Chapter 86: Insidious Influence.
I felt an explosion within my chest and only later realized it was my heartbeat.
No. That was wrong.
It was the simultaneous beating of many, many hearts.
Forcing crimson vitae through my arteries and veins with such force that I feared my cardiovascular system might rupture.
It all came on as a tidal wave of pleasure, washing away all my doubts. My woes and worries and self-inflicted insecurities vanishing like morning mist.
For the briefest of seconds, it was as though there was no cobweb. No traces of the foggy futures that had been changing more and more up to that point.
I stopped caring about all of it. The System, the enforcers, the Spider and its newfound role, Anezka and Mittens’ role in further tormenting my family.
It was as if they were still there, but fainter. Their images less focused in my eyes. Less, like people and more like…
Meat.
Sweet, malleable, wonderful meat. So full of potential, yet so very caged in those puny outlines. Those static forms.
Their cells were crying out. Billions of years of continuous evolution and genetic memory begging to be freed. Pleading for their full potential to be unleashed.
Level Gained: +50 Maximum Psy. +8 Ability Points.
Level Gained: +50 Maximum Psy. +8 Ability Points.
Level Gained: +50 Maximum Psy. +8 Ability Points.
Ability Evolving: [Solomon’s Perfect Vicissitude X] 12 has grown to [Solomon’s Perfect Vicissitude X] 13.
Ability Evolving: [Solomon’s Protean Form X] 12 has grown to [Solomon’s Protean Form X] 13.
Ability Gained: [Predator’s Instincts] 2 has been added to the Status.
Three more levels in Shifter came and went without much fanfare. The 24 new points adding themselves to the 7 I had left. Being spent without much so much as an iota of hesitation.
It was then, that I fully appreciated how very different [Predator’s Instincts] was from something like [Meditation] or [Sense Thoughts]. It wasn’t a soothing, calming, steadying influence. It wasn’t a clear-cut series of impressions within a certain area of effect.
No.
The instincts were a whole paradigm shift. One that made me stop seeing people as people.
‘How scary. Is this what all those Shifters back home felt when they snapped and munched on innocent bystanders? Is this what Prudence felt every time she looked at Ryan? Is this what Boris has had to deal with, every minute of every day? How very scary. That someone as strong as me can feel this way about them all. How terrifying is it, that this was all it took to make the guilt and the doubts go away? How horrifying is it, that I don’t feel any sense of wrongness about my new perspective? How monstrous would I become, if I only indulged a little bit further?’
I blinked once and only once. My eyes taking in the darkened chamber as if it were lit up by the noon sun. The shadows all but disappearing as every inch of the space was revealed.
The sounds became clearer too. My ears adjusting so that I could make out the heartbeats of everyone present. From Slab’s monotone picture of calm to Dusty’s hesitant beat. From Charlie’s determined song to Ryan’s panicked screech.
I called upon my willpower to blot out the bestial senses.
De-activating the new ability with every ounce of my willpower. Silencing the new voice that whispered sweet nothings into my ear before it could corrupt me further.
Yet, something marvellously dreadful happened.
I heard him.
It.
Again.
The Seeking Drake.
Speaking not through my mind, but through the hunger in my cells. The old instincts kicking in for the first time since I’d absorbed him into myself. Mere echoes of the bloodlust it had once commanded, but still potent enough to explode.
I stepped forward and punched.
That was it. That was all I did.
At least, what my conscious mind managed to grasp.
Then, Mr. Park, Charlie, Esmeralda and Fernando flew backwards as the sound of a shotgun being fired spread throughout the arena. Blackened spears of bloodied bone sticking out of their frames as their own [Regeneration] struggled to keep up.
I looked down at my left arm, mouth agape. Only to see a stump rapidly reforming into a human hand.
And when I say rapidly, I meant within fractions of a second. My own nervous system making everything appear as if in slow motion.
‘What the (Gnome) happened?’ I thought incredulously. My eyes going back to the descriptions of my abilities.
[Solomon’s Protean Form X]
Grants the User the ability to alter any of their biological systems, including the Muscular, Skeletal, Nervous, Lymphatic, Cardiovascular, Digestive, Respiratory, Endocrine, Excretory and Reproductive systems to the purpose of adapting to the current biome and immediate situation. Alterations are made at a rate of + 700 % of their current total body mass at a cost of 300 Psy per second. Alterations made through this ability have no upkeep costs. Alterations made through this ability enhance regenerative effects by + 20 % per current ability level.
Biological systems may be strengthened, weakened or re-arranged with each other to create new transformed forms from their base components. Abilities that correlate to particular biological systems, such as [Claws] or [Pincers] in relation to the Muscular and Skeletal systems receive a passive + 150 % boost to effectiveness and a passive negation of upkeep costs.
All Tolerance Shifter abilities are boosted by + 20 % per current ability level at no extra cost.
The potency of all these effects increases by 300% every five levels.
These effects can be overcharged with Psy through this ability.
[Solomon’s Bio-Chemical Thaumaturgy X]
Grants the User the ability to produce various chemical compounds within themselves, including Adhesives, Acids, Combustible Compounds, Cooling Compounds, Conductive Compounds, Fissile Compounds and Radioactive Compounds at a rate of + 700 % of their current total body mass at a cost of 1000 Psy per second. Compounds created through this ability may be stored or re-absorbed at no extra cost.
All foreign compounds of similar nature may be absorbed and broken down at a rate of + 500 % of the User’s current total body mass at a cost of 1000 Psy per second.
Grants the User the ability to spawn drones from their own mass at a rate of 500 Psy per every 5 ability levels the drone might possess. Drones receive all of the User’s Shifter abilities at birth, though they inherit these abilities starting at level 1 with none of the corresponding Titles. Drones may Infect or Hijack other living targets in order to gain access to their abilities. Affected targets must sever the physical connection between them and the drone before their nervous systems are taken over. Targets that fail to resist have their bodies overtaken at different rates and costs, depending on their level difference with the drone. Their minds remain unaffected and conscious throughout the process. Affected targets are freed as soon as the Drone either kills them or runs out of Psy. Affected targets may be controlled and monitored through pheromones, as they will begin to form a Pheromonal Hierarchy with the User at the top and any subsequent drones on lower rungs.
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Grants the User the ability to produce natural pheromones within themselves that may attract or ward off susceptible biological targets, as well as serve as a means with which to communicate with susceptible targets or drones at a rate of + 500 % per 5 current ability levels and a cost of 200 Psy per hour. Affected targets within the range of the pheromones or who produce pheromones of their own will continue to be affected at no extra cost besides the cost of producing their own pheromones. Pheromones may cover an immediate area of up to 100 metres away from the User’s producing organs or the equivalent organs of affected drones. This limit may not be exceeded through Shifter abilities.
The potency of all these effects increases by 300% every five levels.
These effects can be overcharged with Psy through this ability.
I had seen all of it before, of course. I had used the cooling compounds to keep myself comfortable while in the magma chamber.
Yet new applications revealed themselves to me now, as I used my Telepathic abilities to [Dominate] my body into stillness while I searched my memories for answers.
‘It was the combustible and fissile compounds.’ I realized with a start. ‘My body fought back by producing them in my elbow and concentrating them before activation. Then it adjusted my bones so that they flew in the intended direction before the whole thing exploded. It was a biological grape shot.’
On the one hand, that was undoubtedly awesome and a nifty trick to pull off on a dime. Especially if I didn’t necessarily need to be conscious for it to happen.
On the other hand… holy (Gnome). I almost killed these guys on reflex. Without using my Telepath abilities.
Worse yet, if I could do it…
‘The Drake will most certainly be capable of doing it too. On a scale I cannot even begin to fathom.’
Subutai and Gina had leapt to either side of me so as to not get caught up in the blossoming eruption and they now stared at the carnage with wide-eyed fascination. Stellio only managed to tuck and roll to the side, holding his arms up to shield his head as he lay helplessly on the floor.
“Stop!” I bellowed.
Putting a stop to the fight before things could get more out of hand. Not that everyone needed to be told.
Jane had collapsed into a fit of sobbing as soon as the improvised cannon had fired. Ryan was nowhere to be seen. Activating my cobweb again showed that he was currently sprinting down the main halls of the Warehouse. His mind blaring with panicked recollections of his time in Pandemonium, and the things he’d seen in there.
“Time out!” I called out again. Just to make doubly sure we were on the same page.
The last thing I needed now was a situation that forced me to [Dominate] folks to keep panic from spreading.
Then I rushed over to the fallen. Healing their bodies with a burst of Psy and bringing them to their feet once more.
“Are you well enough to walk?” Slab asked Mr. Park. The latter coughing up bits of dried blood as his hands patted down the spot where a mortal wound had blossomed moments prior.
“Yes.” He said after a few seconds. “Yes. I… I will manage. I was simply taken by surprise is all. I had expected a lunging attack and a fistfight. Not… that.”
He took a few more steadying breaths. His old, wrinkled face twitching with faint traces of phantom pain before he managed to get himself fully under control.
“That was impressive Sully.” He said afterwards. His expression schooled into one of parental approval, despite the turbulent terror gripping his heart.
‘He almost died.’ I thought to myself. ‘And he knows as much. Yet he manages to keep his demeanor pleasant and affable. To put the others at ease. To keep panic and division from spreading.’
It had worked too. At least, to an extent.
Charlie had managed to put up a [Force Wall] and [Force Bubbler] at the last second using those speedster reflexes of his. That, and the sum total of his Enhancer and his newfound Shifter abilities had turned what would have been a lethal shot into a crippling one.
The fact that he’d been unable to dodge the projectiles disturbed him, but not overly so. This was merely another lesson. Another mountain to climb. Another hurdle to leap over.
I peeked at his status and saw that he had gained two new levels in Shifter just from that. All of them being spent automatically in order to increase his levels in [Regeneration], [Muscular System] and [Nervous System].
‘Not [Predator’s Instincts] though. The power is screaming at him to flee alongside Ryan. To put anyone and anything on hand between himself and me. Charlie’s own battle instincts are stronger, in a sense. His pride will not allow him to accept defeat so easily.’
In contrast, Fernando and Esmeralda had not possessed any such inclination. The two had fled down the hall right after Ryan as soon as they were upright. Every single hair on their bodies standing on end as their minds surrendered to those primordial whispers urging them towards survival.
I would have shaken my head, but my body refused to listen. Some part of me salivating at the prospect of chasing them down. As a cat would two rats.
‘Control yourself.’ I ordered my body. [Dominating] it once more.
‘Do not let go. Do not let in. Do not be enslaved by your baser desires. You are human. Act like it!’
The order made things better. Supressing the Dark Voice and its vile temptations. I tried to shut the ability off and actually felt it give way. From my body, as well as my mind.
‘Damn it. I’m going to need to keep my body under [Domination] from now on, aren’t I? At least, every time I fight as a Shifter. Which is going to be more often, now that I see it’s the only way to get levels there. Damn it all! No. No, stop it. There are still ways of salvaging this Sully. Not every fight is going to be against people. I could just as easily head over to the poison swamp and join Randall. Or I could swim out into the void where Dolce came from. His cousins are more than strong enough and they spawn fast enough that none are likely to be missed. I can breathe underwater now, so it would be easy. Yes. That’s it.’
I checked the future again and managed to somewhat make out my figure tearing leviathans apart. Grinning like a maniac.
‘Good. Great. That’s that. No more levelling Shifter when I have people around me. Not until I have the instincts back under control.’
System Notice:
Student: Solomon Carter, has been banned from receiving System Rewards for their performance in the Tutorial.
Student: Solomon Carter, has been banned from appearing on the Leaderboards.
Student: Solomon Carter, will be flagged on the forums once they activate for all other Students.
Student: Solomon Carter, will have all their Store Tokens confiscated and will not be able to gain any more Store Tokens within the Tutorial.
Student: Solomon Carter, will not be allowed to challenge the Hidden Boss: New Moon Spider. Any attempt to do so will teleport the Student to Human City.
Student: Solomon Carter, will lose access to special Tutorial Events.
Student: Solomon Carter, will not be allowed to compete as a regular challenger in the Tutorial Tournament.
Student: Solomon Carter, will be flagged as a delinquent Student to all other Students in the Tutorial.
Student: Solomon Carter, will be cloned and used as a non-lethal, punitive Boss encounter for all Students in the Tutorial.
Further measures are under consideration.
I would have groaned then, if I still had a normal body.
The new developments clouding the images in the cobweb even further as I reeled back from the changes.
‘Bro. I can’t even… I mean. The two enforcers that did actually die did so because they had sudden heart attacks! I didn’t even do anything that bad! I call hax!’
“Uh, Sully? Did you see the new screen?” Charlie asked. His mind suddenly free from all other lines of thought.
“Yeah.” I answered. “It would seem that the System ran out of ways of messing with me directly and now wants to punish all humans as a group. It probably figures I won’t re-offend if it holds the rest of you guys hostage. I mean, I personally don’t care about any of the rewards. They’re merely stuff and Store Tokens and there’s nothing I can get right now that would peak my interest. There’s not much I want to buy either. Except mirrors to talk to my parents and my friend Vince, I guess. But I can just get someone else to pay for me. That wouldn’t work if everyone loses access to the System rewards. Besides, you guys could use some of the things being offered.”
“Monique will simply have to make do with Cherub.” Slab echoed me. “We have to think about all the people in the Tutorial as a whole, rather than individuals.”
“I agree.” Dusty spoke. “As bad as it sounds, she’ll just have to rely on Cherub.”
“It’ll be fine.” I assured them. “Whatever you might say about Cherub, he’s got the right idea when it comes to protecting people. He won’t let those kids come to harm.”
“I have no idea what any of you are talking about.” Stellio muttered. “But I’m more worried about this whole, non-lethal boss thing. Does that mean we’ll have to fight you?”
He was doing his best to keep his voice steady. He wasn’t having much success.
“Not until after we come back.” I told him. “I think you guys might be transported to a separate dimension before being sent back here. No matter how much I try, I can’t seem to see a future where anyone of us dies.”
“There are worst fates than death out there, boss.” Gina reminded us. “I don’t like the sound of this. Not one bit.”
I agreed wholeheartedly, but there was little I could do about it at this point.
“Enough about that.” Collette chided us. “What’s done is done. It isn’t as if we didn’t benefit from Orphan Maker’s help too. That was blatant cheating on his part, but not one of us said anything. It’s time to pay for those advantages. Whatever comes, it was well deserved, at least for us. The people I really pity are those on the other difficulties. I can’t imagine they will have a fun time of it and they didn’t do anything to deserve this.”
Mr. Park nodded his agreement.
“Quite right. There is no point dwelling on those grievances. I would much rather learn from this recent bout instead. Sully, how did you know to turn your arm into a cannon? I never saw you training with Raj and you didn’t train with me either.”
“Oh. That. I just, did it.”
They all looked at me. Narrowing their eyes.”
“You just, did it?” He asked again.
“Yes. You shot me and I evolved [Predator’s Instincts] and then, it all came naturally. My body adapted my bones and created a buildup of combustible chemicals by my elbow and fired it.”
“It happened within a second.” Stellio reminded me, as if I didn’t already know that. “Less than a second. I didn’t react until after the shot rang out. I thought you pulled out a sawn-off shotgun or three from your ring.”
“Well, I didn’t. I guess that’s just… talent. I don’t know what else to tell you.”
Granted, it wasn’t my talent, but the Drake’s. But that would have been tricky to explain at best and I didn’t want the others knowing about that aspect of my plans just yet. Lest some of them start to worry that they might be next on the menu after Randall.
“I suppose this what my tribesmen talked about when they mentioned scions blessed by the heavens.” Subutai spoke after he’d taken some time to recuperate. “It was hard to imagine myself winning against you earlier. Now, that hope seems further away than ever before.”
“Don’t lose hope friend. It was actually closer than you think.” I lied. Hoping to encourage him. “You have the advantage of three Types and I have no doubts that you’ll surpass me eventually.”
Subutai donned a skeptical expression.
My gaze wandered from his form to that of Jane. She was crumpled over. Crying into Louise’s shoulder and begging to stop the training. That gesture brought mixed feelings out of me.
On the one hand yes, I did go too far and yes it hurt far more than it should have. She was perfectly within reason to want to stop, despite not being hit herself. It was the normal, human reaction to almost dying.
On the other hand, she was lagging behind on levels and worked out once a week, if that. Things would only get more complicated if this event was her last outing in the training field.
While I considered this, my eyes turned to Dusty. Her cheeks flushed with exertion and fury.
“Stop.” Slab chided from the side. “Do not pity your fellow warriors. Weak as they might be, at least they showed up.”