Chapter 21: Slight Enhancement

Richard placed his hand on the Black Iron Beast's claw, and the Miracle Furnace within his soul instantly evaluated it.

[Material: Black Iron Beast Foreclaw]

[Extractable Substance: Pure Black Iron Beast Bloodline]

[Extraction Cost: 100 Magic Power]

[Proceed with Extraction?]

"Yes."

The Black Iron Beast's foreclaw appeared in the Miracle Furnace, and streams of magic power were absorbed, fueling the extraction process. Within seconds, a ruby-like, crystalline blood droplet emerged in Richard's hand, enveloped in magic.

Bloodline Alchemy, a widely known alchemical technique among wizards, allows the integration of other creatures' bloodlines with the alchemist's own, granting specific abilities or enhancing physical attributes.

In Bloodline Alchemy, the purity of the bloodline is paramount.

If the bloodline used in the process is contaminated with another creature's bloodline, the results can be suboptimal, or even drastically different from the intended outcome.

Pouring the blood into a test tube, Richard retrieved a bottle of deep black ink from his drawer.

According to the notes, Bloodline Alchemy required not only purified bloodlines but also the drawing of an alchemical array on the heart area using special ink. The array's power would transform the bloodline into a bloodline seed embedded in the heart, ready to be activated when needed.

This is one of the most well-known paths in Bloodline Alchemy—the bloodline seed.

The primary advantage of this path is minimal physical alteration, with the added benefit of easily switching bloodlines. The downside is the necessity of magical energy to maintain the bloodline's effects.

Beyond this path, Bloodline Alchemy includes direct organ and gland transplants, self-organ modification and mutation, and the most popular method among wizards, direct bloodline fusion.

Conveniently, the notes included the ink's recipe, but after some inquiries, Richard discovered that Bloodline Alchemy ink could now be purchased directly in stores at a reasonable price—only five magic stones per bottle.

This revelation left Richard marveling at how times had changed and technology had progressed.

Due to planar conquests, the range of compatible bloodlines expanded significantly, allowing wizards from various schools to find bloodlines suitable for their practices, thus facilitating Bloodline Alchemy.

The wizard who died during the Wizard Wars likely never imagined his research would become a commonplace technique among wizards.

Using a quill, Richard removed his shirt and carefully drew the array on his chest using a mirror.

The alchemical array needed for Bloodline Alchemy was simple enough that Richard completed it in just ten minutes.

With preparations complete, Richard took a deep breath and lay down.

The array glowed a ghostly blue under the influence of magic. Richard poured the blood from the test tube onto the array's center. In the next moment, a sensation akin to a red-hot iron branding his chest surged through him, and scalding blood pumped from his heart, coursing through his veins.

"Ugh!"

Richard clenched his teeth, struggling to remain conscious.

He had to ensure a continuous flow of magic into the alchemical array.

He lost track of time until the burning sensation in his chest dissipated.

Relaxing, Richard lay limp on the bed, his clothes drenched in sweat.

"This is like torture."

After resting for a while, Richard got up, intending to take a shower.

Rip.

A tearing sound reached his ears.

Richard looked at his torn pants, puzzled.

He hadn't exerted any force.

Gently tugging at the fabric, he found that what had once been sturdy cloth now tore like paper.

Then it dawned on him.

His strength had increased.

Carefully removing his pants, Richard assessed his body's condition.

With a casual punch, he created a dull thud in the air. With a light jump, he touched the ceiling with ease.

"The notes said the first stage of Bloodline Alchemy would slightly enhance physique..."

Richard remarked, lifting the bed behind him. Weighing several hundred pounds, it felt only slightly heavy.

"And wizards call this a slight enhancement?"

Richard set the bed down, momentarily speechless.

He had anticipated some discrepancy between a wizard's and an apprentice's definition of 'slight,' but this was like comparing heaven and earth.

Adjusting to his new strength, Richard began the breathing technique outlined in the notes. Each Bloodline Alchemy came with a corresponding breathing technique, which not only boosted combat ability temporarily but also stimulated the body to activate the bloodline.

According to the notes, he should now have a slight protective scale armor.

Inhaling and exhaling deeply, Richard felt a hot current spread from his heart throughout his body. Simultaneously, an itchy sensation arose all over.

Looking down, he saw metallic black scales emerging from beneath his skin, identical to those of the Black Iron Beast.

Grabbing a dagger, Richard carefully tested the scales. The once razor-sharp blade now struggled to pierce his scaly armor.

"Heh, slight protection indeed."

Richard sheathed the dagger. With magic, it could penetrate plate armor, yet it barely scratched his scales.

Effectively, he was now clad in armor surpassing plate mail.

With the black scales combined with the force field barrier of his wizard robe, Richard's defensive capabilities were top-tier among novice apprentices.

"Now, I could probably face that demon goat head-on and win."

The black scales rippled like flowing water with his movements, casting an eerie allure under the light.

"Truly beautiful," Richard mused, admiring his appearance.

But soon, a gnawing hunger surged from within.

"Damn, the Bloodline Alchemy drained my magic. Using the bloodline now taps into my life energy."

Richard quickly deactivated the bloodline, watching the scales recede from his limbs to his chest, forming a black mark.

Once the bloodline retreated, a wave of weakness washed over him.

Staggering to the table, Richard grabbed a leftover nutrition potion from the entrance exam and drank it.

One bottle wasn't enough, nor two. Only after gulping down three did the hunger abate.

In the bathroom, Richard stared at his gaunt reflection, lamenting the loss of his recently gained weight.

"The energy cost of Bloodline Alchemy is terrifying. I must avoid using it without sufficient magic," Richard concluded.

Washing off the blood from the scales, Richard donned fresh clothes.

Three months had passed; it was time to claim those hundred magic stones.