As Fenix stepped into the fourth room of the dungeon, a ripple of curiosity ran through him. He couldn't help but wonder what bizarre challenge this room would have. Obviously, there would be one, since it seemed to be the dungeon's theme.

  Despite the challenges, Fenix enjoyed working through them with ChibiScker. He was actually looking forward to seeing what the dungeon would throw at them next.

  As he took in his surroundings, he noticed that each wall was adorned with a scrambled painting depicting an unknown picture. In the center of the room sat a cluttered table, its surface littered with vials, jars of dried herbs, and various mortars and pestles - all tools used for potion-making.

  Fenix's eyes narrowed as he studied his surroundings, trying to decipher what task he needed to complete in this room.

  “No monsters in this room. My brawn is not needed for this one,” ChibiScker said, chuckling.

  With a grin, Fenix replied, “Don’t worry, my brain can handle this room. You can just stand there and look strong until I need you.”

  “Whatever, man,” ChibiScker said, pulling a face at Fenix.

  Examining the room carefully, Fenix knew exactly what his next steps should be. It seemed like a simple task. All he had to do was unscramble the images hanging on the wall, and they would reveal the necessary ingredients for a potion.

  The only thing that made him uneasy was how easy it all appeared. But then again, this was the final challenge before facing the boss, so perhaps the DEVS intentionally made it less challenging. But there was only one way to find out.

  After figuring everything out, Fenix expined it to ChibiScker. "It's straightforward," he said, turning toward the boy. "We just need to unscramble these pictures to uncover the ingredients and use them to make the potion."

  ChibiScker seemed doubtful. "Are you sure that's all we have to do?"

  Fenix shrugged. "I hope so. This is the st room before the boss. Maybe they wanted to give us a break. Let's give it a try."

  He strode towards the nearest wall and touched the hidden picture, immediately triggering a notification sound.

  [System: You have activated room four of five! You have 15 minutes to complete the potion! If you don’t complete it in 15 minutes you will die!]

  ChibiScker's eyes widened like saucers as he stared at the far wall. His breath caught in his throat. "Oh crap!" he shouted, panic evident in his voice.

  Fenix followed ChibiScker's panicked gaze and saw that small holes were opening up all around the room, spilling out dirt and debris that threatened to bury them alive.

  "ChibiScker, work on one of the other puzzles!" Fenix commanded urgently, realizing they needed to solve them all before they became trapped.

  With adrenaline pumping through his veins, Fenix focused on the sliding puzzle in front of him. These types of challenges were a breeze for him, almost like second nature.

  He remembered how when he worked as a chef, he would often unwind after a long day by solving these brain teasers. They helped calm his mind and relieve stress. Who knew it would one day come in handy for a dungeon challenge? Not him, that's for sure.

  As the minutes passed, Fenix quickly solved the first two puzzles while ChibiScker grumbled and cursed at his own puzzle. The sounds of his frustration provided some much-needed distraction from the time limit looming over them.

  Just as Fenix revealed the third picture and realized what potion he needed to make, he heard ChibiScker let out a triumphant cry.

  "I did it!" the boy cried out joyfully. "See, I have a brain too."

  Fenix patted him on the head and gnced at the picture, which was just as he anticipated. "Good job," he acknowledged.

  The image showed two blue herbs, one green herb, and a bottle of water. He knew exactly what potion they needed to create: a Mana potion that could restore 200 points to a pyer's MP. With only three minutes remaining, Fenix hurriedly gathered the ingredients and began mixing them.

  Although the game provided some assistance with potion-making, Fenix knew from past experience that it still required skill and precision. In his previous life, he had honed these skills and learned not to rush such a delicate task. Despite any aid from the game, it ultimately came down to the pyer's own abilities to produce high-quality potions.

  Some may wonder about the difference between a regur potion and a high-quality one. It's quite simple, really. Regur potions are basic, only replenishing lost health, mana, or stamina. But high-quality potions can do more than that. They not only replenish what was lost but also continue adding health, mana, or stamina even after a long period of time.

  For example, if a pyer was in a battle with a monster and took an HQ potion, it would immediately restore their health. Then, if they continued to lose health during the battle, the potion's effects would kick in and refill their health for the next few minutes.

  This is why Fenix always strived to make the best potions possible; while regur potions sold well, HQ potions sold for much more. He had also discovered that making a regur potion wouldn't allow them to pass through this room.

  After two minutes of hard work, Fenix finished the potion without realizing that ChibiScker had been standing nearby recording the entire process. Suddenly, a ding went off and a notification appeared.

  [System: You have completed room 4 out of 5! You may enter the next room at any time!]

  "Wow! Was that an HQ potion you made?" ChibiScker asked excitedly. "I thought only NPCs could make those."

  "Nope, any skilled potion maker can create them," Fenix replied modestly.

  "If you say so. So, the next room must be the st one with the boss?" ChibiScker inquired.

  Looking at the giant red door where eerie bck smoke was seeping out from underneath, Fenix nodded. "Yes, beyond that door lies the boss."

  AN: ? It’s my birthday today! ? I wish I could have a Fenix plushie, but since that’s still a dream, I’ll settle for a candy bar. ? If you want to buy me one go here: https://ko-fi.com/momocatt