The hallways were clear and white. Metal panels lining the sides, floors and ceiling throughout all the twists and turns. All the doors in all the halls led to either labs or storage lockers of some kind. All of them filled to bursting with neatly labelled biological samples in human, or alien, sized tubes. Each containing frozen creatures of different sizes.

  A few of those were human-adjacent. But only a few. Most of the collected samples had either avian or reptilian features. Bright scales and feathers being on display across numerous intact or broken limbs in each of the tubes.

  There were a few bones as well. Though those had been neatly arranged in the same manner as dinosaur fossils. Each fragment having been tagged and numbered before their respective caretaker began to shift their positions around on sanitized and isolated surfaces.

  The bright lights above only added to the sterile feel of the place. They flooded every inch in every direction. So that no corner or crevice was left in the dark.

  It all came together in a way that made the compound seem, almost alive. A single unchanging edifice, whose sole purpose was to be as homogenous and efficient as possible.

  At the same time, each lab and desk and workstation showed just how much love and dedication had gone into these projects. Into this mission as a whole.

  Each table was littered with papers. Some stacked in uniform piles and some scattered around a half-finished report or sealed sample. Each one bore an individual’s handwriting. Discussing relevant changes in the DNA structures of the creatures they had unearthed or the makeup of the bacteria or viruses those creatures had been carrying.

  A few even went into a frankly disgusting amount of detail on the contents of the creatures’ stomachs and intestinal tracks. With some even dripping with jubilation at the prospect of finding more workable DNA from completely different creatures within those samples.

  The System and its automatic translation effect made it so that I could read every little comment on every piece of paper and computer. From the helpful to the snide. All of them made it obvious that the people who worked here were, if not the best in their field, then at least those fighting tooth and nail to be the best. It all had the kind of enthusiasm the best grad students possessed back in Uni.

  The kind of single-minded fascination with their chose subject that defied all logic and reason. To the scientists here, their work was their life. If not more than that. And they all took pride in what they did and how fast they were advancing.

  Needless to say, the bio lab guys back in Uni would have sold their own mothers for a chance to work here.

  Even after all these months and all that had happened, I could practically see the old Vince salivating in the back of my mind. His eyes turning hungry and feral after the briefest of glances.

  ‘Though the new Vince wouldn’t get that look on his face when seeing a lab like this anymore.’ I thought bitterly. ‘For him to get that kind of enthusiasm, the room would have to be filled with rows of sleeping gnomes or something.’

  Granted, that would get me all kind of giddy too, but it was still sad. Kind of like a loss of innocence in a way.

  ‘Wait a second. Have I lost that same innocence?’

  I thought about it for a moment. Then shook my head.

  ‘Nah. Of course not. I’m still perfectly capable of nerding out over a nicely-built machine or a new schematic for space-flight. I’m perfectly sane. It’s just that I like hurting gnomes. And anyone who likes hurting gnomes has to be a good person on some level.’

  I nodded and moved on to other matters.

  Like the rather odd conversation happening a few floors up.

  “Gawa said that guy was an alien! And his wife agreed! Get her next!”

  “No!”

  There was a sound of rushing air. Only a little bit heavier.

  “Get back! Get back all you freaks! You think I’m going down! You’re going down! You’re going to burn! I’ll burn you all down to ashes before I let you touch me!”

  The rushing sound came again.

  “She’s got a flamethrower!”

  “Where did she get it from!?”

  There were a few screams as dozens of footfalls echoed in different directions.

  “She must have raided the weapons locker!”

  “What!? What were the guards doing!?”

  “They were guarding the exits when ww initiated lockdown! They and teams 3 and 5 were still outside when the storm hit!”

  The sound of rushing flames echoed again.

  “Do you think they’re okay?”

  I looked backwards at my own hindquarters. My rear legs and my…well… rear, having been perforated by jagged ice shards as big as tennis balls.

  There were still discoloured spots on the chitinous carapace, beneath the fur and feathers. Places that hadn’t healed properly since my combined abilities were stunted.

  Oh.

  Oh honey no.

  Those guys are not okay.

  ‘Well, the ones in power armor might still be alive. Maybe. The rest are deader than any gangsters unlucky enough to run into Charlie.’

  Echoes of battle kept coming over to me. All of them sounding as clear as if they were taking place right beside me due to how the sounds bounced off the walls.

  I took them all in and then considered how to proceed.

  My first instinct was that the whole point of the exercise was to grow stronger. That is, to make the Shifter abilities level as much as possible, within the scenario provided by Hazimon.

  The information I had dictated that this was a scenario handcrafted for Shifters too. One that the Drake and other more normal Masters had all partaken in to enhance themselves.

  The Dragon had even said that he himself had tried it, to no effect.

  The Dragon had also said that there was a right way to do things and a wrong way to do things.

  He’d been very clear that the whole point of the exercise was to find new and innovative ways to tackle problems.

  Okay, in that case, I felt I was doing pretty good.

  Leaving the compound had seemed like the right thing to do, but the ferocity and lethality of the storm made it clear that I had been wrong on that point.

  Meaning the right way to complete the exercise was within the compound.

  I had still accrued a fair amount of levels and abilities though, so that put the whole assumption into question.

  So, I stopped moving.

  Using [Echolocation] to keep track of all the scientists as they fled to different rooms within the upper floors as I went over my options.

  My previous combined abilities, and their makeup, was as such:

  [Solomon’s Perfect Vicissitude X] =

  [Regeneration] / [Regenerate Other] / [Mitosis] / [Acclimation] / [Grow] / [Shrink] / [Stretch] / [Harden] / [Soften] / [Metamorphosis]

  [Solomon’s Protean Form X] =

  [Muscular System] / [Skeletal System] / [Nervous System] / [Lymphatic System] / [Cardiovascular System] / [Digestive System] / [Respiratory System] / [Endocrine System] / [Excretory System] / [Reproductive System]

  [Solomon’s Bio-Chemical Thaumaturgy X] =

  [Organ Independence] / [Produce Adhesive] / [Produce Acid] / [Produce Pyro-Chemical] / [Produce Cryo-Chemical] / [Produce Electro-Chemical] / [Pheromone Hierarchy] / [Pheromone Trail] / [Pheromone Attraction] / [Pheromone Diversion] / [Hijack] / [Infection]

  Meaning I couldn’t count on them, or on the strategies the base abilities might have allowed me to use.

  [Solomon’s Perfect Vicissitude X] would have let me transform into one of the aliens outright. Copying them down to the DNA and RNA level via the application of [Metamorphosis].

  [Solomon’s Protean Form X] would have allowed me to use a similar strategy, but not to the point of copying DNA structures. Instead, I would have been able to mold my own biological systems until they all appeared like those of the aliens here. It, in combination with [Solomon’s Perfect Vicissitude X], would also have allowed me to more or less tank all the damage from the storm. With far, far less Psy being used on top of that. It would have been a simple matter to grow until the ice was a non-issue, after all.

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  As sharp and deadly as the ice spikes were, something told me they wouldn’t stand up too well against a body the size of Toronto. Or against [Chitin] as thick as skyscrapers.

  The Kaiju on Dusty’s world might have bemoaned their own fate, but even if I’d restricted myself to just using Shifter abilities, the Drake’s legacy was more than enough to slaughter anything and everything living on that rock.

  The Drake might have also said ‘(Gnome) it’ and just trampled the whole structure after growing to kaiju size. Actually, I could totally see him doing that for (Gnome)s and giggles. That was probably what Hazimon meant when he said the Drake was beating the scenario in unconventional ways.

  And speaking of the Drake, I knew from his memories that [Bio-Chemical Thaumaturgy X] could be used in all kinds of creative ways.

  Like overrunning the whole scenario with a swarm of bloodthirsty drones for example. Or failing that, to infect all the living things in this place with a deadly incurable super-virus. Or I could’ve produced monumental amounts of flammable chemicals and blown the whole place sky-high. Or I could’ve produced similar amounts of freezing chemicals and made the temperature plummet. Killing anyone inside. Or I could’ve used pheromones to more or less [Dominate] everyone without actually [Dominating] anyone. Or I could’ve used pheromones to make the aliens slaughter each other. Or I could’ve made pheromones into narcotics so potent that everyone who smelt them overdosed on the spot.

  ‘Man, I really need to keep the guys back at the Warehouse clear of combinations involving pheromones until they’re a bit more mature. Holy (Gnome).’

  But putting all that aside, I had to assess my current options.

  The scenario was meant to be cleared in a way that earned me the most amount of Shifter levels. The Dragon had also said there was a right way to clear it and a wrong way to clear it.

  The easiest way to clear it right now would be to simply carry on as I had so far. Changing my body to be more durable and just… lunging at the scientists here.

  The guards outside might have been trained and they might have been wearing power armor, but a bunch of nerds in their pajamas would have a much tougher time against the two-ton multi-armed hulking bear horror thing that I was.

  I couldn’t imagine any of them putting up any kind of resistance. Even if I assumed all of them had flamethrowers, I had so much Psy to throw around and so much armor on top that the flames wouldn’t be able to do lethal damage before I gutted whoever was wielding the things.

  ‘Not to mention the fact that I have [Temperature Regulation II] now. At level 6, plus the added bonus points from my Titles. There’s a good chance the flames won’t ignite the fur or the feathers unless we’re talking about the kind of heat industrial smelters generate.’

  Now, that was the obvious, straightforward approach.

  It might not get me more levels though.

  Levels were earned by doing new things and going through new experiences and I doubted I was going to learn anything new about goring people to death.

  I could also keep avoiding the scientists and letting them kill each other in their paranoia. But that would yield even less points. I was fairly certain my [Echolocation] spanned the whole building, so I had no trouble keeping tabs on the people here. Getting a combination with another sensory ability was unlikely if I wasn’t being challenged.

  There was also the option of going outside again. It might be painful and, even somewhat masochistic as far as options went, but I couldn’t deny that there were points and levels to be had.

  With hard work, perseverance and a bit of luck, I might even manage to merge a combination of [Scales], [Chitin], [Feathers], [Fur] and [Rubbery Hide].

  That didn’t seem right though. The storm had only been getting worse and worse as time went on. It could very well be lethal enough to kill me outright if I went out like this.

  So, I looked through the Shifter boards again and shopped around with the last point I had. Trying to find something new that might open up a path.

  I didn’t have [Venom Glands] or [Poison Glands] yet. Maybe that was something.

  I could, start biting people and the running away. Watching how long it took for them to die. Or I could take chunks out of myself and leave them laying around for someone to touch or eat.

  ….

  ….

  Yeah.

  Those ideas sucked.

  Let’s see…

  I didn’t have any of the [Incorporate] abilities yet.

  I might be able to use [Incorporate Mineral] to start absorbing the walls and the floor. Turning my [Fur] and [Feathers] and all my other carbon-based bits into materials stronger than steel. That might be worth pursuing. Especially since I knew the Drake had loved finding new materials for his own body parts. The thing took a certain perverse pleasure in destroying marvels of engineering and then using the tungsten or titanium or whatever else as [Claws].

  I could use the new ability to add on more protection from the flying knives outside. I might even get levels as I absorbed the metals and then get more levels while I merged the ability with my other ones.

  [Incorporate Liquid] and [Incorporate Gas] were a different matter. The former was more or less useless while the temperature outside was so low. Unless I had access to [Bio-Chemical Thaumaturgy X] and the ability to create liquids that simply didn’t freeze.

  The latter might be worth pursuing.

  Maybe.

  Raj and Ahmed had tried it, when they and Mr. Park were looking for new and innovative ways to mess around with Shifter powers.

  Raj had dropped the matter after getting one point in, but Ahmed’s performance so far had been exemplary.

  Showcasing that [Metamorphosis] and lesser-known abilities did indeed have their combat applications. He’d paired the power with [Incorporate Gas] from the Shifter ability pool and [Attune to Gas] from the Projector ability pool. He’d also added abilities like [Hold Attuned Compound], [Organize Attuned Compound], [Throw Attuned Compound] and [Phase Through Solid] respectively, after forming a rudimentary fighting style.

  It was the ultimate defense when dealing with hordes of weaker eels, centipedes, chameleons, pumas and even moles. None could really hurt him when he switched to his gaseous form as fast as he did. Meanwhile, he could hurt them by enveloping their bodies and absorbing any oxygen that would have gone into their lungs.

  It was downright shocking in its effectiveness when seeking out levels and he’d previously hit 50 during our little trip to the poison swamps. Though, to be fair, almost everyone who went with me hit 50 that day.

  Sadly, it didn’t hold up as well when fighting monsters with Projector abilities of their own.

  Turns out turning yourself into a being composed mostly of oxygen made you very flammable.

  Very, very, very flammable.

  Which was a bad thing when all your organs, like your lungs, heart and brain were now composed of oxygen.

  The snails especially came very close to killing him on more than one occasion, as a single missile lit him up like a Christmas tree.

  The screams had been….

  Disquieting.

  And they had served to dissuade any would-be copycats.

  Even worse, success in monster hunting didn’t translate very well into our faux-tournament. Ahmed had gotten the stuffing beat out of him every which way once we’d come back from our little holiday.

  Case in point, he had faced off against Jane and the matchup hadn’t turned out particularly good.

  Ahmed had had the lead in levels, experience, battle sense and overall competence.

  Jane had possessed [Fire Bubble] at 5.

  I had known where the fight was going before I had a chance to use my future-sight.

  He had also known where the fight was going.

  All the people on the sidelines had known where the fight was going.

  Indeed, the only one who hadn’t seemed to know what the result would be was, ironically, Jane herself.

  “P…please go easy on me. I, I’m not used to this.” She’d whimpered from her corner.

  “No promises.” He answered gruffly. “I’m taking this seriously. Putting my body on the line to improve. I respect all my opponents enough to go all out. I expect the same treatment from you.”

  “B…but I don’t. I…I don’t want to get hurt. Ryan said I need to practice. I know he’s a filthy piece of (Ryan). But everyone else keeps saying that too. I…I’m scared.”

  I had suggested that Ahmed treat that round as a loss. Grandpa had agreed with me. So had just about everyone else.

  Ahmed had not agreed. And I had spent the next hour using far too much Psy to un-charr his insides.

  I didn’t know how I felt about imitating him.

  Actually, that was a filthy (Gnome)ing lie. I knew (Gnome) well how I felt and I felt like that option was off the table.

  Sully would not be turning himself into barbecue today.

  ‘There has to be something else here.’ I thought to myself.

  ‘Maybe [Spores]? The Drake didn’t merge it with [Hijack] or [Infection], but that’s how it’s usually merged out in the Labyrinth. I might be able to go the normal route. Or I could follow in the Drake’s footsteps and merge it with [Tracking Instincts], [Social Instincts] and [Eusocial Instincts]. All of which I have now. Then I could merge them with [Venom Glands] or [Poison Glands] or both. Just like the Drake. The combination had been nothing short of apocalyptic when he’d used it after all. It’s a path I already know.’

  I frowned to myself.

  Those were all decent opportunities, but I couldn’t help but wonder if they were the right choice here.

  It all seemed a bit too… easy.

  Like, I was already more than capable to killing everyone here. That was hardly a challenger. And things that weren’t a challenge didn’t provide levels the way I typically levelled.

  I sighed, thinking that maybe absorbing the metal from the walls and going back outside to grind out was the better option after all, when I noted a little ability I hadn’t paid much attention to before.

  [Mimicry].

  Sister power to [Metamorphosis] and [Camouflage].

  Where [Metamorphosis] could let you save up different transformations to pull out in a pinch, [Mimicry] could let you pull out disguises in a pinch. That is, it could let you shapeshift so that you looked like species you had encountered before on short notice.

  The transformation was purely cosmetic though. It did not let you copy any of the inherent powers of the target species. It did not let you know how to act so that you could fool other members of that species. It did not copy matter down to the DNA level like the combined abilities I already had.

  Worse, [Camouflage] could let you copy the look, smell, feel and texture of all matter. Not just living beings. So, if you wanted to blend in, that was the much better option.

  With [Camouflage] one could blend in by sitting still.

  With [Mimicry], you actually had to act.

  Making it more of a cheap gimmick.

  One that took far, far more skill and dedication than was necessary.

  ‘Or in other words, making it more of a challenge.’

  I picked it and began formulating a plan.