The alchemy dolls, enigmatic conduits of Sebastian's vial deployment, possessed a unique synthesis of synthetic humanoid bodies etched with intricate runes and endowed with advanced artificial intelligence. Every move they made was an embodiment of Sebastian's precise intentions, responding to his will with uncanny accuracy.
In the realm of offensive-centric classes, the Potionist class often struggled to match the formidable prowess of their counterparts. Their reliance on potions presented a significant drawback— their opponents could easily evade the concoctions hurled at them, rendering the potionists vulnerable and easily dispatched.
Levine, locked in combat with Sebastian, knew this challenge all too well, for she too bore the mantle of a potionist. Through her personal experience, she had come to understand the limitations of her class. To overcome these obstacles, she had honed her skill in teleportation arrays, enabling her to deploy potions within a small to medium range.
The influence of potions' effects was inherently limited, necessitating precise deployment and rapid-acting concoctions to effectively impact adversaries. Without these crucial elements, a potionist's arsenal would be rendered futile.
Though Eren wasn't a potionist, he preferred using traps for his potion deployment. However, it needed pre-planning and wasn't something one could do on the fly.
Sebastian, however, had ingeniously surmounted this hurdle by crafting the alchemy dolls. Resembling homing projectiles, these extraordinary creations persisted in tracking their targets with unwavering determination. Protected by their one-time-use Master-ranked artifacts, the dolls proved remarkably resilient, difficult to destroy despite their limited usage time.
Thus, Sebastian had summoned four formidable Master-ranked entities to bolster his forces at the most critical juncture. With unwavering command, he directed his alchemy dolls to engage their designated adversaries while he himself prepared for a strategic withdrawal, poised to seize the opportune moment to make his exit from the battlefield.
Birmond's frustration grew as he cursed the old man, fully intent on engaging the incoming alchemy doll. Brandishing his sword and coating it with Master-ranked mana, he unleashed his formidable aura, determined to swiftly dispatch his alchemical adversary. Yet, to his astonishment, Birmond soon realized that his perception of space had been distorted.
Strange visions assailed Birmond's senses as if he had suddenly acquired three additional sets of eyes, each sending conflicting visual signals to his overwhelmed mind. Even his finely honed mana sense proved futile in remedying the disorienting effect. The proximity of the alchemy doll had subjected him to a debuff that altered his spatial perception, throwing him off balance.
Meanwhile, Jiana sprouted resplendent Golden Wings from her back, taking to the air in a desperate attempt to evade the incoming alchemy doll. She was on the verge of eluding the potion's intended debuff, poised to escape unscathed.
However, in a shocking turn of events, the alchemy doll severed its own arm and flung it toward Jiana with the velocity of a tightly compressed mana bullet. The severed limb detonated upon nearing Jiana, wreaking havoc upon her ethereal flight.
The excruciating agony etched onto her face, Jiana's Golden Wings ignited in searing flames, akin to a tragic fate befalling one who dared venture too close to the sun. Unable to endure the torment, she plummeted into the churning depths of the River Lithe, her cry of anguish echoing through the air.
Meanwhile, Levine, confident in her ability to deploy her potions amidst Sebastian's group once the barrier dissipated, had gravely underestimated the Myriad Potioner's ingenuity. Sebastian, seizing the opportunity, froze the effects of Levine's deployed potions, employing his Ability to mimic the temporal manipulation of a time-element potion. With a flick of his finger, he conjured a vial of ether element potion into existence, swiftly transforming its contents into a gaseous form.
The gaseous potion served as a perfect neutralizer, countering the explosive and debuff-inducing properties of Levine's potion. Furthermore, Sebastian's alchemy doll doggedly pursued Levine, impeding her ability to follow up on her attack by imposing a debuff rooted in spatial manipulation. This spatial manipulation was tailored to counter Levine's deployment of potions through the use of maple-leaf-sized teleportation arrays. Levine's vision was impaired and her mana sense was disrupted by Sebastian's additional debuff. She found herself increasingly outmaneuvered.
Naya, a formidable demon beast, presented a unique challenge for Sebastian, who sought to counter her demonic magic. Undeterred, his alchemy doll afflicting Naya with a physical debuff that hindered her agile movements, while simultaneously disturbing the surrounding mana, impeding her spellcasting.
In essence, the Myriad Potioner, utilizing his keen analysis of his opponents' mana signatures through his extraordinary Ability, had crafted bespoke debuff potions tailored to neutralize their strengths. Sebastian's Ability may not have possessed flashy or ostentatious qualities, yet its deadly efficiency remained unparalleled for those who dared oppose him.
These events underscored precisely why House Remus fervently opposed House Slughorn changing its allegiance. Birmond, well aware of Sebastian's unparalleled power, understood that allowing him to forge an alliance with the kingdom of Layos would spell doom for the forces of Edinburgh.
Within a matter of seconds, as if time itself had shifted to accommodate the actions of Master rankers, the Adept-level combatants and lower-ranked entities stood as mere witnesses, unable to contribute meaningfully to the unfolding clash.
Old man Sebastian, his sneer transforming into raucous laughter, relished the sight of his Master-ranked adversaries succumbing to his debilitating debuffs, futilely struggling against the relentless regeneration of his alchemy dolls. In that moment, he was transported back to the days when he first honed his Ability, employing it against monstrous creatures and formidable rankers with similarly devastating results.
The Myriad Potioner had indeed perfected the art of crafting ranker-specific potions, imbuing them with a range of effects limited only by his whims and needs. He had truly earned his prestigious title, embodying the essence of a true Myriad Potioner.
The unique path he tread and the nature of his individuality prohibited Sebastian from creating general-purpose potions. This restriction explained his decision not to take Sienna as his apprentice, instead wanting to entrust Levine with the role of Sienna's mentor.
Sebastian's individuality rendered him unable to guide any aspiring potioner, burdened as he was by the weight of his own capabilities. Furthermore, he was old and on the verge of kicking the bucket. He did not have the time, patience, or health to deal with the ball of arrogance and attitude that was Sienna.
Amidst the unfolding scene, Sebastian's laughter erupted into coughs, a visible testament to the toll exacted by employing his Ability to such an extent. All said and done, he was but a husk of his past self, and his old body couldn't handle the burden his Ability inflicted on it. Sustaining the alchemy dolls and maintaining the debuffs proved arduous, yet he knew he had no grounds for complaint.
Turning on his heel, a blend of exhaustion and elation etched upon his face, Sebastian issued his orders to his subordinates– all except Silas.
"Hehe. Attack these wretched bastards. Show them the indomitable spirit of House Slughorn. Pay no heed to their lofty rankings. They shall be vulnerable to your onslaught at this juncture."
