Death... and me

It has been almost three months since Roan began to study alchemy. Three weeks earlier, Roan finally concocted his first Energy Gathering Pill. However, that was not enough for someone to become an Earth Low-Level Alchemist. Neutral pills are always easier, so the alchemist guild couldn't take those as a sign of ability unless they were hard pills to start with.

As one can imagine, a simple Energy Gathering Pill was simply too far from being considered hard in the alchemists' eyes. However, if the alchemist makes an Elemental Type Energy Gathering Pill, the story will be totally different. Elemental Pills don't just give better results. They are also much harder to concoct.

After all, the material used is different. They need to be compatible with the element that the pill is being made for. Roan is trying to make a Dark Element Energy Gathering Pill, which is even harder. One must remember that there are no other Dark Element cultivators anywhere. Obviously, there are no records of how to create such pills and which herbs to use.

Fortunately, Roan had Old Worm's help during all this time. Old Worm's knowledge was really vast, and he helped Roan think about the possible combinations necessary for that pill. Roan had thought about it before when he first tried to create a pill, but it turned out that Old Worm's ideas were much better.

Today, Old Worm was overseeing his practice once more.

"Good, keep that flux of Dark Element. In the end, the hardest part of creating a pill of your element is the decaying effect of it. It's the only element that I know that has such a strong power against the life force. Herbs are alive, so I can imagine how hard it is to create a pill with their medicinal liquids and your element without destroying everything."

Roan, who was in the middle of concocting, nodded his head.

"But that is good. I found out that any herb's unwanted properties can be easily eliminated with my Dark Energy. That's why you are so interested in me, right? After all, such an elemental power is both a blessing and a curse. However, as long as I can deal with the curse, my blessing will make my concoction several times easier than others."

Old Worm faintly smiled.

"I won't deny that. Too bad that you can only make Dark Element pills and maybe Light Element ones. Anyway, pay attention. You are almost there."

Roan nodded. Old Worm was right. As long as Roan can prevent the decaying effect from destroying the medicinal properties, his alchemy life will be much easier. One of the hardest parts of a concoction is to eliminate the impurities during it. Turns out that Roan's Dark Element can achieve this effect much easier than any other element!

But then again, that same effect was preventing him from going further. It was then that Roan had an idea. He heard from Rean how he used his Dark Element to destroy the Umbral Energy from the Crane's internal injury. At the same time, Rean's Light Element protected the Crane's organs.

Since that was the case, Roan decided to use Rean's Light Element to protect his herbs while destroying whatever impurity or undesired component with his Dark one. At the moment, Roan's hair was a mix of black and white, which showed that he was exchanging elements with Rean through their Soul Connection.

Ever since he started to use this method, his concoction skills improved by leaps and bounds day after day. Today, he was trying to finally finish his first Dark Element Energy Gathering Pill.

"Good, you passed the harmonization process. Now, use your Spiritual Energy to form the pills. As long as you succeed in this process, you will be considered an Earth Low-Level Alchemist."

Roan took a deep breath and controlled his Spiritual Energy carefully. It was the first time he passed the harmonization process, so he knew he was close. However, forming the pill was also a challenging process. After all, you had to compact all the medicinal power into a single point. Chances are that he would destroy it before being able to form the pills. There was nothing wrong with that, though. All alchemists had to pass through the same arduous path every time they make a pill. Even if Roan fails now, Old Worm is sure that he will succeed very soon.

However, Roan wasn't willing to wait. He only had three more days to become an Earth Low-Level Alchemist, so he couldn't afford to waste time. That being said, Roan was putting his all during the pill formation.

"Gather!"

The medicinal liquid was gathered into three single points. After that, Roan decreased the fire intensity slowly, making sure to keep the medicinal liquid together. Little by little, the Pills began to take form. Roan could see with his Spiritual Sense that the outer layer was already completed. He was only waiting for the rest of the liquid inside to solidify as well.

However, Roan began to lose control at that point. The pills' inner layers' pressure increased as time passed, trying to break the outer layers.

Suddenly...

*Crack! Shatter!*

The first pill broke. Roan narrowed his eyes but continued to concentrate on the other two pills.

*Crack! Shatter!*

Just like that, the second one was gone too. Old Worm looked at that and smiled. This was unavoidable, a process that you will pass through with all the other pills you will make in your life. He didn't find anything wrong with Roan failing the first two.

Roan, on the other hand, relaxed a bit after the first two were lost. That's because he could keep his full attention in the last one.

Sure enough, his work became a lot easier after that. In the end, the last pill finished solidifying. Roan's cauldron's lead opened with a boom of spiritual energy, and a Pill shot out. Roan's eyes lit up, and he immediately caught it before the pill fell on the ground.

Roan then looked at his first Dark Element Energy Gathering Pill and let out a sigh of relief. As far as he could see, it seemed like the pill held his Dark Element as expected. The pill was dark to the point that it looked like to be burnt, but he knew that it was because of his Dark Element instead. However, the pill wasn't completely dark. It was also possible to see a few lines of white color on it.

Roan didn't need to think much to know that it was due to Rean's Light Element. It was also thanks to it that the pill's medicinal properties were not destroyed by his Dark Element.

In the end, he looked at Old Worm and threw the pill at him.

Old Worm smiled and caught the pill. Right after, he sent both his Spiritual Sense and Energy inside, checking everything from top to bottom. A few minutes later, he nodded.

"Congratulations. It's really an Elemental Energy Gathering Pill of the Dark Element."

*Pin!*

[Congratulations to the hosts.]

[Host Roan has become an Earth Low-Level Alchemist.]

[Destiny Points Reward: 300]

[Authority Level Increased by Two.]

[Title Acquired: Destiny Strugglers.]

[A new ability has been unlocked for the Soul Gem Dimensional Realm.]

Rean and Roan received the message at the same time. Obviously, the last part caught their attention more than anything else.

"New ability?"