For hundreds of thousands of years, magic and science have made the lives of the sentient races easier and easier. However, in the beginning, not everyone could enjoy the benefits that magic could bring. Similarly, science only came about in an effort to make lives better. Only later did science and magic become perverted by the greedy and the lazy in order to make lives easier to the point of not needing to lift a finger. In the beginning only the elves and the demons could use magic thanks to the special organs they were born with that allowed them to store and control the mana they absorbed from the air around them.

In the beginning the natural disposition for magic of the elven and demonic races made the humans, dwarves and beastmen jealous. The humans believed themselves the masters of the world and wanted the beset for themselves, eventually creating what they called science in a bid to overcome their own inability to bend the elements to their will. Following suit, the dwarves created what they called constructs to do their bidding to make up for the lack of magic among their race. The beastmen, following their primal instincts, created the ways of combat, exercises and move sets that let them develop their already physically superior bodies past their original limits.

The humans pushed their science to the edge in an attempt to create effects similar to the elven magic which allowed them to grow entire forests overnight. The elves, seeing the humans attempting to further themselves by creating devices capable of producing effects similar to their magic, were more than happy to lend the humans a hand, thinking they would use the devices to develop their race in a way similar to their own. The help of the elves was much appreciated by the humans and helped them create a device which could, with the help of some auxiliary machines, turn a stretch of desert into a lush rainforest in the span of a week.

The creation of the device sent the humans into a crazy inventing frenzy. New machines and devices being produced weekly by the brightest minds of the entire race. Devices that pumped water from a river to a city over long distances. Devices that heated a portion of the pumped water to be used for washing. Devices that allowed one to instantly move from one place to another. Many, many different devices came about with the help of the elves explaining how their magic worked.

But humans could never be satisfied, and on the day of their first encounter with the demon race this was proven to be an undeniable fact. The demon race used a magic completely opposite to the elves. Where the elven magic could be used for any form of creation and repair, the demons magic was used for all kinds of destruction. From simply disassembling an object for easier storage and transport at the lowest levels, to the complete erasing of the molecular makeup of anything and everything in its path at the highest levels.

Humans experienced the demons magic first hand when they tried to invade the demon’s territory to expand their own. Entire armies erased from existence by as single squad of demon’s changeling some kind of disintegration ray from a small platform defended by a shield that protected them from projectiles. The losses of so many caused the kings and lords to spur the scientists on to create weapons which could rival the demons magic. Eventually, with the help of the elves, who feared they would be included in the revenge the demons would inevitability take, the first weapon was created. After years of work and reverse engineering the elven magic, the weapon was ready for testing. The weapon was the size of a medium room and weighed so much wooden carts and wheels would shatter and crumble under it. This in turn allowed the dwarves to come out and offer an alliance of non-aggression and mutual protection in exchange for their creations. The huge, 10-metre-tall, solid iron, humanoid constructs could easily lift the human’s weapon onto its shoulder and fire it with little more than a lean back from the recoil.

The weapon itself, from outward appearances, was nothing more than a huge cannon covered in pipes, cables and runes. However, upon firing, the observer would see no smoke cloud of a conventional cannon and hear no roar of the gunpowder explosion. Instead, the cannon would light up like a Christmas tree and produce the roar of a motorbike engine followed by a blinding flash as the small oval shaped magic projectile was ejected out of the barrel at the speed of sound.

When the construct carrying the first prototype weapon into battle against the demons proved to be devastatingly effective, the war for territory ended in less than a year. The demons were pushed back and almost half of their original territory fell to the human, elf and dwarf alliance.

And so, the demons found themselves having to fit their entire population in half of the space they had. The demons, with no other choice, built vast underground cities, rivalling the dwarves in size and functionality, eventually diapering from the surface altogether. Forgotten by history over thousands of years, the demons lick their wounds and brew their hatred for the allied forces. Readying for their eventual re-emergence into the outside world to wreak havoc.

Meanwhile the outside world, having forgotten about the demons they once trampled over, progressed at an astonishing pace. Adding together the humans’ science, the elves’ magic and the dwarves’ constructs, the allied forces created technology far surpassing the singular components and created a world in which one could have anything they wished for.

Eventually, small, fingertip sized implants allowed the humans to wield magic as well as any elf, fulfilling the human’s dearest wishes. For thousands of years more, the world was at relative peace.

But the humans could never be satisfied and eventually someone found records of a strange race that occupied the lands before them. A strange race which their ancestors trampled over and was eventually forgotten about in the river of time. The search for the strange race ensued and took hundreds of years. Hundreds of years to find clues of the race and more to find clues of their current whereabouts.

After nearly a thousand years of searching, the allied forces found what they were looking for. A hole in the ground. A proverbial black hole on their maps and radar scans. Nothing was known about the hole. The makeup of the rocks the hole was dug into seemed alien and unfamiliar yet ancient and ever-present. The depth and contents of the hole even more so.

At some point during the two hundred years it took to explore the cave system that was found after going down the hole, the human and elven scientists developed an implant that scanned the user and their surroundings to provide useful information and allowed the user to connect to a mainframe computer to get an analysis and feedback. Scanning the user allowed the scientist to come up with multiple methods of feeding back the findings in a status sheet the user could view and use to improve. The scientists debated between displaying the status as raw numbers or establishing a norm as a base line and displaying the status compared to the norm. The status, in both formats, using a farmer as a norm, would look something like this for a regular foot soldier:

Strength – 17

Dexterity – 15

Constitution – 18

Wisdom – 13

Intelligence – 13

Charisma – 12

Strength – 1.5

Dexterity – 1.4

Constitution – 1.6

Wisdom – 1.1

Intelligence – 1.1

Charisma – 1

Eventually the scientists decided to create a base line using the minimum stats required to be a foot soldier as the basis. The system analysed the body of the user from muscle mass, bone density, tendon strength, joint flexibility, cell reproduction rate and the immune system for the physical stats to synapse speed, compatibility with different elements, synchronisation rate with the magic implant and overall physical appearance fort the other three stats. This allowed the population to see their strengths and weaknesses and follow a path that capitalises on their strengths and work on their weaknesses. At least that is how the scientists saw it. The rest? They decided this would allow them to capitalise on their strengths and make more devices and machines that did what they were bad at to make their lives easier and not have to work on their weaknesses.

The world outside the hole in the ground became lazy and more and more automated as the allied forces lost the common enemy they once faced. The alliance stayed together at some levels, but human greed and disregard for anyone but themselves became more and more prevalent in some areas, especially slavery.

Elves started to become more and more popular as bed warmers and pets to parade around. Dwarves became less master smiths and mechanics and more ‘private’ smiths and mechanics.

Finally, the search of the depths was over and the allied forces, who spent the past two hundred years searching the caves and tunnels found what they were looking for. Signs of civilisation. Primitive houses carved directly into the walls of the tunnels. The further the exploration team went the better the houses became. From primitive caves carved out of the walls, to villa sized luxury homes dug into the walls of the tunnels. Eventually the team of over a thousand people hit a dead end. An enormous gate blocking their way.

Meanwhile on the other side of the gate.

In the demon’s underground city.

In a research base near the centre of the city.

“The humans sure come up with some fancy things, don’t they?” Asked the three-metre-tall, red skinned demon wearing a lab coat and a pair of glasses.

“Sure do.” Answered the slightly smaller, blue skinned demon wearing a mask that looked like a mirror and long grey robes.

“So, what do these do that’s so different from the last pair?” Asked the researcher demon while poking and prodding a pair of magnifying eye glasses.

“Those have a much-increased zoom than regular glasses, in case you need to inspect some jewellery or doing precise surgery work. Plus, the lenses can be changed for magic crystals to allow those without the natural ability to see the flow of mana and apprise magic items and enchanted gear.” Relied the smaller demon.

“Is that so? This is indeed quite interesting.” Said the researcher demon throwing the glasses on his desk while standing up.

“That can’t be the only reason you’re here. And if my guess is correct you found what I asked you for the last time you were here.” Said the researcher demon walking out of his office, gesturing for the smaller demon to follow.

Leaving the office, the pair turned left to walk down a pristine and seamless white corridor illuminated with pure white light coming from seemingly everywhere but with no visible source. Walking for quite some time and passing a few other demons dressed similar to the researcher but no more than half his height, the pair arrived at a dead end, facing a wall like all the other. The researcher demon lifted his hand and tapped on the wall with a claw producing a metallic ding. Seconds later a magic formation looking like a key pad appeared on the wall to his left. Keying in the access code **02 opened a seam in the pristine wall which slowly expanded to allow the pair to walk through.

On the other side of the door lay a large, dimly lit room with nothing but a large transparent containment tube in the centre and display screen around the edges of the room. The top of the containment tube held a plaque with the designation X-X-02

In the containment tube, in a mixture of yellow, green and red liquids, floated a constantly shifting mass. The mass would change shape and colour every few seconds. Sometimes becoming a hand, sometimes an arm, sometimes red and sometimes green. The ever-shifting mass squirmed and moved closer to the wall of the containment tube, trying to get closer to the pair that just entered.

“No matter how many times I see it, it always looks creepy.” Said the smaller demon.

“Don’t be stupid. Its happy to see us.” Said the researcher, patting the smaller demon on the shoulder and moving towards the screens on the left of the room.

“It still looks creepy.” Whispered the smaller demon before following the researcher.

“So, where is it?” Asked the researcher demon while typing in codes and commands on the keyboard attached to the screen in the centre.

“I couldn’t get exactly what you asked for. It would look very suspicious if I did. Too suspicious. So, I got the next best thing.” Said the robed demon.

“And what would that be?” Asked the researcher, looking over his shoulder at the robed demon.

The robed demon nodded, turning his back on the researcher before tapping a claw on his mirror like mask in a specific pattern. Seconds later the surface of the mask rippled, and the corpse of a human male fell out of the mask.

“Now that, that is creepy.” Said the researcher before straightening up to walk around the robed demon.

“So, what do we have he… Why is there a corpse on my floor?” Asked the researcher while staring at the corpses.

“I told you. I got the next best thing.” Answered the robed demon with a shrug.

“Damn it.” Sighed the researcher while dropping his shoulder and dragging a hand down his face.

“What. Just get what you need form the corpse.” Shrugged the robed demon.

“I can’t. That’s why I sent the other one with you.” Replied the researcher in frustration.

“What do you mean you can’t? You made the other one and it could do it so why can’t you do it here?” Asked the robed demon, slightly backing away from the researcher.

“It could do it because it was extensively modified to be able to do it using parts of the original. What happened to the other anyway?” Asked the researcher scratching his head.

“I don’t really know. It, just, kind of, died? I don’t know. After teleporting with it, it started twitching and just fell over dead.” Answered the robed demon with crossed arms trying to remember exactly what happened.

“I see. X-X-01 couldn’t handle the strain of teleportation. Interesting. I wonder if X-X-00 and X-X-02 have the same problem or if it was exclusive to X-X-01 due to the extensive modifications.” Pondered the researcher.

“So, how are you going to get it now that 01 is dead? Surely you have some other way?” Asked the robed demon.

“I do have another way. But I hate using it and it has proven to be less than safe.” Answered the researcher with a sigh.

“And what would that way be?” Asked the robed demon, getting slightly nervous at the thought of something that the researcher would call ‘less that safe’.

“That way, my friend is to politely ask X-X-00 to extract and process it for us.” Said the researcher with a dark and heavy tone.

“Ooh Shit.” Shuddered the robed demon.

“Let’s go and bring the stiff.” Said the researcher with another sigh while turning back to the door and walking away.

“You can’t be serious. Do we even have permission to go in there? I mean, that thing has killed, what, like twenty-five of our people now? That thing is too dangerous. Actually, why is it still alive at this point? Shouldn’t you have got rid of it by now?” Quietly asked the robed demon, carrying the corpse on his shoulder.

“If it was possible, we would have got rid of it.” Answered the researcher with yet another sigh.

“’If it was possible’? What the hell? You mean to tell me you can’t get rid of it?” Asked the robed demon with a shudder.

“I mean exactly that Drar. I mean exactly that. We tried for so long and the longer we try the harder it gets.” Answered the researcher while shaking his head.

“Dragnar, don’t tell me it’s what I think it is. Please don’t tell me you put in what I think you put in that thing.” The robed demon, Drar, asked while shivering.

“It is, and it seems very fond of that part especially. Sometimes the little fucker tries to make itself look like one too. Luckily it doesn’t have enough to go off of, but the bastard still tries.” The researcher, Dragnar, replied with his head down.

“Damn, I knew I smelled something fishy when I got word that the tamer guild master mysteriously lost a hydra near the research facility. You sneaky bastard.” Drar chuckled nervously, looking at the back of his older brother.

“What can I say, I try my best in everything I do. Even if, sometimes, trying my best, ends up screwing me more than helping. I can’t help it and you know it. It’s in the family.” Dragnar shrugged.

“So how much of the hydra did you give it? Like, a, a leg?” Asked Drar.

“Nah, that’s way too much. That would give him enough to do everything the hydra could. That would be way too much. I had 01 refine a drop of blood to separate all the parts of the DNA till the only thing left wat the regenerative ability and then fed him that, which was significantly less than the original drop. That’s how crazy that thing is. It can tell what the regen came from just from a piece of a strand of DNA. Its honestly terrifying to think what it could do with the whole body.” Dragnar said in in a pondering tone.

“Don’t even think about it. We have enough trouble as it is. The alliance has been searching the caves for nearly two hundred years now and they are bound to find the gate eventually.” Drar Slapped Dragnar’s shoulder while shaking his head.

“Ok, now quiet. I hate this thing and don’t want to be in there longer than we have to. Just throw the corpse in the feeding tray and I’ll do the rest.” Dragnar said while shaking his head to clear the thoughts out.

Coming up to another dead end Dragnar tapped the wall with a claw. Just like earlier, the key pad looking magic formation appeared on the left. Keying in **00 the door opened.

Inside the significantly larger room, the containment tube had considerably thicker walls and multiple metal bands embracing the top, bottom and middle sections.

From the ceiling hung many mechanical arms. Some holding drill like devices, some held circular saw blades, and some held what appeared to be long metal tubes.

All of the metal tubes were fitted with lasers which were all pointed at the small creature flooding in the containment tube.

Noticing the new visitors, the creature in the tube shook slightly, taking the shape of a snake with multiple, tentacle like protrusions where the head should be. Each tentacle slowly turning a different colour.

“It’s fucking mocking me! Look at the little fucker! It’s trying the hydra shit again! You little piece of shit, I should have never given you that strand of DNA!” Dragnar shouted while pointing at the creature in the tube.

“Calm down. It clearly can’t finish since it’s missing heads at the end of its necks and has no legs. Plus the body is all wrong. No scales or anythMMMMMM.” Drar was cut off by Dragnar clamping his hands over Drar’s mouth.

“SHHHHH! You idiot, it can hear us!” Dragnar stared at Drar as the other’s eyes widened and stared at the tube.

“Exactly, don’t talk about things you don’t want it to….” Dragnar stopped as Drar forced his head in the direction of the tube.

In the tube, the creature wiggled with glee as it got the final piece of the puzzle. Its tentacles were supposed to be necks and the body supposed to have legs and scales. Before the eyes of the pair, the creature in the tube twisted and turned around itself as scale like patterns began growing around it. Next the tentacles wiggled furiously as heads that looked like a cross between a reptile and a canine slowly emerged from the ends. Finally, six short, stumpy legs grew from the snake like body which enlarged slightly to make room for the new limbs.

“You got to be kidding. It figured it all out from just a few hints?” Drar whispered to himself.

“Damn, that’s impressive, and terrifying, but still impressive, and horrifying.” Dragnar said looking between his arm and the small, arm sized, mini hydra. Considering the fact Dragnar’s arms were as thick as two human waists and as long as a dwarf is tall, it was still pretty big.

The mini hydra opened all eighteen of its different coloured eyes to stare at the pair.

“That, that right there, that shit right there is creepy as fuck.” Remarked both brothers simultaneously as Drar pointed at the tube.

Opening its mouths, the mini hydra let out the air in its newly created lungs causing bubbles to rise to the top of the tube. As the air left the lungs the fluid in the tube flooded in causing the mini hydra to choke and thrash about looking as if it was in pain.

Dragnar and Drar looked on in horror. Drar, imagining the pain of drowning while slowly rubbing his chest and swallowing hard. Dragnar, at the thought that they spent so much time and effort trying to kill it when all they had to do is let it shift into something with working lungs and let it drown.

After a few seconds the thrashing stopped, and the creature stopped moving completely, motionlessly and silently floating in the tube. Dragnar moved closer to the tube to look at the mini hydra corpse.

“Well, looks like that did it. Good riddance.” Dragnar sighed in relief, looking at the small unmoving creature.

“Dragnar, you idiot, how the hell do we get the DNA from this guy now that 00 is gone? Did you think about that?” Drar stared at Dragnar with eyes wide open.

“Ah, well, yeah, shit.” Dragnar stammered lowering his head further with each word.

As Dragnar was about to turn his back on the tube and head for the exit, a small movement in the tube caught his eye.

“Did the tail just move?” Dragnar asked Drar.

“Maybe a corpse twitch?” Drar asked back.

“Not with this guy. That isn’t even real muscle, so it shouldn’t twitch.” Dragnar explained.

“Maybe.” Dragnar began as he and Drar leaned closer to the tube to inspect the floating corpse.

As the pair’s noses were about to touch the tube the mini hydra’s eyes burst open as the rest of its body wiggled. Mouths open and nodding as if they were laughing.

“AAAHHH.” Screamed both brothers as they fell on their asses and crawled away from the tube.

“DAMN IT!” shouted Dragnar slamming his fist into the reinforced metal floor leaving a sizable dent that slowly fixed itself.

“Shit, that scared the crap out of me.” Drar breathed deep to calm himself.

The mini hydra in the tube wiggled and twisted while laughing at the pair.

“Look at you, you smug little bastard. Laughing like you know, what, it, ooh shit, you are laughing like you know what it means, and you do know what it means don’t you?” Dragnar paled as he stared at the mini hydra.

In the tube, the creature stopped laughing. Each head looking at another before turning back to focus on Dragnar with each head nodding separately and out of sync, showing each one was capable of independent action.

“Hmm, you’re a lot smarter than we thought you are, we didn’t do any intelligence tests since you didn’t have a brain we could locate and monitor. How about now? Do you have a brain now? You have heads so how about brains?” Dragnar asked while looking between each head.

All of the heads looked up as if in thought. Looking back at Dragnar, most of the heads shook from side to side, one lowered itself to the front and another one bit the top of the head off, keeping the part in its jaws. Dragnar, surprised by the show, looked at the ‘injured’ head. Inside the opened head, apart from a small thread like spine leading down to the body, the head, just like everything else was made of a blackish grey, gel like substance. Looking up at the bottom of the bitten off part, the same blackish grey gel like substance revealed itself surrounded by the scales like the rest of the head.

“Interesting. Still no identifiable brain.” Dragnar muttered.

The head that bit of the top of the other head lowered the bitten off part in its jaws back onto the lowered head and let go as the top of the head sank down to meet the top of the lowered head, seamlessly fusing back together as soon as they touched. As if nothing happened, the head rose and joined the rest in a victory dance of wiggling from side to side.

“Oddly cute, but still weird.” Said Drar.