Transformation Magic

Inside the castle.

Frieren was washing dishes.

A strong smell of burning suddenly wafted from behind her. Frieren hurried forward, picked up a spatula, and flipped the mushrooms.

She used too much force, and some of the cooking oil in the pan spilled into the fire, feeding the flames, which spread to the vegetable oil inside the pan.

The entire iron pan blazed, turning its handle red-hot.

Frieren's face was covered in soot. She let out a breath, dropped the spatula in despair, and fled in a panic.

Dugu Qing had just returned home when he saw a soot-covered Frieren gulping down fresh air.

"Did you catch a fish? That's great! I thought we were having eggs again tonight!"

Seeing the fish in Dugu Qing's hand, Frieren smiled happily.

Dugu Qing walked to the kitchen doorway, looked at the pitch-black smoke inside, and sighed softly.

"Cleansing Magic."

A wondrous magical power emanated from Dugu Qing's body.

The surrounding smoke and the burning flames vanished in an instant.

Peace and quiet returned to the kitchen.

Frieren obediently stepped forward. "Dugu Qing, do you want me to help you cook?"

"No need. Let's have grilled fish!"

Afraid that Frieren would blow up the kitchen again, Dugu Qing politely declined.

"Then sorry for the trouble."

Frieren knew she was a poor cook, so she obediently stood to the side, cheering Dugu Qing on as his cheerleader.

The grilled fish was ready.

Frieren immediately rushed over to taste it for seasoning.

The next day, at ten in the morning.

Frieren packed her suitcase, left her room, and said goodbye to Dugu Qing.

"I had a wonderful time staying here these past two days. The grilled food was delicious. Oh, right, here's..."

Frieren was unsmiling, her expression calm as she reached into her pocket.

She felt around once, twice, then three times.

What's going on?!

How come there isn't a single copper coin in my pocket?!

This is terrible! Am I, Frieren, the greatest mage in the whole world, going to dine and dash?!

Frieren anxiously felt through her other pockets and was left speechless.

It seemed she really didn't have a single copper coin left.

Oh, I don't know what to do!

Dugu Qing isn't going to force me to stay and make me work and wash dishes, is he?!

"Hehehe."

Frieren looked pitifully at Dugu Qing, like a helpless little bird, hoping for his support and understanding.

"Forget it. I had a great time with you, so I won't charge you."

Smiling, Dugu Qing turned and walked into the forest.

"Goodbye."

Frieren gave a playful giggle, picked up her suitcase, and gradually went on her way.

That evening, Dugu Qing made another meal of grilled fish.

The cooking oil, salt, cumin, chili, spices, and flour in the storeroom were almost gone.

"Looks like I need to earn some money too... how should I do that?"

Looking at the enormous flour jar, which was less than half full and would only last a few years, Dugu Qing fell into thought.

Seven days later.

Dugu Qing used flying magic to soar into the sky and sit on a cloud.

The winds and clouds of the whole world swept across the sky.

The air that ancient sages had breathed swirled all around.

Dugu Qing sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and relaxed, meditating and cultivating.

"Kill it!"

The sounds of a fierce battle suddenly rose from the ground.

Dugu Qing opened his eyes and gazed into the distance.

A gigantic eight-legged spider had charged out of the forest and was slaughtering mortals in the crowd without restraint.

The caravan guards charged forward with weapons in hand, but they could never get close to the spider.

The eight-legged spider excitedly reaped lives, and the guards fell one after another into pools of blood. The scene was too gruesome to watch.

"Huh! It seems helping people earns their gratitude too. Maybe I can make money that way!"

Dugu Qing rose to his full height and charged down from the clouds, sword in hand.

"Help! Lord mage!"

"Please help us! We'll pay whatever you ask."

When the merchant leading the caravan saw Dugu Qing, it was as if he had seen a savior.

"My fee is very high, you know. Are you sure you want to hire me?"

Dugu Qing didn't know how much adventurers charged for taking on quests, so he could only make a claim and inflate his own price.

"I'll give you two silver coins."

The merchant gritted his teeth and offered a price that pained him.

"Hmm?"

Dugu Qing used a questioning tone to bargain.

After all, when it came to bargaining, he didn't actually know the market price.

"Five! Please, lord mage!"

The guards were screaming, and the merchant had no choice but to offer a better price.

Dugu Qing looked at the eight-legged spider and slashed with his sword.

Overpowering sword qi tore through space.

The eight-legged spider's body was instantly severed in two, and its soul departed for the western heavens.

The drivers and guards who had narrowly escaped death looked at Dugu Qing and breathed sighs of relief.

"Thank you, thank you, lord mage!"

The plump merchant bent into a grateful bow.

"This was just a transaction."

Dugu Qing accepted the merchant's five silver coins and flew into the sky, soon disappearing from everyone's sight.

That evening, deep in the jungle.

Dugu Qing sat cross-legged on a bluestone rock, naturally emptying his mind as usual.

Birds flew across the sky, leaving behind a burst of cheerful song.

Dugu Qing heard it, and a flash of inspiration crossed his mind.

Since magic exists in this world, why don't humans try changing their forms?!

After all, in the distant beginnings of life.

Atoms and molecules combined in water to form amino acids.

Nucleotides and ribonucleic acid made up DNA.

Amino acids and DNA then formed prokaryotic cells.

Prokaryotic cells evolved into eukaryotic cells, eukaryotic cells evolved into sponges, sponges evolved into jellyfish, and jellyfish evolved into fish.

Fish crawled onto land and evolved into tetrapods, tetrapods evolved into mammals, and mammals evolved into the subclass of true mammals...

That being the case, all the countless kinds of life in the world shared the same roots and were connected in essence.

Dugu Qing had been born human. Surely it wasn't too much for him to use magic to turn into a little bird!

"Magic is the manifestation of imagination! I hope I can create Transformation Magic. Then, if I run into a powerful enemy I can't beat, I can turn into a bird and fly away..."

Closing his eyes and imagining atoms and molecules, Dugu Qing summoned his magic and began working it out.

One day, two days, three days.

Time flew by in the blink of an eye, and soon, three years had passed.

=======

In the twenty-third year after Himmel's passing, above Dugu Castle.

White clouds stretched endlessly, and a gentle breeze flowed without cease.

Dugu Qing sat cross-legged among the clouds, his long hair dancing in the wind. Compared with three years ago, his handsome face was even more holy and graceful.

His whole body was bathed in golden sunlight when a powerful surge of magic suddenly emanated from him.

"Transformation Magic."

Dugu Qing's slender figure instantly shrank, transforming into a bald eagle with piercing eyes and a stern expression, like a king.

"All right! I can finally turn into a bald eagle!"

Dugu Qing was overjoyed. His magic fluctuations could not maintain a steady frequency, and he immediately returned to his original form.

The youth's figure swayed in the sky.

"Although it only lasted three seconds, this is a good start. With a little more practice, maybe I'll be able to turn into Ultraman Tiga!"

Dugu Qing steadied himself and controlled his body, soaring freely through the air.

His brain released dopamine and endorphins like crazy. Dugu Qing felt exceptionally good, and even the lines of his face softened.