Chapter 43 – The Essence of the Dragon.

The air inside Master Volkan's workshop was so hot that dust drifting through the windows burned into tiny glowing sparks before touching the floor.

Diana had placed onto the forge's large stone workbench the Tome of Transmutational Alchemy and the supreme jewel won at auction: the Shadow Dragon Core (Level 30), a black sphere pulsing with a dark, majestic aura.

Volkan crossed his four volcanic-rock arms, his eyes gleaming with pure fascination.

"You're going to use transmutational alchemy to fragment the essence of a Level 30 core and fuse it into four different Dragon Alloys?!" Volkan asked, his thunderous voice echoing. "If you mess up the alchemical sap ratio in the cauldron by a millimeter, the core explodes and this workshop goes sky-high, girl!"

"I don't mess up calculations." Diana said with complete serenity.

With Intelligence 70 and the knowledge of the advanced tome, Diana unsealed the reagent vial and began the transmutation reaction.

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Phase 1 - The Alchemical Transmutation

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Diana traced the transmutation circle with silver dust on the counter. She placed the Shadow Dragon Core in the center and poured the tome's pure solvents over the jewel.

With a whispered command, Diana channeled 40 MP into the circle.

FOOSH!

A black-silver light erupted from the pedestal. The Shadow Dragon Core's essence broke down into four streams of glowing elemental liquid, channeled into four stone molds: Black Steel Plates, Arcane Silk, Volcanic Steel, and Poison Crystal.

The flawless transmutation of a Level 30 material caused the System interface to flash with a proficiency notification:

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[ALCHEMICAL PROFICIENCY EVOLUTION!]

- [Alchemy / Botany]: Level 3 -> LEVEL 6 (150 / 600 EXP)!

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"Unbelievable…" Volkan whistled, impressed. "Clean Level 30 transmutation at Alchemy Level 6!"

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Phase 2 - The Master and Student Smithing

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Diana tied her hair back, put on the heavy leather apron, and grabbed the forging hammer.

For six unbroken hours, the sound of Diana's and Volkan's hammer strikes echoed through the forge workshop. Sweat, glowing sparks, and arcane steam filled the room.

Diana worked the metal with the surgical precision of Intelligence 70, bending dragon alloys over anvils while Volkan supervised the volcanic steel temper.

To cover the use of the main forge, high-temperature elemental coals, and smelting catalysts provided by Volkan, Diana handed five silver coins to the old master.

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[LEGENDARY FORGE USE PAYMENT]

- Master Workshop Rental + Dragon Catalysts: -5 Silver Coins (500 Bronze).

[TEMPORARY POCKET BALANCE: 63 SILVER COINS (6,300 Bronze / 6.3 GOLD COINS)]

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When the final set of armor was plunged into the magic tempering basin, steam billowed up to the workshop ceiling.

The brutal forging effort caused Diana's second proficiency to level up:

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[METALLURGICAL PROFICIENCY EVOLUTION!]

- [Metallurgy & Smithing]: Level 2 -> LEVEL 5 (80 / 500 EXP)!

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Masterpieces of the Arcane Greed Faction

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Volkan and Diana placed the four finished pieces onto the main workbench.

The full squad, Rhea, Kael, and Aurelia-Elysia, approached, staring at the new gear with eyes wide in pure shock and fascination.

1. Dragon Crystal and Silver Chestplate (For Diana): The dark steel armor now boasted shadow dragon scales interlaced with magic silver threads. The chestplate glowed with a majestic black-and-bluish aura. (Physical Defense +35, MP Regen +25%, Magic Resistance +20%, Magic Damage +15%).

2. Dragon Silk and Shadow Daggers (For Rhea): Two translucent dragon crystal blades with dark edges and handles wrapped in dragon leather. (Attack +20 each, Footstep Concealment +60%, Stealth Critical Damage +30%, Agility +5).

3. Dragon Volcanic Steel Heavy Armor (For Kael): A complete suit of volcanic steel plates reinforced with dragon scales and black iron pauldrons. (Physical Defense +45, Bonus HP +50, Reflects 20% of Physical Damage received).

4. Dragon Arcane Silk Priestess Robe (For Aurelia-Elysia): A long robe of silvery dragon silk with a hood. (Intelligence +4, Cast Time -40%, Automatic Mana Shield absorbing 100 damage).

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The squad donned the new set of Level 25+ equipment.

The transformation in the group's combat presence was terrifying:

- Rhea (Level 20): With the +5 Agility bonus from her new dragon daggers, her Agility jumped from 54 to an incredible 59 AGILITY POINTS! She was now an invisible silver blur.

- Kael (Level 19): With the +50 HP bonus from his new heavy dragon armor, his HP shot from 350 to a monumental 400 HP POINTS! An unbreakable vanguard.

- Aurelia-Elysia (Level 19): With the +6 INT bonus from her new dragon robe, her Intelligence climbed to 40 INT, elevating her MP pool to 320 MP POINTS!

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[FULL FINANCIAL AUDIT]

Previous Balance: 68 Silver Coins.

Forge and Catalyst Cost with Volkan: -5 Silver Coins.

[NEW ABSOLUTE NET WORTH: 63 SILVER COINS (6,300 Bronze! / 6.3 GOLD COINS!)]

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Sixty-three silver coins stashed in the faction vault.

Proficiencies in Alchemy Level 6 and Metallurgy Level 5.

Shadow Dragon Level 25+ equipment equipped across the entire squad.

—Look at you guys…

The System's voice echoed in Diana's mind, the interface floating in black gold in the corner of her vision.

—A Level 20 squad wearing Level 25+ legendary Dragon gear. The monsters in the Third Circle portal dungeons are gonna weep when they see you coming.

Volkan crossed his four stone arms, laughing proudly at the forged pieces. "You're ready for any challenge in the Second Circle now, girls!"

Diana adjusted the bracers on her new dragon chestplate, feeling the pulse of Magic Damage +15% circulate through her veins.

She looked at Rhea with Agility 59, Kael with 400 HP, and Aurelia-Elysia with 320 MP.

The test for the portal to the Third Circle of Hell was finally within reach. And the Arcane Greed Faction was ready to march.

Final Notes:

New equipment for everyone!!!