Alchemy did not require much time. There were only two real keys to mastering it: perfect control over the flame and complete mastery of the process to minimize the risk of failure.
Midway through, Mosby’s cauldron exploded once, but he remained unfazed. He calmly cleared away the debris and got straight to work on his second batch.
Per the summit rules, each contestant had three chances to attempt alchemy.
Thomas was the first to produce a completed batch of pills, but the moment he saw the results, he simply shook his head and fired up the next attempt. It was clear he was not satisfied with the quality; he was aiming to break into a higher grade elixir.
Francesca asked, “Dr. Goddard, how high a grade can Dr. Bozzelli refine?”
Malcolm smiled. “Thomas may be representing Blumedale Hospital, but in his younger years, he studied widely and deeply. He even trained under a renowned master to specialize in alchemy. After all these years, he should’ve reached the level of a fifth-grade grand alchemist.”
Francesca’s eyes widened. “Fifth-grade? That’s already incredibly high!”
Malcolm nodded. “It’s impressive, but we still need to see how Mosby performs. Technically, he should also be at the fifth-grade level. But considering his close ties with the Advanced Medical Institute, it’s possible he’s learned even higher-level techniques from them.”
He added, “If he’s already stepped into the sixth grade – an Alchemy King – then he’s likely to be the ultimate winner of this summit.”
Francesca grinned. “It’s fine. We still have our secret weapon – Andrew!”
Malcolm shook his head. “Andrew’s performance in round nine already hit the ceiling. I don’t think he can break through again in round ten. After all, the universe runs on balance.”
He continued, “If one person dominates everything, what room is left for anyone else? That’s not talent – that’s cheating fate. And the universe always collects its debt.”
Francesca puffed up her cheeks. “Dr. Goddard, you old folks are always so pessimistic. But I believe in Andrew – he can defy fate!”
Malcolm shot her a look, but he could not bring himself to argue with his favorite student. Still, deep down, he knew Andrew had little chance of winning this final round.
Defy fate? It sounded bold enough, but not many people could pull it off.
At last, Thomas was the first to officially declare his batch finished. However, he did not lift the lid of the cauldron right away. Instead, he smiled confidently and waited for Mosby and Andrew to finish.
Soon after, Mosby followed suit and completed his alchemy process as well. Just like Thomas, he kept the furnace sealed tight and flashed them a smirk.
“Game over, gentlemen,” Mosby said to both Andrew and Thomas.
Clifford casually strolled over to Andrew’s side, and his tone had softened significantly compared to earlier. “Andrew, why not admit defeat? You’ve already accomplished so much. There’s no shame in knowing when to stop.”
Andrew grinned. “But giving up just so happens to be my least favorite thing to do!”
Clifford chuckled. “Sometimes we have to accept things we dislike; it’s just part of being human. Sure, you stunned the crowd in round nine. But the real prize lies beyond the tenth round, and if you can’t clear that final hurdle, all you’ll be left with is regret. That’s life.”
Andrew replied, “Exactly why I plan to make sure I don’t have regrets. So I guess I’ll have to crush Dr. Lake and Dr. Bozzelli one more time—just for good measure.”
Clifford’s smile twitched as his brow furrowed. “Andrew, you certainly have the skill to back up your arrogance, but you better keep that attitude in check! Don’t think you can keep showing off if you’re not qualified!”