Healing System

"Answer me this..." Michael muttered. "Did you eat some kind of green chocolate bar on the spaceship, perchance?"

Arthur didn't answer. Instead, he kept on walking toward Michael, yet his steps were slow—extremely slow.

Michael didn't feel like he was in danger since Arthur was literally not letting out even a single bit of mana. However, the sheer fact that he was green slightly startled him.

Nonetheless, he proceeded to meet Arthur halfway, and the moment he did, Michael stared into his eyes.

They weren't blank or anything. It just simply seemed like he had seen some fucked up shit up there.

"You good?" Michael asked.

Arthur sighed and slowly nodded. "I'm afraid not. I need a heal, and I need it fast."

"Why?" Michael tilted his head. "Are you poisoned?"

"I don't know..." Arthur shook his head, clearly a little embarrassed. "I might've eaten some kind of salad up there... I thought it was fine since it was green... you know, like a normal salad? But it wasn't, and my gut feels like it's about to explode."

"Damn, that sucks for you, I guess." Michael shrugged. "But I wonder... who was it that left me on the ground while they flew up? Hmm... I wonder who it was?"

"Fine..." Arthur grumbled. "My bad. I wanted to deal with it fast since bringing you along would've only slowed me down."

"Ouch?" Michael chuckled. "And yet now you're looking for my help. Maybe if you had eaten that salad in front of me, then you would've not faced any troubles."

"Yep, maybe," Arthur replied flatly. "Now can you heal me?"

Michael nodded. "On one condition. Tell me everything you saw up there."

"Only that? Sure. But you need to heal me first, then I'll tell you," Arthur bargained.

However, Michael wasn't buying it. "Considering you're walking as if you're about to shit yourself, I'll wait until you finish the story. Only then will I heal you."

"But what if I fucking die from this salad? Huh?" Arthur shot back, but Michael merely shrugged.

"If you die, you die. Just talk faster then."

"Fine... fuck you." Arthur took a deep breath. "It seems like they're oddly similar to my species. It's like a chimera between the Klaxians, Angels, and even Demons. They're not strong since they still seem to be in the experimental stages. However, I could tell that the DNA they used definitely belonged to one of the people who had been in the village which I lived in for a brief moment."

"The same one that burnt down?" Michael chimed in.

"That one." Arthur nodded. "I didn't know the person personally. Frankly, I don't even remember my parents' names."

"Bullshit." Michael scoffed. "You said you're the smartest species in the universe, and yet you can't remember the names of those close to you? Maybe you really are a fish."

Arthur's brow twitched. "It's not something I can control. Our species has the function of forgetting those you care about so you never grow attached to them. It works like a charm, but it sadly doesn't work on anyone aside from the Klaxians. It's a big handicap emotionally. However, I personally don't mind. I don't even think my parents remembered me by the time I came of age."

"That sounds pretty glum," Michael remarked. "Have you ever thought of breaking this curse of yours?"

"Curse?" Arthur tilted his head. "This is not a curse. As I said, it's a special species effect of mine. I can't do anything about it."

"Chimeras exist, and naturally, there are some which are directly made from the source," Michael stated. "For example, someone performs a surgery on an alive angel, turning them into a demon hybrid. They take on the effects of both races. So why can't you?"

A frown appeared on Arthur's face. "Are you suggesting I abandon my race?"

"I'm just saying it might be better if you decide to remove that debuff by genetically modifying yourself," Michael replied plainly. "But alas, you're a stupid fish who's content with living in the past. No wonder you're so weak."

"Watch your mouth..." Arthur said coldly. "I might not want change, but that doesn't mean I'm weak. I don't even see a difference between having and not having those memories."

"And you never wanted to imagine what it was like to be with your parents? Actual loving parents?" Michael asked. "I personally would've tried something, but then again... never mind. Just finish your story."

Arthur scoffed. "The monsters up there seemed a bit more developed than the ones down here. Obviously, strength-wise, they're not much, but their intelligence was pretty fearsome. Definitely a trait they acquired from my race."

"Mhm." Michael ignored the bragging and continued listening.

"I attempted to question them. However, one killed himself, and the other turned into a regular black monster, just like what was down here earlier. Frankly, I don't know what they're hiding, but I would bet it's something important."

"It definitely sounds like it would be important," Michael remarked. "So one killed himself, and the other switched forms to a normal monster of this weird chimera species. Then tell me, did you kill him?"

"Of course." Arthur nodded. "I made sure to eradicate every last fiber of its existence. I went around destroying the inner parts of the ship as well, so there's nothing to worry about."

"You say that, but..." Michael trailed off, pointing toward the ground in the distance. "That wriggling slime doesn't happen to be the one you killed, right?"

"Hm?" Arthur turned his gaze to where Michael was pointing, and with a massive frown, began walking toward that monster.

Michael followed closely, making sure to not step on any of the traps that had been embedded into the ground.

And after just a few moments, they arrived.

"Well, shitgobbler, mind introducing yourself?" Arthur said, kicking the slime.

In the meantime, Michael decided to finally cast a purify on Arthur and, just in case, a few extra heals.

It wasn't much, and it didn't drain his mana in the slightest. But it did more than heal Arthur, as his skin practically began glowing.

On the other hand, the monster down below seemed to shrivel up, almost like it was afraid.

And of course, that was likely the case.

"How dare you impersonate my species?" Arthur said coldly. "You're nothing but a DNA-stealing rat. Tell me, how did you do it? Did they help you gain our DNA? Or were your leaders the ones responsible for massacring us?"

The monster obviously didn't reply. It had no mouth, and it was just one black sludge that kept crawling away further and further.

However, Michael suddenly had an idea, so he pushed Arthur to the side and put the slime inside a small translucent golden box.

"What are you doing?" Arthur asked, puzzled. "Are you trying to free it or something? End its suffering? It's not worth it, you know?"

"I'm not... watch this," Michael replied, and in the very next moment, the golden cube expanded, taking the shape of a humanoid body.

And of course, the slime took the place of the humanoid body's head.

Michael swiftly gave it a nervous system, the necessary organs, and of course, the basic stuff any normal human would need.

And finally, he disconnected his mana from the construct, making the translucent self vanish.

It was replaced by a body that looked nearly identical to Michael. However, from the small amount of mana he felt, it was definitely not something with his consciousness.

Instead, it was that sludge monster, whose slime began traveling down the construct's body, taking it over until eventually, it turned completely black.

Then, the slime monster looked at its hand, its face showing a hint of shock as it turned toward Michael.

"Angel, you were the one responsible for this?" the monster asked.

"Your speech still seems a little fucked, but it's a start." Michael nodded. "And yes, I was the one who made your current form."

A smile beamed on the monster's face, but it was soon interrupted by a powerful punch by none other than Arthur himself.

"You sack of shit. I need an explanation on what you're doing with the genes of my race," Arthur stated, giving no room for rejection.

Yet the monster merely stared between Arthur and Michael for a few moments before letting out a sigh.

"I'm not responsible for the doings of the higher-ups. I simply followed their orders, just as I've done for the last several millennia," the monster replied. "Your DNA was compiled from a deserter camp not too far away from here. And from what I can tell, you're also a Klaxian? A half-breed at that. Impressive."

The moment the monster finished speaking, Arthur delivered a fierce punch straight at its face, caving it in.

It didn't die. However, the construct body was obviously damaged, and Michael went over to swiftly repair it.

Then, he flashed a glance at Arthur, whose hands were slightly trembling.

And he couldn't help but point out the single thing he heard.

"You're a half-breed?"