Erik stood before the creature, his mind awash with emotions and considerations. He had created this thing but wasn't sure if he could keep it alive.
One thing was sure: if he decided to keep it alive, Erik wouldn't treat it like a tool or an asset; it was a living entity that bore some part of him within it, and for sure, he wasn't going to treat him like others made with him.
As he examined the creature's shape, he could not help but assess its potential utility. Despite his distaste for such a cold analysis, this world demanded it.
The hybrid's appearance was undeniably alien, and Erik knew it needed to conceal itself among the humans. It wasn't a scary creature, but its Thaids' origins were clear. The last thing Erik wanted was for it to be chased like a monster.
The immediate concern was clothing. Erik's eyes traced the lines and curves of its body. The main problem was that its growth was an unknown variable.
If it grew too tall or weird, clothing alone would not hide its true nature. However, beyond the superficial concerns lay deeper, more practical questions. What could he make the creature do? Since it had no brain crystal power, it meant it was at a disadvantage. It could hunt weaker monsters, sure; it was intelligent, but it was clear he couldn't bring it with him on dangerous quests.
The system had promised that the hybrid would possess all of Erik's knowledge and skills and half his physical statistics upon reaching maturity.
There would be no need to teach it to fight or to teach it about Thaids and the world they lived in.
That alone was a great advantage and would save Erik a lot of time.
However, as the young man noticed he was thinking of it as disposable, he stopped what he was doing. Then he looked at it. Its curious gaze made his heart soften as the creature looked at him like a kid would look at the world.
<I only hope it won't be a problem.>
While at the same time feeling excited but worried about the hybrid. Erik moved closer, reaching out to touch the creature's arm's smooth skin. The hybrid looked up at him, its eyes reflecting a calm intelligence, an awareness that seemed to echo his thoughts but simultaneously exuded innocence.
"We will figure this out together, right, little one?" Erik said it with an affectionate tone.
The creature's mouth curled into a slight smile, indicating it clearly understood what it said. However, this human gesture seemed perfectly natural despite the creature's weird facial characteristics. Then the hybrid reached out, its weird hands closing around Erik's face in a firm, encouraging grip. The young man smiled at it.
As soon as he saw this, Erik started to grow restless. He paced back and forth, his mind whirling with thoughts and possibilities.
The Worm Slave brain crystal power was unique and opened the door to many possibilities. However, despite being destined to be strong enough to protect itself from ordinary people, the hybrid would be a cripple in a world where Brain Crystal Powers gave someone their status.
In his heart, Erik knew that birthing more hybrids in his first one condition was cruel. Merging the power with others was possible, but what about the outcome? What would happen if he did?
"What do you think about merging this brain crystal power with others? What might happen?" He asked the biological supercomputer.
[ANSWER: BASED ON MY ESTIMATIONS, WHILE MERGING THE POWERS, YOU COULD EITHER GAIN A DIFFERENT POWER WITH SOME SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE TWO, OR YOU COULD GIVE THE CLONES THE ABILITIES FROM THE BRAIN CRYSTAL POWERS. HOWEVER, BASED ON HOW THE WORM SLAVE WORKS, THIS WOULD BECOME A SORT OF BIOLOGICAL WEAPON RATHER THAN SOMETHING BASED ON MANA, WHICH THEY DO NOT POSSESS DUE TO THE LACK OF BRAIN CRYSTALS. I SUGGEST TO THE USER TO BE CAREFUL IN WHAT YOU MERGE, AS YOU COULD ALTER THE WORM SLAVES' BRAIN CRYSTAL POWER IN A WAY THAT WOULD NOT WORK AS IT DOES NOW.]
Erik's heart pounded as he listened to the information. The possibilities were captivating, but the risks were real. The merging could alter the very nature of the Worm Slave power, transforming it into something entirely different.
It could become a weapon, a tool of destruction, or something completely useless. Was he willing to take that risk?
He looked at the creature, its eyes meeting his with an understanding that transcended words. It was more than just a product of the brain crystal power; it was a being with its own existence and identity.
A spark of inspiration ignited in Erik's mind.
"The Retractile Enhancement Brain Crystal Power," he said to himself. It was a power that, at best, would have minimal impact on the Worm Slave, or so Erik assumed, and it was not conceptually heavily reliant on mana, like a power that allowed the user to control and make fire.
The young man sat at his desk, contemplating what to do. The uncertainty weighed on him, a nagging doubt that filled his thoughts.
He could enhance the Worm Slaves with the ability to elongate their nails, using them as weapons as the Mistlynx did. Or not.
He looked at the newly hatched creature, a strange amalgamation of human and worm.
With a deep breath, Erik made his decision. "Let's try merging the Worm Slaves brain crystal power with the Retractile Enhancement. It could be beneficial if it allows the clones to have this ability. Otherwise, I must find another Mirror Centipede and absorb the power again. System, how much does it cost to merge the two powers?"
The computer's response was swift.
[ANSWER: 500 DNA POINTS DUE TO THE POWERS' RANKS]
"And the time required to complete the process?" He asked.
[ANSWER: 4 HOURS.] The biological supercomputer replied.
Erik sighed. He did not know what would happen once he merged them. Would the merge affect the already hatched egg?
"Start the process," He said.
[UNDERSTOOD 22850 DNA POINTS DETECTED. 500 DNA POINTS USED. DNA MERGING PROCEDURE BEGINNING. THE USER IS RECOMMENDED TO LAY ON A BED.]
Erik quickly went to bed and let the biological supercomputer do its job.
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