The Alchemy: Rise of a new Emperor.

Chapter 5: New Bonds & Brewing Storms

The late afternoon sky painted golden stripes through the quiet streets as Ji Woo followed Min Soo toward her small, cozy house near a bank hall. Her heart pounded: she'd promised min soo to come, but not knowing her before made her palms sweat, they had only met in the market when she was buying food to cook for herself, she had help min Soo catch a thief who stole her bag.

"Ji Woo, come in already," Min Soo beckoned, unlocking the front door.

"Dinner's almost ready."

Inside, the comforting scent of soup and steamed rice filled the air. Min Soo called without hesitation:

"Oppa! We're home!"

Heavy footsteps shifted above.

Ji Woo froze mid-step, anxious like she always is. A door creaked open upstairs, and Min Ho appeared—shirtless, towel slung over his shoulder, his muscles rippling and glistening with sweat.

Her cheeks burned crimson.

"H-He's your brother?!" she managed, voice trembling.

Min Soo grinned widely, and replied with a playful tone,

"Yup! My overly serious, secrety badass brother."

Min Ho glanced down from the staircase, offering a faint, teasing smirk.

"You're not gonna scream this time too, are you?"

Ji Woo blushed harder, stammering, "I— I wasn't—gonna"

Min Ho simply chuckled, then flipped a towel over his head and walked toward the kitchen.

Min Soo led Ji Woo to the dining table as Min Ho joined them moments later. Plates clattered, miso soup steamed. For the first time in weeks, the atmosphere felt peaceful.

They spoke about school, her training mishaps, and Min Soo's quiet admiration for Ji Woo's courage.

As they ate, Ji Woo's gaze drifted to Min Ho—his strong hands, calm composure, the way he quietly listened, then offered a small nod to their conversation.

By the end of dinner, Ji Woo felt… accepted. Min Soo's home felt less like a stranger's house and more like a safe, warm place.

The Alpha Mage Guild's Secret Strategy

Far across the city, marble corridors echoed with purposeful footsteps leading to the Alpha Mage Guild's war room.

At the head of a long obsidian table sat Baek Hyun Joon the guild leader of The Alpha Mage guild, the strongest guild in all of Korea and other members seated at their respective seats, his expression sharply unreadable.

Around him stood his lieutenants—anxious, but resolute.

"As you all know," he began in a measured voice, "we cannot allow the Gungun Island raid to slip through our fingers.

If those Titanic Bears gain naval mobility… humanity will suffer."

He punched a map of the island.

"Only we have the power—and pride—to conquer it, we can't give up or the lives of the ones who does there will be wasted."

A man Aung Eun Jin standing to the side of The Chairman: Park Yoon Jin spoke, bowed and spoke as he entered. "Chairman Park Yoon Jin we have reports of a solo dungeon raider.

He's an unknown Transmutation Alchemist who's been solo-clearing dungeons."

Everyone gasped

"It can't be",one said.

"Since when did that begin to happen?", the Chairman asked.

"Since two weeks ago sir"

"We have no clear images," Sung added, "but rumors claim someone cleared two monster dungeons.

Experts believe this person might be The True Alchemist"

. Everyone gasped again then silence fell.

"Keep close tabs on him," Chairman Park Yoon Jin ordered, his gaze calm.

"We must recruit him, he's our only chance to success.", Chairman Park said thinking of the boy Kim Min Ho who survived a Momarch class dungeon and a B ranked dungeon

Min Ho's Solo Raid — The Wendigo Hunt

Under the city's dusk, Min Ho stood before a hidden dungeon's mouth. The System indicated quietly:

Mission accepted. Target: Wendigos.

Inside, the air chilled his lungs. Faint growls echoed. Then he saw them, The Wendigos— eight-foot horror with curled horns, skeletal skulls, venom-dripping fangs.

Roars that cut through the silence.

They lunged but min ho was ready, he took them down one after the other leaving the boss as the only monster left.

The boss lunged and turned invincible mod air, claws tore behind Min Ho. A fang grazed his arm—ice-laced fire raced through his tissue. Numbness crept in, he fell to his knees and then the system popped up

[SYSTEM ALERT

New skill gained: instant health ]

He healed instantly gritted his teeth and triggered Shadow Step—vanishing and reappearing behind it. In one fluid motion, he forged twin daggers from raw metal, each humming with energy.

He pierced its ankles, grinding the monster to its knees.

The Wendigo shreiked, snapping its venomous maw at him.

Min Ho leapt clean, buried both daggers in its skull and parted it, shattering it to pieces. The Wendigo collapsed into dark mist.

Moments later—

SYSTEM ALERT"

Stats:

Hp: 100/100 (full HP immediately after mission is a success)

Endurance: 200/1000

Strength (STR): 142/1000

Agility (AGI): 203/1000

Stamina (STA): 112/1000

Intelligence (INT):154/1000

Will power: 240/1000

Rewards:

– Venom Immunity acquired.

– Weapon: Soulfang Dagger added.

He opened his system inventory. His eyes caught a rare item:

Everheart Draught Potion— Price: 50,000,000 Mana/ Craft your own with the heart of six monarchs].

A glimmer of hope for his mother.

He exited the dungeon at dusk, delivering himself back to the city.

"Where will I see a monarch, and if I do, will I be strong enough?, Well I'll just have to level up more."

He looked at his arm and spoke: "I thought I couldn't get hurt".

[SYSTEM ALERT

You can only have protection from human attacks, rules don't apply to monsters." ]

"You've got to be kidding me",he said smirking.

The dungeon dissapeared leaving him on the side walk.

But before he reached home, his phone buzzed:

A text from the Alchemy guil masters

"Mr. Kim Min Ho, report to the Alchemist Hall for guild assignment tommorow"

"What do they want from me now?",he asked irritated.

The Next Day

He arrived at the Alchemy hall to find Ji Woo already there—calm, yet expectant. His sudden smile at her was subtle.

They stood together as a guild official explained that they are now a guild called the Metal guild, guild containing Transmutation Alchemists

"A guild?, A good idea for me to level up the more",he smirked.

"You are assigned to raid a D-rank dungeon",the man continued leading them to a D rank dungeon.

Min Ho braced himself but the system popped up.

The System flashed a warning:

[Dungeon Rank Shift Detected – Rank Threat: Unknown]

Min Ho went ahead hands in his pockets, and hoodie on his head along with Ji Woo by his side all holding a weapon.

They stepped through the portal.

"Wait, min ho",the man said noticing min ho didn't carry a weapon but it was too late, min ho was already in.

"Is he really going into a portal without a weapon?".

Inside The Portal

The world shifted. A low rumble echoed.

They marched into the unknown, ready to face what lay ahead.