Beside Donovan, Emma's eyes flickered with a storm of emotions—admiration, envy, and an uneasy realization that she was witnessing the rise of a figure who might one day redefine their entire holy sect's understanding of alchemy.
The beauty's rosy lips parted in silent astonishment. Before her, the young man, the very man whose wandering hands had once dared to strip her clothes in that scandalous moment—stood bathed in the golden light of triumph.
Her chest tightened, a traitorous heat rising in her cheeks.
How dare he be this brilliant?
How dare the world cherish him so lavishly when she still remembered the embarrass smirk her squad companion worn while they narrating what happened in that underground chamber.
And yet…
These elixir pills before her was nothing short of miraculous. The way the gem like pill shifted hues, defying nature itself—it was artistry. Genius. Her pride warred with reluctant admiration, her mind a whirlwind of contradictions. She wanted to scorn him, to turn on her heel and deny him even the slightest acknowledgment. But her eyes refused to look away.
Damn him.
She swallowed hard, fingers curling into the silk of her dress. Should she offer measured praise? A cold, dignified nod? Or should she remind him, with one sharp glance, that she had not forgotten his transgression—that no amount of accolades could erase the impertinence he'd shown her?
Once again, Emma felt that familiar uncertainty, just as she had in her naive younger days—when love clouded her mind—and just as in her past life. Her newfound confidence vanished, leaving her torn between the strict expectations of her station and the undeniable pull of awe she couldn't shake. And that, more than anything, infuriated her most of all.
"Senior Brother Valdez," Lordi said, his voice steady and respectful, bowing slightly with the grace of a disciplined cultivator. "I'm glad I've fulfilled my promise to you."
Beneath Lordi's composed exterior, however, he exhaled a shaky breath of relief, his spiritual energy teetering on the brink of total depletion.
"Too fucking close," he thought, his mind flashing to the disastrous possibilities. "A few more breaths, and I'd have been a collapsed, spirit-drained wreck. And if I'd failed? Forget compensating Donovan for those treasure-grade materials—I'd be explaining myself to the Mister First Dominator in the afterlife."
The sheer weight of what he had just accomplished settled on him. The Foundation Establishment Pill was no ordinary elixir—it was a monumental feat, one that even seasoned alchemists approached with trepidation. Had he not broken through to the Seventh Layer of Qi Refinement, had he not devoured the spirit essence of that Foundation Stage Souleater Kodama ghost tree using the Spirit Swallowing Technique, this attempt would have ended in catastrophic failure. The AwfulOS System would have terminated the skill practice mid-process, leaving him with a ruined furnace and a very pissed-off Donovan Valdez.
"Stupid, glitchy piece of Awful scrap," Lordi cursed inwardly. "You better not screw me over next time, or I swear I'll find a way to uninstall you with a fucking hammer."
Too exhausted to even muster his usual one-star negative rating rage, he quickly swallowed another Legendary level Spirit Restore Pill, feeling the warmth of replenished energy spread through his meridians. With practiced ease, he pocketed two of the Foundation Establishment Pills into his storage pouch before turning back to Donovan and Emma, his tone measured and calm.
"As agreed," he said, "Captain Valdez and Junior Sister Dawson—one pill each."
Emma's fingers trembled slightly as she accepted her pill, her usual sharp demeanor softened by unfiltered awe. Before she could speak, however, Donovan's voice cut in—deep, warm, and laced with the rough charm of a rogue.
"You've worked too damn hard, Payne bro," he said, clapping Lordi on the shoulder with a firm but friendly grip. His tone carried the easy authority of a senior brother, but beneath it was genuine concern. "Look, it's still hours until nightfall. Get some rest—we'll plan our next steps later."
Lordi, acutely aware of his near-empty spiritual reserves, knew he was dangerously vulnerable in this state. The only thing keeping his nerves steady was the Hundred-Mile Escape Dao Fulu hidden in his grip—a last-resort treasure that could whisk him away in an instant if things turned sour. No way in hell would he stick around without an exit strategy.
Still, he forced a respectful nod. "Aye, Senior Brother! And thank you for your kind words. I'll recover my spirit energy and meet you both later."
Donovan's smile was kind, almost brotherly, as he proposed, "How about this, bro? Let's regroup under the inner ring gatehouse at moonrise."
After a brief pause, Lordi nodded in agreement, already mentally preparing for the next challenge. With a final respectful bow, he took his leave, moving swiftly toward solitude.
——
The moment Lordi's figure disappeared into the distance, the atmosphere between Donovan and Emma shifted—like the quiet before a storm. Emma had already begun walking away, her steps quick and tense, as if hoping to put space between herself and the man she now realized might be far more dangerous than she'd ever imagined.
But Donovan wasn't about to let her slip away so easily.
"Junior Sister Dawson!" he called out, his voice still warm, still friendly—but now with an edge that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. He caught up to her in a few easy strides, his grin widening as he studied her stiff posture.