Chapter 34

Wars Of The Flesh

It was black and having grown used to night vision, it was truly unnerving. Klaus tried to call out only to find he could not. In fact, he was not breathing at all. He had no lungs, no eyes, no ears.

Then it happened. An explosion of colors, shapes and smells overwhelmed his senses; senses that were nowhere in existence moments before. A galaxy of colors swirled and danced. Klaus felt like he was moving, but his mind could not comprehend the motion, nor did it have time to process it before it all came to a stop. The world of color froze.

The colors, including his sense of self, gathered and formed into something his mind could once more recognize. He barely had time to look around him; one breath to be exact.

That breath was like honey. It was nectar, an ambrosia, a fountain of power like Klaus had never experienced. Klaus could literally feel his body inhale that breath and refuse to let it go. Energy, unlike anything before, rushed into his lungs. It got suffused into his blood and carried to his hearts.

Ever since he changed, his heartbeat had been slow. Klaus felt his hearts speed up until he could feel every beat fill him with energy and power. A feeling of tiredness that he never knew he had faded from his being to be replaced by pure bliss.

His hearts pumped that same energy to every other part of his body, and for a moment, Klaus thought he would explode.

Klaus fell to his knees and then to all fours. His body was completely out of his control, and he started to hyperventilate. His body wanted more, the dragon wanted more. He. Wanted. More.

Then came the pain. It was like growing pains, but many times worse.

Leo, Beatrice, Fred, and Liz were the first to recover. They did not have mixed bloodlines, so the flood was more straightforward. They had still been out for more than a minute as the growing pains had set in.

Each of them was taller, stronger and more attractive than before. The energy had taken them like clay and molded them into something higher than just humans.

They first took in the room dazedly. Though the room looked almost exactly the same as the one on their home planet of Yeotis, there were some slight differences that soon became apparent. There was a large runic triangle engraved onto the floor and the material everything was made out of seemed to be some kind of coppery metal.

Still, as they stood filled with an abundance of energy, they watched. Watched as their friends changed amidst roars, yowls, and grunting.

The three had never spoken about what they had been mixed with. Beatrice knew of Amelia's lineage but was curious to know that of the other two.

From what they could see of the thrashing teens, Billy's skin was becoming darker or perhaps sprouting fine black hairs. He had also grown a lot more muscular and larger. The most disturbing thing of all being his human ears which had fallen off, discarded like a lizard that shed its tail to escape an enemy. Two pointy and furry ears were now growing near the crown of his head.

Amelia was experiencing something similar.Though her skin tone was staying the same and no fur sprouted from it, her ears were being replaced. Her nails also fell out as new, harder and longer nails grew in their place. That was all they could see from the angle that they were standing.

Leo had only focussed on one person. He was curious about the others, but he had to know about Klaus. He would not admit it, but he still felt shame for losing so thoroughly against Klaus. What he saw made him swallow hard.

Klaus was fluctuating. Amidst the sound of cracking bones, roars, and screams of pain. Klaus would grow inordinately large and then shrink back to normal. His clothes were completely ripped to pieces. So Leo saw as scales grew. He saw as Klaus' back seemed to crack and bend before large protrusions threatened to break through the skin underneath.

Two things did not fluctuate like the others. Horns that were growing from his temples and a scaled, spiked tail that grew from his tailbone. The tail itself kept growing. It was only the thickness that fluctuated. The spikes and blade-like end made its vicious purpose clear.

Leo was no idiot despite how he acted at times. He put two and two together, his common sense just kept him from admitting what he was seeing. Even though he felt like he had just been sucked through a straw in the galaxy into another world. A world he had learned was filled with magical races, plants, monsters, and creatures. He still struggled to believe what he was seeing; Klaus, a dragon.

Leo was oblivious to the battle that raged in Klaus. He could see the physical effects as Klaus fluctuated, but only Klaus felt the dragon in him trying to assert it's prideful self. It was him and he was it, but as people struggled with their feelings, he struggled. There was a difference. The fight had become physical because it affected how he looked.

Klaus wanted to be less eye-catching as was his nature. Blending in had helped him survive. However, his pride warred with this. A dragon needed its presence known unless it was hunting, and therein was Klaus' salvation.

Still, he had to make concessions. A hunter needed tools and protection. The tail was the first concession. The second was scales in areas that protected his organs, neck, and groin areas. In fact, his genitalia became more lizard-like than he would be comfortable with. The horns on his temples stayed to serve as protection. The rest of his human features would remain so that the hunter's nature would be less recognizable when among its possible prey. His skull and bones did grow denser as a result.

All of it was decided though warring instincts. Due to the need for armor and denser bones, his wings would be useless until he learned how to manipulate the magic in the air.

A dragon would learn this in memories while they incubated. But Klaus was born through natural birth and only had the awakening to go on.

By the time it all ended, half an hour had passed.

Despite the ordeal that each of the hybrids had experienced, they still felt like they were brimming with energy.

Klaus' throat felt hoarse, but that too faded as his healing kicked in.

He was face down on the runed ground. Having learned from past experience, Klaus very slowly pushed himself up. He remembered the changes after the awakening, so he moved with that memory in mind.

The caution proved to be excessive. The brimming energy was potential and not physical like the awakened changes had been, at first.

Something hit his chest as soon as he was upright. He looked down to see it was a jacket. Leo pointed. "You might want to cover up, uh, whatever that is."

Klaus looked down and saw what Leo meant. His genitalia was hidden under scales, but a bulge announcing its presence was still visible. "Thanks."

Leo had tried to save him, but it was too late for that. Klaus saw all the others were already looking at him.

He ignored them and tied the jacket around his middle. His butt cheeks would still be exposed, but it was better than nothing.

Beatrice was the first to talk. "Well, that happened."

Fred replied while eyeing each of the hybrids. "Yeah." His gaze especially lingered on Amelia.

She was attractive before, but after the change, Fred found it ridiculous.

Kitsunes were known to appear as attractive women to trick men. This legend proved to have some truth to it. Her eyes had grown a little larger, and her gaze captured the male teens as she made eye contact. She knew more than the others what changes would happen to her. There was lots of information regarding her family’s legacy on hand after her awakening. She felt the puffy tail stuck in her pants. When she grew in power, the tail would split and multiply.

What she did not expect were the streaks in her hair. Her natural black sported flashes of red.

What she did not see were her long ears. Each had a stripe of crimson running down its length, which then ended at the pointy tip in small tufts.

Amelia also had two small red dots on her face, one under each eye.

Klaus' pride had him more absorbed in himself at that moment. He was trying out his tail and experimenting with the maw. The more he closed it, the more flexible the tail would become.

He had just decided to try opening it up when knocking interrupted them. His tail which had been swishing from side to side, abruptly came to a standstill as he turned toward the sound.

Billy entered his view for the first time. The teen-turned-half-something-else, went to stand protectively in front of Klaus.

Billy was bigger, a lot bigger. Muscles brimmed under the dark and short fur that covered his whole body. As a result, the shirt he had worn was in tatters. His pants had survived, but barely. It was torn around his calves and thighs.

Klaus watched as ears similar to that of a Doberman pointed in alertness at what he right then realized was a door. Through it came the strangest creature he had ever seen.

The others showed similar confusion. Billy, especially displayed the signs. His head tilted to the side, and one ear fell over droopily.

If Klaus had to describe the creature in one word, he would use "Gremlin", but he would also have to add, "of some kind."

It was very short. Hairy, with a head too big for its body and eyes too big for its head.

"Pardon my intrusion, but the time set aside for a safe mana flood has expired. I am required by policy to intrude and inspect for possible deaths."

As soon as it spoke, Klaus' tail went up and something which had happened in his awakening reappeared; his enhancement ability.

Lines of green and purple flared in his bone white tail and he considered pouncing on the little creature because it had not spoken physically but mentally.

It ignored him completely. "Since no deaths have been noted, you are required to vacate this room immediately. Please follow me. Simple robes will be provided for those who are naked."

The creature turned around without waiting for a reply, and Klaus noticed that it was floating. Its body and limbs hanging limply under the big head.

The teens looked at each other and then nodded. The team was feeling a mixture of dread and excitement.

They made their way to the door. After passing through they found themselves in a small room. It had a large desk set to one side.

The gremlin was floating in a corner. "Please speak to my associate Trix, who will handle your registration and give out the robes."

Klaus turned to the desk. On it sat what looked like a frog. He frowned and was about to speak, but the creature interrupted.

"That is not Trix."

Klaus leaned over the desk warily eyeing the frog that was glaring at him. Behind it was a rack that had a ledger on it. On the ledger was what Klaus assumed was Trix. A fairy, that was fast asleep.

Klaus considered mentioning that to the floating bobblehead but decided to just nudge the fairy. He was worried that touching her might be some kind of taboo, so instead, he shook the ledger.

Beatrice had come to look over as well. "Bloody hell it's Pinkerbell!"

Shaking the ledger was not working at all, but as soon as Beatrice mentioned Pinkerbell, the fairy flew right up and into her face. "Don't you dare mention that traitor in front of me!"

Beatrice, who always had something to say was struck dumb.

The fairy continued to fly in front of her nose. "We had a plan that hussy and I. We would become famous together. Be stars for all the worlds. Not just one, but all of them."

She next flew into Klaus' face. "And do you know what she did? Betrayed me, sold me to this stinking place so that she could pay for the transfer. I still have a hundred years to slave away!"

Someone cleared their throat. The teens found it especially weird because the sound was projected through thought.

Trinx came to an immediate standstill. She stomped her foot impudently while glaring at the Gremlin. "I lost the bet this time, but just you wait! The next people that come through will definitely touch me."

She must have flipped some kind of switch because the next moment she was all smiles, while she rambled off sentence after sentence, sounding like a telephone salesman.

"Welcome to the Secret Worlds. The Travelers Guild is always happy to receive new hopeful adventurers like you. I am Trix and I will be your ledger fairy today. Registration upon entering the world is mandatory. If not done properly, you may get refused on other worlds where the Guild operates. Registration is simple, please state your name and affiliation. Please note anything you say will be recorded in the ledger automatically for your and our protection as well as quality checks."

The fairy finally stopped and then took in a deep breath before deflating. Sinking to the top of the desk while she blew out the breath and hugged her legs. "I hate my life."

Beatrice was the first one to speak. "Beatrice Lockheart, servant to the Lady Amelia Song Scientia."

The fairy perked up and zipped into the air. "Another slave like me! It is rare to see our types travel around with the masters. Tell me, what are the normal worlds like?"

Beatrice frowned at the fairy. "I am not a slave."

Trix deflated once more. "Another one stuck in denial. Who is next, come on, I don't have all day."

"Leo Sparta, from the Sparta family."

The fairy zoomed to Liz while sticking out her tongue at Leo. "Such a boring introduction."

"Elizebeth Cromwell, from the-"

The fairy waved her off. "Yeah, got it. The Cromwell family."

She flitted over to Fred and wiggled her eyebrows. "How about you, handsome. Got something good for me?" She lifted her dress ever so slowly and winked. "Is that a mana growth in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?"

Fred averted his eyes, but Trix would just float in front of him again. "Hah, you must be a wizard."

He finally just blurted out. "Frederich Craybits."

The fairy stopped. "Did you just say, Crabs? What kind of a surname is that?"

He wanted to explain, but she was already gone.

Amelia got subjected to the fairy next. She was forced to say her information while the fairy pulled and rubbed at her ears.

She was just about to do the same with Billy when he gave her a glare that could kill. His eyes were back to the strange red and three pupils in each.

"Billy Prodigium," He managed to growl out.

She just nodded and flew away, Last was Klaus. She flew from the bottom of his feet to his pointed horns. Inspecting everything. "You are a strange one. Especially this kind of change from Yeotis."

Klaus' tail flicked in reply. "Klaus Alexandros Roth."

The fairy and the Gremlin reacted to that. She flew further away and the Gremlin let out a snarl. It was the first sound he made.

Billy turned to the snarling Gremlin and snarled right back.

The fairy ducked behind the counter and spoke from behind it. "Just to be clear, are you from the red faction or the white?"

Klaus watched their reaction with confusion, and to his surprise, a subtle sense of pride.

"Red. You know my name?" Klaus finally asked.

The fairy peaked her head from behind the counter. "Who does not? You follow the god of destruction, Tiamat."

Klaus snorted. "The Roth, do not follow her because she is a god, but because she fights against the blight."

The fairy zoomed from behind the desk and announced with fists on her hips. "She is the blight!"

Amelia could smell things were going to go downhill fast. She wanted to move forward and put a calming hand on Klaus.

Liz was there before her. It confused the fox. Liz was further away from Klaus than she was. Liz would have had to start moving before the altercation reached this point.

Klaus held the urge to lash out. He wanted to, but what Trix said earlier kept him from doing so.

The hand that Liz was reaching out to Klaus' shoulder stopped as soon as he came to that decision.

Amelia stepped forward and announced. "I believe that was all of us. We no longer need to be here. Please give us the robes and we will leave."

The fairy looked at her with narrowed eyes and then just snapped her fingers. Those with ruined clothes received plane brown robes that popped into existence out of nowhere.

After putting on the robes the team headed towards the exit.

Billy never took his eyes from the Gremlin while they moved out.

As soon as they were outside the door. The teens were once more brought to a standstill.

They were on a raised platform that circled what looked like a bazaar from a science fiction movie. What lent this more weight was the coppery metal that all the floors and walls were made of.

More than a few of them believed that they must be in some sort of spaceship.

The bazaar was bustling with lifeforms as strange humanoids traveled to and throw between stores manned by more of the gremlin-like-creatures. They ranged from the furry to pink bare skin. Some were grey and others blue. All the colors of the rainbow were represented.

Fred pointed to one in particular. It was a light green almost grey. "Hey, don't they look like aliens. You know, the traditional probe your ass aliens."

Beatrice slapped his shoulder. "You are right!"

One passing by heard the conversation. He floated over and stopped right in front of Fred's nose. "Hey bub, I will let it go because it is your first time here. No one calls us aliens okay, not anymore. It's offensive, get with the program. For your information, we stopped probing years ago."

It must have been glaring because for a moment, it just hung there. It was hard for the team to tell. It did not seem like the creature blinked or had eyelids for that matter.

As it floated away Leo bumped Fred with his elbow. "Hey bud, maybe we should start wearing tinfoil hats."

The alien stopped and turned around. Its soulless stare focused on Leo, and it floated backward slowly until it vanished behind the crowd.

Just then sirens started to go off and the floor on which the bazaar was on started to raise. The team turned to look and saw that a door next to where they had come opened. A fairy zoomed out and looked around.

She cupped her hands over her mouth and shouted. "Okay it's clear, you can open the big doors."

As her words suggested. The small door next to the one she had come from slammed shut. The seam from where it was in the wall melted away and a new one formed. One that was far larger.

It opened slowly, the doors sliding to the side. Out stepped a giant woman or rather a young woman. Other teens followed while gesturing and laughing with her. From what Klaus could see under the robe, she had ash blue skin and dark crystal-like growths sprouted randomly from her body.

While she spoke, her eyes met Klaus. The other team members jumped back when a green ax formed in his hand. He had seen creatures like her before. They were storming up the hill to get to Sephiroth.

Klaus saw a name plaque to the side of the door. It read "Earth transference gate one."

She frowned at his reaction at seeing her but soon got distracted by one of her friends again.

Klaus watched as the group walked towards a large archway in the distance. He could see two people that had catlike features among the people.

“Ah yes, the Ymir group. I suggest you don't mess with the giants. Very bad for your health, see.”

The group turned to the voice. Beatrice looked the creature that had spoken up and down. “Is it a goat man?”

The man with cloven hooves rolled his eyes and spoke directly with Klaus. “The name is Barbos, and I think demons belong in hell.”

Klaus nodded. “Pride sends her regards.”