Ned’s eyes were sharp and resolute as he removed his armor and clothes and stepped into the energy pool. Almost his entire body was subrged in the wondrous, glowing liquid, with only his head remaining above the surface.
As soon as he entered the energy pool of the Xaos Tower, the scanning power of Overlord flooded his body and soul, reaching deep into the core of his mind and detecting even the slightest fluctuations in his emotions.
"Pri Master, the scanning is in place," Overlord communicated to Vlad through the A.I. Chip. From this point on, all crucial communication would be conducted through these channels, as they could not afford any disturbances affecting the middle-aged man’s mind.
Vlad nodded in response to Overlord’s words, then turned his gaze toward the small yellow cat. "Ti for the ntal test."
Jormungandr nodded, leaping to the edge of the energy pool and focusing on Ned. The man’s background and loyalty were well known, and they were confident in his commitnt to the Xaos Kingdom. However, more than loyalty was required to beco a Lord of Horror.
"Do not look away," Jormungandr intoned, his eyes beginning to glow with a devilish fla. Ned felt a creeping sense of dread as the eerie flas appeared in the cat’s eyes, but his resolve did not waver, and he maintained eye contact.
Suddenly, the world around Ned began to shift. The underground chamber of the Xaos Tower vanished, replaced by a desolate, nightmarish landscape. The sky was a swirl of crimson and black, with clouds twisting into unnatural shapes. The ground beneath him was barren and cracked, radiating a heat that seed to seep from the planet’s core.
Shadows moved in the distance, seemingly alive. Distant wails and whispers echoed through the air, filling it with an aura of dread. Jagged towers of rock jutted out from the earth, and rivers of molten lava cut through the terrain, casting a hellish glow across the landscape.
Ned felt a shiver crawl down his spine, but he held firm. The oppressive atmosphere weighed heavily on him, and the air was thick with the stench of sulfur and ash. In the next mont, he noticed a shift before him. The small yellow cat was gone. In its place, a colossal serpent erged from the shadows.
The monstrous snake lood over him, its scales dark as the abyss and its eyes blazing with inner fire. It hissed, revealing fangs the size of bastard swords, and the ground quaked beneath its weight. A sense of crushing doom and terror washed over Ned as the serpent drew nearer, its gaze penetrating the depths of his soul.
Overwhelming stress pressed down on him. The urge to look away, to break eye contact and escape the terrifying vision grew with each passing mont. Fear clawed at his mind, whispering doubts and urging him to surrender.
But Ned’s determination held firm. Clenching his fists, he steadied his breath and t the serpent’s gaze head-on. He reminded himself of his purpose, of the commitnt he had made to the Xaos Kingdom. No illusion, no matter how terrifying, would make him falter.
Vlad’s eyes were sharp as he observed Ned’s entire body trembling under the strain. The Depravita of Wrath did not think less of him for it; even he would struggle to keep his emotions in check under Jormungandr’s Nightmare Weaver.
Finally, after ten agonizing seconds, the small yellow cat’s eyes lost their devilish fla, and the nightmarish world dissolved. Ned found himself back in the energy pool, the oppressive weight lifted. His face was pale, and his entire body was drenched in cold sweat, but even then, he had not looked away.
"Step one completed. His mind was able to endure the stress, horror, and dread. Emotional endurance and stability et the requirents to proceed," Overlord’s voice echoed in the minds of Vlad and Jormungandr.
Vlad and Jormungandr exchanged nods of agreent.
"Moving to step two: Implantation of the Genetic Template," Overlord announced to the Depravitas before focusing his attention back on Ned.
"First Lieutenant, we will start with the genetic alterations to your body. You must remain conscious throughout the process to ensure stability and monitor your condition. Are you prepared?"
Ned’s eyes narrowed at the words. While he did not understand the intricacies of genetic alteration, he knew the process would not be painless. Yet, there was no hesitation in his heart as he nodded.
Overlord initiated the procedure without delay. The energy pool surged with power, enveloping Ned in a majestic and profound dark halo of energy. It contained the purified and filtered genetic material from the Depravitas.
Altering an individual’s geno normally requires advanced tools—tools that the Xaos Kingdom lacked. But they possessed sothing far more potent: Divine Force. Streams of divine energy flowed into the dark halo, acting as vessels to carry the genetic material into Ned’s body. The divine power penetrated deep into his cells, reaching all the way to his genes, initiating the complex process of genetic alteration.
Vlad and Jormungandr watched as Ned clenched his teeth, enduring the agonizing transformation. His muscles tightened, and veins bulged beneath his skin as the genetic changes took hold.
"Genetic Template of Lord of Horror: 14%," Overlord’s voice reported as the process continued.
As the percentage increased, Ned’s body underwent a profound transformation at the cellular level. His bones grew denser, reinforcing themselves to support greater mass and strength. Muscles restructured, enhancing their capacity for power and endurance. His organs adapted, becoming more resilient to withstand extre conditions.
Such changes required imnse amounts of vitality and nutrients, but the energy pool, rich with life-sustaining essence, provided for these needs.
"Genetic Template of Lord of Horror: 76%," Overlord announced.
Vlad and Jormungandr’s eyes widened as they saw Ned’s body begin to rise. At first, they thought he was levitating, but they soon realized his body was growing taller and broader. They exchanged satisfied smiles; the physical changes were exactly what they had aid for.
The genetic reinforcent ford the backbone of the Lord of Horror’s new physical capabilities, preparing him to endure the intense strain of the following enhancents.
"Genetic Template of Lord of Horror: 100%," Overlord finally declared.
After nearly two hours, the full Depravita genetic material had been integrated into Ned’s geno, allowing him to attain the Genetic Template of a Lord of Horror. His physique had beco imposing, standing nearly three ters tall. His muscles were dense and bulging, and his fra now matched that of two n standing side by side.
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