Vile Evil Hides Under The Veil

Any normal ranker would be able to sense the deviation in mana signature because the transformation had caused the mana signature to spread around in the vicinity. Meaning an anthrope of Agatha's level cannot conceal their signature once they enter their transformed state.

That or Agatha just wasn't skilled enough yet to do it.

Eren got closer to Agatha while she was in her transformed state. He started looking at her transformed body keenly which put her in an awkward state. But she stood still to let her master continue what he was doing.

Eren started touching her skin and poking his fingers at her muscles. He was also using his mana sense to scan her entire body. Agatha started blushing because the butcher had already crossed the personal boundaries with this very act of his. That too with a straight face on.

'Reen, what do you think?'

Eren asked his beast companion. All his senses were shared with her so she was observing the Anthrope girl with him.

'Hmm. Her skeletal structure had changed along with her musculature. But they are on a superficial level. But her mana signature has changed drastically. And yet, one can conclude that she is a human.'

Eren kept on analyzing Agatha's body while caressing his chin. He thought of something and asked the C-Rank demon beast his next query:

"Reen, you have seen Ivor perform his transformation. What would be the difference between the transformations obtained through beast contract spell and therianthropy?'

Eren could deduce the differences himself but he wanted Reen's opinion since she could analyze these things on a deeper level than him because of her ranking status.

'Visually speaking, the two methods of transformation won't seem that different from each other. But the beast contract spell only focuses on changing the musculature of the ranker. Whereas, therianthropic transformation goes beyond just musculature alteration and changes the ranker's skeletal structure, only if temporary.

This slave of yours has tried her finest to play it cool in front of you. But I can assure you that the process must be painful. Unlike the beast contract spell, the therianthropic transformation causes a ranker to feel pain. But in return, they get a much larger boost in body state value than the beast contract spell users could ever hope for.

Her five senses and her mana sense also seem keener than they would be if suppose she had executed only the beast contract spell.

We have already discussed the deviation of the mana signature. Compared to the beast contract spell, the therianthropic transformation would make the ranker's mana signature deviate drastically.

Apart from these changes, I don't see anything to be different.'

Reen concluded her analysis and waited for her master to register his thoughts.

'Will we be able to copy the therianthropic transformation the way we did with the beast contract spell?'

Eren asked what he was thinking finally. He was almost sure that he would be able to copy the therianthropic transformation with Reen's help. But he asked just to be sure.

'Well, yeah. Your bones and your muscles have become pretty malleable ever since your transformation. You'd not suffer during your therianthropic transformation mimicry at all.

The cosmetic effects are easy to copy and produce. What you need to worry about is the deviation in the mana signature. It won't be the same as the beast contract spell. So alone, your bluff will be found out.

Hehe! But you are never alone. With my help, the deviation in mana signature is no biggie. I just need to sync the tiny bit of my mana signature with yours. And the very attribute of my mana signature would cause the biggest deviation in yours.'

Eren heard this and smiled.

'Let's do a demo of my therianthropic transformation shortly in front of this lass. I want to get her opinion.'

Eren commanded Reen to help him go through an anthrope-like transformation. The latter didn't have any problem with it. So she obliged:

Eren used the purple lightning beast as the base of therianthropic transformation. Therefore instead of fur, his transformation started producing distinct scales over his skin. And just like the real one, his stature increased and his height even crossed Agatha's enhanced height by 2 inches.

Eren's mana signature also deviated distinctly as his mana signature spread forth. One had to say that Reen had done her job fabulously. She had taken note of every little thing and made sure that all of them are implemented in Eren's therianthropic transformation mimicry.

Agatha was left dumbfounded after she saw Eren go through his transformation. At first, she had thought that Eren was executing the beast contract spell she knew him to be using. But her expressions and her thoughts changed as the latter had his transformation with her.

"Eren, how can you perform Anthrope transformation? Did you take on the path of therianthropy?"

'Why would I take the path that is but a mere imitation?'

Thought Eren to himself before leaving his slave to draw her conclusions. He wasn't obliged to answer her queries after all.

But his transformation had positively confirmed something for him. It meant that he could act as a genuine therianthrope as well. This was another card he wanted to have in his deck.

************************

The butcher would have never thought the card he had prepared in advance was going to get used so soon. After hearing Julie's demand to show him his therianthropic transformation, he was glad that he had come prepared. It had given him the confidence to play Julie's sudden curveball.

"I can indeed show you my therianthropic transformation. But do you think this is the time and place to do that?"

Eren asked Jules with his signature smirk. His intentions couldn't have been any clearer.

"Hehe! That night wasn't enough for me either, Ronny. Who says business and pleasure can't get along. Grand Hiyat is under some heat right now. So it might not be a good idea to go there.

But I know just the place. You just need to follow me.

Let's go. Show me the beast that's inside you."

AN: Julie's visual profile will soon be uploaded on VEH Discord and my Instagram handle. ;)