In the mirror, Ryan wore a plain gray robe. He had black hair, dark eyes, a high-bridged nose, and features that hinted at mixed heritage. A beauty mark at the corner of his eye lent him a touch of softness.
His gaze was deep, as though it held the vastness of the stars.
He rubbed his damp hair. His bangs fell across his forehead and brows, with a few strands clinging to the bridge of his nose.
Ryan shook his head and left the washroom. In his room, Harak's transformation was nearly complete.
Her size, appearance, and altered features had settled into their final form.
Glossy black spots had completely replaced the markings on her feathers, making her look darker than ever. In the Dark Shadows, she was impossible to make out with the naked eye.
Those glossy black feathers seemed to possess Supernatural Characteristics that could evade some Spiritual Power perception and low-level detection Wizardry.
They probably played a part in her resistance to Particle Energy Wizardry, too.
The feathers on her head lay close against her neck, giving her a streamlined shape. Her eyes were bloodred.
Her beak had no hook at all. Instead, it was perfectly straight, with a wickedly sharp tip capable of doing serious damage.
Ryan beckoned, and Harak fluttered over, landing steadily on his shoulder.
The two claws, black as metal, had also developed tissue for moving and floating on water. She could retract her talons completely and rest the soft parts of her feet on Ryan's shoulder.
She was exactly the same size as when Ryan had first bought her: small and compact.
But she was far from light. Her weight bore down on him like dozens of pounds of iron.
Notice: Transformation complete. Harak has gained three new Supernatural Characteristics. Target: Black Feather Crow Physique: 11 Spirit: 1.3 Status: Low-tier Supernatural Being Characteristics: Iron Claws, Steel Skin, Basic Particle Wizardry Resistance, Blood Burning Dash, Basic Invisibility
With her physique above 10, she qualified as a Low-tier Supernatural Being even without relying on her many Supernatural Characteristics.
For a Wizard, the equivalent would be a First-level Wizard Apprentice.
"Not bad, little one. That tiny head of yours finally has a bit more sense in it."
Ryan tapped Harak on the forehead.
So far, he was quite satisfied with the transformation.
She had lost her huge body and imposing presence, but an assassin in the shadows was far better than some hulking brute.
More importantly, this suited Ryan's tastes.
A Wizard in a Wizard Robe with a black-feathered crow perched on his shoulder looked better than one followed by a big-mouthed bird flapping enormous wings and whipping up a gale.
Her former hulking body could never have caught a small figure slipping through the shadows. Now her sharper, harder talons would tear through anything.
As for the Thorn Sea Beasts still roaming the Wizard Ship, Harak had no reason to fear a group attack. The dark was no longer their domain alone.
A membrane covered her bloodred eyes, allowing her to detect even the slightest trace of heat and pick out moving shapes.
Ryan just didn't know how much longer this crisis would last, or what was happening with Wizard Tuta.
He raised an eyebrow and stopped before opening the door.
Better to wait until the darkness outside disappeared.
One way or another, there would be an outcome.
I'm going to die!
Panic seized Rowena. His flushed face showed that he was using every ounce of strength he had to hold back the Thorn Sea Beast pinning him down.
Reflected in his eyes was its open faceplate and the gaping maw beneath, lined with vicious rows of pointed teeth. It drew closer and closer, foul-smelling fluid dripping onto his cheek.
He still couldn't stop it. Bone spikes pierced his hands, and blood dripped from them. His grip began to fail.
I could have survived. I know I could have.
If I were just a little stronger, I could hold it off. Just a little stronger, and I'd live.
Scenes flashed through his mind: attending the Wizard Exchange Meeting, giving a nervous speech, hearing the other freshmen cheer, then basking in their applause and craving more.
But he had fallen short. Just a little short.
The moment those jaws clamped down, Rowena felt nothing but regret.
If I'd worked a little harder at the Wizard Meditation Method, if I'd spent a little longer strengthening my body through Particle Energy Radiation, I could have lived. I should have lived. My aptitude is exceptional. I'm one of the best freshmen. This isn't how I'm supposed to end.
He found himself thinking of the two Newborn Wizards who had collected their food and kept apart from the others. But there was no time left for more memories. Crunch. The beast bit off his head.
The Thorn Sea Beast chewed and tore at him, beside itself with excitement.
Creatures with Supernatural Characteristics could serve as Experimental Material for Wizards.
The reverse was also true. Wizard Bodies changed by Particle Energy Radiation, along with the pure Particle Energy within them, were irresistible to Supernatural Lifeforms.
Not far ahead, Orson's corpse had long since been torn apart. Purple hair clung to scraps of scalp amid shreds of clothing.
The blood-slick floor bore a trail where his body had been dragged.
Bang!
The impact against the door made Arthur, hiding inside the room, start in terror.
They followed me. Those horrible monsters!
They had already eaten Rowena and Orson, yet they still wanted more.
A bookcase, table, chairs, and even the bed had been shoved against the door.
Arthur held out little hope for the barricade. With their powerful bodies and tough hides, the Thorn Sea Beasts could smash through the door, wrench open a gap, and squeeze inside.
He was like a rat trapped in a jar, able only to wait to be eaten.
"Damn it! I can't die here! I'm the Wizard Freshman with the best aptitude!"
Arthur glared and shouted furiously, "You bastard monsters! There are plenty of other Wizard Freshmen. Go eat them! Eat every last one!"
"Those two bastards who chose Supernatural Nurturing should be eaten first! They even have Nurtured Creatures. Go eat them! Why come after me? You'd get your fill!"
Bang!
The door shook under a fiercer blow. A crack appeared, and a Thorn Sea Beast's eye peered through, fixed on him with ravenous greed.
Arthur's face twisted with resentment as he pulled out the Red Metal Ring hanging against his chest.
"Damn monster. You're forcing me to reveal my greatest secret. Wizard Tuta is still on the ship. If he finds out what I have, will he take it?"
"I have the best aptitude. I have a good chance of Advancing to Formal Wizard. Finding this proves I'm a true genius. Wizard Tuta wouldn't be stupid enough to take it."
Arthur repeated the reassurance to himself, glaring at the Thorn Sea Beast that had already forced its head through the door.
He poured all the Particle Energy in his body into the ring in an instant. Only then did the Red Metal Ring begin to glow faintly.
He had found it as a child on the Island Continent where he lived. Only after boarding the Wizard Ship had he learned something of what it truly was.
It was a Storage Wizard Artifact belonging to a real Wizard, with quite a few things inside. His Particle Energy and Spiritual Power could barely open it for an instant.
Among its contents were Wizardry Scrolls, the kind the Umbral Codex said Wizards made and used.
Tearing one open would release powerful Wizardry. After days of probing with his Spiritual Power, it was the only item he had identified and was confident he could retrieve.
The glow flashed and vanished. An ancient-looking Parchment Scroll appeared in Arthur's hand. The Wizard Runes written on it read: "Particle Energy Wizardry — Explosion of Fire."
"Die, monster!" Arthur laughed in excitement. He tore open the scroll and aimed it at the Thorn Sea Beast.
He could almost see the monster's gruesome end.
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