Extreme Cold Era: Shelter Don't Keep Waste
Chapter 84: Shaping the Dock

Chapter 84: Chapter 84: Shaping the Dock

After chatting with Dr. Jones about the prophecy of the Desert Kingdom’s apocalypse, Perfikot felt a sense of shared purpose.

After all, ever since she calculated the end of the world, no one believed her apart from those astrologers from the Astronomical Society.

Even though the Empire later became aware, and Eldest Princess Annie supported her tirelessly, Perfikot still felt like she was bearing the future of all humanity alone.

The inefficiency of the Victor Empire’s administration was well-known, and hoping for the Empire’s bureaucrats to operate efficiently was impossible unless the French invaded Langton tomorrow, or their represented clans received enough benefits.

Aside from these two, there was no way to unify the Empire’s fragmented nobles and wealthy families.

So, even though Perfikot warned the Empire and the Empress ordered a crisis response committee to prepare for the world’s end, their efficiency was still not as good as Perfikot’s own efforts.

Now, discovering that someone in ancient times had made a similar prophecy made Perfikot feel like she found a soulmate.

Even though these ancient prophets didn’t really relieve any of Perfikot’s burdens, she still felt mental solace, knowing she wasn’t the only one preparing for this apocalyptic disaster.

Though Perfikot clearly understood this was only her wishful thinking, perhaps even an illusion, it still brought her psychological comfort.

This improved her previously heavy and gloomy mood significantly, at least during dinner, the old butler noted that Perfikot had a hearty appetite that day.

This pleased the old butler greatly, as a butler of the Brandlis Clan, he only wished for the family’s prosperity and for Perfikot to be happy.

A good mood gave Perfikot more motivation in her work, and the next day she stood on the dock holding her staff.

She planned to use her alchemy to attempt to alter the terrain, directly shaping the dock’s berths.

There was no doubt that alchemy could achieve such feats; manipulating and transforming the form of matter could directly turn a lump of clay into exquisite porcelain.

But that’s theoretical, and in most cases, alchemists use this capability to create precise components or rare materials rather than raising buildings on flat ground or altering terrain.

It’s not impossible, but using labor is more cost-effective.

Moreover, for an alchemist, casting alchemy isn’t without cost.

Manipulating alchemy to change and transform materials heavily consumes the alchemist’s mental energy, the more it’s used, the greater the depletion.

Therefore, generally, no alchemist would idly use alchemy for large-scale material manipulation.

But Perfikot was different; with the Philosopher’s Stone, her use of alchemy depleted her much less than an ordinary alchemist.

That’s why she could previously use alchemy to seal a bar, piercing a bunch of drunkards with rock spears.

If it were another alchemist trying to cast such large-scale alchemy, they’d probably collapse from exhaustion.

Only someone with a top-tier alchemical artifact like the Philosopher’s Stone could use alchemy as a regular combat skill, which, admittedly, was a little wasteful.

"Miss, the dock has been cleared, and the White Gem has retreated to the offshore, you can begin." Foster, uninformed on alchemy, followed the lady’s orders to clear the dock, facilitating her spellwork.

"Good, I might be a bit exhausted later, remember to support me in time." Perfikot had a clear understanding of herself; utilizing alchemy on such a large scale might drain her, but with the Philosopher’s Stone, she figured she’d just be a bit worn out.

"Okay, Miss." Without suspecting any issue, Foster nodded and stood by Perfikot’s side.

Around the dock, curious onlookers including locals, exploration team members, and knights tasked with protecting Perfikot, were watching the spectacle.

Though they knew Perfikot intended to quickly construct the dock, they were unaware of her methods, hence their immense curiosity.

Under the gaze of the crowd, Perfikot planted her staff into the ground and pressed down on the ruby at one end.

"Alchemical staff embedded with the Philosopher’s Stone"

"Material: Legendary"

"Craftsmanship: Exceptional"

"Effect: Enhances alchemy effects by 100%, expands range by 300%, reduces energy consumption by 70%."

"Evaluation: I can hardly understand why you made it this way, the Philosopher’s Stone wasn’t intended for such use, you’re treating a high-precision machine tool like a hammer!"

Initially, Perfikot’s parents didn’t create a whole Philosopher’s Stone but two fractured pieces.

After all, the ritual had already gone out of control, and if it hadn’t been for Perfikot’s intervention, harnessing the Jade Record’s Eye of Omniscience to stabilize the ritual, it would have been a massive bomb.

To expect a flawless Philosopher’s Stone from such a chaotic ritual might have been overly optimistic.

Consequently, the Philosopher’s Stone Perfikot obtained was split into two pieces, the smaller of which could break the law of equivalent exchange and replace any material in an alchemical ritual.

The larger piece could amplify alchemical effects, saving Perfikot’s energy during alchemy use.

As for the complete Philosopher’s Stone, it possessed all these abilities in even greater measure.

Perfikot had no choice but to inlay the two parts of the Philosopher’s Stone into her Golden Touching Rod and staff respectively, making the most of them.

And now, utilizing the amplification effect of the Philosopher’s Stone on her staff, Perfikot began shaping the earth beneath the dock.

Though employing alchemy on such a vast scale for the first time made her feel strained, the Philosopher’s Stone’s assistance made her manage to bear it.

Before long, a dock capable of berthing three hundred-meter ships emerged from the seabed, while the earth on the shore rolled over to form embankments and a flat surface, resulting in a beautiful dock appearing before the onlookers, albeit made of earth.

And it wasn’t over; Perfikot then drove her power again, transforming the earth of the dock into stone.

Yet, as she did so, she almost instantly felt her energy being drained dry! She stumbled and almost fell.

Thankfully, Foster caught her in time, preventing her fall and enabling her to complete the dock’s construction with her last ounce of strength.

But she fainted from the depletion of her energy.