Adrenaline

The passage of time within the Tower was imperceptible; before they knew it, the new year had arrived.

The apprentices had gradually shed their mortal habits, no longer celebrating holidays like the new year.

At this moment, everyone gathered, discussing a more pressing topic – the recent examinations.

"We're really done for this time!"

"We've failed consecutively, they're going to assign us mandatory tasks!"

Renion, Nia, and Andov slumped their shoulders, filled with pain and helplessness.

Roy felt a bit speechless.

It had been almost half a year since last July.

They had only just managed to illuminate their ninth Will Rune.

If they weren't done for, who would be?

But he himself was struggling to manage his own affairs, so he couldn't really concern himself with theirs.

In the following days, they were indeed assigned Tower tasks one after another, starting their duties.

Most of these were tedious, time-consuming, and energy-draining chores, such as managing low-level apprentices, registering tasks, and inventorying books.

In Renion's words, it was a waste of life.

But if they couldn't even handle this, they'd likely be sent on dangerous missions!

For this reason, they could only accept it grudgingly while complaining.

January 20th.

The second level of the Wizard Tower.

In a room within the dormitory area.

Roy closed his eyes, meditating, the outline of a Will Rune forming in his mind.

Aiyavaz...

Streams of silver light filled the lines, and the thirteenth Will Rune successfully materialized.

"Excellent, the progress is still on track!"

Roy opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them.

His previously somewhat ordinary appearance had, at this moment, undergone an indescribable change, beginning to possess a certain aura.

Shortly after, he went out to have his meal as usual. Renion and the others arrived late.

"These mandatory tasks are so annoying, it's a complete waste of life!"

"Sigh, we almost missed our meal!"

The group complained incessantly, while also looking at Roy with a hint of envy.

"You're the lucky one, always passing your tests, eating well, sleeping well, and steadily improving!"

"People are just different, after all."

Roy sighed inwardly, but he understood that without his Alchemy Talent, his current situation would likely be the same as theirs.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel fortunate.

The friends chatted while eating, casually discussing daily matters before moving on to what happened after Intermediate Apprentices successfully illuminated sixteen runes.

According to Wizard Tower regulations, they could begin studying Spell Models at that point.

Renion said, "At our Oakmi Wizard Tower, we can also choose Alchemy recipes.

From then on, the Wizard Tower will provide a complete Inheritance of Magecraft or Alchemy recipes for free, along with resources for Mage Body Modification.

But the prerequisite is signing a binding contract with the Wizard Tower and entering the Inheritance sequence managed by our respective mentors..."

"Sigh, I don't know when that day will come!"

Roy's heart stirred upon hearing this.

"When that day comes?

I seem to be getting close...

By then, the public knowledge will be too shallow and no longer satisfy my needs.

More knowledge and skills will require negotiation with a mentor, or earning them through tasks assigned by a mentor."

However, he suddenly recalled a rumor he had heard before.

Last June, many people had died in that Forbidden Experiment, including Wizards of formal rank and above, even Archmages...

It would likely be difficult to find suitable mentors to oversee apprentices in the short term!

After the meal, Roy temporarily put aside his worries and went to the library to continue his exploration.

He had been researching adrenaline for some time, gradually clarifying various knowledge points and developing a clearer plan for its refinement.

Ultimately, only the specific ingredient ratios remained.

He scribbled and drew in his notebook, filling several pages with knowledge points and alchemical symbols.

These precisely calculated ratio formulas and mathematical results regarding various dosages determined the potential changes the body could unleash after consumption, as well as the operational status of various bodily functions.

However, meticulous materialism was the domain of the arcane.

Roy ultimately chose a blood essence extracted from a bull as the witchcraft component, serving as the catalyst for the refinement ritual.

After attempting to simulate and deduce the process, he finally nodded in satisfaction and returned to his residence to get busy.

Not long after, he obtained a small pile of white crystalline powder.

This was adrenaline, a result of genesis research on the human body.

The Black Iron Rank Talent, [Skilled Worker], played a crucial role once again, ensuring a certain degree of success.

With this assurance, he could easily mix it, even diluting it precisely to amounts that would normally require sophisticated instruments to manage.

This level of skill was already comparable to that of an advanced apprentice, something that originally required the materialization of spiritual power!

A few days later, in the training grounds.

Roy took out a self-injection device about the size of a little finger, removed the cap, and injected it into his arm.

Moments later, an inexplicable sense of excitement surged through him, and his body's strength erupted.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh...

He picked up a heavy two-handed greatsword and swung it with a speed and ferocity that ordinary low-level knights could not achieve.

In just a few swings, several targets in front of him were shattered into pieces.

Immediately after, Roy centered his energy and lifted a barbell weighing over three hundred pounds with one hand.

This was originally a training tool for intermediate knights and above; Roy, being only a low-level knight, was not yet capable of lifting it with one hand.

But under the effect of the special potion, he managed to do it in one burst.

However, after only a few minutes, he suddenly stopped, his body trembling, cold sweat pouring down his face, and he felt a slight nausea, a sensation of wanting to retch.

"These are symptoms of low blood sugar..."

Roy didn't have much muscle or fat reserves to begin with; the energy was entirely fueled by the metabolism of magic power combined with glucose.

Their utilization rate was very high, but their consumption speed was also very fast.

Fortunately, he had prepared for this.

He quickly took out a few pieces of candy from his pocket, stuffed them into his mouth, and chewed and swallowed.

"It seems necessary to adjust the formula. It would be best to pre-load a certain amount of high-concentration glucose and administer it intravenously.

Also, in actual combat, the enemy wouldn't just stand by and watch me inject myself.

They would definitely find an opportunity to interrupt, or if they detected it, they would evade and use various tactics to stall until the drug's effects wore off..."

After recovering his strength, Roy rested and contemplated, continuing to adjust and improve his plan for using this substance.

A few more days passed, and it was the end of January, with the monthly exam results coming out.

"Trides failed repeatedly and was assigned a mandatory task?"

Roy suddenly received a piece of welcome and important intelligence.

When he went to inquire about the specifics, he discovered that Trides planned to team up with several intermediate apprentices in similar situations.

Those individuals' financial standing and learning progress seemed to be similar to Renion's group at best.

This time, the Wizard Tower had not assigned any advanced apprentices to lead the team.

Being assigned a task meant there would be no such considerate protection.

"The opportunity has finally come!"

Roy's eyes gleamed.