The final, groundbreaking item Neo had created was the Overclocked Awakening Serum.

​[ Grade: C ]

​[ Description: This specialized mix can be used to trigger a massive biological reaction in order to awaken an inborn Beyonder Core within the consumer’s body. ]

​[ Warning: The success rate is 70%, and it is incredibly fatal if failed attempts are not treated immediately. ]

​That was what he could manage to create for the unawakened ones.

​He used various kinds of components besides the herbs and medicines he gathered. He preferred not to disclose what they were for the sake of his own conscience.

​What mattered was that it was effective. A 70% chance was not bad. Seven out of ten would become successful Beyonders, which was a groundbreaking discovery.

​Because since the Age of Enlightenment, it had been a well-established fact that Beyonders were born talented. Beyonder cores could not be manufactured.

​But Neo broke that common understanding. He could make an unstoppable army of Beyonders, and no power could stop his rise.

​The final synthesis tally came out as:

​Mana Blood Pills: 20,000 units (For Recovery)

​Stellar Mutation Elixirs: 10,000 units (For Unique Talents)

​Overclocked Awakening Serums: 10,000 units (For Awakening)

​They could easily be sold in the market for hundreds of thousands of Credits, maybe more. But it would also be dangerous to sell them right away without first getting a firm foothold in the stars.

​Nevertheless, with this collection, he was finally ready to make his army an unstoppable force.

Next, he called Elena and Clark, saying:

"Elena, Dr. Clark.Take these 20,000 Mana Blood Pills to the medical wards. Distribute them immediately. Once they have fully recovered, gather every single one of them on the lower deck."

​"Understood, Master," Elena replied.

​Down in the massive holding sectors of the Ghost ship, the chained elves were waiting for their inevitable deaths. But instead of executioners, a silver haired cyborg maid and a sinister looking doctor arrived carrying crates of glowing red pills.

​As the pills were forced down their throats, a miraculous biological reaction occurred. The dull, lifeless eyes of the fallen Griffin Knights widened in absolute shock. The excruciating pain in the severed tendons of the elemental archers vanished in mere seconds. The dying dark stellar mages stopped coughing corrupted blood, feeling their wild mutations suddenly stabilize. And the rich vitality contained within forcibly fixed their fractured mana cores.

---

​An hour later, the colossal lower deck of the Titan Class vessel was packed to the brim.

Alll 25,000 fully healed elves stood in perfectly formed ranks.

Their physical bodies were completely restored to their peak condition, but the heavy slave collars still rested tightly around their necks.

Naturally, they began to whisper among themselves.

​"Who exactly is this human? He spent a fortune to buy us, and then he used legendary grade elixirs to heal our cores. No slave master wastes such precious resources on broken tools," a tall Griffin Knight muttered to his comrade.

​"Humph, do not be fooled by a single act of kindness. Humans are incredibly greedy and deceptive. He might have healed us, but he could be planning to sell us to the deep void gladiator arenas. We are still wearing these collars. He is just another cruel master," an elemental archer replied angrily.

​"Yeah, perhaps he intends to use us as cannon fodder for a corporate war. We are nothing but expendable assets to these wealthy humans."

There was obviously some opposition to this.

​"He gave us our strength back. I have never felt my mana flow so smoothly. Maybe he is different." a young female elf had said.

​In the end, they simply could not tell if their new owner was a savior or a tyrant.

​

Step. Step. Step.

A while later, Neo walked out onto the raised observation platform overlooking the massive army.

Elena and Dr. Clark stood firmly behind him like twin shadows. He looked down at the sea of pointed ears and glowing magical auras, his Spirit Eyes analyzing their restored physiques with extreme satisfaction.

He was happy with the recovery process.

​"Listen closely," Neo finally opened his mouth in a tone of ruler, "You were discarded. You were tortured, mocked, and left to rot in cages by your own kind. The Elven elite threw you away like garbage."

​He paused, letting his harsh words settle into their minds.

​"Many of you are wondering why I bought you. You think I am just another slave master looking to work you to death in a crystal mine. You are completely wrong."

​Neo held the railing.

​"I am not your Master, I am not your owner. I am your Ruler. And from this day forward, you are my precious subjects."

"Huh! What?!"

​The entire army erupted with confusion. No human had ever spoken to elven slaves using such royal terms after all.

Neo continued,

​"As your Ruler, it is my absolute duty to feed you, clothe you, and protect you from those who wish to do you harm. In return, you will serve me with unbreakable loyalty. We are going to build an empire that will shake the very foundations of this universe. We will build Zenith."

His tone turned cold.

​"But right now, you are far too weak.Your bodies are healed, but your minds are still chained to your past defeats. To forge you into the unstoppable army I require, we are heading to the Heavenly Gourd."

"What! We will go to that godforsaken world?"

​Even the oldest knights shrunk in fear.

They knew of the Heavenly Gourd. It was a brutal, relentless trial world designed to push warriors to their absolute limits.

​"Inside the Heavenly Gourd, you will face endless combat," Neo explained, "You will bleed, you will suffer, and you will learn to fight as a single, unified legion. But hear this clearly. The system within the trial will track your progress and your battle merits."

​Neo raised his hand, pointing a single finger directly at the massive crowd.

​"Any warrior who scores 100 merit points in the trial will receive the ultimate reward. I will personally remove your slave collar and give you an awakening potion that could change your entire life."

"..."

​Total silence fell over the lower deck. The elves stared at him with wide, disbelieving eyes.

​"You will no longer be slaves. You will become true citizens and elite soldiers of Zenith. You have the chance to earn your freedom with your own two hands. The challenge is set. You just need to prove your worth."

​Some elves trembled in deep fear, terrified of the brutal trials awaiting them in the Heavenly Gourd.

But many others clenched their fists, their eyes burning with a sudden, overwhelming fire.

For the first time since the fall of their kingdom, they had a sliver of genuine hope.

​The challenge was on.