Chapter 295: A Partial Hybrid, Perhaps

Ethan nodded and chose not to push it any further. He expected that answer, but still just had to ask regardless.

He then turned to Wilson, waiting on a reply.

Wilson’s eyes stayed on the vial for a moment before he spoke. "What are the side effects?"

Percival let out a scoff and shook his head. "Of course you’d jump on that."

Wilson glanced at him briefly. "Your judgment is irrelevant to me.... Somehow you still fail to understand that this world does not reward mediocrity."

His eyes returned to Ethan. "If this will elevate me, then I’ll take it."

Ethan nodded

"But first, does it have side effects?" Wilson asked.

"Truthfully," Ethan began, "the only person I’ve tested it on was Eduardo. And His body rejected it almost immediately that he threw it up."

"Other than that... I don’t know yet. But I’m certain of one thing, It won’t kill you."

Wilson gave a nod. "So I’d be the first real test."

Ethan nodded back.

Wilson didn’t hesitate after that. "Okay."

He stepped forward, took one of the vials from Ethan’s hand, and observed it a bit more closely. "What next?"

Ethan answered. "Now... we’ll try it."

Percival let out a long sigh, already turning away. "Yeah, I’m out of this one."

Ethan looked at him. "Maybe consider it later?"

Percival didn’t even turn back. "Nah, man. I’m good."

And with that, he went in.

—

Much later...

Ethan and Wilson faced each other from few feet apart. They were both at the backyard.

Wilson rolled his shoulders. "I’m ready."

Ethan gave a nod, which was the go ahead signal for Wilson to take the serum.

He did as expected but after a few seconds of drinking, nothing exactly happened. Wilson stared at his arms and said, "I don’t feel anything"

Ethan narrowed his eyes, almost in surprise too as he waited for something.

"...So when exactly is this supposed to—"

Wilson’s sentence cut short that moment

His body jerked upwards, like something inside him had just clenched all at once.

He staggered, moving his hand to his chest, then his throat, then his arm, anywhere, as if he couldn’t decide where the pain was coming from.

His veins surged to the surface and crawled beneath his skin like it was alive. His muscles then spasmed, forcing him down to one knee. His teeth clenched so tight his jaw trembled.

Ethan didn’t move past his point or react. He simply stared with his narrowed eyes, catching every effect.

Wilson’s body folded inward, digging his fingers into the ground as though trying to steady himself.

Then, suddenly, with a scream, his head snapped upward, and his eyes glowed amber.

Dark veins stretched under them, branching down his face. His fangs pushed out, then another pair followed beside them.

And just as violently as it began, It stopped.

Wilson was going through a moment of heavy, uneven breaths as the tension released from his body.

He was still hunched for a second, trying to catch himself.

Ethan finally spoke. "So?"

Wilson let out a shaky breath, pushing himself upright slightly. "This feels—"

He paused. Then his gaze shifted, unfocused at first, then suddenly everything sharpened.

Everything looked clearer, almost as if distance compressed. He could hear things more exaggeratedly; leaves brushing, distant footsteps, even Ethan’s heartbeat sounding like a pounding drum in his head.

"My senses..." he muttered, almosy in disbelief. "Everything is... faster."

Then, his vision changed again, and now he could outline of Ethan’s skeleton, like an X-ray vision.

Wilson’s breath hitched as his vision twisted into what looked like an infrared overlay. He could instantly see the heat signatures radiating from Ethan, sensing them as mana.

But something about it didn’t make sense. It wasn’t just dense; it felt like staring into something without a bottom.

Wilson stumbled back instinctively, eyes widening so far they almost hurt. "What the hell—"

Ethan looked puzzled. "What?"

Wilson shut his eyes tight and forced it away. When he opened them again, the world changed back to normal.

"I can see through things," he said, still trying to ground himself. "And... your mana... it looks like it has no end."

Ethan gave a shrug. "That’s the Lebrante wolf trait. True sight."

"You’ll be able to see through structure and accurately measure the mana level of another."

Wilson nodded slowly, still processing. "So wait, just how much do you have? Even the Grand Class don’t have that much mana"

Ethan shook his head amusingly. "Don’t stress over it man, I’m curious to see other changes with you"

Wilson stared at him for a moment, the nodded. Deciding to let it go. Right after, His eyes glowed reddish-amber hue, then disappeared in a blur, raising a gust of wind and dust.

Almost in the same instant, he reappeared exactly where he stood before.

Wilson blinked a few times then smiled. "I’m faster."

Ethan nodded. "Le Gris Wolf speed."

Wilson raised his hand and his split slightly along the palm, just enough to let blood seep out.

It hovered for a second, then formed into suspended droplets that circled around him before gathering into a tighter sphere.

He watched it, looking rather fascinated.

"Vladimir blood manipulation," Ethan said with an approving nod.

Then Wilson’s body tensed again. His back arched slightly as something forced its way out.

Vampiric Wings.

It was dark edged, and faintly red beneath the surface.

Ethan said again calmly. Gerach."

Wilson held it for a moment before making the wings recede.

Then he began laughing, almost still in disbelief. "This is insane," he said, then repeated These changes are crazy insane."

Ethan watched him, sharing his joy for that split second before asking, "Anything else?"

Wilson paused, closed his eyes briefly. Then shook his head. "Other than the faster healing, there’s nothing else I can feel within."

Ethan nodded. "Four traits, then. Not perfect replication of her DNA, but that’s enough."

He studied him again, then asked out of curiosity, "Can you transform into a werewolf?"

He asked because he wanted to know how much of a hybrid Wilson was, or whether he could properly be referred to as one at all.

Eduardo could choose to transform into either a werewolf or a vampire.

Wilson held on. "A part of me feels like one thats sure, but I don’t know..."

"Give it a try then." Ethan encouraged.

Wilson nodded. His eyes took on an amber glow with veins returning underneath. The extra fangs came out again, but nothing beyond that. There was no full shift nor a complete transformation.

He exhaled and let it drop. "That’s all I can pull from it."

Ethan nodded. "Hm... I see. Now I’m unsure if your body’s innate biology as a vampire is why you can’t take a werewolf transformation, or if the wolf traits in the serum aren’t enough to make your body change."

Wilson gave light shrug.

Ethan glanced at him once more, then turned slightly. "Well, I’d like to see how you’d do against another S-tier... but another time."

He motioned his head back toward the house. "Let’s go."

Wilson straightened, still adjusting to changes.

Then followed.

—-

A/N:

-Full Trait List & The 14 familes have been posted On Discord

-Beilong’s Dragon Form Art Is Also On Discord