Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
In the 17th year of the San calendar, when Bohr Kelermo was compiling the illustration handbooks for the animals and monsters, he found the secret as to how the monsters released their extraordinary powers. From then on, he started to study about transplanting the blood of the monsters.
By autumn, he had carried out many tests on transplanting the organs of the monsters in Wizard Tower. However, the rate of success was extremely low. The death rate was more than 50 percent, and even when there were no deaths, the organs that had been formed by deified cells countercharged, turning one into a terrifying creature.
In the 18th year of the San calendar, Bohr went to the Batko Empire, a Desert Kingdom, together with Wofter and Uruk. They had captured a strange creature that had devoured the people of many villages. It was known as the Double-headed Magic Eagle. Its body was strong, and its wings were as hard as steel. Ordinary arrows, and even witchcraft, were not able to hurt it. Its claws could even leave deep marks on steel.
As long as the villagers saw the Double-headed Magic Eagle flying within the borders of the Batko Empire, they were panic-stricken. And the being was not only notorious in the Batko Empire, as all the neighboring countries knew of its existence, too.
Although the Double-headed Magic Eagle was not as powerful and destructive as the monsters, its cannibalistic characteristic was more horrifying than many other powerful creatures. Moreover, it could fly, so this made it extremely difficult to capture. This had been a great problem for the Batko Empire. They had sent the Blood Knights a number of times to capture it, but they always failed to track it down.
A wizard, who was living in the nearby village, had told Bohr about it. After understanding its characteristics and abilities, he set forth to the Batko Empire with Wofter and Uruk.
What caught Bohr’s interest, was the Double-headed Magic Eagle’s ability to regenerate. He believed that this ability could increase the success rate of transplanting the organs of the monsters. Bohr had also found that, when transplanting the organs, if the recipient was calm and did not show much resistance, the success rate would be higher. It was similar to the state of meditation. Bohr felt that, if the recipient was meditating when receiving the transplant, the success rate would be higher.
Bohr had chosen the Double-headed Magic Eagle as the first to transplant its spellcasting organ, due to its strong body. It was highly ranked among the monsters. Moreover, it could fly, and its extraordinary power was to regenerate its cells.
Its heart was its spellcasting organ, and it contained a large amount of energy. When it got hurt, it could regenerate its cells. As long as its heart and brain were not damaged, it would not die. Previously, a small troop of highly ranked Blood Knights from the Batko Empire had tried to trap the Double-headed Magic Eagle. It had been pierced by the ballista, burned in the fire, shot with poisoned arrows, and still, it did not die. Although it had been badly injured, it had killed the troop of Blood Knights before escaping. Later, it took revenge, killing the people of a few villages at the border of the Batko Empire.
Its strong living power was astounding. Bohr, Uruk, and Wofter tracked the Double-headed Magic Eagle’s nest using witchcraft. They set up a trap and injured it seriously, but it still escaped. The three of them flew and pursued it, using their mental strength. Although the speed of a low ranking wizard was slow, they had no problem in pursuing and fighting. Finally, they caught up with the Double-headed Magic Eagle and captured it.
Bohr broke its wings. The Double-headed Magic Eagle was exhausted, and they brought it back to Wizard Tower. They prepared themselves to transplant its spellcasting organ. Previously, they had used animals to test it out, but this time around, Bohr would be testing it on himself, a wizard, a human being.
Although some of the trainers had tried to persuade Bohr to choose a man or apprentice for the test, Bohr refused. He insisted on being the first guinea pig.
“Are you ready?” Uruk was Bohr’s good friend. Other than Bohr, he had been deeply involved in the research on body transformation technique. Naturally, he would be the one to perform the operation, transplanting the spellcasting organ.
Bohr laid on the bench and looked at Uruk and the few trainers. Although some of them did not agree with Bohr, so far, he had been fair to everyone, so they respected him and his wishes.
Catherine looked worried and said to Bohr, “Bohr, why don’t we wait for Teacher Anthony? It is too dangerous for you to do this.”
Bohr shook his head and said, “It is all right. I have done many tests. Moreover, Uruk will be the one to operate on me, so I have no worries. Let’s start, Uruk. We have run through the steps. Everything will be fine. I trust you.”
Uruk removed Bohr’s heart, then placed the heart of the Double-headed Magic Eagle into Bohr’s body. When Uruk had completed the transplant, and was about to sew up the wound, Bohr’s body began to shiver violently. It seemed to be under tremendous stress. Everyone could feel Bohr’s mental strength surging crazily.
“What is happening?” Uruk dropped his scalpel on the floor, at a loss. This was unexpected.
Wofter was the first to recollect himself. He looked back and shouted, “Have we failed? Quick, proceed with our backup plan. We must save Bohr.”
The few trainers quickly prepared themselves. Catherine took a deep breath and said, “That’s right. As long as Bohr is alive, Teacher Anthony will be able to save him.”
The wound on Bohr’s chest started to heal by itself. Very soon after, a large amount of feathers started to appear on his body. A great transformation took place, and Bohr started to look half human and half eagle.
Bohr stood up and his clothes tore apart. His palms and feet had turned into sharp claws. The feathers on his arms kept growing, then turned into a pair of wings. With a howl, Bohr broke through the wooden door and flew away from the window in the hall.
All the wizards in Wizard Tower were flustered. They ran out and saw Bohr’s half human and half eagle look. He circled around Wizard Tower and flew up into the sky of the dark forest. After a long while, he flew back to the laboratory of Wizard Tower.
All of them crowded around him and asked, “Bohr, how do you feel?”
The feathers on Bohr’s body were black in color, and his palms and legs were covered with scales. There were long hooks on the sharp claws of his toes. When he walked, he left long scratches on the floor. He had turned into a horrifying creature that was half human and half eagle. The moment Bohr sat on the long chair, the feathers on his body shrank, allowing him to then take back the form of a man.