The Golden Experience Point [Part 1]

Chapter 66: "Choices"

"We sure made a lot of them. With this many, we can just burn them on whatever we want and it won't be a big deal."

Both Rare and Remy were able to craft Philosopher's Stones that weren't significantly different. However, when the ingredients included formic acid from weaker engineer ants, or normal Treant Ashes, then there was a big difference: They didn't shine when using [Athanor] to heat them up. The marbled product did glow slightly, but that was the normal, expected reaction based on all their previous trials. In other words, it probably meant that the result wouldn't be a "great success." The differences were also clear once all the finished products were lined up next to each other; the ones made with Ashes of the World Tree were more vibrantly red, and they also faintly sparkled.

"You can tell right away when you hold one in your hands, but the dull-colored ones only improve their targets by one stage. Which means that Ashes of the World Tree essentially double the resulting effect."

They tried synthesizing different combinations of ingredients, first always using low-rank formic acid, then always Treant Ashes, but the results in all those cases were the dull-colored stone. Only when both ingredients were the high-rank version did they get the vibrant Philosopher's Stone that sparkled from the start.

"First, I want to try the ones that raise a stage by one. If I'm to be the final test, then ideally we'd want to try it on a character who's close to me in stats first, not a material or item. The possible candidates are..."

<If that is the case, then I should be the test subject. Since I am already dead, even as I age, I do not experience any growth. If there is a chance for us to strengthen ourselves, then that would lead to an increase in our war power,> Deas volunteered.

"Hmm, I would have wanted to use the sparkly ones on our top brass, but... From what the instructions say, using two one-stage items should have the same result... However, if there's a maximum number of stones that can be used on an individual, that would be problematic..."

This time, Sieg responded. <In that case, how about one of my skeletal knights? We would discover the same information about undead that Sir Deas described, but since it is just a skeletal knight, then you will not feel any obligation to use this item on each and every one of them. In addition, if it is an item that can only be used once per individual, then there would be no problem.>

"Good idea; worst case, I can still use him as a boss monster. Let's do it. Call one up, if you would."

<As you wish. [Summon: Skeletal Knight].>

A single skeletal knight was summoned into the queen's chamber. After Sieg gave an explanation, the knight nodded his head. The two of them almost seemed like a manager and employee at a normal office.

"Great; take this. Once you're holding it, you should automatically understand how to use it. Whenever you're ready, use it on yourself."

The skeletal knight immediately raised the egg. The crystal shone as it broke apart, and the red liquid inside poured down as though it were a powder. Rather than simply falling due to gravity, the powder seemed to be drawn to the knight instead. Wherever it touched the skeletal knight, it was absorbed into his bones, like how powder snow melted. Once all the powder had dissolved into its body, the skeletal knight began to shine. This was the same light Rare saw with World Tree.

"It looks like he's reincarnating. So I was right, raising a character's stage really does mean reincarnating into a higher-ranked form."

Before long, the light settled down and the skeleton standing before them wore not the rotted, decayed equipment it had on before, but a splendid suit of armor fit for a knight. The bones of his body had become much more stout, and he had grown in height as well.