Noah gazed at the crimson pill in his trembling hand, a testament to his arduous efforts.

  He had finally succeeded in crafting the race change pill, a feat he had dedicated himself to for so long.

  But the victory felt hollow, overshadowed by the crippling weakness that had seized his body.

  His skin was ashen, drained of all color, and his limbs felt like lead. Standing was an impossibility; he could only manage a slow, agonizing crawl towards his bed, a mere four meters away.

  The simple journey took an excruciating ten minutes, each inch gained a battle against his failing strength.

  Collapsing onto the mattress, Noah closed his eyes, hoping that sleep would bring some respite.

  Six hours later, he awoke to the same debilitating weakness.

  The extraction of blood essence, the crucial ingredient for the pill, had taken a devastating toll.

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  He hadn't anticipated such a severe reaction, and a chilling fear crept into his heart.

  How long would this last?

  He prayed it wouldn't be for long, yet a grim premonition told him otherwise.

  Fortunately, Noah had been prepared. His bag was well-stocked with provisions – dried meats, preserved fruits, and ample water.

  Without these, he knew he would be facing starvation on top of his already weakened state. He thought of Arthur, his companion. Arthur would likely be concerned by his absence at the Goblin Kingdom, their intended destination.

  But Arthur, despite his loyalty, was powerless to help.

  The village, where Noah now lay incapacitated, was warded against outsiders.

  Arthur couldn't penetrate its magical defenses, leaving Noah to face this crisis alone.

  Noah knew he had to recover, and quickly, but the path back to health seemed long and uncertain.

  This "pill" Noah created for Arthur wasn't actually a pill at all.

  It was a clever manipulation of blood essence, sealed with mana to create a pill-like form.

  This crucial difference meant Noah didn't need to be an alchemist to craft it, a fortunate circumstance given his current weakened state.

  The process, thankfully, was surprisingly simple.

  Had it been complex, his efforts would have been futile.

  The ease of creation was a blessing, allowing him to potentially help Arthur overcome his present predicament.