The Runic Alchemist

Sam walked through the bustling market of the capital city, Celestria, beside the princess of Eldoris and the most irritating person in the world—Einar. Her long waist-length red hair swayed gently in the breeze as she giggled with the princess, a sight that set his nerves on edge. No matter how much he trained or refined his swordsmanship, he could never best her in combat. He hadn't lost to her either, but that wasn't the same.

Sam knew that while Maximus had stopped training, the guy was a walking cheat—stronger than fifty second-rankers combined perhaps. Trying to reach his level was a pipe dream. But Einar? Even with powers unmatched by anyone else in the world, Sam still couldn't thoroughly defeat her in swordsmanship.

Over the past four years, Sam had trained relentlessly, like a blind boar charging forward. By now, his control over his Esper ability had reached its peak. Where he once glowed like a lantern every-time he used it, now he could channel his lightning to enhance his body to its absolute physical limit without letting a single spark escape. The most significant factor behind this mastery was his second job as a Lightning Defender. It had taken a grueling year of training, but he finally learned to wield an aura like Einar—and this came with a perk. His aura carried a lightning attribute, giving him superior control compared to most pugilists or spellswords.

The unique sky-blue trails his sword left in the air when he swung it? That was all him. It was something no one else could replicate, and Sam had to admit, it felt pretty good.

His third job, which he unlocked later, was also from the Esper class but felt more like a hybrid between an Esper and a pugilist. Called Thunderstorm Vanguard, it was a tailored upgrade, perfectly suited to his unique set of skills combined from two classes.

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Name: Samuel Lv.103

Rank: Enlightened

Affinity: Light, fire

Mana: 10000/10000

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STR: 138

DEF: 153

INT: 163

AGI: 158

DEX: 118

CHA: 15

LUC: 10

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Job:

Light Walker Rank : Beginner Megaelectrobiosis Lv.25, Lightning Defender Lv.25, Thunderstorm vanguard Lv.25

Enlightened Rank : Expert Megaelectrobiosis Lv.3

Blessings: Sun God's Blessing

Title: [Esper], [Heaven defying]

Skills: [Tree Climbing Saint Lv.1] [Growth x10 Lv.1] [Lightning Sovereign Lv.1] [Electric Manipulation Mastery Lv.2] [Overcharged Barrag Lv.1] [Stormbreaker Veil Lv.1] [Skybreaker Arsenal Lv.1] [Aether Surge Lv.1(Blessing)]

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His new job brought several lightning-based skills, new skills all related to his lightning abilities. It took gruelingly long ass time and a lot of dungeon runs to reach level 100. But that wasn't the only thing required, Sam and he had to admit Einar too, worked day in and day out to level their skills as if there was no other thing in life for them except reaching that last stretch of levels, pushing themselves to become the youngest individuals—at barely 13 or 14 years old—to break into the second rank.

Even Princess Evrin, despite her other duties, had intensified her efforts to keep up with them. She was as single-minded as they were when it came to gaining power. However, being a half-elf, her ascension came at a later age, giving her more time to train. Sam didn't know her exact age, rank, or job—those were royal secrets—but her stamina and skill often rivaled their own. He suspected she was much older than she looked.

This was the only thing in which Sam was ahead of Maximus. And he really-really wanted to become the youngest ever to achieve this feat. Perhaps after becoming second ranker the gap between their strength might close, though he knew the guy was a killer of second rankers, so it was hard to say it would make much difference. Sam wasn't a normal second ranker though, his abilities mixed with his unique Esper skills, compared to other second rankers were devastating.

Whenever Sam and Einar trained with Princess Evrin, they often drew an audience of knights, nobles, and even members of the royal family. Though Sam and Einar avoided revealing their full capabilities, he couldn't shake the feeling that the onlookers already knew more about their strengths than they let on.

The royal family had granted Sam and Einar access to a nearby dungeon—not out of kindness, but as an obvious ploy to win their favor. They were offered to become official knights many times and Sam had outright rejected all of them, Einar was different from him and Maximus though. She was more of in a thinking period than outright rejection of all offers stance. She was capable of becoming a really powerful knight but she hesitated for some reason, Sam had tried to talk to her but she never revealed much.

Still, all his concerns about her faded the day she announced that she had reached the second rank before him. It was infuriating. He was so close, but she had beaten him to it. Sam faced his ascension just a week later and achieved Enlightened Rank, but the sting of her victory lingered. Now, every time he saw her, it grated on his nerves.

Was he destined to always lag behind? At least, it felt better to know that he was higher level than that peasant Maximus.

The casual walk in the most popular market was something Sam never understood why the princess did as a regular habit. It increased risks to her life and had no clear advantage, was it fun for her..? Was it just an excuse to drag them out of their training stupor..? The princess was as weird a character as Maximus himself. There was a clear attempt of befriending them, but Sam always felt like she was only doing it to show others that she was doing it, and not really giving much effort when no one was around.

It felt like she was living a lie. Even though the lives of all those kids in the training camp were not ideal, as they had come from poverty or in desperate search of strength and fame, they still felt more lively than her..? Well whatever he was not one to judge others. He barely knew what girls were like anyways, maybe Einar was the weird one who distorted his views on women.