The laboratory was filled with a deathly silence, like stagnant water, cloyingly clinging to Andrea’s senses.
“Ailaira?”
This eerie sense of dread strained Andrea’s nerves. She even began to imagine that Ailaira had been raided and met with some misfortune.
It was only when a faint, rhythmic breathing reached her ears a moment later that she let out a sigh of relief. Andrea lightly patted the silver-white tentacle wrapped around her waist, signaling for it to let her go.
The tentacle was surprisingly obedient, releasing Andrea and even thoughtfully guiding her toward a corner of the laboratory.
Following the guidance, Andrea moved cautiously through the darkness. As the sound of breathing grew closer, she felt her hand brush against warm flesh. Thinking it was a person who had lost all strength, she reached out to feel around.
“Ailaira, why aren’t you saying anything?”
There was no response. Andrea had no choice but to tentatively feel the mass she had accidentally kicked. She originally thought it was Ailaira’s chest, but when she actually touched it, the wet, viscous sensation that transmitted to her palm made her freeze.
It was not a complete limb, but a pulsating mass of flesh, damp and carrying a glandular scent. Andrea’s mind went blank for a moment before her body exploded with burning Magical Power.
She intended to light up the entire laboratory, but before she could see the scene in front of her, a pair of palms covered her eyes. A voice, as clear as a newborn spring, whispered in her ear.
“What are you having a fit for now?”
“Ailaira? You’re okay?”
Andrea felt Ailaira snatch the mass of flesh from her hand. Then, she seemed to use a handkerchief to wipe Andrea’s palm. Various subtle, rustling sounds echoed in her ears.
“What could possibly happen to me? How did you get in? I thought I locked the door.”
“Didn’t you use your tentacle to open the door for me?”
The silver-white tentacle hovering in front of Andrea’s face perked up one end, nodding humanistically as if proud of its own decision. Ailaira remained silent.
She noticed the tentacle seemed more active than before, as if it had developed its own consciousness.
Ailaira opened the System interface to check the information.
[Individual: Kabellin Development Progress has reached 30%. Elf Bloodline reward has been issued.]
[Individual: Kabellin Development Progress has reached 30%. Sea Fish Race Bloodline reward has been issued.]
[Individual: Kabellin Development Progress has reached 30%. Highland Dwarf Bloodline reward has been issued.]
Just moments ago, Ailaira had claimed these development rewards from the System interface after her hard work. As expected, they were the non-human bloodlines she needed. Ailaira had experimented beforehand to see what effects would occur when three different bloodlines were mixed with her own.
Although the reaction was violent, it eventually settled. Instead, a powerful Life Force erupted, much stronger than Andrea’s.
Even as a bystander, the “Mercury Touch” within Ailaira’s body began to tremble. Suppressing that stirred desire, Ailaira had tested and created a drug that could suppress the violent early reactions of bloodline fusion after repeated experiments. Once everything was ready, she finally accepted the rewards.
The results did not exceed Ailaira’s expectations.
Although she had “melted” in a physical sense, with the assistance of the ritual she had prepared in advance, the multiple bloodlines rapidly diluted and fused. Her terrifying life-recovery ability quickly reconstructed her body.
During this process, the Mercury Touch also gained significant benefits. Its gluttonous appetite was finally satisfied, allowing it to evolve to the next stage and display unparalleled autonomy. It was during this period that it had brought Andrea inside.
For some reason, the tentacle seemed to particularly like Andrea. Perhaps Andrea’s Life Force was more to its taste?
Once her body had finally finished reconstructing, Ailaira controlled the tentacle to release its hold on Andrea’s eyes. The lights in the laboratory subsequently turned on. Once the light returned, the first thing Andrea saw was Ailaira’s naked body. Her perfect curves were on full display, and her snow-white skin looked as fresh as a newborn.
This time, it was Andrea’s turn to frantically cover Ailaira’s eyes—but because she used too much force, she pushed Ailaira directly to the ground. Andrea’s face was flushed red, and she was shouting and cursing, but her eyes couldn’t help but stray toward Ailaira’s body.
“You… You! Are you a nudist?! Why aren’t you wearing clothes again?!”
“Don’t even mention the fact that I’m not wearing clothes for a moment. In this situation, shouldn’t you be covering your own eyes? Why are you covering mine?”
“Shut up! You just want to see me embarrassed! I won’t let you have your way!”
Ailaira, who was being blamed instead, was almost amused by the frustration. She controlled the Mercury Touch within her body to manifest a layer of silver-white skin on her surface, acting like a bodysuit covering her smooth form.
Then, the consciousness within the mercury followed Ailaira’s taste in clothing, sketching out an outfit that met her aesthetic. The ripples evolved into a complete, gorgeous outer garment.
Andrea watched the transformation, her mouth hanging open in shock. She suddenly remembered how her clothes were always torn to shreds every time she transformed into her Dragon Form. Excitedly, she said, “Ailaira, this is so cool! I want to learn this!”
“Unfortunately, you can’t learn it.”
Ailaira pushed away Andrea’s hand which was rubbing her arm. She moved to adapt to her brand-new body, feeling no sense of incompatibility.
However, Ailaira could keenly perceive a small amount of impurities remaining after the bloodline fusion flowing within her. She had already used the “Compression” trait to turn them into tiny parts, so they wouldn’t affect her body for the time being.
Ailaira casually waved her hand, opening her information screen.
[Status Window]
Name: Ailaira Green
Race: Hybrid Chimera
Traits: Compression, Simplification, Mercury Touch
Status: Perfect
Magical Power Assessment: Unpredictable
Nurturing Suggestion: Ascension
Development Progress: 50%
‘Perfect, huh… But I still feel it’s far from enough.’
Having experienced the benefits brought by this multi-bloodline fusion, Ailaira became even more interested in the research of non-human races.
She really wanted to know what surprises would await her if she continued to push the Development Progress further. However, she remembered her original Development Progress was 100%.
‘Did the original development degree drop because of the birth of new bloodlines? It seems that my restorative power is only one part of my current bloodline abilities.’
“Alright, since you’re fine, then let’s get ready for the banquet at the City Hall tonight.”
Ailaira’s attention shifted to Andrea. She asked in confusion, “Banquet? Hosted by the City Lord?”
Andrea nodded and recounted the encounter with the City Lord on the street earlier that day. “He basically meant that as the City Lord, he couldn’t just leave all the troublesome matters to you.”
Ailaira indifferently cleaned up the laboratory table and replied calmly, “Tell Jody to prepare the carriage.”
“By the way, bring the girl who is practicing her techniques. Tell her there’s a martial arts contest at the banquet.”
“Why do we have to bring her… Wait, you mean…”
Andrea realized something. She saw Ailaira stirring the liquid inside a glass flask. Through the refraction of the emerald-green liquid, the slight smile on the corner of her lips held a hint of playfulness.
“That’s right. Sillirora—our great God’s avatar—has arrived.”