Silver Bottle XIV

Patter, patter.

Urgent, heavy footsteps echoed through the nighttime streets. A humanoid beast over two meters tall flashed past rows of tightly shut doors, scattering foul-smelling blood in its wake.

Drip.

Drip, drip.

Fried was severely wounded, clutching his mangled chest as he ran for his life.

The relentless pursuer behind him made his scalp prickle, his heart pounding wildly.

It had been a long time since he had been in such a sorry state.

As the favored disciple of the "Red Duke," Fried specialized in "human alchemy." That was why he had founded the Grafting School, seeking the mysteries of combining the human body with all things.

He had always taken great pride in his physique, even looking down on other "frail" alchemists, believing their bodies could not withstand a single blow.

Moreover, he was a Tier 4 Long-Lived One of exceptional strength. Even within Midnight Rose, he was a highly respected and admired senior member.

A true big shot in others' eyes.

Yet tonight's ordeal had dealt him a crushing blow!

That blond young man was clearly younger than him, yet possessed greater strength...

From what he knew, the man was merely a third-class commoner and had been Madam Macara's apprentice for only around half a year.

Yet in such a short time, that fellow had mastered an alchemical array even Fried himself could not identify!

He could only watch helplessly as the other man dismantled and reconstructed the second floor of that stone-and-wood house, brutally slaughtering the members of the Grafting School.

Fried's heart bled.

The power he had painstakingly built over so many years had been so easily devastated... while he himself fled for his life like a beaten dog, tail tucked between his legs!

"Up ahead is near Father's manor. His other students are there