The icy dune stood as a monolith, a testament to nature's austere beauty and unforgiving harshness. Rising from the barren landscape like a cresting wave caught in time, its surface was a tapestry of blue-white hues, reflecting the pale light of a distant sun. The wind, a master sculptor, had chiseled sharp ridges and soft valleys into the ice, each a unique signature of the frigid climate's whims.

At the base, the dune served as a bulwark against the howling gales that swept the tundra, with snowflakes clustering like weary travelers in search of shelter. Higher up, the ice morphed into crystalline armor, gleaming and impenetrable, daring the bravest souls to challenge its reign over this desolate land.

Ken approached the dune with unwavering resolve, the daunting landscape doing little to deter him. On the edge of human endeavor, the facility stood sentinel, its purpose as enigmatic as the dune itself. This juxtaposition of man's creation against the backdrop of timeless natural grandeur served as a silent homage to the eternal struggle between the elements and human ingenuity. This was Alteria, the research city carved from barren ice.

'Could this be where they're trying to stabilize a high-risk dimensional rift?' Ken pondered, his stride confident as he ascended the ramp toward the imposing gate. The situation's gravity was palpable, yet he harbored no doubts—the information from Sir Leonard was his guiding light. 'Sir Leonard's intel is reliable,' he assured himself. The gate recognized the ring signifying his status as Knight Commander and slid open.

Leading himself to the door where the researchers awaited, Ken pushed it open to a scene of pure chaos. Lex Dab was at the eye of the storm, his fingers tangled in the sparse strands of hair on his scalp, pulling in frustration. His eyes wild, he cast accusations across the room, his voice slicing through the bedlam. "How can you even think of destroying a dimension so resource-rich, Sarah? It's far from breaching!"

His plea was a desperate attempt to safeguard an unseen yet invaluable world.

"We're running out of resources to stabilize this rift!" countered a researcher, nimbly dodging a flight of hair with an almost calculated trajectory. The others were busy restraining Lex and the one presumed to be Sarah from further conflict.

Ken cleared his throat, commanding attention with ease.

He took in the two researchers: Lex, with his fiery orange hair and red eyes, was shorter and bulkier than Ken, his lab coat straining at the seams. Sarah, with her cropped white hair and blue eyes, was swallowed by an oversized lab coat.

Their eyes locked onto Ken in unison. "Who are you?" Sarah demanded.

"I am Ken, Sir Ken—appointed as Knight Commander. I've been sent by Sir Leonard to assist with the stabilization of the dimensional rift, or to oversee its destruction if necessary."

***

"So, Sir Leonard has delegated the responsibility to you," Lex remarked, his gaze fixed on the holographic screen that hovered above the conference table. It displayed a myriad of rifts scattered across the kingdoms, each pulsing with a color-coded danger level.

Ken surveyed the room, taking in the advanced technology and the gravity of their task. "It seems so, though I was under the impression my role was to assist with rifts beyond the capabilities of other hunters," he replied.

"That's correct," Sarah interjected, her eyes briefly flicking over Ken's casual attire.

Ken rose from his seat, a clear indication of his readiness. "So, what's the plan? Do I dive straight into the rift? How do we go about stabilizing it?" he inquired.

"Hold off for now. We need to properly equip you first. An armor set has been prepared. Do you wield any specialty weapons?" Sarah queried.

Ken's response was measured, "No. Would you recommend anything?"

"Not specifically, but there is a knight's sword that has been bestowed upon you. You may find it suitable," Lex suggested. "The armor, too, was a gift from the kingdom, tailored for you since you didn't select any items from the repository. Let's proceed to the armory to ensure everything fits perfectly."

"Sure," Ken agreed, his voice steady.

***

Navigating the labyrinthine corridors to the armory, Ken trailed behind Lex and Sarah. Their murmured discussions of theoretical concepts were a cacophony of jargon that soared over Ken's head. 'I need to brush up on this,' he thought, feeling out of his depth.

Twisting and turning, they arrived at the armory where knights busied themselves with armor and weapons. The knights glanced up, their curiosity piqued by the casually dressed stranger in their midst. "Where did you pick up this stray, Lex?" they jeered with laughter.

Lex's voice cut through the mockery, calm yet commanding. "This 'stray' is Sir Ken, Knight Commander, appointed by the King and Sir Leonard. I'd advise finding some respect."

The knights, taken aback, rose to their feet—twenty in total—and saluted with a synchronized gesture of honor.

Ken, unaccustomed to such reverence for mere titles, waved dismissively. "They have their duties; let's not distract them. Show me to my office," he said, following Sarah's lead.

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The office was more spacious than expected, with "Sir Ken - Knight Commander" proudly displayed. "Why do I need an office?" Ken inquired, genuinely puzzled.

"Sir Leonard foresees a long-term partnership, so we prepared accordingly," Sarah explained.

Lex chimed in, "We knew of your arrival, just not your appearance. We've been preoccupied with our research."

"Let's proceed with the fitting," Sarah said, approaching a suit of armor on display.

Lex whistled appreciatively. "This is among the finest armors available, self-repairing with your blood. It will bond to you."

"Disrobe and step onto the scale," Sarah instructed.

Ken complied, stripping down to his undergarments. As he did so, the room was momentarily awed by the spectacle of his physique. His form was not merely the product of rigorous training; it was as if chiseled from marble by the gods themselves. Broad shoulders tapered to a narrow waist, each muscle defined with the precision of a master sculptor's touch. His chest was a bastion of strength, with pectorals that flexed rhythmically with his breathing.

His arms, powerful and sinewy, bore the evidence of countless battles, each flex revealing a network of fibers ready to spring into action. His back, a wide expanse of muscle, spoke of a warrior's life. His legs, pillars of power, were rooted firmly to the ground, veins coursing like rivers over the landscape of his calves and thighs.

Ken's abdomen was a series of tightly packed muscles, an armor of flesh that rippled with every movement. The interplay of light and shadow across his skin highlighted the Herculean effort that sculpted such a form. Not a single scar marred his skin, suggesting a resilience that was almost otherworldly. As he moved towards the scale, there was a grace to his steps, a predator's poise that was both elegant and menacing.

The researchers, Lex and Sarah, could not help but take a moment to appreciate the sheer perfection of the warrior before them. It was clear that Ken's body was a finely tuned instrument of war, honed to perfection and ready for the challenges that awaited him.

"Focus, Sarah," Lex teased as she blushed, activating the scanner.

"Sir Leonard has noted your evolved healing factor," Sarah observed.

"Yes, it's quite advanced," Ken confirmed.

The scan completed, revealing Ken's exceptional physical condition. Lex input the data into the armor fitting system, and the suit resized itself.

"Dress in your clothes, then the armor," Sarah directed.

Ken did so, donning the white armor with its intricate blue, gold, and red lines. The design was both sleek and formidable, with a helmet that materialized around his head.

"I have a question about a potential modification," Ken ventured.

"Go ahead," Lex encouraged, his interest piqued.

"How does the armor regenerate with my blood?"

"Any supply of your blood will trigger the regeneration process," Lex explained.

"And its defensive capabilities?"

"It can withstand immense force, equivalent to a dragon fiend's attack," Lex boasted.

"Could it be sustained by my continuous blood supply? My healing factor is limitless," Ken proposed.

Sarah and Lex exchanged a look of astonishment. "That's... unprecedented," Sarah admitted.

Lex quickly pulled up footage of Ken's tournament battles, analyzing his healing abilities.

"Can you control your healing speed?" Sarah inquired after observing inconsistencies in his combat style.

"Yes," Ken confirmed, raising an eyebrow.

"That's extraordinary. Would you be open to testing this with us?" Sarah asked, excitement evident in her voice.

"Of course. What do you need me to do?" Ken agreed, readied.

***

In the stark white room, Ken stood shirtless, the armor now stored within his ring as per Lex's guidance. The space resembled the interior of a cube, its greyish-white walls intersected by grid lines.

"Ken, we'll start by slicing your index finger. Can you slow your healing so it doesn't reattach immediately? Let me know when you're ready," Lex instructed.

"Ready now," Ken affirmed, steeling himself for the experiment.

A beam lanced through the air, severing Ken's finger cleanly. It fell to the floor as blood welled from the wound.

"Now, can you accelerate your healing?" Sarah interjected.

Ken focused, the pain sharp but fleeting. His finger remained detached as a new one sprouted from his hand.

"Reduce your healing rate again," Sarah directed.

Ken gave a nod of acknowledgment.

"We're going to bisect your upper and lower halves. Healers are on standby, just in case," Lex assured him.

"Ready," Ken replied, bracing himself.

As the beam activated, Ken's upper body slumped to the floor. The sensation was jarring, a new kind of agony. His lower half stood motionless.

"Increase your healing now," Lex prompted.

Instantaneously, Ken's lower half regenerated, but without a head, the neck ending in a smooth cap. Ken sensed a connection to his headless counterpart and commanded it to jump, punch, and kick. With a thought, he willed it to disintegrate, and it obeyed, collapsing into nothingness.

Sarah and Lex watched in stunned silence, the implications of Ken's abilities dawning on them.

Ken rose, retrieving his underwear stained with his own blood.

"That was... unexpected. Your healing factor has evolved to control even separate parts of yourself," Lex remarked, still processing the sight. "Keep your healing at maximum. We're going to test your recovery speed with multiple beams targeting different body parts. Don't worry, our top healer is ready if needed."

Ken nodded, preparing himself for the next barrage.

The beams fired, attempting to slice into Ken, but they merely glanced off his skin. The healing was instantaneous, not even allowing the beams to breach the outermost layer.

"Thank you, Ken. We have the data we need. We'll get you a new set of underwear," Lex said, a hint of awe in his voice.

Ken left the testing chamber for the changing room, slipping into fresh underwear and his casual attire.

Back in the mission room, Sarah and Lex were deep in discussion about his capabilities.

"Can my blood be used to create invincible armor?" Ken inquired, already anticipating the possibilities.

"We can, though I have to ask, do you really need it?" Sarah questioned.

"I don't, but I want it," Ken replied candidly, the thought of the armor's aesthetic appeal not lost on him.

"We'll craft something unique for you, without making it excessive," Sarah promised.

"Alright, let's return to the mission room. We have a dangerous rift to address," Lex announced, shifting focus back to the task at hand.