After a new piece of Plastic Bone formed in the big box, Thor finally had enough for his needs.
This Plastic Bone, which he'd discovered by chance, could withstand high temperatures, water, and acid. After Thor processed it further, it became more flexible, and ordinary sharp tools couldn't cut it.
It also softened until it was like rubber clay under prolonged electric shocks, which made it easier for Thor to work with.
After seeing off his first visitor, Thor returned to the Experiment Table. The solution in the crucible had almost completely evaporated, leaving only a small pool of viscous substance at the bottom.
It looked a little like the last bit of sauce left after reducing a pot over high heat.
Thor carefully lifted the still-hot crucible with his Bone Left Hand, poured its contents into another bottle, and sealed it.
That more or less completed his preparations.
Tonight, or tomorrow, he would begin the final step—Wizard Body Modification!
Thor slumped back in his chair, gazing blankly at the bottles and jars on the table.
He had the strange feeling that after the modification, he would no longer be himself.
But if he didn't go through with it, he would never be able to control his own fate.
He glanced at the Hourglass Clock on the wall. It was only four in the afternoon.
Three more hours...
Thor looked back at the Candle Lamp on the Teleportation Platform.
Its flame glowed a dim yellow.
His work for the day was done.
"Should I take that Level 2 Apprentice's brain to Kongsha?"
Thor still hadn't given Kongsha the Level 2 Apprentice he'd obtained when Peggy died.
He'd spent a long time studying it himself, but couldn't figure out how Kongsha intended to use it.
With Thor's current knowledge, a brain wasn't a particularly good material for Witchcraft.
It was far too easy for hidden dangers to lurk inside.
"Forget it. That Level 2 Apprentice has already given me a big surprise. I'll give his head to Kongsha in exchange for something else I can use."
Thor went to the cabinet and took out a box. Then he wrapped it in the pale yellow leather Kongsha had given him.
The leather had helped him deal with the Evil Spirit last time. Thankfully, it hadn't been damaged, but it had inevitably picked up a foul stench. Even after Thor did his best to get rid of it, it was only no longer completely nauseating.
As for that mask... Thor had put it away for now.
He wrapped the box and walked to the door.
Thor's hand rested on the handle of the crimson door, then suddenly stopped.
He raised his hand—
Smack!
He slapped himself across the face.
"Damn it, you've come this far. What are you still running from?"
Thor had hit himself hard, and his right cheek immediately swelled.
But the pain also cleared his head.
He carried the box wrapped in yellow leather back to the cabinet, then returned to stand in front of the Experiment Table.
"The sooner I finish the modification, the sooner I can escape this predicament. Delaying or failing both mean death! Stop waiting. Start the experiment now!"
Thor had prepared all the materials for Wizard Body Modification today, which was why he'd been distracted all day.
Even Keli had noticed how nervous he was.
His fear of failure had made him avoid starting the experiment without even realizing it.
Only when he reached the door had he slapped himself hard, using the pain to bring back memories of the times he'd nearly died.
"Sid is still watching me like a hawk, Kongsha isn't a kind person, and there isn't much time left before Mentor Kazi's test. How can you afford to waste time?"
Thor took a deep breath, then resolutely opened the bottle, took out all the Plastic Bone inside, and placed it in a large tray. He began shocking it with electricity.
The Electric Shock device was a weapon engraved with the Level 0 Tremor Shock spell. After buying it, Thor had removed the unnecessary parts and converted it into experimental equipment.
Under the constant electric shocks, the mound of Plastic Bone began to soften and collapse.
But it would take a while before it was ready to use.
Thor opened the other bottles and began mixing a fusion solution.
The solution would quickly evaporate and lose its effectiveness, so Thor could only prepare it on the spot once the Plastic Bone had softened.
But he'd practiced many times before, so this time the mixing went smoothly.
He'd also prepared all the other odds and ends.
Keeping an eye on how soft the Plastic Bone in the tray was getting, Thor took off his shirt and draped it over the back of a chair.
Thor raised his left hand, which was bone all the way to the wrist.
The Plastic Bone had softened completely. Thor quickly poured it into the fusion solution.
He watched as the solution made the Plastic Bone shrink and soften further until it had the consistency of cement.
Thor picked up several jars of medicine on the table and swallowed them.
He even took a small drop of the potion Kongsha had given him, which could help him absorb elemental particles quickly.
Finally, he reached into the fusion solution and grabbed a handful of softened Plastic Bone, then began smearing it over his Bone Left Hand.
The fusion solution burned away some of Thor's skin. His blood mixed with it, turning the clear liquid dark red.
Thor gasped from the pain.
But his own flesh and blood were also part of the modification, so he could only bear it and continue.
As he smeared more and more Plastic Bone over his left hand, the hand—which had been numb for so long—began to feel pain again.
Pain was better than numbness.
Thor kept a close eye on the Hardcover Book.
Its quiet stillness was the greatest reassurance he could have.
At last, he'd covered his entire left hand with Plastic Bone, and his right hand was already drenched in blood.
But he didn't stop. With his wounded right hand, he continued shaping the softened Plastic Bone.
This step was like molding clay, or doing pottery—only the material was a little unusual.
With Thor's effort, a hand gradually took shape. He wanted his artificial hand to look good, so he'd spent plenty of time playing with mud in private.
With the bone underneath as a support, a false hand threaded with blood took shape in no time.
It was a size larger than Thor's right hand, but once he grew up, it probably wouldn't look so out of place.
After connecting it to the bone and skin, Thor stuck his entire left forearm into a large jar of solution.
White smoke hissed up, blocking his view.
The smell of roasting meat filled Thor's nostrils, but it didn't stir any memories of food.
He couldn't help it. It hurt too much.
Just resisting the urge to pull his hand out took all of Thor's willpower.
To distract himself, Thor began letting his thoughts wander.
"I'm in this much pain just modifying one hand. What kind of horror has Senior Sister Kongsha been through? And Mentor Monica—she's being shocked all the time. Does she really feel nothing?"
"Right, and there's Big Pink, whom I've only seen once. Does he have no skin, like in those horror stories, and have to use bandages as skin...?"
The Hourglass Clock signaled that the time was up.
Thor yanked his arm out. The force sent him tumbling backward onto the floor.
His back slammed against the ground. Clutching his left hand with his right, Thor curled up and writhed in pain.
After what felt like forever, the pain finally began to ease. Thor was drenched in sweat as he slowly sat up. Drops of sweat streaked the floor, then were ruthlessly smeared away.
He pushed himself up with his right hand, grabbed the leg of the Experiment Table, and slowly stood.
The extreme pain made his head throb.
It seemed to spread from his left hand throughout his body, leaving every inch of him uncomfortable.
He even had the illusion that he'd come down with a terrible illness and was about to die.
But the Hardcover Book remained quiet, reminding Thor that he was still alive.
Trembling, he reached for the last potion.
It was the heart he'd taken from the Level 2 Apprentice who'd been possessed by the Evil Spirit last time.
A heart that had grown in a dead man's body, yet still held life.
Thor had tested it. The heart was not poisonous, and it even contained some undissipated potion. That potion was what had kept the heart active.
Thor's theory was that after the Level 2 Apprentice had been badly wounded, he'd taken some kind of lifesaving Witchcraft potion and managed to make it back to the Wizard Tower. But he hadn't known that an Evil Spirit had possessed him. He'd died at the last moment, bringing the Evil Spirit back to the Wizard Tower with him.
Of course, there was an even more sinister possibility.
The Level 2 Apprentice had made it back alive, only to be killed by Peggy, who wanted to get her hands on some materials for free.
Now, it had all fallen into Thor's hands.
Before you continue