ASLTN 09

Chapter 09 

 Become My Alchemy Slave (1)

The Draconian corpse lay collapsed on the ground.

An unmistakable light of greed shimmered in Yujin’s eyes.

〔Drooling already, aren’t you.〕
‘The sigil is nice, but this is the real reward for me.’

Sssssst.

Dense spiritual energy seeped into the corpse, penetrating its bones, structure, and overall physical integrity.

Yujin carefully examined the fallen Draconian.

‘Excellent. Even better than I expected.’

A smile naturally slipped out.

Bone hardness, muscle density, even the mana contained in its blood—there was nothing lacking. It was an ideal material for an undead creation.

〔Isn’t the strength of undead determined by their level when alive?〕
‘That’s right.’
〔But this dragonkin had its stats restricted for the trial. By that logic, it shouldn’t become anything impressive even as undead.〕
‘What matters is the essence of dragonkin contained in this body.’

Dragonkin.

A race belonging to one of the divine realms registered in the Pantheon—also called the “Constellation Domain.”

The six Dragon Legions were an organization even the Constellations could not easily ignore.

This was not some half-baked monster created by a Gate.

This was a true Draconian, one of the dragonkin who had entered under formal contract with the Pantheon, with its abilities restricted for the trial.

〔Then what kind of undead can you make from this corpse?〕
‘If I push it, a Dragon Soldier.’

Dragon Soldier (Σπαρτοί).

An undead warrior wielding sword and shield, powerful enough to rival even a Doom Knight.

It possessed dragon-level magic resistance, could emit dark aura several meters outward, and even had regeneration.

‘But even that feels a bit wasteful.’

Dragonkin corpses were extremely rare.

Even in Gates, they were not easy to find.

Since the “essence of dragonkin” in this Draconian corpse was stronger than expected, Yujin tilted his head and thought for a moment.

Then he let out a small exclamation.

‘Should I try making an Eldritch Dragon?’

〔Eldritch Dragon?〕
‘Something like a lich.’

An Eldritch Dragon was a death dragon—an undead being that sealed its life force inside a vessel.

In human terms, it was similar to a Lich.

Some might say dragon corpses already produce Bone Dragons.

‘But even among undead, they’re different.’

A Bone Dragon can never surpass the original dragon.

It lacks the Dragon Heart, the core mana organ.

During the processing, flesh is stripped away, weakening physical capabilities.

Even if expensive reagents and complex enchantments are used on the bones, at best it only imitates the original.

It cannot use Dragon Words or true dragon magic.

‘It’s just a poor imitation.’

The essence of a dragon, and the massive output of the Dragon Heart, were things even Yujin—despite reaching the peak of necromancy in his past life—could not recreate.

But an Eldritch Dragon is different.

A dragon that seals its own life force and becomes undead can even grow stronger than it was in life.

If he started with this Draconian body and evolved it into an adult dragon level undead…

‘Just thinking about it is insane.’

Though it would not be easy.

The reagents alone would cost tens of billions.

And he would need to engrave intricate spell formulas into bones, muscles, and scales using spiritual energy.

〔If it’s like a lich, shouldn’t there be a soul involved?〕
‘It doesn’t have to be a dragon soul.’

Strictly speaking, even this Draconian was not a perfect “dragon.”

Half human, half dragon.

Since it retained human traits, he only needed a soul strong enough to withstand dragonkin structure.

‘And I already have one in mind.’

The strongest subordinate from his past life.

That soul would match perfectly with this Draconian body.

Yujin placed his hand once again on the corpse.

“Storage.”

A pale gray mist poured out from the Black Abyss Ring, wrapping around the body.

Slowly, like fabric being pulled away, the Draconian corpse was absorbed.

[Corpse stored in Black Abyss Ring.]
[Storage capacity: 1/1]

With that done, there was no reason to remain in the Proving Grounds.

He turned toward the glowing white exit.

Then—

〔Contractor, wait.〕
‘What is it?’

〔Your achievements are accumulating into my divine record.〕

As the sole follower and saint of the “Colossus of Defying Heaven,” Yujin’s achievements from defeating powerful enemies were directly enhancing Chronos’s existence.

〔If my constellation is formally registered in the Pantheon, I may be able to grant even more divine spells.〕

Interesting.

Life Drain alone was already highly efficient.

If more achievements accumulated, more divine spells would unlock.

Even Yujin could not predict how far his power as a priest would grow.

‘This is getting a bit too beneficial for me.’

A crescent smile formed on his lips.

Outside the Gate

As soon as Yujin exited the Gate, he checked his phone.

[KS Bank – Balance: 52,741,700]

A swollen account.

In less than a day since regression, he had earned more than he had in the past three years.

‘And I even spent 2,000 on a ring.’

He casually played with the Black Abyss Ring.

Inside it was the Draconian corpse.

To turn it into an Eldritch Dragon, he would need massive amounts of reagents.

Even if he spent all his current wealth, it would barely cover the minimum requirement.

‘And I didn’t even include the tools for making reagents.’

That part was not a problem.

He already had someone in mind who could provide alchemy tools.

He leaned back slightly, recalling memories from his past life.

‘If it’s around this time, he should still be running a half-finished alchemy workshop in Paju.’

The sun was already moving west.

He needed to reach Paju before nightfall.

“No time to waste.”

He muttered and immediately called a taxi.

Paju

Paju was still considered a frontline region even after the Great Cataclysm.

The northern “Kim Kingdom” had collapsed due to repeated Gate Breaks it failed to respond to.

Monsters from that region occasionally crossed the old ceasefire line and moved south.

‘Security is terrible.’

Parts of Paju were still unreconstructed even decades after being devastated.

Illegal settlers filled the ruins instead of civilians.

The western side of Paju became lawless after sunset.

That was why Yujin was moving quickly.

“Sir, is this really the place?”

The taxi driver scratched his head.

The only visible structure was a bus stop that looked like it might collapse at any moment.

Old slate-roof houses were scattered in a small rural cluster.

This was Jeongseong-myeon, Paju.

A countryside frozen in time.

“Yes. Thank you.”

After paying, Yujin stepped out.

‘Same as it was ten years later.’

He had first visited this place in his 10th year after awakening.

Alchemy was essential for strengthening undead.

Corpses could be refined into materials that surpassed their original state, or used to create powerful undead through reagents.

‘This is where the best alchemist in the country lives.’

For now, it was still “future tense.”

But soon it would become reality.

Walking down a narrow overgrown path behind the bus stop, he reached a half-abandoned trail.

‘No maintenance, just like before.’

As he brushed aside weeds—

BOOOOOM!

A deafening explosion tore through the air.

Black smoke rose into the sky like a pillar.

“…Even this is the same.”

A quiet laugh escaped him.

The source of the smoke was a large abandoned factory with a slate roof.

“Cough! Cough!”

“Hey! Are you okay?!”

“Shouldn’t you normally ask who I am first?”

“Judging by your voice, you’re fine.”

A man stepped out of the smoke.

Early 30s.

A small scar under his cheek.

His posture slightly bent.

Hair messy and streaked with gray, as if he hadn’t washed it in days.

‘So he could even make that kind of expression.’

Yujin suppressed a laugh.

Great Alchemist Shin Joon-seok.

In his past life, the most renowned alchemist in Korea.

The first to develop a mass-producible intermediate healing potion formula, and creator of countless alchemical formulas and reagents.

‘I came here to get advice on corpse enhancement.’

As Yujin smiled faintly at the memory, Shin Joon-seok’s eyes sharpened.

“I don’t know why you’re here, but if you’re here to talk nonsense, get out.”

“I do have business here.”

“Alchemy workshop?”

“My name is Cheon Yujin. I came to use your alchemy tools.”

A question mark formed above Shin Joon-seok’s head.

Then his face turned bright red.

“Are you insane?!”

“I’m not just asking to borrow them.”

“I don’t care who you are, get out if you’re talking nonsense.”

He dropped all politeness and growled.

Yes.

This was exactly how Yujin remembered him.

‘Not bad.’

Alchemy tools ranged from beakers and scales to furnaces that produced magical flames.

To necromancers, it was like asking to borrow their corpses.

Naturally, he would be furious.

‘I’ve used your tools before. I know how to handle them.’

In his past life, Yujin had often collaborated with Korea’s top alchemist.

To enhance necromancy, knowledge of alchemy was essential.

So—

“Intermediate healing potion.”

“…What?”

“You’re working on a mass-producible potion formula, aren’t you?”

“How do you—”

Yujin walked straight into the exploded factory.

“That’s my lab!”

“If you want to see it completed, stay quiet.”

The original formula would only be completed a year later.

Yujin intended to speed it up.

Inside the factory were alchemy tools that didn’t match the ruined building.

Witch’s cauldron.

Guardian cylinder.

Darkness Everstone.

Rare alchemical equipment and ingredients were scattered everywhere.

He stopped in front of a bubbling reddish liquid.

“Intermediate healing potion.”

It looked like it could explode at any moment.

‘Increase mana concentration by 4% and neutralize with 5g of Odram grass.’

Shin Joon-seok shouted.

“That stabilizes mana! It ruins the potion effect!”

“Not if you balance the mana properly. Didn’t you know that?”

“….”

He couldn’t argue.

Because it was knowledge not yet discovered in this era.

Yujin calmly began working.

Slice, slice.

He processed herbs without hesitation and added crushed mana powder into the potion.

Shin Joon-seok’s eyes trembled violently.

‘Is this actually going to work?’

After a while—

Bubbling slowly stabilized.

“Want to test it?”

Yujin casually sliced his forearm with a blade.

“W-What are you doing?! Blood—!”

“I know. This is the best way to test it.”

He applied the potion.

White steam rose.

The wound regenerated rapidly.

Shin Joon-seok’s mouth slowly fell open.

“…It worked… it actually worked!”

He rushed forward and grabbed Yujin’s hand.

His voice was filled with excitement.

Now he was ready to talk.

“Don’t you want to know something?”

Shin Joon-seok nodded quickly.

All hostility was gone.

This was a man who would do anything to advance alchemy.

Yujin smiled slightly.

“Let’s work together.”