The skin on Edward's index finger was slowly razed. Following that, his flesh was torn open, revealing the surface of his finger bones.

When the youth glanced at this injury, he was completely shocked. "What the hell is this?!"

Adam put his elbow on the barrel's chime and rested his chin on his palm, muttering in a bored manner, "I told you to be careful. You just don't listen."

Lisa gazed at Edward's injured finger with wide eyes. Then, she looked at the barrel full of crimson liquid that Adam was immersed in.

Just a simple dip in that liquid destroyed Eddie's flesh and muscles, yet Adam is bathing in a barrel full of it! The blonde young lady thought in disbelief.

"A-Adam, just what the hell is that thing?!" She blurted out. "And how the hell are you bathing in it? Are you crazy?!"

"This?" Adam glanced at the crimson liquid below and chuckled, "This is something the old man made."

Then, he looked over at Edward, who was about to pour some healing potion over his finger, and advised, "That won't help."

"What do you mean?" Edward replied as he winced in excruciating pain.

"Just dip that finger back inside this medicinal bath. I'll explain the rest later."

Edward stared at Adam with a dumbfounded look, wondering if he was joking with him. But seeing the youth's serious expression, he couldn't help but loudly gulp.

"Y-You sure?" He asked in apprehension.

"Yeah." Adam nodded. "Just do as I say."

Edward took a deep breath and then walked toward the barrel, clutching at his wrist. Then, he hesitated for a brief moment before finally dipping his injured finger back inside the barrel.

The moment his finger came in touch with the crimson liquid again, he went through another round of agonizing pain. But at the same time, he could also feel an itching sensation on his finger.

This was because his injury had already started to heal at a mind-boggling speed.

Edward's jaw dropped when he saw the flesh mend itself back, followed by the skin. A few moments later, when he took out his finger from within the liquid, it was completely healed.

If anything, he felt as if this finger felt better than before!

"Just what sort of potion is this?!" He asked in shock.

Even Lisa who watched the whole scene play out had a dumbfounded expression.

"The main ingredient for this medicinal bath is a type of mushroom called the Blood Fungus," Adam began, "have you guys heard of it?"

The couple shook their heads. This wasn't surprising. After all, the Blood Fungus was an exotic ingredient and extremely rare. Even most Herbalists in the Southern Federation hadn't heard of it, much less Magi who had never dabbled in potion-making before.

"Anyway, this thing supplements the mana in one's body and blood. It makes the blood more vigorous and increases one's strength."

"But still!" Edward protested. "Why do you have to go through such inhumane pain? This is ludicrous" But his next words got stuck in his throat when he glanced at Adam's calm and collected expression.

He had first-hand experienced how agonizing the pain was. Moreover, he had only dipped his finger.

But Adam had everything below his chest submerged inside the barrel, yet, the youth didn't even flinch!

After being speechless for a few moments, Edward asked suspiciously, "Adam, you are you a masochist?"

"Shut up." Adam rolled his eyes. "I've just gained a tolerance for this."

"How does this work?" Lisa took a step closer to the barrel, glancing at the crimson liquid with curiosity and apprehension.

Adam scooped up a handful of the liquid in his palms. As the liquid cascaded through the gaps in his fingers, he explained, "This solution enters the body through the pores and thoroughly scrubs the flesh and bones, vitalizing them."

When observed closely, Edward and Lisa could indeed see that the crimson liquid was borrowing its way into Adam's hands.

However, unlike what happened to Edward, the rate at which Adam's flesh and muscles were getting destroyed was very minuscule. It was barely visible to the naked eye.

"Why aren't you getting as injured as I did?" Edward asked, his face full of grievance.

"It's simple, really," Adam smiled. "I've been doing this for months now. And although the Blood Fungus that I've used has become comparatively potent with each bath, I've gained an abnormal amount of resistance to it."

Edward and Lisa were silent for a long time, wondering just how much the youth had to go through to endure the hellish pain. Especially when this pain increased significantly with each bath.

"But why go through all this?" Lisa asked softly, her face marred by discomfort.

She couldn't imagine herself going through such inhumane pain, nor could she imagine her close friend going through it.

Adam recalled the words Berger had once said to him, his lips parted and he muttered those words of wisdom, "During Mana Foundation, a Magus is a bowl in the making. Only after you cross this rank can you fill the bowl."

He paused for a moment. Seeing that his friends were paying rapt attention, he continued, "No matter how much you pour into a bowl that's weak and incomplete, it will simply leak out and waste your efforts.

"This medicinal bath creates a cycle where my flesh, muscles, and bones are slowly destroyed, and then healed immediately after."

Adam raised his hand and clenched his fist. Feeling the immense power coursing through his veins, he smirked, "By going through this cycle as many times my body allows it, my foundation becomes stronger and more resilient."

"The bowl becomes complete" Lisa muttered in realization. Suddenly, she thought of another possibility and couldn't help but be stunned, "Wait, you said, you're going through a detox and then there's this medicinal bath Don't tell me!"

Adam nodded with a faint smile.

Even Edward could put two and two together and realize what Adam's intentions were. He couldn't help but ask incredulously, "But isn't this too early?! I mean you're only 20 years old! No, forget that. Don't you have to go into a long period of isolation?"

"Hehe," Adam chuckled in amusement. "I don't. I've been preparing for this moment for years now. Whether I go into reclusion or not doesn't matter."

Edward and Lisa were stunned, not being able to speak a word for a very long time. They stared at Adam as if he were some kind of monster.

The next moment, Edward's eyes flashed with resolve as he clenched his fists and asked, "Will going through what you're going increase my success rate?"

"Well, you don't really have to worry about your success rate," Adam replied, hinting at Edward's S-rank talent. "However, it doesn't hurt to have solid foundations."

"Then, I will do it." Edward nodded with a solemn expression.

"Me too!" Lisa chimed in.

Adam chuckled, "Alright, I will make you guys a less potent version of this medicinal bath."

He paused for a moment, before asking, "By the way, what did you guys come here for?"

Lisa realized that she'd completely forgotten about what she had wanted to speak about. It couldn't be helped, after all. After witnessing the bizarre scene of what transpired earlier, anyone would fail to recollect what was on their mind.

She glanced at Adam and spoke with a grim expression, "We've received intel on our next mission."

"What about it?" Adam asked.

Lisa took a deep breath and stated, "It's going to be a long-

term mission.

"And a difficult one at that."