"So, this is the result of the experiment? It went that smoothly?"
Mohg couldn't help but ask as he observed the deer stumbling about before him.
"Mhm. This is one of the successes, but there were far more failures," Namiya nodded, signaling her subordinates to bring out the failed cases for Mohg to see.
One look was enough to make Mohg's eyelids twitch, and he quickly gestured for her to take them away. Some failures were relatively "normal"—they simply lost their lives after transforming into something else, much like... Boc?
Others, however, had twisted into incomprehensible, eldritch abominations. They emitted bizarre sounds and looked more "Cthulhu" than Cthulhu itself. One might have mistaken Namiya for a mad scientist... well, the description wasn't entirely inaccurate.
"What factors determine the success rate?" Mohg asked, focusing on his primary concern.
"As far as we can tell, it might be linked to the shape of one's soul and their self-perception," Namiya replied, glancing at the deer that was gradually adapting to its new gait.
The bandit-turned-deer showed no human intelligence or behavioral standards; it acted entirely like a wild animal, even lowering its head to graze on nearby plants as if no one were watching.
Mohg's brow furrowed deeply. This was a troubling development. It was highly likely that this bandit had completely lost his original self, his soul overwritten by the "Deer" Larval Tear.
With this thought in mind, Mohg walked slowly to the deer's side.
The deer seemed to sense something. It stopped grazing and slowly raised its head to look up at him.
A flash of red light flickered in the next instant. Namiya only saw a crimson blade sweep through the air for a fraction of a second before dissolving back into blood in Mohg's hand.
The deer's head fell. For a moment, its body remained still, then the flesh began to ripple and churn like waves. Before long, it lost its shape and color, turning into a silver, metallic substance that exploded outward before quickly coalescing back into a Larval Tear on the ground.
The bandit, stripped of his disguise, reappeared in the clearing.
His eyes were glazed with confusion. He sat there in a daze for a long time before looking at his trembling hands, feeling as though he had just woken from a dream where he had lost everything.
"It even has a life-saving function..." Mohg noted, nodding. Namiya's eyes were filled with wonder; she clearly hadn't expected this property to exist.
Mohg suspected that only "successful" transformations possessed this ability. The failures likely lacked it, or they wouldn't have ended up as the lifeless corpses he had just seen.
"How do you influence their soul and cognition?" Mohg asked. In a sense, if this method of influencing the soul and mind could be weaponized, it would be a terrifying tool.
"This is the result of our years of soul-sculpting experiments. I know what you're thinking, but unfortunately, it cannot be used as a weapon. This method is generally used to shape and create unconscious souls."
Namiya continued, "This is our first time using it on subjects like these bandits. Previously, we only used it on inanimate matter, condensing spirit and soul to create life."
"So that's how the Dragonkin Soldiers were made?" Mohg interjected.
Namiya looked at him in disbelief. Dragonkin Soldiers were not a common sight on the surface of Nokstella; the only one out in the open was guarding a completely different path. How did this man know of their existence?
"Don't look at me like that. I've seen them before."
"I see." Namiya nodded, though her expression remained suspicious. Mohg didn't care whether she believed him or not.
"Correct. That is one of the techniques used to create Dragonkin Soldiers."
Mohg nodded and began to contemplate how he could use a Larval Tear to alter his own appearance. For some reason, his spiritual intuition gave him a strange feeling—that if he were to do it, the process would be effortless.
Still, he didn't want to act rashly. He closed his eyes and attempted to contact the Formless Mother.
"I need some space," Mohg said, opening his eyes to Namiya.
Sensing the spiritual aura rising from him, Namiya understood he was communicating with his deity. She nodded and left the room.
Once she was gone, Mohg presented his doubts to the Formless Mother, seeking an answer or a guarantee. Before long, the Formless Mother gave him a definitive, positive response. She also agreed to serve as the medium; he would only need to channel her power through the void when the time came.
With a Great Will backing him up, Mohg felt a surge of confidence. Having a powerful patron really was the best!
He moved like the wind, quickly catching up to Namiya. Seeing his swift return, Namiya became even more convinced that his relationship with the Formless Mother was extraordinary. To receive such a quick response—and one that seemingly resolved all risks—was unheard of.
Namiya led Mohg to a pool filled with silver liquid.
"This is where the ritual will take place. You seem confident, but I must warn you: anything involving the soul is never a small matter."
Mohg nodded at her serious warning, but he felt prepared. He had the Formless Mother's guarantee, and then there was the unique nature of his own soul...
Without hesitation, Mohg stepped into the silver pool under Namiya's guidance.
Following her lead, a Larval Tear floated above his head and slowly enveloped him. The silver liquid in the pool began to churn, leaping up to cover Mohg's body. Just as Namiya was about to perform the next step, she realized the ritual had already begun—entirely on its own!
She hadn't even done anything!
Namiya's expression flickered with unease; she hated the feeling of losing control.
Mohg, however, felt only a deep sense of comfort, as if he had returned to a mother's womb. This sensation didn't last long before his consciousness cleared, and he opened his eyes.
Splash!
At the sound of the water, Namiya immediately looked over.
A tall, naked man stood in the center of the pool, staring at his hands and body with curiosity. He possessed a powerful physique like a Greek statue, yet his skin was as fair and tender as a newborn's. Cascading from his head to his waist was a waterfall of vibrant red hair, framing a pair of blood-red eyes. His features even bore a slight resemblance to Godwyn, the Crown Prince of the Golden Dynasty.
Mohg slowly clenched his fists. Feeling his strength—which hadn't weakened and perhaps even felt bolstered—an excited grin spread across his face.
"I, Mohg, am human again!"
"Before you get too excited, I think you need to put on some clothes first."
Namiya looked Mohg up and down, a playful smile on her face as she tossed him a set of garments.
Mohg's voice caught in his throat as he realized he was currently "walking the bird." With a light cough, he caught the clothes, stepped out of the pool, and dressed himself. His height had decreased slightly, but now, it was just right.
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Elden Ring: As the Consort, I Reject Miquella (352 Chapters – Ongoing)
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