Chapter 503: Mersha The True Villain
Seira and Clara both stepped back at the same time, clearly rejecting Mersha’s elixir.
Clara raised both hands immediately, shaking her head fast. "No, no, no... we already drank that every morning. Why do we have to suffer again now?"
Seira nodded as well, fully agreeing. "Exactly. Once a day is enough. We don’t need it twice a day."
Rachel stood right in front of them and snorted lightly. "Yeah, it’s enough for Valtor and Dahlia... but for you two..."
She raised a finger and shook it slowly. "It’s not enough."
Her gaze sharpened slightly. "You two are some of the best disciples here. That means you need to grow stronger faster."
She picked up Mersha’s elixir and shook it gently. "The dosage from this morning wasn’t enough. So this time... I’m increasing it."
Rachel turned her head toward Mersha and gave a direct order. "Mersha. Do it. Force them to drink it."
Mersha immediately grinned, her eyes lighting up. "Yes, Elder Rachel... I’ll do exactly what you order me to."
She turned toward Clara and Seira, her grin turning a little wicked. "Sorry, sisters... it’s the elder’s order."
Clara frowned and raised her hands quickly. "Oh no, you don’t."
She snapped her fingers.
The space around them distorted instantly, and multiple Claras appeared at once, scattering in different directions across the field.
Each one laughed loudly. "Catch me if you can, Mersha!"
Seira also turned serious. She lifted her hand, and a thick wall of ice formed around her in an instant.
At the same time, layers of ice armor covered her body, and several ice swords formed around her, floating slightly. "Come here if you dare."
Mersha looked at the two sisters, then slowly smiled wider. "Sisters..."
She placed a hand on her spatial ring, her grin growing even more excited. "...do you really think I can’t do anything?"
She tilted her head slightly, eyes gleaming. "Oh... how wrong you are."
Mersha reached into her spatial ring and pulled out two potions, one blue and one red.
Without hesitation, she uncorked both and drank them in one go. The effect was instant.
Her body tensed slightly, and then she moved.
In a flash, Mersha rushed straight toward Seira and threw a punch at the ice wall.
CRACK!
The moment her fist made contact, the thick ice wall shattered instantly.
Seira’s eyes widened. "What the hell?! How can you do that?!"
Mersha tilted her head, grinning as if she were enjoying every second.
"Didn’t you forget?" she said casually. "My unique physique lets me get a greater effect from the elixir I drink..."
She spread her arms slightly, pointing at herself with pride. "And I’m one of the best alchemists here. So just think... what happens when I make a really good elixir then?"
Before Seira could even react, Mersha moved again. She shot forward at a speed that shocked everyone watching.
Seira didn’t even have time to raise her sword.
Mersha was already in front of her.
She grabbed Seira’s chin and forced a potion into her mouth.
Seira’s eyes widened... and the moment it went down her throat...
"AAAH!" Seira immediately shouted, her whole body stiffening. "Disgusting...! Why does it taste even worse than before?!"
Mersha grinned brightly. "Of course. The dosage is higher this time. Special for you."
Seira glared at her, lifting a trembling hand and showing a middle finger. "...Damn you, Mersha..."
Her body shook once, and after a moment, Seira collapsed on the ground, completely defeated by the taste alone.
Mersha turned around slowly and looked at Clara, her grin still wide. "Now it’s your turn..."
Clara frowned, letting out a small, nervous chuckle. "Let’s see if you can even find the real one, Mersha."
She pointed at herself. "My ability is illusion. It’s not something you can just see through... even after drinking some elixir."
All around the field, multiple Claras were still moving, laughing, shifting positions.
Mersha only chuckled, her smile turning sharper. "Is that so, Sister Clara? Didn’t I already say... I’m one of the best alchemists here?"
She casually took out another elixir from her spatial ring and drank it without hesitation.
A faint glow passed through her eyes, and after that, he moved again.
In an instant, she rushed forward and appeared right in front of one Clara.
And surprisingly it’s not a clone or illusion, but the real Clara.
Clara’s eyes widened in shock. "How did you?!"
Mersha grinned, clearly pleased with herself.
"Because I just drank an elixir that enhances my vision," she said lightly. "Of course I can see through your tricks."
She leaned closer. "So now... drink."
Before Clara could react or escape, Mersha grabbed her and forced the same elixir into her mouth.
Clara’s body stiffened the moment she swallowed it. "AGH!"
Her face twisted immediately as she shouted in anger. "Mersha! What the hell?! Why does every drink you make taste this terrible?!"
Mersha only smiled, completely unbothered. "Sorry. The worse it tastes, the better the effect."
She tilted her head slightly. "And Master approved it, didn’t he?"
Clara raised a shaky hand and showed her a middle finger. "...Damn you, Mersha..."
Her body swayed and then she dropped to the ground beside Seira.
Mersha watched for a second, satisfied, then turned and walked back toward Rachel. "It’s done, Elder Rachel."
She crossed her arms casually. "Give them a few minutes. They should wake up with more energy than before."
Rachel smirked slightly, clearly pleased. "Good. Let’s see how effective your elixirs really are."
Mersha smirked back, full of confidence. "Of course they’re good."
Rachel then turned her gaze toward the others, her eyes calm but clearly assessing. "Now... which one of you needs more elixirs?"
The moment the others saw what had happened to Clara and Seira... they moved.
Everyone immediately pushed themselves harder, gripping their bars tighter, forcing their bodies to move even if their muscles were already shaking.
No one wanted to be next.
They had already taken one dose that morning. And even that "normal" dose had tasted terrible.
Now the dosage had been increased. And after seeing Clara and Seira collapse like that...
None of them wanted to find out how bad it could get.