https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-85-How-About-That-Pretty-Cool-Right-/12810301/
Chapter 84: The Monster's Soul
Chapter 84: The Monster's Soul
"Are you sure you want to absorb it?" Makarov asked, eyeing the large, green crab in front of them. "It will take over its body."
"Yes, I want to give it a try," Rod nodded. "Even if I absorb it, as long as I 'release' it within a certain time, it should be fine. I've already mastered the method to release it."
Back when he was learning to ride a bike, Rod had a painful experience of only knowing how to ride but not how to stop, relying on crashing into walls to halt.
Eventually, he learned his lesson: when learning to skateboard, he started with how to stop, and when learning to drive, he first asked about braking.
Previously, in his excitement, he had learned summoning and only later the method to forcefully end the summon. Now, learning absorption, he couldn't afford to make the same mistake.
Makarov frowned, feeling that Rod was a trustworthy young man: "If you're sure there are no issues, let's begin."
"Alright," Rod placed his hand on the crab's head. "Stay still, don't resist, okay?"
He closed his eyes, controlling the 'vibration' of the magic within him, striving to achieve the state described in the book.
At a certain moment, Rod opened his eyes: "Absorb!"
A blue magical light surged from Rod's hand, enveloping the Swift Crab entirely.
Immediately, glowing spots appeared on Rod's body, and finally, a golden light enveloped him.
The golden light lasted only a short while. When it dissipated, Rod felt a significant portion of his magic drained away, and nothing seemed to have happened.
He could see himself through the crab's eyes, utterly bewildered.
Makarov said, "It failed. Focus your mind."
"Does failing to absorb consume so much magic?" Rod felt a pang of regret. One failed attempt meant fewer chances to practice in the morning.
"Of course. Any magic that reaches this stage, whether successful or not, consumes the same amount of magic," Makarov explained.
"Why did you lose focus at the last moment?" Makarov asked.
"Because... I was worried about becoming too ugly," Rod admitted, feeling a bit anxious. The effects of absorption magic varied from person to person.
Some people would completely transform into the absorbed creature.
Others would retain their original form, adding features of the absorbed creature.
Rod really didn't want to end up crawling around as a crab.
"If you're worried about that, don't learn absorption magic," Makarov said. "First, believe in your heart, and it will respond with 'miracles.'
But remember, it's not a 'miracle.' It's the power of your heart. Magic is the strength of your heart."
"Believe in myself, believe in my heart," Rod tried to ask himself what he wanted most. First, to be strong, and second, to be handsome.
If he was strong enough, being handsome was secondary because defeating enemies would make him the coolest.
But how strong could absorbing a crab make him? No, that's not right. The crab has its own strengths.
Moreover, the power of absorption magic depends not only on the absorbed creature but also on the user's own magic.
If the Guild Master used absorption magic, even absorbing a regular rabbit could send most guild members flying with a single kick.
Believe...
"Absorb!"
Glowing spots appeared, and a golden light flashed, vanishing in an instant. The crab disappeared from its spot, and Rod's appearance underwent a dramatic change! His hands, feet, body, and even his head were covered in a hard, green carapace, like he was wearing a green suit of armor.
Two antennae stood up on his head, and his face looked like it was wearing a mask, with his eyes emitting a faint yellow light.
His chest was protected by thick armor, and the gauntlets extended from his fingers to his forearms, making them look especially robust.
All of this Rod could see with his newfound 360-degree vision, which allowed him to view his entire body without the need for a mirror.
"Is this Mozi? Kintaro? Or maybe Elephant Warrior?"
Rod instantly thought of three characters with similar color schemes as he took in his appearance. He suddenly found the green armor quite stylish. He tapped his chest and arm with his fist, finding the hardness quite satisfactory.
Makarov stood with one hand behind his back and the other raised in a sword gesture, ready to restrain Rod if he went berserk.
"Master, I'm fine."
Makarov lowered his arm. "That's good. How do you feel?"
Rod moved his limbs, finding them more flexible than usual. He raised his right hand, and the gauntlet shimmered, transforming into a crab claw. The powerful force it exerted was evident as he opened and closed it.
He then tried moving his legs, and he shot forward at a speed far exceeding his usual pace. With a thought, he used the crab's skills, leaving trails of afterimages as he ran.
"Is this Ghost Walk?" Rod was distracted for a moment and, with a loud crash, he smashed through the courtyard wall and bolted out. It was the same spot he had crashed through the last time he summoned the crab.
Fate, indeed. To his surprise, smashing through the wall didn't hurt at all.
"Rod!"
"I'll fix it!"
Rod's voice carried in the wind as he ran to the lake behind the guild:
Swimming, diving, and even standing on the water's surface!
Receiving the crab automatically granted him mastery over aquatic combat!
Speaking of the crab...
Rod focused his mind and used the pendant to sense the conditions within the Summoner's Rift. In the upper and lower river paths, one crab patrolled the upper river, while the other was in a dormant state, its body submerged with only its antennae poking out of the water.
This left Rod puzzled. Was the magic supposed to take over the crab's body, or had he somehow taken over its respawn timer?
He spent some time in the lake, familiarizing himself with the magic, then returned to the courtyard and released the reception spell in front of Makarov. Thankfully, there was no issue of the armor bursting his clothes.
"Do you feel any discomfort in your body?"
"No, just a significant drain on my magic. It feels like it's more than summoning two crabs at once."
"That's one of the drawbacks of the reception spell. Work on increasing your magic power and getting used to the state, and it should improve."
Makarov thought for a moment and then asked, "How is the crab?"
Rod checked the Summoner's Rift and saw that there was a crab patrolling each river. "It's back to normal."
"That's good." Although Makarov didn't say it, he clearly had reservations about the method of receiving a battle partner.
"But Master..." Rod said, puzzled, "I just released the reception spell. I haven't performed the 'release' step yet."
"What? How is that possible..." Makarov was surprised. "Could there be a third crab in the Summoner's Rift?"
"That shouldn't be the case..." Rod had seen the dormant crab emerge from the water with his own eyes.
Could a new one have respawned? Makarov thought for a moment. "Can you still use the reception spell?"
Rod closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them. "Reception!"
The familiar light spots appeared, and Rod transformed once again.
...
(End of Chapter)
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