Bloody Odyssey-Chapter 35: Spraw Seed

Chapter 34

With blinding speed and ruthless precision, the parasitic seed burrowed through Zain’s flesh, navigating veins and tissue until it reached his heart.

There, it latched on like a living leech, tendrils sinking deep into the pulsing muscle.

Zain’s face drained of all color, turning ghostly pale as cold sweat beaded across his forehead.

Then, a gentle, almost mocking smirk spread across Dax’s lips. He released his grip, letting Zain crumple to the floor.

Cough! Cough!

Zain clutched at his throat, gasping for air that suddenly felt too thick to breathe.

"What... what did you do to me?" His voice came out ragged, almost ghostly, laced with raw panic.

In fury, he thrust his palm forward. A crackling thunderbolt erupted, streaking toward Dax with lethal intent.

Cain moved faster. The massive wyvern unfolded one enormous wing, intercepting the bolt effortlessly.

The lightning scattered harmlessly against scales now infused with an aura that carried the unmistakable weight of dominion—ancient, unyielding authority.

Zain spat venomously, "Curse you!"

Dax ignored the outburst entirely, his expression calm and detached.

"That seed will kill you the moment you speak of what happened today... or even think ill of me."

The words had barely left Dax’s mouth when Zain’s curses died mid-sentence. A strangled scream tore from his throat instead.

He doubled over, clutching his chest as searing agony ripped through him, dropping him to the ground in a writhing heap.

The sound—raw, desperate, broken—was music to Dax’s ears.

Zain forcibly lifted his head, saliva dripping from trembling lips.

"You... you don’t care that my screams might be heard? That someone could come running?"

Dax’s smirk deepened. "You needn’t worry about that."

From his storage space, he produced a small, palm-sized pyramid of dark crystal, its surfaces etched with faint, glowing runes.

"This artifact blocks all sound, energy, and presence from escaping these walls without my explicit permission. No one outside will ever know what transpires here."

He stepped closer, looming over the suffering man. "If you truly want the pain to stop, abandon every thought of revenge. Start by seeing me as your god."

The suggestion alone nearly shattered Zain’s pride. He opened his mouth to snarl defiance—then froze.

A new horror gripped him.

His body began to convulse. It felt as though millions of tiny worms were crawling beneath his skin, burrowing, biting, multiplying.

He clawed at his arms, his chest, his face.

"What is happening to me?!" Pure fear flooded his voice as he stared skyward, eyes wide with terror.

Death flashed before him—five times, ten times—visions of his own end looping mercilessly in his disintegrating mind.

Then, suddenly, a warm sensation bloomed at the base of his neck.

It spread slowly, soothingly, like liquid sunlight coursing through frozen veins. Clarity returned. The pain ebbed. His thoughts sharpened.

In that single breath, vitality surged through him—stronger, deeper than anything he had ever known. His left eye flickered. Then the right. Both shifted, pupils contracting before settling into an identical, unnatural silver hue.

Dax observed with clinical interest.

So his foresight affects both eyes? Fascinating. This is excellent data.

He had studied the initial stages of the spraw seed parasitic nature in the past, but never on a subject with Zain’s particular physiology.

The seed’s primary pathway was domination—absolute control by the host organism. But through Dax’s careful genetic modifications, it had inherited only half its mother’s predatory traits, creating something far more... versatile.

A burst of silver erupted from Zain’s back. Thread-like webs shot outward, weaving rapidly until they encased him completely in a shimmering cocoon.

The air grew heavy, charged with dangerous energy.

Moments later, the cocoon cracked. Then it exploded outward in a shockwave that rattled the walls.

Where Zain had knelt, a transformed man now stood.

From jaw to toes, his body was sheathed in sleek, form-fitting silver armor that seemed grown rather than worn—organic metal fused seamlessly to flesh.

His twin silver eyes blazed with newfound power.

He stared at his palms in disbelief, then clenched a fist.

Boom.

The air itself resonated as his punch collided with an invisible barrier, the impact echoing like a god’s hammer striking divine steel.

Only gods—or divine artifacts— grant powers.

Zain turned his glowing gaze to Dax, voice trembling with awe and lingering fear.

"What... what are you?"

He took a step forward, testing his new strength. "Are you truly the god you claim to be?"

Dax’s next words cut through the wonder like a blade.

"This is your punishment," he said coldly. "Your body has accepted the seed completely. The instant you reveal anything about today’s events—to anyone, in any way—you will die. Instantly."

Silence stretched between them.

Then Zain dropped to one knee, head bowed low. "I understand. Thank you... for your mercy."

Dax regarded him for a long moment, eyes unreadable.

"You may leave."

Zain rose swiftly, turning to depart without another word. As he walked away, a single thought burned in his mind:

This man is the devil.

Dax’s voice followed him, calm and commanding.

"One more thing. Report here tomorrow with the entire squad."

Zain stiffened.

"Yes, sir," he replied, the words tasting like ash. He had no choice.

As the door closed behind him, Dax turned back to Cain and Little Purple.

The wyverns watched him with fierce, loyal eyes, their transformed bodies radiating power that now mirrored his own.

He allowed himself a faint, satisfied smile.

Another piece had fallen perfectly into place.