Chapter 295: Side Effects of the Magic Potion, Fallen Dwarves

The new capital of the Dwarf Kingdom.

After hearing Su Hao's orders, all the dwarves present showed anticipation, turning their gazes in unison toward Tie Huzi.

Since they all already knew that using the Excavator and Forger sequence runes would cause no risk and could guarantee becoming a Transcendent,

moreover, the abilities are stronger than those of Blacksmiths and Miners, so they naturally hoped to be assigned a sequence rune.

However, the number of these two sequence runes is limited—only two hundred copies, just one-tenth of the total—so it's impossible for every dwarf to receive one.

Therefore, to maximize the value of these two hundred Excavator and Forger sequence runes, Tie Huzi needs to allocate them wisely.

This put Tie Huzi in a dilemma; if possible, he would naturally want all the dwarves to become Transcendents through this method, avoiding any accidents and gaining greater strength.

But he also knew this was impossible.

The Excavator and Forger training runes not only carry no risk after use, but also grant abilities stronger than those of Blacksmiths and Miners.

It goes without saying that crafting these two sequence runes is no easy feat, requiring more and rarer materials.

Even though Su Hao produced two hundred at once, proving his capacity for mass production, Tie Huzi still believed that crafting such sequence runes faced many limitations.

After some thought, Tie Huzi looked at the list in his hand, called out 198 dwarves, and had them stand in two rows of ninety-nine each.

"Everyone sees that only one hundred ninety-eight Excavator and Forger sequence runes remain. To ensure we can better complete the Lord's task, we must properly handle these one hundred ninety-eight sequence runes."

"My idea is simple: from among the dwarves in the Dwarf Kingdom, select the ninety-nine with the highest forging power to use the Forger sequence runes."

"Likewise, the ninety-nine dwarves with the fastest mining speed and best technique will use the Excavator sequence runes."

"In the future, if the Lord distributes more sequence runes, we will use the same method to select recipients."

"You have no objections, right?"

Having said that, Tie Huzi scanned all the dwarves present; although some were unwilling, some regretful, and some disappointed, no one raised an objection.

They all understood that Su Hao's purpose in producing these magic potions and sequence runes was to enable them dwarves to generate greater value.

If, out of selfishness, they caused this batch of magic potions and sequence runes to fail to function as intended, disappointing Su Hao, the consequence would be unbearable for them.

After all, the power Su Hao wields is too great……

More accurately, it should be described as terrifying!

As long as he wishes, even the weakest race can stand firm in this apocalypse and become a strong faction of civilization.

Although dwarves are naturally skilled at mining and forging equipment, it doesn't mean only they can do so.

If the value they produce fails to satisfy Su Hao, there are other races that can replace their position.

Once that happens, it will no longer be easy for them to obtain resources from Su Hao's hands.

Even the protection they receive will be diminished, not as carefree as it is now.

Therefore, they must seize the present, while they remain Su Hao's subordinates and the sole race skilled in mining and forging equipment, to generate as much value as possible.

Ideally, they would meet Su Hao's demands; only then would they have a chance to continue as his subordinates, the sole race skilled in mining and forging.

That way they could enjoy more benefits and protection, without worrying about being displaced.

"Your Majesty the King, we have no objections; everything is for the Lord's benefit!"

"Exactly, Tie Mala's team has better skills, so they should use the Excavator and Forger sequence runes; that's reasonable."

"I also have no objections; before receiving the Lord's protection, we could barely survive, but now our living conditions have improved and we have hope of becoming Transcendents—how could we be picky?"

"That's right; if I could get a bottle of magic potion, I'd be overjoyed—how could I ask for more?"

……

Although dwarves are straightforward in character, they are not witless; they all grasp the importance of this matter and would not utter absurd remarks at this time.

As for using ordinary magic potions, which would cause dangerous problems, nobody bothered to pay attention.

They've delivered the magic potions right to your mouth; if you dare not take them because of this slight danger, what else is there to say?

Seeing this, Tie Huzi also breathed a sigh of relief; if any fool dared to speak absurdities before Su Hao, that would be disastrous.

Afterward, he began distributing the magic potions and sequence runes.

These dwarves, whether taking magic potions or sequence runes, silently stepped aside and used them without hesitation.

Soon, the bodies of all the dwarves present were enveloped by rays of light, beginning the process of consuming the magic potions or sequence runes.

The Excavator and Forger sequence runes were synthesized by Su Hao using the Synthesis Heart; using them entails no risk and the process is faster.

Before long, all 198 dwarves who had used the sequence runes became Transcendents without any mishap, their faces lit with ecstasy.

However, the situation was not so good for the 1,800 dwarves who used the magic potions.

Ordinary magic potions and sequence runes both carry a certain risk after use.

Even though dwarves, Miners, and Blacksmiths are relatively compatible with these two sequence runes, using these two magic potions still entails considerable risk; this was also the first time Su Hao personally witnessed the scene after a magic potion consumption failure.

Under the enveloping light sphere, the dwarves suddenly burst forth with violent energy, completely tearing apart the outer layer of the sphere.

The dwarves who took the Blacksmith magic potion now had bulging muscles, their bodies enlarged by more than double, their hands transformed into iron hooves larger than their heads, and their whole bodies emitted scorching flames.

The dwarves who took the Miner magic potion did not increase much in size, but their hands grew five sharp claws that easily sliced the ground.

Although their transformations after failing the magic potion differed, their eyes were equally ferocious; having completely lost reason and torn apart the light sphere surrounding their bodies, they began indiscriminate attacks on nearby dwarves.

However, as soon as they made a move, they discovered their bodies were no longer under their control; they could only emit angry roars, turning their heads to seek the source of their immobilization. Unfortunately, they found nothing abnormal.

It was obvious that the one who intervened this time was Su Hao.

With his Fifth-Order Transcendent mental strength and physique, it would be somewhat absurd for these fallen dwarves to detect his intervention.

However, Su Hao merely used his blood-control ability to restrain them, without intending to kill them.

He had long been curious about how using magic potions could cause users to fall into depravity.

If he could understand the underlying principle, perhaps he could reduce the occurrence of such depravity to some extent.

So his current plan is to bring these few fallen dwarves back to his territory for research, to see if he can find the cause of their depravity.

These dwarves were subjects under Tie Huzi before they fell.

Out of courtesy, Su Hao, following his own idea, explained it to Tie Huzi once and asked for his opinion.

Regarding this, Tie Huzi was silent for a moment, but ultimately still agreed to Su Hao's proposal.

Although he did not want to see his former subjects become experimental material.

But he also clearly understood that these degenerate dwarves had lost their self-consciousness, were no longer their kin, had completely become degenerate beings, and would indiscriminately attack everything around them.

Even if he disagreed with Su Hao's proposal, these degenerate dwarves would eventually die at their hands.

Rather than let them die pointlessly, it would be better to let them expend their last residual warmth.

If a method to reduce the degeneration probability could be obtained from them, the spirits of these dwarves in heaven would surely feel relieved and would agree with his decision.

Regarding this, Su Hao was not surprised; he immediately produced 1,800 doses of Demonic Pills, and even a fool would know he had the ability to mass-produce Demonic Pills.

If a method to reduce the degeneration probability could truly be researched, it would be a tremendous benefit for the dwarves.

If Tie Huzi cannot even see this relationship of benefits and drawbacks, then he is unfit to be the king of the dwarves.

Afterwards, Su Hao waved his hand, and the pallid undead creatures accompanying him escorted all the dwarves who had fallen onto the airship, to be taken back together to his territory for research.

He calculated that, out of the 1,800 dwarves who had taken the magic potion, about 300 had undergone degeneration because they could not withstand the drug's potency.

This amounts to one fallen dwarf for every six dwarves who take the magic potion—a failure rate that can be said to be very high.

This is still due to the dwarves' affinity with the blacksmith and miner sequences; if it were other races, the failure rate would be even higher.

For those whose transcendent sequence does not match their own condition, the failure rate is estimated to reach fifty percent.

"No wonder, in my previous life, the Divine Xia classified magic potions and sequence runes as hazardous materials—this degeneration probability is truly not small."

Su Hao shook his head and sighed; if taking the magic potion failed and merely led to death, it would not pose too great a problem.

But in fact, once taking the magic potion fails, not only does one not die peacefully, but one becomes a powerful fallen creature.

By comparing the fallen creatures resulting from dwarves' failed magic-potion consumption with the transcendent beings who succeeded in using the potion,

Su Hao could clearly see that, after falling, the dwarves' strength was noticeably superior—even taking on two opponents would pose no problem.

One can imagine that, as the number of beings who fall due to using the magic potion increases, what impact it will have on the surrounding survivors.

If someone within a survivor tribe takes the magic potion and falls, it could even deal a devastating blow to that tribe.

Precisely because he realized this, Su Hao became even more curious about the cause of degeneration.

This is not to say he wants to be charitable and lower the degeneration rate among survivors; even if he truly discovered something, it would be impossible for him to share the research results for free.

For things that bring no benefit, he has absolutely no desire to act.

His idea is simple: if we could know what causes degeneration, perhaps we could artificially control it, gaining greater strength while retaining our sanity.

If this could truly be achieved, it would be a major breakthrough in the transcendent world, and the beings who follow him henceforth would thereby obtain even greater strength.

However, he has no certainty of obtaining this secret; he simply happened to acquire so many experimental subjects, and, adhering to the principle of not wasting them, he might as well bring them back for research.

In his territory, there is also Old Andrew, who once was a sixth-rank transcendent and is a sixth-rank necromancer skilled in biology and undead research; perhaps with his help, they could indeed research something.

Afterwards, Su Hao stopped thinking further; after all the dwarves had finished using the magic potion, he swept his gaze over the assembled crowd and said, "As long as you do well, First Rank is merely a beginning; later I can also provide you with Second Rank and even Third Tier magic potions."

"If you perform outstandingly during this period and bring sufficient benefits to the territory, when the time comes for your next advancement, I will arrange for you a Second Rank excavator or Second Rank blacksmith sequence rune, enabling your steady rise to the Third Tier."

"In the future I will dispatch intelligent robots to the dwarven nation and all major mining areas to record your contributions, ensuring nothing is missed."

"Follow me, and as long as you do your work well, I will not let you suffer losses; you will not only survive in this world, but also live better than many survivors."

"Even your clansmen will, because of your contributions, receive more benefits."

"For example, these First Rank miner and blacksmith magic potions—I can provide them without limit; as long as you make sufficient contributions, every dwarf can receive a bottle!"

Su Hao's flat tone, when it reached the dwarves' ears, instead gave them greater motivation, to the point that they wished they could spend twenty out of twenty-four hours each day working.

Since they could both benefit their kin and obtain a steadier advancement, how could they not be moved? Even Iron Beard was no exception; he hurriedly took the lead and promised, "Lord, please rest assured—with so many miners and excavators among us, we can now simultaneously mine several more Nengyuan Shuijing Kuang, and the forging speed of transcendent weapons will also see a huge increase."

Su Hao: "Then go ahead—prioritize mining the Nengyuan Shuijing Kuang and black iron ore; these two are the materials I currently need most."

Having said that, Su Hao did not linger here; he left the five Heleras behind and took Lo Luo's dwarves back with him.

As for how Iron Beard should be arranged, we need not interfere; after this shot of stimulant, they will know what to do.

(End of chapter)