As the sky gradually dimmed, the afterglow of dusk draped a thin, golden veil over the training grounds.

Roland held an Iron Sword, his movements as precise as a machine, practicing the Lion Swordsmanship over and over.

Each of his forms was as standard as a perfect copy, his movements fluid and seamless, with almost no openings to be found.

CLANG!

Hearing the crisp ring of a bell, Roland completed the final form of the Lion Swordsmanship, cleanly sheathed his sword, and ended his training.

Gazing at the steadily growing experience bar for Lion Swordsmanship on his Professional Panel, the corners of his mouth unconsciously lifted into a satisfied arc.

’At this rate, I’ll be able to get Lion Swordsmanship to Full Level in a few more days, and then I can officially take on the Warrior Profession.’

At this thought, Roland’s heart couldn’t help but beat a little faster.

Although both the Blacksmith and Warrior were Upper-tier Professions, the Blacksmith Profession ultimately leaned toward the Life System, offering very limited improvement to one’s combat power.

And right now, what he needed most urgently was strength.

’Mutated Demons... the Gods Teresa spoke of...’

All of it made his desire for strength burn ever stronger.

However, a sudden, burning hunger churning in his stomach violently dragged his thoughts back to reality.

’I should probably get something to eat first...’

Roland shook his head, casting aside his distracting thoughts. After returning to his dorm to quickly wash up, he headed straight for the mess hall.

Under the numb gazes of George and the other Blacksmith Apprentices, he devoured a dinner meant for four like a whirlwind before finally getting up and leaving, satisfied.

Walking through the twilight, Roland hurried toward the small, remote cabin.

This was the time of day he and Bronson had agreed upon for him to assist with research and study ancient texts.

His frequent visits over this period meant he only needed to give a symbolic knock on the door as a signal before naturally pushing it open and walking in.

Under the dim yellow candlelight, Bronson was, as usual, holding a pale piece of bone, completely absorbed in carving intricate Spell Patterns onto it.

Perhaps due to his regular meals recently, when the scholar heard the noise and looked up, Roland noticed that his once-haggard face now had a hint of color.

"You’re here, Roland."

Bronson greeted him softly, but before his voice had even faded, he was already buried in his work again, as if every extra second of delay was a waste.

Roland was long accustomed to Bronson’s intense focus.

He skillfully pulled an ancient tome from a messy bookshelf, grabbed some parchment and a quill, and sat down at the mottled wooden table to begin his studies.

For a time, the only sounds in the serene room were the faint scratching of the carving knife against bone and the soft rustle of the quill on parchment.

Time slipped by quietly amid their concentration, until a strong wave of dizziness washed over Roland, forcing him to stop writing.

He shook his head, got up, and walked over to a nearby wooden rack, taking down a glass bottle filled with a pale blue liquid.

He uncorked the bottle, tilted his head back, and drank the liquid in one go.

In an instant, a crisp chill shot down his throat and then split into countless fine streams, surging into his limbs.

Under this sudden stimulation, his once-drowsy mind was instantly refreshed, and most of his fatigue vanished.

"Roland, it’s best to drink fewer Energy Potions..."

Bronson finally put down the half-carved bone, rubbing his reddened eyes with his knuckles. His hoarse voice carried a hint of concern.

"Although they work quickly, there’s a risk of addiction with long-term use."

"I understand, Mr. Bronson."

Roland slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, his gaze falling on the empty glass bottle.

This was one of the few Potions he had managed to successfully refine since his Awakening of the Alchemy Skill.

It was thanks to this Potion that he could practice Alchemy while also studying ancient texts.

"Roland..."

Bronson watched the young man expertly walk over to the wooden table laden with alchemy equipment and couldn’t help but speak up.

"For your age, you’re already exceptional enough. Some things... you really don’t need to rush so much."

In the flickering, dim candlelight, the young man’s movements as he mixed the Potion were fluid and natural.

Bronson stared at the scene, complex emotions rippling in his cloudy eyes.

He had once spent years diligently studying the profound field of Alchemy, only to be limited by his own aptitude and forced to give up halfway.

Yet the young man before him had mastered the steps for refining basic Potions to perfection in just over ten days.

Even more astonishingly, the refining difficulties that had repeatedly stumped Bronson were effortlessly resolved in Roland’s hands, as if it were child’s play.

The stark contrast couldn’t help but stir an indescribable sense of frustration in his heart.

But in the face of Bronson’s praise, Roland’s expression remained as calm as still water, his hands not pausing for a moment.

He watched the Potion’s changes in the crucible with intense focus. When the liquid turned the amber color described in the book, he immediately and precisely extinguished the Flame.

Only after the Potion had completely cooled did he gently pour the liquid into a prepared glass bottle.

[One finished Potion has been refined. Basic Alchemy gained 1 Experience Point.]

Similar to the Basic Forging Skill granted by the Blacksmith Profession, the Experience Points for the Basic Alchemy Skill also depended on the number of successfully refined Potions.

Looking at the golden text that appeared before him, Roland’s tense nerves finally relaxed.

Only then did he look up to respond to Bronson’s praise.

’Exceptional?’

’Right now, I’m not even completely confident I could defeat a Winged Dogman.’

’At least by my own standards, I’m far from deserving of the title ’exceptional’.’

Thinking this, Roland couldn’t help but shake his head.

"Mr. Bronson, with my current strength, I’m still a long way from being exceptional..."

These humble words left Bronson momentarily speechless.

In his eyes, this seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy was already a genius.

His Swordsmanship was exquisite enough to slay an Alien Demon, his Forging Skills had repeatedly earned Hawke’s praise, and even his learning ability far surpassed that of an ordinary person.

’If that’s not exceptional, then what is?’

"Roland, then what do you consider truly exceptional?"

Bronson couldn’t help but ask in return.

Hearing the question, Roland answered while neatly organizing the sorted medicinal ingredients.

"At the very least... reaching the level of a Knight who has mastered Extraordinary Power... Oh, by the way, Mr. Bronson..."

At this point, Roland suddenly changed the subject, his hands never stopping.

"As far as you know, how can a commoner like me obtain a Knight’s Breathing Technique?"

"A Knight’s Breathing Technique..."

Bronson’s brow furrowed at the words. His knuckles unconsciously tapped the table, making a dull sound.

A moment later, the scholar finally spoke slowly.

"If this were before the Blood Moon Rebellion in the Golden Valley Kingdom, with your talent, you would have certainly been admitted to the Knight Academy despite the rules. But now..."

"The Blood Moon Rebellion?"

Roland keenly caught the unfamiliar term, his movements of grinding herbs pausing slightly.

"What’s that?"

"Mmm... Black Water Territory is remote and wasn’t affected by the Blood Moon Rebellion. Plus, you were still young back then, so it’s normal that you haven’t heard of it."

Bronson put down the bone in his hand, picked up a wooden cup, and drank the water inside.

Only after his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed did he begin to speak again.

"Unlike the Golden Valley Kingdom of today, in the past, even commoners had a chance to study at the Knight Academy as long as they had outstanding talent. The number of such people was even quite substantial. Until that one night of the full moon..."

Bronson’s voice suddenly grew somber.

"A rebellion suddenly erupted in the Kingdom’s heartland, led by those very commoner Knights who had graduated from the Knight Academy. It was as if they had all agreed to sound the horns of war at the exact same time."

Roland impassively continued to grind the herbs, but the rhythm of his grinding slowed considerably.

"The scale of that war was beyond imagination."

Bronson’s gaze grew distant.

"Even though I was studying at the High Tower at the time, I heard a lot about it."

"It’s said that those rebellious Knights led their armies to indiscriminately attack the nobles in the heartland of the Golden Valley Kingdom. Blood stained nearly every inch of the land, which is how the Blood Moon Rebellion got its name."

"What happened after that?"

Roland asked at the right moment, the wooden pestle making a crisp sound as it struck the stone mortar.

"After that?"

Bronson’s brow furrowed, the wrinkles on his forehead deepening.

"I’m not too clear on the specific details. I only heard that the royal family of the Golden Valley Kingdom dispatched the Royal Guard Knight Order and united with the major noble houses. It took a great deal of effort to finally, just barely, suppress the rebellion."

"And after that rebellion, King Morne, fearing another uprising, ordered a massive purge of suspected dissidents. Countless innocent people were implicated, and it even harmed the interests of many nobles. The Golden Valley Kingdom was severely weakened as a result."

After he finished speaking, the wooden cabin fell into silence.

Roland mulled over Bronson’s words and couldn’t help but ask.

"Why did those commoner Knights start a rebellion?"

"That, I don’t know..."

Bronson spread his hands.

"In any case, after the Blood Moon Rebellion, the Golden Valley Kingdom explicitly forbade teaching the Knight’s Breathing Technique to commoners. This point was even written into their noble pacts."

"Violators... are to be tried for treason."

Hearing this, Roland couldn’t help but frown deeply.

Seeing his expression, Bronson said consolingly.

"Roland, this world is vast. Although the Golden Valley Kingdom strictly forbids teaching the Knight’s Breathing Technique to commoners, other places might not be the same..."

"I understand, Mr. Bronson."

Roland shook his head gently, temporarily suppressing the complex thoughts in his mind.

Just as Bronson had said, even if he couldn’t obtain the Knight’s Breathing Technique in the Golden Valley Kingdom, he could always try his luck elsewhere in the future.

However, that was all too distant for him right now.

The most urgent matter at hand was to take on the Warrior Profession as soon as possible and successfully refine the Potion to activate the Consciousness Shallows to increase his strength.

With that in mind, he focused his thoughts and looked at his Professional Panel.

’My Basic Alchemy is already Level Two. Maybe I can try refining that Potion now... but...’

Roland rubbed his temples, his expression a little helpless.

The ingredients for refining the Potion to activate the Consciousness Shallows had already been completely used up when Bronson previously attempted to make it.

The other supplementary ingredients were easy enough to get; he could purchase them nearby. It was just a matter of spending more gold.

But the main ingredient, a rare item called Devil Fish Eye Liquid, was simply nowhere to be found in Black Water Territory...