Chapter 205: Element Manipulation
[The changes in the host's body have been meticulously analyzed, and the data is being processed...]
As Desmond gradually opened his eyes, he was greeted by a peculiar notification, flashing before him like a beacon of curiosity. "Wait... how come the absorption process coincided with this notification?" A tinge of bewilderment seeped into his thoughts, fueling his quest for understanding.
Deep in contemplation, Desmond shifted his gaze toward another translucent screen, its luminosity captivating. "Ah, it appears to be much swifter than before," he observed with a mix of relief and satisfaction. Unlike previous instances, the percentage climbed with an accelerated pace, filling him with a sense of hope.
"And now, the crux of the matter lies in this absorption process..." Muttering to himself, he rose from his seat, gently placing the internal organs he had carried in his pockets onto the floor. They rested there, an assortment of vital fragments awaiting his attention.
Activating the filter, Desmond navigated through the maze of his notification history, his eyes scouring the details with practiced precision. A long line of entries passed before his gaze, until finally, he squinted, zeroing in on what he sought. "Aha!
So, the analysis process had reached its completion earlier, while my consciousness slumbered, only to be roused by the absorb notification in the end."
A sudden twitch of his nose interrupted his train of thought, a pungent odor assaulting his senses. "Goodness, what a repugnant stench!" His brows furrowed in disgust, his face contorting in an amalgamation of grimace and desire to shield his nose. However, the realization dawned upon him that his hands were drenched in the same putrid scent, tainted with a crimson hue.
Unconsciously, his gaze fixated on the internal organs strewn across the floor. With a mixture of disdain and concern etched on his face, he observed some of them spewing forth streams of inky black blood, while others twitched as if they retained a sliver of life.
"Ugh, I never anticipated them lingering in my pockets throughout the protracted absorption process." Desmond's voice dripped with distaste, his forehead creasing as he pointed at the unsightly display with one hand.
Drawing upon the ambient energy enveloping him, a surge of natural forces converged in the palm of his hand. An idea sparked within his mind. "Why must I rely solely on my hand to activate a spell?" Realizing the possibility, he swiftly retracted his hand, causing the gathered energy to burst and disperse like ethereal bubbles, blending seamlessly into the surrounding air.
With the newfound idea taking hold, Desmond refrained from stretching his arms as he usually would when activating a spell. Instead, he opted to gather the energy without a specific target or purpose in mind, merely allowing it to envelop his being.
"Oh my god..." His astonished whisper escaped his lips as the natural energies swirled around him, akin to long-lost siblings finding their way back home after a prolonged separation. The sight left him dumbfounded, his eyes narrowing in disbelief.
The ethereal energies, accompanied by the moon's gentle illumination seeping through the window, draped Desmond's body, bestowing upon him an aura of divine radiance, akin to that of an angel.
Maintaining his composure, Desmond carefully assessed the situation. Gradually, the amassed natural energies dissipated once more, only to converge upon the internal organs strewn across the floor.
"Hmm, I seem to be gaining some control over it, bit by bit." Though the book he had been reading mentioned that those who were not yet accomplished Wizards or Witches would struggle to manifest objects with intricate detail through manipulation, Desmond found himself defying the norm.
"That's not entirely accurate," he mused. In his view, each individual possessed a unique level of imagination. However, it appeared that denizens of this world faced difficulties in conceiving things that were deemed impossible or implausible.
"But how is it that Diana and the others possess such remarkable imaginations?" Desmond pondered aloud. If his own imagination flowed with ease due to his exposure to a world filled with entertainment and his passion for reading novels, what about the others?
Desmond contemplated, realizing that children seemed to possess a more vivid and unrestricted imagination than adults. Additionally, he acknowledged that he couldn't pass judgment on every individual solely based on the information contained within a centuries-old book.
While lost in thought, Desmond's hands remained in motion. He directed the energy to take shape, forming a hand-like object before eventually returning to envelop the scattered internal organs on the floor.
*Crackle* *Crackle*
As the internal organs were securely wrapped, the surrounding energies underwent a sudden transformation, shifting in color and emitting a searing heat accompanied by the scent of burning flesh.
In the midst of the organ cluster, a fire ignited, consuming all remnants of decay. Surprisingly, the flames did not scorch the floor's surface, as if possessing a consciousness that ultimately waned until the organs were reduced to ashes.
"The source of the putrefaction has been resolved. All that remains is the lingering odor," Desmond remarked as his gaze swept the room. Once again, he activated his spell, but this time, a miniature hurricane formed from the center of the ashes. The swirling vortex carried away the ashes along with their unpleasant scent, whisking them out through the small window of the horse carriage.
*Inhale*
Drawing in another breath of air within the room, Desmond discovered that all traces of the foul odor had vanished, replaced by a delightful blend of feminine perfume and the intoxicating aroma of aged books.
"Excellent, now for the final task—examining the details," Desmond declared as he settled onto the sofa, his eyes fixated on the information displayed on a hovering translucent screen before him.
[System Conclusion: The system has detected that foreign energy infiltrated the host's body, creating perforations in the bones, flesh, and joints. Consequently, the absorbed energy, instead of directly entering the vessel, now fills the gaps caused by these holes, resulting in a reduced amount of energy reaching the vessel.
Based on the analysis, the system has identified that the absorbed energy, in addition to coexisting with the energy already within the host's body, possesses a purity resembling the unique energy of humans. Furthermore, this peculiar energy appears to have a direct connection to the host's energy vessel.
Therefore, the conclusion drawn is that the more energy the host possesses, the more holes will likely form in the future. Due to insufficient information about this enigmatic energy entity, the system cannot determine whether having more holes is beneficial or detrimental.
Moreover, the system has successfully assessed potential similar cases that may arise in the future if the host's energy continues to increase. If the host's energy surpasses 40.00, the absorption process will undergo the following conversion:
Every 1.00 unit of energy = 0.10 Energy -> 0.010
Every 1.00 unit of stats = 0.010 Stats -> 0.0010]
"Okay, that's enough for now." Desmond's eyes perused the lengthy and intricately explained information, his mind needing to digest it with care. He found himself reading it repeatedly, afraid to miss any crucial details, until finally, he arrived at a conclusion. "So, in essence, the stronger I become, the less energy I can absorb." His voice dripped with displeasure, his expression growing somber.
Massaging his forehead, Desmond cast a weary gaze back at the exhaustive data displayed by the system. "Tch," he clicked his tongue and grumbled, "As long as it still absorbs energy, I suppose I'll have to make do."
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