"Success?"
Celine sensed the life energy emanating from the new body and smiled with delight, stepping forward to take a closer look.
Atedia also stared blankly at the handsome face of the youth.
Though Roy had taken on a new form, even altering his appearance, the aura emanating from his soul and spirit—along with the life-bound master-servant contract between them—remained unmistakably clear.
Roy remained silent for a long while, quietly experiencing the novel sensations brought by this fresh vessel.
After a moment, he slowly raised his arm and examined his palm.
His slightly pale skin carried an inhuman metallic sheen.
Within his capillaries flowed not crimson blood, but silvery mercury plasma.
The youthful body gradually levitated, lifted by an invisible force as he stood upright.
In the next instant, a crystal brimming with vast life energy was extracted from the heart of his former body, floating midair before slowly merging into the new vessel.
The youth's chest opened, revealing a specially designed cavity that received the crystal.
Silvery mercury plasma enveloped his entire form, seeping inward.
Within moments, Celine and Atedia watched as the metallic, deathly pale body rapidly took on a healthy, rosy glow.
His skin became as translucent as jade, smooth and tender like freshly peeled lychee.
Celine promptly handed over a pre-prepared mana recovery potion.
Roy accepted it and drank it in one gulp.
At that moment, the life energy crystal, bodily cells, and blood mercury achieved a new equilibrium.
Immense power surged through his entire being, unifying into a cohesive whole.
Thereafter, the surplus life energy began flowing toward his brain, nourishing his spirit in earnest.
This was a holistic enhancement—far beyond merely recharging the blood mercury or fine-tuning individual organs.
The very essence of his life and soul had undergone a metamorphosis.
An intangible, vibrant vitality radiated from his entire being.
Atedia's cheeks flushed slightly as she suddenly realized that the youth's body had been completely bare all this time.
The sheer shock of the body-swapping technique had made her overlook this detail.
She glanced around, searching for something to cover him.
But before she could act, a layer of artificial skin transformed into a simple, clean robe resembling sleepwear, wrapping around Roy's new form.
Immediately after, his spatial ring, skin-adhering talisman, Aegis Stone, Gem of Wisdom Ring, Boots of Swiftness, and Pegasus Wings—
One by one, the items flew out from his motionless former body.
Roy donned each of them, his voice now carrying the crisp, youthful tone of a boy.
"Feels good...
I can sense this new body has a baseline life strength exceeding 30 degrees...
Equipped with a second-quality life energy crystal of over 200 degrees, it can finally unleash its full potential.
Moreover, this body's bloodline factor originates from the Golden Behemoth...
Though I haven't fully deciphered its mysteries, through genetic editing and the 'subsystem' of the 'Soul Virtual Machine'...
It's entirely possible to attempt the special state of 'Bloodline Awakening'!"
"Wasn't it said that the Golden Behemoth's bloodline could easily reach over 100 degrees?"
Upon hearing Roy's words, Atedia remained clasping her hands over her heart, enthralled by Lord Roy's captivating voice, while Celine had already snapped back to attention, noticing the discrepancy in the data.
Roy explained, "That's the data for adult male Behemoths...
In reality, even ordinary Behemoth warriors can achieve this through various training and growth without much difficulty.
But to conserve materials and shorten the cultivation cycle, I chose a premature and youthful form...
The nurturing process also had some nutritional deficiencies."
"So you're saying you're currently just a frail youth with congenital deficiencies?"
Celine's brows furrowed slightly.
"More or less.
My combat data isn't ideal.
But after all, I've still obtained the bloodline power of the Golden Behemoth...
Even that Orc warrior chieftain who was the source of this bloodline couldn't fully master this Bloodline Awakening ability...
If utilized properly, it can elevate my base physique to astonishing levels beyond just entering a Berserk state!"
"Astonishing levels?"
Celine asked in surprise.
"How much exactly?"
"The exact figure, I don't know, but based on research notes from other Wizard predecessors and materials provided by my mentor, it's reasonable to infer it's 5 to 10 times!"
"What!"
Celine's face showed disbelief.
Atedia did some quick calculations and was equally stunned.
They both thought they must have misheard.
"No mistake, it's 5 to 10 times!
Moreover, this applies to base physique - the original power that can still be amplified by Berserk states or similar abilities!
Additionally, the Golden Behemoth possesses a Ferocious state distinct from ordinary Berserk states, which can increase the amplification ratio to 300% to 500%!
This means the most Ultimate Zenith state would be the 'Mature Ferocious Golden Behemoth'...
potentially possessing over 5000 degrees of combat power (100×10×5)!
And even this current 'frail youth' with about 30 degrees and some 'congenital deficiencies'...
could ultimately reach 30×10×5...
a full 1500 degrees or more!
This is for an individual left to natural growth without cultivation...
With proper training and embarking on the transcendent path, a 'Transcendent Golden Behemoth' would have power that breaks through the heavens - not an exaggeration, but the embryonic form of what could be called a Behemoth God!"
Celine was utterly shocked, momentarily speechless.
For Atedia, a native of a Low-Magic World, this was completely unheard of and unimaginable.
She couldn't even conceive what such an existence would be like!
"Now you should understand why I took the risk to forcibly change bodies at this critical juncture!"
Roy said slowly.
"This potential... the benefits are simply too great!
So great that it's absolutely worth gambling everything for - even realizing just a fraction of it would far surpass my previous body!"
Celine frowned, "I have to admit it sounds impressive, but these are all future potentials.
What can you actually manifest right now...
approximately how much?"
"Right now..."
Roy appeared thoughtful.
But before he could answer, a violent explosion erupted outside.
The Portable Small Alchemy Laboratory was directly hit, its protective barrier's energy significantly depleted, causing everything inside to tremble.
Roy paused mid-sentence.
His gaze sharpened as he instructed Celine, "Store my original body properly."
With a thought, the door swung open.
He stepped out, meeting the gazes of those waiting outside.