need to accompany me there. There certainly would be many soldiers in need of healing." Her voice carried a plea.
Ethan nodded in agreement, recognizing that heading to the front lines had been his initial intention all along.
"No problem."
After Ethan agreed, Apothecary Old John also spoke, "Eileen, I will go to the front lines with you. Once Angry Dragon Haviss breaks free, my experiments here will be unable to proceed. Moreover, some of the potions I am currently crafting need to be tested on those monsters."
"Let's set off tomorrow morning then."
Having set a plan, Eileen, accompanied by Ethan, left the southern prison of Maya City.
During the journey back, Eileen wasn't in the best of spirits.
Seeing this, Ethan smiled and reassured her, "Captain Eileen, you really shouldn't worry too much. Perhaps someone will step forward to take down the Angry Dragon. For instance, me." Ethan pointed to himself.
At this, Eileen couldn't help but smile, her mood slightly lifted.
She teased, "While your mastery of Holy Light is indeed exceptional, the idea of defeating Angry Dragon Haviss is still far-fetched. However, if it were Lana Mokos, there might be a slim chance..."
Mentioning that woman caused Eileen's tone to become somber.
It was undeniable that Lana had left a profound impression on the people at the front lines.
Choosing not to argue about his capacity to defeat the Angry Dragon, Ethan remained silent, confident that he would find a way to prove himself on the front lines.
...
In the central urban area of Maya City, a myriad of shops lined the streets with people from various tribes mingling and trading with each other.
Here, one could also find individuals selling information and illicit materials.
"Are there really no more materials available?"
Dark Lord Rock stood at the entrance of a shop, addressing a somewhat frail-looking man.
The man appeared distressed as he reiterated, "Sir, there really are none left. The monster claws, eyeballs, and the Rock Essence you seek can only be obtained from monsters, but the recent battles at the front lines have not been favorable, yielding few monster spoils."
"Moreover, there is considerable risk involved."
"You came to us knowing that the goods we handle are secretly extracted from the war trophy warehouses at the front lines. If discovered, the repercussions would be severe." The frail man's words left Dark Lord Rock somewhat disheartened.
After learning about the Hot Spring Ruins, Dark Lord Rock had made ample preparations, acquainting himself with every detail of the trial and securing startling information: the final trial for all was identical, leading them to Maya City for a fourteen-day survival quest.
Fortuitously, Dark Lord Rock had slain a rival who had completed the trial, acquiring a special potion formula in the process.
[Volcano Potion Recipe]
[Grade: Epic]
[Required materials: monster claw50, monster eyeball50, Rock Essence*10, Fountain of Life]
[Preparation: Grind the claws and monster eyeballs into powder, and blend with Rock Essence and Fountain of Life to form a paste.]
[Potion effect: Applying the Volcano paste to the skin grants a permanent Power of Lava.]
Dark Lord Rock was instantly captivated by the mentioned Power of Lava.
It should be known that Dark Lord Rock's true identity was that of a mountain giant, possessing tremendous defensive capabilities, rendering almost everyone of the same level incapable of harming him. Yet, there were exceptions.
Lava had the potency to melt mountains and rivers, naturally posing a threat to Dark Lord Rock.
But what if he could obtain the Power of Lava?
The very thought electrified him, knowing that commanding the Power of Lava not only would eliminate his vulnerability to molten rock but could even elevate his bloodline, transforming him into a lava mountain giant.
This aspiration propelled Dark Lord Rock's expedition to the Hot Spring Ruins, where the materials could only be sourced from Maya City.
Unexpectedly, the one secret channel he relied upon had run out of supplies.
"Is there any other way to obtain the materials?" A frantic Dark Lord Rock inquired.
The frail man shook his head, "Sir, these monster materials are strictly controlled in Maya City. If you are indeed desperate, perhaps you could try your luck outside the city; there might be individuals possessing monster materials. Alternatively, you could head directly to the front lines."
The suggestion propelled Dark Lord Rock into deep contemplation.
Venturing outside the city was perilous without the shielding embrace of Maya City's formidable walls, leaving one susceptible to monster attacks.
Conversely, the front lines appeared somewhat safer.
"It seems I have no choice but to take a trip to the front lines," Dark Lord Rock mumbled to himself, a resolution firming in his heart.
And he was not alone in this resolution; many within the city arrived at the same conclusion.
After all, slaying monsters to earn points remained a coveted pursuit for many.
...
In the military camp of Maya City, seeing Ethan return with Eileen, Sherry immediately approached to greet them.
"Don't worry, I didn't let anything happen to him."
Witnessing Sherry's urgency, Eileen couldn't help but jest with a smile.
Subsequently, Eileen summoned the other key figures in the camp, issuing commands one by one.
She appointed her former assistant as the acting battalion leader to manage the camp's affairs during her time on the front lines.
After making all necessary arrangements, the next day saw Eileen leading Ethan, Sherry, and a host of soldiers on their way.
As for Old Apothecary John, due to his requisites of preparing reagents, he would follow behind the main force, accompanied by soldiers assigned to transport the supplies.
En route, Eileen elaborated once again on the conditions at the front lines.
The forefront was situated on a plain several dozen kilometers away from Maya City, where soldiers had constructed a trench fortified with numerous defense installations.
Slightly behind the very front, there laid the command post and the resting place for the troops.
Inside the command post, tens of Beast Crossbows stood ready, serving as essential weaponry against the monsters and a critical assurance to hold the defensive line against the monstrous onslaught.
However, the current situation was far from encouraging.
The journey to the front lines demanded several hours.
After Eileen finished her depiction of the circumstances there, a silence enveloped them, with the atmosphere turning notably somber and serious.
Seizing the moment, Ethan inquired about news concerning Henry Powell.
"Commander Eileen, old John mentioned Henry Powell yesterday. Do you have any information about the master blacksmith?" Ethan asked straightforwardly.
"Ah?"
It took a moment for Eileen to grasp Ethan's query.
Once she affirmed that it was information regarding Henry Powell he was seeking, she replied candidly, "I'm not quite sure about the whereabouts of Henry Powell. After arriving here three years ago, he stayed for only two months before leaving, apparently unable to find what he was looking for in Maya City."
"I see..."
A slight disappointment shaded Ethan's response.
"Are you looking for Henry Powell for forging purposes?" Eileen probed further.
"Yes. I have a vitally important item in my possession that requires forging, and I was told that only Henry Powell could do it," Ethan responded truthfully.
Eileen nodded, detecting the disappointment on Ethan's face. She chuckled reassuringly, "Black Dragon, while I don't know where Henry Powell ventured to, there is someone who undoubtedly does."
"Who?"
"Commander Lady Rhine," Eileen asserted with confidence.
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