Chapter 81: Flesh Modification, Spider Sense

Chapter 81: Flesh Modification, Spider Sense

At dawn, the fog had yet to disperse. The once sparsely traveled road was now bustling with carriages and people, a sense of panic permeating the air. Among the crowd was Karl's caravan.

When Karl's group reached the outskirts of the city, Siebel had already packed her belongings and arranged for four carriages. Lady Catherine, the wife of Karl's mentor, Adolph, sat in one of the carriages, lifting the curtain to gaze back at Signo City with a worried expression.

Her beauty was astonishing, rivaling that of Lady Anne, but it was a secret unknown to the outside world.

In the past, Adolph had immersed himself in the study of wizardry, and despite the age gap, he had married Catherine for her beauty. Unfortunately, even after many years of marriage, the couple had not been blessed with a child.

"Karl!"

Siebel, rarely seen in her knight's attire, showcased her graceful figure as she rode her horse up to him.

"You came out just in time. I was thinking of how to notify you in the city. Are they your... friends?" She blinked curiously, looking at Kingsley and Yvonne.

It was not unusual for a noble to have several companions of the opposite sex, but she knew that her junior, Karl, was not yet married.

Could they be his lovers?

What a playboy her junior was!

"They are my cousins," Karl introduced Kingsley and Yvonne briefly.

"The city is in chaos, so they're leaving with us. Once we reach a safe place, they'll get off."

"We're heading to Mutan City," Kingsley added. "My mother has a sister living there, Miss Siebel. We'll trouble you along the way."

She was a free-spirited woman, but not foolish. She knew who to rely on during this time and spoke politely.

Yvonne remained silent, her eyes filled with concern for her father and uncertainty about the future. Having never left Signo City, she had no idea what to do next.

"It's no trouble," Siebel smiled. "We're heading in the same direction; we'll just adjust our route slightly."

"The Kolonians are here!"

"Run for your lives!"

"..."

Shouts came from behind, causing panic among the carriages and pedestrians, who hurriedly increased their pace. The already congested road became chaotic.

"Don't panic," Siebel frowned. "Old Harry, steady the caravan."

"Yes, Miss," said Old Harry, his white hair gleaming as he grabbed the reins and steadied the lead horse. Despite his age, he was an experienced knight who worked as a gardener at the manor and had earned Adolph's employment.

Under his control, the caravan moved orderly to the edge of the road.

"Miss," Old Harry whispered after glancing back a few times. "Someone is deliberately causing trouble, but there are no pursuers behind us."

"Oh!" Siebel blinked.

"They're probably trying to take advantage of the chaos," Karl added. "Signo City isn't on the front lines, and there aren't many Kolonian soldiers. Even if they occupy the city, they won't have the strength to chase after us."

"Yes," Old Harry looked at Karl in surprise, seemingly impressed by his sharp insight. "Young Master Karl is right."

"Then we'll ignore them," Siebel relaxed. "As long as they don't provoke us."

Her words proved to be premature.

As they moved away from Signo City, the 'refugees' on the road dispersed in different directions, and their companions gradually thinned out.

"Be careful!" Karl suddenly spoke, drawing his sword and waving it lightly.

"Ding..."

A shot arrow was deflected by him.

The incoming arrows did not stop at one; instead, they formed a small but noticeable rain of arrows, covering the entire caravan.

"Take cover!" Old Harry's eyes widened as he rode his horse, swinging his sword to deflect the arrows and directing others to hide behind the carriages.

The women, especially, looked terrified and retreated into the carriages.

"Giddy up!"

"Charge!"

A group of people burst out from the nearby forest, some on horseback and others on foot, their eyes gleaming with malice.

"Kill the men and capture the women! Take everything valuable!"

One man, wielding a cleaver, roared.

"Follow me, boys!"

"What a coincidence," Siebel blinked, looking at the group of bandits with mismatched clothing and weapons. "So, this is what they call robbers?"

"Yes," Old Harry nodded. "We don't have many guards, but our carriages are loaded. It's not surprising that we've caught their attention."

"Miss, please be careful."

"I understand." Siebel waved her hand and took out a thin staff about a foot long. She stepped forward to meet them.

Harry and Karl, however, showed no intention of helping.

This scene not only stunned Kingsley and Yvonne but also elicited laughter from the approaching bandits.

"A little girl..."

"Do they have no one else?"

"Is that thin stick her weapon? Grab her, and she'll taste my strength!"

The group approached, laughing, but they didn't notice the calmness on Karl and the others' faces.

Instead, they seemed relaxed, as if waiting to watch a show.

"Acid Spray!"

Siebel waved her staff lightly, and a porcelain bottle at her waist opened, releasing a blob of liquid.

"Bang!"

The liquid exploded, and what was once a small blob expanded into a vast area. Countless streams of acid formed a rain shower, covering an area of several dozen square meters, and rushed towards the incoming bandits.

"Water Control!"

Siebel waved her staff again.

The acid rain in the sky, under her control, suddenly increased in speed, like arrows shooting towards the approaching enemies.

"Pfft!"

"Pfft! Pfft!"

The acid, capable of corroding metal and gold, fell rapidly and instantly pierced through the bodies of the bandits.

Even armor couldn't stop it.

"Ah!"

"Ah..."

In an instant, the bandits who charged forward screamed in agony, clutching their bodies as they fell to the ground, white smoke hissing from the corroded areas.

Siebel's expression remained unchanged as she waved her staff again.

Zero-Ring Spell—Water Whirl!

The fallen acid didn't lose control but instead gathered into a vortex, engulfing several riders.

One of them had a powerful life force, and it turned out to be a Knight, who was heavily affected by the acid.

Zero-Ring Spell—Poison Fog!

"Pfft!"

A dark green mist, guided by Siebel's staff, covered the area in front of her, enveloping several people.

"Ah!"

"Plop!"

"Plop!"

Amidst the piercing screams, one figure after another collapsed, their flesh corroded and full of holes.

Even the Knight couldn't resist and fell to the ground with a scream.

"Demon!"

"She's a demon!"

"Run!"

"Ah..."

The scene before them terrified the remaining bandits, who turned and fled in fear.

"Swish!"

A streak of light appeared.

"Pfft!"

A person's body stiffened, a red mark appeared between their eyebrows, and they fell straight to the ground, lifeless.

Zero-Ring Spell—Arcane Missile!

Siebel galloped forward, waving her staff rapidly, and one by one, the bandits fell to her attacks.

Anyone who dared to approach was met with a barrage of poison fog, acid, and arcane missiles, preventing them from getting close.

In a short time, none of the bandits escaped; they all became silent corpses on the ground.

"Phew..."

Siebel gently pulled the reins and gestured to Old Harry:

"Clean up, take all the valuables, and I'll make sure not to damage their armor."

"Yes, ma'am."

Old Harry respectfully acknowledged and called for his fearful servants to gather the spoils of war.

"Senior Apprentice Siebel, you're amazing!" Karl exclaimed.

"As an Intermediate Wizard Apprentice, dealing with ordinary people is like this." Siebel didn't show any false modesty and said,

"I wasted a portion of my acid; I wonder if I can make up for it with the loot?"

The acid she used for the Acid Spray was a specially crafted wizard material, quite valuable.

That's why its power was so terrifying.

Several dozen people!

Among them was even a Knight.

Even a Grand Knight would take some time to defeat them, but before Siebel, they didn't last long.

Not a single person escaped!

A true Intermediate Wizard Apprentice with such formidable skills, facing even a Grand Knight without fear.

Unless it was someone like General Thunder Spear Tucker.

In comparison.

Karl was far inferior.

Although he was also an Intermediate Wizard Apprentice, he had studied too many miscellaneous spells, resulting in insufficient power. He could barely handle Knights and was no match for a Grand Knight.

"Karl..." Kingsley's face turned pale as he glanced at Siebel and quickly turned away.

"Miss Siebel, what's going on?"

Yvonne was even more startled, curling up in fear.

The previous scene not only terrified the bandits but also shocked the two girls, leaving them chilled to the bone.

The people killed by the Acid Spray and poison fog had a tragic death, their faces almost unrecognizable, and their bodies reduced to bones.

It was no wonder people called her a demon.

"Senior Apprentice Siebel is a Wizard Apprentice."

Karl's voice softened.

"Don't be afraid. Senior Apprentice Siebel is a good person; you can think of her as a Knight with mysterious powers."

"Wizard Apprentice?" Yvonne blinked.

"Brother Karl, are you one too?"

Since she called Siebel 'Senior Apprentice', it was only natural that Karl would know what Siebel knew.

"Yes."

Karl nodded.

"But I've only recently entered the world of wizards and haven't mastered much yet. I can only perform a few harmless minor magic tricks."

As he spoke, he gently rubbed his fingers together.

"Pop!"

A soft glow appeared between the two girls.

Brightness Spell!

The light illuminated the carriage, and the two girls gradually calmed down, especially Yvonne, who was fascinated.

"Wow, that's amazing! Can I learn it?"

"This..." Karl shook his head.

"People with wizard talent are very rare. If you want to learn, we can test your aptitude."

Unfortunately, Yvonne didn't have wizard talent, and neither did Kingsley.

This was normal.

In a city, only a few children born in several years might have wizard talent, a pitifully small percentage.

After cleaning up the battlefield, the caravan set off again, and this time, everyone felt safe on the journey.

With Siebel, a powerful Intermediate Wizard Apprentice, protecting them, what was there to fear?

...

Midnight.

Old Harry found a suitable place to rest.

A group of people lit a bonfire and sat around it, and Siebel seemed to sense something, looking up at the sky.

"Plop!"

Hot water was poured into the teapot, releasing a thick white smoke with a faint, pleasant aroma.

"Here," said the gray-robed, intermediate wizard apprentice Ansloet, offering his hand. "This is a drink brought by a wandering merchant from the distant East. It has a unique taste, give it a try."

"Hmm," Tim, sitting across from him, took a sip from his teacup and shook his head. "This light drink is more suited to the nobility in the royal city. We commoners usually prefer stronger flavors."

"Is that so?" Ansloet smiled. "It seems you've made up your mind."

"..." Tim took a deep breath and said, "I'm not that young anymore. Without sufficient resources, I might not even become a senior wizard apprentice in this lifetime."

"Even if I do, there's no hope of becoming a full-fledged wizard!"

"Only by inheriting my mentor's legacy can I have enough resources to attempt to reach the wizardry realm."

"Yes," Ansloet nodded. "One step too late, and you're always behind."

"Here, the divine light of the gods is too strong, obscuring the wisdom of wizards. Who among us can become a full-fledged wizard without a unique encounter?"

His voice rose as he spoke, "According to the records in the Book of Wizards, as long as a place gives birth to a three-ring wizard, a stargate can be established to connect to the true wizarding world. Gray-robed wizards are already two-ring wizards, and there's no reason they can't become three-ring wizards."

"Whether it's becoming a three-ring wizard or uncovering the secrets deep within the Black Swamp, we have a chance to leave this place!"

"Of course..."

"The prerequisite is to become a full-fledged wizard!"

Full-fledged wizard!

These words made Tim's breathing rapid, his hands clenched, and his eyes filled with intense desire.

If he became a full-fledged wizard, and the Black Swamp had a stargate, there might be a chance for him to become a two-ring or even a three-ring wizard in the future.

"I envy you," Ansloet sighed. "Your mentor has done great service to the swamp camp. As his heir, you won't have to worry about exploring the Black Swamp for the next six years. You can focus on your cultivation and will surely become a senior wizard apprentice by then."

"It's too early to talk about this," Tim shook his head. "I still have a junior sister..."

"And a junior brother!"

Over the past few decades, many have studied wizardry under Adolph, but few have been called mentors.

Theoretically, only he and Siebel had the right of inheritance, and now Karl could barely be included.

"Twenty magic stones and a high-quality enchanted artifact can solve this problem for you," Ansloet said. "I know the contact person for the Shadow Hand. Some of them specialize in dealing with wizard apprentices."

"Twenty magic stones..." Tim's cheek muscles twitched. "That's too expensive."

"It's not expensive, not at all," Ansloet said. "Adolph's legacy is probably worth over two hundred magic stones. You only need to pay less than a tenth of that price."

Tim still shook his head.

"Then..." Ansloet frowned. "Eighteen magic stones, that's the lowest I can go. Otherwise, you'll have to find another way."

"Just two magic stones less?" Tim's expression turned sour, seeing the other's stern face leaving no room for negotiation, he sighed in resignation.

"Alright!"

"Eighteen it is, but you must ensure the safety of my junior sister. She has to arrive at the Black Swamp unharmed."

"Deal!" Ansloet smiled. "I didn't expect you to be so filial. You could have found another place to settle your mentor's wife."

"She's old, and it's not suitable for her to live in the Black Swamp."

"Cough..." Tim's face turned slightly red. "My junior sister isn't that old."

"Hmm?" Ansloet was taken aback, then realized, and laughed.

"I understand, I understand!"

"I just didn't expect that your mentor, at his age, would have a young wife."

...

The carriage wheels rumbled.

Inside the carriage, Siebel held a book, reading intently. Sometimes she frowned in confusion, and sometimes her face showed enlightenment, clearly immersed in the content.

After a long while, she put down the book and sighed.

"The path of a bloodline wizard is truly complex and profound, involving disciplines such as biological dissection, bloodline inheritance, and more."

"Karl."

"A wizard should always maintain a strong curiosity, but you must also understand a principle."

"A jack of all trades is a master of none."

Siebel said, "You should focus your energy on meditation and spellcasting. Don't get distracted by other things."

"Pharmacy, enchanting artifacts, and bloodline modifications are all studies worth a lifetime of dedication. You can't learn them in a short time."

Siebel clearly felt that Karl was getting too distracted.

"You're right, Senior Sister," Karl nodded. "I found these books in Robert's study when the Patrol Hall searched his manor, so I brought them out to take a look."

"It's a great way to broaden my knowledge!"

"Mhm." Siebel smiled.

"I appreciate your willingness to share knowledge. These books can cover the gold coins you owe me."

"If you have any thoughts, we can discuss them..."

"For free!"

Siebel realized that Karl wasn't particularly talented in spellcasting, but he often had brilliant ideas when it came to miscellaneous knowledge.

This was due to his over a decade of learning in his previous life, where he had dabbled in various subjects, though not mastering any.

Certain knowledge had commonalities.

For example, anatomy...

"The foundation for bloodline wizards is transformation and solidification spells. Robert also made his fortune using this type of magic."

Siebel licked her lips and her eyes sparkled.

"If I could learn these two spells, I believe I'd become a frequent guest of many wealthy ladies in Signo City."

She seemed to have forgotten her earlier statement about not getting distracted.

"Wealthy ladies?" Karl was taken aback. "What use would it be to them?"

"Of course, it's useful." Siebel rolled her eyes. "Women's anxiety about their appearance and figure is no less than men's."

Karl understood.

Breast augmentation!

Waist slimming!

Body sculpting!

...

Thinking about the beauty craze in his previous life, he could see the business opportunities within.

He wondered if Robert had ventured into this business, but even if he had, he probably wouldn't dare to do it openly.

After all, there were differences between men and women.

"Low-level transformation spells can't truly alter the flesh. They only provide temporary or partial modifications with a certain chance of backlash or even bodily harm."

Karl spoke up, "True modification starts from within, thoroughly changing a person's body from their bloodline."

"It allows one to gain the ability to transform into other beings."

"Mhm." Siebel nodded.

"There are many records of wizards transforming into eagles soaring through the skies, becoming whales swimming freely in the oceans, and even turning into legendary ancient beings, challenging the gods themselves."

"Unfortunately..."

She shook her head lightly, looking regretful.

Transforming into an eagle or a whale wasn't very useful, and it might even shorten one's lifespan and reduce their power.

And transforming into legendary beings required understanding their essence, which was even more impossible.

Karl pondered this.

Transforming into other beings was beyond the scope of a full wizard; an apprentice like him needed to start from the basics.

Adapting to other bloodlines!

Typically, one would need to find a part of a supernatural being, remove the rejection reaction, and transplant it into the cultivator's body, allowing their body to gradually gain the power of the supernatural being.

Or create something like the Stone Core.

Karl didn't have a Stone Core.

The key to this wizard's spell was adapting to other bloodlines.

After all, with different species and structures, the body would instinctively reject foreign elements, and without special power, fusion was impossible.

"Bloodline wizard transplants have similarities to integrating divine seals, saving a lot of effort."

Karl murmured, lightly raising his left arm.

On the inside of his left forearm, a white bead appeared, which was actually a spider's eye.

Upon closer inspection, the eye was still moving, a bit eerie and creepy.

"By transplanting an organ from another creature, one can enhance their own abilities or gain new ones."

"The next step is to replace internal organs..."

"Finally!"

Karl clenched his fist.

"The entire body transforms from within, taking on a different form."

The eye transplanted onto his arm, which had almost lost its vitality, now regained its vigor with Karl's life force.

And its effect...

Enhanced perception!

"Or perhaps, spider sense?"

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(End of Chapter)

Chapter end