Chapter 98: The Alchemical Duel

Roland and Simone agreed that the outcome of their contest would be determined by whoever managed to successfully concoct the most potions within an hour. Naturally, if both succeeded the same number of times, then the one who used less time would be declared the winner.

The process of potion-making is fraught with issues of success rate. For example, earlier in the Hall of Misius, Roland had crafted five batches of ingredients and succeeded in making three potions, a success rate of about sixty percent. Of course, Roland had only produced five batches; to accurately determine the true success rate, one would need to craft at least ten batches in succession and then calculate the percentage of successful attempts—a much more reliable measure.

The success rate in potion-making is closely tied to one's condition at the time. When one's state is optimal, the success rate tends to be higher; conversely, it drops when one is not at their best. Generally, the success rate for a given grade of potion is fairly fixed. Once a person achieves a ninety percent success rate, they are able to attempt more advanced potions.

Simone had been enamored with potion alchemy since the age of nine, learning the craft under the guidance of his father, Cervantes. Cervantes was astonished to find that his son truly possessed a remarkable talent for potion alchemy, particularly in the drawing of alchemical arrays, which Simone comprehended with rare intuition. Thus, Cervantes spared no effort in nurturing his only son.

Under Cervantes’ hands-on tutelage, Simone needed just over two years to raise his success rate for basic potions to ninety percent. Thus, he was able to craft three-star low-grade potions, and with continued practice, his success rate for these advanced potions rose to about fifty percent.

Simone’s confidence in challenging Roland stemmed from the knowledge that Roland was simultaneously cultivating fire, darkness, and lightning magic. Though Roland possessed extraordinary affinity for all three elements, training in three disciplines inevitably consumed vast amounts of time. Simone, meanwhile, focused solely on darkness magic, leaving him with more time to devote to alchemical studies.

Moreover, though his father Cervantes was a master of alchemical apparatus, his expertise in potion-making was substantial as well. Simone therefore believed that even if Roland had a mentor in alchemy, his own circumstances were superior.

He thus proposed the challenge to Roland without hesitation, confident that his odds of victory were high. If he won, not only would he restore the honor his grade had lost, but he would also gain guidance on condensing the necromantic space—a gain on multiple fronts.

The first step in potion-making was crucial: drawing the alchemical array. Simone now stood beside the stone platform, channeling fire magic through his fingers. His fingertips glowed crimson as he gently stretched out his arm, touching the stone, and began to draw the array for the healing potion.

Healing potions belonged to the three-star low-grade category, the simplest among entry-level potions. Yet, their array required 256 strokes—a daunting task for those who had not studied array drawing long, especially those lacking intuition. Simone, however, was supremely confident in his array-drawing skills.

With deft movements, he left traces of fire magic upon the stone. Though his pace was not especially quick, his actions were fluid, barely pausing between strokes. In the blink of an eye, he had already completed over ten lines.

While drawing, Simone glanced sidelong at Roland, who stood watching intently without making any move to begin.

A smug smile flickered across Simone’s face. He thought, "He must be awed by my mastery of array drawing, having lost the confidence to attempt it himself. He keeps watching me—surely, victory is within my grasp. Soon, I'll hear his thoughts on condensing necromantic space. Perhaps with his guidance, I'll achieve success in a short time."

Amid the reverent gazes of the watching attendants, Simone pressed ahead, nearly halfway through the array. At that moment, he noticed Roland had finally begun moving, his finger tracing patterns upon the stone.

"Still unwilling to give up, is he? Trying to compete with me? I’m already halfway done—no matter how hard he tries, he’ll lag behind. He must be seeking some solace, hoping to succeed at least once to avoid utter embarrassment," Simone thought to himself.

Yet, moments later, the attendants gasped audibly. Simone cast a furtive glance at Roland and was stunned: Roland’s finger moved far faster than his own!

Simone pursed his lips, thinking, "This fellow must realize he can’t match my speed and is just scribbling away. How could anyone draw such a complex array so quickly?" He remained unconcerned, continuing his careful, methodical work.

As time passed, Simone was nearly finished with his array. He felt quietly pleased—his performance today was exceptional, and he was about to complete the array in one go.

Just then, a chorus of low exclamations rose from the crowd. Simone looked over and was shocked to see a crimson glow emanating from Roland’s stone platform.

"Finished? He’s done drawing?" Simone was astonished. Roland had only started when Simone was halfway through, and now, before Simone had completed his own, Roland was finished. Such speed was…

Within moments, Simone regained his composure. "Hmph, potion-making isn’t just about drawing the array. It also depends on one’s sensitivity to the ingredients, control over magic and the array. Just because you draw quickly doesn’t mean you can actually craft the potion!" The more Simone dwelled on this, the more convinced he became, resuming his steady progress.

As a wave of heat rose before him, Simone finally completed his array. The fire magic shone brightly, and several attendants murmured praises for their young master.

Without pausing, Simone adeptly placed the magic crystal core and two herbs into the center of the array. His actions were swift yet precise, prompting further admiration from the attendants. Simone basked in their praise—until he realized the exclamations were not meant for him.

He saw that above Roland’s stone platform, a crimson array was already suspended in midair. Below it, a funnel-shaped object was slowly forming—the unmistakable sign of a successful potion: the array funnel.