Crafting Gear From Monster Genes

Up until now, Kreyn learned a few ways to use the Gene Forge. He could create gear and cells, upgrade items using the Armory Infusion, and craft products from resources.

But these weren’t even all the capabilities of his ability, even at his current level.

[Find the third ingredient to craft gear using Complex Creation!]

Kreyn froze, staring at the Withered Flower in his hands.

’Is this the second ingredient? The Grand Soul I received from Hargod was the first, but back then I didn’t even know about it...’

Kreyn quickly realized what was going on.

It was quite possible that Complex Creation was always available to him, or that it became so after the Gene Forge reached the second level. But until that moment, he simply did not have such rare materials.

’So, two out of three... Well, it’s a good thing I was told about this now and not just when I had all three.’

This was important because the Withered Flower was meant for Diaro, and at that moment, Kreyn fully realized it.

"Hey, why are you standing there like that?" Varyn turned around with a frown. "We need to leave before the vine summons more monsters."

Kreyn turned to her, and she didn’t like the look in his eyes right away.

"One more. I need to get one more flower."

"What?" Varyn’s gaze grew stern. "Are you crazy? We need to get out of here as soon as possible. Diaro and Norma are waiting for us."

However, Kreyn didn’t seem to hear her. He looked around, searching for the black fire amid the fog.

Varyn realized he wasn’t going to leave, so she walked over and reached out, intending to take the Withered Flower.

But as soon as she tried to do so, Kreyn stepped back.

"You... Do you realize what you’re doing?" She clenched her fists. "You agreed to help us, so do your part!"

Kreyn smirked. "Come on, I’m not asking for much. All I need is one more flower. Are you saying that’s so hard?"

Clutch.

Suddenly, Varyn grabbed Kreyn by his high collar and effortlessly lifted him off the ground. She walked to the edge as he hung directly over the purple, poisonous water churning below.

"It doesn’t matter whether it’s hard or easy to do. Our mission was to come and retrieve one Withered Flower, no more, no less."

Varyn spoke like a soldier, but she acted like a mercenary ready to kill. Well, sometimes it was the same thing.

"If you’re not going to come back with me right now, then good luck getting out of this lake when its water burns your whole body, and the Vine Beasts are waiting for you on the branches. I’m giving you one last chance to come to your senses and get back to the mission."

"Oh... you’re already resorting to threats?"

Kreyn didn’t panic, even though Varyn wasn’t lying. The moment her grip loosened, Kreyn would sink to the bottom of the lake.

Blink.

He blinked as his left eye turned completely blue with a cyan tint.

A single glance was enough to send a shiver down Varyn’s spine. Sheer fear gripped her heart as she immediately realized what it was.

"Another one...?" she muttered in disbelief. "You have two mutations...?"

"Yes."

Kreyn nodded, reaching out his hand toward her chest.

"And I’d rather not touch you right now. It’s... It’ll be ugly what happens to you if I do."

He narrowed his eyes.

"Now, it’s my turn to make threats. If you don’t agree to help me find another Withered Flower, you’ll stay here, exhausted and weak, a meal for the monsters, and Diaro and Norma will be next. Groza and I will take care of them. You can be sure of that."

Varyn gulped.

"But... The task was to bring back only one Withered Flower, what are we going to tell him?"

Kreyn smiled as he realized how to handle her.

"Well, we’ll just say we found a spot with two Withered Flowers at once, and they were guarded by lots of beasts, so it took us so long to get them. Sounds good, right?"

"R-Right... That might work." She nodded uncertainly before setting Kreyn down on the ground.

Kreyn glared at her.

’She just wanted to get the job done and head back. She’s a pretty straightforward person.’

"Here." He handed her the Withered Flower. "This one is yours."

"Sure. But..." Varyn hesitated for a moment. "What happened? Why did you suddenly need another flower? Didn’t you just learn about them recently?"

Kreyn shrugged.

"I realized it’s a rare resource and it’ll be useful to me. That’s it. And I think it’s time to get to work."

"Yes." Her expression changed abruptly as she regained her composure.

Unfortunately, they hadn’t spotted another source of black fire. That meant they needed to move further on to find the second Withered Flower.

"Let’s go to that branch." Varyn pointed upward. "From there, we’ll have a wider view."

"Alright." Kreyn nodded, and they jumped at the same time.

There were enough branches to move freely through the foggy area, allowing them to reach almost any spot.

Soon, luck was on their side.

"Here." This time, it was Kreyn who spotted the black fire in the fog.

"Good catch." Varyn nodded. "If you want, I can pick the flower."

"Nah, I’ll do it, but don’t waste your energy on the beasts if they show up."

"Ah?"

Varyn was confused.

"Why? The more we kill, the more genes you’ll get, and—"

"Forget it. These aren’t the worst genes I’ve seen, but if Diaro wants something you can’t buy at a random stall for 100 credits, then I need higher-quality genes."

He turned to her as his voice deepened, like that of an army commander.

"I’ll take the flower, and we’ll run back. It’s simple, isn’t it?"

"Yes."

"Great."

Without hesitation, Kreyn bolted forward, disappearing into the fog.

Varyn’s gaze lingered on him for a moment before she turned back. She mapped out their escape route, trying not to think too much about Kreyn’s second mutation.

Several massive shadows appeared near the black fire, but Varyn stayed put.

She was good at following orders.

Still, her lips grew dry as she nervously waited.

She was curious to learn more about Kreyn, and if he died, then—

Whooooosh!

The huge Vine Beast burst out of the fog, crashing straight into the water, and in the next moment, a green flash erupted from the same direction.

The long, stone pillar with a crystal tip broke free from a branch, forming a bridge to another.

"What the...?" Varyn’s eyes widened as Kreyn ran along the pillar, leaping onto the neighboring branch while clutching the Withered Flower to his chest.

Their eyes met.

As soon as he gestured forward, Varyn nodded and ran along her route, ignoring the fact that three Vine Beasts were chasing after Kreyn.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

At the same time, Norma was tapping her foot impatiently on the ground.

"Why are they taking so long? Did something happen to them?"

She bit her lip as her patience was running out.

At that very moment, two figures emerged from the fog, landing on stone platforms floating along the lake.

They immediately jumped onto the next ones as more than four Vine Beasts followed them, breaking through the fog.

Norma’s expression froze.

"Fuck..."

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