Chapter 206: Seventh Rank Blood (5)

Chapter 206: 206: Seventh Rank Blood (5)

The golden patterns along its shell were still glowing weakly, but Lucard could sense that the protective energy left by its mother was slowly decreasing.

He needed to begin preparing the storage treasure as soon as possible.

Elowen noticed him looking between the egg and the core.

"Lucard, what are you thinking?"

He looked at her.

"I may have found a way to keep the egg alive for longer."

Elowen’s eyes immediately brightened.

"Really? Can you hatch it?"

"Not yet. But I can create something that will protect it until we find a suitable fire treasure."

Cedric became interested.

"What kind of thing?"

"A storage-type treasure."

Cedric frowned.

"A storage ring?"

"Something similar, but not an ordinary storage ring. Most storage treasures are made to preserve objects. They are not suitable for supporting a living creature that needs to absorb mana continuously."

Lucard raised the Crimson Sunwing’s core.

"I can use this core to supply fire mana to the egg. If I build a stable storage space around it and control the energy release, the egg can remain inside without losing its remaining life force so quickly."

Elowen looked excited.

"Then we can carry it without worrying about breaking the shell?"

"Yes. The space will also protect it from outside temperature changes and ordinary impacts."

Cedric rubbed his chin.

"Wait. You are talking about creating a storage treasure with its own internal mana environment?"

"Yes."

"That is not ordinary alchemy."

"I know."

Cedric stared at him.

Then he asked, "You also know alchemy?"

Lucard looked at him as though the question was strange.

"I know many things."

Cedric opened his mouth, then closed it.

He was beginning to wonder exactly what Lucard did not know.

The man could control blood, create unusual spells, understand ancient beasts, recognize rare materials, and now claimed he could make a specialized storage treasure.

And he was supposed to be a young noble from a destroyed baron family.

What kind of childhood did this fellow have?

Cedric wanted to ask, but he had learned that Lucard was unlikely to give a useful answer.

Instead, he focused on the treasure.

"Even with a Seventh Rank fire core, creating a stable storage space is difficult. You will need a powerful material to support the structure."

Lucard nodded.

"Correct. That is the problem."

Elowen looked worried again.

"Do we have anything suitable?"

"Almost."

Lucard looked toward Cedric.

"I need another strong source of energy to stabilize the storage space. Something with enough power to support the formation. Preferably another Seventh Rank beast core."

Cedric froze.

He slowly lowered his eyes toward the dark yellow crystal he was holding.

Then he looked back at Lucard.

Lucard was still staring at him.

Cedric’s expression changed.

"Wait."

Lucard said nothing.

Cedric held the core closer to his chest.

"You cannot be serious."

"I have not said anything."

"You are looking at my core!"

"It is a suitable material."

Cedric immediately took two steps backward.

"No."

Lucard raised an eyebrow.

"No?"

"Absolutely not! You just gave me this core, and now you want it back?"

"Yes."

Cedric stared at him in disbelief.

"Lucard! I have not even had it for an hour!"

"Then you should not be too attached to it."

"That is not how ownership works!"

Elowen looked between them.

"But Cedric, if the core can help save the egg..."

Cedric turned toward her.

"Elowen, please do not use that expression again."

"What expression?"

"The one that makes me lose valuable things."

Elowen blinked innocently.

"I am only asking."

"That is what you said before we helped two Seventh Rank beasts fight!"

Lucard folded his arms.

"I am not taking it for free."

Cedric turned back toward him.

"What do you mean?"

"I will compensate you."

Cedric narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

"With what?"

"A weapon."

Cedric looked confused.

"A weapon?"

Lucard pointed toward the materials he had collected from the Nightfall Behemoth.

"I have its bones, scales, horn, and several other useful parts. I can also collect suitable materials from the Crimson Sunwing. With those, I can make you a staff or a sword."

Cedric stared at him.

Then he shook his head.

"No."

Lucard looked at him.

"You have not even heard the details."

"I do not need to. I am a mage, Lucard. I can buy an excellent staff with the money from selling this core."

"Then keep it."

Lucard turned away.

Cedric blinked.

"That is it?"

"Yes."

"You are not going to argue?"

"No. I will find another way."

Lucard picked up the Crimson Sunwing’s core and examined the golden patterns again.

Then he added casually, "Just do not regret your decision later. A Seventh Rank weapon is much rarer than a Seventh Rank beast core."

Cedric stopped breathing for a moment.

"Wait."

Lucard continued examining the core.

Cedric took a step closer.

"What did you just say?"

Lucard looked at him.

"Which part?"

"A Seventh Rank weapon?"

"Yes."

"You are saying you can make a Seventh Rank weapon?"

Lucard nodded.

"If the materials are suitable."

Cedric stared at him.

Then he looked at the Behemoth’s horn and bone spikes lying nearby.

His expression slowly changed.

In the Valorian Kingdom, Seventh Rank magical equipment was almost impossible to acquire.

A Seventh Rank beast core was already extremely valuable, but it was still a raw material. A powerful mage might use it for cultivation, formations, or alchemy. If someone wanted to turn such materials into a true Seventh Rank weapon, they needed a master capable of handling that level of power.

And there was only one known living alchemist in the kingdom who could reliably create Seventh Rank magical weapons.

That person served the royal family.

He did not accept ordinary commissions, no matter how much gold someone offered. Even powerful dukes could not simply walk into his workshop and request a weapon.

The only realistic way for most nobles to obtain a Seventh Rank magical treasure was to receive one from the emperor himself.

Such rewards were extremely rare.

Some noble families had served the throne for generations without ever receiving one.

Cedric understood exactly what Lucard was offering.

If the weapon truly reached Seventh Rank, it could be worth far more than the beast core he was holding.

His grip on the crystal loosened slightly.

"Lucard..."

"What?"

"Are you certain you can make it?"

"Yes."

"A real Seventh Rank weapon?"

"That depends on the materials and how well the formation holds, but I have enough to attempt one. I am not talking about an ordinary weapon with a few beast bones attached."

Cedric swallowed.

He looked at the core again.

Then at Lucard.

His mind began working very quickly.

A Seventh Rank core was valuable.

A Seventh Rank weapon was even more valuable.

And unlike a beast core, a completed weapon could be used immediately.

The difference was enormous.

Elowen noticed the change in his expression.

She smiled.

"Cedric, are you thinking about money again?"

"No."

She looked at him.

Cedric corrected himself.

"Not only money."

Lucard extended his hand.

"Make your decision. I do not have time to negotiate all day."

Cedric hesitated.

He looked at the dark yellow beast core one final time before slowly holding it toward Lucard.

"Fine."

Lucard accepted the core.

Cedric immediately raised one finger.

"But I want a sword."

Lucard looked at him.

"A sword?"

"Yes."

"Not a staff?"

"No. A sword."

Lucard did not ask why a Fourth Circle crystal mage wanted a sword instead of a magical staff. That was Cedric’s business, and the choice made little difference to him.

He simply nodded.

"Fine. A sword."

Cedric looked relieved.

"Then we have a deal."

"Yes."

Elowen clapped her hands happily.

"Wonderful! Now we can save the egg, and Cedric will get a powerful sword."

Cedric looked at her.

"You sound happier about the egg than my sword."

"Of course."

Cedric sighed.

"At least you are not pretending."

Lucard ignored their conversation and placed the two beast cores beside each other.

The dark yellow core of the Nightfall Behemoth and the crimson core of the Crimson Sunwing immediately reacted.

A faint pressure spread between them.

The earth mana inside the first core was heavy and stable, while the fire mana inside the second was hot and active.

Lucard watched the interaction with interest.

Good. The earth core can serve as the foundation, while the fire core supplies energy. If I balance them properly, I can create a stable internal space with a controlled fire environment.

The two cores were powerful enough for what he needed.

However, raw cores alone would not be sufficient.

He still needed materials to create the outer structure, connect the formations, and prevent the fire energy from escaping.

Lucard looked toward the Crimson Sunwing’s body.

Its golden beak, red feathers, claws, and several other parts contained traces of powerful fire mana. Some could be used to support the formation, while the remaining materials could be saved for Cedric’s sword.

The Behemoth’s scales and bones would provide the harder components.

He began separating the materials into different groups.