85: Chapter 85 Morpheus's Transformation

By evening, Morpheus began reading the second chapter: On how to utilize Abyssal True Names to force a contract.

After finishing the second chapter, he discovered a subtle change in his way of thinking.

Previously, when thinking about magic, he would follow the standard mage procedure: analyze the source and composition of mana, confirm the rune sequence, and finally conduct simulations under safety protocols.

But now, as he deduced a complex Abyssal formation in his mind, a thought foreign to his own habits suddenly emerged:

"Why bother with protection? Why not just inject mana directly? Why be so cowardly!"

He was startled by this thought, but he didn't close the book, choosing instead to flip to the next chapter to continue reading.

Subsequent chapters discussed soul transformation and sublimation.

The book detailed how a mortal body could transcend the limits of life through Abyssal magic, achieving a qualitative metamorphosis while retaining self-awareness.

The text in this chapter was more beautiful and seductive than the others.

The end of the chapter described:

"Now, you stand upon the corpse of a god, the divinity burning within you, scorching your soul into immense vigor.

This is the final step.

Forget the pet name your mother called you.

Forget the dreams and attachments of all your friends.

Forget the curses of your first enemy before they died.

Forget the name you gave yourself, the one you once thought would shake the world.

This memory is the final chain binding you to the mortal realm.

Smash it, and then sacrifice this 'self' that broke the shackles.

When you forget even your 'self', you are no longer a mundane object; you shall become eternal."

It wasn't until reading it for the third time that he realized he had memorized the entire passage in his heart.

By the fourth time, those words were automatically cycling in his mind.

Like an inescapable melody, every syllable echoed in some extremely deep place.

Morpheus closed the book and shut his eyes.

Something inside his body was slowly adjusting in an incredibly comfortable way, like lying under warm sunshine, full of warmth and peace.

Over the next few days, he began reading Chapter 5, regarding blood sacrifice and the inheritance of power.

This chapter detailed how to seize the life essence of other creatures through blood sacrifice, converting it into a permanent increase in his own mana capacity.

He didn't eat for a whole day while reading this.

His body seemed to no longer need the calories from food to function.

After closing the book, he looked down at his hands, feeling neither hunger nor fatigue.

Previously, when pulling all-nighters in the magic tower, he would be dizzy after two days without sleep, but now he only felt clear-headed—unprecedentedly clear.

He could even hear the sailors talking at the bow through the wooden walls of the cabin, every word crystal clear.

He could also hear the sounds of Richard and Lia sparring on the deck.

He could smell the fish soup cooking in the kitchen, but it wasn't a fragrant aroma; it was a foul, fishy stench.

That stench had never bothered him before, but now it made his stomach churn with an instinctive repulsion.

He didn't want to eat fish; what he wanted to eat was not fish.

And he still hadn't told anyone about his changes.

One evening, five days later, Jinbao and Selina came to knock on his door again.

Selina kicked the door with her foot, carrying a sumptuous dinner in her hands.

Jinbao followed behind, a biscuit in his mouth, his goggles pushed up to his forehead, holding a plate of cookies he had just baked.

"Morpheus! If you don't come out to eat, I'm going to eat your portion!"

Jinbao knocked hard on the door, his knuckles tapping out a cheerful rhythm on the wood.

There was no response from inside.

Jinbao knocked a few more times, his smile fading slightly.

He pressed his ear to the door for a moment, then lowered his voice to say to Selina:

"He's muttering some weird stuff. It's not Common, and it's not Elvish... It sounds like he's reciting something..."

His brow furrowed, and the worry in his tone began to outweigh his dissatisfaction.

"How many times has he come out these past few days? Seems like not even once? I did see him get water from the kitchen once."

"But he hasn't eaten anything. How can he last so long just drinking water?"

"Captain Richard came to look for him too, but this guy still didn't open the door."

Selina placed the tray on the floor, bent down, and spoke to the gap in the door:

"Morpheus, if you're still alive, give me a sign. If you push me too far, I'm going to kick this door open!"

Morpheus's voice came from behind the door, his tone a bit deeper than usual:

"Selina, Jinbao... I'm fine, just tired."

"I've been too absorbed in my research these past few days. Give me a little more time alone."

"Just leave the food at the door; I'll get it later."

Selina and Jinbao exchanged a look at the door.

Jinbao opened his mouth to say something, but in the end, he just took a deep breath and said to the door:

"Fine, I'm leaving the cookies at the door too. Eat them if you're hungry... Hmph, don't let my effort go to waste."

The two turned and left helplessly.

Behind the door, Morpheus leaned against the cabin wall. He wasn't wearing his mage robes, and the collar of his white undershirt was open, revealing a small patch of skin below his collarbone.

A faint, dark red pattern had emerged on that patch of skin, as if pricked on by a tattoo needle.

But the direction of the lines wasn't random; they were arranged in a complex, slowly expanding spiral rune, which also looked like an eye pattern, spreading outward from the center of his collarbone hollow.

He hadn't noticed this pattern himself, because ever since the first day he started reading this book, he hadn't looked in a mirror.

One night, a few days later, he read to the ninth chapter.

This was also the final chapter, discussing the Abyssal Transformation Ritual—how to completely transform a mortal body into an Abyssal creature through blood sacrifice, True Names, and soul contracts.

After reading the final period, the text on the pages automatically ignited.

Every letter simultaneously floated up from the page, arranging itself into a complete incantation before him, then the whole page, then chapter after chapter.

All the dark knowledge transformed into a torrent of dark red, pouring into the depths of his consciousness, forming a deep brand.

Every word in the book was carved into his soul.

Morpheus swayed as he stood up, an expression of ecstasy on his face.

He walked to the table and picked up the dagger he had carried with him for many years.

It was a gift from his mentor in the magic tower. Although it wasn't valuable, it held great sentimental significance.

A line of small Common text was engraved on the hilt: Truth and Courage.

He aimed the tip of the blade at his left eye.