Chapter 115: The Petrification Syndrome, Master Weaponsmith (4k Combined)

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The hotel room was filled with the sharp scent of medicinal ointment. A young man lay unconscious on the bed, his limbs sporadically covered with patches of emerald-green crystalline flakes, from which a foul-smelling pus occasionally seeped. Nearby, a peculiar rabbit head mask hung on the coat rack, and by the bedside sat a man wearing a similar rabbit head mask.

The unconscious young man was Strange Rabbit, a member of the Black Rabbit Gang. He was the younger brother of Cunning Rabbit and also the gang’s brother-in-law.

“Boss,” said Mad Rabbit, who was responsible for caring for the patient, rising immediately upon seeing Li Nanke and his group arrive.

Li Nanke inquired, “How is Strange Rabbit’s condition?”

“Still the same. His limbs are paralyzed and immobile; the petrification crystals have begun spreading towards his torso,” Mad Rabbit muttered as he sat back down.

Petrification syndrome had been an incurable, stubborn disease in Crater City for many years.

The earliest symptom was the appearance of patchy crystals on the limbs, causing numbness and paralysis. As the disease progressed, it spread to the torso, and in the later stages, it extended to the skull, leading to blindness, loss of emotion, and ultimately death.

It was only after the Alchemist Guild developed the Panacea that patients with petrification syndrome gained a glimmer of hope for recovery.

What made the disease even more terrifying was its contagious nature; prolonged contact with patients carried a risk of infection.

Hence, Crater City designated quarantine zones for petrification patients, gathering most of them around the cathedral area to prevent the spread of the disease.

Yet, ironically, this congregation seemed to trigger mutations in the disease, with many patients turning into frenzied living corpses.

Cunning Rabbit looked at the unconscious Strange Rabbit with worry, sighed, and then turned to Sophia.

“Thank you for still being willing to shelter Strange Rabbit despite his petrification.”

Sophia shook her head. “I believe Mr. Strange Rabbit will recover soon. The number of surviving humans in Crater City is already small. If we turn away patients at times like this, this disaster will never come to an end.”

She then addressed Li Nanke, “Mr. Black Rabbit, I won’t keep you any longer. The hotel has assembled a group of trackers, including the renowned master weaponsmith, Philip, who has also checked in. If you require assistance in this area, you are welcome to come to the hotel lobby.”

Master weaponsmiths were also trackers.

Philip was an expert in weapon forging. The weapons used by trackers were unlike ordinary arms—they required extremely high strength and toughness, as well as excellent self-conductivity. Only through special craftsmanship could a fine weapon be forged.

The master weaponsmith’s services were extensive, including forging custom weapons and enhancing existing ones. It was said Philip also understood some alchemy, capable of imbuing weapons with special functions.

After Sophia left, Li Nanke took out two syringes given to him by Mr. X.

One contained the emerald-green Panacea, its color remarkably similar to the crystalline patches on Strange Rabbit’s body.

The other held a golden inhibitor designed to suppress the severe side effects of the Panacea.

Cunning Rabbit’s expression grew complicated upon seeing him prepare the syringes, hesitating to speak.

Although the Panacea was the only cure for petrification syndrome, its failure rate was high. Moreover, she had never heard of an inhibitor capable of counteracting the Panacea’s side effects, and it was uncertain whether it would work.

In the worst case, Strange Rabbit might die today after the injection.

Li Nanke pondered deeply but ultimately chose to trust Mr. X.

After all, Mr. X had assigned follow-up tasks and required the Black Rabbit Gang to continue working for the employer. Strange Rabbit’s death under these drugs would benefit neither party.

He expelled the air from the syringe, inserted the needle beneath Strange Rabbit’s clavicle, and pressed the plunger. The emerald liquid swiftly flowed into the jugular vein.

Seconds later, Strange Rabbit’s veins bulged unnaturally, glowing a sickly green; his body began slight convulsions, signaling the Panacea’s effect.

Cunning Rabbit watched tensely, hands clenched so tightly her nails dug into her palms. Mad Rabbit held his breath; whether petrification could be fully cured depended on this medicine.

The crystalline patches on Strange Rabbit’s limbs softened and gradually melted into liquid, dripping away, revealing skinless flesh and muscle fibers beneath.

The crystals on his limbs receded, seemingly moving toward complete recovery.

Suddenly, the unconscious Strange Rabbit emitted a crazed scream, arching his body like a shrimp. His eyes snapped open wide and bloodshot, bulging as if about to pop.

His body convulsed violently; the previously receding emerald crystals now spread rapidly, threatening to engulf him entirely.

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His limbs twisted grotesquely, his skin turning grayish-white with mottled necrotic spots.

Li Nanke’s brow furrowed deeply at the worsening symptoms.

“Failed! Inject the inhibitor quickly!” Cunning Rabbit’s voice trembled noticeably.

Without hesitation, Li Nanke took the second golden syringe and injected the shimmering liquid into Strange Rabbit’s body.

As the golden fluid entered, the necrotic spots rapidly faded, Strange Rabbit’s convulsions ceased, and his anguished screams gradually subsided.

The green crystals on his limbs melted away until only a few scattered specks remained at the extremities. The foul-smelling pus stopped oozing from the affected areas.

Strange Rabbit’s breathing stabilized; his tightly closed eyes betrayed his return to unconsciousness.

Though the Panacea failed to cure the root cause, the inhibitor demonstrated effective symptom suppression. Even if it was only a temporary relief, it eased the tense atmosphere in the room.

“Mr. X’s inhibitor is indeed very effective,” Cunning Rabbit exhaled deeply, relieved. The Panacea’s failure had nearly killed Strange Rabbit outright.

Li Nanke shook his head and instructed, “You all stay here to care for Strange Rabbit.”

Frowning, he left the room and headed down to the hotel lobby.

As he stepped onto the soft-carpeted stairs, he faintly heard the clang of metal striking metal below.

The sound came from the side hall, whose doors were tightly shut, with heat waves seeping through the cracks.

A blue-haired woman standing by the astrological platform greeted him.

“Mr. Black Rabbit, I have reached a cooperation agreement with Master Philip. If you need his help, you can visit the side hall of the lobby. The hotel will cover all labor costs.”

Li Nanke nodded in gratitude but asked an unrelated question.

“Ms. Sophia, do you know when the phenomenon of most quarantined patients in the cathedral turning into living corpses began?”

Sophia, as the hotel’s manager, was said to be descended from a noble family. Her true identity was shrouded in mystery, and she held many undisclosed secrets.

Frowning, she thought carefully before answering.

“The city government arranged for petrification patients to be concentrated in the cathedral quarantine area, originally intending to cure the disease. They invited the Alchemist Guild to the cathedral to develop the Panacea using patient samples.”

“Eventually, the Panacea was developed, but due to limited raw materials, its cure rate was extremely low. Moreover, its side effects could cause immediate death.”

“The Alchemist Guild’s mission was complete, and under the leadership of their chief, Simon, they returned to Alchemy Island.”

“The Crater City government was caught in a dilemma over whether to broadly administer the Panacea. Without it, patients could survive a while longer; with it, only a tiny chance of recovery existed, but more likely immediate death.”

“Perhaps because the government delayed too long, the congregation of patients triggered mutations in the petrification syndrome. Many patients transformed into crazed living corpses, turning the cathedral into a dead zone.”

“The government planned a purge of the cathedral area, but then a puppet rebellion erupted, causing government institutions to collapse and leading to the deaths of most humans in the chaos.”

Hearing this, and recalling Strange Rabbit’s adverse reaction to the Panacea, Li Nanke suddenly understood.

He thanked Sophia and turned, clutching his bloodstained war hammer, to seek out Master Philip.

Pushing open the side hall door, he was immediately drawn to the scene inside.

The side hall had been transformed into a massive forge, with roaring flames casting flickering shadows on the walls. Several mechanical puppets busily operated various machines, and the air was thick with the smell of metal and coal ash.

Beside the forge stood a huge steam hammer, its massive head rising and falling under steam power, each strike echoing thunderously.

A working automaton skillfully placed a red-hot iron block under the hammer. With each blow, the glowing metal gradually took shape into a long bar.

A precision grinding machine operated nearby, the rotating grinding wheel sparking as it sharpened a blade. The mechanical puppet carefully adjusted the blade’s angle to ensure optimal sharpness.

The entire side hall had been converted into a forging workshop.

At the workshop’s center stood a burly man wearing a yellow dog mask. Before him lay various tools and materials—from anvils and files to hammers and tongs.

‘Yellow Dog’ gripped an unfinished longsword blade with one hand, hammering it masterfully with the other. Each strike was precise and perfectly timed.

This imposing figure was none other than Master Philip, the renowned weaponsmith.

Philip paused his work and looked up at Li Nanke, then at the war hammer in his hands, his eyes alight with interest.

“So, you are the Black Rabbit Gang’s leader. This weapon is impressive.”

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Li Nanke placed the bloodstained war hammer on the workbench and asked,

“Mr. Philip, is there still room to improve this weapon?”

Philip examined the war hammer carefully, scrutinizing it for a long moment before tapping it with his forging hammer. His eyes gleamed as he praised,

“This weapon’s excellence surpasses imagination. It has already reached an extremely high standard—flawless in both material and craftsmanship. Especially these thorn-like protrusions that seem alive, they have become one with the weapon... My goodness, who thought to enhance a weapon’s power in such a way? It’s truly an incredible technique.”

Li Nanke cleared his throat and repeated, “Sir, is there any way to further enhance this weapon?”

Philip chuckled. “You’ve come to the right person. Ordinary methods can’t increase this weapon’s power any further. No one else has such skill; only I, Philip, possess this ability.”

The bloodstained war hammer, embedded with the ‘Divine Thorn,’ was already a rare+ grade weapon with a high rating. If it could be further enhanced here, its grade might even rise.

In the Grand Beyond, weapon enhancements were charged services—and quite expensive at that.

Yet Sophia, the wealthy hotel manager, had volunteered to cover all labor costs, essentially granting a free enhancement.

Li Nanke’s heart lifted. “Then please, Mr. Philip, help me improve this weapon.”

Philip cast him a sidelong glance and continued,

“I have the skill and craftsmanship, but I must use special Self-Essence Crystals, supplemented by some alchemy, to enhance weapons... Do you have any Self-Essence Crystals?”

“Listen carefully—it’s not just any Self-Essence Crystals, but those naturally possessing special elemental attributes, like fire, electricity, or ice.”

Li Nanke fell silent, expression unreadable. The labor was free, but he had to provide the materials.

Self-Essence Crystals were precious—they were miraculous minerals that served as large-scale energy sources. A piece no bigger than a thumb could power an entire city block for months.

Special attribute Self-Essence Crystals were even rarer, strategic reserves that money alone could not buy.

After a moment’s thought, Li Nanke produced his chainsaw sword and the newly acquired ‘Alchemical Starbreaker Gauntlet,’ asking if Philip could enhance these weapons as well.

The ‘Alchemical Starbreaker Gauntlet’ looked rugged and fierce, like a giant steel fist with a cold metallic sheen.

Five deep blue crystals were embedded on the back of the gauntlet, providing powerful energy. The wrist section housed several large exhaust pipes that expelled steam during punches, generating terrifying thrust.

[Alchemical Starbreaker Gauntlet]

[Type: Weapon/Hand Armor]

[Quality: Rare]

[Rating: 62/100]

[Description: A gauntlet that functions both as a weapon and arm guard. Crafted with exceptional forging skill and integrated with alchemy, it offers formidable combat and defense capabilities. The Self-Essence Crystals on the back drive the gauntlet, enhancing arm strength. It can deliver impactful strikes to enemies or amplify power when wielding edged weapons.]

[Remark: This punch carries thirty years of mastery—can you withstand it?]

Philip was momentarily taken aback upon seeing the gauntlet, blurting out,

“Vinini commissioned this gauntlet from me—how did it end up in your hands?”

Li Nanke was surprised too, unaware the gauntlet was Philip’s work.

But it made sense—the gauntlet’s exceptional quality and fusion of alchemy required supreme forging skill, and in Crater City, no one but Philip could craft such a masterpiece.

Unfazed, Li Nanke answered calmly,

“It’s like this—I rescued Vinini from the puppet factory. Grateful beyond words, he voluntarily gave me the gauntlet.”

“No wonder…” Philip nodded in understanding, continuing, “But since the gauntlet is already of such high quality, unless you find special Self-Essence Crystals, there’s no room for improvement.”

He then turned his attention to the chainsaw sword, studying it for a while.

“This weapon’s material and craftsmanship are rather poor. It has great potential for improvement. Leave it with me—the hotel will cover the material costs. Come by tomorrow morning to pick it up.”

With that, Philip paid no further attention to Li Nanke, turning to measure and record the sword’s dimensions as he began drafting blueprints.