[Vital signs have returned to normal, host has woken up]
Have you had cramps before? a hangover? A missing limb? Strangely enough I am feeling all of them at once, it feels like I am buried alive with asthma and essential tremor disorder.
It took me a while to even be able to sit up while shaking and hyperventilating, and even with all of this I am still able to approximately judge my appearance. Two legs, two arms, no strange tail or claws… I'm still human, thank god.
[Please stand up host, physical tests will soon take place to check for any adverse effects.]
"Adverse effects? I'm dying down here! Can't even stand up properly…Wait, why are you still in my head?"
[Host's DNA is still unstable, unable to exit the host's body without rupturing the genetic helix and killing the host. If you still wish to purge your body of nanobots, please go to the nearest doctor or healing pod.]
"So, instant death without you, got it. Since you'll be stuck with me for a while, do you have a system or anything? If I remember correctly the creature I designed had stats and stuff."
[Negative, project Phoenix is a medical nanobots and can thus only be used within the host's body. It can receive information directly from overseer Hermes and your nervous system. The game panel and statistics provided for the conception of your animal form were used to permit a five year old such as yourself to facilitate the understanding of complex biology.]
"Since you can receive information from my nervous system, does it mean that I can talk to you without talking? "
[Yes host]
Hermes : [Physical tests will now begin, follow the instructions without question]
[Child exercise program : do 10 push-ups, 10 squats, run 100 meters and dodge]
"I know I am still five years old but I still feel insulted every time you call me a kid. The first three exercises make sense but what does dodge mean?"
As if on cue, a mounted gun comes out of the ceiling. A mother flipping turret.
[Begin]
"This is child abuse!"
It took me half an hour to do all the exercises, it seems training while being shot at is quite difficult.
After the start I quickly got shot, luckily it seemed that it was just a paintball of course they wouldn't kill a child...right? And while it didn't kill me, it still hurt… a lot.
That machine didn't count the push-ups and squats if I got shot while I was doing them but I was able to figure out a way of dodging while escaping that devil.
My body felt different, more agile and perceptive than before and I am pretty sure that a normal kid wouldn't be able to move like I was. I have no reason to complain though as it helped a lot in finishing the physical test.
Once all the exercises were done, Hermes manifested itself once again and said:
[Objective achieved, cleaning test room and training subject]
Ah, I will finally get to shower.
[Initiating sprinklers]
…
The clothes made out of cloth and fur that I was wearing started sticking to my skin and the cold water soaked me from head to toe.
It didn't feel that bad actually, something within me begged me to throw myself into the water.
I also noticed my bruises started to hurt less and when I checked under my clothes I saw them slowly disappear and heal in real time.
[Host possesses an aquatic bloodline composed of multiple aquatic animals, it is thus normal for host to feel attracted to water. H2O molecules also give the host a slight healing factor capable of quickening the healing of light injuries. Be warned, grave wounds and lost limbs will not grow back.]
Regeneration? So cool ! I get to have another power from my genetics. And speaking of which, why have I never been able to use my "spatial telekinesis" or whatever? He did say that I would get it later but having it now would just be so fun. Stop, why do I have such childish thoughts ?
My thoughts were interrupted by the iron door opening and the warriors of my clan waiting behind them coming into my room.
"Oho, so you have finished your ceremony young Matt. We have all been waiting for you." another warrior that was standing behind him continued " We are so proud of you kiddo, let's go back to the village and celebrate with the others !"
I really regret saying that I didn't want to be in a stone age, my clan is the best ! But saying that they have all been waiting for me...
"Does this mean I am the last one to exit?"
"Yes, but do not worry, your strength is not determined by your time. There have been cases of warriors exiting the ceremony later because it was harder to awaken their spirit. A wild and powerfull spirit is logically harder to tame. "
An elder enters the cavern an proclaims :
"As the last hatchling has exited the shell, we shall feast so as to make our young warriors grow into great beasts that will look over our land for future generations."
All of them then shouted "Feast! feast! feast!"
I was then guided back to the dome and the clan where I could recognise everything. The hunting huts where the prey were brought back, the farms that cultivated an incredible variety of vegetables, the dorm where me and my friends have lived in since we were born and so on.
The village had been beautifully decorated, the wooden huts and houses had trophies hanging from ropes and tribal art was exposed on the walls, bonfires were lit in a few places around which clans men were gathering, talking, singing and feasting.
The elders, the warriors, the craftsmen, all were gathered together, celebrating an annual celebration. I was quickly able to find my friends who were treated like heroes by the entire clan.
After a few hours of partying and adults trying to make us kids drink, one of the elders was lifted up by four warriors and stood atop a shield.
"You are now no longer young kids, you have grown, found your inner beast and accomplished the hatching ceremony.
Out of the 13 of you 11 have accomplished your duty honorably. Please rest tonight, as of tomorrow you will start your official training as fighters of the clan.
ALL HAIL VALHALLA! "
" ALL HAIL VALHALLA! "