The other groups conferred for a moment to see if they had something that might be relevant to a lightning magic user, but there wasn't anything in the works at the moment. There were some already made, but they were the research division, they were already finished with those ones and didn't keep them around.

But while they were waiting around for a decision to be made on what was happening next, Karl noticed that something was happening with Rae. She had taken a concoction yesterday, and it had started a process that looked like it was completing.

She wasn't completely changed, but the power level in her body was rapidly increasing, and the red of her legs was moving toward a crimson at the tips of her legs, while it darkened toward black again on her upper legs and body. The fur on her torso seemed to multiply, until her actual carapace was barely visible, and a shadowy miasma seemed to hang over her body.

[Looking good, girlie.] Karl congratulated her.

[This is good, we should make more of that later. I think I'm almost at my final adult form now, and I'm just waiting on something. Maybe for you to finish that power moon in my space.] She agreed, placing the blame for her not reaching Commander Rank today firmly on Karl.

[I will make you another batch later, don't forget to remind me.] Karl informed her as another group of researchers came into the room with a bunch of carts.

There were more products on them. Some were pills, some were liquids, some were baskets full of meat or feed.

That had to make them the nature department, and they were all going insane about something.

Their leader, an elderly man with a walker, raced forward, or at least attempted to, given his condition, and then protectively cradled the regenerative grass plant that Karl had donated.

"When was this picked? How long has it been out of soil? Is it still viable?" He asked in a deep baritone that didn't match his frail body.

"It was picked earlier this week. But it has been in stasis, so you can consider the elapsed time to be roughly fifteen minutes. The roots are intact, so it should be absolutely viable. We even left native soil around them to ensure that it didn't suffer from an extreme transplant shock." Alice explained carefully before Karl could think of where to start.

An assistant went running out of the room and returned seconds later with a large pot half full of some sort of blue gel, into which the plant was carefully lowered before the old man breathed a sigh of relief.

"Do you have any idea how valuable that plant is to be just leaving it out like that with its roots exposed? Idiots, all of you. It's good that I managed to save it, the regenerating properties are most potent while the plant is still alive." He ranted.

Alice chuckled, and took a small empty vial from one of the carts. She filled it with the regenerative paste that they had gotten from the Giants and handed it to the old man.

"That is how the Commander Rank Giants were using it. Now, are you ready to calm down, or should I get you somewhere to sit and catch your breath?" She asked.

The man flipped a panel on his walker, which latched in place to form a platform, and then he took a seat on it, alternating between glaring at Alice and lovingly staring at the paste.

"Go ahead and use some. You've got a whole plant to replace it from." She encouraged him.

The old man mixed some of the salve into a cup of tea that his students presented him, and then rubbed a bit of the salve on his throat. Karl was curious about what the tea would taste like, as the plant smelled somewhat like Aloe, but it seemed to help whatever was wrong with the old man.

The assistants all got increasingly excited as the man's health visibly improved over the next few minutes, and then he got up out of the walker and stood smiling at the Elites and the other researchers.

"Well, this has been an unexpectedly profitable day. Now, what did you need my help with? Anything that my department can provide is yours for the asking."

The other Elites smirked at Karl, who called out Thor and Rae to join Hawk.

"I am looking for a way to get these three to Commander Rank. They're bonded to me by my class, and their growth directly affects my growth." Karl explained.

The old man stared at them and nodded solemnly.

"So, we've got a mutated Dragon Hawk, a Lightning Cerro, who radiates holy power, and an adult Bloodbath Spider who hasn't reached her advancement yet? We can work with that as long as they're not hostile." He agreed.

"They're not, but I don't recommend ruffling Hawk's feathers, or touching Rae, she can be particular. Thor, the Lightning Cerro, on the other hand, is very affectionate." Karl explained.

"What additional skills have they learned so far?" The professor asked, gaining vitality by the second as the balm worked its way through his body.

"Hawk knows Fireballs, Wind Shield, Rend, Shred, and Flaming Body. Thor knows Refreshing Lightning and Earthquake. Rae knows Offensive Optimization and Wood Golem." Karl explained.

"What is offensive optimization?" One of the assistants asked.

"It's the Bloodbath Spider's innate passive skill. It's how they can tear through everything so effectively if you give them a few minutes to practice."

The assistant looked clueless, but the old professor looked grim.

"You might not know, as they are supposed to be extinct, but a full-grown Bloodbath Spider is a Commander Rank beast that can tear through the hull of an armoured transport in a matter of seconds. When it comes to combat power, they are among the finest in their Rank, and if they were given any defensive abilities, or ranged attacks, they would almost certainly be ranked as a Royal Rank threat." He explained.

The students looked shocked as they looked at Rae, who was standing a bit more proudly at the kind reference to the powers of her species. However, in the eyes of the others, that only made her look more intimidating until Lotus came up to rest against her side and whisper something to the spider.

Not even Karl's sensitive hearing could pick it out, but Rae's amusement was clear in his mind.

The group from the Nature Department discussed the matter very seriously, then came forward with two large vials of glowing liquid, and an intricately carved glowing rock.

The High Priests looked at the glowing rock in shock.

"You can't be serious." The High Priest scoffed.

"I am quite serious. I believe that it will work." The old man replied with great dignity.

Karl had no idea what the object was, but one of the assistants brought it forward for Thor.

"Uhm, he just needs to eat this, and then it should take effect right away. I mean, assuming that it works."

It looked like the High Priest wasn't the only one who wasn't sold on the fact that this resource was right for Thor, but nobody tried to stop them as Thor opened his mouth, and she placed the carved stone on his tongue.

Thor chewed and swallowed with a happy grunt.

[Kind of fizzy, pleasantly bubbly. Warm too.] He explained.

Then a flood of golden light came from him and created a circle on the floor.

[Oh, I learned a thing! Circle of Protection.]

"Thor says it is a Circle of Protection." Karl informed the room, while the clergy all stared at him in shock.

"He learned holy magic? How does that even work?" Tessa asked as she stepped into the circle.

The High Priests both followed her, and their looks turned from doubt to curiosity.

"It really is a Circle of Protection. It reduces damage taken in its area of effect, and restores stamina." The senior of the two High Priests explained.

"Thor the Tank." Tessa agreed as she patted his scales.

"How much of an effect will the spell have?" Karl asked, unfamiliar with the magic.

He had seen the golden circle that damaged enemies, and the one that slowed and weakened them, but not the one that reduced damage.

"Against other Ascended and low Commander Rank enemies, it should reduce his damage taken by about half. That will also be effective for anyone standing near him, so against a large target like a Giant or an Ogre, it will protect the whole melee group." The High Priest explained.

"That's impressive. With this in place, very few enemies will be able to get past the Golems at all." Alice noted.

"That's a good point. With half as much damage done to the Golems, and the recent upgrade that Dana got to her Golems, we should be able to hold quite well against stronger threats." Karl agreed.