Chapitre 114: New Powers
As Shino's teeth sank into Yakumo's tender neck, an unknown essence surged into his mouth, enveloping his senses in a cool wave that cascaded down his throat, permeating every fiber of his being, even reaching the depths of his soul.
This soothing, icy sensation ignited an unprecedented surge of adrenaline, flooding Shino's body with a euphoria he had never before experienced. It was as though an insatiable hunger that had long yearned for sustenance had finally found its satiation.
Lost in this intoxicating pleasure, Shino slipped into a trance-like state, his bites growing more fervent upon the young woman's neck, while his hands wandered instinctively, surrendering to the ecstasy of the moment.
Meanwhile, Yakumo, ensnared within Shino's malevolent grasp, suffered a far graver fate. As Shino feasted upon her neck, her body trembled due to the pain while faint echoes of agonized screams reverberated within Shino's mind, as if the dormant monster imprisoned within her was pleading for mercy.
Not only that, Yakumo's youthful form slowly withered, visible to the naked eyes, a terrifying transformation visible to all. Her once supple features sagged and sunk, an undeniable testament to the draining of her blood and essence, voraciously devoured by the insatiably greedy Shino.
Has Shino finally fallen so low to engage in cannibalism? Oh, but this was no act of cannibalism. It was one of the newly acquired abilities bestowed upon Shino after merging with Karina's bloodline.
Karina possessed a unique gift - a restorative ability that facilitated the recovery of others through the biting of her flesh. Her talent transcended mere healing, encompassing the restoration of stamina, physical wounds, and even spiritual power.
However, the fusion of Shino's Zerg lineage with the Uzumaki bloodline birthed a mutation.
Instead of bestowing aid upon others, his ability veered towards the opposite end of the spectrum – depriving others!
The once vibrant healing force has transformed into a malevolent force capable of sapping the stamina, blood, spiritual power, and even genetic material of those he touched. Moreover, the drained essence seamlessly fused with Shino's own, theoretically granting him the abilities of his victims, provided he consumed them entirely.
Of course, this power was not an instant and overwhelming deprivation. Otherwise, it would be an overpowered cheat and Shino would have emerged as an unstoppable force, wreaking havoc upon the world, becoming an overpowered protagonist of a pure face-slap story.
Instead, his ability had restrictions. First, it required chakra to activate and physical contact to initiate. Plus, the deprivation process was slow through mere touch alone, rendering it ineffective unless the contact was prolonged.
However, biting intensified the rate of deprivation, akin to devouring his prey.
It was unknown why, but biting proved more potent than mere touch, perhaps influenced by Karin's original experience of being bitten relentlessly. Shino had now become the opposite, sinking his teeth into others instead.
This alignment with the Zerg nature of devouring, rather than healing, was fitting, because his Zerg lineage undeniably dominated this mutation.
Naturally, this ability was confined solely to Shino's main body and it presented inherent risks should he seek to attain further power through it.
After all, the limits of the bloodlines his body could merge still remained shrouded in uncertainty, with the potential to cause his genetic structure to collapse. So, he must choose his bloodlines with caution.
Moreover, there existed the ever-looming peril of backlash from his victims, should they retaliate during the deprivation process. Naturally, there must be methods to suppress them before the devouring process.
But now, with meticulous preparations in place, Shino could finally savor his inaugural feast, an initial test of this newfound power.
And inevitably, the victims of his ability would find themselves facing an inexorable descent into darkness, their fate sealed with a grim certainty.
[Shino! Wake up! Yakumo needs medical support or her life may end before you can completely deprive her bloodline limit!]
Karina's urgent but timely reminder shattered the veil of euphoria surrounding Shino, jolting him back to reality. His grip tightened on Yakumo, whose once youthful visage had transformed into that of a frail, emaciated patient.
Thankfully, Yakumo's life still clung on, sustained by the appendages affixed to her body and head, injecting vital nourishment to stave off her imminent demise.
Yet, the ultimate outcome remained uncertain, as her body continued its inexorable descent, gradually morphing into a desiccated shell, drained dry by Shino's insatiable appetite.
Shino's eyes narrowed with determination. He couldn't afford to falter at this critical juncture. Failure to consume enough of Yakumo's essence before her demise would mean losing out on acquiring her precious bloodline limit.
Harnessing his chakra with meticulous precision, a vibrant green aura enveloped the hand pressed against Yakumo's chest.
Unbeknownst to others, Shino had naturally mastered the art of medical ninjutsu. After all, his relentless pursuit of knowledge spanned across all disciplines, a means to augment his research. As long as his insect companions weren't involved, precise chakra manipulation posed no significant challenge to Shino, especially with Karina's invaluable aid.
The only hurdle lay in matching the specific chakra type. Yet, the evolutionary capacities of the Zerg were no mere jest, and Shino had acquired considerable talent in each elemental aspect, as well as Yin and Yang release, albeit not reaching its pinnacle grade.
Nonetheless, with his basic talent and mastery over his own chakra, he possessed sufficient expertise in basic medical ninjutsu, an ever-improving skillset bolstered by his constant assimilation of genetic material.
Through his mastery of this healing art, Shino kept Yakumo's flickering heart beating, even as he continued to drain her essence, his teeth clamped resolutely onto her neck, relishing the surge of power coursing from her body into his.
Simultaneously, zerg drones emerged from the earth, their mandibles releasing swarms of insects that affixed themselves to Shino's form, acting as living conduits, transferring their chakra to sustain his endeavors.
In the vicinity, Kurenai observed the scene, concealed trepidation clouding her gaze.
Yet, she soon bowed her head, resuming her meticulous etching of sealing symbols upon the floor of the biosphere - a vital preparation for the subsequent stages of their plan. As for Yakumo, she understood that her survival hinged on Shino and Karina. She can only place her trust in them and hope Yakumo was strong enough to survive.
The length of Shino's indulgence remained a mystery, as all feasts eventually meet their end.
As he consumed yet another surge of essence, a mysterious sensation permeated his pulsating body and soul. A wave of drowsiness washed over him, signaling the fulfillment of his insatiable hunger and impending evolution.
[My dear, it appears that the deprivation process is complete. Phase two of the upgrade plan is now underway…]
Karina's voice resonated in Shino's mind, carrying a tone of anticipation.
Releasing the desiccated, corpse-like figure from his grasp, Shino gently lowered her to the ground.
In close proximity, a grotesque larva emerged, its shell cracking open to reveal an abyssal darkness, eagerly awaiting his embrace. This chamber wasn't an upgrade chamber - it only served as his protective shell, modified with appendages to provide him with the necessary biomass during his slumber.
Casting one final glance at the young lady who had lost all semblance of beauty, Shino stepped into the awaiting larva. As the shell sealed around him, he issued his parting command, "I'll leave things here to both of you, Karina, Kurenai."
[Affirmative, Shino. Take care and see you in a while, my dear.]
Karina responded, her voice filled with unwavering loyalty.
With Shino's departure, Kurenai's anxieties came rushing to the forefront as she hastened to the frail form lying on the ground. "Yakumo!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with concern.
Gently touching Yakumo, Kurenai's red eyes trembled as she cautiously searched for signs of life. Upon confirming that the young woman still breathed, Kurenai breathed a sigh of relief. However, her worries were etched on her face as she observed the drained figure before her.
Meanwhile, a transport drone emerged from the earth nearby, its gaping maw opened, allowing Karina's main body to step into the biosphere. With measured steps, Karina approached and knelt beside Kurenai, producing medical supplies to assess Yakumo's condition.
"How is she?" Kurenai inquired calmly, though her underlying apprehension was palpable.
"Physically, she's depleted of nutrients and blood. At this stage, even a skilled ninja would perish. However, thanks to our Zerg biotech, her life is preserved. If there are no accidents, her physical body can be restored without issue, and perhaps even her physical deficiencies may also be resolved. The spiritual aspect, on the other hand… is another issue and she will have to recover on her own," Karina replied, her hands emitting a soothing green glow as she skillfully attended to Yakumo's well-being.
Kurenai nodded silently, her gaze fixed upon Yakumo, her fists clenched.
Observing Kurenai's silent demeanor, Karina clicked her tongue disapprovingly before adopting a solemn tone. "Sister Kurenai, don't linger here. Your assistance would be of limited use here. Instead, go complete your assigned task and set up the necessary seals to prevent any untoward incidents."
Hearing Karina's words, Kurenai sighed, her voice filled with concern. "Please take care of her."
"Rest assured, you can trust me. My talent in medical ninjutsu surpasses even Shino's," Karina declared with unwavering confidence. "Oh, but don't tell my dear I said that. Let's keep that little secret between us."
Kurenai nodded, casting one final glance at Yakumo before calmly departing, resuming her mission of inscribing seals.
Time elapsed in silence as the two striking women fulfilled their respective duties. One diligently completed the seal inscriptions within the biosphere for a second time, while the other guided the mummified figure back to her beautiful youthful appearance.
With the fulfillment of their tasks, the larva within the biosphere quivered ever so slightly, signaling their master's awakening.
Simultaneously, both beauties became vigilant as an air of horror emanated from the larva, as if a powerful and terrifying entity stirred alongside their master.
Was this a birth of new powers? Or was it the birth of a disaster?
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone