Ch- 16 "Transcending Humanity"

In the realm of aging, where the loss of regenerative capacity is considered a natural progression, there exists a remarkable exception in the form of Axolotls. These enigmatic creatures defy the norm by preserving their astounding regenerative abilities throughout their entire existence. Furthermore, within the domain of age-related ailments, this organism remains an extraordinary anomaly, as the development of such diseases within its ranks is a rare and seldom-seen occurrence.

Contemplating the extraordinary Axolotls and their unyielding regenerative prowess, I found myself musing further. "So, what that means is that my regenerative ability will not be affected by the ageing of the body," I reflected. But then, an utterly absurd notion crept into my thoughts - what if the reverse were true? What if, somehow, my body could undergo a process of de-ageing? I puzzled over this strange idea, uncertain as to why such a peculiar thought had taken root in my mind. Was it perhaps a harbinger of some impending revelation or event?

My thoughts meandered through the maze of Axolotls and their mysterious regenerative powers, wondering about the implausible concept of de-ageing. But the reason for this mental diversion was less enigmatic. It was a desperate attempt to distract myself from an unsettling sensation – a sensation akin to tiny insects crawling all over my skin, accompanied by a relentless and maddening itch. This peculiar discomfort, I surmised, might have something to do with the integration of the regenerative abilities of not just Axolotls but also Planarians and Hydras.

This time, I found a small consolation in the fact that I hadn't lost consciousness. If I had succumbed to another episode of sudden collapse, my parents would undoubtedly have rushed me to the hospital. While that wouldn't necessarily be a terrible outcome, what truly concerned me were the relentless questions that would follow. Inquiries about the mysterious mutations my body was displaying, the rapid evolution it seemed to be undergoing, and the strengthening of my genome and DNA helix would have bombarded me relentlessly.

Honestly, I reflected, I wouldn't even know how to begin answering these potential questions. And even if I did, I likely wouldn't divulge the truth. Revealing the answers would almost certainly lead to a one-way ticket to a mental hospital, where I'd find myself seated across from a psychiatrist, attempting to make sense of the inexplicable changes happening within me.

***

After enduring what felt like an eternity of indescribable itching, those tormenting minutes eventually came to an end. What remained in the aftermath was a body covered in filth and emanating a repulsive odor.

It was a revelation that caught me off guard. Regeneration, it seemed, had not only transformative powers but also a surprising cleansing and impurity-expelling effect on the body. This unexpected twist left me incredulous. Who could have imagined that the act of regeneration would encompass such a multifaceted transformation? Certainly not me.

***

Unable to endure the state and stench any longer, I hurried to the shower, where a cold, refreshing cascade of water washed away the expelled impurities, leaving me feeling renewed.

Upon finishing the shower, I approached the mirror with a mix of curiosity and trepidation. What greeted me in the reflection was astonishing - an exceptionally handsome eighteen-year-old with slightly brownish-black, silky-smooth hair and a wheatish skin tone. My facial features were sharp, exuding an air of trustworthiness combined with seriousness. But the most astounding transformation was in my physique; I now possessed firm, strong, and defined muscles, as if they had been personally sculpted by the gods themselves, all thanks to the impurity-expelling and body-cleansing effects brought about by the integration of regeneration.

The mechanism behind the cleansing and impurity-expelling process was a fascinating discovery. It involved the meticulous removal of impurities from the bloodstream within the liver, where toxins underwent processing for eventual elimination.

Regeneration didn't stop there; it extended its cleansing efforts to various organs, including the kidneys, intestines, lungs, lymphatic system, and even the skin. These vital components of the body played crucial roles in ensuring that impurities were effectively removed during the cleansing process.

It became evident that when any of these organs were compromised, impurities couldn't be properly filtered, and the overall health of the body suffered as a result.

The fascinating aspect of the regeneration process was that it not only repaired the damaged areas of my body but also created fresh and healthy cells. Consequently, it was inevitable that the old, broken, and damaged cells would be expelled by the body as part of this renewal.

This revelation shed light on the cleansing and impurity-expelling process I had experienced. What my body had expelled were, in fact, the remnants of these dead cells, making room for the healthier, rejuvenated versions that had taken their place.

***

Once I had donned some comfortable attire and taken a few steps, I was overwhelmed by a surge of energy, as if I possessed the power to pulverize a mountain with a single, mighty fist.

Yet, it wasn't just physical prowess that I felt coursing through me. The integration and adaptation of Slit Sensilla, a newfound enhancement to my senses, elevated my Sixth Sense and heightened my overall awareness.

With these sharpened senses, I could now discern even the most subtle details, like the presence of a few bed bugs lurking on my bed, a discovery made possible by this newfound clarity of perception.

***

Curiosity piqued by my heightened senses, I embarked on a self-discovery journey to measure the extent of their strengthening.

To my astonishment, I realized that my vision and hearing had been amplified to a remarkable degree; I could perceive details up to a staggering distance of approximately 250 meters. Furthermore, I could feel the subtlest movements of the wind and vibrations through the fine hairs on my body, a newfound sensitivity that added another layer to my sensory experience.

But the most astonishing revelation came when I experimented with my newfound abilities. Much like spiders, I discovered that I could adhere to walls and walk upside-down across nearly any type of surface. This uncanny ability was made possible by my exploitation of electrostatic forces, akin to the van der Waals forces utilized by spiders, which allowed me to defy gravity in ways previously unimaginable.

The newfound powers I had acquired were nothing short of extraordinary. It appeared that the van der Waals forces at my disposal were potent enough to enable me to bear loads exceeding 170 times my own body weight.

What was even more remarkable was the transformation my body had undergone. It now featured a dense covering of tiny hairs, forming a tuft on various parts of my form. What made this adaptation truly astonishing was that each of these individual hairs within the tuft was adorned with hundreds of thousands of minuscule structures known as setules, measuring mere hundreds of nanometers in width. It was these setules that accounted for my newfound ability to adhere to virtually any surface, harnessing the power of molecular forces to create a bond that defied gravity and conventional physics.

***

With the initial excitement gradually subsiding, I directed my thoughts towards the AI Chip embedded in my consciousness, requesting an update on my newfound status.

"AI Chip, show me my Status."

[Beep! Task Established.]

[Showing Status.]

[Name: Swayam Shekhawat.

Age: 18(40)

Race: Evolved Human

...

Physical stats:

Strength: 99.99, Agility: 99.99, Vitality: 99.99

Status: Healthy

...

Special:

Main:

• Extraction

• Integration

Passive:

• Ambidextrous

• Photographic Memory

• Intuition

• Sixth Sense

• Resilience

• Adaptation

• Evolution

• Regeneration

Sub Category:

• A.I. Chip

...

Skills:

Cooking, Singing, Dancing, Acting, Swimming, Bargaining, Concentration, Karate, Muay Thai, Tai Chi, CQC, ... and many more.

...

Energies:

Qi

...

Life span: 9999 Years.]

***

Perplexed by the lack of an increase in my base stats and the expected extension of my lifespan, I couldn't help but ponder the anomaly. I had anticipated that integrating with 'Regeneration' would propel my basic attributes beyond the 99.99 threshold, and my lifespan should have experienced a drastic expansion as well.

As I contemplated this inexplicable situation, it became increasingly clear that the logical explanations I sought might elude me for now. The mysteries of my newfound abilities and their implications were unfolding in ways I had never imagined.

***