The Glitched Mage-Chapter 100: Etherbloom

Riven and Nyx navigated the bustling market district, the weight of his inventory heavier than usual—filled to the brim with mana beast cores from two relentless weeks of battle. Every step through the stone-paved streets was punctuated by the chatter of students, their voices carrying over the hum of trade.

They stopped outside a potion shop, its wooden sign creaking slightly in the wind. As they stepped inside, the scent of crushed herbs and concentrated mana thickened the air. Shelves lined with glowing vials stretched from floor to ceiling, students rifling through them with eager hands.

Riven barely spared them a glance, but their voices reached him all the same.

"Did you hear? Someone finally killed the Frostbound Tyrant."

"Not just that—most of the mana beast islands have been emptied!"

"Who the hell keeps killing all the beasts? Tch—leaving nothing for the rest of us."

Riven almost laughed. If they didn't want to miss out, they should have moved faster.

At the counter, an old server barely looked up as they approached, too absorbed in a parchment of inventory records. It wasn't until Riven placed his hands on the worn wooden surface that the man acknowledged them.

"Yes?" The server's voice was flat, disinterested.

"I need your strongest mana potions," Riven said evenly.

That finally earned him a proper glance. The server looked up, his eyes scanning Riven's face as if weighing something. Then, a slow grin spread across his lips, edged with amusement. "Are you sure you can afford the strongest potions I have?"

Riven said nothing. Instead, he lifted a hand over the counter.

One by one, mana beast cores tumbled from his inventory—glowing, pulsating, rare and uncommon alike—raining down onto the wooden surface with a rhythmic clatter. A pile formed in mere seconds, the raw power within each core thrumming in the air.

"This isn't even a quarter of what I have," Riven said smoothly, his voice polite, but his eyes darkened ever so slightly. "Is this enough?"

The server's expression froze, eyes widening as the realization sank in. For a moment, the entire shop seemed to pause as nearby students turned, catching glimpses of the mountain of beast cores.

Then, in a flurry of movement, the server waved over his assistants, who scrambled to gather the precious items. His demeanor shifted instantly, the previous amusement replaced with an eager, almost reverent smile.

"Ah—of course! Of course!" The old man beamed, hastily gesturing toward a curtained room at the side of the store. "The strongest potions are kept in the safe room. Please, follow me."

Riven and Nyx exchanged a glance before following the server through the curtain, stepping into a dimly lit room lined with reinforced shelves. The air here was heavier, saturated with mana so thick it buzzed against Riven's skin. Unlike the outer shop, this was where the true treasures were kept—potions so rare and potent they were locked away from casual buyers.

The server strode ahead, moving toward a large, rune-etched safe embedded into the stone wall. With a flick of his wrist, he traced a series of glowing sigils, unlocking the mechanisms with practiced ease. A deep, resonant click echoed through the chamber, and the heavy metal door swung open.

Inside, rows of pristine crystal vials gleamed under the ambient light, each containing a different shade of mana-infused liquid. Some glowed faintly with condensed energy, while others swirled with volatile, shifting colors—unstable, powerful, and undoubtedly dangerous if mishandled.

"These," the server said, his voice brimming with pride, "are the highest-grade mana potions in stock. Each one contains concentrated mana essence refined from pure beast cores or extremely rare herbs. Not the diluted kind we sell outside—these are direct from the alchemists' workshops."

Riven stepped closer, scanning the selection, his gaze flicking over the various vials, noting their different compositions. Then, among the rows of glowing potions, one caught his eye.

A sleek, dark-stoppered vial sat near the back of the shelf, its contents a deep, shimmering silver with faint golden wisps swirling within. Unlike the other potions, which pulsed with raw mana, this one had a refined, almost ethereal quality—controlled, precise, potent.

Riven narrowed his eyes. He knew that color. That texture.

This was Etherbloom.

The very same mana potion crafted within the Shadow Kingdom, infused with abyss-touched herbs, its effects vastly superior to normal restoratives.

He reached for it. "What's this one?"

The server hesitated for a split second before quickly regaining his composure. He stepped forward, lowering his voice as though sharing a secret.

"Ah, that," he murmured, rubbing his hands together. "That is a new, extremely rare mana potion called Etherbloom. It's only recently entered circulation, supplied exclusively by the Deveroux Guild."

Riven almost laughed.

So Lucien had already begun distribution. Good. The Deveroux Guild was doing exactly what he had planned—spreading Shadow Kingdom products through their network, allowing their influence to seep deeper into the kingdom's economy.

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The server continued, unaware of Riven's amusement. "It's expensive, even more so than the Imperial Elixirs. But its effects are remarkable. Unlike normal potions, which give a temporary mana surge, Etherbloom integrates into the user's mana flow, enhancing both capacity and regeneration. Alchemists can't fully replicate it yet—there's something unique in its refinement process." He lowered his voice further. "Honestly, we don't get many of these. The guild only provides them to select shops."

Riven let out a quiet hum, tilting the vial slightly, watching the golden streaks swirl inside.

"How many do you have?"

The server blinked. "Ah, well, let's see…" He turned, checking the back of the safe, then hesitantly counted. "Five. That's all we've been able to get our hands on."

"I'll take them all."

The server choked. "A-All of them?"

Riven nodded, placing the vial back onto the shelf. "And from now on, if you get more shipments, I want you to buy them in bulk. Whatever quantity the Deveroux Guild provides—take it. I'll purchase every single one."

The server hesitated, glancing at the mountain of beast cores Riven had already dumped onto the table, then back at the rare potions. His mind clearly ran through the calculations before his expression shifted into one of eager agreement.

"Well… for a customer of your standing, I suppose arrangements can be made," he said, his voice a touch breathless. "Of course! I'll ensure every shipment is reserved for you first."

"Good." Riven stepped back, watching as the server carefully packed the Etherbloom vials alongside the Imperial Elixirs. He had expected the potions to enter circulation quickly, but seeing them here, sold as rare commodities, only confirmed how well his trade agreement with Lucien was working.

And the best part?

No one knew their true origin.

Riven smirked as he picked up the secured potion case, glancing at Nyx. "Looks like our supply chain is working well."

Nyx chuckled, her gaze flicking to the server, who was still fussing over the transaction. "They really have no idea, do they?"

"Not yet." Riven's smirk deepened. "But soon, the whole kingdom will be drinking our mana."

With that, he turned on his heel, leading Nyx out of the safe room and back into the bustling market, leaving the potion shop with far more than he had come for.

As they stepped back into the market district, the cool evening air brushing against them, Riven's mind was already turning toward his next move. The past two weeks had forged his body into something stronger, but he was still too far away from the threshold of the Fourth Circle. That had been his goal from the beginning—getting as close to a breakthrough as possible before making his challenge for the Power Leaderboard.

And for that, he needed more mana.

He turned to Nyx, his tone sharp and decisive. "I'm going to the Fire Mana-Dense Island. I'll spend the remaining two weeks pushing myself to the absolute limit."

Nyx arched a brow, arms folding. "The volcanic region? That place is swarming with Infernal Beasts. You're not just going to push yourself, you're going to burn yourself alive."

Riven smirked. "If it brings me closer to the Fourth Circle, then it's worth it."

Nyx let out a low sigh, shaking her head, though there was no real disapproval in her gaze. "Fine. I assume you want me to handle things here."

"You assume correctly." Riven handed her a pouch filled with beast cores but kept the potion case for himself. His grip lingered for a moment. "Keep fighting and collecting mana beast cores. Stockpile as many as you can. And most importantly—keep buying up every shipment of Etherbloom that comes in. I'll need a constant supply while I'm on the Fire Mana-Dense Isle."

Nyx's brow lifted slightly. "You want me to bring them to you?"

Riven nodded. "Exactly. I'll be burning through mana faster than usual there, and Etherbloom integrates better with my reserves. I don't want to waste time coming back every time I need a refill. Just keep the supply flowing."

Nyx sighed and then smirked. "So I get to run your errands now? How generous of you."

Riven smirked back. "Think of it as an investment. The more we buy, the higher the demand from the Deveroux Guild. They'll keep expanding distribution, and by the time they realize how dependent people are on it, we'll already control the supply."

Nyx chuckled. "Smart. Fine, I'll make sure they keep restocking. And if anyone else tries to get their hands on our shipments?"

Riven's smirk darkened. "Make sure they don't."

Nyx grinned. "Consider it done."

With that settled, Riven turned and headed towards the teleport gate for the Fire-Mana Dense island. His home for the next 2 weeks.