Chapter 588: Distributing Potions
The retreat of the creatures from Thunderfall World was slow.
Having exerted all their strength in a prior offensive, many found their morale low as they attempted to withdraw.
Certain inhabitants, particularly those of Rank One and Rank Two, were unwilling to abandon the battlefield.
They simply could not understand why they had to retreat with victory seemingly within grasp.
These creatures lingered on the battlefield, fighting a “meaningless” battle.
As the elite main army of the Magus World approached, those who remained would be swiftly crushed under iron hooves, reduced to mere pulp.
If they could not take down the scantily defended main fortress, they stood no chance against the main forces of the Magus World.
The Thunder Plains battlefield, already teeming with millions of dead souls, could easily accommodate a few more.
The higher-ranked creatures of Thunderfall World, particularly those at Rank One and Rank Two, who had garnered special attention from the Magus World Army, were destined to join their fallen comrades.
The blood-soaked mud of the Thunder Plains eagerly awaited their remains.
Conversely, the lesser ordinary Thunderfall World creatures and those of Rank Three, or demigod level, heeded the guardian’s command to retreat.
The morale of those ordinary Thunderfall creatures had already crumbled, their resolve broken by the certainty of death.
While Thunderfall World creatures were renowned for their aggressive natures, not all were as unyielding as rocks.
After all, the weak still comprised the majority within this plane.
Given the momentum of defeat and the guardian's order to retreat, it was a wonder how many creatures in the lower ranks of Thunderfall World would be willing to stay on the front lines and fight to the death.
Meanwhile, those of Rank Three and demigod level knew that survival was essential to further aid their world.
However, the few Thunderfall World demigods who had penetrated the fortress were now finding their withdrawal exceptionally challenging.
The few remaining Magus World defenders in the fortress were indeed powerless to stop the hundreds of thousands of Thunderfall world creatures from escaping.
However, they were not about to let the Rank Three creatures, who were seen as thorns in their side, or the several demigod-level Thunderfall world creatures, escape so easily.
Fierce battles raged both inside and outside the main fortress.
Yet, the upcoming conflict had little to do with knights and mages like Sein.
After a brief rest among the ruins, Sein struggled to his feet and approached Gould, the Rank Two knight who lay not far off in a pool of blood.
The man, as burly as a brown bear, was still alive.
As Sein approached, he noticed Gould's chest rising and falling beneath his scratched armor.
Sein’s repertoire of healing magic was limited, but in such dire circumstances, one could not afford to be choosy. Any spell that could stave off infection was essential.
He channeled the last remnants of his elemental energy into a warm, healing light.
Under the effect of Sein's lumen elemental spell, the bleeding wounds on Gould’s skin began to scab over.
However, these were only the visible injuries; the internal damage was far more severe.
Fortunately, Sein was also a skilled apothecary.
Thanks to the collection of fine and rare ingredients he had amassed over recent years, he had a variety of potent potions in his possession.
Sein fed Gould three potions of different colors directly.
After the third potion was administered, Gould, who had been lying still as if dead, suddenly awakened with a series of violent coughs.
“What potion is this? It’s horribly bitter!” Gould complained, his dark face turning red as he coughed violently.
A mouthful of the potion surged back up from his stomach to his mouth.
Despite his complaints, Gould was lucid enough to recognize the potion's value and forcefully swallowed the regurgitated liquid again.
Sein watched, momentarily taken aback by the man’s action.
“If you find it bitter, then don’t drink it. Do you have any idea how much those potions cost?” Sein snapped, though without real anger.
“No, no! I’ll drink, I’ll drink it!” Gould hastily replied.
“My body still aches though. You’ve got any other potions?” he asked, blinking up at Sein expectantly.
“No. Scram!”
Having fought alongside this group of knights for some time, Sein, who had been cultivating a more noble demeanor, unexpectedly reverted to coarse language.
The grueling battle had significantly deepened his bond with the knights. If he could trust them with his life, the trivial cost of a few potions was hardly a concern.
Sein knew that a knight as robust as Gould, who possibly had an even stronger constitution than his own, could be saved as long as he still drew breath.
After tending to him, Sein ignored him and approached the other knights, distributing his potions.
As a Rank Two mage, Sein was quite affluent and did not mind the expense.
The battle could last that long not solely due to Sein’s efforts, but also due to the collective valor of those around him.
Nevertheless, his generosity fostered goodwill among the surviving knights.
Sein also managed to rescue two Rank One mages who were barely alive beneath the debris of the magic towers, though others had perished.
His potions, crafted from rare ingredients sourced from the Knight Continent, took effect almost instantly.
Many knights were soon back on their feet with Sein’s aid, including Natalya, who had saved his life.
However, Natalya, likely still irked by earlier exchanges with Sein, was cold toward him.
After downing the potion he handed to her, she merely watched him in silence, offering no thanks.
Meanwhile, Sein was diligently collecting specimens from the battlefield.
Countless corpses of fallen creatures, many of unfamiliar species, were scattered around.
In the harsh environment of Thunderfall World, these bodies would quickly decay, losing their value for research.
Sein, ever the avid seeker of knowledge, was determined to make the most of the opportunity.
Realizing what Sein was doing, Gould called out to catch the attention of nearby knights, who quickly gathered around.
“Let’s gather the bodies of our fallen comrades first. If you come across anything rare or intriguing, make sure to bring it to Master Sein. He’ll definitely be interested!” Gould instructed loudly.