Chapter 617: Arbitrary Criss-Crossing (13)
“Yes… Yes, I am. My dream is to become a great potion maker.”
The Sorcerer-Apprentice was called Nigra. He was one of the Sorcerer-Apprentice that had often been overlooked and shunned by the rest, but those black eyes of his held a silent spirit of patience and perseverance. This was inconsistent with Grimm’s first impression of him, which was that of impermanence. In fact, it reminded Grimm of the expectations and tolerance he had built while studying the power of his Destructive Force.
“Hmm.”
Grimm paused, and without any indication, he turned his white masked face toward the horizon.
The energy signature from the Hydra Wrath Sorcerer Tower had risen to a fever pitch, it seemed like the battle was reaching its most intense period.
By his side, Nigra stared at the dark, illusory mist that half curled around Grimm’s body, feeling so much excitement that he could not find his voice.
Such a close contact with a powerful Sorcerer, renowned within the academy’s prestigious courses, where only the most elite of Sorcerer-Apprentices could fathom the course contents. At this very moment, this Level-2 Sorcerer had not only personally rescued him, but was also speaking to him at such close proximity.
All of this, almost seemed dream-like.
This whole year, even though he was extremely frugal, the number of Magic Stones that he had saved up would only be enough for him to attend up to only two lessons under this mentor, and there was no other chance for him to be in close contact with the mysterious, silent and powerful Sorcerer.
“Master Grimm, I…”
Words came stumbling out from his mouth, but Nigra realized that he could not think of anything else, not knowing how to express his current mood.
In this Sorcerer Academy, every other student wanted to be this Level-2 Sorcerer’s disciple, who was he to compete with them?
Grimm did not register the meek attempt at words that Nigra had uttered. He was growing increasingly attentive to the Sorcerer Tower in the distance, the body language he was displaying indicated that Grimm would leave at any moment.
If Nigra did not speak up now, there would be no more chances!
This opportunity could not be missed, and it must not be missed!
Nigra finally gathered up all of his courage, and he shouted out his inner thoughts, “Master Grimm, please accept me as your disciple!”
Huh?
With his magical energy restored, Grimm, who was about to leave, turned to face the Sorcerer-Apprentice he had just rescued in surprise.
“You want to be my disciple?”
“Yes, Master Grimm, I want to be your disciple!” Nigra said firmly, but he did not dare look directly at Grimm as he was too nervous and lacked the confidence.
Grimm shook his head and quietly said, “I don’t have any plans to take in disciples, teaching disciples would get in my way of studying in the ways of sorcery. Though… if you have any special talents, I can introduce you to a mentor.”
The mentor that Grimm was referring to was naturally not Master Deidarion, Penaros or Udon. It was none of those three, but instead Master Hydra Wrath and Deidarion’s Level-3 Sorcerer disciples.
Nigra lifted his head, a stunned expression crossed his face.
Grimm inquired, “So… Do you have it? The talents that set you above the other Sorcerer-Apprentices?”
“I… do!”
Head raised, Nigra solemnly said, “I’ve developed a type of potion, a potion that causes lifeforms to mutate and evolve. Specifically like this.”
In a crystal clear glass bottle, there were a bunch of frogs, but these frogs have either retained their tadpole tails, or grown a number of tendrils like a primitive, deep sea creature, or had a layer of scales. Compared to normal frogs, these things had indeed mutated.
“Teacher, these frogs have gone through a degree of strange mutations after receiving my Carvime Elixir. I believe it’s because I have not grasped a full understanding of the potion ingredients which has caused these frogs to undergo varying types of mutation. If I can find a suitable measurement under a long term research, then…”
Nigra went on with a detailed explanation about his Carvime Elixir while Grimm wordlessly examined the experiment specimens.
Suddenly, Grimm interrupted Nigra’s speech.
“No, these frogs did not mutate, or evolve further, but instead have undergone ancestral degradation. Your potion must have affected something unknown hidden deep within the cracks of their Life Code. The Life Code is the core of the cell that determines the shape of life, and this code is deep-seated within the memory of the cell that has yet to be understood. It determines the direction of evolution, its pointer… its shackle.”
The words that Grimm uttered held profound and thought provoking strings of sorcerer knowledge. It completely stunned Nigra, who found himself rendered speechless.
Ancestral degradation? The code of life? The cracks of the Life Code?
Although he did not fully understand the meaning behind the professional terms of the sorcerer knowledge, Nigra understood what Grimm was saying based on his tone. He feared that the Carvime Elixir was a failed invention.
One part frustration, one part desperation, Nigra was unwilling to admit that his biggest secret was a failure!
“You’ve tried this potion on yourself, but nothing has changed?”
Nigra felt his eyes grow wet and he nodded, going into a state of speechlessness.
“Oh, but of course, the cracks of the human Life Code have been blocked off by human ancestors during ancient times. They secretly sealed away the ability of humans to passively evolve in the same way like other creatures, that is why your potion has no effect on normal human beings. There is no effect because they have no cracks in their Life Code!”
No effect on normal humans?
Nigra breathed in deeply, awashed with disbelief. “Teacher, what do you mean?”
“Your potion should have some unknown effects on physical-based Sorcerers that have opened themselves up to their wild instincts! This is because they are the only ones who are pursuing the path of the physical prowess of ancient, ancestral human beings. Although this potion may not have effects on modern human physicality, it holds potential to be a great help in uncovering the path of ancient human body-building.”
Grimm returned all of the specimens to Nigra, comforting him with interest. “So, if your research on these potions mature further, it may have some developmental prospects in the Abyss World.”
With that said, Grimm took a positive shine to the failed potion. It reminded him of his own period of intensive researches. He made a mental note to trade the potion recipe and the knowledge principles of this Sorcerer-Apprentice at all costs when he had the time to do so.
The ancestral humans had sealed the cracks in their evolutionary Life Code, changing the evolutionary path and transforming human beings from a physical evolution to that of a spiritual evolution. What sort of secret lied within that enigma?
With this, Grimm might be able to open up a path to level three Wild Instinct later down the road.
“Teacher, you don’t mean…”
Grimm nodded, smiling as he did. “Come with me.”
Nigra could not believe his own ears, and he was overwhelmed with excitement. He followed Grimm, flying up with joy, but the Sorcerer-Apprentice’s flying speed was too slow and nowhere near the speed of a Level-2 Sorcerer. As such, Grimm had to pull him along using gravitational force.
“Teacher! Look out, there are enemies ahead!”
Nigra’s face became pale as he pointed out the three Shadow Argus Sorcerers in the distance. Grimm had already discovered them and he let out a casual, but frosty laugh. They were just Level-1 Sorcerers, and from where he was he could see the Hydra Wrath Sorcerer Tower.