Chapter 211: 107. Monster Hunting Sanctuary_4
Translator: 549690339
“Actually, it’s not too bad. Aberrations might be disgusting but their feces contains high-purity universal metal powder which is quite valuable. Plus, the Alchemy Cathedral is fairly just, and provides substantial compensation to Union City.”Fars Scott slightly shrugged his shoulders:
“I’m a typical example. The number of quotas offered to Union City by the Alchemy Cathedral for fresh alchemists every year, is three or four times than that offered in other regions. The competition in other city exams is beyond your imagination. For someone like me who doesn’t score highly academically, making it hard to get into an Alchemy Academy, but is willing to risk it, Union City is the place to take the independent alchemist exam. Honestly, without this compensation policy in place, I may not have become an alchemist.”
Noland Lee blinked.
This foregin world’s alchemy exams seem somewhat familiar…
The entrance alchemy exam is the most standard path for further study full-time, full-day education.
Independent alchemist exam gives the feeling of a professional master’s degree, part-time, and not full-day education.
Both are extremely challenging and their vibe is quite similar to that of a college entrance exam.
Once upon a time, before he crossed over, his parents also considered sending him to attend the college entrance exam in another place, because there were more college slots available, and the exam papers there were simpler. This training method actually exists in this foreign world too…
How interesting…
How astonishing…
“Ah, of course, the special favor we enjoy is not without conditions.” Fars finally caught his breath.
He stood tall and said:
“Every alchemist who has been promoted here in Union City is required to work here for at least five years before they can permanently live in other places. That’s why even though I can stay in the alchemy lab, I have to go out to run tasks every now and then. There’s no way around it, Union City is crowded and land is scarce, rents are too high. If I don’t run tasks, I’d have no place for alchemy experiments, and I won’t even be able to complete the annual research task…”
“Boom! Boom!”
Explosion sounds came from the ancient castle in the distance, cutting off Fars’s chatter.
A flame lit up the sky and thick smoke poured out from the first floor of the castle, forming a black smoke pillar pointing to the night sky.
Mark cheered:
“Oh ho! The captain had the scavenger’s motorcycles raw into the castle’s grand hall. Four cars exploded together. This should be able to trap the aberration underground for quite some time…prepare to get on the car, the captain is here!”
The security teams’ convoy rushed over.
As they passed by Noland and the two others, Kent quickly grabbed Fars and placed him onto the back seat, then pointed to the motorcycle they had been towing behind them:
“Get on quickly, Mark, Ray Lee.”
Kent’s gaze lingered on Ray Lee for half a second, then he sighed:
“I saw your fight with the aberration…l really didn’t expect your extraordinary abilities to work on aberrations as well. Now I have to keep you in the Iron Thorn Shield, we’re in need of a method to deal with aberrations.” Noland Lee sat on the motorcycle, calmly nodded slightly.
Mark loosened the motorcycle’s tow line and sat in the front seat.
He manipulated the motorcycle handle and abruptly twisted the throttle, drove the motorcycle to catch up with Kent’s car, and drove alongside with him: “BOSS, wnat are we gomg to say arter we get DaCK< will tne news or aDerrat10ns appearing here be directly reported to the Alchemy Cathedral in the Upper City Area, or are we only informing the president?”
Kent rubbed the short hair on his head, contemplated and said:
“Aberrations appearing places outside Union City…uh… This matter is really a shocker. Who knows to what extent has the aberration nest under our feet developed? Let’s leave it to the president to worry about. I will talk to him personally. No one of you is to mention it to outsiders, understood?” Kent’s last sentence was addressed to his team members.
“Yes, Boss.”
“Alright, boss, we definitely won’t talk nonsense.”
“…Thinking about it now, it really does seem like a dream, aberrations actually appearing in Savage Stone Wasteland…” The team members whispered among themselves.
Kent glared at Fars:
“Did you hear that, Fars? If the president doesn’t allow you to speak, you can’t say anything.”
“Alright- alright- but if the president approves my draft, you can’t stop me, Kent.” Fars responded while shaking his head.
“Boss! Look back quickly! Look at the castle!” A member in the backseat yelled anxiously.
Everyone twisted their head simultaneously to gaze at the rear.
There were immediate exclamations of surprise within the team.
“This is unbelievable! How long has this aberration nest under our feet existed?
Why is there a seeder running out of the castle!”
Noland Lee picked up the telescope, looking towards the direction of the old castle, his gaze falling on the terrifying silhouette under the moonlight.
It was an aberration standing over three meters high.
Unlike common aberrations, this creature had six arms and six legs.
Although it walked on all limbs just like the others, its back carried an enormous mushroom.
Tentacles hung from the cap of the mushroom. There were so many of them, swaying in the wind like the tendrils of a jellyfish.
“Seeder… this is an aberration with a distinct name,” Nolan’s heart sank a bit as he cast the Deconstruction Technique.
[System Message: You are attempting to deconstruct the “Seeder-type Aberration”.]
[Estimated to consume 1200 Energy Points, which can increase the degree of deconstruction to 100%.]
Noland’s brow furrowed.
Based on previous experience, creatures or monsters that required 1000 energy points for deconstruction were all part of the Extraordinary lineup. Does it mean… there are Extraordinaries amongst these aberrations too?
That’s so odd.
If it were not explicitly stated on the panel information that aberrations were originally the product of “Living Alchemy,” Noland would find it hard to believe that such a man-made monster could also possess the distinctions of “Ordinary” and ‘Extraordinary”.
Perhaps, the Extraordinaries amongst aberrations are the elite products of Living Alchemy?
Yeah, that’s possible.
In a game context, this would probably qualify as an elite monster.
Noland slowly nodded.
After observing for a bit with the telescope, Kent gave an order with a wave of his hand:
“Everyone, don’t panic. The Seeder won’t stray far from its nest. It won’t chase us. We just need to pick up our speed…”
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Yet, Kent’s tone grew unexpectedly serious:
“On the other hand, if the Seeder were to chase us, it would actually be a good thing. That would mean the aberration nest beneath us hasn’t formed a substantial size and isn’t worth the Seeder’s defense.”
Having glanced behind him again, Kent’s face grew even more grave:
“That Seeder indeed didn’t chase after us. That’s the real trouble. The aberration nest underground in the Savage Stone Wasteland may be far worse than we thought…”
Everyone’s expression shifted in accordance with Kent’s tone.
The mood hanging above the entire team became tense and everyone silently pushed their accelerators to the max.
Frowning, Kent seemed lost in thought.
“Boss, are you worried they might quit voluntarily?” Whispered Mark, who drove alongside Kent.
“Yeah, exactly. Mark, you’ve been with me the longest and you should know what we fear most. If the Upper City Area intends to clear the aberration nest here in the Savage Stone Wasteland… then we, the security companies from the Lower Town, will have to be the vanguard. Whether it’s you or me, we will end up as cannon fodder paving the way for the alchemists of the Upper City. How many are willing to do such work…”
Kent looked worried.
Mark was downcast.
As for Nolan, well, ha-ha, times have changed.
When he was cannon fodder in the Suffering Borderland, he was weak, without any substantial spells to support him, and he had no freedom.
But now, he had spells, Energy Points, Soul Strength, and most importantly, freedom.
And even more crucial!
Because of the Spirit Pivot, he couldn’t gather soul fragments from the undead he killed in the Grave Vault in the Undead Cult, but he could from the aberrations!
So, what was there to fear?
Just grind away like crazy!
This Savage Stone Wasteland was a dangerous place?
No, no, no.
This was a Mon! Ster! Grinding! Holy! Land!
Same goes for the giant fissure in the city.
It’s also a holy land for monster grinding!