Preparations

(A/N: Sorry for the late update, I have been busy with a midlife crisis where my wallet has been suffering so my dog doesn't have to.)

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People say that you are one in a billion, but that still means that there could be eight people identical to you… though, what about snowflakes?

Well, unless made artificially, there are no identical snowflakes. How come such crystalized water droplets can have different patterns when they form millimeters just apart from each other?

Such complicated and symmetrical designs be created way up in the atmosphere outside of most human interventions. Temperature, sand or mineral particles, water saturation, and much more factors that other scientists don't even understand play a part in the creation process.

To think that such a small natural construct could have seemingly infinite possibilities when it comes to its intricate arrangement.

"So people either just call it dark magic, attribute it to Yahweh, or whatever they want to believe in. But at the end of the day, the void between the known and the unexplainable is bizarre just as is wonderful." I explained to Io who was reading a book while sitting on a reclining chair.

"And these snowflakes are still appearing?" She inquires with that little head tilt.

"Yup, you will probably see some later once seasons change. We will look at some then." I nodded as I began to put my clothes on and wear a wrist brace made by my Apoz, constantly molding ever so slightly.

"The world can be a beautiful place when you don't have a Lost munching your ear off," I said, putting on my new sunglasses and standing in front of the mirror in our room.

I posed while wearing a deep black vest with sleeves rolled up, black gloves, and generally black garments. With my hair slicked back, I pointed at the mirror.

"Hahaha! It's too late, Chris! Your boulder-punching skills won't save you this time as Claire has just adopted her 4th cat! She will be childless for the rest of her life!! this is the end of the Redfield bloodlin- pfcktr-" I couldn't keep my Wesker impression and cracked up. "Haha, I just can't!"

I was pretty much a Bollywood Wesker or at least a low-budget Caucasian one. And the fact that my eyes looked similar helped a lot.

"Oh boy. Jokes aside-" I took off my glasses and saw the new face I'd been getting used to. I don't look that different but my own eyes gave me an uncanny valley feeling the first few days, but it has been a week already and I'd say that I'm kind of used to it. "-I can't complain about the jawline, though."

Sure, I suffered an incredible loss as it doesn't look like I'm smuggling a subway footlong through my jorts, but given the fact that I could've been put into this world as one of my female characters, I have to count my blessings.

And good thing that the knock on the door distracted me from my incoming depression once reminding me of my losses after a shower.

It is time to continue our operation and go for another Blood Spring to find the source. "Let's go."

With Io following behind me, we made our way to the living room… full of talking and breathing dead people to look for the kool-aid that will keep us from being dead but more Dead-er forever.

Ah yes, this world really has its wonders.

"After narrowing down our options, I've deduced that The Dried Up Trenches and The Howling Pit are our next destinations," Louis informed us of our two choices.

Standing in front of the map on the board, pointing at the coast of the city that has been almost marked with red all over, he explained, "The Dried Up trenches is a section of the sea brought violently to the surface during the great collapse. It is considered mostly dead land as it has little to no resources to acquire. Most were ships in an unfortunate place at an unfortunate time.

Additionally, as it was a section under the sea before, the terrain is quite difficult to traverse unlike the city as this new area wasn't made for human travel to begin with. Along with the lost that have adapted to the terrain, our next venture will be much harder than our first." The researcher pointed at a few pictures of the coral terrain that we will travel pinned on the board.

As we got the news, Io seemed aloof, like always, while Oliver and Yami were tense. And Yakumo looked like he was about to have a picnic… Well, if he brings his onigiri, he will.

"Fortunately, Yakumo and I have already investigated the area before and possess a concrete map of the area including three Mitsles and a single Blood Spring."

"Hufff…" Yami almost melted onto the couch as Oliver visibly relaxed.

Yakumo simply smirked before standing up. "I know that Howling Pit is an option, but I think that we should leave that expedition last as Adam has just acquired three blood codes, it would be better to have the coral land as his test run.

Don't you agree?" The ex-mercenary looked at me, standing right beside his friend.

"I have no objections." It saved me time trying to come up with an excuse. I'm sure Mia and Nicola's shadow clone could wait a few days, it's not like he will die, as I want to see if I can do something with the successor dwelling in the trenches, someone who is actually about to die.

Besides, now that I have more than two blood codes, I've come to the realization that acquiring more seems to put a strain on my DNA cocktail.

Apparently, my ass morbing out all over the place more than necessary got me constipated.

(A/N: Not sorry for making you read that sentence.)

Currently, I can use Apozypoz, Prometheus, and Hunter blood codes simultaneously. Kevin's fire easily adapted to my other codes while Yami's was put under management when I consumed the blood of our two tanks.

Seems like the strengthening blood codes had some kind of conflict and they both ended up being separated from my arsenal. So either I use Altas and Berserker blood codes, or I use Yami's. They don't mix together no matter what I do. Almost like water and oil.

There will be a weird sensation in my chest and immediately lose control of the previous gift once I try to use another one. If I try to use a strengthening gift like Oliver's when having my fire summoned, it will disperse and vice versa.

Curiously enough, I obtained Yami's blood code before Kevin's. But it seems like the fire from the kid was similar to Louis' and I had it instantly. From Louis' discoveries, I know that my gifts differ from the originals and all that, so I know that when I am able to use them all at once, there will be a qualitative change to them.

However, my BOR Parasite will have some explaining to do later for doing this kind of sh!t… if I get it to talk. The little bastard gives me the cold shoulder whenever I try to get into my own consciousness for communication.

Still, I will remember to not get too greedy later on, though desperation factored over avarice, to be honest.

Knowing that there is a mad scientist who can manhandle the strongest revenants in the setting as if they were toddlers is just sitting on his ass inside some bunker hidden from everyone ready to stack bodies like nobody's business once he is done with his research, I can't help but feel like a guillotine above my head is just waiting for me to get too comfortable and let things play out as they did in the game.

I can't be passive, nobody can afford such a lifestyle in the apocalypse. Much less in my situation.

I will at least have at least one day's interval when acquiring more than one blood code since that is the time between attaining Apozypoz and Prometheus. And even then, my control over both of them was too loose back then.

Perchance, as my BOR Parasite had only two things to work on, I could afford to use them even when they were being modified and adjusted to each other.

Meh, I will leave game theory for another time once Louis furthers his analysis.

For now, Louis analyzed my blood's previous and current samples and discovered that they are adapting to each other every second. So, even now, they are being modified by my BOR Parasite for optimal usage and combination.

He theorized that they will assimilate with each other faster the more I use them.

Luckily, my physical improvement in power and performance is the only thing that I gain almost right off the bat after drinking some blood beads. Just like getting a keener sense of awareness from vibrations like Yami and getting plenty of stamina from Yakumo. But even those new permanent upgrades require a good amount of training to bring them to their peak.

Guess that I won't be handed my OPness that easily… but a man can dream.

"Good, even if you have my and Oliver's blood codes, if you tried to swing a weapon like mine as I do at the moment you are now, your arms would be torn off." He smiled with… um, encouragement?

"Excuse me???" I'm stronger than I was, I'd say easily twice as much, maybe more, but how strong do I have to be to swing a Dragon Slayer? Is it too much to ask??

"So this is your training arc, huh?" Yami remarked with a shit-eating grin.

And such a punchable expression vanished when Yakumo's next sentence was heard. "I consider the lack of inclusiveness in your statement quite concerning, Yami."

"What? Wait, I have been there and done that. The caverns made by thorns aren't easy, you know." He expressed, somehow offended, "Moreover, if I know where to go, how hard could it b- oh."

But Yami caught himself before raising a red flag. "I mean, it surely isn- dammit." He covered his mouth again.

While Yami was doing his best to avoid any jinx, Oliver offered help, like he always does. "We are a team, we all have to learn something, it can't be that bad-huh?"

"Oliver, why?!" A shrieking Yami shook around the confused brunette.

Yami's previous smile was now adorning Yakumo's face. "See, he gets it." He pointed out.

"I… see your reasoning." Louis ended up agreeing. "We will need a formation where the front and back are our sensors while the center would be support. Ideally, Adam would not need much help if he assimilates himself with the new strength blood codes and leave more maneuverability for our defense like you and Oliver given that we need to prepare for any kind of ambush in the Howling Pit's environment." Louis immediately began to form a plan when we aren't even past the trenches…

"Yeah yeah, awareness will be our priority when we venture into that place." Yakumo pats his friend's back to keep him on the subject.

Louis hummed, "Well if everyone seems to agree with it." His tone had a tinge of surprise, looks like he didn't expect everyone to agree on a destination this quickly.

"Tch, I don't lack awareness." Yami huffed. The walking radar was grumpy today.

"Being aware of your surroundings and acting accordingly: Two crucial steps that many fail to realize the big gap between them when they lack the experience to fill it." Yakumo gave one genuine piece of advice, as his carefree demeanor vanished in the air. "Changing the environment is what matters most for one's growth."

After taking in those words, I asked about the one thing that should be done by now. "So we will be gone longer than our first expedition… what about the deal with Davis?"

"That? He-" Louis didn't even get to finish as the man himself just entered the base through the front door.

"Good thing you are already gathered." The man was relieved once seeing us and parked his bike near the entry, "it does work, magnificently so." He handed Louis an empty vial where my blood once resided.

But… is he excited? It's not that I blame him as he has first hand seen what the government had to do to not run out of blood beads, seeing his men turn to lost and all that… but it was surprising to see such a stone-faced man almost scampering his way to us.

"I would just need a few more examples from expeditions to really set in motion the process of approval. Your requirements have deemed acceptable and the other details are in the documents," Davis explained while handind some papers to Louis.

"And after getting my men to investigate the revived mistles and blood springs that you recovered, there isn't much needed from your part aside from those depths expeditions. Leave the rest to me." He didn't even wait for Louis to respond as Davis fully turne-no, he Snaped towards me.

"I hope to see more of your contributions, keep up the good work." And he just ran back to his bike.

"They are in the kitchen!" Yakumo told the officer, making him stop on his tracks. He picked up something and promptly left the base on his bike.

"Huh." I had a hard time expressing my surprise at such an outcome and my relief after all those hours late at night having to fill all types of forums with Louis not being for naught.

I didn't exchange many words with Davis, I would say that we talked strictly business and Louis paved the path as he already had a relationship with the man.

But you know, knowing that my first step at creating a big enough force to fend off the Aragami once we take down the mist, the relief finally took over.

"Oh yeah, it's all coming together." I smiled and leaned back on the couch with Io imitating me.

"That is some good news, now you will keep your head in the game without that deal eating at the back of your mind." Yakumo made sure that I didn't forget that we were about to go out to fight horrors within human comprehension in a world beyond salvation.

"Sure thing coach, but enough running mouth and more running the expedition." I declared, standing up before getting too comfy as Io reclined on me. Took me more effort to get up than I would like to admit.

"Great," his smile widened, "get geared up then! I will brief you about our new type of opponents on the way."

"Oh right, I must see if my weapon has been adjusted!" Yami ran to the vault with Oliver close behind.

*Thunk!*

You know, seeing a little girl carry Oliver's hammer and put it down on the counter like it is paper weight made me feel like I didn't get stronger as much as I thought.

"Alright, buckaroo! Since you are going for some field experience before condition training as nobody wants to waste time, I have this fortified halberd that is weighty enough for you to crush anyone without using any of your fire and similar enough to your previous weapon for you to get accustomed to." Rin gave me my new gear.

"And this baby right here," she handed me a bayonet, "has been reinforced for more weighty smacking and some good piercing power. Courtesy of the house, this time."

"Wah, thank-" but it seemed she wasn't done.

"You will pay back for the materials of the halberd once you find some resources in the abyss expeditions that You WILL definitely take part in." She waved off as if she had done a great favor.

And there it is. "Yeah I get it, nothing is free. I will make it up to you later."

"Good, when you get back, I will already have a training schedule for you. You will get beefy enough for your big boy weapon and make plenty of profit, trust me." I could sense that the smile under her mask was indeed something I could trust. Yes, my physical state would definitely improve, definitely. But I could already guess that my mental state would pay the price.

Rin's eyes curved ever so slightly as she kept her car salesman-like cruddy smile, "What matters Is tHe ReSuLTS, right?" She saw through me.

"I feel like your results would not help me in my journey of keeping my wits about in this hellhole." It was my cue to leave!

As much as I wanted to retort, I would like to very much avoid unnecessary suffering during my future training by making her mad. A smart man knows when to retreat!

So I left with my equipment and Io wordlessly picked up hers while Rin did a complete 180° and told her to have good luck.

"The only way to strengthen your body and mind is to break them, no progress can be achieved without suffering for you are the marble and the sculptor!" She guffawed as I increased my pace toward Coco's post.

"And she is right," Coco commented, looking through her wares beside her tank.

"I know, I just don't want to make things worse by opening my mouth again." I didn't bother to deny it. The girl was right as much as I wanted her to be wrong.

Yakumo, who is near the post of our supplier, held in a chuckle as he muttered under his breath, "Indeed 'I have seen more butt on a cigarette' is not something you want to say anywhere near Rin."

"But it was funny." I took the supplies Coco offered.

"Seeing a kid smacking you with a wet towel was hilarious too." Yami scanned his modified blade not far from us.

"Just don't talk about sizes, I know men like to do that a lot, but hold it in," Coco suggested.

"Talking about sizes, what is this little thingy?" Coco rolled her eyes as I picked up a small syringe that I could recognize since the antidotes I bought before came in a similar container, but the black liquid inside it was unfamiliar to me.

"That is an Anti-inhibitor," Yakumo responded, seeing a clueless look on my face made him explain further, "It will be useful as some Lost that we will encounter have some abilities to affect our ichor usage, preventing gifts from manifesting appropriately."

"Ah, that's right. Bloody wizards shenanigans." I finally remembered the other ailments from the game.

"One could say that there is a gift for everything, it's just that we haven't met the right people." Louis came back with a map and his own supplies.

"Meeting the right people, huh?" Oliver rested the hammer over his shoulder.

"Ok, looks like everyone is ready!" Yakumo sheathed his giant ax on his back, picking up the rest of his equipment.

Time for phase two!

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Word Count: 3,163

Time for the next zone! And I will do some chaps into the Depths (I like to call it Abyss.) later down the line too as [REDACTED]'s vestiges are down there and you will see the origin that I gave to MC's BOR Parasite and some more.