Chapter -97.
"Achievement Task: First confrontation with the Mysterious Man, acquire Alchemy (Fullmetal Alchemist) LV1."
Dudley paused for a moment when he received the long-lost system notification, his expression becoming quite peculiar.
Alchemy?
Fullmetal Alchemist?
Now that's a title that speaks to a masterpiece!
Suddenly, images flooded Dudley's mind: a young sprout, a suit of steel armor, and the iconic duo of a tall figure with a shorter companion.
He envisioned a world where alchemy thrived, a stark contrast to the traditional practices seen in the Harry Potter universe. Here, alchemy meant comprehending, breaking down, and reconstructing the foundational laws of matter.
For instance, in this world, if someone had iron, skilled alchemists could use a transmutation circle to forge an iron sword from it, mend a shattered mirror, or even restore a sliced apple to its former self.
However, practicing alchemy came with the important principle of "equivalent exchange." If you only have iron, you can only transmute it into iron items; creating something that doesn't already exist isn't an option since alchemy can't conjure something from nothing.
"Equivalent exchange" means you must give something of equal value in return for what you want; if what you possess isn't enough, you might have to sacrifice a part of yourself, whether that be body parts, memories, or more.
Transforming a button into a ladybug like in the Harry Potter universe is impossible, but don't underestimate alchemy! Theoretically, as long as you grasp its essence and have the sufficient materials, virtually anything can be transmuted. In theory, using the elemental breakdown of a human being—65% oxygen, 18% carbon, 10% hydrogen, 3% nitrogen, and so on—you could potentially replicate a person.
Of course, transmuting humans is considered taboo and remains purely theoretical.
Yet, by adjusting the carbon content in a piece of iron, you could create steel blades.
In this sense, the alchemy featured in Fullmetal Alchemist is tailored for the academic elite.
If your mind isn't sharp, you won't be able to excel in alchemy. [Tl: Sigh]
"Understanding the fundamental laws of matter is essential for becoming a spellcaster," the system explained, as logical as ever.
Alchemy isn't just a skill—it's a treasure trove of wisdom passed down through generations.
Dudley closed his eyes, allowing the newfound insights to wash over him.
After some time, he opened his eyes again, a new sparkle lighting up his gaze. The moment he inherited the principles of alchemy, it felt as though the entire world had shifted.
With a casual gesture, he sketched a few patterns on the ground, broke off a small piece of wood from the bed, and placed it in the center of his drawn figures.
This was the alchemy array, the foundational step of performing alchemy.
Then, an extraordinary event occurred.
With a soft glow, the wooden piece transformed into a wooden sword.
Seeing this, Dudley seemed a little dissatisfied. With another flicker of light from the array, the wooden sword morphed into numerous white, transparent crystals—diamonds!
Both the wood and diamonds share carbon in their elemental makeup.
Understanding, breaking down, reconstructing.
This encapsulates the essence of Fullmetal Alchemist's alchemy.
Dudley picked up a diamond from the ground, but as he held it, the dazzling stone slipped from his fingers and made a delightful sound as it fell.
Dudley nodded, pleased with his initial foray into alchemy.
It was surprisingly comparable to the magic system in the Harry Potter universe.
Quite remarkable!
A smile broke across Dudley's face; he finally had some unique abilities.
He continued to playfully transform the diamonds back into wood, then into a wooden sword, and once more into diamonds, reveling in the fun.
However, the system had more surprises in store than just alchemy.
Ding.
The system chimed in once more.
"Repelled the mysterious person successfully, you have acquired the mysterious Zoldyck family—Assassination Technique LV1."
No lottery, just straightforward reward?
Alchemy is great, but what's with this?
The Zoldyck family, from the long-standing series "Hunter x Hunter," is known as the premier assassin family in that world. Each family member is incredibly powerful, residing in Kukuroo Mountain, a popular tourist destination.
Receiving their assassination techniques is certainly a fantastic reward, but…
Since it's from "Hunter x Hunter," why not grant me a Nen ability instead?
Nen is the defining characteristic of the "Hunter x Hunter" series—a skill anyone can master with effort, enabling them to achieve remarkable powers.
For instance, a robust Nen user can withstand a rocket launcher head-on.
A key similarity between Ripple and Nen is that both relate to life energy; combining the two would surely create something extraordinary.
With Nen, Dudley felt confident he could thrive in this world based solely on his physical abilities within a few years.
What would he even do with this assassination technique?
Dudley's mood turned sour; he was never fond of sneaky tactics and preferred bold, straightforward fighting styles—like boxing or Iron Mountain-style combat.
Yet, after a quick review of the Zoldyck family's techniques, Dudley's eyes lit up with excitement.
Wow!
He closed his eyes again, diving deeper into the knowledge now residing in his mind.
In an instant, he visibly shrank.
From his towering height of two meters down to one meter ninety.
Muscle control.
This is the Zoldyck family's foundational ability, allowing manipulation of all muscles in his body to alter his appearance, shifting from a solid figure to a more unassuming form.
He could even transform his slender arms into bulging muscles.
In "Hunter x Hunter," Killua possesses this capability.
However, these changes have limits; body weight cannot be adjusted.
At this point, Dudley could only revert to the physique he had a few months back, but that was enough; he had grown concerned about becoming too large.
"The caster must always uphold a cautious demeanor; camouflage is vital," the system advised.
Dudley nodded, fully agreeing with the system's guidance.
"That makes sense."
The Zoldyck family's assassination techniques offer so much more than merely transforming muscles.
Each technique significantly enhances Dudley's strength.
Their approach to assassination is distinctly different from traditional methods, aligning more with another character etched in Dudley's memory: King Hassan.
To borrow a famous saying—"What does a perfect assassination look like? Eliminate everyone alive inside." [Tl: Idk what this means.]
Thus, although the Zoldyck family's home attracts tourists, every photo of them can be sold for a staggering one hundred million on the black market.
Armed with this understanding, Dudley was confident that when he crossed paths with that mysterious individual again, he would surely deliver a remarkable surprise!
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Tl/N: If you want to read more [upto 15 chapters] while supporting me, you can join me on patreon.com/EmptyThoughts ;Thanks.
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Note : Guys, some power stones will be really helpful.