Trigger-Happy Potioneer

Making a Meal

Poisonous meat. With this development, I can only imagine the consequences - higher food prices in town, poison afflictions in safe zones, an immediate demand for antidotes, sudden recruitment sprees for guilds looking for water mages - the list is endless. I really don't see how the developers thought this would be a good idea, since it introduces unneeded stress on an already restless community, but what's done is done. All I have to do is purify this meat somehow.

I know I can cast <<Purification>>, but that's an AoE spell. Overkill for a drop like this, or any drop for that matter. I wonder is <<Purify>> is an option?

"<<Purify>>" I murmured while pointing a finger at the meat. A blue light flickered into existence before me, the light being no larger than a marble. It flew towards the spider flesh and sunk into the item, disappearing for a moment. Then wisps of dark purple smoke floated out of the meat as the item glowed blue. Once the glow dissipated, I checked the item again.

Purified Cave Spider Flesh quality: normal

The purified flesh of a cave spider. While cave spider flesh is usually poisonous, purified cave spider flesh is not. Reduces hunger and increases defense upon consumption. Can be considered an ingredient.

Success! With the debuff out of the way, I can finally cook it without worries. It's weird how a spider drops a steak-shaped slab of meat, but I'm not complaining. I guess I can just cook this with my stove and a few spices... better find a safe zone... Aha, here's one. It's an unnaturally convenient one, too - a slightly raised plateau in the middle of the area, with enough space for four people or one crafter's base, which is basically the correct term for my emergency tools. I set down the stove and placed the pan onto it, letting the pan heat as I prepare the spider flesh. I'll go for something simple, like salt and pepper. I sprinkled a bit of each on both sides, kneading the spices into the meat. I then placed it unto the pan, grinning when I heard the sound of sizzling. I flipped it a few times, cooking each side. I placed the "finished" steak on a small plate, and looked at its description.

Spider Steak quality: 3

A simple meal made by Nio. A spider flesh steak seasoned with only salt and pepper, then grilled. Reduces hunger and increases defense upon consumption.

... What a lackluster description. Did the quality rating system change, too? It says '3' now. Is that 3 out of 5 or 3 out of 10? Ugh, too many questions. I'll just eat this... Chomp.

Ugh. It tastes... like what you'd expect spider to taste like with salt and pepper on top. It was also dry, and tough to chew. The quality system must be 3 out of 100 or something. It reduces hunger, sure, but it wasn't enjoyable. I could probably improve the quality by tenderizing the meat before cooking it, but I would require a tool designed to do so, or a proper knife. Looks like I'll have to visit the smithy as soon as I can. Since my stove is out, I guess I'll just compound a few more potions. I heaved the large cauldron out of my inventory and started sorting out herbs. "So Winter said that the large cauldron requires ten of each ratio based on recipe, so I'll start with a basic ratio. Let's see... ten Citrona Hearts, twenty Applet Grass, five Elkthorn... crush, then mix, then boil... done. I ladled out ten bottles' worth of potion.

Citron-Applet Potion: Restores 24% HP upon consumption. Cures [Poison 2].

Oh? It's improved since my first ever batch. I guess that makes sense, since my concocting trait set has leveled up a lot since then. I wonder, what are my traits at right now?

Current Traits (+4)

[Alchemy 23] [Throw 14] [Eagle Eye 32] [Enchant 11] [Archery 24] [Crafting 14] [Mixing 19] [Mana Control 38] [Discovery 25] [Wood Element Inheritor 24]

Unequipped Traits

[Combining 8] [Cooking 1]

I haven't used any magic - oh wait, my arm is magic, so I guess it counts as magic practice. Cooking was unequipped... I'm an idiot. Archery only went up two levels, despite me killing at least a hundred or so spiders. No idea how Mana Control, Eagle Eye, and Discovery went up. I guess I'm steadily improving. What about my other stats?

Nio (Alchemist/Shaman)

HP 400/400

MP 1,832/1,851

Titles

Guardian of Ilidas Forest (Unique): [Tap for description]

Factions

Illios Subjugation Army (Common Members: Azreal, Melly, Dialsia)

HP got a huge increase! I was like at, what, 150 before? Now it's more than twice that! My mana hasn't increased. I haven't found a reason to overuse, I guess.

Wait.

If I can see the trio on my screen, can't they see me on their screens? Why haven't I received a single message? Is the message block still on? I should start turning that off, since I'll need to communicate with Argus or whoever I report to.

I turned off the block option and was immediately bombarded by messages from the usual three. Where are you, answer me already, do you have your block up again... sigh. Maybe it's better to just respond, and not deal with the flood every time I check back.

Suddenly, a new message popped up, with sender being Argus. I clicked it open in curiosity.

Alright, you battle-crazed runts! That spider won't kill itself! Gather back in the plaza at 2 PM, and don't slack off about it! Training time! WAHAHAHA!

Sounds like Argus. And wait, training time at 2 PM? What time is it?

1:59 PM

Crap.