It was deep into the night. The cell in the 'Blood Arena' was damp and cold. The air here was laced with the scent of blood and fear.
Vikram broke into his meal (dry bread and water). Inside the bread, he found a small scrap of paper. It was a message from Master Yu. It contained a crude map for escaping the barracks.
"Master..." Vikram smiled. "You still haven't given up."
But Vikram knew that a map alone wasn't enough. Escaping the city of a powerful warrior like Lady Scarlet wouldn't be easy. If he were caught, death was certain. He needed strength—right here, right now.
He swallowed the map and sat cross-legged in the center of the cell.
"I used the 'Dongxuan Sutra' and 'Jadeskin', but those were merely branches," Vikram thought. "My true strength, my foundation... is 'The Story of Genes'."
In the old world, this art was the mother of all genes. It could mimic any creature, any power. Could it handle the laws of this 'Origin Universe'?
Vikram closed his eyes and began chanting that familiar mantra in his mind.
At first, nothing happened. It felt like he was pushing against a locked door. The 'Origin Energy' here was incredibly stubborn and heavy.
"Come on," Vikram gritted his teeth. "I am the one who united the universe. This energy cannot stop me!"
He used his willpower like a sledgehammer and forced the engine of 'The Story of Genes' to ignite.
Vroom...
A low rumble echoed inside his body. It was as if a machine that had been dormant for centuries had suddenly awakened.
Suddenly, the atmosphere in the cell shifted. The heavy pressure he had been feeling began to pull toward him. 'The Story of Genes' had begun its work—it wasn't asking for energy; it was seizing it.
Vikram's body began to burn up as if with a fever. Seven-colored light erupted from beneath his skin.
[Warning: Extremely high-level 'Gene Art' detected.]
[Analysis: 'The Story of Genes'. This art possesses the ability to rewrite Universal Laws.]
Vikram felt as though his bones were melting and reforming. His old 'Super God Body', which had gone dormant after arriving in this new world, suddenly jolted awake.
But this time, it was different.
In the old world, his body was formed by the laws of the 'Sanctuary'. Here, the 'Origin Energy' attacked that structure. Vikram groaned in pain, but he didn't stop. 'The Story of Genes' took this new, violent energy and fused it with Vikram's DNA.
[System Update Initiated...]
[Super God Body + Origin Energy = Synchronization 100%]
[Congratulations! Your 'Super God Body' has evolved.]
[New Body Acquired: 'Origin Spirit God Body' - Stage 1]
Vikram snapped his eyes open. His pupils were gone; instead, a vortex resembling the stars of the universe swirled within them.
His body no longer looked weak or frail. A strange metallic sheen appeared on his skin, looking harder than diamond. He could now feel every particle, every vibration in the air.
He raised his hand. The air danced at his command.
"This power..." Vikram clenched his fist. A sound like a sonic boom cracked through the air. "This is different from the old Super God Body. This body doesn't store energy... it has become energy."
[Traits of Origin Spirit God Body:]
Total Adaptation: You can learn the energy and technique of any 'Origin Beast' by touching it.
Energy Devourer: During combat, you can directly absorb energy from enemy attacks.
Vikram stood up. A ferocious smile played on his face.
"Lady Scarlet," he said into the darkness. "You wanted to make me a 'toy'? You've just locked a monster in a cage. And now, this monster is hungry."
Just then, footsteps approached outside the cell. It wasn't the food server. It was someone else.
"I felt strange energy from inside," a heavy voice boomed. "Open the door."
The door opened, and three Elite Guards entered. They saw Vikram standing there, a strange light in his eyes.
"Oh, the new boy is awake?" the guard laughed. "Lady Scarlet said we need to 'soften' you up a bit so you don't cause too much drama in the arena."
Vikram cracked his neck. "You guys arrived at the perfect time. I needed a 'test drive' for my new body."
Author Note: "If you like the story, please vote with Power Stones! It helps me write faster."