Start as a Spiritual Planter: I Have a Game Panel

[Side Effects: Causes extreme pain during consumption, with a 25% chance of triggering a soul fracture, rendering the user unable to cultivate for months. Long-term use may result in memory loss and reduced lifespan.]

Ram's gaze lingered on the description, particularly on the grass's effects and dire side effects.

While it didn't directly enhance attributes like the unique plants in his possession, its ability to purify and concentrate spiritual power made it invaluable for Tier 3 professionals seeking evolution to Tier 4.

However, the severe side effects—soul fractures, memory loss, and addiction—rendered it dangerous for most cultivators consuming it.

Ram turned to the man on the floor, still trembling under Nyra's sharp gaze. "These grasses… they're banned by the Federation, aren't they?"

The man nodded quickly, beads of sweat dripping down his forehead. "Y-yes… the Phantom Veil Grass is outlawed due to the side effects… but here, in Cyber Core District, the Federation's laws mean nothing!"

Ram's voice immediately became icy, cutting through the man's stammering. "So, you are growing these plants to create drugs, don't you?"

"Yes, yes!" the man blurted, his desperation clear.

"It's called Eclipse Dust. It purifies spiritual power temporarily, making it highly addictive. Professionals who use it find their cultivation smoother… at first. But long-term use ruins their bodies and minds."

Ram's jaw tightened. "And the children? Why involve them?"

The man flinched under Ram's glare. "They're… test subjects. The Blood Hawk Gang uses them to refine the drug, seeing how much the body can endure before it breaks. They're expendable…"

Nyra's grip on her shadow blade tightened, her knuckles white with restrained fury. "Master, let me end this worm."

Ram raised a hand, stopping her. "Not yet."

He crouched down, his voice dangerously low. "Do you know who supplies the gang with the raw materials? You seem too incompetent to manage something so complicated."

Ram asked this question because when he checked the person's attributes before, he found that this guy was just a Tier 1 professional with low-level potion-making and plant-handling skills.

The man hesitated, his eyes darting nervously. "I-I don't know much. But there's someone… a researcher who goes by Dr. Solis. He's the one who designed the drug formula and provided the initial batch of Phantom Veil Grass. The gang pays him a fortune for his work."

Nyra's expression grew darker. "What will you do, Master?"

Ram's gaze lingered on the plants one last time before he turned toward the man in the white coat. "First, save the kids and burn this place to the ground."

As he spoke, he took those kids and the captured man into his space one by one.

Nyra nodded silently, "Understood." Then, she started gathering her spiritual power to use fire spells.

Outside, Graal launched a flurry of attacks enhanced by Spiritual Blade Infusion, each strike pushing Korrin to his limit.

One particularly fierce blow sent Korrin flying several meters back, crashing into the trees. He coughed up blood as the impact worsened his internal injuries.

Despite the pain and the blood dripping from his lips, Korrin struggled to his feet. His legs trembled, but he did not falter. Graal smirked, watching him with derision.

"Ha-ha-ha! Is that all you've got?" Graal sneered, stepping forward menacingly. "Go ahead and say your last words. You've already lost."

Korrin said nothing. His expression remained stoic as he forced himself upright, taking a step back to widen the gap between them. Then, a faint smirk crept onto his lips—a wicked, knowing smile.

Graal's expression twisted with suspicion. "What are you grinning at?" he demanded, scanning the surroundings.

His gaze darted around, and his confidence wavered as he suddenly noticed something. Ram was nowhere to be seen.

"Where is that bastard?" Graal snarled. His eyes widened further when he noticed the warehouse doors hanging wide open.

"Damn it!" Graal cursed, realization dawning on him. He glared at Korrin, rage and urgency flashing in his eyes. "What did that dam bastard do?! Where is he?!"

Korrin's smile only grew as he wiped the blood from his mouth. "Did you think you could take your eyes off me so easily?" he said, his voice calm but brimming with challenge.

Graal ignored him, spinning around to sprint toward the warehouse. Whatever Ram was doing inside, it couldn't be good for him. His mind raced with possibilities, but he didn't get far.

"Did you ask for my permission to leave?" Korrin's voice rang out again, filled with dark amusement.

Graal snarled in frustration, dismissing the taunt. But just as he stepped forward, a shimmering light flared beneath his feet.

One by one, twelve spell circles lit up in rapid succession, each intricately designed with glowing runes. Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire

They expanded outward and seamlessly linked together, forming a massive array centered on Graal. The circle's diameter spanned three meters, pulsating with power as it locked Graal in place.

"What the—?!" Graal froze, his instincts screaming danger. He struggled to move, but the array's power surged, immobilizing him as its energy began to intensify.

"Hehe..." Korrin chuckled, his grin widening as the fiery glow of the spell circle intensified. "It took some time to arrange all those runes, but now comes the main course!"

As he spoke, the ground beneath Graal erupted with a deafening roar.

A massive pillar of fire surged upward, engulfing him in an inferno of searing heat. The flames spiraled violently, licking at the air with destructive force, and the surrounding area lit up like daylight.

Korrin staggered slightly, beads of sweat rolling down his face. "This combined spell... it drained most of my spiritual power," he continued, as his breathing became heavy.

"But even if you're a Tier 4 creature, there's no way you can withstand this many spells at once."

"Araaahhh..." Inside the raging firestorm, Graal screamed as his silhouette flickered faintly. The intense heat distorted the air, making it almost impossible to discern his condition.

"Burn to ashes," Korrin muttered under his breath, watching intently.

Suddenly, a burst of dark spiritual power erupted from within the flames, forcing the fiery pillar to waver.

Korrin's eyes widened in shock as the flames began to part, revealing Graal still standing, though visibly battered. His armor was scorched, and his skin bore charred marks, but his eyes burned with fury.

"You little wretch!" Graal roared, his voice echoing with anger and pain. "Do you think this is enough to stop me?"

As Graal spoke, the remaining gang members, who had been leaving their targets, gathered behind him. A grim determination filled the air as they prepared to fight back. Graal's eyes locked on Korrin, fury radiating from him.

"Let me show you what true despair feels like," he snarled and finally activated his awakening talent [C-396 Pack Leader], which can temporarily transform him and his subordinates into werewolves, doubling their strength and speed.

"Awooo..." With a guttural growl, Graal threw his head back and howled at the sky, suppressing the flames still licking at his body.

As he did, a violent transformation overtook him. His muscles swelled and his body began to morph, growing in size as fur sprouted across his skin.

His face contorted into a savage snout, his teeth elongating into sharp fangs. Muscles bulged grotesquely, tearing through what remained of his scorched armor.

Thick, dark brown fur sprouted across his body, and his claws lengthened into deadly, razor-sharp weapons.

Graal's form fully shifted into a massive werewolf, towering and imposing.

But Graal wasn't alone. As his transformation was completed, the other gang members, who were clad in armor, also began to change.

Their bodies too swelled with muscle, their faces elongating into wolfish snouts.

Though their transformations were less imposing than Graal's, they were still terrifying—a pack of werewolves now stood behind him, their eyes glowing with malice.

"Werewolves?!" Korrin muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Fuck, it's getting tougher than I thought."

He could feel his remaining spiritual power, and the sight of Graal's new transformation which seemed to have increased his attributes to a new level, sent a chill through him.

"Now, you will face the true power of the Blood Hawk Gang!" Graal bellowed his voice a blend of primal rage and confidence.

The gang members, now all in werewolf form, growled in unison, their bloodlust palpable as they closed in on Korrin and the other Half-Drows.

Korrin clenched his fists, forcing himself to stand tall despite the overwhelming pressure.

Graal, still gripping his heavy sword, charged forward with terrifying speed, his monstrous form cutting through the air like a wild beast on a hunt.

His eyes locked onto Korrin, his expression filled with rage, with just a few steps he was already able to reach Korrin, as he prepared to tear him apart.

Just then a deafening explosion erupted from behind, near the warehouse.

The sound was so intense that the ground beneath them shook, and a blinding flash of light followed the explosion, sending a wave of heat and debris into the air.

For a moment, everyone froze, their attention snapped to the source of the blast. The warehouse, which had been under the gang's watch, was now engulfed in flames, the thick smoke rising high into the night sky.

Graal snarled; his fangs bared in anger as he turned toward the warehouse. "That bastard..." he growled, recognizing that Ram was likely responsible.

The werewolves around him growled in response and followed behind them.

Korrin, still trying to regain his bearings, glanced at the burning warehouse. A wicked smile curled on his lips. "Looks like everything went according to the plan," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, as he leaned against the nearby broken tree.