Chapter 90: HUMAN CHIMERAS

"Nathan?" Void whispered, in the way only him could hear. Recognition hit like a spark, the name stirring a mix of surprise and caution."Aaron. I see you took a new appearance," Nathan said calmly, walking towards the man with calmness and purpose. His steps were measured, exuding an aura of quiet authority.

"What’s going on? Why are you here?" Void asked, unbothered by his discovered secret for the mean time. The revelation of his identity didn’t faze him yet, his focus on the unfolding situation.

"I was asked to investigate some disturbing information about people infiltrating the Highborns’ Villa," Nathan explained. His voice was steady, revealing just enough to address the question.

"That’s not what I mean. What are you doing here? Are you alone. Cause it looks dangerous," Void asked. Concern crept in, the scene feeling off, potential threats lurking.

"I’m alone. As for dangerous. You should know. No one can hurt a blessed. On the other hand, a blessed can use the domain to his advantage and make it a form of attack," Nathan said casually, walking up to the man holding his eyes in pain. His blessed status granted him invulnerability, turning defense into offense.

Void didn’t know what Nathan did or was doing, but he watched the show with quiet curiosity. The air tensed as Nathan approached, an unseen force at work.

Nathan walked up to the man. Stretching out his hand and holding the man forcefully, eliciting more painful scream from the man. The contact sparked screams, the man’s body convulsing under Nathan’s grip.

"Nathan! What are you doing? I still have questions for him," Void asked quickly. Frustration edged his voice, the interrogation cut short.

"It’s alright. I can answer the question for you easily. I have also been doing my research," Nathan assured, holding the man firmly. Confidence laced his words, his research filling the gaps.

The man screamed in agony, being in contact with Nathan’s domain brought him pain, while sapping his life slowly until he dropped to the floor, dead. Life drained away, the body going limp, Nathan’s domain proving lethal.

Void said nothing, just looking at the dead corpse on the floor quietly. Silence stretched, Void processing the quick end, questions lingering.

"So...It’s been a while. Let’s do some catching up shall we?" Nathan asked Void, walking into the villa. His tone shifted to casual, as if the violence was routine.

"So, what exactly are you doing here? When did you even get here? Shouldn’t you be in school?" Void blasted Nathan with several questions. The barrage came rapid-fire, suspicion and curiosity mixing.

"Alright. Take it slow man. One question at a time," Nathan smiled. His smile was disarming, easing the tension slightly.

"And speaking of school. Shouldn’t you also be in school?" Nathan asked. "I called Ryder earlier today and he told me about you still being in school. So how did you get here so fast?" Nathan asked as well.

Void shrugged his shoulder, "I have my reasons." No offense to Nathan, but he wasn’t about to go full friend mode and start spilling the beans. Plus something about Nathan didn’t add up yet. Caution held him back, the system’s instincts whispering warnings.

"You are doubting the reason I’m here as you should. Well, I’m not the only one here, or coming instead. Liam, Joseph and some powerhouses will be coming shortly as well. Some anomalies is happening within this city which we are trying to look into," Nathan’s reassurance carried weight, allies en route.

"Anomalies?" Void asked, thinking of Blade’s earlier information. The word connected dots, Blade’s black market intel flashing in his mind.

"Yup. This is supposed to be confidential but they have been some rumours of human chimeras. People that have been merged with some dungeon monsters. They can retain their old human appearances when they want to, and also changed to their chimera form when they want more power or their life is in danger," Nathan disclosed. "Like the one I disposed off outside. Would be nice if you could take care of him," Nathan smiled, staring at Void calmly. The revelation hung heavy, explaining the intruder’s toughness.

"Quit leading me on," Void muttered, a lightning dragon appearing behind him. Not so big, but small. Like a baby dragon. The dragon crackled with energy, a manifestation of his power, ready to strike.

The lightning dragon moved swiftly like a living dragon outside the villa to find the supposed dead man transforming into an abominable chimera. It darted out, illuminating the yard as the corpse twisted into a monstrous form, confirming Nathan’s words.

The man that was supposed to be dead remained alive, transforming slowly from his human face to a chimera form, half man, half arachnid monster. The shift was grotesque, his skin stretching and ripping like torn fabric, revealing the monstrous truth beneath, a fusion born from some twisted experiment in this reincarnated world.

His human body tore apart slowly, as he transformed into a mixture of human and arachnid. Bones cracked and reformed, muscles twisting in agony, the air filling with the sickening sound of flesh reshaping itself under the influence of dungeon monster essence.

The body of an arachnid emerged, eight legs sprouting with the arachnid torso, and a human head atop it. On the human head were eight eyes as well, glowing with feral hunger, blinking erratically as the chimera adapted to its new vision, a nightmarish blend that screamed anomaly in Aaron’s system-enhanced senses.

"Well. Isn’t that ugly?" Nathan asked, staring at Void with a smirk on his face. His tone was light, almost teasing, but his blindfold hid any true reaction, the blessed’s casual demeanor contrasting the horror unfolding outside.

Void rolled his eyes. Not in the mood for Nathan’s antics. He just wanted to get more information. The banter felt like a distraction, pulling him from the pressing questions about these chimeras and their connection to his enemies.

"I’m gonna kill you!" The chimera outside the villa stared at Void and Nathan with anger through the broken wall, walking towards them on all eight legs. Its voice was a guttural rasp, legs skittering across the ground like sharpened blades, the yard trembling slightly under its weight.

He didn’t take four more steps before coming in contact with the lightning dragon. The air crackled with electricity.

The lightning dragon appeared before the man, and with precision it opened its jaw and bit the man. Electrocuting him to death in an instant. Bolts arced through the chimera’s body, searing flesh and chitin alike, the smell of ozone and burned meat filling the air.

No scream could escape the chimera’s mouth as he died in an instant. Its eight eyes dimmed, body convulsing once before going still, a charred husk left in the wake of Aaron’s summoned creature.

"Wow. How ruthless. I’m sure Alice will be thrilled to see this other side of you," Nathan smiled. His grin was knowing, hinting at shared history, but Void ignored the jab, focusing on the implications of the chimera’s existence.

"Enough games, will you? How come you are here?" Void asked the question bugging him. Impatience edged his voice, the villa’s violated state fueling his need for answers in this web of conspiracies.

"Simple. To find out about the chimeras, my help is needed. Two, I’m a blessed so no harm can befall me. Making me the perfect support awakener for this job. Also you don’t need to worry, your secret is safe with me,"