Endless Horde: Through the Eyes of a Godking

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Cedric's in the lab right now. He was holding up a glass tube on top of a small burner, shifting its position around to ensure that the mixture inside was getting even heat.

His senses focused on the changes happening in the mixture as it came up to temperature. Any shift in its color, viscosity, composition...down to how the exact temperature of it was reflected on his senses.

'...yeah, around this much I think.' He mused inwardly as he removed the glass tube from the heat and placed it in a bowl of ice water.

He left it there for a moment to cool down while he cleaned up his workstation. Once he's done with that, the mixture cooled down enough to settle the changes it is supposed to have.

Cedric then turned on the recording function of the system and said:

"Alright, this is Test #13, labeled under 'Untitled Nutritional Fluid'. In this test, I switched the source of fructose from pure apples and added berries. I also lowered the temperature this time to 175°C."

Cedric then looked at another system window and said:

"...system remarks still remain the same. It says 'Unnamed Nutritional Fluid', effects are unknown but safe for consumption."

"..."

"Well, down the hatch, I guess. Cheers!"

Cedric sighed before downing the contents of the glass tube. He then smacked his lips a couple of times and hummed. He didn't say anything right away and waited until he noticed a chance on his body.

"Taste-wise, it's better than the last one. The addition of berries gave it tartiness and mouthfeel, must be from chemical reaction, I think. For a Nutritional Drink, this isn't bad at all, especially since we target the market for people who are 13 and above."

"As for the effects..." Cedric checked himself for a bit before continuing, "Pretty much the same as the last one. It accelerates the body's metabolism, allowing it to absorb more nutrients for the next hour or so."

"Since the mixture itself is packed with numerous nutrients, this effect ensures that they will absorbed effectively by the consumer in addition to other supplements that they might think of taking within the next hour."

"It also improves a person's appetite from what I can sense so far. Must be because of how it tastes. In addition, this also works as an energy drink. These effects received a significant boost from the previous product we made."

Cedric eyed the System alerts and saw:

['Unnamed Nutritional Fluid's effect revealed upon consumption!]

[Unnamed Nutritional Fluid (T0 - Supplement)]

: Packed with all sorts of vitamins, minerals, and nutritional ingredients. It's sweet and tarty.

: Additional Effects - Appetite Boost +7%, Energy Boost +10%, lasts for an hour.

**

His previous attempt only yielded a 5% Appetite Boost for the additional effect. This time, the Energy Boost was added.

It's fascinating how minor changes in the recipe resulted in this but such is the mystery of Alchemy.

"Well, all things considered, it's not a failure." Cedric said to the recording lens. "But still not good enough to be launched as is. We need more tests. I'll think of a way to improve the recipe in the meantime. 'Til next time, I guess."

With that, Cedric turned off the recording and sighed.

He then sat at the nearby chair and rested his back on it. He removed his safety glasses and closed his eyes for a bit. He mentally dismissed the alerts he received that stated his Alchemist Sub-Class gaining a level or two.

All things considered, Cedric wasn't going all out just yet. If he really wanted to, he could order a bunch of expensive ingredients and follow recipes online to really grind his levels in Alchemy. However, Cedric's not really looking for quantity here.

Unlike others, he didn't take the Alchemy Sub-Class just to increase his skill set and hope for better status and pay in the Lifestyle Guild. He doesn't lack funds at all, in fact that's the least of his problems.

He took the Alchemist Sub-Class because it would play a huge role in his future plans. He's aiming for quality here, that's why he's trying to improve or create his own mixtures and concoctions instead.

This is a much better use of his knowledge and skills. In addition, it also conditions his mind to maximize his advantages because he will surely need it for his future.

Cedric opened his eyes and after clearing his mind. He then stood up, removed his lab coat, and left the lab after ensuring that it was clean.

He then moved to the gym and stretched his body a bit.

Kyu~!

That's when he heard Aurelion calling out to him from the sigil of the Beast Soul Space. He smiled and brought the little guy out.

The tiny thing appeared on his palms, stretching at hopping with energy. From what he saw, it grew a bit while resting inside its home.

"What's up, Buddy? Hungry?"

The little thing let out a whine of agreement and Cedric chuckled.

"What would like to eat then? Ki or milk?"

"Kyu~! (Milk!)"

"Alright." Cedric nodded and brought out a pre-made milk bottle from his inventory. He then brought it closer to Aurelion who immediately snacked on it.

He then placed the little guy down as it drank its milk to continue with his stretches. It didn't take long before it finished its meal and trodded close to him with its pudgy legs.

"Oh, you can walk already? That's awesome!" Cedric chuckled as the little guy struggled to climb up his leg.

He then put Aurelion on top of his head and continued with his stretches. He felt the little guy snuggling on his hair as if it was its nest.

Cedric naturally ensured that the cub wouldn't fall down from his movements. He did it using minor Ki control, not difficult at all.

After stretching, he then began his usual training routine. As he did so, he would occasionally hear the yips and whines of Aurelion, seemingly enjoying the ride.

Of course, he made sure that his pet wouldn't be hurt by his activities. Aurelion himself knew this too that's why it was fearless as it stayed on his head.

While the majority of his thought chambers focused on his training, the others were thinking about other tasks in the background.

It wouldn't be wrong to say that he had way too many things he's dealing with in his mind but it's been like this for a long time already that he's grown used to it.

This is also why mind-readers would have an awful time dealing with Cedric. Delving into his psyche would cause a harshly induced psychosis that no psychic would appreciate. And that's considering they could get past his mental defenses — which are heavily fortified, by the way.

Mind-readers poking through his mental defenses is nothing new to him, especially after he began his studies here. He had sensed numerous brushes all over his mind ever since coming here. At one point, someone even decided to try their luck and breach his defenses.

As a result of that, whoever that person is, suffers painfully from sensory overload. Cedric didn't even have to actively interfere. The perpetrator only passed by a single room and already experienced that much. There are still 99 layers to go through beyond that, each one's worse than the previous layer so it's safe to say that Cedric was adequately protected from their kind.

Once he was done with his usual routine, Cedric wiped his sweat and sat down. His heart was still racing and he felt warm all over yet he didn't mind at all.

He then whistled to Aurelion, attempting to communicate that way. The little guy seemed to have understood what he wanted to happen and climbed down, slowly, from his head.

It landed on his shoulders and pawed its way to his palms, releasing a sharp yip as it did so.

"Good boy!" Cedric praised.

Aurelion keened at the praise and snuggled on his palms.

Now that he looked at the sunlion closely, he discovered that it was now growing some coat. It's a bit patchy but it's getting there.

"You're growing up fast. I guess that's expected of an SS rank potential, huh?" Cedric hummed as he gently tickled the little thing.

Aurelion only hatched yesterday but he's already growing this much. Compared to how much growing there is for the cub, this much was negligible. But since Cedric considers Aurelion as his son, he doesn't know what to feel about this.

"Is this what parents feel?" Cedric mumbled to himself, smiling wryly at how ironic this felt.

He never had plans of raising children. He doesn't even think about marriage at all. He wanted to enjoy life and freedom to the fullest to make up for all the time he spent within the grimy walls of the RMC.

Yet, here he is. Sure, Aurelion was no 'child', but in Cedric's eyes, there's not much difference really.

While it's still too early to say if he's doing a good job at it or not, he still considers himself as Aurelion's Dad. So in a way, he is a parent now.

"I wonder what the girls would think of this..."