Enhancing the foundation of his soul had always been Roy's purpose in undergoing the Body Swap.
The results aligned perfectly with his expectations—the cells of his new body brimmed with energy, radiating vitality.
Combined with the Life Energy Crystal and Blood Mercury, the overall hardware of his physique had improved by an entire tier compared to before.
This surge of power flooded into his mind, elevating his soul's rank in a certain sense.
Having already undergone Soul Sublimation and advanced to a Tier One Wizard, he now experienced yet another breakthrough.
It was a transformation akin to being reborn.
"An increase in foundational strength is normal...
But gaining an additional Natal Chart Constellation resembling the Golden Behemoth...
Or even an entirely new layer of Soul Shadow—
That's highly abnormal!
The materials my mentor provided never mentioned this, nor have I ever encountered such a phenomenon in the Wizard Tower's library!
Humans aren't supposed to possess more than one soul or multiple constellations...
Even if they're exceptionally complex, like the manifestations of Alchemy Talent!"
Roy suddenly recalled his earlier speculation.
Perhaps he had become, in some sense, an Alchemical Lifeform—and his soul had transformed into a Chimera Soul!
It was an amalgamation of three spirits: his former self, the current Golden Behemoth youth, and effectively, three souls fused into one!
The difference lay in their distinct hierarchical relationship. The Spiral Sky, bearing his Alchemy Talent, was unmistakably his primary soul.
Meanwhile, his former self and the Golden Behemoth existed as shadow-like entities.
Yet, an inexplicable connection still bound them together.
This entanglement between the main soul and its shadows took on a peculiar form.
"Could it be that my new body's [Bloodline Awakening] and [Ferocious State] abilities will persist even after another Body Swap?"
As he pondered, Roy suddenly conceived a bold hypothesis.
"Is this a talent of the flesh, or the soul?
Or perhaps... they are one and the same?
According to my mentor's theories, matter and consciousness aren't so strictly divided—they are intertwined...
Just like my soul and its shadows!"
Though practical verification would require another Body Swap, Roy felt an inexplicable confidence welling from within.
This intuitive certainty told him the truth was exactly as he suspected.
"Enough speculation for now. Let's test whether I can inscribe the Tier One Animation Spell!
That was my original goal—and the key factor influencing my future advancement and fundamental evolution!
If I fail to inscribe it, the effectiveness of this Body Swap will be severely diminished!
I lack the resources and technical capability to replace it with something better anytime soon!"
Frowning briefly, Roy redirected his focus to the nautilus-shaped vortex of swirling stardust.
As he channeled Wizardry Energy into the [Animation Art], attempting to root and inscribe it within, a faint repulsion emerged—a sign of resistance.
Roy immediately understood: this spell couldn't be inscribed onto his primary Natal Chart.
The interference from the Energy Particles of his Talent Seed within this vast star system was too severe.
This was the chart of his Alchemy Talent, fundamentally incompatible with the spell.
Yet the moment he shifted his attention to the Soul Shadow, the sensation changed entirely.
The lonely silhouette, likely inherited from his former self, was too frail, too ethereal.
It couldn't bear the weight of a Tier One Wizardry talent.
The soul shadow of the Golden Behemoth perfectly matched the engraving conditions.
In an instant, as if under the combined forces of attraction and repulsion, his mental focus was drawn to the heart of the behemoth's silhouette.
The star representing the "Tier One Animation Spell" was thus ignited!
...
"Lord Roy, your meditation took quite a long time this time."
When Roy emerged again, he realized it was already dawn.
Atedia waited outside with a hint of concern.
Celine had also come out of her room to keep her company.
Andov, Damo, and the others were all nearby, maintaining a tight but outwardly relaxed vigilance.
"Ah, my oversight. Everyone, go about your business."
Roy gave the order and took a few steps, only to realize something was off.
His legs felt weak, and his arms stretched like dough as he swung them.
"My lord!" Atedia exclaimed in alarm.
"What's going on?" Celine was equally astonished.
"It's fine—just an excess of animating energy from the Animation Art, and I haven't adapted to it yet… Once I fully control this power and stop it from running wild, it'll be much better."
Roy struggled to steady his limbs, only to find the sensation strangely fascinating.
It was like being a "dough man."
And not just any dough man—one with too much water added.
Roy felt as though even his bones had been animated, turning into something soft and pliable.
Walking became a wobbly, bouncy affair.
When he returned to his room, he was even more shocked to discover that the tail at his front had grown over a meter long.
As experienced individuals know, excessive length can sometimes be a nuisance—highly inconvenient.
Roy sighed and had to coil it around his waist to keep it from swinging around.
Over the next few hours, he worked hard to control the animating energy, trying to master this state.
Then he stiffened up again.
His entire body seemed to swell several sizes, becoming as hard as a cast-iron statue.
"This actually shares similarities with the 'Armor Stacking Spell' I studied before and is the foundation of 'Stone Skin.' The shift between soft and hard states could already be used to derive many skills and special abilities—applications of 'spell-like abilities.'
But…
Never mind, I'll delve deeper into it later."
For now, he focused on gradually adjusting the animating energy, bringing it back to the baseline of a normal living being.
So, slowly, he softened again.
This time, at least, he was like a rubber man—able to maintain his form without melting into a puddle mid-step.
Then Roy had a sudden idea. He placed his palm on the table and pulled out a hammer from his Spatial Ring.
"Atedia, come in here and hit me with this hammer!"
"Huh?"
Atedia was dumbfounded by the request.
But after roughly understanding what Roy wanted, she reluctantly gave a cautious tap.
As expected, the elasticity absorbed the impact—his bones remained unharmed.
Still unsatisfied, Roy swung the hammer himself and struck hard.
Bang! The wooden table shattered instantly.
His palm deformed, dispersing the force, and indeed, he suffered no injury.
Then Roy had another wild idea. Keeping his lower body seated, he stretched his upper half upward.
In the midst of Atedia's violently trembling pupils, he bent diagonally downward before suddenly straightening upright, forming a shape resembling the letter "N."
His waist had elongated, transforming into a lengthy human-serp
ent hybrid.
"The mysteries of life—I have grasped them now.
The Animation Art truly holds boundless wonders!
Hahahaha..."
Roy's eyes shimmered with a crimson glow as he suddenly licked the corner of his lips and burst into unrestrained laughter.