Rebirth : The Alchemist's Path

As the Dark Elf man's dagger came down, a tearing sound echoed. Yet, he frowned. Though the dagger had pierced through the bed, he felt no resistance from flesh.

"Not good!"

His expression changed as he let out a startled cry, turning to look behind him. There, he saw another man, gripping his companion by the neck.

"The Dark Elves aren't that impressive, are they? Two Saint Archmage -level Dark Elves, and you think you can take me on?"

Sylvus smiled slightly as he held up the Dark Elf.

"Y-You... How did you..."

The Dark Elf who had attacked Sylvus earlier stared at him in shock.

The Dark Elves were best at night combat. Even when facing someone several levels stronger, they could still perform a lethal strike. Yet, Sylvus, whose level was lower than theirs, had evaded the attack.

"So, what will it be? Will you take me to your tribe, or should I bring you there myself?" Sylvus asked with a smile.

Just moments earlier, Sylvus had used a forbidden spell—Void Spirit Art—rendering the Dark Elf's attack ineffective.

"Hmph, do you think the Dark Elf tribe is so easily captured?"

The Dark Elf man scoffed, a black aura bursting forth from him before he vanished from Sylvus' grasp.

"This is our finest escape technique, Shadow Doppelganger. Even as a Saint Archmage , you can't stop it,"

the man sneered as he reappeared not far from Sylvus.

"Really? I think it's still pretty weak."

Before the man could finish speaking, Sylvus' voice sounded right beside them. Both Dark Elves' faces turned pale.

Before they could react, they felt a tremendous force crashing into them.

With screams of pain, the two were sent flying, crashing through the walls. Sylvus followed closely behind them.

The next moment, the two Dark Elves hit the ground, while Sylvus planted his feet on their bodies. The powerful force caused both of them to spit out blood, their faces filled with fear.

"H-How is this possible... You..."

"Enough talking," Sylvus interrupted. "I'll ask you one more time: will you take me to the Dark Elf tribe, or should I bring just one of you there?" Sylvus taunted, looking down at them.

"Hmph, you wish to reach our tribe? Dream on!"

The two Dark Elves weren't foolish. It was clear that Sylvus was confident enough to head to their location, which meant he had some leverage. If they led him there, and they couldn't defeat him, it would endanger the entire tribe.

"Stubborn fools! Then I'll send one of you to your death first."

With a cold snort, Sylvus applied pressure with his right foot. Cracking sounds echoed as the Dark Elf beneath him took his last breath.

"Kill me too!"

Seeing his companion dead and knowing he couldn't escape, the remaining Dark Elf closed his eyes, resigned.

"Don't be in such a rush. There's still another one here. Come out!"

Sylvus smiled coldly, his gaze shifting toward the shadows nearby.

Suddenly, a powerful force struck at Sylvus, but he entered his void state, rendering the attack useless.

"My calming tea didn't work on you?"

The innkeeper emerged slowly, looking at Sylvus with surprise.

His calming tea was potent enough to affect even Mage Emperors. The man before him was merely a one-star Saint Archmage yet he seemed completely unaffected. It was hard for the innkeeper to believe.

Moreover, he was a nine-star Saint Archmage , and the attack he had just launched could have injured even a Mage Emperor. Yet, it had no effect on Sylvus. Could this man be hiding his true strength?

"I didn't kill you earlier because I wanted you to report back. I didn't kill you just now for the same reason. I suppose the Dark Elf tribe already knows I'm here?"

Sylvus said with a smile.

The old man's expression changed. When he saw that both Dark Elves had been captured alive, he had indeed alerted the Dark Elf tribe.

It turned out that everything had been within Sylvus' calculations, and they had been playing into his hands all along.

"Now that you've sent the message, you can die."

Seeing the old man's expression, Sylvus' lips curled. A Heavenly Fire Hand Cannon appeared in his hand, and a burst of red light shot toward the old man.

The old man was a nine-star Saint Archmage , and if they fought head-on, Sylvus wasn't sure if he could win. However, he had plenty of powerful means at his disposal.

"Hmph! Do you think a mere one-star Saint Archmage can defeat me?"

The old man snorted coldly. His left arm emitted a powerful force, and he intended to take on the red beam directly.

Seeing this, Sylvus almost laughed aloud. This old fool was practically seeking death.

The old man knew nothing of the power of the red beam. In his mind, Sylvus was of a far lower level than him, so he assumed Sylvus' magic would be useless.

Moreover, his left arm had absorbed the power of the Dark Elves, making it several times stronger than that of an ordinary human.

"Boom..."

But as soon as his arm came into contact with the red beam, the old man was stunned.

The "Qilin Arm" he was so proud of began to feel burning hot, and the sensation intensified.

In just a few breaths, his entire left arm was engulfed in flames. He tried to channel his internal magic to extinguish the fire, but the flames were insidious, burning through his magic and spreading into his body.

"Ahhh... What is this...?"

The old man screamed as the flames wrapped around his body, turning him into a living torch.

"You dare to take on Heavenly Fire directly? You're truly reckless,"

Sylvus chuckled.

Heavenly Fire was a flame born of the world's essence.

Though it wasn't as destructive as a Heavenly Lightning Tribulation, it was not something an ordinary person could withstand.

Even a Mage Emperor would struggle to put out the flames, suffering severe injuries in the process.

"Ah... Save me, save me..."

In less than a minute, amidst the old man's cries for help, the Heavenly Fire consumed him. A cold wind blew through the night, scattering the ashes.

"Well? Do you still refuse to submit?"

Sylvus' gaze fell on the Dark Elf at his feet.

"Dark Elves... never betray!" the man said through gritted teeth.

"Never betray? Didn't you betray the elven tribe?" Sylvus said with disdain.

The man's face darkened, unable to argue. After all, what Sylvus said was true.

"Then let me make you betray once more—enslave!"

Sylvus sneered, and with that single word, the defiance in the Dark Elf's eyes faded, replaced by a vacant expression.