He wanted to experiment on the sword and the liquids more extensively than he did last time. He couldn't imagine the payoff for discovering amazing properties and how they could be applied to modern knowledge.
He descended through the base's shaft and reached the big storeroom. As he remembered, all his hoard was waiting for him in a corner, wanting to be experimented on! He picked up the sword and admired its blade, marveling at the dark green sheen coming off of the weapon.
Prometheus started by slowly creating a Pyrocyte gland and moving to the opposite corner. He opened his mandibles and launched a jet of flame toward the sword, focused on what would happen. He could see the sword starting to emit bright light, but not changing any other way. He stopped the flame breath, moved closer to it, and experimented with a fireproof limb, noticing how the sword seemed to maintain its original strength and stability despite the heat. He went outside with it and lowered it into the river, making steam rise. After moving it up to his eyes, Prometheus couldn't detect any structural changes. That was incredibly impressive, given that he had spent half of his energy reserves to create that jet of flame. Next, he made a pit in the ground and filled it with super-concentrated Sulfuric acid, whcih took almost the other half of his stored calories.
He slowly lowered the sword into the pit. Before he was too late, he realized he would lose this cool sword if it wasn't corrosive resistant enough. Now that he thought about it, didn't the sword that he absorbed after coming into this world look similar to this one? Checking his memory confirmed that they looked to be made of the same material. He had been too hasty to absorb it in a rush to find information. Only now had he realized his mistake. If only I had more copies of these items...He lacked the resources to make a molecular-3d printer. He regretted trying to melt the sword down, but thankfully it still looked immaculate. From now on, he wouldn't conduct experiments that might ruin or damage his unique items. Of course, if he had copies, he would experiment to his heart's content.
He dropped the sword down and fell deep into thought. What else could he experiment on without risking his hoard's integrity? His glance shifted to the rejuvenating liquids, and suddenly some ideas sprouted in his mind.
He checked their chemical compositions and made sure that all four bottles contained the same blue liquid. First, he decided to check its boiling point. He hesitated at using more energy for the flame thrower but then settled on making a permanent furnace and using that to heat the liquids. He went outside to look for suitable materials for the furnace and settled on using some clay he found on the bed of the nearby river and some rocks for the structure. He used his mandibles to cut the rocks into identical blocks, and finally, he collected some sand to prevent the clay from breaking in the heat. Prometheus placed the blocks neatly and used the clay to glue the blocks together. Then, after making sure that the clay had dried, he applied the sand to the exterior. The interior of the furnace had been lined with a layer of sand, which Prometheus had packed tightly to protect the stones from the intense heat. Raw materials could be placed directly on top of the sand layer for smelting. The furnace had been fueled by wood or other combustible materials, which Prometheus had placed inside the cavity through a small opening located at the front of the furnace.
The furnace had been insulated with a thick layer of sand, which Prometheus had packed tightly around the exterior of the furnace to protect it from thermal stress. A small chimney had been located at the top of the furnace, which had allowed smoke and gases to escape, preventing the buildup of dangerous fumes. He also created a stone chimney to the outside through the storeroom entrance so the smoke would escape. He had been quite proud of his creation even though it had been extremely primitive and simple. Before he could start a fire, he was interrupted by the Hacker,
Congratulations! For having built a nearly perfect stone furnace, you obtained a new skill!
Skill: Low-rank Stonemasonry.
Interesting. Just making this extremely simple and primitive furnace is enough to get a skill? I'll have to experiment more with the System. Now that I think about it, I also got a digging skill; I should test it now and see what it actually does.
He went outside and started digging a random pit in the ground and realized something peculiar. The dirt he was digging into seemed a bit softer and easier to get through, even though it seemed normal in its structural integrity. This skill would be quite advantageous. He also wondered what difference there was between the Digging skill and Zilch's Burrowing skill. Given that they were differently named, it stood to reason that they did something different as well. He would ask Zilch after experimenting with his skills and collection. Stonemasonry was similar in that it allowed him to cut stone slightly more easily and with more precision, which surprised him. He considered his precision almost perfect, but the skill clearly showed him the opposite.
Prometheus could feel the potential in these skills; With a high enough Stonemasonry level, he could be precise on the atomic level, and with a high Digging skill, he might be able to dig up hills with just a few swings. He suddenly shuddered at the thought of beings that lived long enough to get their skills to insane levels.
Would they be able to remove his existence from this world with just a thought? If that was the case, he had to take precautions, such as increasing his personal power through the System and through his Core evolution. Prometheus decided to finish his experimentation first and then consult Zilch as to how they could quickly increase in strength. He went back into the base and started the furnace, and placed one bottle in the smelting spot.
He finally saw wisps of vapor leaving the liquid inside the bottle, so he placed a heat-resistant limb to check the temperature. Almost three hundred degrees. With the small amount of liquid, it should have reached a much higher temperature by now. It wasn't much denser than water, being 1.2 grams per milliliter, but it had around five times its heat capacity.
This was an incredible discovery!
First, he found that mind-boggling green metal, and now this? He KNEW he was only scratching the surface here. He waited some more, and the liquid finally started boiling at 512.2 degrees Celsius. The PH was 7, as he expected. The liquid looked to be made for organic consumption, more specifically to rejuvenate the body and help regenerate wounds. Such a fantastic liquid wasted on such a simple task like helping with wounds...
After seeing half of the liquid had evaporated, he took it out of the furnace. He realized it couldn't produce heat as quickly as he would have liked, which didn't surprise him, given its primitive nature. He would improve it one of these days. He moved to the opposite corner of the room, where the sword was, and dipped a drop of the potion into the blade. He didn't know what he had expected, but nothing happened. He closed the bottle and placed it near the others after cooling it down, thinking about what else he could test. Perhaps it was time to find some test subjects...
He yelled into the base, "ZILCH," and not a moment later, a transparent Zilch dropped from the storeroom's ceiling with his Power and deactivated it in front of Prometheus, and so bowed its head to him.
"Yes, Sir." The worm began. Zilch was looking more confident and capable every day that passed. Just its entrance had been quite impressive enough!
"I need to perform some experiments, and I would need living test subjects. Do you have any idea about who or what I could use?"
Zilch shuddered. As always, it started overthinking its master's every word. Is he saying that he wants to use me as a test subject?? It's clear he's saying that, but he's also offering a way out if I find anyone else...Yes. I can't use the goblins because they're officially his subordinates, but I doubt finding any other creature will be too difficult...
"Consider it done" With that, Zilch ran outside and searched for a possible test subject. Prometheus decided to read Lucilla's diary in the meantime and absolutely regretted it after seeing how many pages were dedicated to her girlfriend. He closed the book when Zilch came back with a net and a green gelatinous shape inside of it.
"First, where did you find the net? and second, what's inside of it?" He asked with a slight hint of curiosity.
"I found this net in the forest, and this is a slime, one of the most common creatures you could find. I believe that they're perfect test subjects as they can suffer many wounds without dying as long as their nucleus is intact. Also, they don't make the whole place bloody." Prometheus nodded at Zilch's sound reasoning. He started by picking up the sword and slowly and carefully poking the slime's surface. Was it a unicellular being? It seemed to have a nucleus and cytoplasm, but the similarities ended there. Poking the slime resulted in the creature getting agitated and a low amount of goop dropping on the floor. Interestingly, the drops on the ground evaporated soon after. Prometheus closely observed the wound and noticed it getting smaller and smaller until it eventually closed.
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"Well done, Zilch, this is quite a useful creature you found," he said while nodding at the worm. Zilch meanwhile sighed internally in relief. Good, he won't use me as a test subject...
Prometheus started by cutting off bigger pieces of the slime while always avoiding the core. He tried multiple times to examine the chemical composition of the slimy material, but it evaporated too quickly for him to analyze it.
He even managed to cut off every bit of the "cytoplasm," leaving the core exposed. He wasn't too worried about killing the slime, as Zilch said that they were extremely common in this world. Surprisingly, it didn't die but started to generate slime from the core. Where was it getting the mass from? Was it using all the slime that evaporated earlier?
He glanced at Zilch and asked the worm, "Zilch, where do you think the slime is getting its new mass from?"
It appeared thoughtful for a moment before replying, "I believe it's collecting and transforming mana from the air with its core, sir."
"I see, thank you." Prometheus could think of some possible uses for the slime, such as being a mana refinery, but the problem was that removing the slimy exterior would make it evaporate almost immediately, so until that issue could be fixed, slimes wouldn't be too useful at anything except maybe trashcans if they could absorb garbage.
As a last experiment for the day, he decided to drop some of the potion on the slime to see the liquid's effect on it. The slime started regenerating new material 20% faster than normal. It was totally unimpressive and boring. The potions would better be used as cooling liquids.
He went outside at the base of the hill and sighed heavily. The usual black hole in the sky was imposing its presence on the world. Prometheus glanced at it and felt a massive surge of rage bubble within him. Why did things have to go this way? Why couldn't things stay the way they were? He swore he would find whoever transported him and his owners to this world and show them the true definition of despair.
He created a mental list of his current objectives in order of priority:
1. Finding his owners.
2. Getting stronger.
3. Exploring this world's laws to prevent them from hurting him, his owners, and his subordinates.
He decided he needed to have several distinct and pre-created forms to deal with various situations. He would start with a combat-oriented form. An idea immediately sprung up in his mind, combining the DNA of a gorilla, a box jellyfish, a Titanoboa, and humans. Given its height of over 5 meters and weight of over 15 tons, Prometheus would need a lot of biomass that he didn't currently have. It would take the shape of a humanoid creature, extremely muscular due to the gorilla's DNA, with the Titanoboa's scales as protection and its fangs and an additional weapon. The Goliath would constantly secret the Box Jellyfish's poison all over its skin as a defensive and offensive mechanism. He would add human DNA for coordination.
Secondly, he would need a form for scouting and stealthy operations.
He imagined millions of possibilities in his mind and finally decided on one. Prometheus would call it The Eclipse, and it had the DNA of a Black mamba with a slow-acting poison, a panther chameleon for camouflage, an octopus for extra tentacles and improved stealth capabilities, a flying squirrel, and a peregrine falcon for flying long and short distances. It looked like a small griffin-like creature with fangs and tentacles inside its mouth.
He would need a third form for experiments, needing to be resilient and adaptable. He took examples from the slime and imagined a semi-liquid form with his core at the center. This form could be hardened to near steel levels and could be resistant to high levels of heat, radiation, and toxins. He also made it capable of advanced chemical synthesis, which would make creating chemicals cheaper than usual. It could also raise its temperature to heat up materials and generate small electric currents and had sensors for just about anything. Prometheus called his form The Alchemist.
Obviously, he would need more forms in the future, but for now, those three were enough.
He would start by exploring the area from the sky and find out where his owners were, or at least gather some information. He called for his trusted worm and told it, "Zilch, I'll be away for some time; it could be days or even weeks. I expect you to defend our base as best as your abilities allow you. Prioritize my collection and hide it if the threat is too great. If your life is on the line, retreat. Any questions?"
Zilch appeared shocked for a moment but then grew thoughtful and said, "I don't, sir. Please return safely." with that, the scout bowed its head.
Internally, Zilch was becoming determined to defend its master's base with its life. It wouldn't allow anything to get inside unnoticed.
"Thank you. Good luck." With those closing words, Prometheus took his new Eclipse form and took off to the skies. His new form was much more agile than he had expected, probably due to the fact that he hadn't accounted for his improved muscular density. He was so amazing he even surprised himself!
Just then, a familiar voice interrupted his moment of self-appreciation,
Congratulations! For having created a complex vessel, you obtained a new skill!
Skill: Low-rank Shape-shifting.
Immediately, Prometheus felt something change. He tried changing a few cells and noticed the required energy to do so was slightly reduced, and its speed increased a bit. This was a monumental upgrade! All this saved energy would add up and save him thousands of calories. The speed was also extremely important because it could shave off minutes from his shifting time! He decided he would continuously shape-shift some small amount of cells to level up that skill. His versatility was his greatest asset, after all, so improving upon that aspect of himself was fundamental to becoming stronger.
He noticed the purple desert in the distance, and he decided to head in the opposite direction. He couldn't see any human cities or villages from here, but he wasn't impatient, so he advanced forth.
As he gracefully glided through the air, the wind embraced him, dancing around his hybrid form with a gentle yet invigorating touch. It whispered secrets from distant lands and carried the scents of nature's fragrance, mingling with the exhilarating rush of air. The wind, like an invisible partner, guided Prometheus through the currents as if in perfect harmony.
Feathers, shimmering in shades of iridescent blues and purples, rustled softly against the breeze, creating a subtle symphony of delicate whispers. The feathers' supple contours and fine textures allowed Prometheus to adjust his flight with effortless precision, navigating the ever-changing currents with elegance and ease.
The sensation of freedom was something he would never trade away. Well, he wouldn't trade it away for most things. A golden statue of himself might persuade him.
---
Prometheus had been flying for almost 16 hours now, and he was incredibly bored. He had at least leveled his Shape-shifting skill to level 2. It seemed that leveling a skill was easier than unlocking them: He had needed to Shape-shift into a hyper-advanced hybrid to unlock the skill, but to level up the same skill, he just needed to make simple modifications to a few cells over and over.
After a flight made of endless monotony, he could finally spot a single human in the distance. He looked to be running away in the middle of some trees, possibly from some monsters.
His thermal vision allowed Prometheus to see three bear-sized monsters following the man, which looked like a farmer judging from the hoe in his arms and simple work clothes. The farmer had short hair and a long beard, with a toned body and tanned skin.
Prometheus would first save the man and gather whatever information he could from him. After landing near the chase, he ate some leaves near him and some small critters. Afterward, he shape-shifted into a humanoid shape, covered by a chitinous full-body armor that looked made of steel. Prometheus added golden details because not looking stylish would be against everything he stood for. Prometheus also made a Warhammer with reinforced bone, which also paired with the armor in terms of style.
After making sure he looked like a normal warrior, he ran toward the farmer.
---
Eadric ran like his life depended on it, because it actually did! He had gone to the forest to look for his daughter, but some Thundermaws were hunting him with their crazed eyes. He had never fought anything, let alone a monster, so he wasn't delusional enough that he thought he could take them on.
His heart raced as he sprinted through the sprawling fields, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. The thunderous footfalls of the three massive Thundermaws echoed behind him, their menacing roars sending shivers down his spine. Fear gripped his every step, urging him to push his tired legs harder.
His rugged face was etched with determination, a glint of defiance in his eyes. He hurdled over obstacles, weaved through dense thickets, and leaped over rocky outcrops, each maneuver bringing him closer to safety. The deafening cracks of lightning and the smell of ozone lingered in the air as the Thundermaws discharged their electrical fury in futile attempts to halt his escape.
With a final burst of adrenaline, the farmer spotted a weathered barn standing at the edge of the field. Its wooden doors beckoned to him, a flicker of hope in a sea of uncertainty. As he reached the barn's entrance, he dared a glance backward, seeing the three Thundermaws closing in, their sparking jaws hungry for him.
But just as despair threatened to consume him, a figure emerged from the shadows—a silent warrior adorned in golden, ornate armor. Eadric's eyes widened in awe as the warrior wielded an equally ornate Warhammer, its surface reflecting the great God's Magnificence. The air seemed to shimmer in their wake.
With a swift and mighty swing, the warrior unleashed a devastating blow upon the nearest Thundermaw. The clash of metal against flesh reverberated through the air as the Thundermaw was obliterated in a burst of electrified energy. The remaining two Thundermaws hesitated, their snarls faltering for a moment.
The warrior's strikes reverberated through the air with a deafening thunder, each impact unleashing an ear-splitting cacophony that resonated with the force of a divine hammer.
Undeterred, the silent warrior swiftly moved with grace and purpose, engaging the Thundermaws in a fierce battle. Each strike of their Warhammer brought forth a cascade of sparks and tremors, overwhelming the formidable beasts. One by one, the Thundermaws succumbed to the warrior's relentless onslaught until nothing but silence filled the air.
Breathing heavily, the farmer watched in awe as the golden-armored warrior turned toward him. Eadric's heart was gripped by fear and awe at what he had just witnessed. He dropped to his knee in a hurry and lowered his head, shouting at the warrior, which looked like royalty given the armor, "This insignificant peasant thanks your Magnificence for saving his life! Nothing I do will ever repay Your Majesty's act of mercy!" He said, remembering what his parents had taught him about talking to strong people: a few misplaced words were enough to end his life in an instant.
The warrior lowered his weapon and walked closer. Eadric didn't dare look up, so he could only hear the footsteps getting louder and the ground slightly trembling with each of the warrior's strides. Then, he was right in front of Eadric. This is it. I must have offended him somehow. I guess I should have paid more attention to my parents, ahah...
The absurdity of the situation made a chuckle escape his lips, probably ending his fate once and for all. He would die only having reached tier 3 and not even having developed a personal Soul ability... His father would have disowned him already had he still been alive.
Then, the warrior made the unexpected. Instead of saying anything, he made a hand gesture, probably seeing the farmer as undeserving of his words.
He clenched his hand into a fist, lifted it toward Eadric, and raised his thumb upwards.