He felt it! A surge of power roared through his entire body—this potion was like a wild temptress, dancing passionately in his veins, making every blood vessel throb with intensity.
"Roar——" He threw his head back and howled in exhilaration. His armor shattered with a thunderous crash, sending shards flying as his pale, bulging muscles were exposed.
He punched the air. Boom—A sonic boom erupted, rippling through the space before him. He stared at his fist in awe; every strike now felt like it could land a devastating critical hit, brimming with unbridled fury.
"What a powerful potion!" He gasped. "I've wandered the depths of Hell for years, and never have I taken a potion that boosts my combat power this much! It's incredible!"
[Ding! Danger Level reduced to 0%]
He spun around abruptly, his eyes blazing with intensity as he locked onto Lynn. "What kind of potion is this? Its effect is absolutely explosive?!"
Lynn smiled and gave a thumbs-up. "Our shop's specialty—Critical Strike Potion!"
"Critical Strike Potion…" The Black Knight muttered the name, his gaze growing increasingly fanatical.
"Amazing… I never thought such a high-potency potion would exist in this godforsaken place. With this potion backing me, I should be able to crush that demon hunter without breaking a sweat…"
He swore this was the most potent potion he'd ever taken. This tangible boost to his combat power was the ultimate pursuit for a warrior like him.
Lynn's expression turned serious, hesitation creeping into his voice. "Sir, while the potion's effect is indeed extraordinary, I feel obligated to warn you—it comes with some minor side effects…"
"Though I'm still unsure exactly what those side effects are." Lynn decided to be upfront about the uncertainty.
"Side effects?" The Black Knight snapped back to his senses, then sneered. "Naturally. A potion that can nearly double my combat power in an instant is bound to have some adverse reactions! But it doesn't matter!"
"Can any side effect be worse than death?" He smirked.
Just then, a gust of wind swept through the door. His luscious, flowing hair fluttered wildly in the breeze—then slid off his head smoothly, drifting away in strands.
...
...
Lynn's eyes went blank. "Sir… I think the side effect just kicked in…"
The Black Knight raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
Lynn's eyes widened. "Maybe you should touch your head?"
Curious, the Black Knight reached up to brush his bone-white tresses—only to feel a perfectly smooth surface.
His pupils contracted sharply. A wave of intense unease washed over him. Could it be…?
He glanced at a nearby mirror. Hum—His gaze turned vacant instantly. Staring back at him was a shiny, bald head—round, flawless, and dazzlingly bright. A faint glint flickered across its surface, like polished metal.
...
...
An eerie silence spread unchecked through the room.
"Where's my hair?" The Black Knight asked dazedly.
Lynn pointed downward. "On the floor…"
"This is the side effect you mentioned?" He muttered.
Lynn nodded cautiously. "It seems so…"
...
A brief, tense silence followed.
"I'LL KILL YOU!!" The Black Knight grabbed Lynn by the collar, his face contorted with rage. His shiny bald head glinted repeatedly as he moved, like a beacon.
Lynn panicked, scrambling to defend himself. "Didn't you say you weren't afraid of anything short of death? Why get worked up over a little side effect?!"
The Black Knight's eyes bulged with fury. "You didn't say I'd go bald!!"
Lynn shot back. "Sure, you're bald—but you're also stronger! It's just a small price to pay for power!"
The Black Knight gritted his teeth, releasing Lynn's collar as he panted heavily. His gaze flickered wildly, torn between anger and reason.
He was right. As a warrior chasing ultimate strength, going bald wasn't exactly unthinkable. The potion's effect was undeniable—a near-double boost in power was unparalleled. And what did a little baldness matter to a Black Knight? So what if he was bald? Compared to true power, it was trivial!
But… He pointed furiously at his glowing head in the mirror, roaring. "I can live with bald! But why the hell does it have to shine?! It's like a lightbulb! Have you ever seen a head that glints every few seconds?!"
Sure enough, his smooth, shiny skull emitted a faint flash of light every few seconds—like a built-in special effect, impossible to ignore. It was utterly infuriating.
Lynn wiped the cold sweat from his brow, forcing a calm tone. "Calm down, sir. This must be part of the side effect. And hey—isn't a little glow just a way to make you stand out from the crowd?"
The Black Knight ground his teeth, his fists clenched so tightly they creaked. His gaze flickered violently—contrasted by the steady glints of his bald head.
"How much per bottle?!" He snarled through gritted teeth.
Lynn held up one finger, his tone serious. "1,000 Skull Coins. Absolutely worth every coin."
"How many more do you have?"
"Ten total, including the one you just drank."
"I'll take them all!" The Black Knight slammed his fist on the counter, his expression dark.
Lynn blinked in surprise. "I thought you hated the side effect?"
The Black Knight grabbed him by the collar again, his eyes blazing. "I'm already this bald—do you think I care about getting a little balder?! Package them up! Hurry up, or I'll kill you!"
...
A few minutes later.
[Ding! You've completed the quest. Rewards obtained: 200 Skull Coins, 200 Basic XP, Black Knight's Recall Rate +1.]
Lynn stood at the shop door, waving as the Black Knight galloped away on his wraith warhorse. "Come back soon, sir! I'll give you a 1% discount if you need more potions like this!"
The sound of hooves faded into the dark mist—but every few seconds, a faint glint flickered from deep within the fog, impossible to miss.
...
Dozens of minutes later, on the desolate, dark Hell Wasteland.
A demon hunter wearing a tall top hat stepped slowly out of the shadows, tilting his hat up slightly with the barrel of his gun. The wind whipped his long cloak around him.
"I've been waiting for you, Black Knight." The demon hunter smirked, his voice deep.
"I thought you'd chickened out and run away."