Chapter 20
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Chapter 20: Super Transmutation
"This can’t be happening!" Celia panicked.
The twin pillars of light showed no sign of fading. This meant the two magic-devouring monsters in the east and west kept draining the Nibelungen Dragon Sealing Array even after absorbing the second portion of magic required for perfect transmutation.
Then came the third portion… the fourth…
It resembled a duel, or perhaps a synchronized dance. Every time Midi absorbed a portion, Fina immediately followed, their endless consumption mirroring each other.
At this rate, the entire year’s worth of premium magic stored in the dragon-sealing array would vanish. Once the Tree of Life’s magic reservoir emptied, the Eyes would start draining the tree’s life force itself.
This would severely damage the Tree of Life – an absolute taboo for Dawn Garden. Yet Celia stood helpless as the veteran gardeners watched the magic pool deplete before their eyes, exchanging pale-faced glances without solutions.
Relief finally came when absorption slowed during the fifth and sixth portions.
By the seventh and eighth portions, saturation approached.
The gardeners collectively exhaled.
As the magic pool nearly emptied, the eastern and western Eyes erupted in starlight. Countless shimmering particles scattered like iridescent ribbons dancing in the wind.
Though the starlight spectacle could be called miraculous, Celia lacked any mood to admire it.
Midi Asreks and Fina Hamilton had each absorbed five times the magic needed for standard perfect transmutation. With no historical precedent or theoretical framework, Celia couldn’t determine if this qualified as "perfect" or "excessive perfection".
Were these two still human?
Even the great library atop the tree likely held no answers to Celia’s silent question.
Darkness faded. Light returned. Midi floated down weightlessly, landing firmly.
The earlier visions during transmutation revealed truth – the black firmament symbolized flesh, his consciousness represented spirit, while the frigid greatsword embodied the demon god.
Flesh. Spirit. Demon god. This trinity defined the Demon Swordman.
Rare materials evolved his body. Magic baptism strengthened his spirit. The demon god gorged on magic. When all three aspects reached balanced perfection, reacting to each subtle change – that was true perfect transmutation.
Midi clearly sensed it – the magic tide had tempered both body and spirit into something sharper. The frost-coated icy blade representing his demon god now radiated intensified cold from absorbing massive magic.
This wasn’t mere power increase, but fundamental transformation – like iron forged into steel. Traits meant for awakening stages already simmered beneath the surface: overwhelming force, precise equilibrium, tempered will.
Was this perfect transmutation? Midi shivered. His past life as a twice-awakened adventurer made him appreciate this qualitative leap.
Stranger still was the peculiar resonance with Fina during the process.
She must have achieved perfection too?
Mind filled with the red-haired girl’s familiar warmth from their shared transmutation, Midi rushed toward Dawn Garden’s center.
Sigmund and Lilian waited there. Though usually maintaining elite aloofness, they now openly celebrated their successful transmutations.
"Where’s Fina?" Midi cut straight to the point.
"Still inside. What about you?" Lilian’s brow furrowed. "Don’t tell me you couldn’t handle the magic load. That’d disqualify your ‘perfection’."
Her words carried no real bite – after their trial battle, genuine partnership had formed. But Lilian’s nature prevented direct concern. Absolute trust in Fina’s capabilities dismissed any worry about the delayed Queen of Magic.
"Perfect transmutation." Midi answered absently, gaze locked on the eastern path.
"Is something wrong?" Sigmund couldn’t help asking. To him, Midi was a calm and even cold guy who stayed composed against a level 35 sword soul. Why was he acting so unsettled now?
Had something actually happened to Fina?
"No… nothing…" Midi shook his head. Feeling that resonance with Fina during transmutation was just too unreal. Maybe he’d been overthinking things – mentioning it wouldn’t help anyway.
But why was she still not out?
While Midi hesitated anxiously, an involuntary tremor suddenly rose in his heart.
Fina’s here!
The moment this thought surfaced, those familiar dancing footsteps echoed. Finally, the red-haired girl arrived late. Their eyes met as if sharing tacit cooperation, and Fina flashed a triumphant smile while making a victory gesture.
"Don’t tell me you failed at perfect transmutation, partner," Fina jumped in before Midi could speak, not even mentioning her own results as if success was guaranteed – pure Queen of Magic style.
Midi didn’t need to ask more. The tension left him as he finally relaxed.
What? Did I look that pathetic?
Feeling Midi’s concerned gaze, Fina grew irritated.
How dare he worry about her – the Queen of Storms! Worse yet, she found herself not angry but… quietly pleased.
Though she’d sensed Midi’s aura during transmutation, she’d never admit rushing over immediately after finishing just to check on him.
Despite her sharp perception from reincarnation memories, a maiden’s heart remained inscrutable.
Midi would likely never learn why Fina arrived late post-transmutation.
When the four gathered, their level gains showed clearly: Sigmund 22, Lilian 22, Fina 24, Midi 22.
All three-level jumps. Undeniably "perfect transmutation."
They were all wrong.
Transmutation happens once. The Hamilton family’s heiress had broad knowledge but wasn’t omniscient. Midi with past life memories had never experienced true perfection before. Both had blind spots.
To them, "perfect transmutation" meant absorbing enough magic to feel complete. Sigmund and Lilian felt the same satisfaction. Naturally, they concluded everyone succeeded.
Only Celia watching from afar knew better. She’d raced to the library and discovered what happened to Midi and Fina was called super transmutation – not mere enhancement but full evolution.
Short-term battle strength differences seemed minimal. But as levels grew and awakening approached, super transmuters would leap ahead in potential and abilities, leaving perfect transmuters far behind.
What heights might these two reach?
What stories would they write in Belmar Duchy’s future?
Observing the proud red-haired girl and flawless black-haired boy who never stopped watching her, Celia couldn’t stop wondering.
