Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Immense Potential
"John, I'm fine. Really, I feel much better," Reina said, her voice steady but laced with concern.
"Lie still and keep quiet. Remember what happened the last time someone said they were fine?" John replied sternly, sitting by her bedside. His divine power flowed from his fingertips into her body, working tirelessly to repair the internal injuries caused by Sebastian's devastating attacks.
On the battlefield, John had only managed to stabilize Reina's injuries, buying her time. But now, the delicate work of fully healing her required his complete focus. Sweat beaded on his forehead, his exertion evident.
"That's a memory I'd rather forget," Reina muttered, her gaze softening as she watched John's efforts.
Two years ago, Reina had accidentally been pricked by a rusty nail during training. What began as a minor wound spiraled into a life-threatening infection. Medicine was scarce in the Voids, and John, still unaware of his divine potential back then, had been powerless to help. Just as desperation set in, Reina miraculously recovered overnight.
Reflecting on it now, they both suspected that her latent Inhuman genes had activated, saving her life.
"Alright," John said after what felt like hours. "I've cleansed your hidden wounds. You'll need rest to finish the recovery."
"Looks like you need it more than I do," Reina teased.
"She's not wrong," Ravion added, handing John a towel.
John chuckled, wiping his face. "I just pushed myself a little. Nothing a nap won't fix. Although," he added, eyeing the six small cubes Ravion held out to him, "a retreat might be more productive."
The cubes contained fragments of genetic material: Magneto's hair, Azazel's nails, White Queen's skin tissue, Riptide's bone fragments, Sebastian's skin, and a sample from the Hulk.
"For now," John said, placing the cubes carefully in a containment unit, "my breakfast belongs to Reina. She needs to recover." With that, he disappeared into his room to begin his retreat.
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An hour later, the door to John's room creaked open. Reina, enjoying a generous portion of steak, glanced up as he stepped out.
"I've reconsidered," John declared. "You can have an extra third of my meals."
In just an hour, John had analyzed Sebastian's genetic structure. The good news: copying Sebastian's mutation would enhance its capabilities rather than introduce instability. The bad news: even with divine power, fully integrating Sebastian's mutation would take at least eight months.
So, John began the painstaking process, using divine energy to expedite the fusion.
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Six months passed in the blink of an eye. John had finally copied Sebastian's mutant genes and entered the final fusion phase. Yet, an unexpected obstacle arose: Sebastian's energy-absorbing gene clashed with John's existing telepathic gene.
"How can this be?" John murmured, pacing his chamber. His telepathy and self-healing genes had coexisted without issue, so why the sudden incompatibility?
He thought of Emma Frost, the White Queen, who could switch between two mutant abilities but never use both simultaneously. Even Ravion required separate simulations to wield multiple powers.
"But that doesn't explain me!" John muttered. "Plenty of mutants have multiple powers, and my telepathy works perfectly alongside divine energy. What's different here?"
He attempted the fusion again and again, each time feeling his genetic structure strain under the pressure. Forcing the process would risk catastrophic failure.
"No," John resolved. "There has to be a way. Since Sebastian's mutation can be copied, it can be fused. I just need a catalyst."
He turned his attention to his divine power. If mutant genes didn't reject divine genes, perhaps divinity could act as a bridge.
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"Blessed be my efforts," John whispered, channeling his divine power into Sebastian's mutation. With meticulous precision, he began merging Sebastian's genes with a fragment of his divinity.
Months of experimentation finally bore fruit. By first fusing divine power with Sebastian's mutation, John created a hybrid gene that integrated seamlessly into his body.
When the process completed, John's body underwent a dramatic transformation. The cells imbued with Sebastian's mutation began rapidly absorbing energy—not just divine energy but all forms of energy.
"What's happening?" John muttered, alarmed as his reserves of divine power drained.
Then, a shift. His new cells started producing energy, replenishing his divine power at three times its previous rate.
"Is this… divine power feedback?" he wondered, marveling at the continuous flow of energy within him. He conjured lightning in his palm, which shifted seamlessly into flames before morphing into raw energy.
"This… this changes everything," John realized.
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Standing before a mirror, John smiled. His telepathy gave him unmatched mental prowess, his divine power fortified his body, and now Sebastian's mutation granted him the ability to absorb and wield any form of energy.
"I've accidentally given myself the potential to surpass the gods," John mused. "Maybe I should start calling myself a dimensional god."