A Bio-Weapon’s Rhapsody

“[Increase in amount of webbing detected. Found a single thread connected to all webs within area. Caution is advised].”

 

Main Core reported while Alexa continued venturing more and more within the sewer system, she had gone past a few [Warning Signs] that indicated the area as dangerous, some [Printed] into [Signs] and others written in what seemed to be ichor and remains of creatures.

 

She found the use of bones to make letters in one of those signs quite interesting; whoever thought about that was a genius. Alexa would have never guessed it was possible to write using [Remains].

 

She wondered if writing using grounded [Meat] to achieve the same would be possible. But the words wouldn’t stick to the wall, would they? Then she would need to write it on the floor… In a place visible and yet not a place where her message would be destroyed…

 

Who would have thought leaving a [Message] would be this complicated?

 

“[Creating visual representation to highlight the dangerous thread. Host, current route will interact with thread. A change in route is advised.]”

 

Alexa of course knew that, she didn’t need the fancy highligth from [Main Core] to show her what was the dangerous [Thread], she was actively trying to reach for it, because there was only one reason why a single thread would be linked to all the different webbings on this place.

 

It was a [Signal], a way to alert the creator of this complex set of traps.

 

Because that was what it was, Alexa found herself in a sewer tunnel full of white webs all around. Some of those webs were camouflaged with paint to look different, and others had water or waste atop them to hide them. But Alexa could see them, and her nanites could deconstruct most of them. She, of course, remade them when she was over or when she was no longer trapped within them.

 

But even so, this place was not only a maze but also a dangerous trap. And to be honest, Alexa was getting tired of having [Food] at her disposal and having to wait for Sam to come.

 

She had noticed that she had tripped this [Alarm System] several times. How did she know? Because there was a single thread that was connected to all the webs around, and yet. Sam hadn’t come.

 

“Well, I guess we will need to wake him up…” Alexa said when she was a few centimeters away from the thread in question. Placing her hand (the one that had morphed into a metallic claw) atop it, Alexa took a deep breath. “SAM, I HAVE COME WITH FOOD, COME OUT!”

 

And screamed at the top of her lungs…Or at least she screamed that message into the [Thread]. She had noticed the properties of these threads, and among them, she found that they worked quite well to transmit vibrations. So she turned her message into vibrations and sent it through her claw into the thread.

 

If she was right, this little thread should be connected to wherever Sam’s den was set, probably to a place near him. So really, this was more akin to her knocking on his door… screaming at his door…

 

Was she being rude?

 

Well, perhaps. But he was the one making wait a beauty like her, so really. He was at fault. Yes.

 

“[Noticed an increase in hormonal response, thread of thought seems to have morphed into annoyance for no reason.]”

 

…She was not moody.

 

Either way, what she did notice was that her hand seemed to be stuck. Interesting. Among the threads she had touched this one was the only one that seemed to be more sticky, just like how the others that Sam had used before to neutralize her movements.

 

Why was that? What kind of [Core] did he have anyway?

 

“Hmm….we are stuck…” Alexa mumbled aloud trying to decompose the thread and remove her hand. The part that was in contact looked as if it had fused on the most elemental level to her hand.

 

Sending her [Nanites] to it didn’t seem to work either, as soon as her nanites broke the moleculal link, those formed again as if nothing. Sometimes this resulted in her nanites being used as material to fulfill the role too. So really, it was such a weird thing. It shouldn’t work like that. Really, it shouldn’t even be possible.

 

And yet it was.

 

“[Notice, host was warned against interacting with possible-]”

 

Main Core was at the ready to scold her too, that one, at least she had seen coming.

 

Either way, she was stuck—quite literally, in this case. She would surely “Main Core, remove the parts stuck to Sam’s thread and cut them away from me. Reform as needed.” Just remove the affected parts and move along.

 

Really, what was she supposed to do? Remain stuck there? While waiting for an Apex Predator? Surely no one would be dumb enough to do that…

 

No wait. Why was she coming here anyway? She had tested her new design for her [Arm-mament] plenty, and her main mission was finished. She didn’t need to do this, did she?

 

“[Negative, there is no need to meet with Monster Designation: Sam, host is advised to retreat.]”

 

…Why hadn’t main core tell her this sooner? She… she wasn’t ready!

 

She stank, was tired, and more importantly, didn’t know the typical social greetings for this type of meeting! She needed more data!

 

“You know, when people see the warning signs, the skull. The flayed rats, they tend to walk the other way.” His voice…OH GOD HIS VOICE! “And when that doesn’t work, usually the webs and traps I set up tend to work. Granted, I just cleaned them from my latest prey, so you get to see them without the bodies…perhaps I ought to leave some of the smaller ones?”

 

Alexa could feel his voice in her spine, his deep voice making her shiver. She felt her legs wanting to turn into jelly, but she remained standing because [Main Core] had taken control of her body to ensure she didn’t fall to her knees.

 

At the far end, she could see the [BIG] and [THICK] and [GLISTENING] claw shine from the far end of the tunnel, “Didn’t think I would see you again, to be honest; it seems you have that Core under control now after all.” One by one, each of his [GORGEOUS LEGS] showed themselves.

 

And if that wasn’t enough, [THE FANGS] his well-sharpened fangs that ended in that [Vicious] looking [MAW] that even at this moment seemed to want to [Hizz] at her and spray her whole body with flesh melting [Acid].

 

Truly, a wonder of [Design] for a [TRUE APEX PREDATOR].

 

“Many have come back after meeting me, some for some perceived duty. A few tried to get me to fit back into human society; others wanted to recruit me as a circus mascot. A particularly obnoxious Villain wanted me to guard his door…” Sam’s eyes focused on her, all ten of them. Eight seemed to want to [RAVAGE] her, cut her into small pieces, and [FEAST] on her [FLESH], while the last two seemed confused, “Why have you come yet again?”

 

“[Notice, brain activity seems to have peaked and blanked, initiating reboot-]”

 

“STOP. NO, I’M FINE!” Alexa screamed internally while trying to get her ideas in order.

 

“...I brought food?” Alexa said, raising her plastic bag, “I mean, we were having some drinks, and the food smelled nice…And my friend got [Drunk], so I was thinking about returning home, but they gave me food for two, and I didn’t know what to do, I saw the [Sewer Entrance] and thought….”

 

“You thought ‘ Hey, let’s go and eat with the freak I met the other night? I bet he is a lonely weirdo, so having a cute girl come around will do wonders to his ego’ ?” Sam said in a frosty voice.

 

“...I thought about returning the favor?” Alexa said back, “Why would it matter if you are a freak or not?”

 

Alexa was confused.

 

“Isn’t every [Core User] by definition a [Freak]?” Alexa at least got that impression from the [Internet] chatter she had seen, “Besides, you aren’t alone. There is plenty [Things] down here.”

 

Alexa said while she morphed her arm back into the combat setting, “I found plenty resistence while coming after all.” And afterwards she shifted the arm back to normal, she would be eating soon after all.

 

“....*Sigh* you are weird.” Sam said with a weird smile on his face, “How are we going to eat that anyway. My lower mouth doesn’t have taste buds with the acid and everything.”

 

As if to state his point, the [MAW] opened its mouth and spit at a nearby wall. The liquid it spit was green, and as soon as it made contact with the wall, it started melting it.

 

“Main Core?” Alexa asked inwardly as she saw Sam walk towards her.

 

As soon as the order was made, she felt her nanites start working.

 

“[...Order recieved…Starting construct of ‘Date Lunch’ project.]”

 

Alexa felt as if that was some kind of joke aimed at her, even if she wasn’t quite sure why. Either way, she felt tendrils grow from under her feet and start expanding under the floor.

 

“[Host, please put left arm on the ground and raise it as the construct is made, this will help create a better ‘mood’ for the intentions host wishes to create with Monster Designation: Sam.]”

 

Alexa was very sure that [Main Core] was playing with her, but even so, she didn’t know how to respond, so she just followed the instructions. As soon as her hand touched the ground, she felt the pull into her energy reserves, and her nanites started working in earnest. Slowly, as she raised her hand, what seemed to be a part of the floor was raised.

 

She had to move her body back as the [Table] started to grow, soon enough she needed to move her hand around the cemet [Table] for she wasn’t that tall, her hand ended holding a cilinder that was holding the construction stable. She knew of course that it was more than a simple [Cement Table], Main Core had used part of the fur she had collected from the [Rats] to make a mantle and some decorations for the table after all.

 

“[Host may remove its hand from construct, suitable ‘Raised Chair’ will be constructed next under host.]”

 

Now Alexa was sure something was afoot! Why did she need a raised chair?

 

Why? Simple. Because this [Table] was designed to suit Sam’s height. And since Alexa could barely reach his [ABSOLUTELY RIPPED EXPOSED DELICIOUS AND READY TO USE ABS], it was obvious that she would need a way to eat at that level.

 

“...That is one interesting way to use your Core Powers…It seems you have mastered the more advanced uses huh. Didn’t think you were that advanced.” Sam said as she allowed his lower body to rest on the floor, that allowed him to stand at a comfortable level, almost as if- “It is as if I was a normal human once again. I didn’t think I would miss eating from a table this much.”

 

“Aren’t you [Human] though?” Alexa asked as her [Raised Chair] finished constructing and she was now seating at the table, a last effort from her arm placed the [Food] in the middle of the table. “You at the very least don’t seem like one of those.”

 

Alexa said pointing behind her, from the place she had come. She had to fight a few [Giant Rats] while coming here once more. So she had [Ate] a few [Cores] on her way.

 

“...Did you use the rat fur to make these on?” Sam asked, pointing at the [Table Cloth] that her impromptu dining table had.

 

“Yes, I encountered a few ones, so I had some spare [Rat Skin] to use.” Alexa answered opening the bag and breaking the [Seal] she had made, the aroma of the [Fish & Chips] hitting Alexa and Sam at the same time, “It should be warm, my…[Power] should have made sure of that.”

 

Sam seemed to regard her as she spoke, taking one of the white containers and one of the [Drinks]. He [Masterfully] took one of the small packages that seemed to contain one [Spoon], [Knife], and some [Paper Napkins].

 

Really, how was he so [GOOD] at every movement!?!?!?!?

 

“So it seems, this address here is almost 30 minutes away if you walk in a straight line…I assume you didn’t come in a straight line if you entered the sewers from there; there are no straight lines from there to here,” Sam said as he opened his container and started eating.

 

The container had a small container within (Containerception?) that had what seemed to be a white [Cream] so he could dip his [Fish and Chips]. Alexa saw almost as if in slow motion how Sam dipped one of his…[Chips] into the [White Cream] and then slowly…ever so slowly… gave it a bite, then another…and another…

 

And as if to mock her already overwhelmed [Brain], he opened his mouth, showing her his [Illegally white fangs] (WHY DOES HIS HUMAN MOUTH HAVE FANGS?!?!?! ALEXA ALSO WANTED FANGS!!!!) and….and….

 

“What? Can’t a man lick his fingers? Do you know how long it has been since I ate something cooked?” He asked while he [Criminally] liked his fingers clean…

 

Alexa can help with that...

 

“Oh….sorry, I didn’t mean to stare…” Alexa said as she felt her body wanting to increase the amount of blood that flooded her face. She made herself sure that it didn’t happen, even if it meant that she had to deal with some blood clots in her system.

 

“It’s fine, it’s funny actually. I would probably do the same as you if the situation was the other way.” Sam smiled as he took one of what Alexa assumed was the [Fish] part of this dish, with the [MASTERY] that Alexa could only relate to a [NOBLE] (Even if she wasn’t sure what a Noble was), he took one of the [Forks] and [Knife] and cut a small part of the white meat.

 

Dipping it with the [Fork] in a red sauce he ate it as if in slow motion… Alexa could see how he closed his [Obsidian black] eyes as if to savour (YOU CAN SAVOUR ME TOO!) the small piece of-

 

“Okay, fine. I understand it from a scientist's and researcher's point of view, but it is getting weird. Why are you staring so much?” Sam suddenly spoke while opening his eyes. “What is it?”

 

Ah…had she been staring? Impossible.

 

“[Host has redirected almost 80% of current resources to map and memorize all the data from Monster Designation: Sam, perhaps a more stealthy approach could be used?]”

 

…She had.

 

“Sorry…I…... I... Don’t know how to act under these circumstances.” Alexa admitted in a small tone. She took one of the [Chips] and did as Sam had before, dipping it into the [White Sauce] and taking a bite.

 

It was…

 

“[Average].”

 

It wasn’t that good, to be honest; it was good from a taste point of view, but Alexa wouldn’t go out of her way to eat this. She had expected something different after seeing Sam’s expressions.

 

“This situation? What, never ate with a Spider-Man in the sewers?” Sam laughed at the statement.

 

“I have never eaten with anyone else sharing my [Food].” Alexa corrected, “Never actually have the chance of eating outside my assigned [Feeding Area] either, now that I think about it.”

 

All the places Alexa had eaten had been decided for her, either by the [Humans] in charge of her [Tests] in her previous [Den] or by people from [Haephestus’ Forge].

 

“...Yeah, not gonna bite into that bait. Sorry girl.” Sam said with a shrug, “We all have shit to deal with, be it because we are a Molecular shifter Core User like you…”

 

Sam said as thread started forming on his hand, it quickly weaved itself into the form of a tiny white spider. “Or because we are a 5-meter-tall male Arachne.” The tiny spider was….

 

“[Impossible, there are no organs in the human anatomy that could allow the production of thread from the hand. No evidence of alterations within the human physiology of Monster Designation: Sam that could allow this. A deep scan of his body is advised.]”

 

“Here, a gift.” Sam said as the small spider seemed to walk by itself toward Alexa, “It will not move unless it's connected to my threads, but that thread is synthetic. So it should last quite long, just don’t burn it.”

 

“How?” Alexa asked, she too was keenly aware that the creation of this should not be possible. As far as she knew, [Spiders] created [Thread] from their bottom. What one could refer to as their [Ass].

 

“Just like how you made this table and raised chair or how you sent a message through my threads. I too know how to work with the most…Esoteric parts of my Core Power.” Sam said while shruging. “You know how to do that right?”

 

“...No?” Alexa answered, what was he speaking about? Weren’t [Core Powers] very straightforward?

 

No wait, hadn’t she just encountered two examples that didn’t made sense? Melissandra controlled Emotions, but how had she managed to twist memories and personalities?

 

And…[Sylph] was supposed to manipulate wind, but she had seemingly created strong currents of [Wind] that seemed to only affect the targets she wanted, and originated from…nothing.

 

That didn’t make sense.

 

“How… What are [Cores]?” Alexa asked.

 

“...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH.” Only for Sam to start laughing like a [Madman], a very [Hot] and [Handsome] madman who, if only he asked Alexa, would start str—“Oh sorry, not laughing at you, but at how utterly ridiculous you are.”

 

Well, that was just rude.

 

“You…You are sitting in a gold mine, and apparently don’t know.” Sam took a sip at his drink (He could take a sip from this dr-) and turned to Alexa, “Okay, what do you know about our Cores? How are they formed, where they are located, what they do and how they came to be.”

 

Well, hadn’t she gotten two totally different explanations before about this? Was it time for a new third point of view that somehow was also totally different?

 

“I was told that they are made from a [Wish]. But others also told me that they took in the nearby [Mana Waves] and made a [Core] similar to those around us when the [Core] formed, so if I stood nearby [Insect Cores]....” Alexa said shifting part of her right arm into a version covered in chitin, “I would end like an [Insect Core User].”

 

Then as if to make her point, she grew a pair of [Rat Ears] atop her head, “Or if I stood near [Beast Cores], I would end with a [Beast Core].”

 

“...please don’t grow rat ears. If you are going the kemonomimi route, at least use a cat or fox theme.” Sam said with a weird look on his face. Alexa quickly absorbed the ears and made a note to never make them again.

 

She [Hated] that Sam had looked at her like that.

 

“Well you are in luck…or not, depends on who you ask. For you are in front of one of the greatest Scientists of this time!” Sam said while fixing his [White Coat] as if to make himself look better, truly a meaningless act, he always looked good after all, “Who is also stuck in the sewers because when your lower half is that of a monster from the worst nightmares of humanity people think you don’t know what you speak about.”

 

“But doesn’t your…” Alexa wasn’t sure what word to use to refer to the [SPIDER] half, would he feel weirded out if she went about how [GREAT DESIGN] it was? How she wanted to experiment the [THICKNESS] of his [CLAWS]?

 

“My monster half? I like to call it my handsome half.” Sam laughed while saying that.

 

“Yes, that side. Doesn’t that one make you better suited for research in dangerous environments such as this?” Alexa asked.

 

“EXACTLY! “ Sam said pointing at her with one of his [Chips]...Would it be rude if Alexa…bitted that [Chip] and [accidentally] liked his finger? “But try to explain that to the HR Bitch from the Saintsworths…Anyway… Cores, according to my research….”