Ch - 15 "Embracing the Regenerative Odyssey"

As the alarm clock's persistent chime echoed through my hazy consciousness, I found myself grappling with the tumultuous events of the past 34 hours. Mayra and Reena, their magnetic attraction to me no longer concealed, had stunned me with their proactive pursuit. What mystified me even more was my mother's unexpected role as a matchmaker in this affair, granting them the elusive green light.

With a sigh that resonated in the corridors of my mind, I silenced the alarm clock, revealing the digital display that read 7 o'clock on the morning of November 3rd. The A.I. Chip, relentless in its notifications, had just notified me of the completion of the adaptation and evolution process.

"[Beep! Adaptation and Evolution process complete.]

[Physical stats affected!]

[Severe Damage detected to Host's body. Immediate treatment required.]"

"[Beep! Host in a weakened state!]" the mechanical voice of the A.I. Chips chimed in.

"Well, damn. What's happened now?" I muttered, my mind swirling with questions and concerns.

I gazed at the A.I. Chip's displayed information, hoping to uncover the cause behind the severe damage that had befallen me. My eyes scanned the detailed status report, searching for clues about the ailment that had blindsided me. As I delved into the data, I couldn't help but wonder why my Sixth Sense and Intuition had failed to forewarn me of this impending crisis.

[Beep! Task Established!]

[Showing Status.]

[Name : Swayam Shekhawat

Gender : Male Age : 18 (40)

Race : Evolving Homosapien/Human

...

Physical stats:

Strength: 22.25 (99.99), Agility: 22.25 (99.99), Vitality: 22.25 (99.99)

Status: Weakened Condition.

...

Special:

Main:

•Extraction

•Integration

Sub Category:

•A.I. Chip

•Sixth Sense

•Resilience

•Adaptation

•Evolution

...

Abilities:

Ambidextrous, Photographic Memory, Intuition.

...

Skills:

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

...

Energies:

Qi

...

Life span: 2225 (9999)Years.]

[Beep! Successfully integrated with the Slit Sensilla, Resilience, Adaptation and Evolution.]

[Residual effect of forceful integration has caused the body severe damage. Immediate treatment suggested.]

The information presented was perplexing, and the mention of "forceful integration" only deepened my confusion. It was clear that immediate treatment was imperative, but the true nature of this affliction remained shrouded in mystery.

***

"Living for more than two millennia? Well, that's certainly something to take pride in. However, before I can bask in that thought, I must address this issue of my weakened state," I contemplated, a sense of urgency gripping my thoughts.

Lost in my pondering, I was interrupted by the creak of my room's door swinging open. Mayra and Reena, clad in their nightwear and bearing bowls of porridge, entered the room.

"Good morning, Reena. Good morning, Mayra," I warmly greeted them as they drew near.

"Good morning, Swayam," Mayra replied with her enchanting voice, casting a smile that could light up a room.

"G-Good morning, Swayam," Reena stammered in a shy, barely audible voice, her cheeks tinged with a subtle blush.

...

After they attended to me and expressed their intention to do so again that day, I gently persuaded them otherwise. Instead, I suggested they should go to college as usual.

I reached for my phone and dialed my mother, requesting her to drop them off at college on her way. Simultaneously, I assured Mayra and Reena that they were welcome to come directly to my house after their classes.

Given that my current physical condition was an improvement over the previous me, who had not successfully integrated with 'Sixth Sense,' 'Resilience,' 'Adaptation,' and 'Evolution,' I chose not to disclose my weakened state to Mayra and Reena. After all, there was no need to burden them with that information.

...

Alone with my thoughts, I contemplated the best course of action for my weakened state. Should I trust in the body's passive healing abilities, allowing it to naturally adapt and evolve to the situation? Or should I put into motion the plan that had taken shape in my mind, bracing myself for the uncertainty that came with it?

"F*ck it, let's do it," I declared, feeling a surge of determination.

With that decision, I retrieved my phone from my pajama pocket and initiated a search for 'Animals with the best regeneration.' The search yielded a list of creatures:

Salamanders, Axolotl, Starfish, Planarian,

Mexican Tetra, Hydra, Sea Cucumber, Lizards, Mole Salamander, Deer, Flatworm, Sponge, Spiny Mouse, African Clawed Frog, Sea Slug, Tunicate, Zebrafish, Ascidians, Model Organisms, Echinoderm, Turbellaria, Hemichordate, Dugesia, Annelid, Cairo Spiny Mouse, and Kemp's Spiny Mouse.

Among these, three piqued my interest: Axolotl, Planarian, and Hydra.

I considered my options, realizing that it wasn't that other organisms' regeneration abilities were inferior. Rather, Axolotl, Planarian, and Hydra possessed comprehensive regenerative capabilities that encompassed those of many other creatures. There was no need to acquire them at this moment, given my ability to do so when necessary.

With this in mind, I initiated the extraction process to acquire the regeneration abilities of Axolotl, Planarian, and Hydra.

As I began the extraction process, a wealth of information flooded my consciousness. The regeneration abilities of Axolotl, Planarian, and Hydra poured into my mind, and I allowed myself to absorb this knowledge fully.

(Note: Due to the extensive amount of information involved, it may take a moment to process. Feel free to refer to the all-knowing Google if you need further enlightenment.)

In my newfound knowledge, I absorbed the fascinating details about Axolotls and their remarkable regenerative abilities. These creatures, close relatives of salamanders, surpassed even their cousins in the art of regeneration.

Axolotls were capable of regrowing not only their tails but also limbs, skin, and virtually any other body part. Astonishingly, each time a limb was removed, it regrew flawlessly.

The secret to the Axolotls' incredible regenerative power lay in their unique response to injuries. Unlike humans, who heal wounds by forming skin tissue over severed limbs, Axolotls transformed nearby cells into stem cells, effectively reconstructing bones, skin, veins, and even part of their brain to their original state.

As for my choice of Planarians and Hydra, these creatures possessed the most astounding regenerative capacity, capable of regenerating their entire bodies.

Planarians, belonging to the class Turbellaria, were a diverse group of flatworms found in various environments. While the term "Planaria" referred to a specific genus, it was often used to describe any member of the family Planariidae and related families.

Hydra, on the other hand, shared this remarkable regenerative ability, and they too had the capacity to regenerate their entire body. These creatures were truly exceptional in their regenerative prowess.

Hydra, the final member of my selected trio, was revealed to be a genus of invertebrate freshwater animals belonging to the class Hydrozoa within the phylum Cnidaria.

These remarkable creatures possessed a slender, typically translucent tube-like body, which could contract significantly. While they measured up to approximately 30 millimeters (1.2 inches) in length, their ability to contract was noteworthy.

Hydra's classification placed it within the animal phylum Cnidaria, and it thrived in freshwater environments. The organism exhibited a polarized, primary body axis and comprised two epithelial cell layers, contributing to its unique regenerative capabilities.

Much like planarians, Hydra exhibited an astonishing capacity for regeneration. When divided in half, the upper portion had the remarkable ability to regenerate a foot, while the lower portion would grow a new head.

Despite lacking pluripotent stem cells, Hydra relied on three distinct stem cell types dispersed throughout its body. These included ectodermal and endodermal epithelial stem cells, as well as interstitial stem cells, each with its unique regenerative role.

The epithelial stem cells contributed to the regeneration of the epidermal layers, while the interstitial stem cells played a crucial role in regenerating various other tissues. Remarkably, the interstitial stem cells possessed multipotent potential, capable of giving rise to all other cell types except epithelial cells. This included the generation of neurons, nematocytes, secretory cells, and even gametes.

The coexistence of these three stem cell types within Hydra's body was believed to be the primary reason behind its unparalleled regenerative capacity.

***

With a hopeful thought in mind, I proceeded with the extraction and integration process, aiming to acquire the regeneration abilities of these remarkable creatures and assimilate them seamlessly into my own being. Anticipation filled me as I embarked on this transformative experience, hoping that it wouldn't incapacitate me or consume too much time.

***