After Imina left, Sakeer remained seated on a stone chair, retrieving a bottle of deep blue alchemical potion from his robes. Unlike the ones sold to the public, this one was different.
The potions Imina had been selling were light blue and carried a faint, diluted scent of blood.
As for the taste?
For ordinary people and low-level adventurers, it was tolerable. After all, the standard low-grade healing potions sold in apothecary workshops were often infused with various herbal components, making them taste even worse.
Since his alchemical potion was just as effective—if not superior—and available at an affordable price, it was bound to gain popularity.
Item: Magic Alchemy Solution (Regeneration Potion)
Level: Lower
Description: Restores 20 HP, significantly enhances wound recovery, and removes certain negative effects related to "limb loss." (Potion effects last for 30 days.)
This was the true, undiluted version of the regeneration potion. The diluted version, however, only restored around 3 to 4 HP.
That might seem like a small number at first glance, but considering the game's mechanics, where the average health of ordinary people in this world was around 10 HP, it was already a potent elixir.
In fact, this undiluted regeneration potion rivaled some of the higher-grade potions sold in apothecary workshops—though, of course, it still paled in comparison to the legendary "Blood of the Gods."
For reference, the Red Bottle Potion (Lower Healing Potion) in the Bone King's possession could restore 50 HP.
What truly intrigued Sakeer, however, wasn't just the healing effect of this troll-blood-based potion.
It was its special ability.
Limb restoration.
This was a recognized negative status in YGGDRASIL—akin to permanent limb loss in reality.
For instance, if Dosari, the leader of the "Rock" adventurer team, had his leg crushed by an ogre, failure to treat it in time would likely leave him crippled, forcing an early end to his adventuring career.
Many adventurers suffered similar fates—arms severed, limbs crushed, devoured by monsters.
No ordinary healing potion could reverse such injuries.
The diluted regeneration potion Imina had been selling was merely a tool to increase public awareness and reputation.
But next…
Sakeer planned to introduce the true regeneration potion—targeting the elite and high-ranking individuals—to further elevate his influence.
"A diluted potion alone… I wonder if it will be enough to attract the attention of the Blood Emperor and Fluder."
Sakeer absentmindedly twirled the deep blue potion bottle between his fingers, murmuring to himself.
This potion's value far exceeded that of the analyzed version.
In truth, there was another method to remove the "Limb Damage" status—resurrection magic.
A fifth-tier spell, "Resurrection of the Dead," could purge all negative effects upon revival.
This was a standard mechanic in the game.
However, the lowest form of resurrection magic carried a heavy price.
"Resurrection of the Dead" caused the revived individual to lose four levels—a significant penalty. In this world, it also drained a massive amount of vitality.
For ordinary people, who had little to no vitality reserves, resurrection wasn't even an option.
"In the future, I'll need to keep an eye out for subhumans or monsters with unique abilities."
Standing up, Sakeer made his way toward the captive troll.
The discovery of troll blood's regenerative properties had opened up entirely new possibilities.
"Mmmf—mmmf—!"
The trolls had rags stuffed in its mouths.
Upon seeing Sakeer approach, its eyes filled with terror.
For creatures as notoriously reckless and violent as trolls to show such fear… it was clear it had endured unimaginable torment.
"Now then, I'll have to trouble you again."
Sakeer spoke gently, his expression calm as he pulled the rag from the troll's mouth.
Before the creature could unleash a deafening roar, Sakeer swiftly shoved something inside.
A goblin corpse.
"H-Human! Hmph—!"
The troll's muffled protests were drowned out as survival instincts took over.
Starving for days, its fear and reasoning vanished in an instant as it mindlessly devoured the flesh.
One corpse. Then another.
By the time the troll had swallowed over a dozen goblins, its movements began to slow.
That was when Sakeer made his move.
Raising his palm like a blade, he struck the back of the troll's skull with a sharp thud.
With a dull bang, the troll's eyes rolled back, and it collapsed unconscious.
Sakeer then retrieved a bottle of paralysis potion, crafted from the venom sac of a Hanged Spider, and poured it down the troll's throat.
"The magic infusion experiment begins."
With that, Sakeer extended his palm, which now glowed with a pale blue light.
He raised a single finger and pressed it against the troll's rough skin.
This was an experiment—a theory he had only recently begun to explore.
Having spent half a month in the imperial capital, most of his time had been occupied with potion making and occasionally crafting third-tier scrolls.
But even with all that, he found himself with far too much free time.
So during this period, Sakeer took time to consolidate his understanding of the powers he had mastered while conducting experiments on ideas he had previously theorized.
Under the passive effect of "Magic Swordsman," the magic power within him forcefully surged into the troll's body.
At first, the troll's stomach—once emaciated from repeated blood extractions—began to recover at an astonishing rate.
No.
To be more precise, it swelled—like a balloon rapidly inflating.
Then, as if reaching a critical threshold, the bloating no longer remained confined to its abdomen. The unnatural expansion spread across its limbs and torso, forming grotesque lumps of flesh of varying sizes.
The troll's entire body twisted, transforming into something indescribably monstrous.
Witnessing the horrifying sight, Sakeer abruptly halted the mana infusion, momentarily stunned.
He carefully observed the troll, then murmured to himself:
"The injected mana still can't coexist within its body... but its tolerance seems to have improved slightly compared to the initial experiments."
Shaking his head, Sakeer sighed.
"A pity. There's no real frame of reference for this."
Was it because trolls inherently lacked magical talent?
Or was it simply that this particular troll was too weak—its body incapable of enduring the strain of mana infusion?
Regardless, as soon as the experiment ceased, the troll's innate regeneration ability kicked in.
The grotesquely bloated and misshapen body gradually reverted to normal, as if nothing had happened.
Such an absurd level of resilience.
It was precisely this remarkable regeneration that allowed the troll to endure Sakeer's brutally crude experimentation methods.
If it had been a human, the body would have shattered long before any results could be observed.
Just like an ordinary iron sword cannot hold an enchantment, only superior materials can withstand such power.
"I wonder if Imina can bring me more trolls…"
Ten years ago, in pursuit of unparalleled strength, Go Gin, a Troll, had joined the Imperial Arena.
There, he defeated the reigning Seventh Martial King, seizing the title for himself and shaking the entire Empire.
This event ignited the interest of Imperial merchants, who began actively searching for trolls—hoping to find powerful specimens and profit from them, much like Osk, the operator of the Imperial Arena.
Unfortunately…
The Martial King was no ordinary troll.
Like Gu, one of the rulers of the Great Forest of Tob, he belonged to the Battle Troll subspecies—a superior breed far beyond the capabilities of regular trolls.
Moreover, his distinctive white hair and beard indicated that he carried a trace of the troll king's bloodline, granting him even greater strength.
Because of this, many weaker trolls were deemed worthless and discarded by merchants.
The one Sakeer had acquired was one such reject.
"What a tough creature."
Sakeer gazed down at the unconscious troll, which had endured countless rounds of his relentless experiments.
Despite himself, he felt a slight tinge of pity.
Then, without hesitation, he picked up the rag and stuffed it back into the troll's mouth.
"Don't worry. Once you have some company, things will get a little easier for you."
Evening
A knock echoed from the door.
Sakeer, who had been training the Little Barghest in the courtyard, paused, slightly surprised.
"How polite. That doesn't seem like Imina."
An amused expression flickered across his face as he rose to his feet and made his way toward the courtyard gate.
(End of Chapter)