บท 48: Chapter 48: Even Lyra's a Monster [1]

There were various changes that attributed to a Core implant, nearly 98% of the time. These changes could be physical, mental, or even, psychological. The changes were of a varietiy of different characteristics in the hosts, like change in the color of one's eyes, muscle expansion or contractions, skin tone, and in most cases, a shift in personality and behavior.

In some manner of speaking, a Core transplant into a host results in different levels of mutation in the body. Along with a drastic improvement and increase in their physical capabilities, some side effects may be adverse, subtle, and even advantageous.

This was one other reason why the surgical process required nothing short of surgical precision, in order to drastically reduce the chances of an adverse effect.

The resulting mutation, however, is also influenced by the host in person. Their blood work and constitution can affect the degree of mutation and changes that would take place after the implant and absorbtion of the new Mana in the body. This was why the Attunement level of the host must be high enough or be in line with the corresponding Core.

And in Lyra's case, she experienced a vast and wide variety of changes.

"Th...this is me?" The young lady couldn't help but mutter in utter astonishment as she gazed astoundingly at her reflection off the surface of a silver mirror.

Her skin was white and tender, present with the rosy hue of vitality, and her formerly azure eyes glowed like two big sapphire gems with an amethyst underglow in their depths. Her eyes were like a bright yet deep gradient of sapphire blue and amethyst violet that was akin to the gems of the corresponding colors.

Her black hair had grown more longer and lustrous. Her locks were thicker and darker, an ebony sheen that shimmered under the soft light like the distant forgotten night with moonlight and stars. The enthralling locks fell and cascaded down her back, ending in blueish violet tips of a vibrant shade that provided a rather marvelous contrast with her dark ebony locks.

The scars of her body had been healed and smoothed out, her muscles compressed and compact, rolling with hidden unassuming power. She had grown a few inches taller away from her previous 170cm, and climbing a new height of a 175cm. Her body was defined and proportionately balanced.

She was lean and muscular, yet curvy and endowed.

The compliment of her black hair and white skin, with frosted tips and sapphire eyes, endowed the young lady a breath taking charm and dazzling features. Lyra's looks hadn't been bad nor average before the transplant, and could even be considered quite beautiful in her own right, but that was where it stopped.

But it was different now. Lyra wasn't beautiful, she was stunning. Even amongst the standards of the current world, Lyra didn't fall short of other female knights with corresponding higher grade cores.

And most importantly, she felt inexplicable power surge through her body. A feeling unlike any other she had ever felt before. It was undiscibable, it was euphoric. It was Mana.

Her limbs pulsed with hidden power.

Lyra clenched and unclenched her fist, her expression was wistful and her eyes trembled faintly.

"Are you saying... I'm a Knight now?" Said Lyra, turning her almost fleeting gaze to the professor who watched her with an almost indiscernible smile.

Maintaining the same smile, Hathaway nodded.

"Technically, yes."

Knights were the savior and warrior of humanity, but overtime those who found manners of transplanting cores into their bodies but had no particular intention to fight for their race came along.

They possessed the bodies and abilities of Knights, but they were driven by their selfish interests and goals, and as such weren't considered 'Knights' by the government authorities or people.

It was kind of like being registered, and unregistered.

"I see." Lyra slowly nodded in understanding. She had a Core now, but she wasn't an actual Knight. Not as long as she wasn't registered and recognized by the authorities. She was a Rogue, and would be detained by the authorities if she were caught.

But to Lyra that didn't matter.

She was a Knight now, wether she were legal or not, she finally had power. She was a step closer to her seemingly impossible dream.

She could avenge her parents and family. She could make the Elder Gods pay. With the power coursing through her, she could feel it.

Lyra had struggled since she was little to make a living ever since her mother and father died on a scouting job beyond the walls. Ever since she swore she would get stronger and avenge her parents; she would destroy every single Elder God there possibly could. And the only way she could was to get stronger. She had to get a Core and become a Knight.

But a miserable orphan like her couldn't afford the resources. A lifetime wouldn't even suffice. That was why she struggled in between various types of jobs, and ultimately ended up venturing outside the Walls as a Hunter, all to scrape whatever little she could to buy a core in the future.

But as if all of her efforts and struggle so far had been unnecessary, she already obtained a Core and became a Knight without even knowing.

That easy.

"But how? I-i don't get it?" She stuttered.

What could possibly had happened while she was out? She couldn't afford the resources to becoming a Knight, if Hathaway were to ask for compensation, how would she react to that? She wasn't scammed or duped, was she?

Hathaway shook his head sideways and laughed mildly as if he could read her thoughts.

"It is fine, young miss. You have no need to worry about compensating me. I have only done my part, and besides, working on an Organic transplant was reward enough. I dare say, you might be my finest piece ever! " The middle-aged professor exclaimed and adjusted his glasses.

Hathaway wasn't exaggerating. Even for someone like him, he hadn't worked with Organic Cores enough, especially those of such High standards as the one Huey brought back — a Core from a quasi-evolved Elder God.

The Surgical process had provided him with major insights and vast experience in a single session that he would have in months of studying the Core. And Lyra's 'special circumstances ' and make up when she arrived was an intrigue.

'It appears due to what happened to her before, she developed an insanely high level of Attunement and has an unprecedented harmony with the Core. It is at such a level it is baffling and impossible. If this young lady was offered enough time, she could perhaps be 'Hero' rank, ' mused Hathaway, silently.

That was why Lyra experienced far more physical changes than in most cases. The most common and notable shifts in appearance after an implant is for the corresponding Knight is to have bright different shades of blue eyes, most commonly, Azure. The same did apply to Lyra; her previously azure eyes took on a bright sapphire blue, but the touch of violet amethyst was unprecedented.

Perhaps it was another influence or side effect from using the organic Core of a quasi-evolved Elder God, Hathaway silently thought.

But appearance wasn't where it stopped.

Lyra's organic Core already gave her an indescribable advantage over many other Knights, and even more so considering where the Core came from.

A Knight's capabilities and extent of the potential is derived from the grade of their core and the level of Attunement between the host and the core. A Core may be high grade and of high quality, but if the aspiring knights possess a contrasting Attunement rate, their potential will be greatly limited, considering if the person doesn't die first and survive the process to begin with.

In simpler words, high Attunement plus, high Core, equals immense potential.

Alas it was also possible to raise one's Attunement rate over time, but this was long term and wasn't certain. In the end only one's prior Attunement really matters.

And Lyra had an Attunement rate of far exceeding 86%. That was a ratio that could correspond to about any Core grade developed. It meant, she could use any Core and still be considered quite powerful and talented.

Her previous predicament, with the rampaging energy caused by Huey's influence and interference in tempering her body, was the true cause of her current potential.

'What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger, huh. ' Hathaway wistfully mused, imagining the extent and capabilities in the future Lyra would be able to explore.

But he still had his reservations. An Organic Core was a risky matter; as much power as it could give a person, the dangerous a negative effect it could bestow.

Perhaps it wasn't physical or projected in her appearance, but Hathaway believed there was most certainly a negative side to Lyra's mutation.

He was even more sure of this considering her Attunement rate and revealed potential.

"You really do not feel strange or odd in any sort of manner?" He asked again, for the umpteenth time and Lyra's brows knit lightly as she sighed exasperatedly.

"You keep asking the same thing, Professor, and I've already said there's nothing wrong with me. None that I have noticed aside from finding my new body a bit strange." Lyra almost whined and Hathaway went into thought.

Seeing that the Professor wasn't buying it, she decided to change the question. There were a lot of things concerning her current situation she needed answer to.

She snuck a side glance at the figure of the silver haired lady who still hadn't said a single thing since she arrived, frowned, then turned back to Hathaway.

"I need you to explain to me everything that happened since I passed out. Where's Huey, how I ended up here, how I'm suddenly a Knight... everything."Lyra's gaze were firm with a solid glow in her blueish-violet eyes.

Hathaway nodded then sat straight up. He turned his head to the side and gestured to the silently seated figure of Tyla who's cold deamen remained piercing and aloof.

Then he suggested mildly.

"Then I believe she would be best for the job."

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Permit the info dumps in this chapter please ಥ⁠‿⁠ಥ, and I know it has been slow since the previous chapter, but this is necessary, so please bear with me until Huey gets back.

Thank you for reading, and please help me out with some power stones, if you've enjoyed ur read up until now.