Chapter 2, Human Modulation
The Divine-empowered Warrior has developed from the foundation of the Holy Knight. Due to advancements in alchemy, the varieties of Divine-empowered Warriors far exceed those of the Holy Knights
For Lieutenant Heller, that night was yet another sleepless one, as he repeatedly ran through permutations and combinations in his mind, imagining the various situations he might encounter in the occupied territory in the future
As he turned his head, Lieutenant Hel stared intently at the intricate patterns on the right wall. In a daze, the blue liquid seemed to transform into blood—magical blood—while those complex geometric shapes undoubtedly resembled blood vessels
In the category of summoning magic, there is "Low-Level Animal Control"; in the category of energy magic, there are "Element Manipulation" and "Telekinesis"; in the category of illusion magic, there is "Hypnosis"
This is merely the initial transformation; subsequently, each Paladin will reveal their unique characteristics, and further modifications can be made based on these characteristics
Perhaps it was because he had not closed his eyes for two days, or perhaps the blue light contained a hypnotic power. Unbeknownst to him, Lieutenant Hel fell into a deep sleep, sleeping soundly and peacefully
As an appetizer, the salad did not particularly interest Hel. He preferred the briny flavor of tuna, which comes from the vast and boundless deep sea, but the dish before him was clearly unsatisfactory.
Upon hearing these words, Hel immediately felt immensely grateful. He understood well that sometimes a small act of assistance can change many things, even impacting a lifetime
Hale did not impatiently press for answers; he knew that his old friend would provide him with a clear response
Upon entering the camp, Lieutenant Heller was puzzled to find that there were actually two commanders present. One was the commander of the guard regiment responsible for the protection of this area; the other was a short-statured old man, whose age was nearly impossible to discern. The old man appeared exceptionally stern, with a face as cold as ice.
Since the reality is such, Heller naturally chose to leak confidential information in exchange for assistance that would be beneficial to him, and the only person who could truly help him was Hardings
Thank God, you have finally awakened. The others have been training for a week, and you have just now come to. " A sixteen or seventeen-year-old apprentice dressed in a gray robe walked in from outside and said.
The earliest divine warriors were the renowned Knights Templar. The Knights Templar were selected from among the knights as elites, and their physical constitution was transformed through special alchemy, with the aim of granting them extraordinary potential for growth
The Long Ligen Liquid is a potion that provides magical power for us wizards, and it is also the 'fuel' required for most magical rituals to function
Perhaps it was due to the good business that the dishes were served very slowly, but fortunately, the three of them were not in a hurry to dine.
As he spoke, the magician tilted the flask, and the crystalline blue liquid slowly filled the intricate geometric shapes. Instantly, a misty blue light rose from these shapes, as if igniting a dazzling blue flame.
"Am I really that important? I have always thought of myself as a dispensable little person," the lieutenant said with a smile, his expression imbued with an indescribable quality, a mix of self-mockery and a hint of cynicism.
Lieutenant Heller stole a glance, and the other two individuals who were equally aware of the situation seemed to have no connection with these magicians. For some reason, this suddenly made him feel at ease
Hale nodded; at this moment, he had no interest in what to eat
The Divine Gift Warriors have thousands of branches, among which the branches derived from the Scout are undoubtedly the most numerous. Last night, Master Mareen not only provided him with considerable advice but also introduced him to some of the more renowned branches corresponding to the Scout.
The old man seems to be indifferent to the matters at hand; the one truly in charge is Master Mareen, who met with him last night. The Master acted as if he did not recognize Lieutenant Hel at all, and no one would suspect that the two had already been in contact privately
However, the magician was unaware that the lieutenant had another layer of consideration.
Warriors have the most adjustments to make, and the magical power limit that most individuals can bear is just sufficient to complete all the adjustments
Generally speaking, within two years after undergoing transformation, a holy knight's strength will rapidly increase by two to three times, with the enhancement of explosive power being even more formidable, potentially reaching up to seven times. In addition, there will be remarkable growth in endurance, balance, and damage resistance.
He already knew yesterday that the so-called confidentiality measures were merely a way to keep those who should know the truth in the dark; in fact, the rumors outside had long spread to the ears of those who were not involved in the matter.
The lamb chops here are excellent; the flavor of the goats that graze in the mountains cannot be compared to that of those raised in pens," Hastings remarked in admiration.
Among all the adjustment projects, those related to muscle and strength are relatively complicated, while adjustments related to perception are much easier, requiring only the stimulation of the corresponding nerves
The fat worm ultimately did not reveal to everyone what the special ability of that gift truly was
Taking a light sip of champagne, Master Mareen said: "The current system of magic is largely built upon the foundation of alchemy. Divine warriors are essentially created using special methods, utilizing the human body as material to forge powerful warriors or those with special abilities.
Among all combinations, only "lower animal control" can simultaneously control a group of animals, which signifies the accumulation of power
Just as the lieutenant was busy "exploring" the mysteries of magic, Master Mareen suddenly approached, bent down, and asked him.
When the lieutenant woke up once again, the tent was silent. He carefully sat up, and there was no one around. The mixing tank beside him was completely empty, and only two flasks remained on the long table that was originally set in the center. The space under the table was piled high with empty flasks.
The most suitable place for entertaining guests is undoubtedly the high-ranking officers' restaurant. Hastings brought in a middle-aged man in his forties, dressed in a deep blue pullover robe and sporting a curly beard.
The distinction of ranks among the Holy Knights is quite intriguing. Those who have been promoted fewer than five times are referred to as Light Knights, while those promoted more than five times but fewer than ten are called Radiant Knights. Those who have been promoted more than ten times each possess their own unique titles, yet individuals who achieve such accomplishments are exceedingly rare
This is quite normal, as you are the only one who has requested "mental shaping." The process of "mental shaping" requires secondary adjustments, so it is entirely reasonable for you to be a bit later than others. In fact, your training will also differ somewhat from that of others, and you will need to spend more time familiarizing yourself with the new abilities. " The apprentice casually handed over a brand new set of clothes and said.
Through Hardings' introduction, Hel became acquainted with Master Marein. Like all wizards, Master Marein was not affiliated with the military and therefore held no military rank. However, at least Hel did not believe that he could stand on equal footing with this master
I believe that many of you in the group of Dahe - Tu - Shu will choose the warrior, as the warrior's abilities are the most balanced, making it effective in various situations. In the event of exposure, the warrior's skills are also easily applicable during an escape.
Seeing the lieutenant wanting to ask a question, the master waved his hand. He knew what the lieutenant wanted to inquire about and immediately explained: "'Mental Shaping' is also a form of alchemy applied to the human body. This technique was originally invented to mass-produce magicians, but due to the significant limitations and low efficiency of 'Mental Shaping', it was ultimately abandoned.
Obeying orders is the duty of a soldier, so Lieutenant Hel did not hesitate in the slightest and immediately acted according to the instructions of the old wizard
As predicted by the Hergé conjecture, upon hearing this matter, Hardings immediately and unhesitatingly exclaimed: "Divinely endowed warriors, they must be divinely endowed warriors!"
After reviewing the menu, Hel casually handed it to Hardings and said, "You are most familiar with this place, and you know my tastes well, so why don't you help me order?"
The lieutenant took the clothes, which were not the military uniform he had worn for several years, but rather a set of loose casual attire
The greatest advantage of this combination is safety, allowing controlled animals to act as informants while one hides in the background. Among all the options, this is the combination that best enables one to stay away from danger
He had no way of knowing that the blue light was pulsating in rhythm with his heartbeat as he slept, and the luminous mist enveloping his entire body seemed to possess a life of its own
Amidst these intricate and marvelous patterns composed of mysterious characters, various crystals of different sizes, cut into specific shapes, are interspersed. The lieutenant leaned closer to one of the crystals to examine it carefully, and within that crystal, a complex and enigmatic pattern faintly emerged.
The restaurant's layout is quite unique, featuring three long tables in the center. One side has a bar, while the other side is dominated by a long fireplace that occupies an entire wall
This object, referred to as a modulation slot, intrigued the lieutenant greatly. Like all things related to magic, the modulation slot was filled with characters and symbols that he could not comprehend at all
As he spoke, he opened the car door and got onto the carriage
That fat worm rambled on for quite a while before finally informing everyone about the matter concerning the divine gifted warriors. However, even so, this fellow still refused to straightforwardly clarify everything. Not only did he conceal certain aspects, but he also mixed in quite a few lies. Lieutenant Hel had no way of knowing whether this was characteristic of the Yafa intelligence agency's style.
The intelligence officer responsible for this infiltration operation at the Military Intelligence Department is even more detestable than Beher had imagined; this individual consistently maintains an air of superiority.
What Lieutenant did not expect was that the camp was not large; it was merely a simple earthen fort. Surrounding it was a wall three meters high and one meter thick, with a row of square openings carved into it, each one a dark cannon mouth facing outward. A group of soldiers was patrolling back and forth on the wall.
The middle-aged wizard confidently stated: "However, if I were to choose, I would opt for the scout, sacrificing combat abilities, and during muscle adjustments, focus on jumping and climbing, saving enough adjustment opportunities for a single 'mental shaping' session."
The options for archers are much more flexible; in addition to making standard adjustments, they can also make some auxiliary adjustments, such as for extreme long-range vision or low-light vision. The adjustments for scouts are the most economical, and since scouts primarily adjust their perception, they can also choose one additional special adjustment
With a crisp crack of the whip, the carriage drove toward the entrance of the camp
They instructed me to inform you that from now on, you are no longer a soldier. You must forget everything related to the military. There is a carriage waiting for you outside
Lieutenant Heller said nothing, merely nodding his head
Even as he gathered at the military intelligence office, the lieutenant's mind was still racing with calculations
He is quite satisfied with that lamb chop. The preparation of all the meats in this restaurant indeed appears very simple, with the marinade being exceptionally basic, consisting of nothing but pepper and salt. The sauces are not very complicated, with a total of five or six options. Interestingly, during the grilling process, the chef selects different spices based on the sauces and ingredients they ordered.
Warriors require the most adjustments, including strength, explosiveness, endurance, reaction ability, and overall physical coordination. Archers need to adjust their arm strength, vision, reaction ability, and hand-eye coordination. Scouts require the least adjustments, needing only endurance and various sensory abilities to be enhanced
Firstly, for mental shaping to be successful, the practitioner must possess a high level of perception, which limits the ability to perform mental shaping to only scouts and certain archers
Inside the tent, it seemed like another world. The most striking feature was the two rows of neatly arranged coffins on either side. The exterior of the coffins was very rough, constructed from thick wooden planks, and they emitted a faint, hazy multicolored glow, appearing both eerie and mysterious
Thank you for your hospitality Master Mareen said while moving his knife and fork I will provide you with an explanation in return Although there are thousands of types of divine warriors, there are fundamentally only three main branches: warriors, archers, and scouts
Upon exiting the tent, the first thing he saw was a carriage parked in front of the tent, a completely black carriage, with even the windows tightly sealed. The carriage was driven by a burly man whose face was obscured by hair, making it impossible to discern his features.
After the fat worm finished its rambling, under the guidance of the young magician, everyone walked towards the back of the town, where a small path led directly to the back mountain. On both sides of the path were dense thickets, and the elevated roadbed, combined with the thick tree canopy, concealed the path completely.
The camp of the wizards is just on the other side of the ridge, accessible by crossing a steep cliff face.
Until the dawn of the following day, the lieutenant remained indecisive between "low-level animal control," "telekinesis," and "hypnosis"
The path in the mountains is neither smooth nor straight, but rather winding and rugged. The path is not long, and the ground is covered with a thin layer of moss, making it appear quite slippery, so everyone is walking very slowly
"Get on the carriage, you have kept everyone waiting for too long," the burly man shouted at the lieutenant as he drove the horse-drawn cart closer.
The master spent nearly half an hour explaining each type of low-level magic to Lieutenant Hel, who felt troubled while listening. As the master had said, each of these spells was very useful, yet there was only one choice to be made.
What is your suggestion? the lieutenant asked, having already discerned from the master's tone that he had a perfect answer in mind.
The scouts who possess "Low-level Animal Control" advance to become "Jungle Lords," those with "Telekinetic Movement" advance to become "Mindblade Assassins," and those skilled in "Hypnosis" advance to become "Mental Thieves"; all of them are strange yet powerful entities
How have you considered it?
Haddings was evidently quite familiar with the place; he quickly arranged everything with the *map* book. For the aperitif, he ordered a bottle of twelve-year-old champagne from Augsburg. For the first course, he personally ordered pan-seared foie gras, helped Hel order a tuna salad, and the other person ordered a serving of beef tartare.
"What is this?" Lieutenant asked immediately upon seeing Master Mareen holding a flask filled with blue liquid.
Since the retreat from the front lines, Hull has not experienced such enjoyment for a long time; at this moment, the aroma of the barbecue begins to stimulate his taste buds
The lamb is quite good, but Hel does not feel that it is any different from the meat of farmed sheep. In terms of culinary skills, he is not someone who is adept at discerning flavors.
In alchemy, there is a limit to the amount of magical power that any material can bear, and the human body is no exception. Generally speaking, the limit of magical power that an ordinary person can bear ranges from 15,000 to 20,000 mana
This rotund fellow spoke incessantly, resembling both a reprimand and a speech.
However, if we remove phrases such as "His Majesty the Emperor's expectations," "the glory of Yafa," and "the honor of soldiers," there is hardly anything of real value in his words. Hastings informed him that his intelligence encompassed most of the content.
I have always wanted to raise a few obedient purebred hunting dogs, but I am always worried about the difficulty of training them well. The lieutenant smiled and said this to avoid arousing suspicion among others; the fewer people who know about this secret under the surface, the better.
Hale shrugged his shoulders; this was nothing significant to him. The military affairs office was quite lucrative, and just before leaving there, he had made a tidy sum. At this moment, his pockets were rather full
This peculiar fireplace also serves as a barbecue grill, with steaks, lamb chops, pork knuckles, and sausages resting on the iron rack above the charcoal. The enticing meats, oozing with fat, drip onto the coals, producing a sizzling sound, while the rich aroma of barbecue wafts throughout the restaurant
Each person was immersed in a lime pool for five minutes, and then entered the tent through the shower room, wet and completely naked
The lieutenant stole a glance; apart from him, there were two others who also appeared indifferent, clearly indicating that they had already learned about this matter from different sources.
In the center of the tent, there are two long tables, which are filled with various tools and vessels of unknown purpose. Among them, the most numerous and conspicuous are the flasks of various sizes, all sealed and filled with a liquid that emits a shimmering blue light
To my knowledge, there are no fewer than three hundred types of divine warriors with complete and clear documentation. As for those with incomplete records but possessing special abilities, they are countless.
Perhaps due to the large number of guests, the appetizers and main courses were served in quick succession, which left Hel slightly dissatisfied. However, he noticed that the other two appeared completely unconcerned, clearly accustomed to this situation.
If the adjustment is successful, you will still find it useful in the future. However, you do not need to use too much of the Dragon Essence; the 'Low-Level Animal Control' is a very mana-efficient spell. This one bottle is sufficient for you to establish a troop composed of animals Master Mareen said, shaking the flask in his hand
Furthermore, even if successful, the recipient of the spell can only utilize one type of magic, and it is limited to low-level magic, of which there are very few truly useful spells.
The only thing Hastings did not mention is that, for this infiltration operation, the military intelligence agency intends to equip each infiltrator with special abilities
Seeing this group of practitioners standing naked and dazed to one side, a wizard who appeared to be over sixty years old, with gray hair and beard, wearing a pair of small round glasses, approached and said: "Don't just stand there foolishly; write your army number on the side of the tank, then go find it and lie down in it"
A week? The lieutenant muttered to himself in confusion, "Why did I wake up so late?"
The young wizard who guided them did not enter the tent deeply. To the lieutenant's surprise, there was actually a small room partitioned inside, which could accommodate twenty people. Half of it was occupied by a lime pool, while the other half served as a shower room
Haddings furrowed his brow and thought for a while before saying: "I will introduce you to someone, but you must treat us to dinner"
Having learned the specific circumstances from a friend long ago, and after coming to a clear understanding of everything last night, Heller appeared to be the most composed and even seemingly indifferent person among those present, while everyone else displayed the same shock as he had last night
Upon exiting the conference room, Hel regarded every word spoken by that fat worm as mere nonsense. According to regulations, the content of the meeting is strictly confidential, and any leaker would be sent to a military court; however, Hel did not take it seriously at all
This arrogant, all-conquering fat worm always speaks of this in a tone that seems almost like a bestowal, making everyone, including Hel, feel extremely uncomfortable.
According to the information I have received, holy knights generally undergo five to seven transformations, which they refer to as promotions
After fully regaining consciousness, Lieutenant Huer examined his body from top to bottom. His muscles, which had originally been quite firm and bulging like hard rocks, had not become more developed or stronger after the adjustment. Instead, they had turned into a soft, elastic form, and his once broad shoulders appeared much slimmer.
In the conference room, besides the annoying fat insect, there was a young man dressed as a magician. Unlike Master Mareen, he wore a long gray-black robe, which suggested that his rank was certainly not high
While speaking, a nearby attendant approached with a tray.
These mysterious symbols form peculiar geometric shapes, which are layered and nested within one another, appearing exceptionally complex
The lieutenant quickly realized that he had lost his original strength, but in exchange, he had gained a body that was flexible and agile, perhaps even with enduring stamina
Master Maren fully understood the implications of Lieutenant Hel's words. The combination of scouts and "low-level animal control" was indeed a very suitable pairing, and he could even guess the reasons behind Lieutenant Hel's choice.
These spells can work well in conjunction with scout abilities; as for which one to choose, that is up to you to decide
Haddings has already informed Master Maren about Hel's situation, so after clinking glasses once, Master Maren directly said: "I am already aware of your situation; this matter will be my responsibility, and assisting you is merely a small effort on my part"
Among them, the most commonly used are the prophetic types "Life Detection" and "Magic Alarm". There is also a "Magic Reading" in this category, but it is only useful for wizards
In a corner of the camp, a makeshift tent has been erected. The tent is quite large, resembling a field hospital. The rectangular tent is supported at both ends by wooden stakes as thick as a bowl's rim, and six pillars stand in the middle. The entire tent is tightly covered, with a level of sealing that even exceeds that of a field hospital.