COVELENT: XenoTrait

After Jean left the room, silence settled completely.

Felix stood still for a moment in the center of the room, then he slowly walked toward the bed.

Without hesitation, he fell onto it. "Haaaa, this is comfortable compared to everything I have experienced in recent days," he thought.

For a moment, he just lay there. Then he spoke quietly to himself, "This is a nice room... damn."

His hand gripped the blanket slightly. "And these blankets... they’re so fluffy... damn..."

"...Reminds me of when I still had my home," he pondered.

Silence followed, then his expression darkened.

He clenched his teeth slightly. "That God damn Jack Pumedow..."

He turned slightly on the bed, staring at the ceiling. "After I came out of that forest... after everything... he went through my house."

His fingers tightened. "And he burned it... I think that was the moment I made a promise." His eyes sharpened. "That I would end his bloodline... if they ever crossed my path."

Then Felix exhaled. "...But that’s not important right now."

"I need regeneration," he said as he sat up slightly.

"But I need to decide what trait I sacrifice." His eyes narrowed as he thought.

"Most of my abilities mutated... I fused twelve traits together out of twenty... and made them into six different traits that are part of my genetic code..."

"Hmmm, but I have those ten free spots in glands throughout my body..."

He clicked his tongue softly and leaned back again. "Ha..."

A short breath of frustration. "If I didn’t get cancer, I’d just expand everything freely."

"But whatever." His voice lowered. "What I need most right now... is regeneration."

His fingers curled slightly. "There are four I want: starfish, zebrafish, octopus, and of course the axolotl."

"If I mutate all of them... my regeneration will surpass anything I currently have." A small pause. "Yeah..."

He nodded slightly. "I’ll talk to that old man tomorrow."

A moment passed. Then Felix suddenly spoke again.

"I wonder what Abel is doing right now."

Silence.

Then... his eyes widened slightly.

He shot up from the bed. "Oh right..." His expression tightened. "I sent that girl to Abel..."

A pause. "...What could’ve happened?"

He lay back down slowly as the bed creaked softly.

"...I’ll check tomorrow." His breathing slowed. "Right now..."

He closed his eyes. "I need sleep."

The next day

Light entered the room through the window in sharp beams.

Morning had arrived. Felix opened his eyes slowly. He sat up and immediately walked toward the bathroom.

The room was quiet except for his footsteps. Inside the bathroom, he stood in front of the mirror.

He looked at himself. His face was pale, skin too tight over his bones.

Eyes sharp but tired. He stared at his reflection for a moment.

"I need to eat something." A quiet statement.

He turned the faucet on briefly, splashed water on his face, then straightened up.

His mind began organizing itself again.

"Today... two things."

His eyes narrowed. "One... talk to that old man about what I need."

A second pause. "Two... go see Abel."

He exhaled slightly.

He stepped into the shower.

Water ran down over his body, washing away dried tension and remnants of recent fights.

Steam filled the small space.

Then he stepped out.

He dried himself and changed clothes.

He stood in front of the mirror again, but now dressed.

Black long coat with black pants and a white T-shirt beneath.

He adjusted the coat slightly. "These clothes... they’re my style."

He tilted his head slightly. "This long coat... these boots... this shirt..." He nodded once. "I’m blacked out."

He turned toward the window. Light hit the room directly.

Heat from outside was noticeable even through the glass.

He clicked his tongue. "It’s hot."

A pause. "Guess I can’t wear this outside."

His eyes shifted. "...I’ll wear the black suit instead."

He changed again quickly. The black suit fit tightly but comfortably, designed for movement.

He adjusted the sleeves, "Yh no ill take the coat". He changed into the coat then stepped toward the door.

As he opened it... a punch came directly at his face.

Felix reacted instantly. He tilted his head slightly left.

The punch missed by inches; his body moved before conscious thought.

He stepped in and kicked the attacker’s leg.

A sharp crack echoed. The attacker’s bone broke as blood dripped down from it.

Felix exhaled slightly. His breathing changed; it was heavier.

Saliva began gathering in his mouth. "...I’m already hungry... and this happens." His eyes sharpened. "If you don’t leave now... I might just eat you."

The attacker turned slowly. "...Huh?" A female voice was heard.

She smiled slightly. "You think I can’t hold my own?"

She rotated her injured leg slightly, ignoring pain.

"I can’t believe you did that much damage..." Her smile widened. "I didn’t even see you move..."

A hitched breath escaped her. "...That makes it more enjoyable," she said as she blushed.

Felix groaned. His teeth began to sharpen slightly, claws forming subtly. "...Are you some kind of masochist?"

He tilted his head. "I gave you a chance."

In an instant, Felix vanished. A blur of motion filled the hallway.

Cuts appeared across her arm, her shoulder, and her side.

Felix reappeared behind her, breathing heavier now. He leaned in slightly and bit her neck.

The metallic taste of blood filled his mouth.

"Blood," he thought.

His eyes sharpened slightly as his body responded.

He pulled back and said, "...I did give you a chance."

The girl didn’t fall. She straightened herself slowly, the cuts already beginning to close.

Felix’s eyes narrowed slightly. "...What?"

She smiled softly. "...Th... that was amazing... oh... pardon me... my name is Analene."

She tilted her head. "...But you can call me Rose."

Felix narrowed his eyes. "What are you?"

She blinked. "I’m a human... just like you."

Felix coughed slightly. "...Let me rephrase that." He stepped forward slightly. "How are you healing right now?"

Rose tilted her head. "Oh... this?"

She looked at her regenerating wounds casually. "I was made from you, Mr. Felix Ainst."

Felix paused. "...Made from me?"

Rose nodded. "My father always talked about you... I was given a serum... made from yours..."

Felix exhaled slowly. "...So you’re like Jones."

Rose immediately laughed. "Don’t compare me to that defect who loses control."

At that moment, Jean appeared from a corner. "Oh, you’re already up."

He looked down at the situation. "...What’s going on, Analene? Did you start something again?"

Rose smiled slightly. "Why did you target me... and not him?"

Jean sighed. "...It’s always you." He shook his head. "You did the same thing with Mr. Joel Jones."

Jean turned to Felix. "Anyway, Mr. Felix, follow me. I need to show you around."

Felix replied immediately. "Wait... I need to speak to your employer."

Jean shook his head. "I believe you mean Mr. Takakura."

He adjusted his stance. "He is not here right now. He will return tomorrow... you can discuss it then."

Felix stopped walking, then turned slightly. "Analene."

She tilted her head while looking at Felix.

"Stop following us," said Felix.

She smiled. "No, no... I said call me Rose."

Felix ignored her. "Jean... where can I get a lift? I need to go somewhere today."

Jean nodded. "There is a company car downstairs. Follow me."

They moved quickly through the building. Downstairs, the garage doors opened.

Rows of vehicles lined the space. Jean handed Felix the keys. "Take this."

Felix pressed the unlock button, and a car beeped in response.

He walked toward it slowly. "So I just take this?"

Jean nodded. "Yes. Fuel is stored in tanks at the back, so you will be fine. You won’t need to worry about buying fuel."

Felix entered the car, started it, and drove off without another word.

Behind him, Rose exhaled softly. "...He’s gone now."

Jean adjusted his collar. "...Can you behave yourself, Mrs. Analene Pumedow?"

Her expression changed instantly. She grabbed his neck. "Don’t ever call me by my last name again." Her grip tightened. "Do you understand?"

Jean struggled. "...Ok... ok... I understand..."

She released him.

Jean collapsed slightly, coughing. His thoughts darkened. "If it wasn’t for Takakura... Rose would have killed me."

At a later time, Felix arrived at Abel’s facility, and he parked the car outside.

He stepped out and walked toward the entrance.

A guard stopped him immediately. "State your purpose."

Felix replied calmly. "I’m here to meet Abel."

The guard shook his head. "No meetings today... Leave and book an appointment."

Felix exhaled slowly. "You’re... lucky that you work for my friend."

He stepped back slightly and inhaled deeply.

And shouted, "ABEEEEEEL!"

The entire entrance vibrated with the force of his voice.

The guard winced. "My ears..."

Felix calmed slightly.

After a bit of time, the door finally opened, and Abel stepped out, a tall black man with lean muscles and a defined jaw. "...Geez, man." He rubbed his ear. "You don’t have to be that loud."

He looked at Felix and said, "How you doing?"

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