Kapitel 13: Questions

"So, Gamma, I've been meaning to ask. What exactly are you?"

I was laying on my bed in my dorm room. I'd just showered and finished healing from my battle earlier.

[What do you mean, Mars? I'm me.]

"Yeah, but come on, you know what I mean. Like, you showed up out of the blue when I died and gave me all these crazy powers. What's the deal?"

I really was curious. Ever since Gamma had joined me, I hadn't really questioned her at all. She gave me strange abilities and yelled at me all day, but things had been so hectic that I hadn't even stopped to think about what she really was.

[Well, Mars, I suppose we can go over this again. I am the Genetic Alteration and Modification Mechanical Aid, or, put more simply, the "Zombie System". I exist to, first and foremost, transform you into a Zombie for the sake of preserving your life as well as my own. My secondary function is to assist you in your growth and the proliferation of the Zombie curse.]

"Woah, hold on, you never mentioned that second half,"

I said as I sat up quickly.

"Proliferation of the zombie curse? what the hell does that mean?"

I hit my fist into my palm.

"Oh! No way! Can I turn people into zombies by biting them like in the movies? Badass..."

[Yes, Mars. Eventually, upon gaining sufficient strength and awakening the potential of the pure curse you possess, you will be able to pass on a lesser increment of the curse to others, transforming them into zombies. However, they will not be like you. They will be more how you perceived zombies before, mindless, rotting, and craving flesh.]

Woah... hold on, am I gonna start a zombie apocalypse?

Well, I had other questions, too. Now that I'd started to think about it, my brain was going crazy with new ones.

"Gamma, you said that zombies aren't the only creatures that exist. I mean, like other things I've read in books and seen on TV. What else is there? Is there someone else out there who's a werewolf or something?"

Gamma didn't respond for a moment.

"You there?"

[Ahem. Yes. Well, I'm not sure, Mars. My information on the subject is limited.]

Well, that's a boring answer!

"And one last thing. Where'd you come from exactly? You sound kind of human, so what's up with that?"

Once again, Gamma was quiet for a while.

"Are you experiencing lag or something..?"

She still didn't answer.

"Fine, be that way. I'm gonna go meet with Kaiden. He said he wants me to finally be introduced to the other students."

[Mars.]

Oh, so now you decide to talk!

[I can't remember.]

"What?"

[I don't know. I can't remember where I was before merging with you. I just know of my directive. I'm sorry.]

Uh... does she sound sad? Can machines be sad? What the hell?

"There there... little robot..."

I pat myself on the shoulder and tried to comfort her awkwardly.

[You should never be a therapist, Mars.]

I wasn't planning on it!

Anyway, now that I'd fully recovered and gotten some R&R, it was time to meet the students. Nice! Friends! That was something I'd never experienced!

Will I get to have the traditional school life now? Hear drama between companions, get a girlfriend, et cetera et cetera? Woohoo!

I was surprisingly excited to start group training and classes.

However, when I arrived to the training ground, everybody froze. Kaiden was giving some instruction and turned when he saw me.

"Alright, Mars, we've evaluated your ability, so it's time to start group training in preparation for a mission. I'll now ask you to introduce yourself and describe your ability. Everyone else will do the same."

Sure! Sounds good! I walked into the center of the room with a toothy smile and waved to everyone.

"Hello! I'm Mars! I'm halfway immortal and I gain power by eating people!"

Nobody said anything. Actually, um... they looked kind of creeped out?

Kaiden nudged me a bit.

"I let them watch you feed. It's good for them to get acclimated to your nature early on so that it doesn't compromise teamwork during a mission, but they're still kind of on edge about it. After all, most of them have yet to see an actual battle, let alone cannibalism,"

He whispered lightly.

Damn... so that was the case, huh... guess I'll just have to lay on my famous charm! However, Kaiden started asking the others to introduce themselves and their abilities. He explained that this group of five would be part of my 'pod', a group with abilities that supplement each other and train together before ultimately going on missions as a group.

So... I was stuck with this five people for the near future, at least, it seems. I hope they aren't too lame.

First was a short girl with her hair in a ponytail. When Kaiden called on her, she quickly clasped her feet tight and shifted into a salute.

"Name! Kayla Moreau! Ability! Force emission! I can send shockwaves out from my body!"

Kaiden nodded.

"Thank you, Kayla. Next"

The next student was a scruffy but tall boy. He saluted as well, but spoke much more casually.

"My name is Baron Stroheim. I can temporarily enhance my body to make myself quite strong."

Kaiden simply nodded again and called to the next student.

Another boy, this one very proper looking, with a buzz cut and a clearly well-ironed suit.

"Gordon Wallace. I have a room."

...What? The hell did that mean? I looked over at Kaiden who sighed.

"Please explain a little further, Gordon. Your new ally hasn't witnessed your ability."

The kid named Gordon nodded.

"I can create rifts into a pocket dimension. It's just where I sleep, usually, but it can be useful for combat."

This kid seemed so unserious! Geez! Match your appearance!

The second to last kid was another girl. This one was, um... she was quite pretty, to be honest. Geez...

"I'm Elena Margolis. I can fire beams of energy from my body."

She crossed her arms and looked at me with disgust. Haha, I think she likes me.

And finally, there was a tiny looking boy, who was hunched over on the ground.

"Hey, is he, uhm... okay?"

I pointed towards him and asked Kaiden.

"He's fine. He doesn't move much. The side effect of his ability is perpetual pain. However, his ability is quite strong. David, would you demonstrate for us? Use the training dummy towards the back of the room."

The kid named David didn't respond. Instead, he closed his eyes. I looked at the dummy in anticipation, waiting for something to happen. But... nothing?

"Hey, you sure he's not broken?"

Just as I asked Kaiden, I could feel some wind hitting my face. I looked back over to the dummy. Surrounding it was what looked like a circular wall of light.

What's happening? The wind in the room got stronger, and eventually, I had to cover my eyes a little. Peering through my fingers, I tried to get a look at what was happening. The light was getting brighter and more condensed, closing in around the dummy, rotating, faster and faster.

It kept speeding up until eventually it completely closed in on itself before dissipating. When the light cleared, nothing was left where the dummy was.

I gasped.

"Is his ability a goddamned orbital strike?!"

Mars' status:

[Name: Mars Valentine]

[Level: 5]

[Race: Zombie]

[Mutation Points: 6]

[Skill Points: 2]

[Skills:

Immortality (MAX):

*PASSIVE*

Bearer is effectively immortal so long as brain remains intact. Bearer will not age and all injuries will be healed rapidly.

NOTE: If bearer does not consume human flesh regularly, the effects of {Immortality (MAX} will be diminished, reducing healing capabilities of the skill.

Pain Tolerance(LVL 1):

*PASSIVE*

Increases bearer's tolerance to pain.

Mana Drain (LVL 1):

*PASSIVE*

Through consuming human flesh, bearer can harvest the mana within it and increase his capabilities with mana-required skills as well as increase his physical capabilities.

Charged Fingers (LVL 1):

*ACTIVE*

Electricity will run between the bearers fingers, electrifying anything touched by them.]

[Energy Absorption (LVL 1):

*PASSIVE*

Allows the bearer's body to absorb the raw energy floating around in the air and earth, allowing cells to generate MIATP (Mana-Influenced Adenosine Triphosphate), effectively allowing the bearer's cells to generate mana on their own as long as there is an abundance of magic energy freely flowing throughout the area in which the bearer occupies.]

[Mutations:

Hunting Claws: Allows the bearer to grow retractable claws under his nails. 4 inches long and as sharp. 0.1 mm wide edges.

Condensed Muscles: +1 Strength. Causes bearers muscles to remain more compact while becoming stronger.]

[Ability: N/A]

[Curses:

Zombified:

Bearer has been affected by a strange and ancient pathogen. No longer requires sleep. Buffs to all stats. After going long enough without eating, bearer will turn into an insatiable killing machine, out to consume human flesh.

G.A.M.M.A.: The incredible and powerful system known as G.A.M.M.A. has granted pity on the pathetic bearer and granted him new life as a zombie. G.A.M.M.A. is amazing, beautiful, and all around the greatest creation the universe has produced.]

[Capabilities:

Strength: 16(+1)

Agility: 11(+1)

Endurance: 8(+1)

Intelligence: 8(+1)

Mana: 19

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