[ When can I have another blessing Sir Knight? Even if its not a safe one, I’d be happy to get it sir. ]

Most of the natives were disappointed when Izo announced that regaining their former forms would come with issues. It would be facilitated with his own DNA and recombined traces of their own distorted one’s so there could be unseen consequences in the future. None of them wished to suddenly suffer from their bodies rejecting their organs thus suffering total organ failure.

However, this man in front of Izo couldn’t care less instead. He instead wanted to be modified into the “strongest life form” that would “inherit the world”. The criteria for that were unclear but having four claws pleased the man.

[ No, Jamsheed. I will not be held accountable for harming you. ]

Izo wasn’t going to be complicit to self-assisted suicide.

[ Please Sir Knight. Don’t worry I give my consent for whatever may come. I don’t mind having tentacles. ]

[ Why do you sound so excited about that? ]

[ Because tentacles! Also, I wish to have the wings of a bat too. Though hooves would be nice. ]

Jamsheed, part of the hunters, followed him as he trekked towards the clearing which functioned as the local park. The few people that were resting rose then they kneeled with one knee down with the other leg was stretched out front like a ballerina. Supposedly, the defenseless and hard to maintain position was meant to show respect to priest’s and knight alike.

Izo would like to say he was embarrassed by the attention but he was not. He liked the veneration in fact. As long as they didn’t do anything to hurt themselves in his name and he was deserving of the deference, Izo didn’t mind.

He wasn’t acting as a fake snake oil salesman the past day. There was no God backing him but with the orb’s capabilities he was not far behind them.

Due to the mutations that plaques the villagers here, a good percentage of them had unnecessary limbs, tumor like growths or hurtful musculature due to incompatible body traits. They were all treated.

It felt good to do good, what could Izo say? And if they repaid him with zealotry? He didn’t care.

[ Sir Knight. ]

In the middle of the clearing were the hunter cadre of the village. Characterized by being larger with better proportions, they held the important duty of procuring food for everyone. They also happened to be the least sane with Jamsheed wearing the crown as the most unhinged.

No one knew of the man’s past. Speculations were him being a vagabond, mercenary or adventurer. All of those exhibit traits that doesn’t fit an average citizen.

The man proved this point as he did a handstand with his original hands, spread out his new ones then spun like a top. He used this ridiculous method to join the others.

Jamsheed wasn’t the only with an improved body, every hunter received a metallic hand at the very least.

[ Friend! Knight! ]

Among them came Einheryar, the most powerful hunter by far. If the perfect genes for combat were gambled for then not only did, she roll multiple 6 die or get a royal flush on poker, she also got proposed to by the casino owner’s son and was gifted all of their establishments.

No weaknesses, straight up 50% better on all physical aspects compared to everyone here.

The only issue for now was her childlike intelligence. She was born with little intelligence so even when given that capability, Einheryar would have to take her time to reach adult intelligence.

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Izo got ignored as Einheryar circled the orb who didn’t know how to interact with this very energetic organism.

Perhaps it was because they were blank slates as both just gained cognition recently, Einheryar was very fascinated the crimson orb. She often asked it questions or invited it to play.

They were both very different forms of life however so their interactions can only be considered as weird. It was like having two computers that could send data to each other only the operating systems for both were different. There was bound to be some weird things happening as both tried to interpret what each computer was sending.

Izo wasn’t privy to what they were talking about right now. The orb was fine letting him eavesdrop but every organism has a right to privacy. He just watched them as the orb copied Einheryar’s circling so the native compensated. Soon, they were trying to out circle each other.

[ How goes the preparation Rosoa? ]

[ Good. If the wonder plants you were promising could be harvested later, the expedition team should be ready for 3 day stint into the inner lakes. ]

[ How’s everyone coping with their improved bodies? ]

[ Like a child with a new toy. Excited yet careful as it might break. ]

Why did Izo began modifying the genes of the hunters? It was simple, the note scavenging had not turned up anything at all. The mansions and offices of the Demigods have been searched thoroughly already. It was becoming apparent that no note on how enter the barrier’s control building exists. It was far safer to store it one’s mind than write something off the sort.

So, what to do then? Izo gathered everyone as they brainstormed the next step. From asking the Demigods themselves how to, to blindly searching for the Guardian herself, plans were raised then tossed aside. A workable plan came out from nowhere from the unlikeliest source.

[ Yes, Jamsheed? ]

[ Can’t you take a Demigod’s essence then look at their souls? Then give me their essence so I can become strongest! Make it tentacles however! ]

Izo ignored that last part then converted the religious nonsense from Rosoa into their real meaning.

‘The Demigod should be lifeforms. Can the orb copy their brains then implant them to another clone?’

He asked this exact question to the one who would be doing it.

[ Possible. ]

The orb explained a bit more but the gist was it depends on the Demigod’s condition. They might get lucky with their first Demigod or have to through all of them but at least there was a chance.

Izo informed everyone that he could do take their essence but he must be close to their soul to do so. Thus, the plan to find one of the Demigods and copy its genes came forth. It just so happened that they were likely very close to one.

The oldest of the villagers here described how Renegade Kassim and his gangs escaped to the sewers when the city above was falling. Criminal or not, the weak citizens hitch hiked with them and arrived here.

Everyone was confused and in a state of hysteria. The people bombarded Kassim with questions on what happened but the charming man turned reticent.

No one knows why but the last time he was seen was three days after arriving here. Kassim led his men deep into the lakes. The inner lakes were part of the city where monsters roam. With no adventurers among the bakers, smiths and peddlers, they had no chance of following them.

The Black Marshal and Academic Vhakin was very likely in the Black Fortress and the academy respectively so why prioritize Kassim?

The villagers need to be stronger just in case they have to face one of the Demigods. For that only gene modification would help and for that they need biomass.

Izo had asked the orb if it was possible to use the Ural’s electricity to power the gene modification. It was possible to research, only it would last 3 years. Unless an organism that had exhibit this electricity to cell energy gene could be found or other forms of energy generation, only biomass works for now.

This meant that the abundant life down here and the threat of the monsters makes the inner lakes the best training ground for the villagers.

‘The Ultimate Warrior Program.’

A ridiculously bombastic name, Izo knows. But not too farfetched. The village hunters would fight then eat then gain their foe’s strength.

Izo hoped that they could at least escape a Demigod by the end of this training. Then he would copy the finalized genes and modify himself.

The rest of the day passed as Izo mingled with the hunters. He got to know the decision makers (thankfully Jamsheed wasn’t part of them) and the accumulated strategies of the village. He would be a fool to dismiss their very valuable insights.

He determined that he should let them take point while he watched from the back. His blessing as a god’s emissary was more than help enough, they said.

The moment that everyone of the 20 man group was ready with their leather sacks, they set out. Not too large that they attracted the largest packs of enemy but not too small that they were powerless against everything. Their footsteps imprinted on the muddy soil as one man in a battle suit and natives that had regained their selves journeyed forth.

It was not too long before they encountered their first obstacle. A pack of two headed dogs bared their fangs against them.