Intrigued by the new ability, Dax activated the **Abyss Scales**. Instantly, his body began to itch as scales erupted from his skin. These scales were unlike anything he'd seen before—**a deep, dangerous black with faint golden veins running through each one**, shimmering faintly under the dim light.
With great effort, Dax pulled out one of the scales. The process was agonizing, a testament to the scales' durability and his own resilience. As soon as the scale was removed, new ones began to grow in its place, sealing the gap almost instantly.
"Store!" Dax commanded, and the scale vanished from his hand.
He turned his attention to Inerous. "I remember getting a notification that my lab is unlocked. How do I access it?"
*Master, it's simple. Call its name.*
Dax couldn't hold back his excitement. "Gene Palace!"
In an instant, his surroundings shifted. The stale air of the cellar was replaced by something colder, sharper—**a nostalgic scent of chemicals and aged parchment**. Dax blinked, but the transition was seamless. He stood in a vast, otherworldly space, its walls lined with glowing vials, strange machinery, and shelves stacked with books and artifacts.
"This… this is it," Dax murmured, his voice echoing in the cavernous room. The **Gene Palace** was more than a lab—it was a sanctuary of knowledge and creation, a place where his darkest experiments could come to life.
---
Dax walked to the **nutrient chambers**, the heart of his lab where his test subjects were kept. On arrival, he noticed his last subjects still suspended in the tubes. The room housed ten tubes in total, each crafted from **gamaorite**—one of the strangest resources in the Helen sector.
This peculiar stone had a unique property: it could keep anything inside it in a **suspended state**, perfectly preserved and untouched by time.
Inside three of the tubes were his final test subjects from his previous life:
- **A male from the Gagarion race**, known for their ability to adapt to harsh environments. The Gagarion in Dax's tube was young, but even at this age, his single eye glowed with a predatory intensity. The older they grew, the deadlier they became, earning them the infamous title of **One-Eyed Slayers** across the cosmos.
- **A genderless creature from the Scopic race**, a species of space-faring predators. Their feline-like forms and bloodthirsty nature made them some of the most feared hunters in Zerta. They possessed a unique organ called the **Eye of Hell**, which allowed them to manipulate their prey's mind, driving them to insanity before the kill.
- **A stunning female from the Xela race**, hailing from the planet Phobe. The Xela were an all-female species, known for their beauty and their ability to reproduce with males from other races. This one was no exception—her human-like features were accentuated by a long, elegant tail and a cluster of gemstones embedded in her forehead. The number of gems determined her power level, and hers glimmered with an otherworldly light.
These were the last test subjects Dax had conducted experiments on in his previous life. His mind raced with possibilities, and he felt a surge of excitement. These subjects were more than experiments—they were his stepping stones to cosmic domination.
**Kak!** Dax laughed, his madness for research reigniting. "This Gagarion will be suitable for my Abyss Scales," he muttered, already planning his next experiment less than two minutes after entering his lab.
"Ha! The possibilities…"
"Inerous, you claimed you possess your normal functions?"
*Yes, Master.*
"Access the mainframe. Deduct ways to extract the Gagarion's heart and brain. Then reduce the possibilities to three with at least a 90% extraction rate."
*Yes, Master.*
Instantly, a loading screen appeared before Dax's eyes as he walked to the **extraction chamber**—a sterile, high-tech room where organs and genes were harvested.
*Master, I've reduced the possibilities to one with a 97% extraction rate.*
"Wonderful! Download it to my brain," Dax commanded.
In the blink of an eye, a flood of information surged into Dax's mind. He relayed another command to Inerous.
"Transfer Capsule One to the gamaorite table. And be cautious—this Gagarion's body will adapt to anesthetics quickly. That could be dangerous. Contact me when it's done."
Dax left the extraction chamber and headed to his **library**, a vast room filled with towering shelves of ancient tomes and digital archives. Normally, he would have downloaded the information directly into his brain, but today, he craved a sense of normalcy.
Yet, the way he flipped through the books was anything but normal. His fingers moved with inhuman speed, pages blurring as he absorbed entire volumes in seconds.
*Master, extraction is ready.*
"Wonderful."
On arrival, Dax saw the creature strapped to the table, still in a suspended state thanks to the **gamaorite**. Without hesitation, he picked up his surgical laser and began making precise incisions. The Gagarion's tough, adaptive body required the precision of a laser—anything less would risk damaging the organs.
With Inerous guiding him, Dax quickly located the heart. Extracting it was straightforward, but the process wasn't without its challenges. As Dax's hand delved into the creature's chest, the gamaorite's suspension began to falter. The Gagarion's single eye flickered open, its gaze sharp and predatory, even in its weakened state.
But Dax didn't falter. With a firm grip, he removed the heart and placed it in a **gamaorite tube**, ensuring its preservation.
Instantly, Dax moved to the brain. He couldn't afford to lose even the smallest fraction—**0.001%**—of its brain cells. Thanks to the properties of the operating table, the process was seamless. In one swift motion, he extracted the brain and placed it in another gamaorite tube.
Dax's plan was finally in motion. *My hunger is cured. Now, I'm one step closer to achieving the perfect body.*
He washed his hands meticulously, the water running cold over his bloodstained fingers. Without wasting a moment, he walked to the **isolation chamber**—a sterile, dimly lit room where he conducted his most dangerous experiments. This was where Dax operated on himself.
Dax was a brutal man, even to himself. He refused anesthesia, ensuring he was awake for every incision, every fusion, every moment of agony. In his previous life, his goal had been singular: to become the **peak life form**.