Upon careful examination, Hua Mi found this mutated individual quite intriguing. If we must describe its physical changes, then its pincers have become longer and thicker, resembling black-gold crafted needles, adorned with barbs, sharp yet delicate.
Its internal changes might be imperceptible to the average person, but Hua Mi could sense them. The poison gland had become significantly more powerful, enhancing its venom production and storage capacity. However, the awkward part was that he didn't know how effective these changes were.
After all, he couldn't experiment on himself. Leaving aside the fact that a bee sting could be painful, what if the toxin turned out to be lethal? He would end up becoming a victim too.
"For now, let's call it 'X Poison Bee.' I'll expand these two new bee species into a full colony first."
If everything went smoothly, he would have three mutant bee species. That's when he could attempt hybridization experiments. Each bee species had its own strengths and weaknesses, and the goal of hybridization was to create a combination with favorable traits.
Hua Mi summoned a phantom of a blue bee and established a connection with the X Poison Bee. Soon, the template was successfully replicated, and an image of the X Poison Bee appeared beneath the phantom.
"Ugh, I'm too tired today. My energy is running low. I'll complete the transformation tomorrow."
While setting up the X Poison Bee, Hua Mi had an idea. To find out about the effects of the X Poison Bee's venom, he didn't necessarily have to conduct live experiments. He could use equipment to analyze the venom's components. The town had ready-made analytical instruments.
Hua Mi fetched a small glass vial, cleaned and dried it, then directed the X Poison Bee to release all of its stored venom into the vial.
"Oh, and I can also check the material of those gold coins... Thank you, technological advancements."
With that taken care of, Hua Mi returned to his ancestral home, bringing his equipment along. It was already midnight on Earth, so he had a light meal for dinner and took out the "Black Forest Adventure Guide" under the glow of his desk lamp.
The guide began with the origin of the name "Black Witch's Forest." Due to its ancient history, many details were lost, so the author presented two popular theories.
One theory suggested that the area was once a desolate desert, where only hardy creatures like sandworms, thornspikes, and earth giants could survive. One day, a notorious Black Witch passed through. She had reached the pinnacle of magical knowledge and felt bored with the mundane world. She chose to free herself from her physical form in this desolate place, allowing her soul to ascend to a higher plane. The magical power within her body dispersed into the air, permeated the soil, and profoundly affected the local environment, eventually giving birth to a vast forest.
The second theory was more straightforward. It told of an ancient sorceress skilled in dark magic who grew weary of worldly strife. She sought refuge in the forest, hiding from the world forever.
While the first theory was more legendary and in line with the style of a magical world, Hua Mi preferred the simplicity of the second one.
This was just an introduction, and Hua Mi's focus was on the following content.
The guide listed various creatures in the Black Forest, including some intelligent species, such as the "Therianthropes."
"Have you ever encountered someone who looks like a specific animal? Don't doubt your eyes; they're likely Therianthropes. Remember, never engage in deep emotional conversations with Therianthropes on a full moon night!"
– An anonymous troubadour, Laurence Balhez.
Therianthropy was an ancient curse that targeted only humans. Some scholars believed it was related to an ancient war, although there was no direct evidence, it was widely accepted in academia. There were also folk tales suggesting that Therianthropes were created when a certain Abyss Lord, during the second Abyss invasion, transformed into fallen beings based on human templates, which remained in the world after the invasion's failure. Comparing Therianthropes to evil creatures like demons and succubi was unfounded, and a way to stigmatize them.
There was evidence that Therianthropy existed long before the first Abyss invasion. Unlike purely malevolent Abyss-born creatures, Therianthropes' nature was not necessarily evil, though they might exhibit peculiar or antisocial behavior due to the curse. Nonetheless, it was essential not to forget that they were part of humanity.
"Shape-shifting Ability: Therianthropes can transform into the corresponding animals without the need for materials, rituals, or elixirs. In their half-animal or fully transformed states, their strength increases significantly, but their rationality decreases. Therefore, it's best to stay away from them when they're in their animal form since they might not differentiate between friend and foe!"
"Full Moon Night: The full moon is the most potent time for the Therianthropic curse. The raging power inside their bodies becomes nearly impossible to control. Therianthropes turn into their full animal forms uncontrollably, losing their sanity and becoming ferocious beasts, causing havoc and slaughter. If you plan to explore the Black Forest, it's highly recommended to avoid full moon nights."
"Suppression Elixirs: Taking elixirs in advance might make it slightly easier for Therianthropes to cope with the full moon, but the effect is limited. There is no known elixir to completely restrain this ancient curse. It's a mystery why alchemists seem uninterested in this field."
"Dispelling Magic: High-level dispelling magic can undo Therianthropes' animal transformations in their typical states, but it's ineffective against full moon transformations. Establishing anti-magic zones can also nullify their Therianthropic state, but similarly, it doesn't work against full moon transformations."
"Human Appearance: Due to the curse, Therianthropes may exhibit some animal features even in their human forms. For example, bear Therianthropes tend to be muscular and hairy, not someone you'd want to arm-wrestle. Meanwhile, rat Therianthropes usually have slender bodies, thin hair, and evasive glances. They excel in stealth and fleeing, along with exceptional thievery skills."
"Curse Transmission: If a person is attacked by a Therianthrope in their transformed state and survives, there is a chance of being infected by this ancient curse."
Hua Mi found this information rather fascinating. "Abyss invasion, Abyss Lords, curses... It seems like I'm barely scratching the surface of this new world."
From the text, it appeared that during the Abyss invasion, the Abyss Lords created certain Abyss-born creatures, such as demons and succubi, to assist in their war efforts. After the invasion, these creatures were left behind in the world to cause havoc.
The author specifically mentioned that Therianthropes were different, hinting at a certain bias in favor of them.
Hua Mi wasn't too concerned about the presence of Therianthropes in the Black Forest. The guide indicated that they weren't inherently evil. Besides, as long as he remained inside the wooden cabin, he could create a wormhole back to Earth whenever needed. There was always an escape plan in case things got dicey.
"On the other hand, my first time in a different world, and that night the moon was big and round, yet nothing happened."
He continued flipping through the pages until he stumbled upon a creature that piqued his interest. The illustrations next to the text were unmistakably the "Pixies" he had encountered, though in the guide, they were referred to as "Pseudo-Sprites."
"Why add 'pseudo' to the name?"
After a moment of contemplation, Hua Mi read further into the section on "Pseudo-Sprites."
Pseudo-Sprites were a well-known phenomenon. Some rare exotic flowers had a chance of giving birth to a sprite. To distinguish them from regular sprites, these little beings resembling sprites were termed "Pseudo-Sprites."
– "Guide to the Dark Forest, Fifth Edition"
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