"Senior Apprentice Sophia, is this the new body you've prepared for yourself?" Roy asked with awe and curiosity.
Sophia turned around and replied, "Indeed. I've concocted this artificial lifeform with an elemental bloodline, which should have excellent growth potential."
After a brief conversation, Roy learned that crafting the body in the form of a young girl was also to save materials. However, despite the reduced size, the quality was not compromised at all.
Sophia had used numerous Wizard-level treasures to concoct this body. Once the transplantation was successful, she would immediately become a full-fledged Wizard.
"It seems this is her path," Roy thought to himself, also reflecting on his own future path.
His Alchemy Talent was definitely something to be developed thoroughly, as it was the fundamental basis for him to become a Wizard Alchemist.
The two existing talents, [Proficient] and [Alchemy Machine], were both Black Iron level. They provided a solid foundation in the early stages but were not enough to propel him to great heights.
As for new talents, they were still a distant prospect. Previous speculations, such as "Can they be accelerated?" or "Are there higher-level talents?" had yet to be confirmed.
Now that he had finally advanced to a higher level, he should have some capital to explore these possibilities.
Then there was the Wizardry inheritance he had chosen, the "Animation Art."
This could branch into various fields such as "Genesis Studies," "Creation Studies," and "Potion Studies."
Whether he chose to become a Puppet Master, a Mechanical Wizard, or a Bloodline Wizard, there were promising prospects for long-term development.
However, the prerequisite was a vast amount of resources.
He needed to make good use of the Art of Alchemy to provide ample resources for this.
As he pondered, Sophia said, "The reason I called you here is that you've just advanced and need some resources to enhance your strength, as well as for exploration and research."
Roy snapped back to attention, "Indeed, Senior Apprentice. What guidance do you have for me?"
Sophia replied, "There's a mandatory task assigned to me by Tali that I'd like to delegate to you to handle.
Apart from the task's full reward going to you, I will also provide additional compensation based on the situation. How does that sound?"
Roy thought for a moment and said, "Could you lend me Celine for assistance?
Last time, the Mirage Orb in her hands was quite useful, and I was counting on her."
Sophia agreed, "That's fine, but you must protect her well."
"Deal!" Roy readily agreed.
As he prepared to leave, he suddenly remembered something, "Senior Apprentice, do you know about the Wizard Tower assigning mentors? I, as a newly advanced senior apprentice, still haven't been assigned a mentor."
Sophia replied, "I'm not sure either, but in the worst-case scenario, you might have to wait indefinitely."
"What? How long would that take?"
"If one or two years don't work, then three to five years. If three to five years don't work, then ten or more years. Just wait slowly; there's no fixed timeline."
"Isn't that delaying this entire generation of apprentices?" Roy exclaimed in shock.
"Apprentices are endless; the Tower doesn't care," she said, then suddenly stopped, her expression turning somewhat gloomy.
Roy was momentarily at a loss for words. After leaving the laboratory, he couldn't help but feel relieved that he had chosen to study on his own.
If he had just idly waited, how long would it have taken?
However, Sophia also seemed to have been affected. Roy vaguely heard that she originally had a mentor, but later, he also perished in that Forbidden Experiment.
"Forget it, let's go check on the mission requests."
Gathering his thoughts, Roy followed Sophia's directions to the mission center to confirm the situation.
"Sure enough, it's another mission to exterminate the Fishmen Tribe that has come ashore!
Coincidentally, the mission location is at the edge of Gale Hills..."
Roy flipped through the details, understanding the situation.
...
Two days later, in the southern part of Gale Hills.
Roy and the others moved north along the beach, searching for a Monster Clan with a Fishman Warlock.
But all they saw was a clear blue sky with white clouds, and the area was completely empty.
"This part of the coast doesn't seem rich in food. I think we should continue north, looking for areas with water plants and fish."
Roy thought for a moment and suggested.
"No matter how restless the Magic Creatures are, they still need to eat and drink. It's highly likely they would come ashore where there's food."
Everyone thought it made sense and continued north.
Suddenly, Celine warned, "There are three people ahead!"
Everyone looked forward and indeed spotted another task team, likely apprentices, but only three people.
Both sides cautiously observed each other from a distance, and through the telescope, they realized they were familiar faces—Chad and others they had occasionally seen during classes over the past year but couldn't quite remember their names.
"They seem injured. Let's go check on them," Roy put down the telescope and said to the group.
As they approached, it once again raised the other party's alertness.
But they seemed to need help and didn't flee, instead risking staying.
Not long after, Roy and the others finally understood the situation.
In just these two days, the coastline had undergone significant changes.
Several Fishmen Tribes had somehow united and spawned a powerful monster.
This group accidentally encountered them and had no choice but to flee in panic.
"If the Fishmen Tribes have united, we should also act together."
After roughly confirming they were no threat, Roy proposed with a serious expression.
...
Several hours later.
The group cautiously approached the battle site and found the companions they had mentioned.
However, only their heads remained, tossed alone on the beach.
Chad and the other two were overwhelmed with grief, collapsing onto the sand, "Damn it! Damn it all!"
Before they could mourn, the group suddenly noticed two more people being chased by over a dozen Fishman Warriors in the distance, one of them injured and in critical danger.
"It's Emer and Tigro!"
Renien recognized them; they were also Tali's fellow apprentices, and coincidentally, they knew them.
"How dare these mere monsters bully humans!"
"Take down those Fishmen!"
Everyone rushed forward, and in no time, they successfully dealt with these ordinary monsters, rescuing Emer and Tigro.
"Thank you! Thank you so much!"
The two gasped for breath, filled with gratitude.
Roy asked, "What happened to you?"
"A Fishman Warlock that can discharge electricity! Far more terrifying than any other Fishman Warlock!"
The injured Emer was so agitated that he began to ramble incoherently.
"It killed our companion the moment we encountered it! We had no choice but to flee, and just when we thought we had finally shaken it off, we got entangled with these ordinary Fishmen!"
It seemed they had encountered the same monster.
Among the Fishmen, a truly dangerous and powerful leader had indeed emerged!
(End of Chapter)