The warehouse was dimly lit, shadows stretching across the cracked walls and rusted beams. I stood in the centre, hands pressing against the cold metal of the containers. In my right palm, the axolotl twitched, its delicate, pink body pulsating faintly. In my left hand, the jumping spider sat, its many eyes gleaming ominously in the dim light, reflecting my determination.
I had spent a long time deliberating over which creatures to merge, and this combination felt like the perfect choice. The spider's incredible jumping ability—fifty times its body height—was an asset I could use in the long run, alongside a host of other advantages.
"This is it," I whispered to myself, the words carrying an edge of finality. There was no turning back now.
I called out "System" in my mind, and the familiar blue interface materialized before me, casting a faint glow on my face. My gaze fixed on the two empty slots displayed on the screen.
---
[PROTOTYPE EVOLUTIONARY SYSTEM]
-[ONLINE]-
-[APPRAISAL]-
-[MERGE/EVOLVE]-
[SLOT-1] + [SLOT-2] = ?
-[INVENTORY]-
---
"System, use two slots for the axolotl and jumping spider," I commanded firmly.
The system responded immediately:
---
[MERGE FUNCTION ACTIVATED]
[Specimens selected. Merging process initiated.
Warning: Resulting organism may exhibit unpredictable traits.]
---
The containers began to shake, vibrating with an almost sentient energy. My breath hitched as I watched the creatures inside rise into the air as if pulled by invisible threads. A blinding blue light engulfed them, twisting their forms into something unrecognizable.
I couldn't look away, both horrified and fascinated. The axolotl's translucent flesh melded with the spider's segmented body, their essences intertwining into something entirely new. The light grew so intense I had to shield my eyes.
When it finally faded, a new organism floated before me. Its translucent skin mirrored the axolotl, but the sleek, muscular frame screamed of arachnid strength. Its iridescent eyes gleamed, sharp and unyielding.
"Heh, there you are," I murmured, carefully picking up the newly formed creature. "My ticket to the next evolution."
I activated my appraisal skills to analyze it.
[APPRAISAL]
[Arachnolotl – A powerful hybrid species combining the regenerative abilities of an axolotl with the agility and strength of a spider. Highly adaptable and formidable.]
---
A dark chuckle escaped as excitement surged through my veins. The possibilities were endless. My obsession with regeneration, inspired by my admiration of Deadpool from my previous life, was finally paying off. I could heal, evolve, and maybe—just maybe—reach the pinnacle of power.
"Ahem, calm down, Peter," I muttered, scolding myself. Too much excitement could lead to mistakes, and I couldn't afford that now.
I steadied myself, taking a deep breath. "System, initiate the next merge. Use my body as the base," I ordered, my voice unwavering despite the anticipation creeping through me.
The Arachnolotl dissolved in a burst of blue light, the energy wrapping around my hand before sinking into my skin. For a moment, nothing happened. I even let out a laugh.
"Looks like it's not as bad as—"
Pain erupted from my core, cutting off my words. My muscles seized as if set ablaze, and I collapsed to my knees. Tendrils of energy spread through me, tearing apart and rebuilding every cell in my body.
Colours blurred, and the world became a swirl of light and shadow. Every nerve screamed, yet I couldn't stop the process. Just as suddenly as it started, the pain subsided, leaving me gasping for air.
My already extraordinary senses were heightened to an almost unbearable degree. I could hear the faintest drip of water from a distant pipe and feel every imperfection in the concrete beneath me. My vision—unnatural, almost alien—offered a 360-degree view of the room. Every cobweb, every speck of dust, every subtle movement was visible.
I took several deep breaths, forcing myself to adapt to the overwhelming sensations. Slowly, my body calmed, though the alien nature of my new form was still unsettling.
"System, appraisal," I croaked, glancing down at alien-like hands. They looked unnatural now, and I could feel the power coursing through them.
---
[Name: Peter Parker (Ren)]
[Race: Hybrid Entity – Unknown Species]
[Physical Attributes]
Strength: Superhuman (Able to lift 25–30 tons)
Agility/Speed: Superhuman (Capable of jumping 50+60 times their height)
Durability: Moderate (Exoskeleton-like skin with weaker joint areas)
Stamina: Superhuman
---
[Abilities]
Regenerative Healing: Major wounds heal over time; minor injuries heal almost instantly without leaving any scars.
Spider Silk Manipulation: Can produce strong, adhesive webbing, capable of incapacitating enemies.
Wall-Crawling: Effortlessly climb any surface.
Heightened Senses: 360-degree vision, vibration detection, and heat tracking.
Spider Reflexes: Near-instantaneous reactions, with a precognitive-like danger sense.
---
[Weaknesses]
Unstable physiology.
Extreme hunger due to increased metabolism.
Aggression and predatory instincts.
I sighed, hardening my resolve. "The cost of power… but it's worth it," I muttered, clenching my fists.
I stared down at my hand, now resembling the translucent, almost alien-like skin of an axolotl. I could see faint traces of veins beneath the surface as if I were becoming see-through. The sight sent a shiver down my spine. "Alright, first things first—control the transformation," I murmured, forcing calm into my voice.
I took a deep breath, steadying my racing heartbeat. Meditation had become a regular practice for me lately; I knew it would be essential in this new path of evolution. Slowly but surely, I felt the changes beginning to subside.
After a few minutes, my skin reverted to its usual state. I inspected it carefully, running my fingers over the surface. "Damn, it's soft—like I've been reborn or something," I chuckled, marvelling at the odd sensation.
The realization of my new abilities hit me like a bolt of lightning. "Fifty times my height? I can jump fifty times my height?" A grin spread across my face, and curiosity got the better of me. I crouched into a jumping stance, tensing my legs.
The floor beneath me cracked with the sheer pressure. Before I could even brace myself, I launched upward with the force of a rocket.
"WHAT THE—" The words tore from my throat as I rocketed through the warehouse ceiling like a missile, breaking through with minimal effort. My momentum carried me higher and higher, the world below shrinking rapidly.
Panic set in as I realized just how high I was—floating in the middle of Manhattan's towering skyline, easily seventy or eighty meters up. My heart hammered in my chest as I looked down.
"Oh, shit! I'm going to die if I fall!" I shouted, my voice almost drowned out by the rushing wind.
"Think, Peter! Think!" My mind raced as I glanced at my wrists. Before I could process anything, gravity finally caught up with me, and I began plummeting back toward the earth faster than I had risen.
The cold wind whipped against my face as I fell, my costume flapping wildly. I frantically aimed my wrist at a nearby building. "Come on, web shooter! Work, damn it!" I cursed, desperately trying to summon a web.
For a terrifying moment, nothing happened, and I thought I was done for it. But then, with a sharp thwip, a thick white strand shot out, latching onto a building. Relief flooded me as I grabbed hold and swung, my body twisting into a surprisingly acrobatic motion.
"Thank God I didn't die," I muttered, still shaken but exhilarated. "That fall would've hurt like hell—even if I could heal from it."
I continued swinging clumsily at first but quickly got the hang of it. Despite the near-death experience, the thrill of soaring through the air was undeniable.
"I should head back before someone spots me without a mask," I thought, making my way toward home. As I landed on the rooftop, I couldn't help but grin. The power I'd just experienced was intoxicating, and now, I was ready to move to the next phase of my plan....
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