Chapter 104. Body Modification
The Hyper Express grew to a suitable size.
Its side split open smoothly, and the exploration team’s monsters walked out.
［Father! I missed you!］
［We’re back, meow!］
Kinogine Arachne and Bastet Daong.
Behind them, the Necro Puppet Master and its puppets followed in a line.
［Dad…］
The Blood Jellyfish Princess was still too weak to move properly and was being carried by Arachne.
【Pururu】─Looks like the Princess is still not feeling well.
【Rise Nova】─Her complexion doesn’t look good.
【Bubble Bubble】─Well, she overexerted herself yesterday.
【Mysticism】─😭
【Yumi】─Oh? You’re back already? That was really fast!
Arachne carefully handed the Princess over to me.
“You did great, Princess.”
［Mmm… I worked hard…］
I held the Princess in my arms and carried her inside the crystal orb house.
After laying her down on a soft mattress, Melody Fox quietly followed me inside.
［Kkyuuu.］
“Are you here to take care of her?”
［Kyuaa.］
“Alright, I’ll leave her to you.”
［Kyukyu.］
After entrusting the care of the Princess to Melody Fox, I left the house and called the Hedgehog Summoner while drawing blood from Jafan.
“Hey, Hedgehog.”
［Doodoomba! You called for me, yes!］
“Could you do me a favor and periodically bring blood to the Princess inside? I think she needs to replenish it to regain her health.”
［Doomba! Leave it to me!］
The Hedgehog took the blood-filled bottle and balanced it on its head, trotting off towards the crystal orb house.
I reminded him not to give her too much blood at once.
Blood was the source of the Princess’s power and akin to a nutritional supplement, but giving her too much in her weakened state could have side effects.
I figured feeding her blood slowly over time would be the best course of treatment.
Meanwhile, Omega had come out of the Hyper Express and was greeting the other monsters.
［Greetings, I am Omega. Huh Huh.］
［Greetings. I am the Centaurides, the Explorer’s mating partner, and recently assigned as a helper with the Monster Guidebook work.］
［Greetings. I am Omega. Huh.］
［Sss…］
［Piii!］
Omega exchanged pleasantries with every monster, paying special attention to Snake Head.
［Ah, Snake Head is here too. Huh.］
“You know Snake Head?”
I slid over to Omega and asked.
Omega placed the machine parts she had brought on the ground and replied.
［I was inspired by that one when I created the Cyborg Dolphin. Huh Huh.］
Ah. So Snake Head was the model for the Cyborg Dolphin.
No wonder their overall structures looked somewhat similar.
［So, who’s getting their bodies modified? Huh?］
“Azeras and Jafan. You just greeted them, right?”
I wanted Azeras to get a new arm, and Jafan to get a new leg.
When I made the request, Omega nodded easily, as if it was a simple task.
［Understood. But before we begin, I’ll install a Warp Device here. Just in case we need extra parts during the procedure. I’ve brought most of the important ones, but you never know. If we’re interrupted mid-modification, it could disrupt the process. Huh Huh.］
“Go ahead. It’s not urgent, and installing the Warp Device doesn’t take much time anyway.”
Omega looked around, searching for a suitable spot to install the device.
After scanning the area, she pointed next to the crystal orb house.
［Would it be okay to install it there? I like that spot—it’s the exact center of this hollow. Huh.］
“Sure, no problem.”
［Great. Then I’ll get started. Pyo-ro-ring.］
With that, Omega began setting up the Warp Device right next to the crystal orb house.
***
Once the Warp Device was installed, it was finally time for the long-awaited body modifications.
Omega spread a large, white sheet on the ground.
The color suggested it was meant to function as a surgical table.
［Azeras. Jafan. Please lie down here. Huh Huh.］
Azeras laid down on the mat by herself.
Since Jafan couldn’t move, I gently lifted him and placed him down.
【Pururu】─Geon is insanely strong.
【Mysticism】─😮
【Yumi】─Of course he’s strong. He’s in his second-stage release right now.
【Bubble Bubble】─They’ll be shocked when they see Gauntlet’s full power.
“Hey! This looks fun! I wanna lie down next to them!”
“Merino, go away.”
“Wahhh…”
With a pout, Merino retreated into the crystal orb house.
［Jafan! I’m nervous!］
“Please… take care of me…”
Both Azeras and Jafan lay there, their faces tense with nervousness.
Omega approached them, her wire-like tail swaying.
［Who wants to go first? Huh?］
At Omega’s question,
Azeras stayed silent.
Jafan, without looking at anyone, subtly pointed at Azeras.
【Pururu】─LOL
【Mysticism】─🤭
【Rise Nova】─It seems Jafan is secretly a bit of a coward.
【Yumi】─He’s still a child, after all.
In the end, Azeras was the first to undergo the body modification.
［Very well… I shall begin the procedure. Pyo-ro-ro-ring.］
Next to the lying Azeras,
Omega knelt down and brought her wire-like tail to the front.
At the end of her tail, the spherical tip opened, revealing a variety of tools.
［Azeras. If you need anesthesia, let me know. Huh.］
“No, I… don’t need it.”
［Alright. Then I’ll proceed without anesthesia. Huh Huh.］
Thud!
A sharp tool roughly dug into the stump where Azeras’s arm had been severed.
Azeras let out a pained groan.
“Guh… I think I… need anesthesia after all…”
［…］
【Pururu】─Weak. LOL
【Mysticism】─Why pretend to be tough and refuse anesthesia in the first place? 🤭
【Yumi】─Even an SS-rank feels pain, huh?
【Bubble Bubble】─Of course they do.
【Rise Nova】─I didn’t know Azeras was such a whiner.
【Yumi】─It’s funny and kind of cute seeing a different side of her.
【Mysticism】─A new side of her! 😋
Omega stared coldly at Azeras and then inserted a giant syringe into the stump.
It was probably the anesthetic.
［For someone of your caliber, I have to use this special anesthetic I personally developed, in large doses. Huh Huh.］
As Omega pushed the plunger, the anesthetic flowed into Azeras’s body.
［Release all the forces surrounding your body. You need to be completely defenseless for the anesthesia to work effectively. Huh.］
“I… understand…”
［Oh, and one more thing—I’d like to remove those monstrous lumps on your head. Can I take them as samples? Huh.］
“…”
［If you don’t want me to, I won’t. Pyo-ro-tong.］
“If it’s possible… you can take them. But make sure… to use the anesthesia…”
Azeras agreed to have the monsters on her head removed as well.
Honestly, I was glad.
Those things weren’t exactly aesthetically pleasing.
Omega administered anesthesia to the lumps on Azeras’s head as well.
［Hmm. These lumps are quite tough. Removing them completely might be difficult. Huh Huh.］
Omega mentioned that any remaining lumps would be converted into mechanical components.
With that, she began the body modification in earnest.
***
One hour into the modification process,
“Guh…!”
［If I adjust this here…］
“Ugh! I think the anesthesia’s wearing off…!”
［It hasn’t. Huh Huh.］
About 90% of the lumps on Azeras’s head had been removed.
The remaining lumps, those that had merged with her brain and face, were transformed into metal by injecting an unknown black liquid.
Omega then spent quite some time working on the newly metallic parts.
【Mysticism】─😰
【Bubble Bubble】─I thought this would take forever, but judging by the pace, it looks like it’ll be done sooner than expected.
【Rise Nova】─Impressive. Even watching the process, I have no idea what’s being done.
【Pururu】─Ugh, it’s too gross for me to watch.
【Yumi】─Same here… it’s surprisingly brutal.
After some more time, the modification of Azeras’s face was complete.
The small metallic lumps had been shaved down smoothly.
Not just “not bad”—it looked great.
Where she had once had monster lumps dangling from her head, now it looked like she had a sleek, mechanical structure instead.
【Pururu】─Finally, her face is done.
【Yumi】─Her appearance has really improved. She’s beautiful.
【Mysticism】─She’s pretty! 😛
【Rise Nova】─
Now that I look closely, her hair seems much longer than when we first met her.
Next, the arm transplant began.
Omega anesthetized Azeras’s severed arms and inserted numerous wires into the stumps.
The wires were initially red, but they had turned green while Omega was working on Azeras’s head.
［This part will be quick. Huh Huh.］
Omega carefully connected the mechanical arms she had prepared.
Surprisingly, the arms didn’t look artificial at all.
Omega had scanned Azeras’s skin tone and created special leather to wrap around the mechanical arms, matching her skin color exactly.
As long as the leather didn’t peel off, no one would suspect that these were mechanical arms.
［The connection is complete. Now I just need to secure them in place. Pyo-ro-ring.］
After connecting the wires from the mechanical arms to the ones in Azeras’s stumps,
Omega tested the arms, gently moving them before pushing them firmly into place, ensuring a perfect fit.
She then attached the second arm in the same manner.
Finally, she painted the seams with flesh-colored paint and stood up.
Azeras raised her head slightly to look up at Omega.
“Is the modification… complete?”
［Yes. I’ll explain the arm functions after Jafan’s procedure is finished. Huh Huh.］
Relieved that the modification was finally over, Azeras sighed.
Next to her, Jafan trembled with fear.
［Jafaaaaan… It looked really painful… Can I just skip it…?］
［No. Huh Huh.］
【Pururu】─Why’s he so scared? Can machines feel pain?
【Yumi】─He’s still a monster, after all.
Omega moved over to Jafan, knelt down beside him, and immediately began the body modification.
［Jafaaaaan!!!］
With a scream that echoed throughout the hollow, a torrent of cola-like fluid burst out from Jafan’s lower body.