《The Black Ocean》 1. Reborn In the underground city, within a modest, dimly lit room, a young boy jolted awake, his eyes wide with confusion and disorientation. He frantically scanned the unfamiliar surroundings, trying to make sense of what had just occurred. Slowly, the fog in his mind began to lift, allowing the flood of memories from his past life to come rushing back. He lifted a trembling hand before his face, inspecting it as though he were seeing it for the first time. "I''m alive again," he whispered, his voice soft, almost disbelieving, as if speaking the thought made it more real. Relief surged through him after a moment of silence. "Thank God, I¡¯m human... and a boy, too." But then a lingering question gnawed at him. "How am I alive again?" Suddenly, he remembered the hospital¡ªthe sterile room, the suffocating scent of antiseptic, and the faces of his parents, streaked with tears, as he slipped into the dark void. His last moments were spent battling cancer, confined to a hospital bed. During those long days, he had found solace in fantasy novels, where characters were often reincarnated into new worlds. In many of those stories, the protagonist would either occupy a new body or awaken in a different world, their past life memories slowly resurfacing. He mulled over this, trying to make sense of his situation. ''If it''s the first scenario,'' he thought, ''I wouldn''t have any memories of this body''s past.'' But if it were the second, ''my own memories should provide answers...'' He focused, searching his mind for any hints, any clues, that might explain this second chance at life. The first question surfaced in his mind: ''Who am I?'' As soon as he thought it, a memory resurfaced, a name. ''My name is Rain.'' "Rain," he murmured in shock, for in his past life, he was also Rain¡ªRain Jonas Malhotra. His mind raced, grasping for more. The second question followed swiftly: ''Who gave me my name?'' Again, the memory emerged: ''I did. I gave myself the name Rain.'' The reasons for this unusual act began to come back to him. In this new world, eerily similar to Earth, a nuclear war had ravaged the planet a thousand years ago. The war had broken out among the nations, and in the aftermath, the survivors took refuge in bunkers, grappling with the collapse of their countries. Outside, the land had turned inhospitable, frozen and irradiated, making survival in the open impossible. In just one month, human civilization was reduced to ashes. Isolated in their bunkers, people were cut off from one another, forced to develop their own ways of life. Some bunkers, with more resources and better organization, managed to thrive, transforming their underground shelters into small towns with distinct, new cultures. Among them, three bunkers rose above the rest, becoming the most advanced. Two centuries passed as the people of these underground cities adapted to their new reality. But as progress slowed, the inhabitants of the three great bunkers sought answers. They built robots to explore the desolate surface, desperate to rediscover the world they had lost. What those robots uncovered, however, was an astonishing, shocking truth: the surface world was teeming with life. But these were not the plants and animals of the past. They had transformed¡ªmutated¡ªinto beings capable of manipulating the elements. Creatures wielding fire, water, ice, and thunder roamed freely, thriving in a world that, according to previous reports, was supposed to be uninhabitable due to extreme radiation levels. Yet the footage from the robots clearly showed otherwise. The three underground cities were thrown into a frenzy. How could these creatures survive, let alone thrive, in such a hostile environment? The leaders were desperate for answers, and soon, a new plan emerged: capture these animals and study them to unlock their secrets. Combat robots were developed for this exact purpose, but capturing the creatures proved to be a challenge. After numerous failed attempts, the cities finally succeeded, each managing to bring back one specimen¡ªSilver Blood Snake, Armor Dog, and Fire Cat, respectively. What the scientists discovered was nothing short of groundbreaking. The creatures¡¯ genetic structure had undergone dramatic changes, allowing them to adapt to the new, irradiated environment. These mutations not only enabled survival but also granted them elemental powers. The implications were clear, and one burning question took root in everyone¡¯s mind: ''How could humans¡ªonce the rulers of the Earth, the top of the food chain¡ªreclaim their dominance?'' The answer, as the scientists from the three cities soon concluded, lay in gene fusion. By combining human genes with those of the mutated animals, they believed it would be possible for humans to not only survive on the surface but to harness similar elemental powers. And so, without hesitation, research began. The entire population, driven by the desire to reclaim the world and fuelled by the allure of power, supported the project. For some, it wasn¡¯t just about survival¡ªit was about rising even higher than before. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. After numerous failed attempts, which resulted in death and madness for many test subjects, they finally succeeded. The first successful fusion of human and animal genes marked the dawn of a new era. As more people underwent the transformation, the results were mixed¡ªmany perished, while a few survived. Those who did survive emerged with newfound strength, elemental abilities, and, most notably, an increased lifespan. Faced with both triumph and tragedy, the city paused its efforts. They needed to understand why some individuals were successful while others failed. In the meantime, the newly transformed warriors were sent back to the surface to capture more mutated animals for further research. Some missions succeeded, but many of these enhanced humans fell prey to the powerful beasts that roamed the surface, their abilities proving inadequate against the monstrous creatures. The surface, once again, became a graveyard for those who ventured too far. Realizing the futility of sending more warriors to their deaths, the cities halted expeditions and refocused their efforts on studying the transformed humans. They sought to uncover the secret behind the success stories. Through extensive interviews and examinations of the surviving transformed humans, the scientists finally stumbled upon a critical discovery: the successful individuals had somehow unlocked what they referred to as "genetic locks." This breakthrough provided the key not only to survival but to the enhancement of the new human race. Rain shook his head, pushing aside the flood of history. ''I can take the history class later,'' he thought. He tried to control his thoughts, focusing on why he had chosen his own name. When he was 10, just before leaving the orphanage where he had lived his entire life, they had asked him if he wanted to change his name. The name ''Rain'' had come to him in that moment, and without hesitation, he gave himself the name. Now, the next pressing question surfaced: ''Where am I? What was I doing before my memories awakened?'' As he pondered this, new memories emerged. He was in his room on the 6th floor underground, on the Educational and Research Floor of the city of Walter. ''What was I doing before?'' The answer came swiftly: he had been in the process of opening his Spirit Gate, the key step to becoming a genetic warrior. Over the last 800 years, humanity had evolved, perfecting the cultivation system known as the ''Genetic Warrior Path.'' While genetic medicine was still required to complete the transformation, the discovery of the Spirit Gate had revolutionized the process, increasing the success rate to 90% for those who could open it. Rain realized he now needed to inform the school principal of his breakthrough before graduation. Once confirmed, the city would provide him with a genetic potion in exchange for signing a contract with Walter. He had little choice in the matter¡ªhe was an orphan raised by Spark Technology, the city''s AI governing body. For children like him, opening the Spirit Gate before graduation, which typically occurred around age 16, meant they would receive a medium-quality, D-rank genetic potion from the city. With his Spirit Gate now open, Rain knew he could claim his genetic medicine tomorrow. He glanced at the clock¡ª11:47 PM. School started at 7:30 AM. ''I should go to sleep,'' Rain thought, his body finally succumbing to the weight of exhaustion. ''If I don''t, I''ll never wake up in time.'' But the sleep that followed was anything but restful. Rain startled awake, gasping for breath, his heart pounding in his chest. He had just been trapped in a nightmare, locked in battle with a horrific stitched corpse monster. The details were still painfully vivid in his mind, as if he had truly fought the creature. He could still feel the force of each blow, the cold malice of the monster, and the suffocating terror it brought. He shuddered, trying to dispel the lingering fear. ''How had it ended?'' Had he defeated the monster, or had it overpowered him? The memory blurred, leaving him unsettled. He turned over in bed, his eyes catching the dim glow of the clock: 4:04 AM. Despite his best efforts, sleep refused to return. Rain lay there, his mind restless, swirling with thoughts. ''Golden fingers,'' he mused. In every novel he had read, the protagonist was gifted with some sort of "golden finger"¡ªa unique advantage that propelled them through their journey. Maybe he had one too. ¡°System,¡± he called out softly, hoping for a response. Nothing. ''Maybe it¡¯s something within my mind,'' he thought. He closed his eyes again, this time focusing on meditation, attempting to clear his thoughts. Slowly, the chaotic noise in his head quieted, and he began to sense the subtle energy flowing through his body. As his focus deepened, his awareness shifted to the ''Spiritual Gate'' within his brain. It hovered there, in a state between existence and non-existence, elusive but tangible. He tried to probe the gate further, curious about what lay inside. As his thoughts ventured into the Spiritual Gate, he found himself standing in a vast, black space. It felt endless, a void stretching infinitely in all directions. His consciousness lingered there, and though he could still sense his body outside, this black space felt unnervingly real. He began walking, moving forward in what felt like an endless journey. Hours seemed to pass, but the void stretched on without end. Frustration gnawed at him. ''What did I learn about the Spiritual Gate in class?'' He tried to recall the lessons, searching for any clue that might explain this strange space and how he could navigate it. 2. The Spiritual Gate The Spiritual Gate was first discovered when the Genetic Warrior system had reached its peak at B-rank. At the time, powerful monsters, known as A-rank monsters, roamed the surface. In a desperate attempt to subdue one of these beasts, 100 peak B-rank Genetic Warriors were sent to capture an A-rank monster. What followed was a brutal massacre¡ªnone survived. Later, when the monster moved on, other warriors were dispatched to recover the bodies. Along with the fallen warriors, they brought back samples of blood and flesh from the monster. Through extensive research, scientists found that the genetic makeup of the A-rank monster was surprisingly similar to B-rank creatures. The mystery deepened over the next ten years until a breakthrough came. A B-rank warrior named Atlas managed to ascend to A-rank. Unlike others before him, Atlas didn¡¯t rely on genetic medicine. Instead, he spent years accumulating energy, pushing his body to the absolute limit of B-rank power. One day, while meditating and circulating energy through his body, Atlas encountered something new¡ªa barrier in his brain. This barrier hadn''t been there before. Driven by instinct, he forced his energy through the barrier, and to his surprise, it opened like a gate. In that moment, he broke through to A-rank and named his discovery the ''Spiritual Gate.'' Scientists immediately began researching the phenomenon. They studied warriors of every rank, urging them to push their limits. Despite their best efforts, they found that most warriors, even at their peak, couldn''t locate the Spiritual Gate. However, some warriors managed to break through their rank without the aid of genetic medicine, something previously thought impossible. Before this discovery, D-rank warriors needed genetic medicine to advance to C-rank, but some warriors were now ascending from D to C and even from C to B without it. This led to a groundbreaking conclusion: to open the Spiritual Gate, one had to unlock all the genetic barriers within their body. The scientists even attempted to teach ordinary humans, those who hadn''t unlocked any genetic potential, a special cultivation method to help them reach their body''s ultimate strength. Amazingly, some of these individuals succeeded in opening their Spiritual Gates, greatly enhancing their control over their bodies. They were able to take D-rank genetic medicine safely and became D-rank warriors themselves. This was the extent of Rain¡¯s knowledge about the Spiritual Gate. As he returned to his body through the vast black space, a thought crystallized in his mind: ''If the gate is in my brain, and this endless void is where my thoughts seem to originate, then this must be my soul space¡ªwhere my very essence resides.'' Rain returned to his body, wondering how much time had passed while he wandered through his soul space. To his surprise, only 20 minutes had elapsed, though it felt like hours. Restless in bed, he pondered what to do next. ''Let¡¯s check the rest of my memories,'' he thought, closing his eyes and slipping back into his soul space. His mind drifted to ''Spark Technology'', the force that governed Walter City. Spark Technology was a medium-level force within the new human civilization on this continent. Even now, humanity had no idea what had become of the people on the other two continents. In this new world, there were no nations or democratic systems. Instead, most cities were controlled by research institutes or private companies, with A.I. systems governing the cities. Walter City was a tier-2 city, one among many controlled by Spark Technology. Rain lived on the 6th floor of the underground city. He had never been to the other floors; his access was restricted. He knew there were 10 underground levels and 8 surface levels in the city, though now only four surface levels remained. The 7th to 10th underground floors had been merged to form a massive factory floor. The 6th floor, where he lived, was the Educational and Research Center, where children from the 2nd to 10th floors attended school. The 5th to 2nd floors were designated as commercial zones. That was about all he knew of Walter City¡¯s layout. Rain¡¯s dorm was a part of a three-story building, each floor standing at an impressive 60 meters tall. He lived on the ground floor, room 109, while his two best friends, Marco and Cistro, lived next door in rooms 108 and 107, respectively. His thoughts drifted to them, and a wave of bittersweet nostalgia washed over him. The three of them had grown up together in the same orphanage and had been inseparable since childhood. Over the years, their friendship had only grown stronger, and they had remained classmates until now. However, a pang of sadness gripped Rain as he realized that after today, their paths would likely diverge. Marco and Cistro weren¡¯t as naturally gifted as he was. While Rain had opened his Spirit Gate and would soon become a genetic warrior, both Marco and Cistro were stuck at late E-rank. With only 15 days left until graduation, the chances of them opening their own Spiritual Gates were slim. They would likely have to purchase genetic medicine after graduation and pursue civilian careers. ''It¡¯s good for them,'' Rain thought, trying to comfort himself. Marco had always been more interested in robotics, and Cistro had a keen fascination with genetics. Civilian courses would be a natural fit for their talents. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. His mind drifted again, recalling two other important names from his memories¡ª''Siobhan'' and ''Luke.'' There was something significant about these two, but the memories remained hazy, tugging at the edges of his consciousness like a forgotten dream. He come out his Soul space and check the time 6.07 Am, as quickly got up and went to the bathroom , the bathroom door is at the left sides between the edge of the bed and front wall. he took care of his bathroom buisness and showered, in showered, he thought from the memory he viewed his behaviour before he awaken his memory of his new life and his behavour is same. so he did not have to adjust meeting his friend.after showered he quickly got dressed and out of his room as thr time show 6.37 am. Opening his door, Rain stepped into the dimly lit corridor. Above him, there was no sky, only a ceiling fitted with artificial lights casting a faint, sterile glow over the space. His room number was 109, and just next to him were the rooms of his closest friends¡ªMarco in 108 and Cistro in 107. It had long been their morning routine: the first one out would knock on the doors of the other two, rallying them for the day ahead. Rain quickly knocked on both doors, waiting for the familiar sound of footsteps inside. After a moment, the door to room 108 creaked open, revealing a boy with a fair complexion and dirty blonde hair. It was Marco, rubbing his eyes and yawning, clearly not yet fully awake. He flashed Rain a groggy smile, acknowledging the start of yet another day in Walter City¡¯s Educational and Research Center. "Morning, Rain," the boy greeted him. "Morning, Marco," Rain replied. As Marco walked toward him, he kept glancing at Rain, eyeing him up and down as though observing something new. Rain felt uneasy under the scrutiny. He quickly checked his memory but couldn¡¯t recall any obvious differences in his appearance or behavior. "Why are you looking at me like that?" Marco raised an eyebrow. "You''re different today." Before Rain could ask further, the door to room 107 opened, and another boy with dark skin and gray hair stepped out. "Morning, Marco. Morning, Rain." "Morning, Cistro," Marco said, motioning him over. "Come look at Rain¡ªsomething''s changed." Rain, growing more anxious, asked, "How am I different?" Marco gestured to him. "Before, when you stood, you were always tense, like you were wound up. But now, your whole body seems... relaxed." Rain let out a sigh of relief. "Oh, that. I opened my spiritual gate." Both Marco and Cistro¡¯s faces lit up with excitement. "Congratulations, Rain!" they exclaimed in unison, pulling him into a hug. Among the three of them, Rain was the only one who had chosen the path of a Gene Warrior. Marco had chosen to study artificial intelligence, and Cistro had opted for genetic engineering. They were thrilled for their friend¡¯s progress, knowing how much it meant in the world they lived in. As they pulled back, Cistro asked, "So, what beast genetic medicine are you going to choose after signing the contract?" The three of them began walking toward the mess hall, which was about a five-minute walk from their dorm. Rain thought about the contract and realized both of his friends had already signed theirs. "You two have signed your contracts. What exactly did they say?" he asked. Marco responded first. "In my contract, they''ll cover my three years of Robotics studies. If I pass with good marks, they''ll invest in my further education. But if I barely pass, I¡¯ll have to join one of their subsidiary companies and work for them. They''ll take 20 percent of my salary until I repay the cost. If I fail... well, they¡¯ll send me to work in a factory and take 70 percent of my salary until the debt''s paid off." As they entered the mess hall, Cistro chimed in, "Mine¡¯s pretty similar. But you''re a warrior. I¡¯m sure the Gene Warrior contract will be different." Rain grabbed a tray and joined the line for food. The food here was all made by a machine that offered nine options. Each option looked different and tasted different, but they were all made from the same basic substance. When it was his turn, he selected noodles. The machine buzzed, and a compartment opened at the bottom, revealing a bowl of noodles in soup. He placed the bowl on his tray and stepped aside, waiting for Marco and Cistro to collect their food. Once they had their meals, the three of them headed toward an empty table to sit together. As they began eating, Cistro brought up the question again, "So, which beast genetic medicine are you going to choose?" Rain, deep in thought, finally answered, "The Super Healing Lizard." Marco raised an eyebrow, his expression slightly concerned. "But that medicine doesn¡¯t go beyond D-rank. Spark Technology hasn¡¯t developed a C-rank or B-rank evolution version for it yet. Taking D-rank medicine without a higher-level counterpart won¡¯t stop your warrior path, but it¡¯ll make advancing harder." Rain could sense Marco¡¯s worry. While thoughtful, Marco was always cautious about the future. Yet, when Rain accessed his memory of genetic medicine, he recalled feeling a strong affinity toward the ''Super Healing Lizard'' for its remarkable self-healing properties. "I know," Rain said with a calm smile. "But I like the Super Healing Lizard genetic medicine." Cistro, always the logical one, nodded thoughtfully. "True, but the Super Healing Lizard medicine does enhance healing and flexibility by three times, speed by two times, and strength by 1.5 times. It¡¯s still a solid choice for someone focusing on survivability and agility." With that, the conversation shifted to lighter topics. The three friends made small talk, discussing the day''s classes, recent school gossip, and their personal ambitions. By the time they finished their meal, they felt more at ease and ready for whatever the day had in store. Together, they left the mess hall, heading toward the school. As they approached the gate, their attention was drawn to a striking girl with short, light blue hair, her sharp features making her stand out. She was followed closely by a tall, muscular boy who seemed to command just as much attention. Trailing behind them were six other boys and girls. 3. The Contract Cistro nudged Marco. "Siobhan didn¡¯t come to school for two days, and her hair was long and black last time. Now it''s light blue. She must have taken the Ice Cat D-rank genetic medicine." Marco glanced at Rain. "Rain, today you need to show Luke you¡¯ve opened your spiritual gate. Two days ago, when he opened his, he looked down on you and even told you to stop talking to Siobhan." Rain knew his predecessor had liked Siobhan, but she was the goddess of the school¡ªkind, polite, and always smiling at him, yet distant with him. As for Luke, he had always been his rival. Rain''s eyes narrowed. "Let¡¯s see how things go," he muttered. As the three of them entered the school hallway, following the group ahead, Rain abruptly turned to Marco and Cistro. "Let¡¯s split up here. I need to inform the principal that I¡¯ve broken through the spiritual gate." Without waiting for a response, he began walking toward the principal''s office, leaving them behind. Marco watched Rain¡¯s retreating figure with a frown. "Rain¡¯s changed. Before, whenever he saw Siobhan walking with Luke, he¡¯d try to join them. It¡¯s like he¡¯s possessed by an evil ghost." Cistro shook his head. "No way. You saw Rain talking to us normally, right? Rain¡¯s just opened his spiritual gate, and once that happens, a person gains more control over their emotions." Satisfied with Cistro''s explanation, the two headed off toward their class, discussing the day''s lessons. Rain reached the principal''s office door and knocked. From behind the door, he heard a firm voice, "Enter." Stepping inside, Rain greeted him, "Principal Gupta." Principal Gupta, a sturdy warrior who had reached peak C-rank strength but suffered an injury while attempting to break through to B-rank, looked up from his desk. As he glanced at Rain, his gaze sharpened, studying him closely. Rain felt a flicker of nervousness. Although the thought of being suspected of possession by an evil ghost crossed his mind, he knew there was no reason for concern; all that had happened was the awakening of his memories. The thorough review for possession, which lasted 15 days, would find nothing unusual. After a long pause, Principal Gupta smiled and said, "You''ve opened your spiritual gate, haven¡¯t you?" Rain smiled nervously, taking an imaginary deep breath. "How did you know, Principal Gupta?" "There''s a certain light in your eyes when someone opens their spiritual gate. If you look carefully, it¡¯s unmistakable. Congratulations, Rain. You managed to do it just ten days before graduation." "Thank you," Rain replied. Principal Gupta stood up from behind his desk and walked around it. "Follow me. You need to register, and then you can decide whether to sign the contract and choose the genetic medicine you want." Rain followed him as they walked through the hallway. They reached a locker room, and Principal Gupta unlocked the door with his fingerprint. Inside, Rain noticed eight lockers along the right wall and a large machine at the back of the room. He recognized it as a machine used to measure punch strength, but this one looked more advanced. Principal Gupta operated the machine and called him over. "Place your hand on the screen to scan your fingerprint." Rain followed the instructions, placing his hand on the screen, and after a moment, the machine beeped, showing "Done" on the screen. "Now press ''Done'' and position your face in front of the scanner," Gupta instructed. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Rain moved forward, allowing the machine to scan his eye. Once again, "Done" appeared, and he pressed the button. A small box slid out from inside the machine. Principal Gupta handed him a pin. "Prick your finger and drop some blood into the box." Rain pricked his finger, letting a drop of blood fall into the box. The machine pulled the box back inside and scanned it. After 10 seconds, his photo, name, and ID number appeared on the screen, along with an option: *Check Punch Power.* Principal Gupta selected the option, and a screen with three zeros appeared. "Now," Principal Gupta said, "give it your full-strength punch." Rain took a deep breath, feeling the enhanced control over his body after opening his spiritual gate. He punched the pad with all his strength. As his fist connected, the numbers on the screen rapidly climbed, stopping at 376 kg. "Impressive," Principal Gupta nodded. "Before you opened your spiritual gate, your punch was 191 kg. You''ve nearly doubled your strength. For someone who''s just opened their spiritual gate, a punch power of 300 kg is considered the baseline." A new screen appeared on the machine, divided into two sections: ''Underground Walter City Police'' on the left and ''Surface Explorer'' on the right. Principal Gupta turned to him. "I suggest you sign the contract with the Underground Walter City Police. You¡¯ll get stronger, and once your contract is complete, you can choose to join the surface explorers or explore on your own the surface world." Rain carefully considered Principal Gupta¡¯s advice. Joining the Underground Walter City Police seemed like the most practical choice. Not only would it allow him to explore the world beyond Walter, but it also provided a structured environment to deepen his understanding of how genetic warriors trained and operated. The surface was still rife with unknown dangers, so starting within the relatively safe confines of the city seemed like the wisest move for now. As he read through the contract, Rain absorbed the key details: 1. Service Duration: He was required to serve the Underground Walter City Police for a minimum of five years. However, this time could be shortened by earning merit points through successful missions. 2. Access to Resources: He could purchase resources, such as cultivation method, combat technique, cultivation medicine and specialized gear, from the Underground Walter City Police using either merit points or credits. All purchases would come with a 30% discount from standard market prices. 3. Initial Credits and Salary: Upon joining, he would receive 3,000 credits as a sign-on bonus. His monthly salary was also set at 3,000 credits, with additional pay for overtime and strong performance. 4. Work Hours: His duty hours would be from 8 AM to 8 PM, a long but manageable shift, considering the benefits. Rain nodded to himself as he finished reading the terms. The contract seemed fair, offering a balance between duty and reward, and the merit system gave him a chance to rise quickly through the ranks if he performed well. This could be the start of something promising, even if it was just the beginning of his journey. so without checking the contract of surface explorer he sign the contract with the Underground city police. Rain nodded, absorbing the new information as he finalized his decision to join the Underground City Guard without even considering the contract for surface explorers. Once his choice was confirmed, a new screen appeared in front of him, displaying eight images of different beasts, each representing a genetic medicine. Principal Gupta gestured toward the screen. "You might already be familiar with these eight genetic medicines, but I¡¯m required to explain them in detail. The first three are widely available to all forces across the continent, which makes them the most common choices. Additionally, they each have higher-rank versions available for future upgrades: 1. Stone Monkey 2. Blood Hound 3. Giant Ant "The next three are exclusive to Spark Technology, and like the first set, they have upper-rank genetic medicines available for further evolution: 4. Ice Cat 5. Red Pupil Crow 6. Iron Rhino "Finally, the last two medicines are also developed by Spark Technology, but so far only the D-rank versions have been researched. Higher-rank evolutions haven¡¯t been discovered yet: 7. Super Healing Lizard 8. Electric Eel. Rain¡¯s eyes lingered on the final two. He had already felt a strong affinity for the *Super Healing Lizard* due to its remarkable regenerative abilities. Now, seeing it listed on the screen as an option, his choice was reaffirmed. Principal Gupta continued explaining the strengths and drawbacks of each option, but Rain''s mind was already made up. The *Super Healing Lizard* was calling to him.