Here's your Chapter 9 with properly placed line and scene breaks to improve clarity, flow, and dramatic effect:
Chapter 9 – 10 Years Ago
[Eins Frickson LVL ???
Race: Human
Age: 23
Titles: Underworld Leader, Black Market Salesman, Relentless Crow of the Night
Background: ???
Specialty: Merchant]
"I don't know what's gotten into your noggin. Seriously, Ernest, you want to make an experiment? And just to repeat what you just said so I didn't misunderstand—you want it to be confidential from the government?
Sigh... Don't tell me you invited me to a fast-food restaurant just to talk about this."
Eins, who's hiding from the world after his recent crimes and wanted for merely a dozen or so misdeeds...
This man was arrested a dozen times, yet he kept on disappearing the next day he arrived in his cellar.
Such a wanted person was summoned by a man who was a year younger than this dangerous figure. A person who's casually eating whilst getting scolded for his selfish request.
[Ernest Quelt LVL ???
Race: Human
Age: 22
Titles: Young Prodigy, Alchemical Genius, Master of Refining, Leading Contributor to the Guardians
Background: A tragic yet talented Guardian who lost his family 17 years ago
Specialty: Alchemy]
"I didn't call you here to invite you on a date. Since you've requested the lifelike fake skin, I wanted to ask you for that favor. You know what I mean by that, right?
"It's time for you to do your part. I have my reasons why I want to keep the Homunculus project a secret. If you do me this favor and give me a place inside the crime world to conduct these experiments... then maybe I might create another identity for you to hide,"
"Oh god! Have you tried this? The sauce is pretty good."
As much as Ernest wanted to be a person that helps everyone, he couldn't ever turn a blind eye.
For him, being a pillar that protects people was a child's dream—innocent, yet ignorant. But for someone like him who wished to make that dream reality, he embraced the darkness within the light.
If success meant working with a criminal, then so be it.
'Homunculus... I've heard myths and stories about that word before this world became a fantasy. Alchemists or scientists used to try combining body parts into a vessel. If the soul remained inside... it wouldn't leave. A comatose state, maybe.
'But if the body was too damaged, they'd preserve it in a fluid to prevent death. Then, they'd do... things. Immoral things. The result? Something not human. A monster.'
'But we're talking about Ernest. The alchemical prodigy. This man created regenerative potions—something that should require relics or monster cores—using low-grade herbs. I need to choose the best way to make our deal.'
Eins handed over a key from his pocket. From its shape and decoration, it was a high-level key to one of his secret vaults—rumored to hold treasures stolen from the World Government.
That very key was given to Ernest—hailed as a god-sent genius.
"That vault key will guide you to a certain place inside the underworld—or as everyone calls it, the crime world.
"This vault contains every alchemical material and monster drop for your experiment. In exchange... you'll become my ally,"
"I'm not asking you to become a villain, just promise me that you'll save my life when the time comes."
After handing over the key, Eins disappeared without a sound.
After finishing his dinner, Ernest entered the underworld in search of the vault that would become his hidden laboratory—a place beyond the Guardians' surveillance.
But his early projects failed—some died, some were contaminated, others became monsters. Sometimes... the whole lab exploded.
Trial and error became his greatest teacher.
'One test subject died due to lack of nutrients. Another deteriorated unprotected. I need a protective shell. It needs warmth to drive away bacteria. And the monster body parts must match the required strength.'
'No growth limitations... that's the key. Most of my highest-quality projects used triple-S monster parts. But even that's not enough… unless...
No… wait. The catastrophe-grade drops. They're said to be limitless. Costly, yes. Risky? Absolutely. But an alchemist must take risks. If I give up now... it'll never work.'
With his decision made, he retrieved the catastrophe-grade artifacts he'd collected over the years—from some of the most feared monsters the world had known.
He didn't turn them into weapons.
He used them for the final phase of his Homunculus Project.
[System: Processing has been completed.]
For once, he saw no irregularities in the test tube. No element breach. No bacteria. Just warmth—and a pulse.
A faint beat, growing louder by the day.
Proof of life. Proof of success.
[System: Audio recording is now available.]
"It's been a day since my Homunculus Project made its first success. I called this test subject 'Second Chance'."
"It shows incredible ability—if a part of its body is removed, it grows and mutates rapidly. It even shows signs of sentience and hunger."
Ernest watched as the subject consumed the nutrients in its vial.
"It will eat anything around it. It might become self-sustaining, using parts of itself like hunting dogs. That's just speculation… but I believe this creation will become a force to be reckoned with."
He smiled, and left the vault. For now.
Present Day
[Unique Ability: The Fangs of the Hydra]
The guardian's teeth have transformed. His bodily fluids—from blood to saliva—now produce potent, intoxicating poison.]
As his left arm was severed, Neon focused and manifested a bone spear from his wound, launching it into the abnormal's body.
Poison surged in.
The abnormal screamed, summoning aid—but its minions were being devoured by an unfamiliar beast.
A monster born from Neon's own arm, covered in similar scales. Its form resembled a giant hand, infested with mouths and devouring leeches.
[System: A unique ability from the Guardian's race—Homunculus—has been triggered.]
Lesser Homunculus:
Any part of the main body will enlarge and mutate into an insatiable variant. It will consume everything in its way, growing stronger. If the main body is threatened, it will protect it at any cost.
[System: The Devouring Leeches' hunger has been satisfied.]
Outcome:
Attack +21
Health +18
Defense +15
Speed +12
Mana +25]
[System: Indirect kills confirmed
Outcome:
Guardian has leveled up: LVL 29 → LVL 30
Class Selection Unlocked
All injuries healed
Guardian's arm regenerated
First player to reach LVL 30 in 3 weeks
[System: You have exceeded expectations. Rewards granted:
New Title
New Skill
+10 to all current stats]
"Thanks for making it easier for me."
Behind Neon stood a monster—his own severed arm—consuming the enemy's forces.
Around them, vines coiled and sealed off the battlefield. No minions could reach them.
"There's no way!!! You… you planned all of this, didn't you!?" the abnormal screamed.
Neon grinned.
He had set every trap, placed every bait, timed every move.
"Do you think I'm dumb enough to fight you without preparations?"
"I admit—your power is impressive. But I didn't survive in this world for 27 years on brute force alone.]
"Power increases survivability. But strength isn't the question. The real question is—are you cunning enough?"
"The age of brute force is long overdue."
Every spell.
Every item.
Every positioning.
All calculated.
All executed.
Now, it was a fair match.
Just him and the monster—trapped together.
Until one of them died.