Chapter 374 I Beg You
If Seven's alchemy technique is considered standard, then Charles's alchemy technique is like a perfect textbook!
Every movement, every handling and separation of alchemy materials is executed flawlessly, with not a single point to criticize.
Even Quinn, a master-level alchemist, couldn't find a single flaw!
His fluid motions and just-right heat control require profound knowledge of alchemy, a deep understanding of the materials, and mastery over flames.
"The pale flame has such a low temperature! The handling of the alchemy materials is simply unbelievably perfect. Is this something only a high-level alchemist can achieve?" Quinn murmured as he watched Charles's alchemy work.
Colton, standing nearby, heard his words and straightened his chest, maintaining a serious expression, as if to say, "That's right, this is the power of Charles!"
The audience from Genosha at the scene noticed the change in Charles and instantly fell silent.
Some of the Genosha spectators didn't quite understand why this was happening.
Just as they were about to whisper their questions, they were stopped by other alchemists nearby.
The entire venue was as quiet as a massive library, with only the sounds of the wind and breathing gently drifting through.
Seven was unaware of the specific reason for this change.
He focused intently on the [Enhanced Miracle Drug] that was gradually taking shape before him, not daring to let his mind wander for a moment.
In his heart, Seven thought, "Hmph, the shortsighted people of Genosha must be so intimidated by my alchemy that they can't speak! This is how it should be. My miracle drug is almost ready, and Charles is about to face his defeat!"n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om
"To be able to crush a true alchemy genius, hahahaha, it's simply delightful!"
Seven took a deep breath, slowly clearing his mind of other thoughts. Now, he was left with just the final step, waiting for the [Enhanced Miracle Drug] to take form. This predictable alchemist duel was about to come to an end!
However, just as he was cautiously taking the final step, Charles suddenly erupted, nearly catching up to his progress.
"Is this real? I can't be dreaming!" Quinn watched Charles's alchemy, beads of sweat the size of peas starting to form on his forehead.
His body trembled continuously, and he felt completely dazed.
At this moment, countless images flashed through Quinn's mind, all depicting what would happen if he lost this alchemist duel.
First, his rivals in the Haunted Marsh alchemist guild would surely seize this opportunity to suppress him. The hard-earned nomination for the vice president position would be in jeopardy!
Moreover, this duel was arranged by leveraging his authority to threaten Charles and Genosha.
If he lost, especially in a small country like Genosha in the Abyssal Depths, it would be a significant blow to the reputation of the Haunted Marsh alchemist guild!
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"It's over, completely over!" Quinn's face turned pale.
"Damn it! How did Charles suddenly become a top-level alchemist? Could there have been an error in the intelligence? Has Charles been a high-level alchemist for a long time?" Quinn's mind was filled with a thousand questions.
Even someone like Quinn, who had experienced many storms, didn't know what to do now.
Charles's speed was increasing rapidly and had reached the final step of refining the [Spirit Ice Liquid], nearly on par with Seven's progress.
The entire venue remained silent. Finally, Seven lifted his head and glanced at Charles, hoping to see if Charles had come to terms with reality and chosen to give up.
What happened next was something he would never forget.
In front of Charles, a pale blue potion was quickly taking shape in the alchemy lab.
Seven blinked, as if waking from a dream, rubbed his eyes, and looked again.
"Am I dreaming?" Seven looked down at the slowly forming green-quality miracle drug in front of him, then looked back up at the rapidly forming pale blue miracle drug in front of Charles, engulfed in massive doubt.
His entire state was one of confusion and stupor, as if the world had changed dramatically in the blink of an eye, leaving him unable to accept it, nor willing to accept it!
"It's an illusion, it must be an illusion! Those despicable Genosha people, in their efforts to bring me down, have struck against me and trapped me in this illusion!"
"It's okay, as long as I complete the refinement of the [Enhanced Miracle Drug], I can escape this illusion, and everything will be over!"
"Charles's speed can't possibly be faster than mine! He's refining a blue-quality miracle drug, and he's just a high-level alchemist. It's impossible!"
Seven continually reassured himself in his mind. He took deep breaths, trying to stabilize his mindset.
But as soon as he thought about the intelligence reports regarding Charles's talent in alchemy, his heart began to race anxiously, pounding like a ticking time bomb.
"My [Spirit Ice Liquid] is complete." A soft voice struck Seven like a bolt of lightning.
He suddenly looked up toward Charles.
There in Charles's hand was a bottle of blue [Spirit Ice Liquid], and he said calmly.
Seven couldn't care less about the refinement of the [Enhanced Miracle Drug]; he stumbled back two steps and then collapsed to the ground.
Out of his control, the miracle drug that was slowly taking shape in the alchemy lab began to destabilize rapidly, and eventually, it exploded!
"Boom!" The massive explosion jolted Seven back to reality.
He looked at the wreckage of the alchemy lab before him, then glanced at the blue-quality miracle drug, the [Spirit Ice Liquid], in Charles's hand. Seven could no longer contain himself and shouted frantically:
"This is impossible! Charles must have cheated!"
"Yes, he cheated! That bottle of [Spirit Ice Liquid] must have been prepared in advance; I refuse to accept this!"
In the face of Seven's loud accusations, Quinn fell silent, closing his mouth and saying nothing.
He wanted to believe that everything was as Seven claimed, that Charles had cheated!
However, as an observer who witnessed the entire process, he had seen Charles's monstrous alchemy skills, going from being behind to overtaking with remarkable speed.
The entire process was flawless, with each step easily recorded for other top-level alchemists to learn from.
"When exactly did you become a high-level alchemist? Had you been a high-level alchemist for a while?" Quinn couldn't accept the reality before him, reluctantly asking.
Charles thought about when he became a high-level alchemist; it wasn't long after he arrived in Genosha Calivia. He replied:
"About a month ago. Why? This shouldn't have anything to do with the duel."
Quinn's face was filled with bitterness. He lowered his head, sighed, and said slowly, "It doesn't matter, I was just asking. In a month, other alchemists might not even master a miracle drug formula, yet you went from a high-level alchemist to a top-level alchemist. You're simply a monster."
Upon hearing his teacher's words, Seven lost all his strength and slumped onto the chaotic alchemy lab floor.
If the teacher said so, it meant that Charles truly hadn't cheated and had achieved victory fairly.
"How is this possible? How can it be? Becoming a top-level alchemist in just one month is beyond human capability. I looked at your data; your talent is indeed strong, but not to the level of a monster!" Seven couldn't accept the truth and said in despair.
Quinn listened to his words, especially regarding Charles's data and talent, combined with Charles's earlier response.
In an instant, Quinn realized everything; the information Seven had given him was flawed!
"Damn it! Why would you do that?" Quinn took a deep breath, trembling as he slowly walked over to Seven's side and asked loudly.
Only then did Seven realize that everything he had done should have been discovered by his teacher.
But so what?
According to the duel's rules, as the loser, he would never be able to practice alchemy again, completely burying his future hopes!
"No, I still have a chance! I have one more opportunity! I can also refine a blue-quality miracle drug; I haven't lost yet!" Seven's eyes suddenly lit up. He gritted his teeth, exerted strength in his arms, and stood up.
The alchemy instruments in the lab had been damaged quite a bit, so Seven could only frantically approach the equipment he had suspected of being tampered with by Genosha before the duel began.
He slowly placed all the necessary alchemy instruments onto the alchemy lab, taking a deep breath.
"Even a blue-quality miracle drug might not be qualified; it could just have the color blue, but the effects might not be good. As long as I can refine a perfect [Enhanced Miracle Drug], there's still hope!" Seven kept murmuring to himself.
He began to operate the equipment.
Some spectators from Genosha saw the scene before them and recalled Seven's previous arrogance and wildness, as well as his derogatory comments about Charles and Genosha online. They couldn't help but speak up:
"Weren't you the one who said Charles should just give up? Why are you struggling now?"
"Yeah, where did all your arrogance and wildness go?"
"Charles is the real alchemy genius!"
The audience from Genosha turned their gaze to Charles, who appeared calm, unlike Seven, who was taunting and provoking his opponent. Charles simply watched Seven's alchemy process with a tranquil expression.
Time flowed slowly, and Seven's face grew increasingly pale, with sweat accumulating on his forehead.
His hands began to tremble, reaching a point where he could no longer control them.
Finally, in despair, Seven closed his eyes, dropped the alchemy materials from his hands, and knelt before Charles, pleading:
"Charles, I beg you, I admit defeat. I don't want to be unable to practice alchemy anymore... I've sacrificed so much for alchemy..."