Chapter 2 - Chapter 2 The Faint Glimmer of Life

The moment Kael darted through the stone gate, a stream of fresh air rushed over him. It dispelled the sulfur stench clinging to his body in an instant, and the burning pain in his throat faded significantly. He tore off his gas mask instinctively, only to find that inside the gate, there was not a trace of alchemical toxin in the air. The air here was as clean as it had been before the Great Cataclysm. Roars and footsteps thundered behind him. Kael didn't dare to hesitate. He spun around and sprinted deeper into the relic. Beyond the gate lay a narrow corridor. Its walls were carved with dense alchemical runes, from which faint energy hums still emanated. Occasional pale green motes drifted out of the runes, settling on his skin with a warm, comforting tingle. "Don't run! Halt!" The tall alchemist's voice echoed through the corridor, laced with furious reverberations. Kael didn't dare to look back. He could hear the footsteps drawing closer by the second, along with the whoosh of energy bolts fired from alchemical pistols. The bolts struck the walls, exploding into clouds of pale blue flame. Gravel showered down. The alchemical runes on the walls shattered with a shrill whine, and the pale green motes vanished in an instant. At the end of the corridor stood a small chamber, clearly a compact alchemical workshop. In the center of the room rested a dust-shrouded alchemy furnace, its surface etched with intricate patterns. Though covered in rust, it still retained the traces of its former craftsmanship. Shelves lined the walls, now toppled and scattered with broken alchemical instruments, yellowed papers, and fragments of unidentifiable ore. Kael burst into the room, his first instinct to find a hiding spot. But the chamber was empty, offering no refuge at all. Just then, the three alchemists charged in, surrounding him and cutting off every escape route. "Why stop running?" The tall alchemist panted, his eyes fixed coldly on Kael. "Hand over everything in your pouch. And this alchemy furnace, along with everything else in this room, belongs to the Guild. Lay so much as a finger on them, and I'll break your limbs." Kael pressed his back against the cold stone wall, his fingers tightening around his shovel. His eyes darted frantically around the room, searching for a way out. He knew he was outnumbered. A fight would be a death sentence. His only hope lay in finding something within the room that could turn the tide. The short alchemist lost his patience. He raised his alchemical pistol, aiming straight at Kael's chest. "Quit wasting our time, kid. Hand it over—now!" Kael didn't move, his gaze locked on the short alchemist's hand, ready to dodge at a moment's notice. But before he could react, the tall alchemist lunged forward. He grabbed Kael's wrist and twisted it violently. The shovel clattered to the ground, and a searing pain shot through Kael's entire body. "Stubborn brat!" The tall alchemist roared, slamming a fist into Kael's chest. Kael grunted, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. His body crumpled uncontrollably, collapsing beside the alchemy furnace. The metal shard, the ore fragments, and the dull gray crystal tumbled out of his pouch, falling straight into the dust-choked furnace. "Hahaha, saves us the trouble of digging them out." The short alchemist chuckled, stepping forward to reach into the furnace. Panic surged through Kael as he watched. He stretched out his hand instinctively, desperate to retrieve his belongings. But the instant his fingertips touched the furnace, a strange sensation washed over him. He could feel a faint energy stirring within his body, drawn irresistibly toward the furnace, flowing through his fingertips and into its core. That energy had been dormant for as long as he could remember, so faint he'd never noticed it before. Now, it awakened with a vengeance, surging wildly into the furnace. In the next moment, the alchemy furnace erupted with a brilliant green light. The runes on its surface blazed to life. Pale green energy churned inside, gurgling like a boiling cauldron. More and more pale green motes filled the room, swirling into a small vortex that danced around the furnace. The three alchemists froze, stepping back involuntarily, their eyes wide with shock and greed. "What in the world is that? The energy reaction—it's off the charts!" Kael stared in disbelief. He could sense the energy within the furnace merging rapidly. The dull gray crystal was enveloped in the glow, its ashen outer layer melting away to reveal a clear, translucent core that radiated a soft yet powerful green light. Crack! With a sharp pop, the furnace lid flew open. A fist-sized green crystal, clear as pure jade, rose slowly from the furnace, hovering in mid-air. A faint, fresh fragrance wafted from the crystal. Wherever its green light touched, the alchemical runes on the walls flared to full brightness. The air in the room grew even purer, and the wound on Kael's chest began to heal at a visible rate, the pain vanishing completely. "What… what kind of crystal is that?" The short alchemist muttered, his eyes practically glowing with greed. "I've never seen an alchemical crystal like this. Its energy signature is stronger than a high-grade power core!" The tall alchemist snapped out of his stupor, roaring. "Grab it! With this crystal, we'll earn the Guild's highest reward. We'll never have to scrape by in this hellhole again!" All three alchemists charged at the crystal simultaneously. Kael's mind raced. This crystal was extraordinary. It could purify the air and heal wounds. If it fell into the Guild's hands, they would undoubtedly use it for evil. Moreover, it was his only chance of survival now. If he could seize the crystal, he might just be able to defeat the three alchemists and escape. Kael surged to his feet, snatching the hovering green crystal out of the air. The crystal was cool to the touch, yet a warm, soothing energy flowed from it, seeping through his palm and into his body. He could feel the faint energy inside him being nourished by the crystal's power, growing stronger with every passing second. "Give it back!" The tall alchemist lunged at him, reaching for the crystal. Kael swung his arm instinctively. The crystal unleashed a blade of green light, slashing toward the tall alchemist. The alchemist had no time to dodge. The light blade sliced through his shoulder, tearing through his uniform. The wound on his shoulder began to heal rapidly, yet it was wracked with intense pain—the green light was purging the alchemical energy from his body. "Monster! The kid's a monster!" The tall alchemist screamed, stumbling backward. Kael stared at his hand in shock. He had never imagined the crystal possessed such immense power. Gripping the crystal tightly, his eyes hardening with resolve, he charged at the three alchemists. Green light swirled around his fist, shaping into blade after blade of light that rained down on the alchemists. The three men were forced into a desperate retreat, utterly unprepared for this kind of power. They could only dodge clumsily, on the defensive. Seizing the opportunity, Kael darted toward the door, then sprinted back down the corridor. "Don't let him get away! That crystal is ours!" The tall alchemist roared, leading the other two in a frantic chase. Kael burst out of the stone gate, only to find the gray mist outside had grown thicker than ever. The toxin concentration had soared to dangerous levels. But as he clutched the green crystal tightly, its glow formed an invisible barrier around him, repelling all the toxic fumes. Yet he only ran a few steps before grinding to a halt. The entrance to the stone gate was now surrounded by alchemists in Guild uniforms—over a dozen of them. At their head stood a man clad in a white robe, emblazoned with a golden gear emblem on the chest. His eyes were cold, his aura imposing—it was a low-ranking Guild deacon, far more powerful than the three alchemists he'd just fought off. The white-robed deacon's gaze locked onto the green crystal in Kael's hand, cold and greedy. A cruel smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "A scavenger who can forge a crystal like this… you have some talent. Unfortunately for you, you've run into me." He waved a hand. The dozen alchemists raised their pistols in unison, aiming straight at Kael. "Hand over the crystal, and I'll make your death quick and painless." Kael tightened his grip on the crystal, staring at the alchemists closing in on him. Despair washed over him. But he refused to give up, his eyes still burning with resolve. He couldn't die here. He had to take this crystal back to save Old Joe, to save everyone in the camp. As he gathered all his strength, preparing to unleash the crystal's full power in a final counterattack, a figure suddenly darted out from behind the nearby ruins. She held a pale blue alchemical shield, positioning herself firmly in front of Kael. The shield flared to life, blocking the energy bolts from all the pistols. The figure turned around, her golden hair tied in a high ponytail, her lavender eyes cold and determined. She wore a crisp Guild apprentice uniform, with a silver gear emblem stitched on the chest. "He's with me. You can't touch him." Kael stared at her in stunned silence, confusion flooding his mind. She was a Guild apprentice—why was she saving him? The white-robed deacon's eyes turned icy. "Miss Ella, this is Guild business. I suggest you stay out of it." Ella? Kael's heart skipped a beat. He'd heard that name before—the daughter of the Alchemists' Guild Master, a rebellious apprentice who had been exiled from the Guild and vanished into the wasteland after questioning the Guild's ruthless practices. Ella didn't turn around, keeping her back to Kael as her lavender eyes locked onto the white-robed deacon. "Whether I interfere is none of your concern. I'm taking him with me—today." The deacon's face darkened, his gaze growing even colder. "If you insist on protecting him, then don't blame me for being ruthless. I'll take you both back to the Guild and let the Master decide your fate!" The dozen alchemists charged forward as one. Ella tightened her grip on the alchemical shield, then glanced over her shoulder at Kael, her voice low and urgent. "If you don't want to die, come with me!" Kael looked into her determined eyes, then at the alchemists closing in. He clenched the green crystal tightly and nodded.