novelraw Chapter 409-1: Star Spirit Envoy Shell, Star Annihilation Ring (1)
Chapter 409-1: Star Spirit Envoy Shell, Star Annihilation Ring (1)
Star Spirit Envoy had remained secretly on guard for a long time without seeing the Star Radiance Priest make any suspicious moves, but he still did not relax, keeping his vigilance at full.
The intense pain of a no-anesthesia open chest operation was far beyond what an ordinary person could endure.
Even though, as a top tier Star Mage, the Star Spirit Envoy’s mental power was exceptionally strong, his body still could not escape the category of frailty.
With each step of the operation, from the midline incision of the sternum, to sawing open the sternum, to lifting the rib cage, the Star Spirit Envoy was soon drenched in sweat from the pain, yet he did not let out a single sound.
The further the surgery progressed toward the latter stages, the more alert and guarded he became.
Because next came the most critical part: removing the heart and transplanting the Eyeball Heart, followed by vascular anastomosis.
Originally, before this step they would inject special drugs to slow the heartbeat and blood flow so as to reduce the damage caused by the surgery.
But since the Star Spirit Envoy had flatly refused any injections, the surgical procedure had to be modified so that the Star Radiance Priest would transplant the heart while continuously using healing skills to constantly restore his health.
This was the most critical moment. If the Star Radiance Priest deliberately stalled once the heart was removed, the Star Spirit Envoy would die in just a few seconds.
Star Spirit Envoy did not dare relax his vigilance even slightly. If he died during the surgery, he would absolutely drag the Star Radiance Priest into the grave with him in his final moments.Doing the surgery as normal would let the priest obtain a large amount of Spirit Essence once it was done.
If he tried any funny business during the operation, the price to pay would be a life for a life.
Any sane person would know what to choose. The Star Spirit Envoy did not believe that the Star Radiance Priest was so loyal to that Lord that he would sacrifice his own life.
Reality proved him right. The Star Radiance Priest followed the transplant procedure step by step, continuously using healing spells throughout to maintain his vitality.
From removing the old heart, to transplanting the new one, to stitching and healing the incision on the chest, Star Radiance Priest never did anything out of line.
The heart the Star Spirit Envoy had been holding in his throat finally settled back down. The Star Annihilation Magic Formation, which had remained dormant and untriggered, ultimately never got a chance to be unleashed.
[…]
[The Star Spirit Envoy presses his left hand to his chest as he sits up, feeling the vigorous life force and powerful physical strength brought by the new Eyeball Heart.]
[Although this strength is far greater than that of his original heart, it is still far from his expectations.]
[Even if a top demi-god figure among the Starrealm Envoys were to transplant this heart, it would still be impossible to break through their limits and ascend to become a god.]
[He looks at you doubtfully and asks you for an explanation.]
[You smile slightly and explain that this is precisely the key to how you conquered the Eyeball Heart problem.]
[Ordinary transplant surgery simply removes and replaces the heart, and the transplant recipient can only pray that their body is strong enough to withstand the tremendous burden of the new heart. Otherwise, all their blood vessels will rupture and they will die instantly.]
[But this Eyeball Heart is different. After your modification, the powerful strength of the heart is completely suppressed and will only slowly release energy, strengthening the body through repeated circulations of the blood.]
[When the body has been strengthened to a certain degree, only then will the powerful strength within the heart proceed to the next stage, continuing to reinforce the body of the transplant recipient.]
[Only when the transplant recipient’s body has been strengthened to its peak and can completely withstand the heart’s burden will this heart erupt with its full energy.]
[If he does not believe you, he can feel it carefully.]
[Hearing your explanation, Star Spirit Envoy presses his hand to his chest and silently feels…]
[He can indeed sense that each beat of his heart is stronger than the last. Every time it pumps blood through the body and completes a cycle, he can feel his flesh becoming stronger.]
[The Star Spirit Envoy cannot help praising that this is a truly genius idea, and that it is no wonder the heart problem that even the High Priest of the Radiant Stars could not overcome has instead been solved by you.]
[As he speaks, his gaze fixes tightly on you. The praise in his eyes gradually fades, replaced by a gloomy look that reveals undisguised killing intent.]
[The Star Spirit Envoy’s palm lifts slightly, and the ring on his hand glimmers faintly…]
[As the only remaining person who knows the truth about the Eyeball Heart, he only needs to kill you to cover up all secrets and even take back the money pouch’s Spirit Essence and the extremely valuable Star Core Crystal from you.]
[Seeing this, you immediately remind him that if he feels that the next stage’s release of energy from the heart is too great or too fast for him to withstand, he can come back to you and you will help him make adjustments…]
[The Star Spirit Envoy is taken aback for a moment. The dark look on his face vanishes completely. He smiles and pats your shoulder with the same raised hand, saying that he will be troubling the Star Radiance Priest in the future.]
[You also smile and ask if, now that you have fulfilled your side of the deal by completing the transplant surgery, the Star Spirit Envoy can likewise fulfill his end by telling you the decryption incantation.]
[He shakes his head and tells you that since the Eyeball Heart’s effect has not yet fully manifested, the agreement’s time for fulfillment has not yet arrived either.]
[When he has completely mastered the Eyeball Heart, he will definitely tell you the decryption incantation.]
[With that, the Star Spirit Envoy rises from the operating table and pushes the door of the transplant room open without looking back, leaving as if in a hurry to test the physical enhancement brought by the new heart.]
[Your smile does not fade as you fold your arms and watch the Star Spirit Envoy depart…]
[…]
[The Star Spirit Envoy’s method of testing his physical strength is very simple. He returns to the first floor of the building and drags that female Star Mage back up to the office on the fourth floor…]
[With his new heart, he indeed gains a tremendous boost to his physical capabilities…]
[The heart in his chest beats slowly and steadily. This level of intense physical exertion is still not nearly enough to make the new heart fire on all cylinders.]
[Suddenly, he feels the heartbeat in his chest begin to speed up. Star Spirit Envoy is overjoyed, thinking that such fierce exertion can accelerate the strengthening of his body.]
[Gradually, bloodshot veins fill his eyes, and an abnormal flush spreads across his skin. Seen from afar, he looks like a boiled shrimp.]
[In his chest cavity, the heart contracts violently like war drums pounding, pumping fresh blood throughout his body. While bringing him inexhaustible power, it is also continually reinforcing his body…]
[…]
[At that very moment, the heart in his chest suddenly contracts, then erupts with its original, overwhelming power, a force his frail body absolutely cannot withstand.]
[His fragile blood vessels are simply unable to bear the surging torrent of blood. In an instant they burst open, and blood gushes from his eye sockets, nostrils, ears, and mouth. Not only that, but blood also ceaselessly seeps from every pore across his body.]
[The Star Spirit Envoy collapses weakly to the floor. He finally understands that this is the death trap laid for him by the Star Radiance Priest.]
[He lifts his palm, intending to trigger the Star Annihilation Magic Formation, but before his hand can rise, his head droops and all light fades from his eyes.]