Detrimental Potion: Transmutation!

Underneath the huge mound of dirt lay a small wooden trapdoor. The hinges had rust all around them making it difficult to pull open.

'Damn! I wonder what could be hidden inside.'

Letting his curiosity get the better of him, he placed his rucksack containing the crystalline rocks and the vials on the ground, then he got on one knee and used all his force to pull the trapdoor apart.

The shrieking of the rusty joint echoed through the hollow cavern, continuously rebounding off the walls until it got to outside the mountain where the stupid trio we're just finishing their final search.

"Boss, did you hear that?"

The fattest of the bunch and also the most easily frightened, Bouncer, had already entered high alert.

"Yeah! Sounds like it's coming from the mountain."

"You don't think- "

Before he could finish his statement, the shrieking sound rang out louder than before. The sound of metallic grating and wooden creaking together painted a very terrifying image in Bouncer's head.

"Holy Crap, Boss!"

"I don't think we should stay here anymore"

"I d-d-don't want to wait here anym-m-more"

"Shut up Bouncer! And think for once with that useless brain of yours."

"Um, boss? I've thought it through and maybe Bouncer's right?"

"Maybe we should leave?"

"How'd you become mercenaries if you get so scared all the time?"

"Those monsters we face out there don't make sounds like this though."

"It's probably terrifying and hideous and out to get us for trespass the mountain."

"Then why hasn't that kid been attacked yet?"

"..."

"Maybe it had already eaten the kid and that's why we couldn't find him?"

"Yes! Yes! That's definitely it Boss! Let's just get out of here. That kid's dead for sure."

"What's with these nuisances?"

In fact, it wasn't that they were weak as mercenaries, but they had been searching for almost an entire day, thus they had run out of stamina and needed to sleep.

Truthfully, if not for the fact that the boss had a strong mind, he'd also be having a mental break like them.

However, his mind was tough from the numerous fights with monsters, so even with all the lack of sleep, he won't experience what these two were experiencing and as such, he couldn't understand what was happening to them.

"Fine! Let's leave. We can't find the kid anyway. But just know I'll be taking more than half of your pay for wasting my time."

"Of course, boss! Survival is more important than money right now."

As the mercenaries evacuated the forest, a thought flashed thought the boss' head;

'I didn't know Crimson Mountain had monsters on it. We could come back and eradicate it later. They'll definitely reward is at the guild for discovering it.'

'But how would I explain what I was doing at Crimson Mountain? Hm..what a hassle!'

~~~~~

Far away from the Crimson River Town.

An isolated mountain range in the continent;

"Sir! A report has just come in from Supervisor #127; codename: Viper."

The youth knocked on the door while holding a small pigeon in his arms. This pigeon was a messenger pigeon transmitting information from the supervisors.

Of course the pigeons weren't regular animals, each supervisor had its own method of communication.

"#127, huh? He's in charge of THAT woman, right?"

"Yes, sir! The battle junkie."

"Very well, bring it to me."

"Right away, sir!"

Stepping into the room, a thick smell of burnt herbs wafted out of the room, making the youth's eyes to water.

After placing the letter from the pigeon on the table filled with beakers, tubes and chemicals which could glow, he simply stood to the side.

A frail hand stretched out of the dark part of the room as he grabbed the letter before retreating. Soon after, he gave his instructions to the youth.

"Very well!"

"You are called Zair, correct?"

"Yes, my Lord!"

The youth had an ecstatic look on his face as his name was called.

"Pick one of the potions on the table. Some have positive effects, whereas some are negative."

"Some also do not have any major effects."

"It's all up to your luck."

The youth, Zair, swallowed. When he had been picked as an apprentice to the elder, everyone had told him that he was eccentric and loved to experiment on his apprentices.

Now that the choice was given, he began to panic. After a short second of deliberation, he steeled his heart.

'My luck has always been really good.'

'I'll definitely pick something good.'

Grabbing a yellow potion off the table, he simply poured its contents into his mouth with no hesitation.

After a few seconds, nothing happened to the body of Zair. Breathing a sigh of relief that his body was still intact he turned to leave.

'Even if I don't pick a great potion, at least I didn't pick a negative one.'

'It's better to not have an effect than to pick a detrimental potion.'

Not long after he stepped towards the door, the world began to go blurry.

'Damn it! It's a detrimental potion.'

"Your luck is really good. You picked the least detrimental potion out of all the potions."

"Considering that all the potions were detrimental, I think you're perfect to be my apprentice."

Of course, Zair could no longer hear him as he had slipped into a coma.

"Ho! The transmutation is starting. I need to note this down."

"Hahaha!"

Eerie laughter rang out from the tower echoing through the nearby forests causing shivers to anyone who was close enough to hear it.

"Hah! He's done it again."

"If he keeps going like this, we're going to run out of students soon."

"Don't worry, another selection is coming up. We'll have a fresh new batch soon enough."

In a dark room, a group of figures sat at the table. If anyone were to step into the room, they would be filled with fear, because the room was full of the greatest enemies the Quelt continent had ever known.