Draconic Alchemy differed significantly from Wizard Alchemy in that it focused primarily on the essence of metals themselves.
A dragon would melt metal, reshape it into the desired form, then kill the metal—altering its fundamental properties—and finally, transmute it, permanently fixing its new traits while further enhancing them.
Through this entire process, the metal itself remained unchanged in composition, yet its nature would shift dramatically.
A once brittle metal would gain unparalleled flexibility.
A once soft metal would become remarkably sturdy.
While similar feats were possible through Wizard Alchemy, achieving the same effects required advanced alchemical mastery and complex alchemical arrays.
Dragons, however, could accomplish this with a mere touch of their claws.
Such power was no less than turning stone into gold.
Yet, Draconic Alchemy had its limitations—
It could only affect metals, and not all metals at that.
In contrast, Wizard Alchemy was nearly omnipotent, capable of influencing a vast array of materials beyond mere metals.
Richard gazed at the longsword in his hand, a thought forming in his mind.
What if he first processed the metal using Draconic Alchemy, then enchanted it with Wizard Alchemy?
Wouldn't that result in a far superior magical weapon?
Excited by the idea, Richard immediately began his experiment.
With a flick of his hand, a small alchemical array materialized in the air.
He poured in his mana, engraving arcane runes onto the blade.
Everything proceeded smoothly…
Until the moment the runes settled.
Crack!
A fine fracture split across the sword's surface.
And the location?
Exactly where he had just inscribed the rune.
Richard quickly examined the damage, then sighed.
"No wonder so few wizards study Draconic Alchemy… It's incompatible with Wizard Alchemy."
The runes disrupted the Draconic Alchemy, rendering both enchantments useless.
Draconic Alchemy, after all, belonged to dragons. Wizards, even if they mastered it, lacked Richard's unique extraction ability—they would have to spend years learning it.
And if the two couldn't coexist, why waste time?
Wizard Alchemy had evolved into an immense field over the ages, so vast that even the greatest Archwizards wouldn't dare claim mastery over it.
If presented with two options—
One easily accessible and refined, the other buried deep in complexity—even a fool would know which to choose.
Richard set aside the fractured longsword and retrieved his stockpile of black-gold scimitars.
He placed his bare palm on them, triggering the Miracle Furnace.
One by one, he extracted Draconic Alchemy techniques from them.
However, as he processed more weapons, he noticed something.
Even though each scimitar contained "Moderately Incomplete" Draconic Alchemy, they were crafted in nearly identical ways—with artisans of similar skill levels.
Thus, despite extracting multiple instances, his proficiency barely increased.
His alchemy didn't scale linearly—it wasn't like an experience bar that filled with each extraction.
Still, Richard didn't complain.
Who would refuse free money, even if it wasn't much?
But when he reached the scimitar given by the White Wizard Captain, something changed.
For the first time, the Miracle Furnace displayed new information:
---
[Material: Fire Lizard's Scimitar]
Extractable Technique: Draconic Alchemy (Moderate Incompleteness)
Cost: 4 Mental Energy
Extractable Information: Draconic Alchemy—Tree Pattern
Cost: 5 Mental Energy
---
"Tree Pattern?"
Richard studied the golden inscriptions on the blade.
These markings were a byproduct of Draconic Alchemy, serving a function similar to wizard runes.
He made his choice.
"Extract."
The black-gold scimitar vanished, reappearing a moment later.
At the same time, a white sphere of light emerged above the Miracle Furnace.
Richard absorbed it, and knowledge flooded into his mind.
After a brief pause, he opened his eyes.
"...Life Drain? Now that's something interesting."
According to the extracted knowledge, this Tree Pattern granted the ability to absorb life force—
It converted enemy blood into energy, replenishing the user's vitality.
A similar effect existed within the Necromancy School, though Richard had never encountered it personally.
Such high-level spell models weren't something one simply found in books—they circulated in private, high-value exchanges.
"Plane Wars are truly the best way to get rich."
Richard chuckled, storing the remaining scimitars.
Then, he retrieved his wizard staff.
This Tree Pattern gave him a new idea.
Even if Draconic and Wizard Alchemy couldn't merge directly,
what if he physically combined them instead?
Top half: Wizard Alchemy
Bottom half: Draconic Alchemy
Middle: Pure mechanical connection
During battle—
He could crush enemies with the top half.
Then stab their corpses with the bottom half to drain their life force.
A weapon that attacked and healed—perfect.
The thought alone made Richard grin.
Without hesitation, he grabbed his parchment and began sketching the design.
He was bored anyway. Why not upgrade his equipment while he had time?
---
Meanwhile, on the Battlefield
While Richard leisurely worked on enhancing his strength, the warfront was shifting dramatically.
After the change in leadership, the Fire Lizard Empire abandoned its previous elite-unit tactics.
Instead, they overwhelmed the cities with hordes of low-level soldiers, accompanied by small squads of Fire Lizard nobility.
This strategy puzzled the wizard commanders.
Marshal Harash's elite-unit tactics had been a nightmare—forcing the White Wizards to the backlines while Black Wizards took the lead in urban combat.
It had drastically slowed the war.
But now?
With the infantry flood tactic, Black Wizards were freed from city battles, and White Wizards returned to their optimal roles.
In just one year, the wizards had captured over seventy cities.
Black Wizards had also infiltrated deep into Fire Lizard territory, launching covert raids and assassinations.
---
"Is Donar an idiot?!"
Staring at the war map, Azuhan couldn't help but curse.
Early losses were expected, given the overwhelming wizard firepower.
But as the battlefield stretched, wizard forces were spreading thinner—their advance should be slowing down.
Yet, somehow, they weren't slowing at all.
This was blatantly a command failure.
"Azuhan, I called you here to study the map, not to insult Donar."
Behind him, his father—Harash, draped in a white ceremonial robe—spoke with absolute calm.
"But father, our forces are constantly retreating! The casualties keep rising!"
Azuhan shouted, his neck flaring like a pufferfish in frustration.
"Then keep looking. If you can't see the bigger picture, you won't survive the battlefield."
Harash sipped his lava-infused drink, as if the fate of his empire was irrelevant.
Azuhan gritted his teeth, but forced himself to calm down.
His father never spoke without purpose.
As he scrutinized the map, realization dawned upon him.
"The wizards are about to border the Linksa Empire!"
"Exactly." Harash finally nodded approvingly.
---
Azuhan froze.
Even now, amidst foreign invasion, th
e three Fire Lizard empires were still scheming against each other?
Harash chuckled darkly.
"Azuhan… Wizards are dangerous.
But if wielded correctly…
They can be the blade that unites the world."
(End of Chapter 221)