Lord: Starting with Biological Modification

Chapter 266: Chapter 261: The "Useless" Paper

A magic-sealed box sat in the center of the desk.

As Velin brushed his fingers over the runes, a wave of Spiritual Power pulsed from his fingertips. The wax seal cracked open without a sound, and the lid sprang upward.

Inside the box were a letter and a stack of parchment wrapped in oilcloth.

He picked up the letter and unfolded it.

The handwriting was a bit unpracticed—it was Ryo’s.

Lord Velin, I hope this letter finds you well.

Please forgive my forwardness. Miss Caroline contacted me a few days ago through the Golden Sail Commerce Association. She is extremely worried about your situation in Minas Tirith. She hoped that I might be able to find some magical items for you—from the academy’s treasury or the black market—that could be used against underwater enemies.

I have failed to live up to her hopes. I searched through all the academy’s records and visited several professors who study the marine domain, but they all said the same thing: against races from the abyssal depths, our current system of Magic is almost powerless. The water pressure and darkness are insurmountable obstacles for any land-based Mage. I was unable to find any weapons that could be used directly.

But just when I had all but given up, I found a long-forgotten thesis in the academy library’s catalog. Its author was a man named Phineas, a ’madman’ expelled from the academy a century ago. All the professors warned me against his theories, calling them nothing more than fanciful ravings.

But I read it. My Lord, I don’t know if it will be of any use, but my intuition tells me that its contents might offer you some inspiration. I have enclosed a transcribed copy of the original manuscript for you.

Please, take care.

Forever your student, Ryo.

Velin put down the letter and picked up the stack of oilcloth-wrapped parchment.

He unrolled it. The title, written in Old Common, was in an exaggerated, ornate script.

"On the Application of Original Blood Crystals in Directed Nourishment and Characteristic Endowment."

Velin turned to the first page.

The thesis opened bluntly, refuting the mainstream view in the world of Alchemy that Original Blood Crystals were merely "high-energy fuel."

The author, Phineas, argued that the Original Blood Crystal was the primordial form of life, the very cornerstone of all Extraordinary beings.

He proposed a concept: by using specific Magic Arrays, one could dissolve Original Blood Crystals into pure "life energy," thereby creating a "life field" that covered a specific area.

Within this "field," the growth and evolution of any living creature would be enhanced.

Velin’s hand paused as he was turning the page.

’This theory is interesting.’

He read on.

The second part of the thesis described how to achieve "directed" nourishment.

Phineas had discovered that by adjusting the frequency and energy output patterns of the Magic Array, he could control the "life field’s" energy, causing it to preferentially strengthen specific parts of a creature.

For example, using a "sharpening" frequency could make a creature’s bones, teeth, and claws much harder and sharper.

Using a "fortification" frequency, on the other hand, would dramatically increase the physical defense of a creature’s carapace, scales, or skin.

The thesis included over a dozen complex diagrams of Magic Arrays, each corresponding to a different type of enhancement.

Next to the diagrams were detailed experiment logs.

Subject: Swamp Crocodile. Enhancement: Bone density. Duration: Thirty days. Result: The subject’s skull became harder than a standard steel plate, capable of shattering a three-foot-thick block of granite with a direct impact.

Subject: Cave Spider. Enhancement: Silk glands. Duration: Fifteen days. Result: The produced spider silk increased in toughness, becoming strong enough to support the weight of a full-grown man.

Velin’s expression grew serious.

’This is no longer simple enhancement. This is the directed editing of a creature’s biological traits.’

He turned to the final and most crucial section of the thesis.

Phineas had discovered by accident that if a Rune circuit from the Enchantment Element was added to the Magic Array that created the "life field," it was possible to bestow simple magical characteristics upon the enhanced body parts.

He had recorded the discovery in his thesis with great excitement.

"An apprentice was maintaining the Array when he accidentally dropped a Rune Stone imbued with ’Flame Resistance’ into the energy core. Three days later, we discovered that the Flame Lizard in our experiment had grown new scales with frighteningly high resistance to fire. It could bathe in alchemical flames completely unscathed!"

This discovery pushed Phineas’s theory into an entirely new realm.

’Directed enhancement’ plus ’characteristic endowment.’

This meant it was possible to artificially "manufacture" biological weapons with specific abilities.

For instance, one could create an army of giant beetles with "magical skin," allowing them to withstand a magical bombardment from a Mage Corps.

Velin subconsciously pulled out his notebook and began taking notes.

He turned to the last page of the thesis.

It was Phineas’s concluding remarks, every line filled with the bitterness of unfulfilled ambition.

In it, he explained why the theory was impossible to implement.

It had one fatal flaw.

Resource consumption. Maintaining a "life field" for a single standard creature required kilograms of Original Blood Crystals per day.

At a rate of five Golden Suns per gram of Original Blood Crystal, the daily cost of maintaining the "life field" was roughly 7,000 Golden Suns!

And if one were to perform "characteristic endowment," that consumption would double.

Meanwhile, cultivating a single Magical Beast, even a common level-one, took at least a full day.

Velin did a quick calculation and was left speechless. It was truly an astronomical figure, enough to bankrupt any kingdom’s treasury. No wonder Phineas had despaired.

"They call me a madman because I cannot make the numbers work."

"This is a toy for the gods alone; no mortal could ever afford the price."

Phineas’s final words were steeped in despair.

Velin rolled the parchment closed.

’The price?’

The first thing that came to mind was the mineral lode beneath his feet.

The Original Blood Crystals, an astronomical expense for others, were for him merely a resource available at "cost," requiring only the time to mine them.

That would drastically reduce the expense, but... even so, a daily maintenance cost of several thousand Golden Suns was still an immense burden.

Trying to use it to enhance Magical Beasts was still impractical.

"Unless..." Velin muttered to himself, his gaze falling back to the words in the thesis: "cultivating... took at least a full day."

’The Spring Messenger!’

As the thought flashed through his mind, Velin shot to his feet.

’What if I could apply the Spring Messenger’s power to the "life field"?’

’A cultivation period that might originally take a week could be shortened to a single day, or even less!’

Velin’s heart began to pound.

In that case, the total cost of cultivating a single giant biological weapon would drop from "astronomical" to merely "expensive"—a completely acceptable amount!

This theory, dismissed as a "toy for the gods," was about to give birth to a true War Giant Beast in his hands!

His gaze seemed to pierce through the walls, settling on the distant deep sea.

He thought of the Storm Giant Squid that the Sea Wolves were currently hunting.

’That is the truly perfect specimen.’

An image formed in Velin’s mind: a Storm Giant Squid’s bloodline being reforged, its body growing beyond all limits, the inside of its massive frame converted into sturdy chambers...

’Wait a minute.’

His original plan had been to use bloodline modification to make the Storm Giant Squid enormous, then have soldiers and Mages enter its body to compensate for its lack of offensive power.

Now, with the life field technology, he could not only enhance its size but also modify its internal structure, allowing it to truly carry combat units...

’A biological submarine??!!’

Velin muttered to himself, the light in his wine-red pupils growing increasingly fervent.

He immediately summoned a guard.

"Go and notify Master Valerius and Elvin the Mage," he ordered, his voice slightly rushed with excitement.

"Tell them to bring their most trusted Mages and alchemists and meet Sarah at the underground lode immediately. I’m on my way."

"Yes, My Lord!" The guard acknowledged the order and departed swiftly.

Velin walked to the window and gazed out at the distant harbor.

On the surface of the sea, the garrison’s patrol boats were still clashing with the shadows in the water. To him, those shadows were nothing more than fodder for a future overlord.

His face was expressionless, but his wine-red eyes reflected not only the lights outside the window but also the image of a Deep Sea Giant Beast that would soon shake the world.

’Phineas.’

’If I have my way, your academic work will, on this very day a century later...’

’...shine with dazzling brilliance.’

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!