Steadfast Wizard: From Heart-Swapping Rat to Dimensional Demon God

"Dragon Flame!"

In the training ground, Barton and the others stood at the edge, watching with great interest Isaac in the middle of the training ground and the brown dragon lizard with two small pouches on its head at his feet.

Five meters in front of the lizard, there was a target.

At Isaac's command, the dragon lizard opened its mouth and spewed out a stream of fire, hitting the target precisely!

"boom!"

In the blink of an eye, the wooden target turned to ashes before the blazing dragon flames!

Seeing this, Isaac's eyes lit up, and a slight smile appeared on his lips. He squatted down and stroked the dragon lizard's slender head: "Not bad, well done!"

"Hoo hoo~" The dragon lizard snorted foolishly, its long, narrow eyes squinting under Isaac's caresses, thoroughly enjoying itself.

The dragon lizard had changed considerably since it arrived. Its brown scales were now thicker and more imposing, and the two horns on its head added to its majestic appearance. Although it was still more than half a meter long, it was wider than before, and some muscle outlines could be seen under its scales.

Most importantly, it has gained two new abilities: Dragon's Might and the Dragon Flame that was just demonstrated.

The dragon's might goes without saying; it's an ability possessed by all creatures with dragon blood. Its power varies greatly depending on the creature's strength and the amount of dragon blood it contains. As for the dragon lizard's dragon might...

Currently, it can only be used to scare rats, and even ordinary rats. The demon rats are not smart enough to be scared, and they are not afraid of being scared. The demon rats have become stronger, so they can't be scared anymore.

However, that's not that important. Dragon's might is just a byproduct. What's truly important is its physical body, enhanced by dragon blood, and its innate spell, Dragon Flame.

Dragonfire instantly boosts the dragon lizard's combat power to a whole new level. Although it can't be used very often, if the timing is right, it can easily kill small monsters of the same level with a single blow.

Of course, most importantly, after awakening the dragon blood, the dragon lizard's value skyrockets!

Every part of them is a treasure!

In particular, the throat of a dragon lizard that has awakened Dragonfire is a relatively precious magical material that can be used to modify itself, thereby enabling it to master the spell [Dragonfire]. Its market price is at least one hundred gold coins!

As for its combat strength, it is negligible. It has no wings, cannot fly, and does not know the Cliff-Breaking Sword, so it is still somewhat weak.

Even so, Isaac had no intention of selling it. He would keep it and see if he could raise a real dragon. After all, it was his first time raising one, so it had collectible value.

Of course, most importantly, the success of this dragon lizard has proven that his magic touch works on raising dragon lizards as well; the next step is simply to replicate it.

However, if you want to properly raise this dragon lizard, you'll need to learn a more binding contract spell.

Isaac patted the dragon lizard, stood up, and led it back to the breeding ground. The others exchanged glances, all seeing worry in each other's eyes. It seemed their young master needed them less and less...

Watching Isaac and the dragon lizard's retreating figures, the guards led by Barton had mixed feelings. To be honest, when they were first assigned to Isaac, they were quite frustrated because it meant they had no way to advance. If nothing unexpected happened, this would be their life forever.

But when Isaac became a wizard and helped Captain Barton break through to the Knights, the hope that had been extinguished in their hearts was rekindled!

Perhaps, they too can become knights?

Even a Grand Knight!

With this in mind, everyone's enthusiasm for training grew even stronger!

however……

The facts show that there was a reason they were assigned to Isaac; despite such a long period of intense training, apart from Barton, none of them had become a true knight...

Now, not only is Isaac becoming increasingly powerful, but he's also gained a group of magical creatures that look incredibly strong...

……

Isaac, who was heading to the breeding grounds, was unaware of the guards' complex feelings, but even if he had, he wouldn't have cared.

His thoughts on these people were actually the same as his family's. After all, they had served the family for so many years. They just needed a simple arrangement to ensure they would be well-fed and clothed for the rest of their lives. As for helping them advance further...

Isaac isn't stupid. Why would he spend so much money on them? Wouldn't it be better to use the same resources on himself? He doesn't want to be a king, so supporting so many people is pointless.

At most, he would take care of Smith and his son Barton.

After placing the dragon lizards in the pen, Isaac first tossed a few pieces of plump, enchanted wild boar meat to the two lizards. Then, he took out a small glass bottle from his pocket, carefully poured it into the mashed meat next to him, stirred it well, and sprinkled it into the rat enclosure.

Watching the mice devour the seasoned minced meat, Isaac's lips curled into a lewd smile.

He gave the mice a magic potion he had developed himself—spring had arrived.

It's a magical potion that enhances the desire to reproduce!

Let's try it on the mice first. If it works well, we can consider introducing some herbivorous monsters to improve the supply chain. That way, we won't have to go to the lake town to buy wild boar meat every few days.

After watching the mice finish eating the minced meat, Isaac gently closed the door, leaving the mice alone.

Afterwards, Isaac went straight back to the laboratory. Four days had passed since the exchange meeting, and they were supposed to set off for the fortress in the next two days. Before leaving, they needed to get several key experiments done.

For example, the research on flesh and blood mimicry has reached the final stage and we can start trying to produce it soon. For example, the demon rat has completed the initial integration with the divine network and can proceed to the next stage of condensing divine magic. For example, the cultivation plan for the demonized heart has been optimized and experimental data needs to be collected before departure, etc.

Back in the lab, Isaac's first task was to deal with the demon rat's divine magic...

"Tsk~ No materials..." Isaac looked helplessly at the demon rat tied to the operating table. The two stared at each other, speechless.

Shaking his head, Isaac put the bewildered hamster back into its cage. After looking around, he realized with a sigh that he couldn't seem to do any of his experiments right now...

Even though these projects are already very economical!

"Sigh~ I still need to make money... Maybe I can ask my family for help?" Isaac stroked his chin, and the more he thought about it, the more feasible the idea seemed. He wasn't alone, so why should he think about doing it all by himself?

He could totally partner with his family, with his family providing the capital and him providing the technology, and they could make a fortune together!

Reliable!

Isaac slammed his fist into his palm, and his mind opened up completely!

"Smith! Smith!"

"Whoosh!"

"Young Master, what's wrong?" A gust of wind swept by, and Smith, dressed in a tuxedo and holding a cane, appeared in front of Isaac in an instant. He gripped one end of the cane with his right hand, ready to strike, his expression tense.

"It's alright, don't be so nervous~" Isaac waved his hand and began to pack up the experimental data. "Let's pack up and head to the fortress."

"Now?" Smith was slightly taken aback.

"Well, there's nothing much to do here anyway, so let's pack up the demon rats and dragon lizards and bring them with us. They'll starve to death here."

"Yes, young master."

Upon hearing this, Smith didn't say much, just nodded, and turned to make arrangements. Isaac was right; there wasn't much to do at the castle. Isaac was the busiest person there, and if he was fine, then everyone else would be fine too.

……

Before long, the guards had packed everything up, looking completely bewildered, including the mice that were in heat. No one knew how much psychological trauma they must have experienced when they opened the warehouse door and saw that scene...

As for Isaac, although he was the busiest person in the territory, he was also the fastest to pack up. All he needed to collect were a few spellbooks and manuscripts of spell experiments, oh right, the cauldron and a few test subjects.

So after Patton and his men loaded the rats and dragon lizards onto the wagon, Isaac also climbed into the carriage, and the group set off in a grand procession toward Solomon Fortress on the border of their territory!

As before, the convoy did not carry much food, since they were not leaving their territory and could resupply in the towns along the way.

……

Three days later, at Solomon Fortress.

"What? The third brother is here?" Inside the fortress castle, a middle-aged man who was reviewing intelligence from the front lines looked up in surprise at the guards at the door.

"Yes, it seems that Master Isaac and the others... have all come." The guard looked somewhat surprised.

"Okay, I understand. You can go now." The middle-aged man put down the information in his hand in surprise, got up and walked out.

The guard bowed, then turned and left.

When the middle-aged man arrived at the fortress's residential area, he found that his second brother, Remington, and eldest sister, Cheryl, had already arrived and were looking at Isaac with surprise.

"Big brother!"

On the other side, Isaac, who was being scrutinized like a guinea pig, noticed the middle-aged man and waved his hand excitedly as if he had grasped a lifeline.

Caesar Solomon, the eldest son of House Solomon, is thirty-one years old. He is exceptionally talented in both cultivation and interpersonal relationships. Throughout the territory, whether it is the directly subordinate army or the few barons who have been granted titles, no one dares to disobey him.

He was also the person closest to Isaac.

As Caesar watched Isaac run toward him, he instinctively rushed to support him, only to realize then that his younger brother seemed to have truly become a wizard, transformed beyond recognition, his body now much stronger than before!

"Good! Good! Good!" Caesar patted Isaac on the shoulder excitedly and said "good" three times.

Remington and Cheryl exchanged a glance and smiled with relief.

"I'm sorry for making you worry all these years."

"We're all family, what's there to apologize for? Your well-being is more important than anything!" However, after calming down, Caesar frowned. "You know better than I do the dangers of legendary wizards. Since you've chosen this path, there's something I need to tell you beforehand: if one day you threaten the safety of our territory, I will kill you with my own hands!"

Isaac looked at Caesar's solemn expression, smiled and nodded; he knew what Caesar was talking about.

Legend has it that wizards' power comes from Outer Gods, making them one of the groups most enthusiastic about making deals with Outer Gods. Not only in history, but even in recent years there have been legends of wizards failing in their deals with Outer Gods, resulting in the entire kingdom being devoured by the Outer Gods!

Although in recent years, due to the gradual improvement of the Truth Wizarding System, many legendary wizards have gradually given up making deals with the Outer Gods, the historical achievements are still there, and there are indeed people who continue to devote themselves to it, such as the Mad Wizards Society to which Isaac belongs.

So there's nothing wrong with Caesar saying that, after all, he is Isaac's brother and the future lord of the Viscount Solomon's territory, and he needs to be responsible to his people.

However, it was a little too late to say that...

After all, Isaac was already a mad witch...

Of course, not all failed Outer God transaction rituals result in the loss of territory. Most of the time, only the wizard himself is swallowed up when the ritual fails, unless the wizard puts the territory on the gambling table during the transaction!

However, this step requires the wizard to have actual control over the territory. Not just any Tom, Dick, or Harry can gamble with someone else's territory. Isaac does not have this right, nor would he do so.

However, there's no need to explain the differences to them; it would only cause them trouble. In the future, when Isaac makes deals with the Outer Gods, he will leave the territory first.

Caesar gave Isaac a deep look, patted him on the shoulder, and changed the subject. Looking at the carriages covered in black cloth, he smiled and said, "I've heard you've acquired quite a few strange things. Tell us about them?"

"That's exactly what I wanted!" Isaac nodded emphatically. "Let's make it clear first, you can't just watch for free; you'll have to pay after you're done!"

"You brat, didn't I only give you a thousand gold coins?" Caesar patted Isaac's head and scolded him with a laugh.

"What can you do with a thousand gold coins? Barbarians are barbarians!" Isaac gave Caesar a disdainful look. "Spell experiments are expensive, aren't they, sis?"

"Hmm? Oh, yes." Cheryl, who was observing from behind the black cloth, turned around and nodded upon hearing this. After looking Isaac up and down, she said meaningfully, "Your ascension ceremony was at a witch's tea party? The odds of that are pretty low, aren't they? Legend has it that it's not a good thing for wizards to be so gamblers."

"Fortune favors the bold," Isaac shrugged, looking completely unconcerned.

Gambling is not knowing the outcome; investing is knowing the outcome.

"Come, come, let's not talk about that anymore. Let's see my research results! Big sister, you be the judge!" With that, Isaac lifted the black cloth of the first carriage, which contained two iron cages. One cage contained two dragon lizards, and the other contained more than a dozen demon rats. Most of the demon rats were somewhat listless, but a few of them were in good condition and, judging from their aura, were already pregnant.

"This is... a dragon lizard that has awakened its dragon blood?" Cheryl, the most knowledgeable of the three siblings, ignored the demon rat and looked directly at the dragon lizard, her eyes gleaming with admiration. "This one is about to awaken too? Is this the result of your research?"

"Hmph~" Isaac put his hands on his hips, with a smug look on his face. This was one of the reasons he brought the dragon lizard with him. He didn't need to look at anything else; just this dragon lizard was enough to secure funding!

"A dragon lizard? It has awakened dragon blood? Really?" Caesar asked in surprise.

Remington, standing to the side, was also shocked. Although they didn't understand magic, they knew how powerful dragons were!

How expensive!