My inventory is full of monster materials.

Orion took a step forward, his posture still upright like a pine tree, his face calm and undisturbed, as if he were embarking on a preordained mission.

Henry, Emily, and Brady all turned around in surprise, their faces filled with disbelief.

Rather than sacrificing their loyal guards, they preferred to believe that Clyde was plotting to assassinate the "White Eagle" squad members and secretly planting a "bomb."

Mark's pupils contracted slightly as he instantly understood the key to the matter.

It turned out to be the case.

He had assumed that Clyde was simply worried about the "White Eagle" team, which was why he had brought an extra bodyguard for his safety.

Now it seems—everything was planned.

Orion was the one assigned to carry the explosives.

Brady was trembling with anger—after spending the last few days with this "fair man," he had only some reservations about him, but overall Orion was a decent person.

It's really hard to bear letting them watch someone like that go to their death.

Brady lunged forward, clinging tightly to Orion's armor, and roared as he questioned him.

"Tell me! Did that hypocrite use some despicable means to force you to your death? Tell me!"

All eyes turned to Clyde, their gazes filled with doubt and confusion.

But Clyde did not respond; he simply lowered his head and remained silent.

Orion raised his hand and brushed Brady's hand away, speaking calmly and firmly, defending Clyde word by word.

"It was my own choice; no one forced me."

"After my father passed away, my former relatives and friends, fearing that we siblings would be implicated, all left us. Only Lord Clyde was willing to take us in, not only allowing us to live, but also giving us hope and a future."

Immediately afterwards, Orion's gaze became even more resolute, even carrying a hint of piety and determination.

"We have made a vow under the witness of Lady Libra—as long as I can trigger the Ice Core and destroy the Slime King, Lord Clyde will take care of my sister for the rest of her life, regardless of whether he can become a professional."

"That's fair, and I'd be happy to."

"Fair my ass!"

Brady didn't buy it at all and roared through gritted teeth.

"Are you out of your mind? This is clearly—"

"Brady!"

Orion abruptly interrupted him, glaring at him fiercely with a tone full of unquestionable warning.

"Lord Clyde is my benefactor, and I will not allow you to humiliate him like this! I told you, I did this voluntarily, and it has nothing to do with you!"

Brady's lips twitched a few times, but he couldn't say anything. Then, unconsciously, he let go of her hand and took a step back.

The flickering firelight illuminated everyone's faces.

Silence is the dominant theme tonight.

Henry clenched and unclenched his fists, Emily bowed her head and clasped her hands together, rapidly reciting the gospel. Clyde kept his head down, his shoulders trembling slightly, but he did not refute her.

Mark watched all of this unfold calmly, his gaze finally settling on Clyde, and said softly.

"is that so?"

Clyde's throat bobbed, and he responded with an extremely faint sound.

"...Um."

"call--"

Mark let out a long sigh, stretched out his hand, and commanded with a firm look and an unquestionable tone.

Give me the things.

"!!"

Before Clyde could reply, Henry became agitated, grabbing Mark's arm and urgently urging him on.

"Mark, don't do anything foolish! This is between the two of them. Don't act impulsively and go to your death for them!"

"..."

Mark was speechless. He glanced at the big guy out of the corner of his eye and muttered to himself.

"So, you, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes, thought you were going to take the dynamite and die for Orion, huh?"

Mark ignored Henry, stepped forward, and gently took the ice core that emanated a chilling aura from Clyde's hand.

After weighing it up for a moment, he turned around and walked towards the dissection room, leaving behind only a casual remark.

"You all rest for a few days, I'll go find a way that doesn't involve killing anyone."

In the firelight, Mark's silhouette appeared exceptionally tall and imposing, inspiring an indescribable sense of security.

……

……

Inside the cabin.

The white light from the exploding ice core illuminated a focused face, and with each breath, white vapor condensed and lingered around the tip of his nose.

Mark carefully placed the dangerous, exploding ice core in his palm, his fingertips gently tracing the mysterious patterns engraved on it.

Inside the pale crystal ball at the center, a pulsating sac could be faintly seen, shimmering with a faint, icy light.

The alchemist used magic to seal this section of the white dragon's throat pouch inside this small metal twenty-sided die. Once the outer seal is broken, the frost energy will suddenly erupt.

"Come on, let me see... what exactly you are!"

Mark no longer hesitated, and with a flick of his fingertips, gently twisted open the black metal twenty-sided die that was wrapped around it.

In an instant, an extreme chill pierced through to the bone, and violent frost energy surged uncontrollably in all directions.

This destructive power seemed poised to tear the entire cabin, and even the entire camp, to shreds in the next second.

But the next moment, Mark's eyes narrowed, and he slammed his large hand on the crystal ball, instantly "equipping" himself.

hum~

Mark felt a ringing in his ears and an itchy throat, as if something was wriggling inside him, and his breath carried a minty coolness.

Fortunately, the abnormality in his body was limited to this; the violent frost energy had been completely imprisoned within his body.

Mark remained relaxed, his mind racing with unhurried thoughts.

Suddenly, a phantom light screen appeared before my eyes.

On the left side of the character panel, in the equipment slot for the torso, a fresh white throat pouch has appeared.

[Damaged throat pouch of a sub-adult white dragon (blue)]

Completeness: 25%

[Effect]: 4-ring "Frost Dragon Breath - Explosion" (only once)

【special】:

4th Ring Spell!

Mark's eyes widened, his face filled with ecstasy.

In the normal magic system of this world:

0-1 Ring Spells → Mage Apprentice;

2nd-3rd ring spells → Full-fledged mage;

4th-5th level spells → Archmage.

In other words, "Frost Dragon Breath - Burst" is a skill that only second-tier professionals can control.

This is two ranks higher than Mark himself!

The only drawback is...

This 4th-ring skill can only be used once, and after using it, you will most likely be blown to pieces by the raging frost energy.

So it seems Mark has transformed himself into a humanoid "Exploding Ice Core"?!

"No, it's not the same!"

Mark suddenly came to his senses.

A vast and unfamiliar knowledge, not belonging to humans, surged into his mind, and the image of a sub-adult white dragon appeared intermittently in his mind.

Among them are details about how the white dragon uses its throat pouch to accumulate ice elements, and how it mobilizes its neuromuscular system to release primal magical power...

Unbeknownst to him, he had already mastered a portion of the incomplete dragon's legacy!

Suddenly, an amazing idea formed in Mark's mind.