The Dark Mage Of The Magus World-Chapter 52: Brewing the Arcane

The room had been vacant for some time. Now, with the help of the Cleanse Ear, it was finally cleared of dust and debris—prepped for its new purpose.

Hutson began unpacking his newly acquired alchemy tools, setting them down in their designated places.

A careful layout emerged—

Ingredient Processing StationPotion Brewing AreaReagent Reaction Zone

Each section was arranged with strict adherence to the laboratory protocols Lari had taught him.

It took him four hours to get everything in order.

By the time he was finished, a surge of anticipation coursed through him.

Without hesitation, he retrieved a set of Whitefresh Healing Potion ingredients—

And began.

The First Attempt

"AI chip, initiate potion-making assistance. Provide step-by-step guidance—temperature, timing, and critical adjustments."

"Alchemy support system activated."

AI chip had recorded every brewing process detailed in Introduction to Potion-Making, combined with Lari’s practical refinements.

Together, it had compiled a comprehensive guidance system tailored for Hutson.

A series of translucent diagrams appeared in his vision, outlining the process flow in real time.

The first prompt appeared:

"Step One: Rinse the Whitefresh leaves, then soak in alkaline water for thirty minutes."

Hutson recalled the textbook instructions, comparing them with AI chip’s refined timing before beginning the process with practiced precision.

The Crucial Moments

"Golden Bellflower extract reaching 75°C. Transfer to beaker in 30 seconds."

"Whitefresh leaf extract and beetroot concentrate have reacted for 15 minutes. One minute remaining—countdown: 59 seconds."

Hutson moved fluidly, precisely.

He took a test tube in his hand—inside, a milky white solution swirled.

Muttering a series of arcane syllables, he channeled mana into the mixture.

The potion began to bubble, releasing thin wisps of white vapor.

Slowly—the smoke twisted into the shape of a leaf.

"Potion successfully brewed: Whitefresh Healing Potion."

AI chip’s confirmation rang in his mind.

Hutson exhaled sharply, finally releasing the tension in his shoulders.

"Alchemy is harder than I expected."

Unlike combat or spellcraft, potion-making required absolute focus.

A single second’s delay, an improper flame adjustment, and an entire batch would be ruined.

And this was just a basic potion.

He could already imagine how nightmarish brewing the Dawn Elixir would be.

"Thankfully, AI chip can perfectly regulate temperature and timing."

Hutson retrieved a glass potion vial, carefully pouring the potion in before sealing it with a wooden cork.

His first potion.

His first profit.

"Two mana stones earned."

A small smile formed on his lips.

"Next!"

A Long Night of Brewing

With nine sets of ingredients left, Hutson meticulously reset his workspace, ensuring every tool was sterilized before beginning the next batch.

Hours passed in a blur of measured movements, controlled mana infusions, and careful timing.

By the time midnight struck, he had completed four successful brews.

But one attempt had failed.

A minor miscalculation, a fraction-of-a-second delay, and an entire set of ingredients was lost.

Hutson winced.

"Two mana stones... gone."

The frustration was real.

Shaking his head, he brewed himself a cup of coffee, then sat cross-legged for meditation practice.

The fifth star in his constellation was nearly complete.

He could feel it—tonight, he would finish it.

The Breakthrough

A small cauldron sat before him, filled with the softly boiling extract of Meteor Herb—a plant known for stabilizing mental focus.

As the green bubbles rose, Hutson let his mind drift into meditation.

For hours, he remained in a trance, his body absorbing the energy of the floating particles around him.

When dawn broke, he opened his eyes.

A profound clarity settled in his gaze as he exhaled deeply.

A notification from AI chip appeared.

Status Update:

Hutson MerlinStrength: 2.5Agility: 2.4Constitution: 3.6Spirit: 8.5Mana: 100%

A significant leap.

His spiritual power had surged past 8, and the change was palpable.

The energy surrounding him felt sharper, clearer.

Even the ambient mana in the air now carried subtle variations—as though he could begin to differentiate their elemental properties.

"Are these... different types of elemental particles?"

His grasp was still hazy, but he recalled passages from elemental magic studies—

This could be the first step toward higher-level spellcraft.

"If my aptitude had been any lower, this would’ve taken much longer."

Aptitude, graded on a scale of 100, dictated a sorcerer’s perception of the world’s energy.

Hutson’s score of 75 placed him above average, making him a worthy investment in Lari’s eyes.

Sorcerers with higher aptitude could absorb energy more efficiently, process it faster, and ultimately advance at an accelerated pace.

The result?

Faster breakthroughs. Faster power. Faster ascension.

In his mind’s eye, he saw the constellation of his meditation technique.

The fifth star now glowed brightly—

But five more remained unlit.

"AI chip, what happens when all ten stars are activated?"

"Insufficient data."

AI chip had optimized his meditation efficiency, but there were no historical records of anyone completing all ten stars.

No one knew what would happen.

But Hutson intended to find out.

A Full Day of Alchemy

With his training complete, he returned to work.

The next brewing session was far smoother.

His heightened spirit power made his focus razor-sharp, eliminating hesitation and miscalculations.

By the time night fell, he surveyed his finished work—

Nine completed vials of Whitefresh Healing Potion.

Flawless.

His failures had vanished.

Hutson ran his fingers over the cool glass vials, satisfaction flickering in his chest.

Alchemy wasn’t just about earning mana stones.

It was about control. Precision. Mastery.

And for the first time, he felt—

He was getting closer to true power.

"Nine potions. A total of forty-five mana stones."

Hutson mentally calculated his earnings.

"After deducting costs, I net a profit of twenty-five stones. Once I restock ingredients, I’ll brew another batch and sell them again."

A self-sustaining cycle—alchemy was proving to be a viable path to accumulating wealth.

Once meditation time arrived, Hutson stored the Whitefresh Healing Potions in his spatial ring, securing his hard-earned stock before settling into his daily cultivation.

His mental power was one star away from reaching the second-tier apprentice threshold.

Once this final star was formed, he could begin gathering the materials for the Dawn Elixir.

Lifting his gaze to the starlit sky, he searched for a single fixed point among the infinite constellations—

And began his meditation.

"Why was the sky I saw that night... completely different?"

As he meditated, his mind drifted back to the moment he encountered Shivaro.

That otherworldly place—a realm where the stars above bore no resemblance to this world.

"AI chip, did you record the starfield from that night?"

"Based on visual records, reconstructing star chart now."

A projection of the alien sky appeared before him, vast and detailed.

Hutson studied it closely, searching for any familiar constellations.

Nothing.

"AI chip, compare this with the current night sky. Any similarities?"

"Analysis complete. No overlapping patterns found."

His brows furrowed.

This wasn’t just a trick of perception.

It was an entirely different celestial arrangement.

Which meant—he hadn’t just been trapped in an illusion.

He had been somewhere else.

The more he thought back on that day, the more unsettling it became.

Step by step, he retraced every detail—how he entered, how he was trapped, and how he escaped.

Yet the core questions remained unanswered.

"What was that place?"

"How did I enter it?"

"And what the hell was that toad?"

The image flashed in his mind—

The moment before space shattered, when he saw it swallow Shivaro whole.

A creature of Abyssal origin, devoured in a single bite.

His fingers tightened slightly.

"What did I witness that day...?"

For now, there were no answers.

Only deeper questions.

In Moonlight Grove, there were two primary ways to purchase potions:

The Official Moonlight Potion Shop

All potions sold here were high-quality and regulated.However, the prices were higher than the general market.For example, Whitefresh Healing Potions were typically five mana stones, but at the official store, they cost six.Buying from Independent Sorcerers

Many apprentices and rogue sorcerers brewed their own potions for sale.Prices varied based on the brewer’s skill.Some cheaper potions came with risks—if brewed improperly, their effectiveness could be weakened... or worse.

Hutson had to decide his approach.

Would he sell through the formal market, ensuring reliability but at lower profits?

Or would he sell independently, cutting out the middleman but risking credibility issues?

For now—he needed to test the waters.

Alchemy had the potential to become his lifeline.

And he was just getting started.