"Ah, they all ran away!"
The situation kept changing, leaving Renien dumbfounded. It took him a while to regain his composure.
"And Roy, you actually know Wizardry!"
Andov also murmured, "You sly guy, keeping it to yourself all this time. So you've been secretly learning!"
As frequent companions, they were unaware of this, which explained why Botning was completely unprepared.
Once they realized what had happened, they got excited: "Should we chase them?"
Roy glanced at them: "Chase what? If those guys were willing to work together, they could still pose a threat.
I'm not afraid of them, but can you guarantee you won't get hurt or bleed?"
Doused with cold water, they finally remembered that the opponents were, after all, seasoned apprentices.
When venturing out, they must carry various potions, and perhaps even a couple of Enchanted Items for protection.
Roy watched them leave from a distance, then recalled the Animated Iron Chains, holding them in his hand as he dismounted to search Botning's belongings.
After rummaging for a while, he was greatly surprised: "How is this guy even poorer than me?"
Renien came over to take a look and guessed, "Probably spent all his resources on various researches and experiments."
Roy nodded: "It seems even the Old Apprentices are having a tough time!"
According to the information he had gathered, Botning had indeed mastered the Alchemy Wizardry of "Element Extraction," capable of producing items like Elemental Potions.
Next, he might be able to extract simple Elemental Orbs, launching them as multiple energy attacks.
But just like himself, gradually developing various uses for the Wizard Body requires consuming resources, time, and effort.
Mediocre apprentices with low aptitude are even more dependent on money and resources.
They don't have convenient things like Alchemy Talent.
Renien checked around, ready to help drag the body to a nearby hill for disposal, when something resembling an apprentice's notebook caught his attention.
"Even when out, he didn't forget to bring it. Could it be notes on learning spells?"
Without a second thought, Renien picked it up and started flipping through it.
Roy frowned deeply: "Why didn't you check it first? What if it's poisoned?"
"Poison is so expensive, how could he afford it!
Besides, who would bother poisoning something they carry around?"
Renien really didn't understand Roy.
This guy is clearly powerful, but overly cautious.
Roy ignored him, stepped forward, and carefully checked with his mental perception.
Only after confirming there were no components of Wizardry Energy or toxins did he feel relieved and unceremoniously tucked it into his pocket.
"We'll look at it together when we get back!"
...
To prevent those people from setting up an ambush on the road or calling for reinforcements after returning to the tower, the group followed at a leisurely pace, ready to bolt at the slightest sign of trouble.
They even planned the route, choosing the apple orchard they had visited before.
For others, that place is a challenging task location; without talent in Mental Resistance or special perfume that can dispel illusions, one would hardly dare to enter.
As for the Gargoyles, they're just artificially created entities following specific programs.
It was designed as a friendly entity, only targeting illegal intruders who attempted to steal resources. Despite its bizarre and terrifying appearance, it posed no actual threat.
As a result, the journey back was uneventful, and everyone returned safely, even managing to make it before the cafeteria closed.
"Ah, that's such a relief!"
"Coming back to a hot meal without missing the dining time!"
Everyone was so moved that they nearly shed tears.
After eating and drinking their fill, Roy called everyone to stay and took out the notebook Botning always carried with him. They all gathered around to flip through it.
Sure enough, it contained his study notes, documenting various insights related to "Element Extraction" and the corresponding research on Elemental Potions.
The foundational knowledge was universal, but each person's personal insights and the things they developed based on them were unique.
These things might not be considered particularly valuable in the broader Wizard World, but for apprentices with limited resources, they were quite rare.
Roy, who had studied "Animation Art," knew how difficult it was to figure out these things on his own, so he read with extra care.
However, in such a short time, he could only skim through it, roughly outlining the system of elemental power.
"The latest novel is first published on 69shu.com!"
"This actually originates from the knowledge of mages in the Arcane World.
Wizards extracted the four elements that were easy for them to understand and apply, and which were also commonly found in nature, integrating them into the Wizardry system to form Elemental Warlocks and related Wizard Body Modifications.
Those four elements are water, fire, ice, and lightning.
Of course, there are also other elements, which belong to more advanced and esoteric techniques, rarely learned at the apprentice stage."
In the study of Alchemy, it is believed that all matter is composed of the four elements: water, fire, wind, and earth.
But this concept of "elements" differs from that in Alchemy. "Element Extraction" leans more towards the attribute concepts of Arcane, not the material composition concepts of Alchemy.
Botning was not an alchemist but rather a spellcaster leaning towards the "turret mage" type, which is why he understood it this way. If he were a chemist, he would have recorded concepts like hydrogen, helium, and lithium.
"To think that one could incorporate the power of fire elements into ordinary black powder? This is an insight into creating Enchanted Gunpowder.
"The hearts or Magic Cores of certain fire-attribute Magical Beasts can also be refined into disposable Enchanted Items, unleashing attacks ranging from over ten to several tens of degrees!"
After reading this, everyone was shocked and even felt a hint of lingering fear.
"If I remember correctly, the power of a first-level Wizardry spell should range between 40 to over 220 degrees.
For an apprentice to use such an item would be terrifying."
But as they continued reading, they felt reassured.
Creating such things was indeed not easy.
Botning's rough notes showed that he had wasted a lot of money in successive experiments, spending all his capital and luck on mastering "Element Extraction," leaving him with no reserves.
The few experimental products he had were also used up during missions.
He hadn't even had time to return to the Wizard Tower to replenish them.
Moreover, based on the rough notes, it was clear that he had only mastered the creation of ordinary Alchemy Bombs with a power of around 10 degrees.
As for the "Fire Tumor Crystals" refined from the hearts or Magic Cores of Magical Beasts, which had power comparable to first-level Wizardry, he hadn't even dared to touch them yet.
Producing gunpowder carries risks; if an accident occurs, one could be blown to pieces.
Botning's unkempt appearance isn't natural but the result of an explosion.
However... with his current Black Iron-tier talents, "Proficient" and "Alchemy Machine," could he ensure safety?
Roy, holding his notebook, suddenly pondered this.
(End of Chapter)