[Vol. 7] Chapter 148: The Final Preparations
"Huh? Oh... yeah, you're right..."
If they had kept fighting, the arena might have collapsed under the pressure before either of them could win. Worse, it could have even damaged the school building above, causing a serious disaster.
Realizing this, the [Magic Rock] boy scratched his head and let out a sheepish laugh, nodding in agreement.
At least he wasn’t getting carried away just because he’d suddenly gained an overpowered boost. He still knew how to hold back, which was exactly what Violet had expected.
After all, she never actually expected that a single dose of [Tears of Light] would let Yogg, a [Magic Rock] youth defeat small Xiao Guang.
Sure, this magic potion was incredibly powerful, but its effects weren’t unlimited.
To ensure safety and reduce the physical burden on the user, the potion’s enhancement effect was actually weaker than the raw liquid version that Hongyan had once directly consumed.
Meanwhile, Xiao Guang, even though she was still just a young divine hatchling, already had Lv. 70 power in her normal state.
If she went all out, she could even briefly rival a god’s avatar in combat.
So it didn’t matter if Yogg was a talented young warrior, even a fully grown [Magic Rock] fighter wouldn’t be able to defeat her, even with the potion’s boost.
From the start, he was never meant to win. He was just a training dummy. And of course, Violet wasn’t the type to randomly pick people to test potions on.
[Tears of Light] was a highly dangerous substance in many ways, so even for experiments, she had to choose her test subjects carefully.
Now that the [Light Protection] barrier was lifted, the priestess clapped her hands, snapping everyone out of their shock.
"See? Nothing is truly impossible. The first lesson today is about confidence.”
“Learn to assess your opponent’s strength rationally, instead of blindly fearing them and losing your will to fight. Hmm... just to be safe, Yogg, are you feeling any discomfort?"
The [Magic Rock] boy deactivated his [Petrified Skin] ability, then pounded his chest loudly with full energy.
"Nope! Lady Violet, I feel amazing! I could fight ten more rounds!"
"Maybe put some clothes on before saying that..."
"Oh!"
With a goofy nod, Yogg quickly ran to the side, pulled a fresh school uniform from his bag, and put it on.
It was clear he had prepared plenty of spares, almost as if he was used to his clothes getting shredded in battle.
While he was getting dressed, Priscilla took the chance to discreetly ask the black-haired girl a question.
"Miss Violet, that potion... what exactly is it? I've never seen a drug that can boost strength so drastically in such a short time. Not even those life-burning forbidden potions can achieve such an absurd effect. Are you really sure it has no side effects?"
"Oh? Weren't you the one who didn't believe it before~?"
The priestess teased her with a playful smile, but Priscilla wasn’t amused.
Ignoring the students still chattering excitedly, the red-haired beauty immediately responded with a serious expression.
"It's exactly because I couldn't believe it until I saw it with my own eyes that this is so concerning.”
“If this potion truly lets anyone multiply their power several times over, even if just for a short period... then it's one of the most groundbreaking discoveries in magical alchemy.”
“No, it's a miracle drug that could reshape the entire world order."
She locked eyes with Violet, her gaze sharp and unwavering.
"Do you understand what this means? Right now, only we and these students have seen it, so maybe we can keep it under wraps for now. But if its effects become widely known..."
Violet studied Priscilla's genuine concern for a moment before nodding thoughtfully.
"You've heard of the Spirit Veil Merchant Guild, right?"
"They possess countless treasures so rare and powerful that people would go mad with greed just to get their hands on them. Yet, every time they hold an auction, even nation-level powers flock to them. Not to rob, but to bid.”
“And do you know why? Because those who tried to steal from them... are either rotting in prison or buried six feet under. You understand what I’m saying, don’t you?"
Priscilla frowned slightly, clearly not entirely convinced by this reasoning.
"I know you're strong, Miss Violet. But at the end of the day, you're still just one person. You don't have any powerful organization backing you. No matter how strong an individual is, they always have weaknesses that can be exploited. Compared to a well-structured and massive group like that..."
The black-haired girl waved her hand, cutting off the argument, or rather the warning. She smiled casually.
"Alright, alright, I know you mean well, but don’t worry about it."
"A potion like this was created to be used sooner or later. Sure, its power might bring some trouble, but as long as it's handled properly, it will bring far more benefits than problems. If it has a proper 'source' and a limited supply, the concerns you mentioned will be greatly reduced. Remember the Spirit Veil Merchant Guild I mentioned earlier?"
At those words, Priscilla’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"So you're planning to..."
Violet nodded but didn’t confirm or deny the guess. Instead, she clapped her hands again, drawing the students’ attention back to her. With a smile, she spoke.
"Alright, everyone. I know you have a lot of questions and curiosity. That demonstration just now was to show you that I have the ability to make you stronger."
"Of course, something like what happened with Yogg won’t happen instantly or last forever. But if you put in the effort, you will see real improvements."
"The exchange matches with other academies are coming up soon. I'll be giving you some special training before then. It won’t take too long, but how much you learn during that time is entirely up to you."
……………………………………
Meanwhile, as the training at Sainz Academy was in full swing, far away in Lannas Province, deep within the [Morst Underground Labyrinth]…
As one of the three largest known dungeons in the world, the [Morst] Labyrinth had been a prime destination for adventurers, mercenaries, and scholars ever since it was unearthed centuries ago.
Of course, calling it a "treasure trove" was a bit misleading, because while treasures could be found, there were far more monsters and dangers lurking within. In fact, "a death trap" might be a more accurate description.
Aside from its twisting, labyrinth-like terrain and countless deadly traps left behind by unknown hands, the [Morst Underground Labyrinth] is also home to countless ferocious beasts, monsters, venomous creatures, and even undead.
In fact, over 70% of the dangerous species known to modern scholars can be found somewhere within this dungeon, making it almost like a living encyclopedia of deadly creatures.
One of the most distinctive features of the monsters in [Morst] is that they are completely incapable of communication. None of them belong to an intelligent species or have any form of civilization. They are all purely instinct-driven predators.
No one knows where all these creatures come from. Despite centuries of continuous extermination efforts, the number of monsters has never decreased, as if the labyrinth is connected to some endless dimension that keeps spawning more.
Because of its incredible biodiversity, the dungeon is an ideal hunting ground for the strong who seek rare materials, as well as a research paradise for scholars studying various species. If one is lucky, they might even discover precious artifacts and rare equipment hidden inside special monsters or secret chambers. Some adventurers have even struck it rich overnight this way.
Of course, that’s only if they don’t end up as a monster’s next meal first.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the [Morst] Labyrinth is that it's not only massive in width but also shockingly deep, with a layered structure that extends down seemingly forever. The deeper one ventures, the stronger the monsters become.
That also means rarer materials, more powerful magical weapons, and of course, even greater danger.
Most ordinary explorers tend to stick to the first ten layers, rarely daring to go deeper. Even a well-prepared, fully equipped team of adventurers or mercenaries will struggle to break past the 20th floor, which is widely considered a major threshold.
That’s because beyond the 20th layer, monsters or beasts as strong as legendary warriors, begin to appear. While these creatures may not be as tactically skilled or well-equipped as true legendary fighters, they aren’t something just anyone can take down.
Since the labyrinth's discovery, the deepest officially recorded expedition reached the 43rd floor, a feat accomplished over 300 years ago by a group of mysterious elite warriors.
According to their reports, the monsters on that floor were almost all sky-level, with the constant risk of encountering legendary-level creatures or even beings on par with mythical entities. Even they were forced to retreat at that point.