Kai's Ambitions - A Journey For Another Tale!

Things were already bad for the upper floor Contestants.

Now, there was a giant, draconic Serpent wreaking havoc among them, its Agility defying logic when compared to its size.

"There must be a reason why the Supreme Protector is only using the Magical Beast?" one of the three remaining 8th-floor Contestant, in tight jeans and jacket, said, her black hair stuck to her face.

"If we can take it out, then…" another 8th-floor Contestant added, hope kindling in his eyes. He was middle-aged and had black robes on him.

The third Contestant was a young man. His short hair was brown and his eyes were green. He was wearing a blue t-shirt with Pikachu's print over shorts. "I think…" he said, eying the other two, "… I can handle the big one."

"We can handle the other one…" the black-robed man said, nodding toward the woman.

All three mutually agreed not to discuss the Space Devourer petrifying all Contestants behind them. That would have made things too real for them.

"On me!" the Pokemon Trainer shouted toward the surviving 7th-floor Contestants.

On the other side, after devouring the Contestant with the Flash's Inheritance, the Time Devourer spun and gave the short, white-haired Selene a sharp look.

Hissss!

-Oh, fuck off!- Selene hissed, putting her hands inside her jeans' pockets. -No way I am becoming that huge…-

Standing in front of the throne, Kai's purple-rimmed, slitted pupils narrowed.

Black was Kai. Kai was Black. Even the Ad Infinitum within their minds wasn't a sub-AI of each other, but only one entity. Their every thought, every action, and every intention remained in synchronization.

Yet, they were Faceless.

They were No One.

"Are you thinking the same?" Black acted with Calm, looking at the Yellow Warlock.

Kai acted with a nod. "Three-headed Devourer…" he uttered the name, tasting it at the tip of his tongue. "Let's not discuss Time and Space Devourers for now… But its obvious where the Life Devourer has gotten its powers from…"

It didn't take long for Kai to figure out how Devour in Selene's Stats worked.

Everything that she sucked in got digested, turning into MP, SP, and HP. The values, of course, depended on the devoured thing's original power level.

Moreover, Selene had been corrupted by Kai's Glitch, Blood Devour, along with Hastur's gaze, in the Random World of Pokemon before. So he knew the Life Devourer's Devour was a twisted and derivative form of his Glitch.

"If I devour Selene…" Black held his chin, looking thoughtful, "… can I evolve my Glitch again?"

Once again, Black's hideousness was oozing out in the open, despite Ad Infinitum's constant efforts to suppress and counter the Calm within him. He was the same Black who had almost killed Item-M, Red Sun, and Moraine if it weren't for the AI's intervention.

When it came to gaining Power, Kai still had no remorse in burying all emotions and killing whosoever he deemed necessary. There were no soft spots in his heart. That's why, whoever wanted to remain with him, tried their hardest to constantly improve.

This was the case for Cersei, who had sacrificed her original personality for power in the thousand years she spent with him.

This was also the case for Selene, who was ready to sacrifice a consciousness.

"How about letting her evolve it on her own before devouring her at her peak?" Kai suggested. "I am still not sure about HIS Corruption within the Time Devourer…"

The Ad Infinitum had to intervene, lest the lesser minds, Kai and Black, did something which they would regret later. Its engine had been rigorously working upon a solution as the Contestant and the Item conversed. Now, it had a solution… kinda.

"Probability of encountering failure while devouring the Three-Headed Devourer - 63%," the Ad Infinitum beeped. "Probability of getting corrupted by the Old One - 99%. Recommendation - Genomic Partitioning."

Both Kai and Black's eyes lit up.

Through selective breeding in his previous life, Kai had birthed with the most astute mind, becoming the lead scientist in genes-related scientific fields at the young age of 11.

After resurrecting in the Primordial Tower, he never really got the chance to implement his knowledge. However, over 1300 years spent on Island X finally granted Kai the time he direly needed to take his scientific knowledge to an even greater height.

Of course, all the knowledge was now stored in Ad Infinitum's data bank.

"The process will include Genome Sequencing, precisely matching distinct genes with each Consciousness," the Ad Infinitum added, beeping.

"But that can be tricky," Kai chimed in recalling the process. "I will most probably encounter intertwined genomes."

Black remained quiet, his thoughts going to some distant place.

"Once done with the Genome Sequencing," the Ad Infinitum continued, "the next process will be Gene Editing, involving targeting and isolating the specific genes, akin to CRISPR-BBE9 genome editing technology from Earth."

Kai frowned. Not because of the sophisticated technology he would need, or the sheer amount of time if he wanted Selene alive, but because of knowing what was the next process.

"The next process is the most difficult," the Ad Infinitum beeped. "Selective Extraction."

Kai's frown deepened. With an Old One's corruption-influenced genes involved, and his Glitch on the other side, it was already a doomed process. Not to mention, Selene's original genes also stood a chance of getting damaged, sandwiched between the other two.

"The last and the easiest process is Consciousness Transfer to another vessel," Kai said, taking a deep breath, "But… Selective Extraction… Sigh… I… lack the required expertise."

If it was Kai from before the Tournament of Worth, then he might have felt a pinch admitting his lack of knowledge. Now, though, he felt no shame.

For him, there were things he knew. Then there were things he had yet to know. Simple as that.

Yet, the impossibility persisted.

"There is no shame in asking for help," Black said with Calm, patting Tina's head. "I know just the… man… who has spent all his life playing with genes; both the mystical and scientific aspects of them."

Kai took out a Book and smiled before throwing it to Black.

He then looked at Selene. "Take her with you," he told the black-haired Item. "She can be a good bait. He's already fond of white snakes, no?"

Black chuckled in reply.

On the other side, coming to a mutual agreement, the Pokemon Trainer ran toward the giant yellow-eyed Serpent, knowing well it would take the Magical Beast some time to digest the devoured Contestant. Almost all 7th-floor Contestants followed him, their faces twisting in rage and defiance.

Facing against the Life Devourer, the black-robed man lifted his hands.

Endless black flames surged out from his palms, becoming giant fireballs. He then threw them at the short-haired girl. Wherever the black flames touched the mist, it sizzled, shooting pain through the Magical Beast.

Hellblaze - The Seven Deadly Sins!

The woman took out a massive, golden bow. She pulled the strings and ethereal, azure-reddish fiery arrows took shape, searing the surroundings. For a moment, everyone within the Mirror Dimension felt their backs sweating as a heat penetrated them.

Then, with resolve, she let go of the arrows.

Artemis Bow - Saint Seiya!

Simultaneously, with a swift motion, the Pokemon Trainer from the 8th-floor took out a Pokeball, grinning widely. "I choose you…

"… Onix."

And the world facepalmed.

ROAR!!

The over 25 ft giant Rock Pokemon roared, towering over the Contestants, and even the Time Devourer.

However, what happened next became the biggest joke of this tragedy.

All Devourers shifted their gazes and looked at Onix from three sides. Yellow, Black, and Stony gazes landed on the Pokemon simultaneously, a primal call boiling in its bloodline.

Selene didn't even use a Skill. It was just a look. A look which meant to say — How dare you?!

Ability - Bloodline Manipulation!

Onix, showing no hint whatsoever, let out another roar. Its tail lit up, becoming steel, and then it slammed it on the Pokemon Trainer's chest with its entire might.

Boommmmm!!!

The 8th-floor Contestant got stuck to the Mirror Dimension's wall, preventing him from flying away into the sky. Then, with his hands sprawled, his chest broken, and blood foaming his mouth, he slid down. But before he could touch the earth, his eyes met the Life Devourer.

What landed on the earth then was nothing but a comedic statue.

Onix wasn't done, though. It put its massive body between the incoming dark fireballs and fiery arrows and the Life Devourer.

Booms and bangs rang out, making Onix cry, pieces of rocks falling off like raindrops.

By the time it was over, Onix was on the verge of death. It became a ray of light and returned to the Pokeball.

What the Pokemon left behind were two drained, stunned, and hopeless 8th-floor Contestants.

Even if the sky fell or the earth split apart now, nothing could save them from the fate the Supreme Protector had orchestrated for them.

*******************

AN: BREAK TOMORROW!

Now you can access up to 45 chapters ahead of WN on Patre0n. Along with it, you will also get 21 chapters monthly update (5 chapters per week). If you are liking the work, then please consider supportig it by becoming a Patron.

Good luck.