Nameless King

Edena and Lui Bu's laboratory became huge, but in fact, most of the space was occupied by storages, greenhouses, and factories. All of this was related to alchemy, but Edena and Lui Bu were not involved in these processes, they only made sure that everything went according to plan.

Their main laboratory, where they conducted experiments and created new and unique potions, was at its deepest point.

"Well, well, looks like we're finally getting there, doesn't it?" Wain said with a slight smile looking at the simple wooden door from whose slits the smell of herbs permeated, "Why is there an ordinary door here? Before there were high-tech ones everywhere... It's rather strange, no?"

Edena sighed as a wide smile appeared on Lui Bu's face, "It was Lui Bu's idea. He said it looks more aesthetically pleasing and it helps him work, though I think safety comes first."

"Hah, I hate to break it to you, but he's right." Wain smirked as he walked on, causing Edena to frown, "I hope there's something interesting waiting for me behind that door."

Click.

Wain opened the door going inside. The main room of the laboratory was large, but not at all like a storage room or a greenhouse. There were various cauldrons, machinery, flasks with unusual liquids, and hundreds of ingredients everywhere. On the tables beside the herbs were dozens of sheets on which were written recipes for potions, most of them crossed out.

"Damn, you'd do well to clean this place up, don't you think?" Wain muttered as he turned to Edena.

Edena waved her hand, "We don't have time for that, moreover this isn't the only room. Everything happens here at once so it might seem like chaos, but it isn't. Come on, there's a suitable room up ahead for us to take some blood from you."

Wain nodded as everyone followed Edena. As they walked past the many rooms, everyone looked curiously at the potions, colorful crystals, and unusual plants that Edena and Lui Bu were saving to make something special.

"Okay, we're here." Edena said as she entered the room that looked like a most modern operating room.

"Damn... Are you taking monsters apart in here?" Wain muttered as his gaze fell on the table, which had the usual tools like scalpels, scissors, needles, and massive saws and axes that didn't seem to be here to heal anyone.

"Of course not." Edena waved her hand, "It's just that sometimes monsters get wounds that require special methods to heal... Many monsters have pretty tough skins, so I have to use more radical methods. Okay, that's all unimportant, get in the chair."

Wain was puzzled, but he didn't ask any more questions and did as Edena said. She quickly prepared some flasks, took a sharp knife, and brought it to Wain's hand. She didn't ask if he was ready and simply swung the knife across his palm, however, instead of leaving a cut on Wain's skin, the knife just snapped as if it had hit something incredibly hard.

Edena looked at the broken knife with wide eyes and muttered, "Well... It was pretty stupid of me to get your blood that way..."

Everyone understood this, but no one would point out Edena's mistake, so Elega, Frigus, and the others simply nodded as if in agreement with her words.

"Edena, I think that in order to wound me you must use something more powerful, though it doesn't necessarily have to be you, does it?" Wain asked with a slight smile.

"Agh...? What are you talking about?" Edena frowned in confusion.

Wain looked at Frigus and said, "Hey, do you want to do it? I'm sure your sharp sword could easily leave a wound on my rough skin."

Frigus was slightly puzzled, but he expected Wain might ask for something like that, so he nodded and stepped forward.

"Sure. I'll make it so precise that your wound will heal as soon as Edena takes the necessary amount of blood." Frigus said seriously as he drew his sword from its sheath. Everyone immediately felt the temperature around them drop as the floor beneath Frigus was covered with a thin layer of ice while cold steam emanated from his sword.

Wain smiled and opened his palm, showing Frigus his target. Frigus was about to swing his sword when suddenly a shadow appeared before him.

"Wait!" Nicole exclaimed with a worried expression.

"What...? What happened?" Frigus' eyes went wide as he was puzzled.

'Hmm? Is Nicole worried that Wain might be hurt?' Edena muttered inwardly as a slight smile appeared on her face, 'Well, I always knew that girl wasn't as crazy as she seemed.

Elegan stared at Nicole, 'Damn... Doesn't she realize this is necessary? Frigus wouldn't seriously injure Wain anyway, it's just not possible.'

Reto looked at their puzzled faces and said to himself, 'Hah, you're all too naive. Don't you understand why Nicole did it? It's pretty damn obvious.'

"I want to do it!" Nicole exclaimed with sparkling eyes as she clenched her fists.

"What...?" Frigus was so shocked that he took a few steps back as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"Fuck... That girl is hopeless..." Elegan muttered in a dazed voice.

"I want to be the one to hurt Wain! Go away! What's more, your sword will just freeze his blood, so Edena can't get anything!" Nicole exclaimed, staring at Frigus with a sharp gaze.

"Hahaha, that's incredible." Wain laughed, "Okay, it's my blood, so I decide who inflicts my wound. Go ahead, do it if you want, but if the cut is weak, I'll punish you!"

Nicole smirked as her aura intensified, "Don't worry. I'll easily leave a cut on your skin! I'll be the one to do it!"

Whooooooooosh.

A large amount of darkness appeared around Nicole that headed toward her arm, quickly transforming into a short but very sharp blade.

"Not bad. Well, I'm ready, just make me lose as much blood as I need, not a drop more." Wain grinned.