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Chapter 26 - TRANSFORMATION THEORY

A couple of weeks ago during the night in Volk's room, he enters with a newly deceased body and presents it to his zombie son, Henry(15), who promptly begins feasting on the fresh remains. Volk then reclines on the adjacent bed next to Rudda, who watches her son, Henry, intently. Volk expresses his frustration, lamenting that the most challenging aspect of this situation is ensuring his son has access to recently deceased bodies, as Henry refuses to consume corpses that have been dead for some time. Volk directs his gaze toward Rudda, who remains silent. Volk then inquires whether Rudda might consider consuming human blood in the hopes of regaining some of her lost humanity. Rudda still doesn't respond, but she notices something unusual happening to Henry. Suddenly, Volk hears the unmistakable sounds of bones cracking and muscles tearing within Henry's body. In astonishment, Volk gets up beside Rudda and witnesses Henry undergoing a startling transformation into a towering, pale, muscular zombie. Volk is left in a state of shock by this unexpected metamorphosis.

The zombie breaks free from its restraints and lunges toward Volk and Rudda. However, just before it can reach them, it abruptly halts right in front of their faces. The zombie fixes an intense gaze upon Volk and Rudda's countenances. Volk then grins and remarks that he had faith that this plan would succeed. Rudda calls out her son's name while the Zombie lowers its arm, and its eyes begin to emit a radiant magical glow. Volk, too, calls Henry's name and reassures him that they are his family. The magical brilliance in the zombie's eyes intensifies even further.

Rudda extends her arms in a welcoming gesture, inviting the zombie for an embrace. A radiant glow emanates from the zombie's chest as its heart begins to shine with magic. Taking a step toward Rudda, the zombie starts to undergo a transformation, shrinking in size and regaining a head of hair. As the zombie changes, it miraculously returns to its former self, and in a weak voice, it utters the word "Mother." Tears well up in Volk's eyes as he witnesses his son's ability to speak. Henry looks at Volk and calls him "Father." Volk warmly embraces his son's return to the realm of the living.

A week passes, and Volk is gently combing Rudda's hair in front of a mirror. He expresses his relief that his plan succeeded, bringing their son back to his senses. Rudda remains silent, fixated on her own reflection. Just then, Henry enters the room, holding a bowl. He excitedly announces that he has unraveled the workings of the Transformation Theory. Henry shares that after a week of self-experimentation, he has determined that the key to this transformation lies in the consumption of human blood. Sufficient human blood, he explains, has the potential to restore a zombie's humanity, rekindling their brain and heart.

Volk affectionately pats Henry on the head, commending his dedication to scientific research. Henry continues, suggesting that further consumption of human blood may yield even more positive effects. He mentions that he has been consuming human blood, which has made him stronger and more intelligent. With a blade in hand, Volk cuts his own arm, allowing his blood to drip into the bowl. Henry offers the bowl to Rudda, suggesting that she too could grow stronger and unlock more of her cognitive potential by consuming blood.

Rudda drinks the contents of the bowl, and she suddenly feels a surge of energy in her brain as the blood flows down her throat. Henry smiles, confirming that their efforts are paying off, and soon his mother will also regain her senses. Volk embraces them both, expressing his joy at seeing his family reunited and happy after such a long time.

Henry then invites Volk to accompany him to his room. As Henry opens the door, Volk is greeted by a sight of the room adorned with human flesh, featuring numerous tables, objects, and scientific instruments made from this macabre material. Volk inquires about the source of all this, to which Henry responds that these creations sprung from his own imagination and body. Henry proceeds to open a refrigerator containing a box filled with oversized rats, their features resembling something more monstrous than ordinary rodents.

Volk examines the rats closely and remarks that they're no longer in the city, where rat fighting does not longer exist. Henry acknowledges this fact and explains that these rats now serve as his test subjects. He reminisces about the past when he and his team used to illicitly administer various drug enhancements to rats to ensure victory in rat battles. Henry then reveals his current ambition: to test his drugs on humans, believing it could potentially lead to enhancements.

Volk raises a concern about whether these enhancements might affect a person's sanity. Henry responds by stating that it largely depends on the individual; those with strong willpower might be able to withstand the transformative effects of the enhancement. He then retrieves a test tube filled with purple liquid from inside his body and mentions the extensive effort he has put into developing this drug. Henry expresses his belief that with further testing, he can achieve his desired goal.

Volk reflects on a past memory when he entered his son's room and observed Henry administering drugs to a rat. As the drug coursed through the rodent's body, it began to tremble. Henry then cradled the rat in his hand, closing his eyes, and Volk could see Henry's magic beginning to take shape around his hand. In a brief moment, Henry opened his hands to reveal a larger rat that obediently followed his commands, spinning around. With a beaming smile, Henry informed Volk that he had succeeded. During this moment, Volk realized that Henry was unaware of his innate ability to manipulate an animal's nature with magic. Volk felt a sense of pride that his son possessed such magical prowess at such a young age, potentially positioning him to be the next Tower Master like himself.

Young Henry then expresses his aspiration, sharing that one day he hopes to fulfill his dreams alongside his father. Volk responds with a warm smile, his gaze shifting to a drawing on the wall. It's a depiction of Volk and Henry riding a magical horse through the vastness of space towards the stars. Returning to the present moment, Volk gives his approval for Henry to commence his experiments on humans, offering to provide the subjects.

Volk harnesses his magic and conjures a door, stepping through it into a realm suffused with magic. There, he encounters a towering structure with hundreds of floors, the Tower of Magic. Approaching the front door, Volk demands an audience. The door swings open, revealing an elderly man who informs Volk that he is no longer welcome in the Tower, having relinquished his status as a Tower Master.

In response, Volk explains his intention to bestow the power of the Tower Master upon his son, Henry. The old man chuckles and dismisses this notion, asserting that Volk's son is no longer human and therefore not suitable for admission into the Tower. Volk, his emotions rising, raises his voice, questioning why their own bloodline ancestors must reject them from the Tower.

The elderly man responds by stating that their rejection is based on the worthiness of the individual for the title of Tower Master. He goes on to elaborate on the reasons behind Volk's loss of the Tower Master title. The first reason cited is that Volk's grandfather had devised the battle system involving the enigmatic face machine they had unearthed a century ago and they Volk has also taken part of this system. The old man also explains that the Tower refrains from engaging with ancient technology imbued with malevolent magic, which the face machine is believed to contain.

Volk counters by emphasizing that the face machine has provided an opportunity for those willing to combat for a livelihood, as it supplies them with resources in exchange for entertainment. However, the old man counters this argument by pointing out that the origin of the face machine remains shrouded in mystery, and the malevolent magic within it is palpable. While the face machine fulfills the desires of the Riders, its true intentions remain unknown. He further elucidates that the Tower is unwilling to jeopardize the work of countless generations for the sake of this enigmatic device. The Tower, built over the span of hundreds of generations, rejects those who are engage in malevolent practices.

Volk's anger flares, and he declares his determination to eventually secure Henry's entry into the Tower and take control. The old man offers an alternative, suggesting that Volk need not wage war against the Tower. Instead, he could rectify the situation by bestowing the Power of the Tower Master upon another worthy member of his bloodline. Volk counters by stating that there are no other viable candidates except for his son and his brother.

The old man counters by mentioning that Volk still has a worthy older sister and a capable older son. In response, Volk explains that his sister has been estranged from their family, and his first son lacks the necessary magical ability to harness the Tower's Power, further adding that his first son is also disassociated from the family.

Turning his back to Volk, the old man laments that it is regrettable that the lineage of the Tower ends with Volk's generation. In defiance, Volk asserts that the Tower's power is what the world needs right now and that they can save the world from it's end.  The old man, however, disregards Volk's words and proceeds to enter the Tower. Undeterred, Volk proclaims loudly that they will obtain the Tower's power and use it to bring salvation to the world, regardless of the darkness it may entail. 

In the present, Kiren can be observed diligently training within his room. He then lies down on the floor and gazes toward a corner of his room where a compact hammer and a substantial shield are placed. Rising to his feet, Kiren speaks determinedly, pledging to become stronger for the sake of Ragnar. Notably, the hammer and the large shield are crafted from the remnants of Ragnar's spear.

Mikey, the newly appointed Bull Beast Master, enters the room and inquires if Kiren is prepared for the upcoming special fight card scheduled for the following day. Brimming with confidence, Kiren responds affirmatively. Mikey proceeds to reveal that he has been informed that this special fight card is unlike any other. Undeterred, Kiren asserts that as long as both Cain and Mikey are leading the charge, the Bull Beast will be victorious. 

On the following day, inside the arena within the confines of the Rider's ship, approximately 40 warriors from each beast clan have assembled, bracing themselves for combat. Eleon takes center stage, holding a microphone, and declares that tonight's special card fight event will be introduced by none other than the Young Master Henry. All eyes are fixed on Henry as he descends the stairs, his magic-infused eyes radiating with a brilliant glow. Kiren can't help but comment that Henry is an A-Star zombie, while Mikey expresses concern that this event might take a grim turn.

Henry steps forward, brandishing a microphone, and proceeds to outline the unique nature of this event. He reveals that, unlike previous battles, all teams will compete simultaneously, with the team amassing the highest score when the timer expires is declared the victor. A large screen displays a countdown timer set for 60 minutes. Henry continues, explaining that a team scores a point by eliminating a zombie, taking down a warrior from another team will earn them five points, and taking down a Beast master will earn them ten points. He also announces that there will be a surprise at the 30-minute mark, offering a chance to earn a whopping 200 points.

He urges all the participants to give their all, acknowledging that this could be their final battle. The warriors and the spectators respond with enthusiastic cheers. Each clan in the crowd passionately cheers on their respective teams. Kiren's gaze shifts across the arena, where he spots Megan and Luka, fully prepared for the challenge. All four beast teams make their way to their designated corners. Henry turns back, offering a smile to Jarvis, Volk, and Rudda. With great anticipation, Henry announces the commencement of the Battle Royal.

A moment of hushed tension envelops the arena as the newly appointed Donkey Beast Master steps forward, vowing vengeance for their fallen predecessor. All the Donkey warriors solemnly level their weapons at the Horse clan, echoing their master's sentiments. The Elephant Beast Master also joins in, pledging retribution for their own fallen leader. In a swift, synchronized move, warriors from both the Donkey and Elephant clans charge headlong toward the Horse clan.

In response to this impending clash, Mikey issues a command for his warriors to hold their ground and wait. The inevitable collision ensues, resulting in a gruesome exchange with blood spattering across the battleground. Mikey comments on the opponent's determination to really eliminate each other. The scoreboard displays each clan's points, with the Horse team gaining 25 points. Despite being outnumbered, the Horse warriors adopt a strong formation to fend off the Donkey and Elephant teams.

Luka approaches Megan and suggests she join the fray. Megan observes the front line where the Horse team is gradually being overwhelmed. Without hesitation, Megan rushes into action, leaping over the front lines and skillfully wielding her staff to strike multiple opponents. She employs her magnetic boots to repel an incoming warrior. Kiren, watching Megan's daring moves, becomes concerned and proposes that they take action. Mikey, however, advises them to persevere, as there are no zombies yet, and if the other teams exhaust themselves, they stand a better chance coming back at the 30-minute mark.

As five minutes pass, the Horse team accumulates 45 points, the Elephant team has 15 points, the Donkey team has 10 points, and the Bull team has yet to score. Suddenly, the Bull team spots numerous magical doors opening above the arena, unleashing hundreds of zombies onto the battleground. Henry responds with enthusiastic applause, relishing the spectacle. Volk, observing Henry's enjoyment, is reminded of a past memory, drawing a stark comparison between Henry's fascination with the current battle and his past enthusiasm for watching rats fight one another. 

During this fleeting moment, all the teams cease their internal skirmishes and focus on defending themselves against the descending zombies. Kiren takes action, dispatching a couple of zombies with his hammer. He voices concern, emphasizing that if they don't cooperate with the other teams and eliminate the relentless influx of zombies from above, not everyone will survive at this rate.

Mikey intervenes by suggesting to the Donkey and Elephant masters that they should unite for their mutual survival, emphasizing that it's not worth continuing their fight with the Horse Clan. He then  points out that persisting in battle against other teams will likely lead to them all to death.