The item in Locke's hand was none other than the synthesized Blast Pea from earlier.
Over the past two weeks, Locke had not only successfully synthesized the special formula for the Great Azure Leaf Banana but also combined three level-six Blast Peas into a [Three-Headed Blast Pea].
Of course, as a result, all the Magic Plant seeds he had obtained from the Germplasm Repository had been exhausted—either consumed in synthesis or failing to sprout successfully.
As for the Thunderbolt Electric Potato he had acquired earlier, no special synthesis formula had emerged yet. The level-7 synthesized Thunderbolt Electric Potato was only slightly more potent than the original Electric Potato.
But this was merely a minor improvement.
It was nothing like the [Three-Headed Blast Pea] or the [Great Green Owl Banana], which had undergone significant cultivation mutations and beneficial trait upgrades.
At this moment, Locke was chanting the incantation for the Rapid Fire Spell from the Metal Frenzy series. Upon hearing the vampire Howard's plea for mercy, Locke frowned and halted his attack.
Maintaining his flight mid-air using [Plant Mimicry Art: Raptor], Locke carefully considered the airborne vampire Howard before speaking: "You want to pledge allegiance to me?"
"That's not impossible. But you must cooperate fully with my experiments. After my mentor leaves Lilith's Cottage, you'll be my sole test subject. As long as you assist me properly, I'll grant you freedom once I become a Formal Wizard."
Locke's decision stemmed from the fact that Howard's active participation in experiments would enhance the quality of his research data.
It would also improve his current combat strategies, providing valuable reference for battles against vampire apprentices from the Blood Curse Court.
Locke added, "Of course, by then, you must sever ties with the Dark Wizard Organization."
A glimmer of hope flickered in Howard's heart. Though in his eyes, he had no idea how long it would take for Locke to become a Formal Wizard, this was still a chance.
Howard immediately agreed. "Understood, Master. I will disclose everything I know and diligently assist in your experiments."
"Relax your focus," Locke murmured as he softly recited the [Summon Graveyard Spirit] incantation. In an instant, Howard felt an icy, energy-laden weight press heavily upon his shoulders.
Locke was taken aback by the appearance of the Grave Spirit he had summoned.
This time, the spirit was neither transparent nor formless.
Instead, it was massive, crowned with a tombstone adorned with decorations resembling a pharaoh's mask. At the center of that mask was a single Magic Eye.
The form and energy of a summoned Grave Spirit were influenced by the caster's current state and Mana.
Clearly, after undergoing Ancient Creature Bloodline Modification, Locke's Mana had undergone changes, altering the spirit's appearance—and seemingly making it far more formidable.
The Pharaoh Mask Tomb Spirit bore down on Howard, nearly forcing him out of the sky. The moment Howard loosened the structure of his soul's Magic Pressure, the spirit immediately and forcibly possessed the vampire's body.
"The Summon Graveyard Spirit spell has actually been enhanced by the Ancient Creature Bloodline within me," Locke pondered. "Of course, since I've just completed the Bloodline Modification, I can't perfectly control this energy yet, which is why the appearance and abilities of the summoned Grave Spirit have been affected."
With a thought, Locke altered the form of the already-attached Grave Spirit once more, reverting it to an appearance similar to the one Old McCarthy had summoned earlier, its body now in a semi-transparent, intangible state.
'An invisible Grave Spirit is still more suitable for lurking on others. The person possessed won't even be aware of its presence. When necessary, I can use the Ancient Creature Bloodline energy to strengthen the Grave Spirit I've placed on someone, transforming it into a Pharaoh Mask Tomb Spirit to enhance its possession effect,' Locke quickly reasoned.
'The Pharaoh Mask Tomb Spirit seems to have gained some active offensive capabilities,' Locke considered. 'I can use it to launch physical attacks on Howard.'
'If I can do this to Howard, a First Class Wizard Apprentice of the Blood Curse Court, then I can certainly do the same to that Second Class Dark Wizard Apprentice I previously planted a Grave Spirit on.'
'All I need is to be close enough to him.'
Having just begun studying Archaeological Spells, Locke could only conclude that archaeology, originating from the magic of the Black Wizards' domain, was indeed bizarre and ever-changing.
A single [Summon Graveyard Spirit] could manifest so many variations.
With the support of his Three-Eyed Tiger Cat Bloodline, the [Summon Graveyard Spirit] spell had been enhanced to at least a 0.7-ring level!
However, since his Ancient Creature Bloodline had been modified through archaeological means, such chain reactions should have been within his expectations.
After being implanted with the Grave Spirit by Locke, the Vampire Howard let out a sigh of relief.
In his view, he had been placed under some kind of restraint by Locke.
According to the rules of the Black Wizards, that made him Locke's slave—his property.
As Locke's property, he no longer had to fear sudden beatings from his master.
Contrary to his usual demeanor, the Vampire Howard actually flew closer to Locke. "Master, the Curse Magic on me has already been cleansed by your teacher. So now, I belong entirely to you."
Locke waved him away with mild disgust. "Right now, I need you to test the basic combat capabilities of a Vampire Baron and the power of my Plant-based Spells."
"Be my sparring partner."
"Stand still first."
Howard immediately froze in place.
Having grown up in the Black Wizards' domain, their values were fundamentally different from others.
They obeyed their masters with an almost instinctive submission.
No Enchantment School spells or mental state alterations were needed to control them.
Locke raised the Three-Headed Blast Pea with both hands, chanting the Rapid Fire Spell. With a thought, three Steel Pellet Peas shot out from the muzzle like bullets, streaking toward Howard.
Two flaming steel pellets whizzed past him, striking the ground and leaving fist-sized craters that continued to burn with fire.
A burning steel pellet struck the shoulder of the vampire Howard, collapsing his left shoulder and igniting the surrounding area.
Locke glanced at a floating True Sight Crystal Ball, recording the scene.
This would allow him to replay the footage later for careful observation, study, and refinement of his combat techniques.
"A single Burning Steel Pellet doesn't deal significant damage to a vampire apprentice with 200 Mana," Locke mused. At the same time, the trumpet-like mouths of his Three-Headed Blast Pea let out a belch, sparks shooting from within.
"However, a standard Blast Pea's main stem stores 600 steel pellet peas, while the one I synthesized holds 1,200 in its main stem."
"Moreover, when using the [Rapid Fire Spell], each head of the Three-Headed Blast Pea can fire at full speed—200 rounds per minute."
"Half-speed is 100 rounds per minute."
"Slow speed is 10 rounds per minute."
"And then there's the single-shot mode like earlier, where each mouth can fire about 3-4 times per minute."
"As long as the number of Burning Steel Pellet peas is high enough, even these First-Class Wizard Apprentice vampires can be killed."
The 0.8-ring Rapid Fire Spell has four modes:
1.
Full-speed firing mode
2.
Half-speed firing mode
3.
Slow-speed firing mode
4.
Single-shot mode
These four modes are suited for different combat situations.
That was why Locke needed to use these vampires to test his combat strategies—to improve his ability to handle vampires with the Rapid Fire Spell, Splitting Spell, and Three-Headed Blast Pea.
Locke turned to the vampire Howard and commanded, "Now, do everything you can to escape. Whether you fly through the air or run on the ground, whether you use Curse Magic or other Spells—anything goes."
"I intend to use you to rapidly improve my shooting accuracy within these five days."
The Three-Headed Blast Pea in Locke's hands let out another spark-filled belch.
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