Zerg Larvae!

Luther took a steadying breath, feeling his heart beat fiercely beneath his ribs. He raised the scalpel, its edge gleaming faintly under the dim light, and carefully positioned it over the swollen abdomen of the man on the operating table. His hands still shook slightly, but he forced his nerves into submission, letting his surgical instincts take over.

As he made the first incision, his movements grew more fluid, precise. Despite the facade of fear and clumsiness he'd shown moments before, now he cut with the finesse of a master surgeon. He couldn't play the timid fool forever; too much incompetence would only undermine his value in Soros's eyes. He needed to show just enough skill to earn their respect and maybe, if he was lucky, more information.

With each stroke of the blade, his mind cleared, his focus sharpening. His hands moved with purpose as he separated layers of flesh, revealing the complex anatomy beneath. Soros, watching intently from the side, seemed to approve, nodding slightly as Luther navigated through layers of tissue with increasing speed and confidence.

'Good,' Soros thought, watching Luther's hands with a growing sense of respect. 'The man may be spineless, but he's skilled. Perhaps more useful alive than dead after all.'

Soros had planned to dispose of Luther once the operation was done, assuming he'd be too skittish and unreliable. But now, watching the doctor deftly expose the innermost tissues without so much as nicking a vital structure, he wondered if perhaps this doctor might be worth keeping around. He'd consult Elizabeth, but he was beginning to see a future for this man in their plans.

As Luther pulled back a layer of thick fat, his knife revealed something beneath; a semi-transparent membrane, glistening with a strange, oily sheen. Inside it, nestled within a web of tissue, was a pulsing, fist-sized object encased in a glossy black shell. It throbbed rhythmically, each pulse almost as though it had a life of its own.

"Sir," Luther said quietly, his voice betraying just a hint of professional pride. "Shall I… retrieve this?" He looked up, masking the flicker of excitement that threatened to break through his expression.

Soros's eyes widened, momentarily taken aback. 'He did it…' He hadn't expected Luther to perform this extraction so flawlessly. The alien organism lay exposed, cocooned safely in its capsule, untouched and undamaged; a feat that even his most skilled surgeons had rarely achieved.

"Take it out," Soros replied, his tone filled with restrained excitement. "And don't damage the capsule. It's crucial."

"Yes, sir," Luther replied, his voice a mix of obedience and feigned fear. Inside, however, he felt a thrill. He hadn't anticipated this level of precision, even from himself. His blade moved deftly, slicing through the last remnants of fat and connective tissue. He lifted the capsule gently from the body, placing it onto a silver tray.

As he stepped back, Luther stole a glance at Soros, whose expression had transformed from scorn to shock. The man was staring at the alien specimen in awe, his face alight with something bordering on reverence.

"This… this is incredible," Soros murmured, almost to himself. "An undamaged capsule means it's still viable, with full growth potential intact. We could harness its power… we must recruit this talent. We 'must.'"

Soros's admiration was plain, and Luther couldn't help but feel a faint smirk hidden behind his mask. Whatever he'd just done had clearly impressed Soros beyond measure.

As Soros marveled over the alien organism, something strange happened. The moment Luther's fingers brushed against the capsule, an intense connection surged through him. A flood of thoughts, sensations, something ancient and foreign, briefly washed over his mind, sending a chill down his spine. He felt a mental presence, a sense of ownership, almost as if… as if the creature had just submitted to him.

'What on earth…' he thought, his mind reeling. Then, abruptly, a series of foreign messages echoed in his consciousness:

[Successfully subjugated the lower-level independent race; the Zerg larvae]

[Zerg Larva, Racial Skill: Mental Parasite]

[Successfully unlocked the Old Ones summoning function. Note: Summoning of certain entities will require collection of independent lower-level species.]

[Current summoning available: Zerg 1/1,000,000, Unknown Entity 1/1]

Luther's eyes widened, and he muttered an involuntary expletive under his breath. 'What in the world…' He hadn't even meant to interact with the creature in this way, let alone "subjugate" it. It was an alien, hideous thing, its shell black and slick, pulsing with a life that felt both fascinating and revolting.

He glanced down at the grotesque creature, lying docilely on the tray. A sense of disgust welled up within him. Its appearance was revolting, a creature born of shadows and nightmares. But beneath the revulsion was a glimmer of dark curiosity. 'So, this monstrosity belongs to me now? What does that even mean?'

Soros hadn't noticed Luther's momentary distraction, too absorbed in his own thoughts. He reached out, giving Luther an approving nod. "You've done well, Doctor. Far better than expected. I'll speak to the Lady about… more substantial rewards for your service."

Luther forced himself to nod humbly, masking the thrill that still buzzed in his veins. "Thank you, Mr. Soros. It's an honor to serve… and to learn," he replied, playing the part of the obedient and grateful surgeon.

Inside, however, his mind was racing. He'd just touched something far beyond human comprehension, a creature from the unknown depths of existence that had; by some strange twist of fate, now answered to him. The possibilities were both terrifying and exhilarating. He had to play this carefully, to keep Soros's suspicions at bay, but also to uncover the true extent of what he had just unlocked.

For now, he would follow orders, pretending to be the loyal, humble doctor. But one thing was clear to him: the game had just changed, and the stakes had risen.

"Luther, bring the tray. The lady will want to see this immediately."

Soros's voice snapped Luther out of his thoughts. He'd been considering the potential of this new power—'mental parasitism'—when he felt a firm hand on his shoulder. He quickly masked his thoughts, adopting a look of anxious obedience, and nodded.

"Y-yes, of course," Luther stammered, feigning a nervous demeanor as he carefully lifted the tray with the alien capsule.

Inside the Manor's Main Hall

Elizabeth stood by the large, ornate table, her presence commanding and almost regal. As Luther approached, her gaze fell on the pulsing alien mass encased in the capsule, and a glimmer of fascination sparkled in her eyes. She removed a delicate white gauze glove from her left hand, revealing a pale, flawless palm, which she reached out to touch the capsule with an almost reverent curiosity.

She glanced up at Luther, who stood stiff and uneasy, then shifted her gaze to Soros, whose posture was one of utmost respect. With a calm, almost clinical tone, she finally spoke.

"Dr. Luther," she said, her voice smooth and unyielding, "I'll be in Evernight Town for two weeks. Consider this an invitation. You have two weeks to decide if you wish to align yourself with the Von Kro family."

Luther felt a chill run down his spine at her words, sensing both the power and the threat laced within. She turned her attention back to the capsule dismissively, signaling the end of the audience. "You may go now."

"Yes… thank you," Luther mumbled, bowing slightly. Soros handed him a small bag of shillings, the weight promising substantial payment, but Luther didn't bother to count them. He kept his head low, exiting with a trembling posture.

Once outside, Luther's steps slowed, and he took a deep breath, feeling a dark satisfaction rising within him. Quietly, he counted down under his breath.

"Three… two… one…"

'Bang!'

A gunshot echoed from inside the manor. Luther's lips curled into a triumphant smirk. 'So, mental parasitism really works.'

Without hesitation, he turned and rushed back toward the manor, joined by a group of guards who were running toward the source of the shot. They stormed into the hall, their weapons drawn, only to find Soros lying on the floor, his eyes wide open, a bullet hole neatly centered in his forehead. Yellowish fluid and blood pooled beneath his head, spreading across the polished floor.

Elizabeth was huddled in a corner, clutching the smoking pistol with trembling hands, her face frozen in an expression of horror and disbelief. She looked down at the weapon, then at Soros's lifeless body, as if unable to comprehend what had just happened.

"Miss… what—what happened?" one of the guards stammered, his voice thick with shock and fear. The others exchanged bewildered glances, their faces pale.

"I… I don't know," Elizabeth whispered, her voice breaking. "I don't understand. I never meant to… I never—"

Luther watched her, his eyes narrowing with a mixture of satisfaction and calculation. He could see the dawning horror in her eyes as she began to piece together the truth. She looked up at him, her face pale as a ghost.

A hint of a smirk played at Luther's lips. He sighed, then turned to close the door, sealing them all inside.

The moment the latch clicked, the alien creature within the capsule stirred. With a sudden burst of motion, it broke through the membrane and lunged, its insectoid limbs thrashing as it pounced onto the nearest guard. Screams filled the room as the creature attacked, its movements swift and brutal. Blood spattered the walls as it tore through one guard after another, moving with a terrifying speed and precision.

Luther leaned against the door, arms crossed, calmly watching as the massacre unfolded. He took a step forward, observing with a detached curiosity as the alien creature eliminated each person in the room, sparing none except for the horrified Elizabeth, who shrank back into the corner, her eyes wide with terror.

When the last scream faded and the room fell silent, Elizabeth looked up, realizing she was the only one left alive. Her gaze shifted to Luther, who stood amid the carnage, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to the blood-soaked floor.

"You… monster!" she hissed, her voice trembling with fury and fear. "Why? Why did you kill them? Why do this?"

Luther tilted his head, a mocking smile tugging at his lips. He slowly lifted his bird-beak mask, revealing his face, and glanced at the alien creature, which hovered by his side, fluttering its wings as if it sought his approval. Its grotesque form was like a pet awaiting praise, its chirping noise almost celebratory.

"Why?" he echoed, his tone taunting. He took a slow, deliberate step toward her, savoring the terror in her eyes. "Perhaps you should be asking yourself that question, Lady Elizabeth. Isn't it noble blood that allows you to treat the lives of others as mere tools? Isn't it your status that lets you decide who lives and who dies?"

She recoiled, pressing herself against the wall, but his words cut deep. The truth of her hypocrisy, laid bare before her, left her shaking.

"You nobles think you can play with people's lives without consequence," Luther continued, his voice low and venomous. "You thought you could control me, use me like one of your pawns. But you never considered that I might have my own mind, my own will."

Elizabeth's voice quivered, "You're… you're insane."

Luther chuckled, his gaze cold and unyielding. "Perhaps. Or maybe I'm just what you made me; a reflection of your own ruthlessness, your own disregard for life."

The creature beside him emitted a soft, satisfied buzz, almost as if it understood the power shift in the room. Luther glanced at it, then back at Elizabeth, his smile darkening.

"You wanted to be extraordinary," he said mockingly. "You wanted power over others, and now you're learning what it feels like to be at the mercy of someone else's whims."

Elizabeth's face drained of color. She pressed her hands against the wall, desperately trying to back further away as Luther moved closer, his eyes gleaming with the promise of retribution.

"So, tell me, Lady Elizabeth," he whispered, leaning close. "How does it feel to be powerless?"