Physical Modification Experiment

Scroll Month (August), according to the legends of the Starlight Continent, was the month of knowledge and wisdom.

Once time entered Scroll Month, Sunan also began to busy himself, focused on improving himself.

The first task was learning new spells.

He currently had only two First-Circle Spells: Charm Human and Shield Spell.

The former's effect could be guessed from its name alone.

The latter could create an invisible, transparent, tower-shield-sized formless barrier out of thin air. It floated and revolved with no blind spots, automatically blocking attacks from every direction.

Since Shield Spell was essentially a force-field effect, it could even block incorporeal contact attacks such as mental impacts and soul damage.

With his safety in mind, Sunan naturally chose to learn Shield Spell first.

Read "Shield Spell Formula Model." Shield Spell learning progress +0.02%

First-Circle Spells were far more difficult than Zero-Circle Spells.

Sunan estimated that, with the aid of Activity Potion, it would take around forty days to master Shield Spell.

Mastering Charm Human likely would not take much less time either.

The second task was crafting Rune Gems.

Since it was his first attempt, Sunan chose the relatively stable earth Energy Particles.

The gemstone he selected was Black Opal, which was compatible with force-field protection properties.

"Unfortunately, Starry Sapphire is far too expensive. A single one costs over a thousand Gold Coins. Otherwise, using Starry Sapphire would produce better results."

Sunan thought regretfully.

Using Starry Sapphire as the medium would at least double the final product's power.

But that would be nothing more than burning money. He did not yet have that kind of financial means, so he could only settle for Black Opal.

Black Opal was a green opal dotted with black specks and golden flecks, possessing a strange and unusual beauty.

As Sunan injected the condensed ocher Energy Rune into the gemstone, it instantly blossomed with hazy light.

The glow lasted only four or five seconds before rapidly fading away.

The Black Opal appeared unchanged, but upon closer inspection, one could see a layer of profound and strange patterns coating its surface.

Successfully crafted a Rune Gem. Magical Item Creation learning progress +0.5%

"Huh?"

Sunan paused slightly, surprised.

Why had he triggered the Magical Item Creation skill?

But after giving it some thought, he quickly understood.

Energy Runes were originally one branch of enchanting. Objects made by combining Energy Runes and gemstones could barely be considered Magical Items, so triggering Magical Item Creation was nothing unusual.

"I thought I would need to find relevant books before triggering this skill. I didn't expect to unlock it early by accident instead."

Sunan looked at the Rune Gem in his hand.

Within the soybean-sized gemstone was concentrated a large quantity of earth Energy Particles.

Once the energy inside was activated, it could instantly create an Earth Element Protection Layer around him.

Compared to spells, which required preparation time to cast, instant-activation items like Rune Gems were undoubtedly more practical in battle.

Their only drawback was the cost.

Considering that he already had a defensive spell in Shield Spell, Sunan stopped after crafting two Earth Rune Gems and turned instead to making offensive Rune Gems.

After all, the offensive spells he had mastered were all Zero-Circle Spells, which were already beginning to fall behind his level. Rune Gems could make up for the lack in his offensive methods.

Lightning, flame, frost, and shadow.

Aside from the Flame Runes, which used Red Zircon with the highest affinity for fire, the other three offensive Energy Runes all used rubies suitable for evocation spells.

Sunan made three of each type of Rune Gem as spares.

In addition, he crafted two Plant-Type Rune Gems for healing injuries when wounded.

Including those ruined by mistakes along the way, Sunan ultimately used eighteen gemstones, with a total value exceeding three hundred Gold Coins.

"Rune Gems are another money pit."

Sunan sighed inwardly.

Fortunately, he had all of Blackstone City backing him. Otherwise, relying on himself alone, he would struggle even to collect Wizard Codices, let alone make Rune Gems.

Crafting the Rune Gems took quite some time. By the time he came back to himself, Sunan realized it was already late at night outside.

Seeing this, he manipulated Energy Particles to clean himself up, then returned to the meditation chamber. He planned to use meditation in place of sleep while restoring the Spirit Power he had consumed crafting Rune Gems.

Even after advancing, Sunan still maintained his daily limit of four hours of meditation.

But as his Spirit Power grew ever higher, its growth became increasingly slow.

Now, each day of meditation increased his Spirit Power by only an average of 0.01 to 0.02 points.

And that was with the assistance of Activity Potion.

"To advance to a Level Three Wizard Apprentice, I need to successfully construct nine star rings and have Spirit Power above 30 points."

"At this rate, it will take at least a decade, perhaps even longer, to advance."

Advancing from a Level Two Wizard Apprentice to a Level Three Wizard Apprentice in a little over a decade would absolutely be considered remarkable on the present-day Starlight Continent.

But Sunan was not satisfied.

He was already considering whether to synthesize higher-grade potions to aid his meditation.

But if he did, he would have to spend even more Gold Coins every month.

Even if his family owned mines, they could not afford expenses as ruinous as his.

"Unless I reclaim Shining Territory and increase the territory's income."

Sunan narrowed his eyes as the thought flashed through his mind.

A moment later, he shook his head, reined in his thoughts, and focused on meditating.

The next day.

Sunan came to the room where the Giant Lizard was being held.

Confined in a cramped cage, having its blood and vitality drained every day, the Giant Lizard had suffered miserably over the past month or so.

When it saw Sunan enter, it merely lifted an eyelid before lying motionless on the floor again, looking utterly resigned to its fate.

Sunan opened the metal cage and used Mage Hand to lift out the Giant Lizard. He then went to the spacious laboratory and placed it on the experiment table.

To accommodate the Giant Lizard's enormous size, he had specially ordered this experiment table made. It was over ten meters long.

Although he had decided to transform the Giant Lizard into a Magic Pet, Sunan did not immediately put the plan into action.

Any creature transformed into a Magic Pet would awaken at least one spell-like ability.

As for what type of spell-like ability it awakened, that mainly depended on the creature's own abilities.

For instance, feline creatures generally awakened illusion-type spell-like abilities or shadow stealth after being transformed into Magic Pets.

Snake-like creatures, on the other hand, generally awakened poison-related spell-like abilities after becoming Magic Pets.

As for this mutant creature with Dragon Lizard Bloodline before him, Sunan guessed that its awakened spell-like ability would most likely be related to physical enhancement.

For Wizard Apprentices, this kind of spell-like ability was undoubtedly among the least desirable.

If they wanted to strengthen their bodies, Wizard Apprentices had plenty of methods available. There was no need to waste a precious awakening opportunity.

Therefore, before formally contracting and transforming the Giant Lizard into a Magic Pet, Sunan planned to first perform a Physical Modification Experiment on it, allowing it to gain an additional ability. That way, it might awaken an ability other than physical enhancement during the transformation process.

As for the direction of the physical modification, the book he had acquired earlier, "Extraction and Modification of Green Chameleon Abilities," was perfectly suited for the task.

"Though you aren't a chameleon species, you belong to the lizard order just like chameleons. Your affinity with camouflage abilities should not be low."

Sunan beckoned, and a cage on the table behind him floated through the air and landed in his palm.

Inside the cage was a Green Chameleon.

Although this creature did not qualify as a Magical Creature, it was still fairly rare.

Sunan had only managed to obtain enough for his experiments after asking Muzar of the Fire Fox Merchant Guild for help.

Swish!

With another gesture from Sunan, a sharp scalpel fell into his hand.

Only then did the Giant Lizard finally sense that something was wrong. It began struggling frantically, but its weakened body could not break free from Mage Hand's restraint.

Seeing this, it let out mournful whimpers, its vertical pupils revealing a humanlike plea.

"Don't worry. You'll be fine. Once the experiment is over, you'll become stronger."

Sunan cast a Sleep Spell. The Giant Lizard's eyelids fluttered a few times before it quickly fell asleep and stopped struggling.

Soon afterward, the sound of a blade cutting through flesh echoed through the laboratory.

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