Chương 345: Let Us Remain Friendly

Things are so calm that they are nearly boring. I had gotten quite used to having to roam around constantly to avoid getting pincered by people capable of dicing me up. The final trials would show up unexpectedly, and it wasn't that unlikely that I would run straight into someone or something that would demolish my steel body within seconds–Of course, I never actually got that close to dying despite enduring severe instances of damage… …

However, had things gone a little differently, I might still be stuck at the bottom of a river or lake at this very moment. Still alive, but having to wait for my base regenerative abilities to work wonders instead of being able to pull myself out and fasten things by feasting on flesh. Some people would probably be afraid of being alive, but stuck for eternity without any way out, but in my opinion, as long as I am alive, then there is a way.

Especially since I will never bleed out, starve, or grow too tired to go on. Being stuck with eternity on your side is a blessing, not a curse. Or so is my opinion, anyway… I glanced to the side, and a system panel opened within my vision. Mascot Form Revenant Jack-Out-Of-The-Box Pure Spirit Form Rusted Plague Form Biobot Form Ghost In The Machine Pure Curse Form Giant Form Nothing much has changed in a while since the 'Giant Form' poked its head out.

I haven't felt anything that indicated that I was making progress toward unlocking any of them for quite some time now, and I find that to be somewhat displeasing. I don't like the sensation of stagnation. I need to get stronger, not just because more power is always better, but because I need to be strong enough for my family to be able to depend on me when needed.

In most aspects, my physical might is definitely impressive, and since my last evolution, it has only gotten better, but it is still far from being enough to deal with all threats. The likes of Rarelian still definitely completely outmatched me in terms of raw strength. That is without mentioning the sort of crazy crap magic is capable of.

'Intermediate Energy Resistance' is definitely not going to be enough to protect me if some mage decides to demonstrate to me what the so-called 'height of magic' is. I need to unlock more forms, and I need to devour as many spirits and curses as I possibly can before evolving again. I must be as ready as is possible for anything that might come my way–As such, I decided that once the transaction between Lunovis and me was complete, I would go check out the underground blood ocean for myself.

As per usual, since I didn't have any proper leads on what I should be doing, I decided to trust my instincts, and my guts were murmuring for me to consume this ocean of blood. After all, that thing apparently contains divine and devil blood amongst many others. The quality alone is promising, but the quantity is incredible as well. If I were to throw myself into this ocean… Well, I would definitely go into a food coma, but I felt like I would also gain something new.

How good that something was, that was unclear, but anything new would mean a wider array of options, and versatility is always welcome. … Speaking of the transaction, the physical body is done constructing. The Pod is currently containing a technically living owlfolk offspring. The Pod is currently stimulating its body functions, making its heart beat, and making sure its lungs are filled with air, all that business. Before taking it out, I would need to place a soul within this empty vessel.

I had been hoping that a soul would form on its own, but as expected, things weren't so simple. While The Pod was doing its thing, I had crafted quite a number of souls in preparation, but it had taken me a while before finally settling on one of my creations. The soul needed to be a blank slate, and it needed to be a soul that properly suited its vessel. Even if souls were quite capable of adapting, I knew it was best to be careful.

If I failed, it would push things back by at least one full month, and realistically, probably two or three. With what I had promised Lunovis, taking too long would be detrimental… The soul I had ended up picking for this process was stable on its own. It showed no signs of having any memories whatsoever from the various pieces used to create it, and judging from my observations and experiments, it was of the correct size and density to belong to a genuine newborn.

One advantage was that the soul was strong already. It was rich in inner energies, just like the body was–Since I was making a descendant for them, I thought that I might as well give them a talented one. As long as it is raised decently, it will have a bright future. Though it will probably be doted on quite severely. Lunovis and his wife have been wanting a child of their own for years. This little one will be a miracle child, which may or may not be a good thing. This story has been taken without authorization.

Report any sightings. All that I know is that if I mess up when integrating this soul into this body, I can restart everything. Alright, Nara… Just as we practised. To reduce the margin of error, I devised a little technique with Nara to try and ensure that the soul settled in properly. Since the body was technically alive, it had the Universal System within it, and presumably due to being my very own creation, Nara had a ridiculously easy time gaining access to it without risking causing issues.

This allowed her to act as somewhat of an insider and make sure that the soul connected properly to everything, and if it didn't, she could intervene to make sure that it did happen. Let's go The Pod–Ever so refined–Had the means to impart a soul into something within it without having to open it up. I had been worried that I would have to open it anyway so that I could make physical contact and allow Nara to gain access to the vessel's system.

I had never actually done anything like this, but in hindsight, it made a lot of sense… Since this was the Mindscape, I could do a lot of 'abnormal' things, such as phase through the front of The Pod to touch the vessel without ever having to open anything. I guess that this could be similar to what the 'Pure Spirit Form' would be capable of. Regardless, the soul entered the body, and Nara went to work.

All I could do myself was monitor the soul directly and use my influence over it, but even with all the experiments I had run, telling whether or not the soul was doing the 'correct' thing was quite difficult. Nara was also too focused to say a word, so we needed to work together silently–This whole process lasted for twenty full minutes. … I think… I think it worked perfectly! The soul does seem to have taken root properly, and…

The Pod itself confirmed it as it stopped actively stimulating the necessary body functions. The child was alive, and everything was working on its own as it should. I watched the life that I created from scraps for several minutes, mesmerised that this being had been created by my actions. The vessel was a boy, and he already displayed minor signs of the shapeshifting abilities his parents possessed.

While this boy had been grown inside of The Pod, for all intents and purposes, he was nonetheless the result of the union of Lunovis and Eliva. Now that the soul was settled in nicely, no one should be able to tell that this child had come to be through an unusual method. … No one should be able to tell that he was created using pieces of flesh, blood, and some souls. If people knew, they would lose their damned minds.

If the creatures that already worshipped me heard of this, they might actually explode on the spot, as there were indeed few things more divine than the creation of life. Now, I hadn't created a brand new species using dirt, clay, or any material like this, but it was close. Mmh… We'll need to arrange the meeting in a little while… Although the boy was alive, since he had been an empty vessel until now, the only non-corporeal part he currently had was his soul.

The mind, spirit, and all that business weren't yet formed. I believe that with a normal offspring, everything forms at about the same time, but since he is still being nurtured inside The Pod, all that he needs has begun forming now that he possesses a soul. It's like he is inside the womb, and simply formed his soul ahead of the rest. The progress seems rather swift… It seems like all of his non-corporeal bits will end up on par with the strength of his soul as a result. My, oh my…

I just created a little genius in the making, didn't I? I might have overdone it with how 'perfect' I made everything. He'll grow up to be strong and to possess uncannily strong inner energies. As long as he puts in some work, he could be both a warrior and a mage… Yep, I definitely overdid it. I didn't just make a baby. I made a baby that will be at the top of his generation. This little scoundrel will get the attention of all the girls, I bet. Well… In a sense, he is my son as well. Hopefully he does well.

I remained in observation for a while, just to be safe, but once it was clear that the boy was perfectly fine and that he had everything he needed to be healthy even outside of The Pod, I took him out and had Leou contact the owl couple. The meeting took place somewhere in between Randlac and their residence. I arrived early and stayed hidden inside the Gravescape, letting ghostly servants scout around. I only came out once it was clear that only Lunovis and Eliva had come.

I probably shouldn't worry too much due to the contract I made Lunovis sign, but I couldn't know if they would be followed by a third party. Safety is primordial. I exited the Gravescape in my 'Base Form', my body wrapped in a wide violet cloak with silver patterns, my head covered by the large hood that came alongside the cloak.

"Greetin–tings""Greetings, Miss Nebulo" Lunovis and his wife were quite tense. Which was natural. They emitted worry, anticipation, anxiousness, and all that delicious stuff in droves. They were obviously worried that I would swindle them or present them with something like a cursed offspring or a baby that I had stolen from someone else. That last idea had indeed crossed my mind at some point… I brought the baby out of the Mindscape, wrapped in clothes as I carefully brought him out from beneath my cloak.

"Here is the ch–child. I'll leave the name up to you" Despite how dangerous being in close proximity to me was, they both immediately stepped forward, slowly and gently grabbing their son out of my hand.

"He has your eyes…" Lunovis immediately noticed that the baby had a trait of resemblance to his wife. Something neither of them would have ever imagined to be possible–A little treat from me, and also because it was the easiest way for me to immediately demonstrate that I was the real deal. If Lunovis hadn't mentioned it, I would have done it myself. In any case, I slightly lifted my hood, letting my purple dots meet straight with Lunovis's eyes.

"I assume that we are all good–ood now, yes?"

"Of course!"

"Splendid. Perhaps, in the future, you could have more children. Let us stay on good terms, alright? It was a pleasure doing business with you" On this note, I secretly used a trinket to go right back into the Gravescape, making it appear as though I popped out of thin air. That's one problem solved. Now, it is time for me to have a drink…