Chapter 161: Negativity, Whistle, and Giant Killer!

Gurgle. Gurgle. The blood in the test tube bubbled endlessly under the effect of Flesh Transfiguration. Ciel stared intently at this scene, silently counting in his mind. "The 257th modification experiment over three days. I hope this achieves the effect I want." Then, after the bubbles gradually subsided, he closed his eyes, using his [Toxin] ability to sense the changes within. Compared to the beginning, this blood had been modified far beyond its original state. He estimated the toxin strength within... if he triggered its eruption, it would be over ten times stronger than previous toxins! This was Dark Magic Transfiguration's incredible modification effect on flesh. However, when he opened his eyes, disappointment still flashed through them. The toxins in this blood were indeed more violent, but their effect on those massive marine magical creatures would probably still be limited. What he expected was to utilize the super-strong vitality in his blood as a foundation to transform a toxin specifically targeting super-strong vitality. He was still far from his desired level. Now, three days had passed, and he inevitably felt anxious. Blood Jade, Puking Pastilles... these are all related to whether Legendary Vitality and Legendary Strength could advance further. All were extremely important to him. This required him to explore the North Sea. If he couldn't prepare means to handle potential dangers, good luck would mean avoiding real danger. But if he encountered it, that would be very difficult. And what he disliked most was basing his fate on luck. "Still not working? Stay calm. Stay calm. Try once more..." He gripped his wand, taking a deep breath, trying to calm his mental fluctuations. Just as the anxiety in his heart gradually returned to calm, he poured the newly created blood onto the parchment. He was about to wave his wand again, summarizing previous lessons, preparing for the 258th blood modification experiment... At this moment, his gaze swept over the line Voldemort had left before. Dark Magic Transfiguration requires profane, twisted will... He paused. Suddenly, he didn't take deep breaths or suppress the anxiety, frustration, and failure's setbacks in his heart. Instead, he let them permeate his mind. "Previously, I did follow Voldemort's words, concentrating my will, thinking about twisting that blood. But I forgot. Using rational will can never achieve true distortion. When casting spells, I habitually maintain calm. This benefits casting most magic. But it actually interferes with dark magic nature spells. Emotions... I need negative emotions. When casting this, I shouldn't maintain calm but let emotions become more intense." His mind began constantly recalling times that made him frustrated, powerless, angry, or desperate. Negative emotions continuously permeated his heart. Yet precisely because of this, on the system panel, the iron-black luster on Dark Magic Transfiguration became increasingly intense. Even bronze luster began rapidly emerging. His wand no longer moved rationally and regularly but trembled irritably, almost like venting. Finally, when negative emotions in his chest accumulated to their peak, nearly unbearable without release, he gripped his wand, frantically striking the test tube containing blood. "Change for me. Change for me. Hurry up and change into what I want!" He growled. An unprecedented negative magical power surged from his wand tip into the test tube. This time, the blood's writhing became unprecedentedly violent. Countless bubbles erupted like a volcano, churning wildly within. When the bubbles finally subsided, he was still panting heavily, seemingly not yet recovered from the surging emotional venting. After a long while, he carefully sensed changes in the blood within this test tube. The next moment, his eyes finally showed joy. In a magical world mansion, an owl flapped its wings, dropping a Daily Prophet on the bedside. The front-page headline roughly meant the Ministry fully supported Hogwarts students' pioneering entrepreneurship, with the Ministry under Fudge's leadership doing everything to improve magical world livelihoods. Currently, this news was the biggest talking point in streets and alleys. Umbridge's death had long been cast to the clouds. Everywhere people discussed applying for pioneering permits at the Ministry, then going to clear wasteland. Everyone was cheerful mentioning this. But at this moment, venomous, extremely venomous eyes stared intently at the name Ciel Sprout mentioned in the report. Then a bandage-wrapped arm frantically grabbed and tore the newspaper, accompanied by hysterical roaring. "Ciel Sprout. You damned bastard. You ruined my reputation, ruined my career... now don't think you'll have it easy!" At this time, a house-elf rushed over after hearing the commotion. "Mr. Lockman?! St. Mungo's doctors said the Shadow Thorn damage on you hasn't healed. You can't move so violently for several months!" After hearing "Shadow Thorn," Bogey Lockman's eyes burst with extremely crazed light. "What did you say? How dare you mention that in front of me?!" The house-elf trembled, its face suddenly losing color, lips also shaking. "No, no... Mr. Lockman, Master, please forgive me..." The next moment, Bogey Lockman pulled out a barbed whip from the bedside. Amid the house-elf's terrified screams, Lockman grinned savagely. "Don't dodge." The master's contract prevented the house-elf from disobeying. It could only crouch on the ground holding its head, trembling. Then the whip struck it viciously, causing screams of agony. After dozens of lashes that left the house-elf bloody and breathing weakly, Bogey Lockman finally vented some anger. But whenever he thought of Ciel, anger and madness churned in his heart. During the last Hogwarts academic review, because of him, he'd nearly been beaten to death by Shadow Thorns and Devil's Snare in the greenhouse! He'd lain in bed for half a month before waking up. By then, the "Herbology master" knocked unconscious by Devil's Snare and Shadow Thorns had become a complete laughingstock. Even the Herbology journals he contributed to had suspended commissioning his articles. This was unbearable for Bogey Lockman, who loved sharp criticism. All this was his fault. His hatred for him was like overflowing rivers that couldn't be washed clean. Especially thinking that he actually had such talent in Herbology, independently cultivating those variant plants and now receiving Ministry support policies... becoming a Herbology master was virtually certain unless he died midway. This was more unbearable than killing Bogey Lockman! A viper-like thought had long spread in his heart. "Ciel Sprout. I want him dead. What does a bright future matter? Dead means nothing! I want to watch him die with my own eyes!" Previously, with him staying in the castle, Bogey Lockman couldn't find opportunities. He'd tried issuing bounties in Knockturn Alley, but dark wizards threatened by Snape wouldn't accept bounties targeting him. This left Bogey Lockman cursing dark wizards as useless but helpless. But now, Bogey Lockman held an ancient whistle. His expression beneath bandages was full of malice. "News from inquiring at Hogwarts. Ciel Sprout has been going to sea recently. Probably surveying islands, seeking suitable planting land? Very good, very good... Then this whistle I bought with most of my savings, capable of summoning the legendary North Sea Kraken, can be useful. On the vast sea, the North Sea Kraken is an invincible magical creature. Even a dragon would be dragged underwater and torn to pieces! Ciel Sprout, I want you to die at sea to wash away my humiliation!" Thinking of that scene, Bogey Lockman couldn't even feel his constant pain. He gripped the whistle, proudly drinking a painkilling, strength-restoring potion. Then he climbed onto a flying carpet, flying toward outside Hogwarts castle. At this time, he carefully sealed the test tube. He'd tested the toxin properties in this blood. This was an unprecedented new toxin... one that could rapidly absorb vitality for growth after activation. The stronger the poisoned being's vitality, the faster the toxin grew. Conversely, for those with weak vitality, this toxin had minimal effect. For instance, if an ordinary person was poisoned, they'd suffer headaches and nausea briefly... the toxin couldn't obtain enough vitality to grow sufficiently before being expelled. But if an elephant, whale, or being with more vigorous vitality was poisoned, the toxin's eruption speed would be unimaginably violent. After he released his [Toxin] ability's control, letting it destroy and erupt freely, even his own blood couldn't withstand this toxin. In less than five seconds, it had turned completely black. This still left his heart pounding. If this toxin didn't exist only in his blood under his [Toxin] ability's control, even his Legendary Vitality might suffer severe damage. "This is what Dark Magic Transfiguration combined with my blood created?" His expression became serious, increasingly understanding how strange and dangerous dark magic was. One careless moment could capsize even those far stronger than dark wizards. But then his eyes flashed with strange light. Such powerful toxins were perfect for dealing with those massive marine magical creatures. Even the legendary strongest North Sea magical creature, the Kraken, should be devastatingly destroyed under this toxin's erosion. After all, its difficulty mainly came from size... its life level might not be higher than his Legendary Vitality. If his vitality couldn't withstand this toxin, the North Sea Kraken should be similar. With this toxin, he had another trump card for exploring the North Sea. "Since it's a toxin specifically targeting large size and strong vitality, I'll name it... [Giant Killer]." Then he felt determined, his gaze becoming resolute. He looked at the sky outside... it was evening, not long before sunset. "I've delayed long enough. Can't postpone anymore. Tonight, I'll explore the North Sea and see if I can find clues about Drear Island. Or if I can obtain fresh blood from a new Class 5X-tier magical creature to cultivate more powerful Blood Jade, that would be good too." Taking a deep breath and eliminating various distracting thoughts, he made a final equipment check, especially his Nimbus 2000 broomstick. After ensuring it wouldn't fail at crucial moments, he mounted his broom, flying toward the sea surface already blood-red from the setting sun. After he left the castle, Tonks also trailed distantly. These three days, he hadn't gone to sea, allowing her to rest and recover. But she still hadn't found any clues about Umbridge's death. Though as a recent graduate, professors weren't as guarded against her as other Ministry bureaucrats, they weren't enthusiastic about her investigating Umbridge's death. Especially Professor Sprout, who was obviously angry after learning she'd repeatedly sought him about this matter, giving her several cold shoulders. Tonks was quite helpless about this. She'd tried searching the Forbidden Forest for clues, but it was too vast, and too much time had passed. Finding clues alone was like finding a needle in a haystack. After much thought, Tonks refocused on him. Today, he unusually chose to fly toward the sea in the evening after three days of inactivity. Even his direction differed from previous days. This behavior rekindled Tonks's hope, thinking these unusual actions might provide breakthroughs. So she hurriedly followed. But in her haste, Tonks didn't notice a black shadow also trailing far behind her. Bogey Lockman sat on a flying carpet, following Tonks. Seeing his flight direction, Lockman's eyes burst with wild joy. "North Sea... He's actually flying toward the North Sea? And at night? This is exactly the North Sea Kraken's territory. As soon as I blow the whistle, the Kraken will come quickly." Lockman's expression was savage, his eyes reflecting Tonks and his silhouettes. He must die. As for the woman following him? Definitely his bodyguard. Anyone related to him must die! As for whether the North Sea Kraken could kill him, Lockman never even considered this. A first-year student trying to escape the North Sea Kraken at sea? Even if first-year Dumbledore or the Dark Lord came, they'd die. No exceptions! "After you die, Pomona Sprout will definitely come search the North Sea. Then... I'll send you all for a family reunion!" At this time, he had flown past familiar waters, getting closer to the North Sea. Then an island came into his view, making his eyes suddenly brighten. "This is?!"