Chapter 6: Alpha variant

When he had come to, Tyofast noticed he was bigger than before. Easily surpassing the length of his last meal at 19 and 1/2 inches. He felt much more energetic, like something keeping him down was suddenly spirited away.

He held the feeling as he basked in the morning sun.

Feeling happy, he called upon his AI and to summon his digitized status info.

<Status>

....

[Name: Tynofast]

[Species: komodo dragon - alpha variant chain]

[Stage: hatchling]

[Life span: 40 earthern years]

[Strength: non-tiered]

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<Abilities>

*Infrared sensing* – allows for accurate labelling and sensing of heat signatures.

*Odor sensing* – facilitates a powerful gauging and identification of scents and pheromones.

*Strong digestion* – grants a higher and more potent gastric juice production along with a capacity to withstand it.

*#Transcenent metabolism#* – quadruples the species metabolism rate.

*regeneration* – increased cell division speed, capacity and energy utilization rate.

*#damage memory scales#* – renders cell make up of cells memory properties and evolutionary capabilities.

*Dual breathing systems* – a breathing system consisting of lungs and gills, offering an amphibious lifestyle.

....

There were no questions possible with direct transmission, so Tynofast was practically humming with satisfaction when he learnt that he had absorbed the rodents and serpents abilities.

That's right, the serpent's natal ability wasn't hiding its scent but scales that rebuilt more resistant against damage taken before repairal. The snake's scales had grown so impermissible,normal knives were useless against it, Tynofast couldn't have dreamed defeating the slithering shit using any means other than drowning it.

Grimacing, Tynofast dreaded his painful future. The ability gained from the rodent was a soothing balm to his ails though. To have as high a metabolism as this a reptile meant an almost absurd increase in energy intake but it also meant accelerated growth and healing.

Evidence of this, was the removal of the 'minor' suffix from regeneration. Such a set of events were rated as beyond convenient by his AI assistant, stating most alpha variants don't get such suitable guiding abilities.

Remembering his early doubts, the curious Tynofast Immediately expressed his doubts about the implications of being an alpha variant.

Results on:

Alpha variants

With exponential increase in the demand on biologically enhanced products and materials, came about many breakthroughs, the pinnacle of these achievements being alpha variants. Representing a set of individuals that are innately above the best possible physical stats for their species for two reasons.

Say a species of giant centipede can fell prey half their size, a centipede of the alpha variant chain can fell one twice their size at the same growth stage. On top of this before juvenile period, they'd be able to gain a varying number of abilities from the prey they eat, though none have been known to go above four abilities and the acquisitions are random.

Even so, a cheetah alpha variant harnessing tremor sense and a crushing bite would crush all natural big cats in 1v1s. Such a surprise heralded the birth of Beast Battle Colosseums called Domes, Each dome an individual beast dueling league of it's own.

Once every few years, the domes compete, pitting their strongest beasts against each other in the 'War games', a close quarters battle royale for title of the seasons unrivaled Variant. The winner gets to siphon a select part of all the loser's research and miscellaneous information.

So, every Dome is always deeply invested in making the next abominably monstrous beast. A four time winner, as well as the past years winner, happened to be Wargle Dome.

Their winning streak was maintained by their contraction of Xenoneural Labs aid. Why? Simply because they were that good. Reason being their existence since the last century. The baptism of the years had done nothing but enhance their methods.

Tynofast was the result of one of their crudest techniques and newest materials but according to his growth rate, could easily make it to the next War games.

Finding out about the circumstances leading to his birth had insighted waves of disgust in Tynofast. Contradictoryly, His excitement heightened with the disgust before surpassing it.

Tynofast was no victim, with no inclination to self pity, he anchored his outburst onto cruel thoughts. Since humans had decided to culture, nurture, raise and train unworldly predators they shouldn't be surprised by their absurd success in bringing about the birth of the most deadliest hunter.

The next war games he'd make sure the humans participated in his coronation. He thought it would excite them far more than sitting to watch.

Ending his musing, Tynofast felt that he had basked for long enough. The two day-old lizard went into the pool, the chill was not new to him but he didn't deign to savor the sensation. Since it had saved him the day before, Tynofast harbored an affection for the waters. It was the one thing that had saved his life.

It was also tantalizing as far as his gills were concerned. So, for the next few hours he floated sank, sped, and lurked constantly fine-tuning his technique. By the time he emerged from the pool, he was as proficient as an adult komodo, though half as fast as one at most.