Arya slowly turned around and flew toward the Shelter. As she passed a stone on the ground, she suddenly felt a stabilization in her magic power. Her flying posture was still awkward—still resembling a clumsy "7"—but compared to earlier, she could feel a clear difference.
Squinting at the stone, Arya pondered the situation for a moment and soon understood the reason: the Shelter's Magic Shield.
The Shelter's protective barrier prevented the chaotic magic in the world from disrupting the inside of the Shelter, safeguarding the residents' magic power from interference. In other words, as long as she remained within the stone's radius, the chaotic magic outside could not harm her.
Relieved, Arya exhaled. At least for now, she was safe.
Back inside the Shelter, she opened her personal information screen, which she hadn't checked in a long time, to see whether the crash earlier had caused any loss of Life Value. The result startled her:
Name: Arya
Race: Blue Star Human
Level: Lv1
Strength: 2 (+30)
Agility: 1
Stamina: 2
Spirit: 8 (Peak: 10 for Blue Star Humans)
Life Value: 15
Magic Value: 80
Talent: Light Body Technique (E)
Magic Skill: Gathering Art (E)
Knowledge: Herbalism (E), Alchemy (E), Symbolism (E), Cartography (E), Potionology (E), Magic Circuitry (E)
Equipment: Moonstone Dagger, Worn Herb Bag
Arya's eyes lingered on the Knowledge and Equipment sections. She tapped the screen, curious if these, like her Talent, were interactive—and they were.
Unlike magic, Knowledge could be improved and leveled up through study, research, and practice. Magic, however, could not be upgraded, leaving her momentarily contemplative. But Arya quickly dismissed the concern. She would continue to study what was necessary and craft what she needed; whether magic could improve or not did not change that.
She took two Healing Potions from the medicine bag on the Magic Desk—one for internal use, one for external application. As the wound on her forehead healed instantly, the five Life Value points lost during the crash began to recover gradually.
Her gaze wandered over the desk.
"The sun is out! Finally!" Arya exclaimed. "I made it through the night."
She clenched her fists in relief. "Time to gather materials—wait, no! Don't go outside yet!"
A voice from the chat interrupted. "What's wrong?"
"Although it looks calm outside, the chaotic magic flow is still present. Magic isn't functioning properly—I almost died!"
"Seriously?"
"What benefit would lying give me? I'm telling the truth. If I hadn't taken a Healing Potion, I might not have made it back."
"I went out and tested it myself. It's true. Once you leave the Shelter beyond a certain range, your magic power becomes chaotic and unstable."
"This is frustrating. A Mage with 70 Magic Value sidelined like this?"
Another chat window blinked. "Look at the channel count—it dropped by over a thousand."
"Big deal? Check the world channel—over 2.2 billion people disappeared overnight."
Although the previous night had been terrifying, most of the deaths were likely among those who hadn't upgraded their Shelters. The complaints on the world channel confirmed this. Arya focused on herself instead. She needed to ensure she was prepared, lest another chaotic storm hit.
She glanced at the regional channel. Sure enough, the number of people had drastically fallen—from 9,961 to 8,857. Over a thousand people had vanished overnight.
Before venturing out, Arya realized she must check the chat channels daily, much like consulting an almanac in the old world. Keeping abreast of information was vital to survival.
For now, she decided a shower was in order. Water could always be ordered later from Roy—there was no need to make life harder than it already was.
After refreshing herself, Arya began brewing the Glowing Potion. Despite her desire to study and absorb knowledge, she had limited time with her magic lantern. Preparatory work was essential.
Earlier, she had gathered mushrooms from Albert's basement. It was only enough to make one batch of potions, but by six in the afternoon, she had finished:
One batch of Glowing Potion
One batch of +30 Healing Potion
One batch of +30 Magic Potion
Glowing Potion (E)
Effect: Continuously glows for 10,080 minutes (7 days)
Description: A potion that illuminates the area, preventing movement in darkness. Works even better when combined with a magic lantern.
She kept ten Glowing Potions for herself, sent one to each of her three friends—Rogers, Natasha, and Roy—and added the rest to the shop for exchange.
The Healing and Magic Potions were kept as reserves—Arya could not afford to part with them.
"Lan Arya's shop has new items," a chat message alerted.
"Glowing Potion?"
"Why isn't she making more Magic or Healing Potions?"
"Didn't you see it? This works with a lantern. You should be thanking her instead of complaining."
Although the Glowing Potion did not aid in combat like Magic or Healing Potions, its practical utility in everyday life was enormous. The pitch-black night she had endured was unfamiliar and dangerous.
Each potion required seventy units of materials, lasting seven days. By her calculations, it averaged out to ten units per day—a fair price considering the convenience.
Within minutes, the 170-plus Glowing Potions she stocked were gone. Whether buyers thought it worth it or not, Arya had achieved her goal: she had resources and influence to continue surviving.
With her tasks complete, Arya focused on self-study. She devoured every book she could find, eager to develop a potion that would heal her legs faster than the ordinary Healing Potions—her greatest need.
Healing Potions were effective for general wounds but could not help her legs recover quickly. A special remedy, crafted by her own hand, was the solution.
Arya studied tirelessly, experimenting with ingredients and magical formulas. Her understanding of alchemy deepened, and each failure brought her closer to success. She analyzed the properties of every mushroom, herb, and mineral in her possession, carefully noting their effects and interactions.
Hours passed in the dim light of her magic lantern. Outside, the chaotic magic flow continued, but inside the Shelter, Arya's determination created a small haven of order.
She paused, looking at the bubbling mixtures on her desk. The Glowing Potions, Magic Potions, and Healing Potions were not just survival tools—they were a promise of resilience, a reminder that even in a world turned upside down, she could carve a path forward.
Arya leaned back and stretched, feeling the gradual recovery of her Life Value. The journey ahead would be long, but for the first time since arriving in this strange world, she felt a spark of hope. Her knowledge and skills were growing, her allies were reliable, and her Shelter was secure—for now.
Tomorrow, she would venture out again, prepared and vigilant. For now, she allowed herself a brief moment of satisfaction. The night's terror had passed, and she had survived—not by chance, but by courage, preparation, and a touch of ingenuity.
With that thought, Arya returned to her studies, determined to create the ultimate potion for her legs, and perhaps, one day, master the chaotic magic of this new world.
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