Chapter 23: Warlock Pathway
"Yes. We took out its magic stone, but found something... unusual," Athena said, retrieving a thumb-sized, pale green crystal from her pouch and holding it up to the light.
"Instead of the usual orange hue, it's entirely different. And it's only the size of an Intermediate Rank Magic Stone."
Raven studied the gem, then shook his head slightly. "It's not that strange at first glance, sister. Normally, a magic stone just contains condensed mana. The higher the Rank, the purer the mana. But once a monster evolves into a Magical Beast, its magic stone transforms based on its elemental affinity—it becomes what's known as an elemental stone."
He paused, letting the words sink in before continuing calmly, "But the thing in your hand? It's neither. Alchemists refer to these as Hybrid Mana Stones. They aren't as valuable as pure elemental stones, but they're still worth a lot—I'd estimate around five hundred gold coins in today's market."
Athena's eyes widened. "Five hundred gold?!"
She took a sharp breath, steadying her racing heart. Before she could say more, soft footsteps approached. Shirley had returned, walking quietly toward them, her presence calm and grounded.
"You look healthier than before," she remarked with a small smile, handing over a bundle of over ten delicate crystal vials to Athena.
"What are these for, Aunt?" Athena asked, puzzled.
"I bought them from a shop in the Black Alley. Supposedly, they help preserve materials for over a week," Shirley replied. Then, without missing a beat, she bent down and gently lifted Raven into her arms.
"So? What happened?"
Raven forced a small smile, repeating the words Zera had advised him to say.
"It's a spell from my teacher, Aunt. Earlier, he helped me extract part of the Orc's life essence to strengthen my soul. Because of that, my lifespan's been extended—by twelve years."
Athena jolted. "What?! Your teacher was there? Why didn't we see him?"
Then her eyes sharpened, remembering his last words. "Wait... you said your lifespan increased by absorbing the Orc's blood? Does that mean... your teacher can heal your injured soul?"
Her voice had dropped to a whisper, laced with restrained hope. She turned to Shirley, searching for answers.
But Shirley met her gaze with steady seriousness. "Athena, don't ask too many questions about his teacher. He may be far more powerful than any wizard we've ever known—and might not want to draw attention. The important thing is… there's hope for Raven now. That's all that matters."
She turned to Raven, gently patting his head. "Now, tell us, which parts of the Orc are valuable?"
Raven nodded. "After the Magic Stone, the most important part is its blood. But I already extracted all of it while taking the life essence. So, the next important components are the eyeballs. Inside them, you'll find a hexagonal crystal called a Feral Eye Crystal. They're used to create a potion called Night Walking Vial. It permanently enhances night vision and slightly boosts perception."
Athena blinked. "You mean… we'll be able to see in the dark like it's day?"
"Not completely, but close," Raven replied. "The potion won't be as effective as regular low-rank ones, but for any mortal Knight, it's an incredibly valuable skill potion."
He continued in a calm, instructor-like tone, "The next item is the Trollsbane Glands—two sac-like organs near the throat. They're used in making a potion called Nullify Regeneration, which is especially useful against regenerative creatures like lizardfolk. The glands can also be processed into a reagent used to make anti-regeneration weapons—unique low-rank artifacts."
"And lastly," he said, eyes glinting faintly, "the Orc Commander's bones. Especially the thigh bones—they're dense with magical essence. Any beginner Rune Mage could use them to forge a low-rank artifact sword for Knights."
Shirley raised an eyebrow. "You've learned quite a bit about alchemy from your teacher, haven't you?"
She leaned back thoughtfully. "So? What should we do with these materials? Keep them and make potions? Or sell them?"
Raven hesitated, then asked inwardly, Zera, what do we do?
[You can make the Night Walking Vial for yourself. But the other materials—particularly the bones—carry risks. Orc-crafted weapons carry an aura that could attract other Orcs. If there's an Orc Nation hiding in Mirage Forest, they'll track down anything tainted by their kin. We don't want another invasion. For now, tell your aunt to dismantle and store the materials. We'll decide what to do later.]
'Got it.'
"I'll guide you through the dismantling, Aunt. If you follow my instructions, it'll be easier to extract the important parts."
Shirley and Athena nodded. With Raven's directions, they began the careful process. First, the eyes and Feral Eye Crystals, then the Trollsbane Glands, and finally the Thigh Bones—all carefully stored in the preservation vials.
When they were finished, Raven looked at the mutilated corpse with a solemn expression.
"The rest isn't worth much, Aunt. Also, my teacher said the corpse must be burned. Not buried."
"Burned?" Shirley asked, surprised.
"This Orc wasn't just a monster. It had a connection to something stronger. If we leave any trace, it could be tracked. We need to burn everything before a higher-ranked monster notices."
Shirley's expression grew grim. "Understood."
"As for the materials we extracted," Raven added, "we should sell them separately. Sell the Trollsbane Glands and Thigh Bones discreetly at the Royal Auction House—they're valuable to mortals, but shouldn't attract attention from wizards or the Royal Family."
"And the Hybrid Mana Stone? And the Feral Eye Crystals?"
"Keep them for now. They don't carry the Orc's aura and won't spoil. In a few years, we can sell them—or use them ourselves."
"Alright," Shirley said, decisive. She left briefly and returned with workers from the Administrative Department and two carts. They transported the corpse out of the town's walls and burned it at the edge of the Mirage Woodland.
With the remains destroyed and the valuables hidden in the storeroom, Raven finally returned to his bedroom. He lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling.
"I've got extra years now. I don't need to worry about dying soon, right? So… what's next?"
[Before anything else, we need to talk about Class. For mortals, choosing a class is like choosing their destiny.]
'You mean Acolyte Warlock? I got regeneration from that. Isn't it just as good as being a wizard?'
[It is powerful, Raven. But there's a difference. Wizards comprehend nature's laws through elemental affinity. They craft spell models and seek knowledge. Warlocks, on the other hand... they plunder. They take bloodlines and make them their own. Wizardry is soul-based. Warlocks use bloodline spells, enhancing the body. The more you devour, the more monstrous you become.]
Raven's expression tensed. "I… have to kill to grow stronger?"
[If you want power, yes. Even Knights and Wizards must kill to survive. The path of strength is painted in blood. But your gift—the Bloodline Devouring System—lets you absorb multiple bloodlines. Fuse them. Become something unique. Something powerful.]
[Let's talk about bloodlines. In this vast universe, there are countless races—humans, goblins, kobolds, elves, dragons, phoenixes… even Seraphs. Each race has a unique bloodline, full of potential. Ancient humans could shapeshift, predict the future, deceive reality itself. Elves control dreams and nature. Magical beasts hold incredible powers in their flesh.]
[And now, so can you.]