"why do I have to go first?"

Veyrath stared at Regaleon as though he had just been handed the cruelest punishment imaginable.

"You are the leader, aren’t you? Can’t you set an example by going first?"

A vein throbbed faintly on Caelestra’s forehead.

"Why is it that you always find a way to drag everything out?" She complained. "Just tell us what we need to know already."

"Yeah, yeah. Hold your horses." Veyrath said while waving dismissively.

Then he cleared his throat and assumed an exaggeratedly dignified posture. One hand rested behind his back while the other was placed across his chest...

His chin rose, his expression became solemn, his eyes became profound... Or at least, that was what he was trying to achieve...

"Listen attentively." He declared grandly. "For I shall only say this once..."

"Would you simply say what you want to say and let’s move on?" Caelestra snapped.

Veyrath deflated immediately and spoke sulkenly. "I really don’t get why you’re always like this."

Seeing that Caelestra’s expression remain unchanged, he coughed awkwardly and looked at the others...

"Fine, fine... Then where should I start from?"

The failed Alchemist rubbed his chin while pretending to think deeply for several seconds. Then his eyes suddenly brightened.

"Ah-ha! I got it... Actually, I only awakened five Essence Runes..."

Saying that, he folded his arms and waited dramatically...

There was silence, which obviously wasn’t something that he was expecting.

The smile on his face twitched...

Meanwhile, Vaelorin frowned before asking. "Only five? I thought six was the standard initial number."

Regaleon shrugged, then replied. "Perhaps it has something to do with his status as an alchemist."

"Exactly!" Veyrath pointed triumphantly at him. "At least someone here has a functioning brain."

Regaleon’s face under his helm was deadpan as he said. "Tell us about the Runes, that’s what we want to know."

"...And he ruins it." Veyrath sighed dramatically; the look on his face was a strange mixture of disappointment, betrayal and disbelief.

"None of you even know how to appreciate true ingenuity."

"Oh please..." Caelestra rolled her eyes. "Just spit it out already."

"Very well..." Veyrath straightened. "For the sake of peace and harmony, I shall enlighten you all."

The others exchanged glance, wondering what dramatic shenanigans the failed Alchemist is up to now.

"Actually, I awakened three Runes for my Life Tree and two for my Cauldron."

Then he raised a finger. "For the Life Tree, the first Rune is called Infinite Growth."

The smugness on his face returned as he explained. "As the name suggested, this Rune ensures that my Life Tree will never stop growing."

Valmyr scratched the back of his head and commented. "I don’t see how that is essential. I mean, aren’t all trees like that? You know, growing throughout their lives?"

Veyrath froze. "What?"

Then he turned towards the failed Vanguard. For a moment, he looked personally offended.

"Do not compare ordinary trees to my glorious Soul Essence." He said. "With this Rune, my Life Tree can absorb virtually any form of matter and convert it into growth."

Kaeloris adjusted his spectatcles as he asked. "Any form of matter? Like water, light, Aether, nutrient, poison...?"

Veyrath grinned as he replied. "Yes. Why did you think I called it glorious?"

Regaleon looked mildly surprised as he asked. "So theoretically, the Tree can absorb basically anything, whether toxins or nutrients, and convert them into life force?"

Veyrath shook his head. "Uh-uh. It is not theoretically; it is definitely..."

Sylveris blinked, them remarked innocently. "Doesn’t that make your Soul Essence a glutton?"

Veyrath puffed out his chest. "It is not gluttony. It is efficiency."

Regaleon folded his arms as he asked. "So, is there any sort of limitations or drawback?"

Immediately, Veyrath’s expression soured. "Why is it that of all things, you are asking about the weakness of my Soul Essence?"

"That’s because something that overpowered wouldn’t just exist without some kind of limit."

The failed Alchemist reluctantly nodded and then replied. "Actually, the Tree grows in stages. Right now, it’s still a sprout, so it can only rely primarily on ambient Aether. As it matures, it will gain the ability to absorb more exotic substances."

Regaleon nodded. "That’s reasonable... Otherwise, it’d be absurd."

"What’s the second Rune?" Aureleah asked calmly.

Veyrath beamed as he raised another finger. "The second Rune... Is called Root Dominion."

Instantly, several roots erupted from underground. The roots twisted and coiled around each other like living serpents. Some wrapped around nearby rocks while others burrowed back underground...

"These aren’t ordinary roots." Veyrath explained proudly. "They are extensions of my Life Tree. And though I can’t use them to kill, I can still attack or restrain enemies with them. Also, I can spread life force through them to heal people from a distance..."

Regaleon nodded thoughtfully. "It’s a very good support Rune. One with battlefield control...

"Exactly! Finally, someone appreciates my brilliance."

Caelestra snorted before urging impatiently. "And the third Rune?"

Veyrath’s eyes practically sparkled as he said. "The third Rune is the greatest one of all. It is called the Fruits of Miracles."

Even the name alone sounded impressive and Sylveris gingerly asked. "So what does it do?"

"Well, it converts the Tree’s life force into fruits."

Valmyr frowned. "Is that it? Fruits?"

The failed Alchemist looked scandalized as he pointed accusingly at him. "Fruits? You uncultured barbarian..."

Then he turned towards the others. "Actually, these fruits have different effects that are not ordinary. Some can be used to heal, grant strength, speed, endurance, and potentially more..."

Hearing this, the group immediately understood. Because suddenly, they realized how terrifying this Rune truly is.

If cultivated properly, this Rune could be used to support entire armies...

Regaleon narrowed his golden eyes as he asked. "So you can basically create resources with this Rune?"

"Right. Also, the effects of the Fruits depend on how I shape the life force." Veyrath replied.

Sylveris looked amazed and praised the failed Alchemist. "Wow. That’s incredible."

Veyrath’s head visibly swelled as he basked in the praise. "You are absolutely right..."

"Why don’t you produce a Fruit for us now?" Caelestra asked.

Veyrath almost choked on the question before coughing awkwardly. "Unfortunately, there is a slight problem. I can’t actually create those Fruits until I reach Rank Two Etheryean Realm first."

There was a stunned silence...

Then Caelestra sighed. "Well, that’s disappointing."

Veyrath immediately pointed at her. "Only temporarily. Eventually, you’ll all be begging me for my Fruits."

Hearing that statement, everybody looked at him strangely.

Why did those words sound wrong somehow?

Even Veyrath frowned as he explained. "...Trust me. That came out differently in my head."

Still seeing their weirded out expressions, Veyrath decided to move on.

"Now for my Cauldron. The first Rune is called Universal Refinement..."

The bronze relic beside him shimmered softly as he explained.

"This Rune allows me to refine virtually any substance; metal, wood, corpses, plants, Aether... You just name it."

Regaleon raised a brow beneath his helmet. "So you mean to say that you can break down literally any substance into simpler forms?"

Veyrath nodded. "Yes. That’s what I meant."

He then patted his Cauldron. "My second Rune is called Essence Distillation. Now don’t let the name scare you as it isn’t for Soul Essences. Instead, this Rune simply allows me to extract the purest essence from any substance..."

Then the failed Alchemist puffed out his chest proudly. "In alchemy, this Rune is literally a must have because with this; pills, potions, pastes, poisons, and other alchemical concoctions would literally have little to no impurities in them."

Kaeloris adjusted his glasses once more before speaking. "Actually, the way I see it, your two Runes complement each other very well. One gathers and process resources, the other enhance and creates the products. They function much like an entire ecosystem."

Veyrath was delighted. Then he declared dramatically with an exaggerated bow. "And that boys and girls, is the greatness of my Essence Runes."

Perhaps he was expecting some kind of standing ovation or loud applause, but the failed Alchemist was disappointed as only silence responded to him...

Until Vaelorin spoke dismissively. "Well, your Runes are kind of lacklustre."

Veyrath nearly exploded. "What did you just say?"

The failed Pyromancer simply shrugged. "No offense. Your Essence Runes are useful and all that... But they are not very exciting."

Veyrath pointed furiously and spat. "Exciting? Why don’t you tell us about your own Essence Runes."

Without hesitation, Vaelorin stepped forward. It seems that unlike the failed Alchemist, he didn’t need any kind of encouragement as the failed Pyromancer practically looked eager.

"I awakened all five Runes of my Soul Essence..."

"Of course you did." Veyrath muttered. "You are the only one among us with just one Soul Essence, remember?"

Vaelorin rolled his eyes. "So? Don’t some people awaken additional Essences later?"

Veyrath scoffed. "Those people are monstrous genius. Don’t compare yourself to them."

Vaelorin ignored his snide remark and continued. "Whatever. Just listen up... My first Rune is called Solar Lance. It concentrates my Fiery Aether into a straight beam of flames..."

Then he demonstrated. He channelled Aether into a staff and suddenly, a concentrated beam of light erupted from his staff and pierced through a distant twisted tree trunk...

BOOM!

The tree practically exploded, turning into ash.

"That..." Vaelorin said smugly. "...is Solar Lance."

The group nodded. Well, that was pretty straightforward...

"My second Rune is called Eruption Pulse. It literally transforms a whole area into a volcanic region."

The ground beneath him glowed red-hot; then, several pillars of concentrated gold-red flames burst upward...

WHOOSH!

Immediately, intense heat washed through the clearing...

Sylveris stumbled backward from the wave...

"Careful!" Regaleon barked.

Vaelorin immediately dispersed the flames. "Sorry. Still getting the hang of it."

The failed Pyromancer scratched the back of his neck sheepishly before continuing...

"The third Rune is called Ember Conversion. This Rune enables me to get stronger the more destruction my flame cause..."

Regaleon nodded. "It is a Rune meant for prolonged battle?"

"Exactly. My flames become increasingly dangerous... But it doesn’t actually replenish my Fiery Aether. Just its quality."

"So that’s your drawback." Kaeloris commented.

"Yes. My fourth Rune is called Inferno Orbit."

Instantly, orbs of flames appeared around Vaelorin, revolving around him like mini suns.

"This Rune is both offensive and defensive. And it requires little Aether to sustain in its passive state. These orbs function just like Caelestra’s Coins..."

Hearing that, the group nodded. Then...

"Right. Speaking of things that float around..."

Veyrath suddenly turned towards Caelestra. "What about your coins? I haven’t seen them since yesterday’s battle."

Instantly, the clearing fell silent as everyone’s attention shifted to the failed Merchant.

Now that Veyrath mentioned it, the silver Coins that usually orbited around the failed Merchant ate actually nowhere to be seen...