Lunar Legacy: Rise Of The Beastlord
Chapter 143: Second Integration

Chapter 143: Second Integration

Back at the house, Jayden dressed with deliberate precision. The black joggers and sleeveless hoodie clung to his frame, the fabric whispering against his skin like a second shadow. He descended the stairs with quiet purpose, each step measured, his mind already churning with strategy.

The scent of breakfast hit him as he entered the kitchen... eggs fried to perfection, toast crisp and golden, the rich aroma of coffee steaming in a mug. It was a familiar comfort, one that grounded him even as his thoughts raced ahead. He ate in silence, the flavors barely registering as his focus sharpened like a blade being honed.

Mid-bite into his toast, his thoughts clicked into place... the Chthonix.

The beast had appeared in Ruby City. A neighbouring district not far from Emerald city.

The man from the wild-hunter documentary channel... the one talented in tracking rare, powerful beasts, was dropping his final episode tonight.

After that, every local and semi-pro beast hunter and would be rushing toward Ruby city’s forest to hunt down the beast and claim it as their prize.

Jayden couldn’t let that happen. He wanted the Chthonix energy. He needed it.

Finishing his meal, he placed the plate in the sink with a quiet clink and ascended the stairs once more, his strides long and purposeful. The house was still, the only sound the faint hum of the city waking beyond the walls.

His room welcomed him like a war room... sparse, efficient, every item placed with intent. He closed the door behind him, the latch clicking softly into place.

"Open the ’Beast Gene’ tab." he said softly.

With a soft chime, the system came to life, glowing a soft amber in his field of view.

<Beast Genes>

[Acquired Beast Genes (3):

1. Wolverine Stalker (E-Rank)

2. Serpenthis (D-Rank)

3. Earth Smasher (D-Rank)

*Integrated Beast Genes (1):

1. Wolverine Stalker:

-Current Rank: D

-Crystals required for next rank: [2/15]

-Ability: Invisibility

*Beast Gene Integration slots left: 3]

Jayden stared at the prompts, fingers brushing the air lightly as if touching a menu in a virtual dream. He was lost in thought, contemplating which beast gene to Integrate first.

"I could integrate both the Earth Smasher and Serpenthis beast genes, and still have one slot left for the Chthonix gene once I acquire it."

"Though I think it’s best if I integrate just one beast gene for now. But.. which one?" He exhaled, running a hand through his hair

Luna’s voice floated in, soft but precise. [If you’re thinking about going after a Chthonix, Jayden... you’ll need strength. You’ll need strategy. And you’ll need control]

Jayden raised a brow. "According to my research, the Chthonix can bury itself, camouflage into the ground. And it’s skin can resist poison."

Luna hummed. [If the beast can resist poison, then your poison secretion ability is useless against it. Which means it’s pointless to Integrate the Serpenthis gene at the moment]

Jayden nodded. "You’re right. And since there’s a high chance the beast might hide itself in the ground, the Earth Smasher abilities would be useful." he speculated, then paused, his mind calculating the odds.

After a while, Jayden nodded with an exhale. "Alright. Let’s do it..."

"...Integrate Earth Smasher Gene." he ordered.

[-100 Ep]

[Gene Integration Active: Earth Smasher]

[Gene Integration... 10%]

Jayden braced himself... but this time, there was no searing pain, no bones twisting beneath his skin. Instead, a deep, grounding warmth spread through his limbs, as if the earth itself were weaving into his flesh. His muscles grew denser, his stance firmer, as though roots were anchoring him to the very foundation of the world.

His vision blurred at the edges, the room tilting gently.

"Dammit... not again," he groaned, staggering backward.

The bed caught him as he collapsed, the ceiling above spinning into a slow, earthy vortex before darkness swallowed him whole.

.....

Jayden awoke hours later to the subtle hum of twilight outside his window. The room was bathed in deep purples and cool blues, the city beyond humming with the quiet energy of evening. Jayden blinked away the remnants of sleep, his mouth dry, his limbs heavy with newfound strength.

The system notification hovered in front of him like a congratulatory whisper.

[Gene Integration... 100%]

(Integration Complete)

[Earth Smasher Gene (D-Rank) has been successfully Integrated]

Jayden exhaled a deep breath, nodding slowly as he flexed his fingers. He could feel it.. the extra, grounded, immovable strength inside him. Not a wild rage like the Wolverine. This was different. This was... foundation.

He rose from the bed, his movements deliberate, and crossed to the window. Beyond the glass, Jade City glittered like a scattered constellation, and farther still, the faint red hue of Ruby City pulsed on the horizon.

"I’ll find you tomorrow," he murmured, his breath fogging the glass. "And I’ll be ready."

Luna’s voice was a quiet chime in his mind. [You remember its weakness, right?]

He nodded. "Sonic waves to disrupt it’s matter manipulation. And cold temperatures to prevent size manipulation... but this one’s E-rank. It doesn’t have the size manipulation ability yet, just matter.

"So I won’t be needing a cold gun." he added with a chuckle.

[Then focus your prep] Luna advised. [Don’t overcomplicate it. Your Earth Smasher powers will help anchor you if the terrain shifts. But the real challenge... is timing]

Jayden smiled slightly, that quiet, predatory smirk he wore when he knew he was close to something big. Something worthy of the story he was writing with every breath and every scar.

He walked out of the room and down for dinner, thoughts already racing through tactics and approaches. Sonic pulse grenades? He had already purchased a few online. A focused stealth approach? Probably the best, since he had invisibility powers.

He devoured his meal like a man charging up for war.

Later, as the stars blinked to life above the city, Jayden sat cross-legged in bed, hoverbike glove resting on the side-table, a silent promise of speed and escape.

Tomorrow he’d be the first one to reach the Chthonix.

And when he did... another piece of his legend would be carved in beastblood and stone.

....

The first hints of dawn had yet to bleed into the sky when Jayden’s eyes snapped open. The room was still shrouded in darkness, the city beyond his window silent save for the distant hum of late-night hover traffic. He didn’t linger.. every second counted.

He needed to be move quickly. The distance from Emerald to Ruby city was an estimated one hour thirty minute drive. Though Jayden was certain that his new hoverbike could cover the distance in lesser time.

In one fluid motion, he threw off the sheets and dressed with military precision: reinforced boots, black tactical pants, a fitted long-sleeve shirt that clung to his frame like a second skin. He strapped on his forearm guards, the material sleek and unyielding, before grabbing his hoverbike glove from the nightstand. The device hummed faintly as he slipped it on, its energy thrumming against his palm like a living thing.

No time for breakfast. No time for hesitation.

He was out the door in under a minute, the crisp pre-dawn air biting at his exposed skin as he stepped into the empty streets. With a stretch of his hands and the push of a button on his gloves, he summoned his hoverbike... a sleek, matte-black machine that materialized with a low, mechanical whine. The bike hovered inches above the ground, its repulsor engines glowing a faint blue in the dim light.

Jayden swung a leg over the seat, the familiar weight settling beneath him. He tapped the navigation interface on his wrist, inputting the coordinates for Ruby City.

The engines roared to life as he kicked off, the sudden acceleration pressing him back into the seat. The city blurred around him, neon signs and towering buildings melting into streaks of light as he shot through the empty streets. Within seconds, he was airborne, the bike’s repulsors carrying him over the rooftops and into the open sky.

Wind screamed past his ears as he leaned forward, urging more speed from the machine. The hoverbike responded instantly, its thrusters flaring as it cut through the atmosphere like a blade. Below, the landscape rushed by... sprawling urban districts giving way to rolling hills, then to the jagged outlines of the wilderness that separated Emerald from Ruby City.

Jayden’s grip tightened on the handles as he accelerated, moving faster towards his destination.