Chapter 492 - Taming the Resources - 2

The resource collection process was efficient thanks mainly to Julius’s beast.

Having internal space was truly convenient...

The king and Julius stored the most important artifacts and potions, plus the maximum possible amount of crystals to transport above. Arturo, a half-brother and two half-sisters were trusted people who also had Wolverines, though with lesser storage capacity, but with their help they could significantly increase the transfer speed.

"We can move a good part of the crystals to the kingdom’s coffers," Julius calculated while supervising the operation. "We need to inject everything possible into the city’s recovery."

The city had entered panic after recent events and threatened an economic recession that could be as devastating for the poorest as any military attack. The crystals could stabilize both the economy and public morale.

Beyond their military applications, the crystals represented generational wealth that could transform not just individual lives but the kingdom’s entire economic structure.

"People need to see that we have resources and power to protect them," Dragarion agreed, nodding proudly at Julius.

♢♢♢♢

Once above, Ren in the lead immediately headed toward where Selphira was resting.

Along with Liora, they carried the first potion toward the elderly warrior who had given so much effort during the recent battle. Luna approached silently to see her father, who slept peacefully in his own bed in the same room, and took his hand.

"Selphira would only need rest," Ren observed, analyzing her condition again with his new enhanced senses, "but I want to avoid her sleeping as much as my teacher Lin now that we need her..."

Lin had been unconscious for days after her transformation, a luxury of time they couldn’t afford in the current situation.

"So I’m going to give her the elixir," Ren decided.

’Besides, now that my beast is more powerful and I have new knowledge of higher ranks, I can use a new little trick...’

he thought to himself.

When he administered the potion, Ren carefully directed its flow so it would combine with the energy runes of Selphira’s Black Turtle. Her water control could significantly amplify the quality of her healing thanks to some properties of the elixir.

’This way, the same elixir can heal several people more cheaply and specifically using Selphira grandma’s control as an enhancer and dosifier.’

Selphira awakened gradually, her eyes first focusing on Ren and Liora.

A soft smile crossed her face upon seeing the girl she considered practically the inheritance of her daughter Laura, followed by recognition and gratitude toward Ren.

Then she saw Dragarion standing there.

The king was so happy with a big smile and completely energetic, radiating renewed vitality like a teenager who had just discovered Silver Rank powers for the first time.

Selphira’s expression immediately changed to one of anger and annoyance, almost disgust, as if the king’s exuberance was personally offensive... After all, there was so much she wanted to tell him.

Dragarion scratched his temple with a nervous finger, immediately recognizing that his enthusiasm wasn’t appropriate for the situation.

"Ah... maybe I should... moderate myself a bit..." he murmured.

Liora immediately hugged Selphira, providing the emotional comfort the elderly woman needed more than any physical healing.

Ren smiled awkwardly with understanding, but went directly to the point.

"I apologize, but we’re a bit against the clock," he explained with the urgency of someone who completely understood the stakes involved. "We must act as soon as possible."

He moved closer to Selphira, his expression becoming more serious.

"The first serious test will be... Can you use your water magic to heal Julius’s arm?"

Selphira frowned, evaluating the request with her decades of experience as a healer.

"It would be complicated," she admitted. "Regenerating complete extremities requires..."

"I understand the complications," Ren interrupted gently, "but you just consumed an elixir that can amplify your capabilities."

He proceeded to explain about the mana flow he had established, describing how he would use new healing techniques that Selphira understood quite quickly thanks to her experience, but which also had small nuances she had never experimented with.

"It’s like... directing the current toward the multiple channels that are no longer there," Ren explained, "but maintaining the direction of the mana’s ’phantom flow’... You should feel how they guide it if I force your perception a little."

Selphira nodded slowly, feeling the new possibilities flowing through her restored system when Ren touched her.

"I can feel the difference," she confirmed. "It’s as if my mind had gained... additional dimensions."

The process of healing Julius was both fascinating and emotional.

Selphira extended her hands over the stump where Julius’s arm had been, and water almost as pure and bright as the elixir began to flow from her palms like liquid light.

Julius’s arm regenerated gradually, beginning with bone and basic structure, then muscles and tendons, finally skin and nerve endings. It was like watching something grow in fast-forward, but with precision that only someone with decades of experience could achieve.

"It’s extraordinary," Julius murmured, flexing fingers he hadn’t had moments before. "I can feel everything perfectly."

The water magic with elixir effects even recovered much of his stamina, not as much as the king or Selphira who had taken the potion directly, but enough to feel rested and completely healthy.

The healing session continued with Zhao, Sirius, and then even the girls, who weren’t injured or as tired as Larissa but still had their mana systems exhausted from recent events.

When it came time to offer treatment to Ren, the boy smiled and shook his head.

"I’m fine," he declared.

’My fungus took the seed and that’s more potent than the elixir.’

What he didn’t mention due to his fear of being scolded was that his fungus had already appropriated four artifacts that seemed to be extremely important...

The jade seed, the rings, and who knew what else his beast planned to absorb during their adventures.

"I still have the golden energy that my fungus took from the army," he added, referring to the energy he had transferred to Selphira during battle. "That’s sufficient restoration for me."

In the end they didn’t try to heal him, but took it as evidence that he was a good boy who didn’t want to waste valuable resources on himself when others needed them more.

"Very considerate," Dragarion commented with approval. "Exactly the type of character we would expect from someone with so much knowledge."

Ren smiled, relieved that his excuse had been accepted without further interrogation about exactly what his fungus had done.