"Speaking of which... when did you gain the ability to create something like this?"
Laxus continued chatting with Ankh in the study, toying with the new necklace, and unintentionally brought up this question.
Ankh found it troublesome to explain the complexities of Divine Power to a mortal, so he replied vaguely, "It's my new Magic. It allows me to create small tools like this by manipulating life energy."
Laxus nodded, accepting the explanation.
He casually remarked, "Tools like this are quite rare. Can you make other types? Maybe something for Evergreen?"
"I'm still researching..."
Ankh stroked his chin thoughtfully, leaning back in his chair.
In truth, his development of Life God Power was planned to progress simultaneously in three directions.
The first was naturally the plan to deify his own physique.
Ankh intended to incorporate all special physique sequences, particularly those of the powerful Dragon Race, into his own body.
He aimed to use quantity to achieve a qualitative change in the end—evolving into a higher being.
This plan was currently progressing slowly, with a high degree of difficulty.
Moreover, the required data samples were scarce—especially pure Dragon Force, which was hard to collect without killing his friends—making the plan difficult to advance.
The second plan involved tools like the Dragon Gem.
Ankh aimed to store the physiques or Magic attributes of special races to help his guildmates cultivate and grow stronger.
Aside from the powerful and difficult-to-adapt dragon race, Ankh also wanted to find a gentle yet strong special race to create Life Gems, enabling everyone in the guild to strengthen in bulk without turning into monsters.
Significant progress had already been made in this area, and now it was just a matter of collecting samples.
In addition to these, there was one more research project—the ultimate goal.
To truly create a Life, or even a special race.
In Ankh's memory, the Black Wizard Zeref had succeeded in this plan, so there was no reason he couldn't do it too.
Thus, after sending off Laxus—who had come to his place primarily to freeload food and drinks—Ankh immediately began his research without delay.
To start creating life, Ankh decided to begin with the simplest forms.
Let's start small.
Ankh took a deep breath.
A white-gold light wrapped around his fingers.
As his fingers trembled slightly in the air, threads of Divine Power slowly wove a small form in mid-air, like weaving cloth from invisible silk.
The sequence of flesh and blood... added.
The sequence of organs... added.
Then, add some Magic talent and resistance...
As for intelligence... for now, just a little bit. We don't need it doing math.
Consciousness... loyal and honest... and it'd be best if it could also create a bit of lively atmosphere...
After a long, long time, when the moon outside the window had grown hazy and the candles burned low, Ankh's delighted cry finally rang out.
"Done!"
Ankh withdrew his hand, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and felt his back was somewhat damp.
Indeed, the plan to start by creating a small creature was the right one.
The Divine Power consumed in creating life from scratch was far greater than that used to make gems for modifying existing physiques.
It was just a simple animal, yet it nearly exhausted him to death.
Ankh gazed with satisfaction at the ground, where a small black-and-white creature lay curled up on the rug.
It was a fluffy little ball, its eyes tightly shut, its pink nose twitching slightly as if trying hard to sniff this unfamiliar world.
This was a creature Ankh had created based on his past life memories—a Husky puppy.
The little creature was covered in soft, sparse fur, its coat a mix of black and white, feeling as smooth as the finest silk.
Its tiny paws were plump and pink, like unopened flower petals, tightly curled together.
Ankh had created a newborn puppy, and regardless of anything else, he had put considerable effort into crafting this adorable appearance.
The puppy slowly opened its tightly shut eyes. Upon seeing Ankh for the first time, it let out excited cries.
"Arooo?"
However, being newly born, it couldn't bark properly yet, only emitting sharp whimpering sounds.
Ankh grinned, picking up the puppy. "Little cutie, how about we call you Seram?"
[Get lost.] Seram voice who had been silent in his mind for a long time, suddenly spoke up with annoyance.
Unsurprised, Ankh picked up the puppy and asked cheerfully in his mind.
"So, Seram, can you spot any flaws? It's breathing, it's moving."
[This is a complete life, but it's not perfect. You'd better create fewer things like this.]
Ankh was taken aback and asked, puzzled, "What do you mean by 'not perfect'?"
[It is indeed a life you created, but you gave it a beginning without granting it an end.]
Seram's voice turned solemn.
[To truly create a perfect life, both Life Divine Power and Death God Power must be applied simultaneously, giving it a complete cycle. But this dog, while called a life, is essentially an extension of your Divine Power.]
[Its lifespan is bound to yours, making natural death difficult. Just like that thing with the disgusting taste, a life without an end ultimately remains stagnant—merely a tool you've created.]
Ankh scratched his head, feeling that Seram's definition of life was rather strange.
Still, there was some truth to it. Unless Ankh willed it, this puppy's life would have no visible end.
Such a life, entirely dependent on Ankh, was indeed more like a tool or a puppet.
Moreover, it couldn't exist independently of him and constantly consumed a fraction of his Divine Power to exist.
Fortunately, it was only a very weak life, Ankh thought.
Otherwise, if I made a human like this, I might not even have the ability to sustain it.
So, to create true independent life, Death God Power must be incorporated as well... It seems the path to creating humans is fraught with challenges.
'Ah, well, I'll just keep trying... I still owe Ultear a debt, after all.'
And so, ignoring Seram's roaring in his mind, Ankh renamed the puppy "Serpy."
He then asked a maid to buy some animal milk to feed the little creature, while he himself returned to the grand endeavor of creating life.
...
The next day.
It was the day of the Magic Parade.
"Ankh!?"
Lucy was startled by the visage of the young man entering the guild.
She pointed at his face and exclaimed, "Ankh, did you stay up all night?! Those are some serious dark circles! You look like a panda!"
Ankh yawned, shuffling in. "Pretty much. I didn't sleep at all."
Mirajane looked at him with concern and said, "Are you okay? We still have to dance at the grand parade tonight. You can't look like a zombie."
"Minor issue." Ankh wiped his hand over his face.
Swish.
The heavy dark circles instantly vanished and his skin returned to a perfect, glowing state.
Mirajane: !!!
The other girls present: !!!
"How did you do that?!"
"Teach me!"
Subsequently, amid the girls' requests for things like dark circle removal, anti-wrinkle treatments, and beauty enhancements, Ankh had no choice but to busy himself again.
This was just a minor application of Life Divine Power—something like forcibly altering one's constitution to prevent acne and dark circles.
But to the women of Fairy Tail, it was a miracle greater than dragon slaying!
After satisfying the customers, Ankh approached the two swordswomen.
"Oh, by the way, Erza and Kagura. These two swords are for you."
Ankh handed over two wrapped bundles.
Erza took the sword handed to her by Ankh.
It was a beautiful western blade.
Kagura beside her also received a blade—a katana considerably longer than herself.
She held it, asking curiously, "Why are you suddenly giving us swords?"
Ankh explained. "A meeting gift for Kagura, and a replacement for the one you broke. Also, a small experiment with my own magic. I'd like you two weapon experts to test them out."
Erza drew the sword from its scabbard.
Shing.
She examined the snow-white blade with puzzlement. "It's very sharp... and the magic power attached to it feels somewhat different? It feels... warm?"
Ankh smiled mysteriously.
"Don't underestimate these blades. Though they appear ordinary, they're actually alive~"