The Dread Knot cast a long, imposing shadow over Dr. Twice’s farmhouse. Below, nestled amidst rolling emerald hills, the estate unfolded like a scene from a forgotten fairytale. The charming farmhouse, draped in ivy, gleamed in the afternoon sun. Its windows, like watchful eyes, glittered with a hint of hidden secrets. Surrounding the farmhouse were a grand red barn, its weathered wood whispering tales of countless harvests; a greenhouse, its glass walls shimmering with the glow of exotic flora; and a cluster of smaller cottages, their smoke curling lazily into the sky, hinting at the lives of the unseen farmhands.
A wrought-iron fence, as tall as a man and intricately adorned with mythical creatures forged in dark metal, encircled the entire property. Buck Noname stood poised. With a practiced flick of his wrist, he muttered an incantation. The air crackled with unseen energy, and the nearby paddle boat, a sturdy wooden vessel adorned with the Dread Knot’s insignia, shimmered faintly. A magical aura, like a soft, blue firefly light, enveloped its hull, lifting it gently from the deck of the ship.
Inside the boat, Joyce, hands clasped tightly in her lap, exchanged a nervous glance with Rose. Sang, arms crossed and a scowl etched on his face, sat beside Dante, whose black, amphibious skin caught the sunlight. The scent of the farm, a heady mix of blooming flowers and damp earth, filled the air.
As the boat descended, the farmhouse grew larger, its details becoming more distinct. At the top of the grand staircase leading to the double oak doors stood a figure. Even from a distance, Dante could sense a vibrancy that emanated from this woman. Bianca Royo, Sang’s mother, was a picture of a wealthy explorer, her outfit a testament to a life spent traversing uncharted territories. A tailored, khaki-colored jacket, adorned with a multitude of pockets – each presumably containing a vital tool or trinket – hugged her slender frame. Sturdy, dark brown leather pants, tucked into knee-high boots that hinted at both function and style, completed her attire. A wide-brimmed hat, its shadow obscuring her upper face for the moment, sat atop a cascade of hair dyed a shocking combination of pink and silver, the colors woven together in a loose braid that tumbled over one shoulder. At about 5’6", she exuded an air of confidence and self-assuredness, her stance firm and commanding.
The boat touched down softly on the manicured lawn, and the group disembarked. As Sang stepped off, his jaw dropped. “What the fucking shit are you doing here?!”
he blurted out, his voice laced with disbelief. "You were supposed to be in the Duskburn Mountains, chasing after that damn legendary Inunu!"
Bianca’s reaction was a hearty laugh. Reaching over, she ruffled her son’s hair with a playful gesture. “Jules,” she explained, “contacted me about your unusual Inunu. I had to come see the lab results for myself. Seems you even managed to bring him back, and if I’m not mistaken, he’s morphed! What was his name again? Morning, wasn’t it?”
A smile played on her lips as she turned towards the grand doors, her voice ringing out, “Jules! We’re coming down to the lab so you can take another look at Sang’s Inunu!” The doors swung open with a soft creak, revealing a glimpse of a bustling hallway, before shutting once more. The air inside was cool and filled with the scent of old books and fresh herbs. Bianca led the group through the corridor, her boots clicking against the polished wooden floor. The walls were lined with portraits of past explorers and scholars, their eyes seeming to follow the visitors as they passed.
Sang, still reeling from the shock of seeing his mother, trailed behind, his mind racing with questions. Joyce and Rose exchanged curious glances, while Dante walked with a cautious grace, his red eyes taking in every detail.
They descended a spiral staircase that led to the basement laboratory. The lab was a marvel of modern and arcane technology, with glass tubes bubbling with mysterious liquids, and ancient tomes lying open on sturdy wooden tables. The room was illuminated by a soft, ethereal glow emanating from enchanted crystals embedded in the walls.
Dr. Twice was already there, adjusting a series of dials on a large, intricate machine. She looked up as they entered, a smile spreading across her face. “Ah, you’ve arrived! Perfect timing. We’re just about ready to begin the examination.”
Bianca nodded, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Let’s get started then. Sang, bring Morning over here.”
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Sang guided Dante to the center of the room, where a circular platform was set up. The platform was surrounded by various instruments and devices, all designed to analyze and study magical creatures. Dante stepped onto the platform, his wings folding neatly against his back.
Dr. Twice began the examination by activating a series of runes etched into the platform. The runes glowed with a soft blue light, and a translucent dome formed around Dante, encasing him in a protective barrier. “This will help us get a detailed scan of his current form,” Dr. Twice explained.
A holographic display appeared above the platform, showing a 3D model of Dante’s body. The model rotated slowly, highlighting different aspects of his anatomy. Dr. Twice pointed to the screen. “As you can see, the transformation has altered his physiology significantly. The draconic wings are a new development, and the spikes along his back suggest a defensive adaptation.”
Bianca leaned in, her eyes narrowing as she studied the display. “Fascinating. And what about his internal structure? Any changes there?”
Dr. Twice nodded and adjusted a few more dials. The holographic model shifted to show Dante’s internal organs. “His heart and lungs have increased in size to support the additional muscle mass required for flight. There’s also a new gland near his throat, likely responsible for producing the fire-like breath we’ve observed in other draconic species.”
As Dr. Twice continued her analysis, she glanced at Sang and pulled up his adventurer ID card on a nearby screen. The details flashed up, providing a comprehensive overview of his abilities and stats:
Name: Sang Ace Royo
Level: 27
Species: Human
Gender: Male
Age: 12
Alignment: Neutral
Class: Tamer
Body-
Height: 5’4"
Health: 90
Strength: 81
Dexterity: 75
Stamina: 100
Style: 93
Mind-
Mana: 81
Intelligence: 69
Charisma: 81
Luck: 24
Skills-
Perception
Communication
Meditation
Literacy
Tech savvy
Combat
Street Smarts
Good with Inunus
Persuasion
Stealth
Survivability
Dr. Twice nodded approvingly. “Impressive stats for someone your age, Sang. It’s no wonder you’ve managed to tame such a remarkable creature.”
She then turned her attention back to the holographic display, which now showed Morning’s stats:
Name: Morning
Level: 21
Typing: Draconic Faerie
Gender: Male
Age: 5 days
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Body-
Height: 3’6"
Length: 4’9"
Health: 155
Strength: 150
Dexterity: 147
Stamina: 120
Style: 48
Mind-
Mana: 150
Intelligence: 145
Charisma: 150
Luck: 16
Skills-
Acid Breath
Assault
Dragon’s Drive
Extreme Regeneration
Pain Absorbing
Plasma Charge
DNA Morphing
Blink
???
Sang watched in awe, his earlier frustration forgotten. “I can’t believe how much he’s changed. It’s like he’s a completely different creature.”
Bianca smiled and placed a hand on her son’s shoulder. “That’s the beauty of magic and evolution, Sang. Creatures adapt and grow in ways we can’t always predict. You’ve done an incredible job bringing him back.”
Dr. Twice finished the examination and deactivated the runes, causing the dome to dissipate. “Well, that concludes the initial scan. We’ll need to run a few more tests to fully understand the extent of his abilities, but for now, I’d say you’ve got a remarkable specimen on your hands.”