003. Caster Potential
Leo Duretto returned to his dilapidated house, casually tossing the goods he had snatched from the young men returning from the city onto the table, and immediately lay down lazily on the bed, leaning against the bare wall, squinting his eyes and enjoying a moment of rest.
"Tsk, these descendants of self-sufficient farmers with land and fields, bringing back West Sand Oranges and Snake Tongue Fruit— all these academy products to boost brainpower. Do they really think as long as they diligently work on their studies, they can get into the academy?"
Leo sneered, flipping through the stuff in his pockets, mocking these young people's delusions with his words, though he was inwardly quite bitter.
If it weren't for the early death of his parents, he wouldn't have to resort to robbing others' supplies. Who wouldn't want to escape from this impoverished Blue Chrysanthemum Village?
It's already the interstellar age. No young person can resist the allure of the universe and willingly stay in such rural backwaters. Those noble wizards often promote: get into a magic academy, get a diploma, serve in the fleet for two years, and you'll become a societal elite, earning a high salary of 400 silver quintets a month, and you can settle and buy a house in any city you like.
The villagers of Blue Chrysanthemum Village were very aware of such favorable benefits.
Their ancestors were laborers serving on this educational planet, and some had changed their fates through education. Most importantly, by studying, they had elevated their and their family's social status, transforming from a mere laborer earning 30 silver quintets a month to a combat mage or a bureaucratic monk.
Leo Duretto was filled with jealousy toward the young people of his hometown. His parents had died early, and the family's land had been sold cheaply to the government by his relatives. In a fit of anger, he broke ties with them and became independent.
Over the years, Leo couldn't be said to be entirely idle. He had a decent physique, being quite sturdy among his peers. However, his appearance was somewhat intimidating— with slanted triangular eyes, straw-like messy blond hair, and a burly frame, he resembled the barbarians recorded in ancient history.
With such looks, it was naturally hard for him to make a living. He got by through petty thefts and the occasional odd job.
Just as Leo was focusing on turning his side hustle into his main gig, his peers had already begun preparing for exams, having participated in the magic aptitude test more than three times.
Unlike the past when people demonized and fantasized about magic-side civilizations, thinking of them as a revival of monarchic rule, the truth was that magic-side civilizations were highly precise in their selection of talent. Due to the early development of magitech and magic workshop systems, the civilization of the Crystal Tower was a classic parliamentary system, always hungry for knowledge, from factories to the front lines, from pioneering teams to civil servant groups.
In fact, it was even more difficult for noble families to form in magic-side civilizations.
The fundamental reason is that caster potential tends to degenerate.
Unless you're a highly advanced magical being like a dragon or an elf, ordinary biological groups usually deplete their caster potential within two generations. The next occurrence might not be for another seven or eight generations.
The issue is, dragons and elves aren't interested in joining your unrecognized civilization. You might retain some of their descendants, but even then, the caster bloodline wouldn't change much.
On the other hand, since the number of natural-born casters is small, it means that in magic-side civilizations, casters formed through education make up a large proportion, often taking over the political stage and gaining a voice.
The best way to cultivate casters is through education— no exceptions.
Intelligence is the key to entering the magical world. Leo's peers had been burning the midnight oil, diligently studying under their parents' supervision since childhood. They weren't necessarily the lucky few born with innate caster potential, but by studying hard and improving their intelligence, they could surely comprehend the complex magical textbooks.
As descendants of laborers, they had long provided conveniences for the teaching staff and student groups on White Candle Star. Therefore, the Crystal Civilization had granted many benefits— any adult villager could take the "Magic Aptitude Test" at least five times. Once passed, they would no longer be farmers, gaining more choices as a "Magic Apprentice."
The younger ones could go to school, furthering their studies at the magic academy. Upon graduation, they would become official mages, earning a high income and status.
The older ones could work in a magic workshop. Ten years later, they could also qualify as official mages, though they'd still need to pass some continuing education exams to improve their academic level.
The exam content wasn't complicated. The books had long been provided, but the fundamental issue was— if one's intelligence wasn't up to par, they wouldn't even be qualified to understand the content between the lines.
Being a mage isn't a low-barrier profession. If you can't even interpret the introductory textbooks, you can basically say goodbye to the path of a caster.
If you grind long enough, you might eventually memorize everything, but given Leo's financial situation, he seriously doubted if he had that kind of future.
The local boys and girls had mostly taken the test three times, and each time their scores improved. Some, under pressure from their families, had already gotten married. Even after settling down, they continued studying and taking the test. Even if they ultimately failed, at least they had a fallback.
Leo was jealous of them, but he also understood that there was nothing he could do about it.
He was especially envious of the black-haired Luther Klin. In Leo's eyes, that guy was a total winner in life— parents alive, decent looks, a sister, a house, and a fiancée. Even though his family had fallen on hard times, they were still better off. Every time people praised his test scores, Luther would arrogantly reply, "I didn't do that well."
Damn, what's he pretending for?
Leo lay down with his arms behind his head, feeling utterly dejected. He couldn't see any future for himself. Maybe the only thing he could do in this life was grow old and die alone.
Just as Leo was feeling hopeless, a sudden knock came at the door.
Knock, knock, knock!
"Who is it? Speak up!"
Leo grumbled in annoyance.
Knock, knock, knock!
But the person outside remained silent, persistently knocking.
"What's going on? Who would bother coming to visit me?"
Leo muttered, walking to the door and opening it, only to see blue moonlight shining on the steps, casting a faint glow. He looked around, but aside from the night-dancing elemental butterflies, the air was silent.
"What the hell? Someone's messing with me."
Leo was baffled. He turned to go back inside but found that, for some reason, the door had locked itself.
"Hey! What's going on? I didn't lock the door just now."
He quickly checked his pockets, his face changing— damn, he hadn't brought his keys.
Great, now he had no choice but to break a window to get back in.
Leo, with a dark expression, picked up a rock and was just about to smash the window when he heard rustling in the bushes, mixed with faint laughter.
His heart skipped a beat, and he immediately thought of something.
"Looks like someone's playing tricks on me— it must be that Luther kid. He was pissed at me today and wanted a fight. The knocking and door-locking, it's all him."
Leo thought to himself and quickly stepped into the bushes, pushing through the grass. In the moonlight, he saw fresh footprints on the ground.
"Knew it."
The footprints stretched onward, and Leo followed the trail. He didn't want to break the glass for nothing, so once he caught Luther, he'd make him pay for the window.
After walking a few miles, Leo started to feel uneasy— could Luther really run this far?
As suspicion crept in, he suddenly heard a man's low voice calling out ahead, followed by the swift trembling of leaves.
"Oh! The kid must have help, looks like they noticed me!"
Leo didn't suspect anything, quickening his pace and charging ahead. Although he knew he was getting farther from the village, Leo wasn't worried— this was White Candle Star, there were no bandits or thieves here, and even with some ferocious beasts, he'd be able to escape easily with his skills.
He kept tracking, and it was clear Luther was getting tired. Every so often, he could hear panting and low voices from the forest. Leo couldn't make out the words, but the tone and heavy breathing were unmistakable.
"Hahaha, can't run anymore, huh, you little brat?"
Leo quickened his pace, diving into a human-height thicket. He swiftly pushed aside the grass, only to see a pitch-black long blade swinging down toward his neck!
Shing!
Leo reacted quickly, instinctively halting and rolling backward to dodge the slash. A chill ran through him as the blade grazed his shoulder, slicing through the air. It reminded him of the village enforcer Coren— a man who could casually flick his fingers and create air blades finer than hair, sharp enough to tear through steel.
"Father of Crystals!"
Leo prayed as he scrambled to his feet, grabbing a rock and hurling it at the assassin. His strength was no joke— the assassin barely tilted his head, and the thrown rock blasted into the mountainside behind him like a cannonball, leaving a deep crater in the cliff and cracking it with tiny snake-like fissures.
"Not bad. Your strength has reached Gamma-tier, but your brain hasn't caught up yet... though you're a bit smarter than I expected, just some basic tricks fooled you. Probably not fully developed yet."
The assassin glanced at the cracks in the cliff, casually commenting in a strange language.
"You... who are you?!"
Leo, still trembling with fear, had lost all his usual arrogance. Faced with this sudden knife-wielding assailant, he didn't dare flee. He gripped another rock in his hand, nervously watching the other man.
That guy had run all the way here, clearly having more stamina and speed than Leo. Running was out of the question. Instead, Leo decided to buy time, trying to stabilize the situation and see if there was room for negotiation.
He calmed down, forcing a grin that looked more like a grimace than a smile.
"Let's talk this out, okay? You can understand me, right, big brother?"
The assassin didn't respond. Instead, he slowly stepped out of the trees. The clear, ethereal moonlight bathed his face, freezing Leo in place. In that moment, even the moon seemed dull compared to the man before him.
"Such a beautiful... man?"
Leo was incredulous. It was the first time he'd seen such a strikingly attractive man, someone who instantly evoked goodwill. From head to toe, this man exuded excellence. His jet-black hair casually draped over his shoulders, and his gray eyes sparkled like crystal, full of a dreamlike quality. Every contour of his face and his smooth skin seemed like the handiwork of a creator— any alteration would ruin the effect.
Perfect— the word immediately popped into Leo's mind.
Describing the person before him as perfect didn't seem sufficient. With Leo's limited vocabulary, he couldn't think of a word more fitting.
Leo was dazed for a moment, but the beautiful man before him suddenly launched a swift attack, mercilessly driving his sword through Leo's throat.
"Urgh—"
As Leo's consciousness began to fade, he vaguely felt himself being dragged by the ankles, quickly pulled into some part of the forest. Soon after, the assassin beauty rummaged through the forest, digging out a massive silver pool from a pile of leaves and wood?
Plop!
Leo's body was tossed into the pool, and his awareness rapidly faded away. Ultimately, it disappeared, though his body remained alive, with various concoctions maintaining his wounds and sustaining his life.
"Quite tough to deal with. I stabbed him once and didn't even kill him. His physique is really strong!"
Li Aozi let out a breath, gazing at the motionless male body sinking at the bottom of the biochemical pool, nodding in satisfaction.
No matter what, he had finally obtained the body. It had taken him a whole week. Soon, he'd have to move the biochemical pool near the ruins— leaving it here was too risky.
"Now, the critical moment begins."
Li Aozi raised his hand, and a neural tentacle shot from his palm, piercing the neck of the blond bully. His cells rapidly divided, invading the blond man's body.
[New unconscious body detected. You may choose to infect this body with your cells, transforming it into your colony or using it as your original body.]
[Cell invasion complete]
[Contamination in progress...]
Division, devouring, fusion, assimilation, and replacement completed.
The entire process was second nature to Li Aozi. Soon after, his eyes flickered with red and black light.
[Chromosome alteration complete. Genetic modification finished.]
[This target has been contaminated. You may select one of the following methods as the final treatment:]
A — Possess the body: Retain the target's talents, and it will exist only as your backup body. However, when you switch to this body, you will not inherit any extraordinary traits except your main body's primary attributes. (Conditions met)
B — Modify into a biological weapon: Transform the target into a bio-weapon, which you can wear to maximize its combat potential, though the colony will need regular maintenance and upkeep. (Conditions met)
C — Incorporate into a retinue: After genetically modifying the body, implant part of your mind cells into it, making it part of your retinue. However, its offspring may inherit one of your Omega Energy and talents (Conditions unmet: [Intelligence] below 80)
"Hmm, what a shame. Option C would have been the most fun, but I don't meet the intelligence threshold. This is a hard requirement; no talent can save that."
Li Aozi recalled that the retinue option was most suited for players of the [Domination] class, especially those from insectoid races. They could easily spawn hundreds of offspring, which rivaled the productivity of [Biomancers]— though these offspring generally weren't very bright and could easily blow their cover.
Li Aozi had intended to choose A from the start, with little hesitation, and selected "Possess the body."
The body trembled slightly, and a familiar out-of-body experience followed. His consciousness slowly ascended from his colony body. After adjusting to the state of his mental form, Li Aozi gradually floated toward the blond bully's body.
[Transferring consciousness...]
[Significant genetic differences detected. Error correction in progress]
[Neural link unresponsive]
[Re-initiating...]
[Transfer complete]
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[Name]: Leo Duretto
[Race]: Tanas Human (Magic-eligible: Caster)
[Gender]: Male
[Age]: 22
[Tier]: Gamma-tier