Robb dragged his battered body back to his room, finally allowing himself a moment of relief after enduring both physical pain and mental tension.
Inside him, the Solar Breath was slowly repairing his damaged ribs and internal organs. But this self-healing process came at a price—each breath brought stabbing pain.
Though he had survived, the pain kept replaying the intense, oppressive battle in his mind.
Those semi-transparent soundwave rings were nearly impossible to dodge completely. Every strike piled injury upon injury.
Had it not been for the enhanced constitution granted by his knight-squire class, he would've been a corpse by now.
What shocked him even more was Darude's mutation—the flickering blue light in that grotesque brain, the way the energy pulsed. It all proved just how terrifying those forbidden drugs really were.
"I can't let that happen to me," Robb muttered to himself, stripping off his bloodstained shirt.
Looking at his chest and abdomen, he saw bruises turning purple and several clearly deformed ribs. Just a small movement sent waves of agony through him.
[Solar Breath self-repair activated]
[Estimated time: 6–8 hours for major recovery]
Gritting his teeth, Robb adjusted his breathing, guiding his inner energy to the injured areas as the technique instructed.
A warm sensation began spreading through his body, and his damaged bones and tissues slowly started to regenerate.
This self-healing ability was one of the key traits of the knight class. Though not fast, being able to recover without external help was a priceless asset in such a dangerous world.
While waiting for his body to heal, Robb took out Darude's research notes and began studying them closely.
In a survival-of-the-fittest world, any resource that could increase his strength was too valuable to ignore.
The first half of the notes were mostly theoretical deductions and records of failed experiments. But the second half detailed the construction process for a spell called "Sonic Resonance."
"Sound is not just a physical phenomenon—it's another form of mental energy..." Robb read a key line aloud in his head.
"By using specific frequencies, one can cause resonance within the mental energy field and produce powerful shockwaves..."
Darude's research direction was indeed unique. He had tried to fuse a bard's gift with mental force, creating a completely new type of spell.
Though he ultimately failed, the theoretical foundation was solid.
[Sonic Resonance (Prototype) EXP +1]
[Current progress: Sonic Resonance (Prototype) 5/100]
As night fell, Robb finally closed the notebook.
After several hours of study, he had grasped the general concept behind Darude's work.
It wasn't just an offensive technique—it was a new way of using sound frequencies to influence mental energy fields.
While still incomplete, the concept already had practical potential.
The notes also revealed why Darude had failed—his mental stability and control were lacking. That's why he resorted to illegal drugs, ultimately paying with his life...
"Tomorrow I'll start practicing. I think the apothecary has the ingredients for a mental stability tonic..." Robb murmured as he carefully stored the notebook away.
He knew the day of the assessment was drawing closer. This close call had brought him unexpected gains.
In the Black Mist Forest, danger and opportunity often came hand-in-hand—it all depended on how well you could seize them.
Now more than ever, he believed he could find his place in this world.
Morning mist still clung to the Black Mist Forest when Robb arrived at the apothecary.
He had come earlier than usual—not just for work, but also to ask Madam Elena about mental stability potions.
A bronze wind chime rang lightly in the breeze as the shop door silently opened.
"Early as ever, kid," the old witch's voice called from the dim interior. "Looks like you've got something important to ask?"
Robb stepped inside, the familiar scent of herbs washing over him.
Thanks to his recent training, he could now more accurately distinguish the different components in the air.
"Yes, Madam," he said respectfully, bowing slightly. "I wanted to ask about potions that help stabilize mental energy."
Madam Elena's eerie green-glowing eyes narrowed. "Oh? Most apprentice candidates don't go near that topic..."
"That's true," Robb nodded, then briefly explained what had happened with Darude's mutation the night before.
Of course, he skipped over the details of his own battle, simply saying he was lucky to hold out until the enforcers arrived.
The old witch listened quietly, frowning slightly but offering no further comment. She just nodded slowly.
"Using music to improve sonic spellcasting... the boy's idea was interesting. He's gone now, but his thinking wasn't wrong."
She turned and retrieved a small booklet from under the counter, flipping through it quickly.
"I have something called Stardust Elixir here. It does help stabilize the mental energy field and makes it easier to maintain spell structures."
Robb's eyes lit up. "Do you have any on hand?"
"Not right now." Madam Elena closed the booklet.
"But I can teach you how to make a simplified version. It's not as effective as the real thing, but good enough for a beginner."
"Thank you so much!" Robb said gratefully.
"Don't thank me yet." The old witch waved him off.
"I'll give you the recipe, but you'll have to gather the materials yourself. Consider it a test of your potion-making skills."
She grabbed a scroll from the shelf. "First, finish today's work. Once that's done, I'll teach you the method. Now, go prepare those newly arrived moonblossom rhizomes."
Robb took the scroll and nodded respectfully, then began the day's tasks.
Processing moonblossom roots required patience and precision.
The plant's medicinal properties were concentrated in a small section where the rhizome joined the stalk. Carefully peeling away the outer protective layer was key to extracting its essence.
Thanks to his [Herbal Recognition] skill, Robb could identify the ideal cutting points more accurately.
[Herbal Recognition EXP +1]
Halfway through the job, the door opened with a soft creak, and a girl in a deep gray cloak stepped inside.
Robb recognized her immediately—it was Talisa, one of the youths who had arrived with him in the Black Mist Forest.
She had completely transformed from the scrawny hunter's daughter he remembered.
Her brown hair was tied into a neat ponytail with a silver ribbon, and her delicate face now showed quiet confidence.
Most telling of all was the pale blue gemstone badge on her chest—a symbol of a mid-tier apprentice.
"Good morning, Madam Elena," Talisa said with a soft but clear voice. "My mentor sent me to pick up the herbs we ordered."
"Ah, it's you." The old witch nodded. "Everything's ready. Give me a moment."
As Madam Elena turned away, Talisa's eyes swept the shop and landed on Robb.
For a brief instant, their gazes met. Talisa narrowed her eyes slightly. "You're... Robb?"
Robb was surprised. He hadn't expected her to remember him. "Yes, Talisa. It's been a while."
"What a coincidence." Her expression grew complex. "I heard you've been working here?"
Robb nodded. "Yes, it's been some time now."
She seemed like she wanted to say more, but Madam Elena returned with a finely packaged box.
"Here you go. Tell Sorceress Corinna that the violet crystal grass supply has been unstable lately."
Talisa took the box, glanced at Robb one last time, and asked with faint concern, "So... how long until the final assessment?"
"Two months and three days," Robb replied instantly. The number was engraved in his mind.
She nodded slightly. "Then good luck."
With that, she turned and left the shop.
As the door closed, Madam Elena gave Robb a curious look. "You know Sorceress Corinna's student?"
"We're from the same hometown," Robb explained. "We were sent into the Black Mist Forest together a few months ago."
"I see." The old witch nodded, saying nothing more, but a thoughtful look passed through her eyes.
The rest of the morning passed in steady work, sorting and preparing various herbs. As noon approached, Madam Elena finally kept her promise.
"About the Stardust Elixir—it normally requires true star essence."
She began organizing her tools as she spoke. "But that material's too rare. Most apprentices will never get near it."
She unlocked a drawer and took out a tiny vial of softly glowing silver powder.
"This is moonlight crystal. It forms when moonlight hits certain crystals during a full moon."