BK2: Chapter 52 - Book 4: Chapter 48

“Enjoy the rewards, bahaha!” Oozagh rocked back and forth. “Especially that one. That issue there is my favorite. I’m sure you’ll find it particularly good. You should see the fold-out, it is something else. Anyway,” Oozagh said, attempting to calm his quickened voice. “It’ll help you understand what you’re missing out on by not having a good ogre wife!”

“I’m… I think I’m good,” Aaron said, grimacing as he picked the magazine up between his index and thumb, and dropped it in his scabbard.

I’m scared to even know what’s in this thing!

He’d have discarded it, but Oozagh looked so giddy, and he didn’t want to insult his divine patron.

“The pot isn’t bad either. I had one just like it when I was younger. It should serve you well. Take care now. You’re getting close to the finish. Don’t waste a minute. Not unless you’re eating. Those bones of yours are still so skinny.”

And with that, Oozagh’s avatar dissipated, and only a second later, Aaron was returned to the hallway.

“This thing is kinda heavy,” Aaron said, swaying the pot in his hands. He had gotten so incredibly stronger since arriving in the trials, and feeling such weight in the pot was unusual.

Supreme Ogre Pot [ Mythical]

This supreme ogre pot is a true ogre treasure. Such items are often crafted for tribal leaders by the greatest crafters using the most valuable materials they can procure. Ogres known for light armor, usually using nothing more than thick furs, and as such, they sometimes also use the heavy metal of their pots as helmets, and enchant them with powers accordingly.

Provides: Made of near-unbreakable fell iron, this pot not only withstands being used to cook almost any ingredients but also almost any attack. Enchantments also allow those following the ogre way to perfectly see through the pot when used as a helmet. Not only that, but the pot absorbs buffs from the ingredients cooked within it, further amplifying their effects on the user when worn.

“Wow, bloody hell,” he nodded appreciatively. “Not exactly the kind of helmet I was after, but… well, it’s not like I’m a fashionista.”

Besides, at least it’ll hide my hair…

“New pot? Elmira said, waded through the crowd as she spotted him in the hallway.

“Oh, yeah. Like it?”

“Looks like a normal cast-iron pot. But sure, it’s nice, I suppose.”

“That sounded forced. But I’ll take it. So, what are you doing here?”

“Just came to see the gates close,” she said.

Aaron glanced around. She wasn’t the only one crowding into the hallway. There were many, in fact, it was the most crowded he had ever seen it.

“I heard your trial with Pentival went well.”

“He said that? I suppose it wasn’t bad. Did you know about Lenriel?”

“Not much. But I trust Pentival’s judgement.”

“Fair enough. So, what’s this about the gate closing? Why are so many people crowded around?”

“You don’t know. How long were you gone for? Oh, it doesn’t matter. Look,” she pointed.

People were absolutely pouring through the entrance into the trials now. It had turned into a stream about five or six wide of warriors from across the sector marching into the trials in a constant stream.

“Wow, there are a lot of them, aren’t there?”

“It’s the last minute or two of the Tutorial. Then we’re down to bonus time. Everyone across the entire sector who can reach the trials is currently doing so. So, as you can imagine, there are quite a few of them. Anyway, the rest of us are here to watch the gates close.”

Right, so once those things close, no more Tutorial takers are getting in here.

The month of bonus time in the trials was another example of how valuable the trials really were. Tutorial takers would be stuck in stasis until the trials were over, although thanks to time dilation, that wasn’t a very long time.

Still, with Mythical rewards and unique Titles on the line, getting as much time in the trials as possible was an invaluable reward. In fact, it was so valuable that it was a key source of what created progenitors and separated them from the rest.

Even if the Tutorial provided the opportunity to gain levels quicker, that would mean little in the long term. And since the monsters and beasts in the Tutorial were limited in level, the gains would plateau, but worse than that, fighting enemies that weren’t a challenge would also provide worse Skills, and so it quickly became blindingly obvious how valuable the trials were.

10% bonus Stats might not seem like that big of a deal to an F grade, or even an E grade, but at higher grades, such Titles represented massive boons, and with all the bonus Stat Aaron had, he was already going to be massively strong, state-wise, for his level. In fact, if it weren’t for the fact that the people he was meeting within the trials weren’t generational talents themselves, then the difference would be even less pronounced. A regular level 80-90 was probably only marginally stronger than Aaron at this point, especially if they slacked on their Profession. Heck, when Skills were accounted for, they might even be weaker than he was, and then there was his persistence and natural skill to account for.

And for the first time, he was also spotting lower-level Tutorial takers pouring in. People at around level 50 and 60. It was quite the achievement, actually. But then again, from his understanding, as the final days ticked down, the Tutorial provided additional quests to Tutorial takers to finish the Tutorial without having to beat the boss.

There was no way level 50s or 60s were beating the Tutorial boss, unless they were special like Aaron. But if they were, they wouldn’t have been stuck on level 50 or 60 within the Tutorial. Meaning that whatever those additional challenges were, they were considerably easier than the Tutorial bosses were.

Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

“Look, they’re closing now,” Elmira pointed out, and sure enough, the gates had begun to grind shut.

“Looks like we’re on the home stretch. Anyway, I’m off,” Aaron waved.

“Wait, already?”

“Yeah, I’m running out of time, after all.”

Elmira groaned. “Dammit, you’re making me feel like a slacker. I guess I'd better go beat something as well.”

If anything, Aaron’s urgency had only gotten worse. The Title and Stat bonuses he had gained from the trial only hit home the importance of beating more trials. If he could knock out more trials, it would provide a huge long-term boon, and he couldn’t waste even a second.

But his plan wasn’t just to slam his head against them. That could easily drain time. But if he could gain a few more Profession levels first? Well, maybe he could speed the grind up a bit, not to mention the boons he could gain from some better dishes.

“Hey, bossman!” Sooty yelled and waved as he rushed toward him, weaving between people’s legs like a small child in a crowd.

“Oh, you’re looking for me now?”

“Of course. I was just minding me own Sooty business, when all these amazing ingredients kept pouring into ye kitchen. I gathered everything up, but the storage pouch ye gave me is full!”

“Shit. That much stuff?”

“Yep! Especially that last level ye passed. It must’ve been important.”

“Yeah, I suppose it was. I finished the Trial of Endurance, after all.”

“All of it?”

“Yep,” Aaron beamed.

“Impressive, that would’ve done it, alright. Ye might almost be as strong as Mo’man now. Maybe.”

Great… oh well, at least I’m moving up to almost as strong. Better than nothing.

“Anyway,” Aaron sighed. “I’m heading to the kitchen right now. Gonna join me?”

Sooty skipped alongside him. “Of course. Until you start cooking, that is.”

“Fine by me.”

In the kitchen, Aaron laid out the pot, and Sooty emptied the pouch. There really was a heap of ingredients inside, and Aaron had almost too much to work with, and didn’t know where to start.

But he had to slow himself down and think things through for a moment before getting started. What were his goals?

Spirit food was great, but it wasn’t necessarily the only thing he wanted, especially since he had his

[ Soul Shattering Strike ]

now.

Levels were important, and so were good Skill options, so obviously, he wanted to throw incredible ingredients together as he cooked, hoping for the best bonuses.

“Heya!”

Aaron turned to the squeaky voice.

“Oh, Clem. How are you?”

“Good, yourself?” Clem said, ears twitching. “Looks like you have a lot of rare ingredients there. Any soul stuff?” Her brows bounced suggestively.

“Of course you’re after that. Well, I might have something for you if you make it worth my while. By the way, do you just hang out in here? It’s like you’re always here.”

“Well, it’s kind of my thing. Alchemy that is. It’s what got me here in the first place. My Class is more my side thing, if I’m honest.”

She wasn’t lying. Alchemy seemed to be the only thing she cared about, and Aaron inspected her once more.

Clementine Astral [ Level 93 ]

Titlies: [ Tutorial Champion ] [ Potion Master ]

Level 93? That’s high, isn’t it? If her Class is a side thing…

“Wait, is your Profession level 93?”

“Ah, yeah? Why do you ask?”

Aaron just realized something. The level provided in the Inspect window was the highest level the person currently had, and so he currently looked like a level 40 to anyone who inspected him.

Interesting.

“That ichor of yours is pretty handy, too. You know, I’d pay for it if you’ve got more to sell. Along with your soul-strengthening food.”

“You’re going to pay me now?” Aaron’s face lit up.

“Surprised? I’m not sure if you realized, but I’m the best alchemist in here,” Clem crossed her arms and smiled smugly. “I have an endless list of jobs, and my bank account is starting to overflow. Trial takers are really desperate for the good stuff. Especially any soul-related stuff, it eases the mind and body after dying. Makes retrying trials much easier.”

“Does it now?”

I'd better get on that!

“Yep. You can pretty much sell it for whatever you want.”

He felt like a little bit of an idiot for not considering that, but now wasn’t the time to moan and groan, and Aaron got straight to work.

Busting into a cooking frenzy, he was making things for both Clem and himself as he threw ingredients together for soul recovery dishes.

He focused on purity and strength, trying to push the boundaries of what he could achieve.

The goal was to make the best soul recovery dishes he could, inventing new recipes, leveling up, and having a stock of items to sell.

With any luck, he could buy a few things from the store he had spent all this time leveling up before leaving the trials.

He threw high-rarity ingredients together like a madman, checking with Clem occasionally, who was boiling cauldrons, and pouring recipes together in the next workstation over.

Minutes turned into hours, and hours turned into days, but the progress was undeniable, and Aaron grinned as his insane combinations came together in scary fashion.

It was a slightly different process than his previous cooking sessions, as he wasn’t trying to strengthen the soul, but repair it with his dishes. Such dishes might not be particularly valuable to him, but that was a secondary concern at that moment.

And whilst Clem was no doubt more skilled in alchemy than he was in cooking, when it came to creating things that mended the soul, he was unchallenged.

After all, she couldn’t spirit touch her ingredients, as he could. This was a gift few others had, and a unique opportunity for Aaron.

Soon, he had created a variety of dishes for the soul, and finding buyers was not hard.

Before he had even finished, people were gathering around. They could inspect the dishes he had made, and were desperate to get their hands on whatever they could.

But as much as he wanted to sell his stock and go on a shopping spree, it was the experience of discovering so many dishes that truly lit up his eyes.

Experience rewarded for discovering a recipe!

Ding!

[ Ogre Gastronomist ] has LEVELED UP!

40 → 44

Best of all, he still had the very best of his new ingredients remaining.

This has been quite productive, hasn’t it?

In particular, there was the Legendary Astral Bison Chuck Steak, the crown jewel of the ingredients he had been rewarded, and he knew just the dish he wanted to create.

A devilish gleam filled his eyes. The rush toward the end was gonna be a blast.