After the whole euthanization was complete, under Seth's and Raki's watchful eyes, Clare had buried her close friend's body.
No ceremony was held. She just dug a hole and covered her inside it before stabbing Elena's weapon on top, calling it a day.
They then quickly descended the mountains before settling in a small clearing inside the nearby woods.
It was still morning. A few more hours and noon would come so they simply caught a deer and roasted it.
No one said anything and it caused the mood to be terrible as the only sound that could be heard was the crackling of fire.
Raki sat on a fallen log with his fist clenched tightly and teeth gritted as he stared down the fire.
He still felt a bit of resentment towards Seth and every now and then he would shoot glances over at him.
Even though Seth noticed, he barely paid him any mind.
Across from him, Clare sat quietly on the ground as her back leaned against a tree with her sword resting beside her.
She still had that calm and composed expression on her face as if what had taken place didn't occur.
Her face barely changed.
But maybe that was just how Claymores dealt with things.
Or maybe she was just really good at hiding it. Who knows really…
Seth leaned back against another tree, arms crossed as he looked up through the branches.
Compared to the other two, he looked noticeably more relaxed.
But that was only on the outside.
Inside his mind, he was busy.
Because right now, a blue screen floated in his vision.
[powers: Blacklight physiology, yoma physiology.]
His system—specifically, his powers.
…System, I remembered in the game that I could only gain skills and memories when I absorb a person… what's up this 'physiology.'
Seth mentally called out to his assistant.
With memories being able to be recalled in 24k resolution, he remembered that only the DNA of the thing he absorbed gets added.
So what's this stuff about physiology…
The system, with its never changing flat tone then reminded him,
[Host shouldn't have forgotten what I've said before. The blacklight has been reworked to be used perfectly.]
Yea, I get that. But what does this have to do with physiology? That pertains to the whole race, right?
[Affirmative.] The system answered in its usual emotionless tone.
[The Blacklight virus that existed in the game had numerous limitations.]
[Those restrictions no longer apply.]
Seth squinted.
[The Host must understand something first. The Blacklight virus is not simply a biological virus.]
[It functions more like a bio-informational lifeform.]
Seth stared at the words.
…A what?
The system continued.
[Every living organism contains two things: biological matter and biological information.]
[DNA is not just physical tissue. It is stored data that describes how an organism functions down to the molecular level.]
Seth slowly followed the explanation.
The system kept going.
[The virus can replicate DNA and rebuild biological matter.]
[If it can recreate biology down to the molecular level, then it can also access the biological information itself.]
Now Seth was starting to understand where this was going.
[In the game's version, the virus only copied abilities from the individuals you consumed.]
[The current version also records the physiology of the species.]
Seth's eyebrow lifted.
Wait… hold on. You're saying if I absorb something…
The system answered immediately.
[The Host gains more than just that individual's skills or memories.]
[The Host also gains access to the racial capabilities of that species.]
"Hiss…"
Seth sucked in a cold breath.
Too overpowered.
The system continued calmly.
[For example: the Host absorbed a yoma, the virus didn't simply copy that yoma.]
[It records the biological template of Yoma physiology.]
[This includes regenerative capacity, physical strength parameters, sensory abilities, and energy systems, all of which were added to your own.]
Seth's eyes shifted to his hands. He could feel the energy pulsed beneath his skin.
Energy system… you mean like yoki? I got it because it's a biological trait?
[Correct. Once acquired, the Host could replicate that biological function. Now the host is a yoma and not a yoma.]
Seth whistled quietly in his head.
I'm like… basically collecting entire species.
[Affirmative. But hosts do need to keep in mind that certain physiology interacts with the soul. Whether good or bad is entirely dependent on your perspective.]
Hmm…
Seth leaned his head back against the tree slightly and sorted his thoughts.
Before he remembered the vow he made this morning.
System… if I wanted to fix a Claymore's body… how would I even do that without turning them into infected or evolved?
After all, once infected with the blacklight, there are only two possible results.
One, they die and their corpse gets reanimated as a walker or two, they become an evolved which Seth would rather not happen.
Cause having evolved running around is definitely not an option as it might bring about my own demise unless I enslave them…
…And that's not something Seth was very interested in dealing with.
The last thing he needed was a bunch of super-evolved monsters running around because he experimented without thinking things through.
So he asked. Though his hopes weren't too high.
[There is a possible solution.]
Seth's eyes widened in surprise
Eeeehh!? For real!?
[The Host possesses complete molecular control over the Blacklight virus.]
[This includes any strain produced by the Host or by others.]
Seth blinked.
Meaning what exactly?
The system continued.
[If the virus is introduced into a Claymore's bloodstream, the Host can manually control the virus and can directly interact with the Yoma components inside their body.]
[The Host could target the aggressive biological signals produced by Yoma flesh.]
[By suppressing or rewriting those signals, the Host may stabilize the Claymore's biology.]
[This would allow them to retain the benefits of Yoma physiology while preventing the awakening process altogether.]
Seth froze.
Then his eyes widened.
…Wait. You're telling me…I could actually stop them from turning into awakened beings?
That part never came to mind.
[In theory, yes.]
Claymores had been dealing with that curse since their first creation. It was literally built into how they were created.
And he might actually have a way to fix it.
Seth leaned back against the tree, staring up at the sky through the leaves.
That was great news.
If it actually works, It wouldn't just save one or two people—It could save thousands.
Maybe even every Claymore out there—yea, no. I doubt one or two aren't sick in the head.
He scratched his chin in contemplation, racking his brain for any possible path he should take.
Well… I should probably learn to control this stuff properly first before I start playing miracle doctor.
But still.
The idea alone made him feel a little excited.
Then another thought popped into his head.
Right…
What can this yoki actually do?
He looked up.
Raki and Clare were sitting by the fire finishing off the roasted deer.
Seth blinked.
The deer was almost completely gone.
"…Damn," he muttered under his breath. Good thing I don't eat.
He pushed himself off the tree.
"Hey."
Both of them looked at him. Raki's resentment still apparent.
"I'll be back in a few."
Clare didn't say anything.
Raki just stared at him.
Seth waved lazily as he started walking away into the trees.
And just like that, he disappeared deeper into the woods.
Once he was far enough away, the blue screen flickered again.
The system began explaining.
[Yoki—also known as demonic energy—is a form of internal biological energy.]
Seth walked through the trees casually while listening.
[It is generated through the Yoma biological system and amplified through emotional stimulus.]
Seth raised an eyebrow.
Emotional stimulus?
[Negative emotions such as anger, hatred, and aggression greatly increase output.]
[However, the energy itself is shaped and directed through willpower.]
Seth hummed.
So it ran on emotions…
But was controlled by intent.
Interesting.
Soon, he stepped out into a small clearing and stopped.
Alright…
He lifted one hand slowly and stared at it before closing his eyes.
In his web of intrigue, he searched for a particular memory from his gaming life.
He started digging.
Through layers of memories. Old ones. Random ones. Useless ones.
Until he found something.
One particularly annoying memory.
Something petty.
Something that still pissed him off even now.
"…Oh."
A memory replayed…in 24k.
Him sitting in front of a screen.
Controller in hand.
Late night.
Sweaty palms.
A ranked match.
Brawlhalla.
Seth's eye twitched slightly.
That guy…
The memory sharpened.
A player jumping around nonstop.
Spamming the same move.
Over.
And over.
And over again.
No skill.
No variation.
Just pure nonsense.
And somehow—
It was working.
Seth's grip on his hand tightened.
I had that match…
He remembered clearly now.
He had the lead.
He was winning.
Then one mistake.
One.
And that spammy idiot just ran with it.
Knocked him out once.
Twice.
Then teabagged.
Teabagged.
"…Yeah."
Seth's bit his lips.
"I remember this."
That stupid loss.
That stupid player.
That stupid feeling of knowing you were better…
But still losing to pure garbage.
Something inside him stirred.
Annoyance.
Frustration.
Irritation.
It wasn't some deep, tragic rage.
It was petty.
And that was enough.
A faint pulse ran under his skin.
Then—
"SHHAAAAA—"
Chapter 14 end.
———————————————
Brawlhalla is not a game for the weak I tell you.