Ascension from Dual Professions

Chapter 20: Chapter 20: Adventurer’s Belt, Breaking Bad

[Adventurer’s Belt (Ordinary - Waist)]

[Waist Defense Value: 20]

[Currently Equipped Tools: Weapon Clip, Skinning Knife, Woven Rope, Fire Starter, Potion Holder]

[Remaining Available Slots: 2]

[Durability: 25/30]

”I used to be an adventurer like you... then a certain lady’s butler broke both my legs. — An anonymous man in a wheelchair.”

——

This was the item Old Sutton had traded for the entire wolf—a tactical belt made of cowhide, three fingers wide, with slight signs of use.

As an essential piece of equipment for adventuring, it didn’t provide any extra Attributes on its own. Its real value lay in the tools already attached to it.

Although they were just small trinkets, and secondhand at that, their quality was quite good, and they were all practical.

With the weapon clip, he no longer needed to carry his cutting blade with an iron ring.

With the skinning knife, dressing the deer later would be much less trouble.

And the fire starter and sturdy rope were just as convenient for daily life.

Of course, the most valuable items were the potion holder and the five accompanying vials, which made the hard-sheathed leaves Jon had planned to use for storing liquid medicine completely obsolete.

He looked at the seemingly unremarkable belt and sighed internally.

’I’m in his debt again...’

Once again, the Old Dwarf had shown concern for his so-called ”junior” in his own unique way.

This made him feel a little guilty.

True, he had inherited the previous owner’s memories; he was Jon, but also ”Jon.”

But he was ultimately not the original ”Jon”—the one who wouldn’t fight back when bullied, who would only make a desperate last stand like a cornered rabbit.

He repaid every grudge, he could cry and laugh, and when necessary, he was willing to use any ruthless means to deal with those who threatened him.

Moreover, his heart belonged to a place unimaginably far away.

To go home, he had to grow stronger. He couldn’t stay in this village forever and keep the Old Dwarf company.

That was why, just before leaving, he had promised to help the Old Dwarf build a grand Forging Workshop.

Helping the Old Dwarf achieve his dream was the best way he could think of to repay him.

Jon put the belt back in his bag and his gaze fell on the [Commission: Ore Sample Collection] on his quest panel. He muttered to himself.

’Metals of the Gods... I wonder if the Cloud Gold used to forge the sky’s Divine Hall or the Pure Melted Steel used to craft the Balrog Lord’s crown would be worthy of that title...’

’Ugh... I think I’m getting ahead of myself. I should just focus on clearing out that mine first...’

...

The last rays of the setting sun filtered through a broken window, coating the simple hut in a layer of warm gold.

The firewood crackled. A deer leg, propped over the flames, sizzled as it rendered fat, releasing an enticing, charred aroma. Grease dripped into the coals below, sending up small wisps of blue smoke that filled the entire room with its fragrance.

Meanwhile, Jon sat cross-legged by the fire. In front of him was a clean stone slab propped up by wooden stakes, on which lay the various medicinal herbs he had gathered that day.

This was his makeshift ”alchemy station.”

He had to be fully prepared for tomorrow’s trip to the [Abandoned Mine].

’Alright, let’s see what kind of surprise the Sub-profession panel has for me...’

Jon carefully picked up a Sword-leaf Grass he had gathered during the day, pinching the leaf with his fingertips and gripping the fleshy root with his other hand.

This stuff was poisonous. A normal Alchemist would never dare to touch it with their bare hands, always using tools to handle it.

But Jon was different. He had skill guidance!

[Extraction], activate!

The same instinct that guided him when using combat Skills surged within him. It was as if he had processed this herb countless times before, and his hands began to move naturally.

He applied pressure with precise force, carefully pressing on the thickest vein of the sword-leaf. A dark, bluish-black juice immediately seeped from the tip, coalescing into dark, pearl-like drops of poison that dripped accurately into a potion vial he had just rinsed with snowmelt.

Jon’s eyes were focused as he watched the viscous poison diffuse and spread through the water like a vibrant green mist.

One drop, two drops, and he stopped immediately.

He set down the now slightly withered Sword-leaf Grass and picked up the jar of Chu Blood Grass Essence. He pinched out a small amount, carefully measuring the portion, and added it little by little.

The vibrant green mist began to quietly shift to a dark red.

Once Jon felt the amount was sufficient, he stuffed a deathly pale petal into the vial.

Then, he stoppered the vial.

[Blending], activate!

Jon picked up the potion vial and began to shake it slowly, his wrist steady and rhythmic.

At first, the mixture’s components remained separate, their boundaries distinct.

But as the skill guided him, he could almost ”feel” them beginning to merge.

The dark green poison, the bright red powder, the deathly pale petal—the liquid they formed swirled and pulled within the vial, gradually becoming a translucent, dark-red liquid, like a fine wine.

A strange, sweet botanical fragrance mingled with the warm, meaty aroma in the hut, but it quickly subsided as the potion finished brewing.

And, right on cue, the familiar system notification sounded.

[Successfully blended ”Blood Exhaustion Potion.” Received 50 general Experience Points.]

[Alchemist Skill Level +5]

——

[Blood Exhaustion Potion (Ordinary): Consumes Life Value upon consumption to grant a temporary Power Attribute boost. Effect and duration depend on the dosage.]

[Required Materials: Water, Chu Blood Grass Essence, Sword-leaf Grass Juice, Bone Flower Petal Powder]

[Blending Ratio: 20:5:2:1]

”Warning: Overconsumption will lead to an accumulation of toxicity, inducing a poisoned state. Severe cases may result in death.”

——

”It’s done!”

Jon let out a breath of relief, a slight smile touching his lips. The Sub-profession function really hadn’t disappointed him!

With a recipe and a skill, he succeeded on the first try!

Just looking at its effects, he could tell this potion was essentially a low-level poison. It just so happened that its ”Poison” effect was ”increased Power.”

Among players, this type of potion was generally used by battle-crazed [Frenzied Warriors] to intentionally lower their health and trigger their core class ability, [Frenzy], to gain massive buffs.

Jon chose it for a similar reason—to lower his health. However, his goal was to increase the damage of his [Adversity Strike], compensating for the lack of burst damage that resulted from putting all his points into Constitution.

He might not necessarily need this kind of trump card for unexpected situations, but he absolutely had to have one!

Besides, he had a distinct advantage when using this potion.

After all, he had [Heart of Balance]. He could consume Magic Power to restore Life. The Life Value lost after drinking the potion would be replenished immediately, ensuring his physical condition wouldn’t drop into a dangerous zone.

’If I’m the one using it, maybe I can increase the dosage a little to get more Power...’

’But I have to be careful not to cross the line. Even an Official Level Professional can’t withstand this thing’s toxicity...’

Keeping this in mind, Jon casually added another log to the fire, then drew his clean skinning knife, sliced off a piece from the roasting deer leg, and popped it into his mouth to chew.

’Mm, it’s not gamey, just a little bland... Once I have money, I should get some spices to carry around. That’s the only way to eat with any real flavor.’

The firelight illuminated Jon’s young and resolute face, as well as the gradually growing stores in his hut.

A complete deer hide was stretched out on the wall. The venison and organs were packed away by Jon in a ”makeshift refrigerator” used by the Northern People, piled up in the drafty corner of the hut. This blocked the wind while also ensuring the ”refrigerator” wouldn’t melt.

Life was looking up.

But it wasn’t time to rest yet.

After eating a few quick slices of meat, Jon wiped his hands and threw himself back into potion-making.

Besides the [Blood Exhaustion Potion], he also needed to prepare a virulent poison paste for coating his weapon and an acidic solution to corrode the carapaces of insect-type monsters.

It was all for tomorrow’s trip to the [Abandoned Mine]!