Taking two steps forward and stepping over the coffee table, Caine moved his body, shaking his wrist slightly, and found no abnormalities. He glanced out the bulging window at the gas lamps casting a dim, gloomy light, and murmured to himself, "My hands are more dexterous, my movements more agile. Even without any extraordinary abilities, as long as I focus and study diligently, I can become a top-tier magician." This was his first impression of his own transformation. As recorded in the night-watchers' internal documents, if the potion provides certain magical abilities, the extraordinary individual will become consciously aware of them—specifically perceiving exactly which ones—much as corresponding knowledge is subtly infused into their mind and imprinted upon their spirit. "I thought my head was about to burst just now," Caine smiled, shaking his head and carefully recalling his earlier sensations and the corresponding spells. Indeed, "magician" is undoubtedly a strong Sequence 7, possessing numerous remarkable abilities, all of which can be executed swiftly. Among them, three abilities were particularly cherished by Caine. The top one was undoubtedly "Wound Transference!" As long as he didn't die outright and could still move his hands, he could shift critical wounds from vital areas to less essential limbs—such as his arms—transforming potentially lethal injuries into minor ones. This was an invaluable, life-saving skill in combat. The only limitation was that, at his current Sequence 7 stage, wounds could only be transferred to other parts of his own body, and only once per session. Perhaps as his sequence progresses, he'll eventually be able to transfer wounds to objects or even to others—something truly magical. Caine envisioned this future with great delight. The second ability was "Flame Leaping." Within a thirty-meter radius, he could teleport between the lingering embers he left behind and the existing flames, resembling a form of instant transportation—seemingly drawing upon a special connection to the spirit realm. Indeed, this would make for an excellent magical performance. Caine silently chuckled to himself, feeling quite satisfied. More importantly, as he digests the potions and advances in sequence, the range of "Flame Leap" will become noticeably greater. The extraordinary ability of third-tier spells is the "Air Bullet," which Klein had previously witnessed at the Convent from the tailor-clad clown. The "Magician" can generate air bullets—by snapping fingers or simulating sounds—that match in power and speed the bullets fired from a standard left-hand revolver, and just like the potions and his own sequence progression, the effectiveness of these air bullets will also improve over time. Klein suspects that by the time he reaches sequence 5, or even sequence 4, he'll be able to create actual cannon shells by hand. "That means I won't need to buy revolvers and bullets anymore—well, I still need to purchase one. There are so many situations where I can resolve issues with a gun without having to reveal my extraordinary abilities at all." Klein gave a barely perceptible nod and then turned his attention to the other spells and spell-like abilities. The fourth is the "paper man stand-in." At critical moments, the magician can briefly transform one of his carried paper figures into himself, swapping positions with it. This is a relatively simple form of substitution magic—while it can withstand a fatal blow, it also effectively reduces curse damage. That must be the purpose of the paper figures carried by Rosago, the Master of Secret Figures. He must have been deeply disappointed, for he was contaminated by the "True Maker" and thus never had the opportunity to use this stand-in technique. The main limitation of this spell is that it requires prior preparation—specifically, the crafting of more refined paper figures. In the early Fifth Era, extraordinary beings carrying such items would undoubtedly have been regarded as black wizards; should such a discovery be made today, they would likely be suspected of the same. Caine carefully considered the utility and limitations of the "paper man stand-in" technique. The fifth is a class-based ability known as "Manipulation of Flame." As the name suggests, it allows the user to control flames within a thirty-meter radius through a simple gesture, and also to directly ignite specific objects within that range. Once the magic potion is fully absorbed or the sequence is upgraded, the user can even summon streams of flame from nowhere. The issue is that the air tubes have a length limitation; at this stage, Klein can maintain a state of about five meters. That means, once the water depth exceeds five meters, he risks being drowned. Of course, the improvement in potion digestion and the progression of his sequence will lead to tangible growth in the air tubes. The eighth ability is a spell-like trait called "Bone Softening," which enables the "Magician" to free himself from shackles, ropes, and boxes. Another signature strength, indeed! Klein thought with a pleasant mood. The ninth ability, an evolution of the "jester's" skill of transforming paper into throwing knives, is known as "Paper into Weapons." It not only transforms paper into sharp objects but can also temporarily turn it into staffs, bricks, and other weapons. These are the nine primary spells or spell-like abilities of the "Magician," though neither particularly strong in offense nor defense, nor sufficiently unusual in variety. Still, their magic and diversity elevate Clarens' capabilities significantly, especially in survival and evasion. Furthermore, the "Magician" possesses a knack for swift spellcasting—these extraordinary beings require no incantations, no infusion of spirit—just a simple gesture to activate the corresponding spell or spell-like ability. In addition, potions grant Clarens a few minor tricks, though they lack substantial practicality. "A decent, if not outstanding, extraordinary being," Clarens murmured silently. As he prepared to step outside for a stroll and make a stop at the Heroes' Bar to pick up a revolver and ammunition, the softly crimson moonlight filtering through the bulging window suddenly deepened and thickened! Klein stared up in astonishment, only to find that the overcast clouds and mist had already dispersed, revealing a clear, well-rounded red moon—slightly more than a half-moon. Its outline rapidly expanded, and within just a few seconds, it had transformed into a full moon, glowing as bright and crimson as blood! Yet this had only happened just over two weeks after the last full moon. According to the standard calendar and astronomical cycles, the next full moon should have occurred in about ten days. This was a "blood moon," then? Klein's lips moved slightly, and he murmured to himself with a sense of relief. — In this world, the moon's changes follow both regular patterns and unpredictable rhythms. Under ordinary circumstances, it behaves exactly as Klein had experienced in his previous life. But every year, there are always certain instances when it suddenly becomes fully rounded and deeply crimson—these occurrences lack any clear explanation. Sometimes, such events happen just once a year; other times, they occur four or five times. Neither astronomers nor mystics can explain this phenomenon, and no clear patterns have been established—only that it is temporarily set aside as one of the mysteries. They often joke that perhaps the goddess has simply been in a bad mood lately, and there's no doubt that women's moods are inherently unpredictable. Of course, lacking a clear cause or understanding of the essence does not mean that no observable patterns exist. In mysticism, such occurrences are known as "Blood Moon," believed to elevate negative emotions and trigger outbursts, and to strengthen the powers of the underworld and spirit realms—so much so that even the deceased may rise from their graves without being awakened. "This must be the second one this year," said Kline, standing by the window with a slightly protruding frame, gazing at the clear, crisp sky and the full moon, round and vividly red, feeling in excellent spirits. ………… In a house within the Jowood district. For the evening gathering, Floss Woll was seated cross-legged on the living room sofa, eating a modern sandwich of meat and vegetables, her hair loose and flowing as she thought about the plot of her next novel. Suddenly, her brow furrowed, and she dropped both her food and her pen. The moonlight streaming through the window grew deeper, richer in hue, and Floss’s expression grew more and more painful. Every full moon, she hears those mad, incoherent murmurs! *Thump!* She tumbled off the sofa, twisting and writhing on the floor. After a while, she grabbed a large handful of hair, yet the pain failed to ease the sensation of her mind bursting, nor did it calm the restlessness that urged her to end her life with a single cut. "It's coming again…" Floss murmured in agony, her legs convulsing and straightening. She struggled to pronounce the sacred name of her deity, seeking salvation: "Great One, Steam, and God of Machinery..." "You are the Essence, the Embodiment..." "You are the Protector of Craftsmen..." "You are the Radiance of Technology, the Radiance..." "I'm dying... I'm dying..." She twisted and rolled, suddenly spotting a sheet of paper inscribed with ancient Hermes script. That was the mysterious incantation discovered by Tho in the *History of the Roon Kingdom's Nobility!* Her silent recitation had even summoned a presence that seemed like a malevolent spirit! Even if it were a spirit—so long as it could help me—I would be willing to accept... such a thought flickered faintly and vaguely through Fols' mind.