A Mantis Shrimp?

[Detected you have consumed a higher Life Form codenamed Leatherback.]

[Analyzing Leatherback's Gene modules…]

[Analysis successfully completed!]

[Mapping out the genes responsible for {EMP discharge}]

[Genes successfully isolated and copied into the Genetic bank.]

[Predation effect triggered!]

[Do you want to merge with the skill?]

[Yes/No]

Hmm, that's a no-brainer.

[{EMP discharge} successfully integrated with host.]

***

It was a strange feeling as Leatherback's skill was copied into my genes, making it seem as if I have always had it ever since I was born.

[Genetic Archiving] deemed an external organ like the EMP noodles disadvantageous and didn't initiate an unfavourable mutation.

I was also happy with such a function. Mutations could go either way and there was no way I would want something that made me vulnerable.

I was all about adaptability and efficiency instead of growing useless vestigial structures on my body.

The most mind-boggling situation I couldn't wrap my mind around was how the skill [Bioelectric skin] wasn't affected by [EMP discharge].

They could bloody coexist!

However, the activation of the EMP cells inside my electrodermal skin would deactivate the generation of electric currents. They couldn't be used at the same time.

Anyway, I didn't find it bad. It was just perfect to the very minute details.

***

[Otachi's gene successfully analyzed and copied in the genetic bank.]

[Predation effect successfully triggered!]

[The 'Wing' gene has been perfectly isolated and imprinted into your own.]

[Searching through the genetic index…]

[Combining the Bat DNA, Lizard DNA and Otachi's DNA to form ultra-resilient wings]

["Flight" successfully added to your list of skills]

***

From my shoulder blades, I felt pain run through my nerves as small wings began to gradually sprout until they were large enough to cover my body.

The wings were covered with a membranous outer covering which began to shed off after my new wings completed their transformation.

***

[Acid Spit] successfully fused with [Superior Venom Fang] to form [Acidic Venom Fang]

***

Without wasting time, I instinctively flapped my wings once and displaced huge volumes of ocean water around me. If I had flapped with a stronger force, I fear I would have caused a fearsome tsunami to descend on Hong Kong.

For me, killing needed a reason and wasn't supposed to be indiscriminate. I had learned to have a little bit of self-restraint after the whole pack killing genocide. I didn't care about humanity and the lives lost in my pursuit of power and evolution. Destruction was a necessity.

Justifying my actions any further would make me sound hypocritical but that was the sad truth. Might makes right, so they say, huh?

I flapped my wings again and again and before long, I found myself levitating in the air.

'I am levitating!'

Excitement got the better part of me as I flapped my wings more while I breathed huge amounts of air into my lungs.

'More. More. More.' I chanted in my mind and a few minutes later, I had already covered hundreds of kilometres to reach outer space.

I wasn't sure if I could breathe in the vacuum of space, that's why I had decided to hold my breath beforehand.

The original Pathogen-R had the DNA of a whale and biologically, it was able to hold its breath for about 90 minutes. My current lung capacity was bigger than a whale and was in a whole different domain. I could probably hold my breath for almost 8 hours.

[Due to consuming alien Lifeforms capable of survival in various extreme environments, the need to breathe in space has been negated. Two phases of evolution have increased the body's adaptability against outer space cosmic radiations, vacuum and unknown lethal elements]

'Uh, it's reasonable. I wouldn't have possibly survived interdimensional travel without such a reason.' I stretched my wings and tried to be as bipedal as possible while I gazed at the golden sun and the world below.

There were also quite a few satellites floating far away from me.

'I am above the world...'

'I am standing on billions of lives…'

'I am… God.'

I tried to howl in space but no sound came.

I lamented at the fact that physics had to mess up my moments of glory and recklessness.

Physics and Robert Boyle be damned!

I thought of Superman's space scene in the Justice League Live action in relation to my current situation.

Since I didn't have a Kryptonian Physiology, I couldn't get empowered by solar radiations but perceiving their wavelengths was possible through my [Perfect Vision]. Seeing through the electromagnetic spectrum wasn't anything special.

I absent-mindedly admired Earth's beauty for a few moments before deciding that I had had enough.

I then flew back to Earth.

'What is Gipsy Danger doing standing there like a motionless statue?' I tilted my head to the side as I gazed at the beautiful Jaeger 100 meters away from where I landed.

Then, a bulb lit up in my head.

'It's called a surprise, I presume.'

'Seeing that the pilots aren't making moves to attack, they must have been duly warned not to engage unless I started rampaging.'

I had to give it to humans for their quick response and resourcefulness sometimes.

If I am not wrong, then some scientists in the Shatterdome should have come up with my basic profile through observations. Gathering intel was a very important aspect of war.

I was honestly curious about my place in the "Serizawa Scale".

Was I category IV, V, VI or unknown?

I bet they would find it hard to discern since I operated under different laws.

I could control my ambient radiation without a hitch making it impossible for them to analyze me fully.

I didn't bother with Gipsy Danger and the offline Striker Eureka before diving underwater.

Eat.

I needed more food.

Feed me more… Precursors.

'Status.'

***

[Status]

[Identity: Mutated Thermonuclear Wolf]

[Race: Unknown]

[Height: 96 meters]

[Length: 170 meters (Muzzle to Tail)]

[Wingspan: 190 meters]

[Weight: 6100 metric tons]

[Objective: Survive and Evolve]

[Penalty: None]

[Innate Trait: Genetic Archiving]

[Skills: Enhanced Speed, Enhanced Strength, Perfect Vision(+360 degrees vision), Enhanced Sense of Smell, Enhanced Growth, Enhanced Hearing, Enhanced Durability, Fearless, Bullet-time perception, Nuclear Radiation absorption, Camouflage, Underwater Breathing, Superior Regeneration, Sound Mimicry, Bioelectric skin, Acidic Venom Fang(New!), Thermonuclear Breath, Wings(Flight), EMP discharge, Outer Space Breathing]

[Evolution Phase: Phase 2]

[Current State: Normal]

[Alt Mode: Burning Lightning Hell Mode

Duration: 1 min]

***

'Keke, this does put a smile on my face.' I grinned creepily as I effortlessly broke through the underwater currents.

My wingspan wasn't far off from Rodan's and Mothra's. Ghidorah was on a whole 'nother level to compare with, for now.

Anyway, the Precursors should be expecting the Jaegers to come knocking on their doors, eh, more like… EXPLOSION!!

Due to the temporal differences between the Anteverse and Earth, the Precursors must have already finished manufacturing Slattern, Raiju and the other one. Was the other one by chance called Copperhead?

Wait… Copperhead was from Pacific Rim Black if I am not wrong.

Then it seemed I really couldn't remember the last Kaiju among the alien triad.

All in all, this only made me wanna visit the Anteverse but I knew I had to first deal with the three kaiju dogs stationed at the Breach's entrance.

Then, shouldn't I just wait for the Jaegers to do the dirty work and involve myself when things are about to end to reap the rewards?

'Humanity is in some need of character development.' I chuckled internally.

When I was busy being absent-minded, I suddenly caught something colourful in my compound vision, at 3 o'clock to be exact.

'The fuc-'

A mantis shrimp?

Like a cat, I curiously swam toward it.

****

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