Quickly regaining his composure, Xeno understood the function of his new eye, as it could allow him to execute a close ranged teleportation, alias to blink.

Suddenly a revelation erupted in his head, did it retain his storage capabilities? If so, was all of his stuff still there?

Well, they were mostly scraps and tools he had stolen from is victims, but he still had some useful ones like his Melanir black sponges. Even more important was another tool of his which was quite important to properly regain contact with the rest of his team.

Thus Xeno quickly focused on his forehead, gaining control on his seemingly dormant new organ. However this time he only focused on the eye itself, not feeding it with energy or anything else. After a few seconds he could visualize another chamber different from the one his physical body was currently in. It was none other than his personal space, as always filled up with corpses and scraps. Only a small portion of it was accurately kept in order, showing the actual importance of the strange tools positioned there.

Concentrating more in particular on one of them, Xeno returned his focus onto his physical body. He was now holding a rectangular gray metallic box, which presented a circular green display. Then he positioned his left arm over such device and directly cut himself with his right hand's sharp claws. From the hard leathery silver skin leaked out a few droplets of purple blood, which upon contact with the glass like screen of the tool made the strange little box whizz and shake a little.

Soon after a rectangular shaped green hologram presented itself, representing what Xeno thought was probably a portion of the dungeon's first strata. Most of the holographic map was just picturing the vast flat ground of the place, yet on its left end was pictured a really high wall and further inside of it stood a small red dot.

On its opposite direction, were being signaled two more red points, apparently pointing out Zaha and Vix positions.

Then Xeno quickly pointed at one of the two and channeled his energy both toward the dot and the tool itself.

[Vix, Do you hear me? It is your master, please answer my call.]

After a few seconds of complete silence, a familiar voice could be heard inside of Xeno's mind.

[Vix answers your call, we are pleased to finally be able to hear something about you. Also we can feel you quite 'changed' since a while ago…]

The usual strident voice of his first servant carried hints of both curiosity and reverence. As such Xeno quickly informed her of roughly what had happened. From Aiduth betrayal and his previous conditions to finally him undergoing the trial and his first evolution.

[I wasn't on a lucid state of mind with the Xantagar inside of my body, messing with my head. As such I didn't even think of using the 'genetic caller'. Furthermore in these days that I have regained my integrity I have been very busy, nonetheless I can feel all of the seven bonds still intact, none should have perished during my absence.

I have sent you my actual coordinates, I'll be waiting for your arrival.]

Having ended his speech, Xeno quietly waited for Vix to assimilate such information and to reply him back.

[We understand and obey. However even if we proceed by marching with a rapid pace in a straight line, we'll need at least few days before arriving at such location.]

Xeno didn't really have any real urgency in seeing his servants, as he would probably end up busy with his other rewards of the trial. At least he hoped so.

[I do not see any problem in waiting a few days, dismissed.]

Then he suddenly stopped supplying energy to the genetic caller. Consequentially the hologram which it was projecting disappeared, the green light of the circular screen quickly dimmed out and finally even its core extinguished its last energies.

'Indeed, it is not called a one use tool for nothing. However even with such limitation, it was worth every single coin I paid for it. For emergencies such as this, it came quite in handy.'

Interrupting his train of thoughts, suddenly a small metallic figure appeared besides him. Well, small compered to the now much taller Xeno who more than doubled the 1.70 meters tall No.2345.

[Congratulations young Azoth! Such amazing transformation is indeed worthy of your species. However this is merely the tip of the iceberg, you are far from the average power your kin possessed. It is exactly there that the rest of the rewards of your challenges will pay off.

Your species in the past have developed two kind of powers originated from studies made on the nano-energy.

One of them concluded with the discovery of the awakening and of your second heart. They had artificially modified your species genes, giving birth to such occurrence. Thus the later generations were born with such an amazing organ.

The other one is related to the power of mutations, to actually meddle with the source of life. Through studies regarding DNA-intercalators type of molecules, they understood how to accurately guide genetic alterations.

However without a high enough density of nano-energy and the accurate studies on the subject, such feats are not possible.

Said so, I can offer you up to three different kind of rewards.

The first is both basic and more advanced knowledge about genetic studies and their relations with nano-energy. Plus I will give you an important specimen for your studies, in particular if you want to build up a proper hive.

The second one will grant you an a greater cultivation technique with a high affinity with your genes, that will help you in progressing through the energy tiers of your nano-heart. Yet you will be receiving only basic information about mutations.

The third one is rather bizarre and at the same time quite interesting, as it will allow you to pick up to three tools that are present inside of the outpost's treasury. However you won't be able to select them personally, but they will be chosen at random.

The choice is yours, young Azoth.]

The robotic lesser ended his speech, leaving Xeno with a lot of questions and a hard choice to make.

'What exactly is an iceberg anyway? Even more importantly, a hive?

Nonetheless I need to put such questions aside for now. This mutations related discipline greatly interests me, furthermore I have already seen what my TEF is capable of by myself.'

AN: By taking a more serious approach about his studies Xeno has decided to change the actual naming for his 'reproductive fluids'. As they are now called TEF, Transforming and Enslaving Factor.

[I choose the first option, I am confident in my conviction about the study of life, I will get to it till the end. Furthermore in the future I am quite sure that I won't lack the specimens to research with.]

Ending his quick speech with a small grin on his face, Xeno had inevitably answered of of the more pending doubts of No.2345.

'So you are that type of Azoth, the dangerous one. Am I doing the right thing right now? Wouldn't he put this outpost at a great risk once he leaves?

No, no, no! I cannot go back on my words now! I knew one day this was bound to happen, I must obey to my master words and help this young one in rising the Azoths to power once more!'

After a few seconds of silence, the expressionless face of the metallic alien didn't change one bit. Then it abruptly teleported the duo into another room, surprising Xeno for it not being once again a completely white rectangular chamber.

Compared to the building style he had seen until now didn't seem like much. The walls, ceiling and floor were made of a gray and ancient looking type of stone, which, however didn't seem as plain as it was radiating a strange blue halo.

On the contrary the overall setup was what really interested him.

It presented a very big desk on the north side, over it were presents a multitude of basic laboratory utensils, such as beakers, test tubes, a buret, various strange looking pipettes and other flasks of both cylindrical and conical shapes. All these instruments were perfectly clean and ready to use.

On the east side of the room there was a little bookshelf, or at least it resembled on, as it wasn't certainly holding books. In fact, inside of it were stored some discs like objects, they were completely made out of metal with strange looking patterns and a few buttons over their surface. Xeno couldn't precisely understand what could their use be for, yet he guessed that their function must be related to the conservation of knowledge. Maybe something similar to holographic books.

Near the library on the south side of the chamber, was present an artifact Xeno had immediately recognized, as he used a similar one to enter the dungeon. It was indeed a portal, he perceived their energy signature to correspond perfectly. Yet this one seemed quite different, it didn't have the stony and decadent appearance of the other. Furthermore it didn't seem to be currently operating, but rather in a stand-by status. It roughly had a semi circular shape, while it was made of a pitch dark metal that somehow resembled the 'living' outer walls of the outpost.

However what really puzzled Xeno the most was the west side of the place.