The Extra's Rise

The communication channels immediately erupted with questions, demands for verification, and more than a few expressions of outright disbelief. Priscilla listened to the initial responses with obvious satisfaction before closing the connection and turning back to our small group.

"That felt good," she admitted with uncharacteristic candor. "The Tower's research team has been so insufferably condescending in our joint meetings. Acting as if the Creighton family were merely junior partners in this endeavor."

Rachel laughed softly. "Aunt Priscilla, you've been plotting this moment for months, haven't you?"

"Plotting is such an ugly word," Priscilla replied with mock innocence. "I prefer 'strategically positioning our achievements for maximum impact.'"

She moved to the central chamber and carefully extracted the vial of transformed liquid, holding it up to the light. The silver-blue glow seemed to pulse with its own inner life, beautiful and somehow alive in a way that made my enhanced senses tingle with recognition.

Priscilla finally turned to me, her sapphire eyes gleaming with a mix of pride and exhaustion. "This," she said, holding up the vial like a trophy, "is the world's first SSS-rank elixir. I call it Amrita. Aetherite has made it possible to break through the limitations of beast blood elixirs. This little wonder can heal even Ascendant-rankers. It's... miraculous."

I blinked, taken aback by the revelation. "That's... incredible," I murmured, the weight of her words settling over me.

"It's more than incredible," she said, her voice tinged with excitement as she turned the vial in her fingers. "This is the pinnacle. The absolute limit of what aetherite can achieve in potions. Amrita isn't just a product—it's a declaration of the new era we're entering."

"What about other elixirs?" I asked, curiosity sparking.

Priscilla's grin widened, a rare flicker of raw enthusiasm breaking through her usual composed exterior. "Oh, we've developed plenty. Lower-tier elixirs, potions for all ranks up to White, and everything in between. The best part? Aetherite potions are not only superior in quality but also cheaper to produce. The old market doesn't stand a chance."

My brow furrowed. "Cheaper? Even with the current supply constraints?"

She nodded, her expression calculating. "The amounts of aetherite required are minuscule. We're talking a fraction of what's used for artifacts or other applications. With just one vial's worth of raw material, we can produce dozens of potions. Once you expand the supply chain and establish more mining operations, the market for traditional beast-blood elixirs will collapse under its own weight."

"And this isn't just about healing," she continued, leaning slightly closer as if sharing a secret. "I've already tested preliminary formulas for energy recovery, mana augmentation, and even specialized potions tailored for specific elemental affinities. Aetherite enhances everything."

"Potions to aid White-rankers near Integration, too?" I asked.

Priscilla inclined her head. "Naturally. These potions won't just be luxury items; they'll be essential tools for climbers and mages alike. Of course, they lose their efficacy beyond Integration, but that still leaves us with an enormous customer base."

The implications were staggering. The sheer reach of aetherite's potential was greater than even I had envisioned. It wasn't just a tool; it was a weapon—a weapon that could dismantle the old systems and build something entirely new in its place.

"And the supply?" I asked, shifting my focus.

Priscilla's grin dimmed slightly, replaced by a more serious expression. "That's where you come in. Right now, the supply is manageable, but if demand grows at the rate I expect, we'll need more—much more. We need more deposits, better refining methods, and faster processing facilities."

I nodded. "I'm already working on expanding mining operations. Kaelion is securing additional deposits on the moon, and the Creighton family has been instrumental in processing what we've extracted so far. But we'll need to scale up everything—logistics, transportation, storage—if we're going to keep up."

Priscilla tilted her head, her gaze thoughtful. "And what about the Tower of Magic? Are they still in play?"

"For now," I said. "But their involvement is temporary. The Creighton estate will take over as the primary hub for aetherite processing once the infrastructure is solid. I trust you more with this than I do them."

Her lips twitched into a satisfied smile. "Good. Because once we fully dominate the potion market, we'll be ready to move into other industries—artifacts, transportation, even spell arrays. Aetherite isn't just the future, Arthur. It's our future."

I glanced back at the glowing vial in her hand, the light from Amrita reflecting in her eyes. For a moment, the weight of everything we were building seemed both overwhelming and exhilarating.

"Let's change the world," I said quietly.

Priscilla's smile widened. "Oh, we will."

The warp gate chamber in the Tower of Magic hummed with barely contained energy as I materialized in Avalon City. The familiar sensation of dimensional travel was followed immediately by the oppressive weight of concentrated magical power that permeated every stone of the ancient structure. Even after years of visiting, the Tower's sheer presence never failed to impress—a monument to magical knowledge that had stood for over two millennia.

"Arthur!" A familiar voice called out as I stepped from the arrival platform. Master Aldric Thorne approached with his characteristic brisk pace, his weathered face showing a mixture of pride and barely contained excitement. Despite being well into his seventies, he moved with the energy of someone decades younger, his Integration-rank power maintaining both his physical capabilities and his sharp intellect.

"Master Thorne," I greeted him with genuine warmth. "I take it Priscilla's announcement has caused quite a stir?"

"Stir?" He laughed, the sound echoing off the chamber's crystalline walls. "My boy, that announcement has turned the entire Tower upside down. Half the research staff are demanding immediate access to Aetherite samples, and the other half are frantically trying to verify her claims through theoretical models."

We walked through the Tower's corridors as he spoke, passing laboratories where I could see researchers hunched over complex calculations and experimental apparatus. The energy in the air was palpable—the excitement of a scientific community that had just witnessed what they thought was a paradigm shift.

'Right on schedule,' I thought with satisfaction. Everything was proceeding exactly as I'd anticipated based on my knowledge of Aetherite's capabilities.

"Charlotte wants to see you immediately," Master Thorne continued. "She's been in emergency session with the senior research council since Priscilla's broadcast. I've never seen the Tower Master so... animated."

That made sense. Charlotte Alaric was brilliant enough to immediately recognize the implications of Aetherite's potential. Unlike the other researchers who were still trying to verify Priscilla's claims, she would have already moved past acceptance to implementation.

We reached the Tower Master's chambers on the ninety-seventh floor, where the view of Avalon City spread out below us like a magical tapestry. Charlotte Alaric stood with her back to the door, her vibrant red hair cascading down her shoulders as she gazed out at the city. At only thirty-one, she was the youngest Tower Master in the institution's history, her low Radiant-rank power complemented by an intellect that had revolutionized several fields of magical study.

"Arthur," she said without turning around. "Perfect timing. I was just contemplating how dramatically the magical landscape is about to change."

"Tower Master," I replied, noting the controlled excitement in her voice. Charlotte was clearly several steps ahead of her research staff in understanding what Aetherite represented.

She turned to face me, and I was struck by the intensity in her jade green eyes. There was something there beyond mere excitement—a fierce competitive spirit that had been awakened by Priscilla's announcement, combined with the satisfaction of someone who had already formulated a response.

"That brilliant woman has thrown down quite the gauntlet," Charlotte said with a smile that was equal parts admiration and challenge. "SSS-rank healing elixirs, market disruption on a continental scale, and the most elegantly executed scientific coup I've witnessed in decades."

"She does have a flair for dramatic timing," I agreed, unsurprised by the Tower's competitive response. This was exactly the kind of innovation race I'd been hoping to encourage.

"Indeed. But I didn't call you here simply to congratulate the Creighton family on their achievement." Charlotte moved to her desk, where several crystalline devices hummed with contained magical energy. "The Tower of Magic has not been idle during these past weeks of collaboration."

'Here it comes,' I thought, already anticipating what she was about to reveal. Artifact enhancement had always been one of Aetherite's most obvious applications.

Master Thorne's excitement became more pronounced. "Arthur, what Charlotte is about to show you represents the next logical step in Aetherite application."

Charlotte activated one of the devices, and a holographic display materialized in the air between us. The image showed a complex magical schema—far more intricate than anything used in traditional artifact crafting, but exactly what I'd expected to see eventually.

"For decades," Charlotte began, her voice taking on the measured cadence of a master lecturer, "mass-produced magical artifacts have been limited to Elite-grade potency at best. The materials, the crafting processes, the sheer complexity of integrating multiple magical systems and the addition of the essence of time—all of it created barriers that made mass production of historic-grade artifacts and above impossible

She gestured to the holographic schema, which rotated slowly to reveal its three-dimensional complexity. "Aetherite has eliminated that fundamental limitation."

"The stabilization properties?" I asked, already knowing the answer but wanting to hear their specific approach.

"Exactly," Charlotte confirmed with obvious satisfaction. "Aetherite doesn't just enhance magical processes—it acts as a universal stabilizing agent for complex magical matrices. Enchantments that would normally interfere with each other can coexist peacefully when mediated through Aetherite integration points."

Master Thorne stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with the enthusiasm of someone witnessing what he thought was a breakthrough. "We've successfully created the first mass-producible Historic-grade artifacts. Weapons, armor, utility items—all of them surpassing anything previously possible for large-scale manufacturing."

I nodded approvingly. This was the natural progression I'd been waiting for. "The cost efficiency must be substantial."

"Beyond our most optimistic projections," Charlotte continued, clearly pleased by my lack of surprise at their achievement.

She activated another display, showing cost comparisons that were impressive but not unexpected. "We estimate a seventy percent reduction in material costs, combined with manufacturing processes that are eight times faster than traditional methods. An elite-grade sword that currently sells for fifteen million dollars could be produced and sold profitably for four million."

"And that's just the beginning," I observed. "As production scales and processes refine, those costs will drop further."

"Precisely," Charlotte agreed, her jade eyes sparkling with the satisfaction of someone whose theoretical projections were being validated. "We project final costs dropping to under two million dollars per elite-grade item within two years. That brings them within reach of major guilds, military organizations, and wealthy adventurers—a market exponentially larger than the current customer base."

Master Thorne pulled up additional schematics. "We've already completed prototypes for seventeen different artifact categories. Combat gear, defensive equipment, utility items for mining and exploration, even luxury goods for the civilian market."

"The civilian applications were always going to be significant," I said, thinking about the broader economic implications. "Communication devices, transportation artifacts, household utilities—the market potential is enormous."

Charlotte's smile became almost predatory. "Aetherite-enhanced communication devices that can reach across continents. Transportation artifacts that reduce travel time by half. Household items that can maintain perfect temperature control or provide illumination that rivals natural sunlight. The applications are limited only by imagination and available Aetherite supply."

'And there's the key constraint,' I thought. Everything would ultimately come down to Aetherite production capacity.

"The production timeline?" I asked.

"Six months for full-scale manufacturing capability," Charlotte replied confidently. "We've already begun retrofitting our facilities and training our artificers in the new techniques. By year's end, the Tower of Magic will be producing Historic-grade artifacts at a rate that would have been unthinkable just months ago."

"Which brings us to the critical issue," I said, getting to the heart of why they'd called this meeting.

Master Thorne's expression grew more serious. "Exactly. Arthur, this level of production will require guaranteed Aetherite allocation. We need assurance of supply stability."

"Guaranteed Aetherite allocation for our manufacturing operations," Charlotte said immediately. "Priority access during any supply shortages, and advance notice of any changes in availability or pricing."

I considered their request carefully. This was the moment I'd been building toward—when the various applications of Aetherite would create natural demand pressure that would justify massive expansion of production.

"I can guarantee baseline allocation," I said finally. "But priority access will depend on overall supply levels and competing demands. The potion market is going to be equally hungry for Aetherite."

"Which is why we propose coordinated market entry," Charlotte said. "The Tower focusing on artifacts, the Creightons dominating potions, and Ouroboros managing the supply chain. We avoid direct competition while maximizing market penetration."

"And," Master Thorne added with a grin, "we get the opportunity to show Priscilla Creighton that the Tower of Magic is equally capable of revolutionary breakthroughs."

Charlotte's laugh was rich with competitive satisfaction. "It's time to make our own announcement. I believe the magical research community is ready for another paradigm shift."

Looking between my former teacher and the Tower Master, I felt a deep sense of satisfaction. Everything was proceeding exactly as I'd envisioned. The race to reshape the world through Aetherite applications was accelerating, and all the major players were moving in directions that would ultimately benefit Ouroboros's position as the primary supplier.

The future was unfolding precisely as planned.