Outside, tension filled the air, but inside the workshop, the tireless research made Robb feel both exhausted and fulfilled.
Clearly, in this extraordinary world, true security could only be achieved through mastering power.
At dawn, as the first rays of sunlight streamed through the window onto the workshop floor, Robb finally put down his alchemical tools.
He rubbed his shoulders, sore from six consecutive hours of work.
Dozens of metal plates were neatly arranged on the workbench before him, each inscribed with different rune arrangements.
Some had oxidized and changed color; others retained their original luster.
"After so many attempts, there's finally progress," Robb muttered to himself, carefully picking up the last metal plate.
The runes on this special alloy, labeled Psi-23, had subtle differences compared to the dozens of previous attempts.
In earlier experiments, Robb had tried various rune combinations, but none had achieved the ideal isolation effect.
Some runes caused the metal to overheat and melt, others made it brittle, and still others failed to form a stable energy field.
But this last plate, Psi-23, demonstrated promising characteristics during testing.
When Robb injected two mutually repelling energy types into it, the metal plate successfully isolated them in two entirely separate zones, with no leakage or interference.
He picked up a special glass rod and gently touched the runes on the left side of the plate.
The metal emitted a faint blue glow, but only on the left half. The right-side runes remained completely inert.
"The energy isolation layer is theoretically feasible."
Robb recorded the observation in his notebook in detail:
"But the duration needs to be improved."
He glanced at the hourglass on the wall, the isolation effect lasted only about five minutes after activation, far from sufficient for practical use.
Robb flipped open a thick notebook on the table, filled with densely written data from previous experiments and failure analyses.
Every failure had brought new insights. Every mistake had paved the way to eventual success.
"The key to the isolation layer lies in the arrangement of the runes, not the runes themselves."
He muttered, his fingers brushing over a line of small script in the notebook:
"It's like building a dam, the placement of the stones is more important than the stones themselves."
This research into the metal isolation layer stemmed from information he recently read about Black Warlocks in the library.
Ancient records mentioned that during awakening, Black Warlocks' souls were gradually eroded by tainted energy, leading to personality distortions.
But Robb noticed a key detail:
A few Black Warlocks managed to stay sane for quite some time, even growing stronger.
They often wore special amulets or equipment, or used other techniques to create a "buffer zone" that slowed the direct corruption of the soul.
"If I could create a perfect isolation layer..."
Robb's eyes gleamed cautiously with the thought.
"In theory, it should be possible to completely separate two energy fields without interference."
This idea sparked his interest in the isolation layer.
The pursuit of power had to be grounded in calm reasoning. Robb never intended to walk the path of the Black Warlock, that path led to irreversible madness.
"Power only has value when it's under control." That was a tenet carved into his mind.
He checked the parameters of the Psi-23 metal plate once more and carefully placed it into a custom wooden box.
Then he took down another notebook labeled "Soulsteel Data."
During the past week of full-Order lockdown, besides routine practices, he had been working on two research fronts:
One was the energy isolation layer tests, and the other was a preliminary analysis of the rare piece of soulsteel.
These two projects seemed unrelated, but in Robb's plan, they would one day merge perfectly.
Analyzing soulsteel's properties was exceptionally complex.
This mysterious metal had high plasticity and magic conductivity, but was extremely temperamental, as if it could "sense" the intentions and skill of its handler.
Robb had spent dozens of hours trying to establish an initial "communication" with the metal, to make it gradually adapt to his mental signature.
"If I could successfully apply the isolation layer principles to soulsteel…"
He gently stroked the silvery-gray metal:
"Maybe I could create a new kind of alchemical item with unprecedented properties."
But he hadn't yet decided what kind of object that would be.
Robb wasn't the kind to act on instinct alone. Every step had to be backed by thorough research and rigorous experimentation.
He closed his eyes to let his exhausted brain rest, but his thoughts wandered to something he saw in the library:
"…The awakening process is essentially a fusion with corrupt energy. As their awakening percentage increases, they gain more destructive power, but at the cost of their sanity."
Robb recalled those descriptions and pondered a question considered heretical by most sorcerers:
Could one obtain the power of a Black Warlock while avoiding the negative effects?
Theoretically, if the awakening process could be confined to an external vessel rather than one's soul, perhaps it could prevent direct mental corruption.
But that would require a vessel capable of housing soul fragments, and coexisting safely with tainted energy.
Robb's gaze drifted to the soulsteel on the shelf, and a bold, almost mad idea began to take shape:
What if he forged a special "living" magic sword from soulsteel, into which he transferred part of his soul fragment, allowing the sword, not himself, to undergo "awakening"?
And since it would be connected to his soul, could he also channel all the mental contamination from meditation into the sword, permanently solving the problem?
Maybe even nurture the sword with that corruption, turning it into a furnace that refines and converts the taint into pure power.
Instead of relying on the pocket watch's reset function to repeatedly purify his spirit, a temporary and ultimately unsustainable solution.
"But at this stage, it's too risky."
Robb shook his head, snapping out of his thoughts:
"Take it slow. I need more research and preparation."
The idea was too radical. It involved manipulating the soul, any mistake could cause irreparable damage.
He needed more information and more experimental data before considering such a possibility.
Robb stood up and walked to the window, looking out at the gradually brightening sky.
This experiment on the energy isolation layer was a step forward, but still far from practical application.
"One step at a time. No rushing," he reminded himself repeatedly.
The atmosphere in the Black Mist Forest had turned unusually oppressive.
Where the central square of the Order was once bustling, now only squads of patrol enforcers remained, watching every passing apprentice with wary eyes.
"Don't look around. Head down."
An older apprentice whispered, tugging his companion's sleeve.
They walked quickly across the main path, eyes fixed forward, only relaxing after turning down a secluded alley.
"All field missions have been canceled. This month's magic stone allowance is only a third of what I used to get."
The older apprentice cursed:
"At this rate, I'll have trouble even feeding myself."
"You've got it better than some."
His companion sighed:
"Randyll's worse off, he tried sneaking out to gather rare herbs a few days ago, got caught by the enforcers, and is still locked up."
Since Oliver's defection and the Order's mobilization against the Abyssal Eye, the whole Order had become like a pot on the verge of boiling, calm on the surface but full of turbulence underneath.
Everyone could feel the unprecedented tension.
Even worse was the cut in magic stone distributions.
Without field missions, they couldn't earn extra rewards.
Without collection permits, they couldn't hunt for valuable materials to sell.
Most apprentices lost their main source of income, and life suddenly became very difficult.
The central hall had received dozens of loan requests in recent days, but there was only so much help available.
The marketplace was in even worse shape.
Where once shops thrived, now they stood deserted. Many vendors simply closed up.
Those who stayed raised prices, by double or more.
"Bread costs ten times more! You might as well rob me!"
A skinny apprentice shouted angrily.
The baker shrugged: "Not my fault. Ingredients cost more. I can't sell at a loss, can I?"
"It's all that damned Oliver's fault!"
The skinny apprentice spat: "If he hadn't defected, things wouldn't be like this!"
He wasn't the first to blame Oliver for their misery.
To many apprentices, Oliver wasn't just a traitor, he was the reason their lives had turned into hell.
If he were here, they might have torn him to pieces in rage.
At the temporary enforcement camp outside the forest, tension was even higher.
"Any unusual findings from Squad Three?"
Captain Reynold Faust frowned, questioning a recently returned scout.
"Report, Captain, no trace of Oliver or other awakened individuals."
The young Intermediate Apprentice replied respectfully:
"But we did find some strange black slime near the northeastern stream. Samples collected and delivered for alchemical analysis."
Rayne nodded. "Send it to the alchemy department. Also, increase night patrols, report every two hours."
"Yes, sir."
The captain turned to look at the forest's depths, eyes filled with unease.
Since Oliver's defection, over five enforcers had gone missing, including several mid-tier apprentices like Norris.
It wasn't just a personnel loss, it was a blatant challenge to the Order's authority.
"The traitor must be captured."
Rayne muttered, his expression hard.
In the following days, Robb's research entered a new phase.
No longer satisfied with metal isolation layers, he began trying to replicate the effect across various materials, hoping to find the ideal medium.
Wood, crystal, cloth, even some biological tissues, all underwent rigorous testing.
Each material responded differently.
Some maintained isolation longer, some supported more energy types, while others enhanced or weakened the isolation effect under specific conditions.
"Materials are like languages."
Robb wrote in his notebook:
"Each one has its own unique 'grammar.' Understanding their properties lets us craft increasingly complex magical 'vocabulary.'"
During this phase, he found that crystals with strong magic affinity performed best, they could maintain isolation for hours.
But they were fragile and hard to process.
Robb constantly tweaked rune designs and adjusted energy input methods, documenting every subtle change.
It was a meticulous process that demanded extreme patience and precision.
"There are no shortcuts."
He often reminded himself:
"Only enough experiments and data can support real theory."
After countless trials and failures, Robb finally succeeded in etching a complete isolation rune system onto a specially treated crystal.
This crystal could hold three different energy fields at once, completely isolated from each other.
More importantly, the effect lasted for up to a week.
[Alchemy Experience +1]
[Alchemy Experience +1]
[Alchemy Experience +1]
…
[Current Progress: Alchemy (Adept 36/100)]
For Robb, studying soulsteel and the isolation layer was the best way to level up his alchemy.
If this isolation tech could be applied to more complex alchemical artifacts, he might truly create a "safe container" to store and separate dangerous energies or substances.
According to Magic and Steel: Secrets of Sword Forging, Spellblades had to seal part of their soul into their weapon when forging a Master Sword.
It was dangerous, mishandling the process could damage the soul or lower the sword's quality.
"If I add an isolation layer inside the sword…"
Robb pondered, sketching a complex blade structure in his notebook:
"Theoretically, it would let me control the soul infusion precisely and reduce backlash."
In the days that followed, he devoted more time to studying soulsteel.
Unlike normal metals, soulsteel had a unique affinity for magic and Soulforce.
By continuously guiding it with his mental power, Robb gradually became familiar with the metal's "personality."
Yes, soulsteel almost behaved like a living creature. That's where it got its name.
It reacted differently to each type of energy, sometimes cooperating, sometimes resisting.
"It's like taming a beast."
Robb thought: "It takes patience, respect, and firm will."
Through these "conversations," he realized soulsteel seemed to "remember" energy types it had encountered.
If he input the same mental pattern for three days straight, it would become more obedient on the fourth.
"This memory-like trait might be the key to using soulsteel in magic swords."
Robb speculated: "It can remember its user's energy signature and form a unique resonance."
[Alchemy Experience +1]
Soulsteel research steadily boosted his alchemy skill.
His mental control grew more refined, he could now detect minute energy fluctuations he previously overlooked.
This progress also enhanced his other studies, including Potion Brewing and spellwork.
But the deeper his research went, the more Robb realized alchemy alone couldn't solve everything.
Especially in the dangerous field of soul manipulation, he needed help from other disciplines.
"It's time to consult my other expert," Robb decided.
He walked to a secluded ritual circle in the workshop, ensuring no one could see or hear what was to come.
Robb focused and gently touched his arm, activating the mysterious presence embedded in his skin, the Shapeshifter Skin.
A thread of silver liquid separated from his skin, forming a hazy humanoid shape in the air.
"What is your command, master?"
The Shapeshifter's voice sounded like grinding metal, cold and mechanical.
"I want to learn more about your isolation abilities."
Robb got straight to the point, voice calm and restrained:
"Specifically, how do you completely block external mental detection? And does this isolation also apply to internal energy leakage?"
The Shapeshifter paused, as if organizing its thoughts.
"My isolation ability stems from my material structure."
It finally replied:
"I am composed of a special metamorphic substance capable of forming perfect energy barriers at the microscopic level, blocking all forms of energy transfer or information exchange."
Robb nodded and continued:
"Can this barrier function both ways? For example, blocking external energy from entering and internal energy from escaping?"
"Yes, master," the Shapeshifter confirmed:
"My barrier is bidirectional. It completely isolates internal and external energy. That's why I can perfectly conceal the host's aura and even deceive beings below Grand Overlords."
This answer made Robb's eyes light up.
If the Shapeshifter's skin could really offer dual-directional isolation, it might be the key to safely separating soul fragments.
"If I wanted to use your ability to isolate two separate soul spaces and keep them from affecting each other, is that theoretically possible?"
Robb asked cautiously, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.
The Shapeshifter's form flickered slightly, as if thinking.
"Theoretically, yes. But there are limitations."
It eventually replied:
"My current energy reserves are only sufficient for basic concealment and disguise. To achieve full, long-term isolation, especially for soul operations, I need more energy and a higher active state."
"You mean advancing to the 'Glorious Legacy' state?"
Robb quickly caught the implication.
"Yes, master. Only by evolving into the 'Glorious Legacy' can I provide the powerful and stable isolation required for soul-level operations."
Robb paused in thought. "Then what do you need to complete that evolution?"
"Soulforce," the Shapeshifter replied bluntly:
"Pure, high-quality Soulforce. I'm currently at 99% charge, just 1% short. But that last 1% requires exceptionally pure Soulforce. Ordinary creatures no longer suffice."
Robb nodded and opened his profession panel to examine the details of the Shapeshifter's skin:
[Rare Relic: Shapeshifter Skin]
(Activated – 99% Charged)
[Effects]:
Absorbs living souls to charge
Consumes energy to mimic appearance and partial abilities of a target
Blocks mental detection and grants flawless disguise
[Special Note]:
Upon reaching 100% charge, the Rare Relic[Shapeshifter Skin] will evolve into a Glorious Legacy, gaining significantly enhanced abilities,
Including but not limited to: full isolation, multi-energy barriers, advanced mimicry, etc.