Realm of Myths and Legends

Chapter 1159 Demonic Suppression Pill, A Worthy Genius

ʼNightmare Shroud Demon? Is it a creature related to the Underworld?ʼ

While it was not always the case, monsters with demon in their name typically had some form of ties to the Underworld.

The Underworld was a mysterious place and there was not much information know about it available to players. Even Izroth who had been to the second floor of the Amaharpe Palace Library had barely come across anything related to the Underworld.

That being said, Izroth was not completely unfamiliar with the Underworld. A while back, Izroth launched an attack on the Siren organization for putting out an assassination order on those under his protection. During that battle, he clashed against the head of Siren, Smiling Demon, who formed a contract with one of the Royal Demons of the Lemegeton, the 54th Great Duke of the Underworld, Murmur.

Although Izroth only fought with a fragment of the Great Duke and its two ministers, the power they displayed was comparable to someone in the legendary realm.

This was Izrothʼs first time hearing about a Nightmare Shroud Demon; however, considering the trial at hand, there was likely something special about this particular creature.

ʼTo become a high-grade Apothecary, one cannot neglect their own strength. Still, I doubt the owner of this trial dungeon is looking for someone with high combat abilities. Whatever the Nightmare Shroud Demon is capable of must have something to do with the effect of the Demonic Suppression Pill.ʼ

Name: Demonic Suppression Pill(Unique*)

Rank: Grade-Four

Usage: The user who consumes this pill permanently gains the passive skill «Unwavering Demonic Growth».

«Unwavering Demonic Growth»: The user gains high resistance against the corruption effect of demonic aura and can absorb it at will. Additionally, the user can refine a portion of absorbed demonic aura and make it their own, improving their physique and soul.

Special Note: Consuming this pill more than once will not grant any additional effects. However, consuming a higher grade version of the pill will replace its effects.

ʼDemonic Aura... I vaguely felt it back then when I faced Murmur. However, it seemed to retreat before the Heavenly Lightning of Extinction.ʼ

Maybe it was due to Murmur only being a fragment of the real Great Duke that it was so easily suppressed by the Heavenly Lightning of Extinction. Regardless, Izroth did not experience anything negative when facing the demonic aura.

Izroth looked down at the Demonic Suppression Pill in his hand.

ʼA grade four pill with a rare growth-type effect thatʼs capable of improving oneʼs physique and soul while also resisting demonic aura—itʼs at the pinnacle of grade four pills. Even some grade five pills canʼt compare to it.ʼ

Ten seconds remained until the appearance of the Nightmare Shroud Beast.

Izroth consumed the Demonic Suppression Pill. He felt a strange energy circulate throughout his body all the way to his fingertips. However, the energy quickly faded and no changes occurred.

ʼI donʼt feel any different than before. I suppose if there is one down side to this pill, itʼs useless if you never come face to face with demonic aura.ʼ

〈System Alert: Your stats have been adjusted!〉

〈System Alert: The Nightmare Shroud Demon is appearing!〉

〈System Alert: Last 10 minutes in the presence of the Nightmare Shroud Demon!〉

Ooom...!

As soon as the system alert popped up, the world around Izroth turned completely black. The platform, garden, and members of his party were all nowhere to be seen. Even Iron Cauldron, who had been standing not too far away from him on the platform had vanished without a trace.

Suddenly, a cold bone-chilling aura filled with darkness as a heavy pressure comparable to a level three gravity pocket descended upon Izroth.

ʼA level three gravity pocket is around twenty times that of normal gravity. For most, just standing is a challenge, let alone moving. Still, itʼs nothing I canʼt handle.ʼ

Izroth had already experienced being under the effects of a level three gravity pocket before back when he first crossed paths with Zhi. Therefore, it was nothing new to him.

Out of nowhere, a large pair of glowing deep blood red eyes could be seen in the darkness several meters away from Izroth. The moment those eyes appeared, the chilling aura increased exponentially. At the same time, Izroth felt as though, for a moment, his body and soul existed separately—almost like an out of body experience.

A few seconds later, a black mist was expelled from Izrothʼs body.

〈System Alert: You have resisted the demonic aura!〉

ʼOh? So thatʼs what demonic aura is like. Rather than being an attack that affects you physically, it seems to target your soul directly. There arenʼt many ways to defend against these kind of attacks in RML.ʼ

Even though it was only for a brief moment, Izroth felt as if he had become two separate entities—one of which was being dragged toward the glowing red eyes in the near distance.

Izroth used his Energy Vision Sense to peer into the darkness. While he could not make out its physical form, Izroth did discover a clump of what appeared to be polluted energy filled with killing intent. Without a doubt, this clump of energy must be the Nightmare Shroud Demon.

ʼDespite its killing intent, it doesnʼt seem to be moving. Does it have to do with the golden strands of energy encompassing it?ʼ

Encompassing the clump of polluted energy were numerous golden energy strands that appeared to serve in a restricting capacity.

”The main goal is to endure the demonic aura, not fight the Nightmare Shroud Demon. It might be a while before I can come across demonic aura of this level. I should make the most of it and test the limits of what the Demonic Suppression Pill can do.” Izroth said to himself before he sat down in a meditative pose and closed his eyes.

As the demonic aura flowed into him in the form of black mist, it was forcibly expelled a few seconds later, leaving behind traces of demonic aura in Izrothʼs body. While the amount left behind was not enough to affect him negatively, Izroth had no plans on letting it go unchecked.

ʼThe traces must be what I can absorb through the Unwavering Demonic Growth. But... Itʼs not enough. In that case...ʼ

Izroth cleared his mind and increased his focus. This time around, when the demonic aura entered his body, Izroth quickly utilized the effect of the Unwavering Demonic Growth to fully absorb it instead of allowing it to be forcibly expelled. He then began to refine the demonic aura in the core of his body before slowly absorbing it.

〈System Alert: Your physical strength has increased by 0.10%!〉

〈System Alert: Your physical resistance has increased by 0.10%!〉

〈System Alert: Your Essence has increased by 0.10!〉

”?!”

ʼThis... It can actually increase oneʼs Essence?ʼ

Izroth was taken aback by the effects of Unwavering Demonic Growth. Not only did it increase his physical strength and resistance, it also improved his essence!

One had to know that Essence was something that could typically only be obtained through three methods. The first was through a Source Chant. The second was by consuming a treasure birthed by the world and filled with natural energies. As for the last, it required one to have the 1 in 1 million Perfect Source Compatibility trait.

To gain Essence through the effects of a pill by absorbing and refining demonic aura—this was something unprecedented and unheard of!

ʼTo not only create such a miraculous pill that can increase oneʼs Essence, but also make it a grade four pill—Franz Winsor is worthy of having been called a genius when he was alive.ʼ

While a 0.10 increase to his Essence was not a lot, Izroth understood the underlying principles of why Franz Winsor created the Demonic Suppression Pill.

The higher one wanted to climb as an Apothecary, the more requirements were needed in order to craft high grade pills.

Willpower, a healthy and strong physique, and Essence—if one were lacking any of these three, it would be impossible to climb to the pinnacle of the Apothecary profession no matter how much knowledge one held.

Izroth vaguely experienced the use of Essence in pill crafting when he made the grade five Hundred Death Poisoning Pill. But, since those pills experienced the legendary Pill Rebirth, the consumption was minimal at best.

However, one thing was clear. Without Essence, one could never step beyond the threshold of being a grade four Apothecary.

ʼThose three truly missed out on a rare opportunity.ʼ

Izroth inwardly sighed. If Pill Master, Blue Quill and Iron Cauldron had made it to this point, their chances of becoming a grade five Apothecary would have been well above that of the average player.

ʼIf the Demonic Suppression Pill can convert demonic aura into Essence, does that mean it can theoretically grant someone an Infant Source? If so, as long as I can recreate this pill, the Apothecaries of the Mystical Realm Palace can all obtain a Source and unlock the potential to become grade five or higher Apothecaries.ʼ

Of course, the ingredients were extremely rare and difficult to collect. However, if the payoff was obtaining a Source, even just an Infant Source, it would be well worth the effort!