The Daughter of the Demon King studies magic restlessly!

Chapter 31 - Black Eat Black

After his words fell, whether it was our group within the stealth cloak or the shadowy figure outside all fell silent. Even the violent clashing and struggles of the people imprisoned at present seemed to subside. 

Some moments of silence passed until the shadowy figure finally responded. 

"How-"

"You think that reinforcing your authority over me is useful. To a certain extent it is indeed. But you have failed to realize that like you said a doctor must fully understand the human body. You are simply too full of openings."

After the doctor said that, I then noticed something that triggered my absolute attention. Quickly motioning to the group I quietly whisper to them my new found revelations.

"This guy has released a bunch of unknown creatures! I don't know what they are but hidden trap doors that were previously sealed have been opened and revealed a bunch of scary guys. I think we should decide what to do quickly or we might get found out if the room gets too crowded or if the aftermath of their fight ruins our disguise. They will arrive in 30 seconds."

With my warning, Luke quickly decided on our next course of action. Quickly leading us out of the room, he then used his powerful perception based abilities at the locked door of the hidden room and revealed a scowl on his face. 

"What's wrong?" Vanessa asked concernedly.

"We have been tricked. This guy has released some kind of creature outside the other side of the door waiting for someone to escape outwards. I can feel that they are laying in ambush waiting."

After hearing his words, the expressions on the faces of the other members became more resigned to their fate. Drawing their weapons they began to prepare to break their way out. 

"Wait a moment! Although I know that you are all quite worried, but I think that we can still wait for a chance. The two sides are prepared to fight so we might be able to take advantage of this opportunity to search further for more of the people locked up. If we release them and add our strength our chances might be higher."

Hearing my idea, Luke thought for a moment before agreeing to it. 

"They do not know of our existence yet. This is our greatest advantage so we should indeed make use of it. If this doctor wanted to use a variety of people then he most certainly has stronger people locked up. After all, if he only accounted for the weak there would be no point in kidnapping and experimenting on normal beast folk."

With his agreement, we all began to backtrack our steps. But instead of heading to the room where the conflict would be starting, we followed my perception. 

Of course, since I suggested this plan it means that there are people of interest who could help us escape this situation currently trapped in this basement along with us. According to my senses, although they may not be on the level of Luke, they would certainly be more than enough as a temporary team member in this crisis scenario. 

As we headed deeper, a sudden explosion happened a distance away as we hurried along our path. Along the way we were finally able to find out what exactly I had sensed that made us even more sick to our stomachs. 

"Urgh... Urrr..."

Patrolling the area were a bunch of fused chimeras walking around! 

Chimeras are a product of a certain branch of Alchemy known as Biological Alchemy and are the fusion of multiple beings into a single lifeforms. Whether it is the fusion of blood bodies or souls, all of it leads to the same dead end. 

According to the old classics among the Church and the Empire, Life Alchemy as it is called among them is a forbidden taboo path of alchemy deemed forbidden by all of the righteous groups among the human alliance. This is because of a bunch of disasters caused by chimera incidents throughout history. 

The main reason is that through research it has been found that chimeras were actually a broken path to ascension as the soul is one of the most important parts to growing to the advanced level. With a mixed soul like that of chimeras it is almost impossible for them to reach the advanced level of ability. 

Of course, I secretly knew that although most paths of developing chimeras were dead ends, there were actually three successful advanced chimera life forms written down in the records in the Demon King's Castle.

Hidden within the many books in the forbidden secret library are various alchemy articles of various kinds and one of the most prominent is the creation of the Philosopher's stone. 

In Alchemy, the Philosopher's stone is an ultimate conversion tool that can convert the state of a single matter into an equal amount of another more valuable substance through a certain ritual. Of course, such a good thing is impossible to truly exist so all records of potential philosopher stones are actually prototypes of the idea made by different alchemists throughout history. 

Once there was an alchemist who created an artificial soul and called it a philosopher stone and used it to power a golem and turn the golem into a true life of its own. 

Although said golem has been dismantled and studied, it has been said that remains of the mechanical golem have been seen to produce life like reactions even when separate from the body. Of course this is just a record so the truth of the matter is difficult to confirm. 

There is also the path of creating the ultimate life form through Alchemy which resulted in various creations that became famous throughout history such as the Hydra which were actually experiments based on the dragon race and their uncanny reproductive ability. 

Finally, there is legend of the Original Demon King who was said to have molded the life known as demon from dust using alchemy. Although the legends state that that are quite unbelievable, there are records in the library that something like that did indeed happen. It may not be as drastic as turning dust into life, but the demon race was indeed created. Whether it is by this original demon king is up in the air. 

After learning of this, Alice had set to work and made a clone that specifically learns Alchemy in order to confirm whether all of these claims about alchemy are true. Although the clone has not done it, it has proven that at least the first idea is indeed feasible according to alchemical law so ten others can't be completely ruled out.

But all of that is besides the point. 

What we need to know right now is that these chimeras did not see us and through careful maneuvering we were able to bypass these defenses and headed further into the hidden basement.

In this time I took the opportunity to ask a clone about these chimeras in particular to which I received a scoff. I guess these ones aren't anything particularly special if they did not even bother to check them in person.

Advanced level chimeras that correspond to magic of the same level would have at least triggered some interest so I guess these guys are just normal chimeras in the end. 

Even if I say that, these guys are individually on the level of myself and the other members of the party excluding Luke so staying hidden and not getting surrounded would be in our best interest. 

Passing through these areas and seeing all of the chimeras made by this mad scientist really upset all of us since each of these were originally a civilian living a happy life before having their lives torn from their grasps and reduced to mindless husks of their former selves. Thankfully these guys were not that proficient in tracking so we finally arrived at the true laboratory in this basement here. 

After some brief scanning we could find the cruel experiments done for the creation of all of the chimeras outside. Seeing all of these records done in neat and proper language like this made me sick to my stomach. Indeed humans are the ones who treat themselves the worst. 

Finally we arrived at the deepest part of the lab where the most important specimens are kept. Of course, these guys have not yet been turned into chimeras likely due to the increased strength of the people kept here potentially remaining after they become chimera. After all, that is how the original alchemy disasters had happened. 

So the people here were all sedated and kept alive by staying in massive nutrient tubes reminiscent of sci-fi movies full of technology. We all took the cloak off and breathed the air here. Although not as good as fresh outside air, it was still surprisingly clean.

"Although I don't know what these clear tubes are for, I can sense that the people inside have not become chimeras yet. Since they can be saved and are likely some level of competent let us free them and have them join as we break out." Luke said after a short pause.

Agreeing with his sentiment, the five of us split up and began to break the tubes containing and sedating these fighters. Among our group, only I took the opportunity to try to learn how these devices work and found a relatively hidden button to open these devices. 

Once I freed some of the regular fighting beast folk, the five of us finally turned our attention to the most eye catching and obvious character held in this prison. 

"Is this... A Golden Maned Lion Folk? I thought they stayed exclusively kept in the royal capital? How did they capture one here?" 

After pondering this question, Vanessa ultimately decided to free this fellow here from his slumber. 

"Golden Maned Lion Folk are considered royalty among beast folk and the current King of the Beast Folk is one of them. I heard that this generation's king has been weakened in power and thus most of the authority belonging to him have been given to the sages of the Beast Folk. Although such rumors can't be confirmed without a detailed explanation. As an adult they can generally compete with the top commanders among humans so he can most certainly help us escape." 

With her explanation out of the way, we all broke the surrounding experiment pod he was in and placed him on the ground neatly. Soon after a few seconds of waiting the Golden figure slowly trembled and shook before opening his eyes. 

"Where... am I?"

After a few seconds of recollection, the lion suddenly leaped into position and looked around warily. Seeing us around and being in an unfamiliar environment tensed him for a bit but when he saw we made no movements at him he calmed down for a second and took a deep breath. 

"If I can recall... I was captured by a rather despicable fellow with strange dark magic and drugged before I was carried away from the capital. Your auras don't seem as baleful as their group so I assume you are not with them? If so I thank you for saving me and my group here." The Lion said. Although he seemed to simply ask if we did it, I could tell that he was convinced that we were not with the people who previously defeated and captured him.

"No problem! Actually we are in a bit of a bind right now and would appreciate your help." Luke claimed before giving the golden lion a rundown on the current situation.

"So that is the situation. It is unfortunate that your group came to sightsee and find us in a situation like this. If possible I would have liked for a situation like this to have been dealt with in private by us Beast Folk but the current situation truly does not call for such a situation. I accept this temporary alliance to work together to deal with this sticky situation." Reaching out a hand to shake with Luke's hand, the other beast folk soon also came back to their senses.

Finding themselves in an unfamiliar environment, they all went on alert till they found that they were all disarmed. Thankfully they still found the Golden Maned Beast man so they did not panic and simply stood behind him. 

When they were all awake, the group in this room was starting to get a little full. Just in time, some noises could be heard in the distance as the chimeras began to search the whole building in search for any escapees or stragglers. 

"Seems like we got company. I can hear four beasts heading up here. Me and my boys will handle two of them. Can we leave the rest to you folk?" The beast folk asked while stanced up into position ready to leap forward. 

"Got it. We will handle the left two and you all deal with the right."

With our plans settled we all waited until these opponents finally straggled into the right range before preparing to strike. 

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