133 Python Chimeras (2/2)

Tai activated his chimera form, red scales covering his body. A demonic whip-like tail waved behind him, as did two dark purple bat wings. He examined his body carefully.

”Feel like a dragon yet?” Ed asked.

”More like a demon if anything.” Tai sighed while shaking his head. ”Why'd you end up using so much of the bat?”

”No choice.” He replied. ”Camazotz absorbed powers and stored them in his body. I don't know exactly how it worked, but that tail was connected to just about every organ and muscle in his body. It was a freaken nightmare recreating the work in your body.”

”I see.” He nodded while test shooting his tail out in different directions. ”I'll have to give it a try when I get the chance.”

”Alright.” Ed yawned. ”I'll go look at the brats now. They're in the ward, right?”

”Mm.” Tai nodded absentmindedly as he continued testing his new abilities.

Ed left the room, not wishing to bother him any further.

”Finally ready?!” Rubi questioned excitedly as she saw Ed exit the room.

”Mm.” He nodded. ”But don't get your hopes up. More likely than not, I can't save them.”

”I know, I know. Hurry up.” She urged as she walked ahead of him.

'Rubi really acts differently than I first expected.' He sighed to himself as he followed. He had expected her to be a crude barbarian, and in some ways, he was completely right. But at the same time, she was extremely caring and emotional. Frankly, she was the type of woman he disliked most. Strong and emotional, a winning combo for frequent violence.

Entering a wooden room with many white beds, there were only two patients inside. Haru and Hina were about as different as possible. One was a rich government official's granddaughter and looked rather ordinary. The other was a newly awakened esper with odd eye and hair color, and his fate had been stolen from him. But now, they were both unconscious victims of the larger powers that be, and it seemed their hope for survival was grim.

”Let's see...” Ed lazily took a look, not particularly caring whether he could save them or not. They weren't people he knew, and he didn't want to waste much time on them. ”Oh?” His eyes widened in surprise, a spark of interest appearing within them. 'Interesting. How the hell are they even still alive? Is it due to Camazotz's weird powers?'

Shockingly, both Hina and Haru only had half a mana-core each. Each half was made of a mix of white, yellow, and blue, indicating the light, earth, and water elements.

”They really should be dead already...” Ed muttered under his breath unconsciously.

”What?!” Rubi replied in shock.

”Ah.” Ed shook himself from his thoughts, remembering Rubi was still there. ”I've experimented on mana-cores a lot in the past. I'm probably one of the most experienced espers in that field in the entire world thanks to OP Baldy's support at the time. Mana-cores are extremely fragile things. A slight modification will easily shatter them, as will improper artificial growth or even a small crack. Amazingly, both of these kids only have half a mana-core.”

”Can you save them?” Rubi bit her lip in nervousness while rubbing her long spiky red hair.

”I doubt it.” Ed sighed while shaking his head. ”There is a very slight chance, but the odds are slim. Also, whichever one I operate on first is significantly more likely to die. Choose one.”

”What?” She replied in confusion.

”Choose.” He repeated while pointing at them. ”Haru or Hina. Which one is first and therefore, more likely to die?”

Rubi's body trembled as she nervously glanced back-and-forth between the two. Gritting her teeth, she mumbled. ”Hina first.”

”Hina?” He nodded. ”Funny, I figured you'd choose her 2nd since you have a little sister.”

”Haru is the bigger victim in this.” She sighed while shaking her head. ”After all, Hina's part of the family that caused this.” She left the room, unwilling to watch what was about to happen.

Now alone, Ed grinned. ”You hear that, Hina? She chose you first simply because of your birth. All of this despite you both being victims of the Prime Minister's trickery.” He sighed while shaking his head. ”Well, I'll try my best to save you, but we'll just have to see how things go.” He glanced at Haru. ”I wonder how the Haru feels about all this? Is he happy to know you might sacrifice yourself for him? Does he resent and blame you for his current situation? Or does he wish to be the hero and go first, but can't speak the works to let me know?”

Unbeknownst to Rubi, Ed had made a surprising discovery during his probes. Both Hina and Haru were actually conscious and could hear everything happening around them. Other than a healing esper, only Rubi had regularly visited this room during the past month, and who knows what she had said during that time. Though Ed had agreed to the deal to attempt healing them, he was still peeved over the initial attempt at force she had used. And so, this was his passive aggressive revenge. How great would it be if the children resented the woman that did everything she could to save them? How great would it be if he, the man that didn't even care about saving them was instead viewed as the good guy. Much like when he put on the mask of Forge, he reveled in this type of deceit. Granted, he had changed in recent times. He now truly valued Harmony and treated them well. Perhaps, deep down, he also wanted to help the kids, but there was just no ridding himself of his rotten personality entirely.

Getting to work, Ed pulled out a series of flasks containing various mana-powders he had collected from the pythons and other mutants the espers had killed over the last month. He easily turned off Hina's pain receptors and melted a hole in her head, exposing her half-formed mana-core to the world. It was even more unusual considering it looked like a mana-core that had been cut directly down the middle, as opposed to a mana-core that was simply too small.

'How am I even supposed to fix this?' He frowned as he examined the mana-core in more detail. It probably needs to match the original exactly, but I don't have access to the original...' He turned to look at Haru. 'Ah, that will work I suppose.' He pushed Haru's bed close to Hina's. Then he turned off Haru's pain receptors and melted a hole in his head as well.

'Yup.' Ed nodded to himself. Haru's half of the mana-core looked like the matching puzzle piece to Hina's half. He carefully loaded mana-powder into a needle-like syringe. Then he began injecting the powder onto Hina's mana-core, carefully matching the half that Haru had. Slowly, the mana-core grew larger and rounder. It was as if he was sculpting backwards, adding bits and pieces back into a perfect sphere as opposed to taking parts out. Or perhaps it was more similar to building a sand castle that quickly grew solid. Sweat covered his forehead as he continued, but his hands held steady.

After several hours, he sighed in relief as he finished the final step. But right at that moment, a strong blast of mana shot out from Hina's body.