CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN

HemoLovers was one of the many available companion apps created by third parties to help competitive players.

The most common was the Database Plug-In, which allowed players to examine Overdrive's player-created encyclopedia on the server's most famous pilots.

The Database provided information on preferred Mech builds and playstyle. It was perfect for research-oriented players like Jason.

However, its strength also meant that it was banned on many maps, including the Tournament of Assassins.

However, the Database was a staple for competitive 4v4 games.

Another common application was Rank Checker, which gave players the inside scoop on their teammates and opponents when they queued up for ranked games.

The most popular plug-in was the web browser, which allowed players to search the Internet without leaving the Overdrive virtual reality. The web browser plug-in was so popular that the company eventually developed one themselves.

The Overdrive Corporation's version was more or less an exact copy of the original, and it was now permanently installed in every Overdrive app.

HemoLovers helped players keep track of their genetic modifications. It also provided projections for possible changes.

HemoLovers had amazing customer service and updated the application in real-time.

All new genetic samples were added within a single day of the patch release.

By uploading the Red Minerva's genetic information, Jason could create a duplicate Test Copy.

By submitting his watchdog genetic sample, Jason could then simulate the various genetic changes at the first, second, and third watchdog breakpoints.

However, HemoLovers went beyond mere simulations.

The app would also allow Jason to use the various machines in battle.

But despite its promise and utility, the app was very unpopular.

In Jason's opinion, that unpopularity came down entirely to the community's entitled attitude.

The HemoLovers app was filled with various warnings.

The app did not claim to predict changes perfectly.

It told customers that it could only give a general idea of the final change.

Hemoborn genetic hybrids were randomized each time.

There was absolutely no guarantee of the final results.

In fact, a guarantee was impossible - the final genetic mix was always randomized.

For example, after Jason mixed in the watchdog genes, there would be a wide range in final Defense scores.

A perfect roll would give his defense a slight boost. The average roll would lead to a moderate drop, and a bottom roll would tank his defenses.

In addition, the Overdrive Corporation complicated matters further by mixing in random effects.

The only guarantee was the breakpoint guarantee. However, Jason's Mech could gain other powerful bonus abilities, such as improved biting power.

For obvious reasons, the application could not predict these unique genetic mutations.

At the end of the day, there were just too many possible permutations.

Hemoborn transformations were a black box, and although HemoLovers did the best job they could, there was always an element of randomness.

Three machines with the exact same genetic basis could have totally different results.

Finally, the application can't predict things that'd never happened before.

HemoLovers eagerly gathered and analyzed all data their clients sent to them, but there were thousands of different Hemoborn species.

Although HemoLovers loaded that data onto the app, it couldn't predict every interaction.

Jason remembered a famous scandal from a few years ago when a minor professional player used the HemoLovers app to find out what would happen if they mixed dragon and vampire genes.

The application claimed that its prediction had only one percent accuracy, but the player plowed on anyway.

The HemoLovers app had predicted a significant boost to strength as well as a nighttime durability buff.

That prediction had been correct...

However, the mix of vampire and dragon genes also caused the Mech to lose the dragon's vaunted flame immunity. As a result, the pro player wound up losing a high-stakes match.

If Jason had to guess, the transformation was due to the vampire's infamous weakness to the sun.

The coders at HemoLovers were careful to warn their customers that their predictions were only educated guesses, but players were furious whenever a change negatively impacted their machines.

The app was consistently bombarded by a storm of 0-star ratings.

Even the unpaid endorsement of Vile, widely considered to be the best Hemoborn user, wasn't enough to save their reputation.

On the other hand, Jason understood that he used the app at his own risk.

He thought the application was a great idea.

Once again, Jason was only interested in improving his odds as much as possible.

He wasn't so naive that he'd get angry after a failed guarantee.

Jason hadn't used HemoLovers while working as a One Star Boss. Since he couldn't modify his frame, there was no need to.

However, he'd always admired the developers of the application. He thought their service did a huge favor to Hemoborn experts all around the server.

As a result, Jason didn't only upload the Red Minerva's data.

He also sent his partner's biometric info straight to the company, which helped them better project changes to the Red Minerva frame.

The HemoLovers team always welcomed feedback.

Specific data on the little-used dragon frame seemed useless, but it helped them predict changes to draconic Mechs as a whole.

Jason pulled up the application, and his settings appeared on the side.

Genetic Makeup:

Cave Dragon: 100%

Genes Available:

Watchdog, Maximum Sample: 100%

In general, defeating an enemy did not allow you to gather all of their genes - there was significant leakage.

While players would gain the overall frame, they would only be able to add about 5-10% of the genes to a different cyborg.

However, Jason could hypothetically replace all Mech's genes with watchdog genes.

By killing twenty of the frames, he'd gathered more than enough information.

The simulation Mech rapidly transformed as Jason moved the dials freely back and forth.

The actual Red Minerva was standing inside Jason's hanger. The Mech wouldn't morph until Jason locked in his selections and inputted them to his machine.

Jason planned on creating three different simulations, one at each breakthrough point.

He would compare them throughout the night before choosing his final option.

The first unit, Watchdog-1, had only a few minor changes. After all, Jason was only infusing a small portion of genes.

The Red Minerva's claws and teeth grew sharper and leather formed around his partner's nose. The dog-like nose, which had a greatly improved sense of smell, was the guaranteed change.

On the other hand, the lengthened claws and teeth were the result of a beneficial roll, which added a significant attack bonus.

On top of that, the Red Minerva's defenses didn't take a hit.

Jason frowned, then re-rolled until he got a subpar roll.

At the end of the day, the strength of the simulations didn't matter. Using a powerful machine was fun, but Jason wanted an accurate test.

Jason wanted a perfect roll on the actual Red Minerva, but a perfect roll on the simulation wasn't helping anyone.

In fact, Jason actively wanted to practice with a weaker machine than normal.

A below-average machine would help Jason set much better expectations.

If he liked the below-average machine more than the current Red Minerva, that meant that inputting the watchdog's genes would be all upside.

After re-rolling several times, the Red Minerva's rock-hard scales had transformed into red fur.

His partner now looked rather strange.

Considering its two-legged stance, the Red Minerva looked like a hybrid of a werewolf and a cave dragon. The sight of the furry dragon reminded Jason of an article he'd read about how dinosaurs might have feathers.

Of course, the guaranteed sensory abilities remained even after the lousy roll. No matter how unlucky a Hemoborn randomization was, the guaranteed bonuses remained.

Jason then moved on to the Watchdog-2, the second-level breakpoint simulation.

The Watchdog-2's appearance looked very similar to the re-rolled Watchdog-1.

The increased influx of genes more or less guaranteed that the Red Minerva would lose a significant portion of its scales.

The new look was strange, but the Red Minerva remained the Red Minerva no matter what.

Jason was excited to try out both of the new builds. He had no issue with changing his partner's appearance in order to empower her further.

Next, Jason moved to the third transformation, the thirty-two percent breakpoint.

In this case, the guaranteed buff increased his machine's size.

The Red Minerva was currently about fifty feet tall. The enlarged size from consuming a Maximum gene sample would boost her to sixty feet tall.

Jason inputted the information.

As soon as he saw the result, he knew that the thirty-two percent breakpoint wasn't a viable option.

The experienced pilot let out a sigh of relief. Experimenting on his actual Mech would have been disastrous.

In this case, the app had proved its worth.

The app predicted with 100% certainty that the Watchdog-3 simulation would lose the Blazing Avarice weapons system.

A Hemoborn's pre-built weapons systems were entwined around their organs and skeletal structures.

As a result, increasing his Mech's size would inadvertently break the Blazing Avarice system.

In hindsight, this negative interaction was common sense.

It was a reminder that Jason was a total beginner regarding genetic modifications.

It was a good thing that HemoLover's advanced data was able to guide him forward.

Overall, losing access to the third form wasn't a problem.

A larger machine wasn't a great fit for Jason's usual style of sneaking around.

Under ordinary circumstances, Jason would have thoroughly tested the third option, but he didn't mind discounting it from the start.

The additional data allowed him to spend more time testing the first and second breakpoints.

He planned on having a set build by the end of today. Then he could spend the remainder of the week practicing his chosen option.

Jason finished, then took off his virtual reality headset just in time to hear the announcement that he would be playing in the first round.

"Attention. Round One is starting. Devourer22, please log in to fight Big Buckos. Be at the central stage in two minutes."

Like his dad, Jacob always referred to players by their in-game names for tournaments.

He considered the names their identity on the server.

In the mind of the Russell family, using their IGNs was simply being respectful.

Jason smiled and walked over to the center table.

It was time to test his new builds in battle.