Chapter 420: What To Replace Vladimir’s Arm With

-----

Vladimir paused, kicking a stray piece of scrap metal out of their path. "What?!" He was completely flabbergasted by the revelation. "S-So bacteria that cause diseases were absorbed? How is that even a thing?"

"Not all bacteria cause diseases," Riven said. "The one I’m talking about could use sunlight. But you get the idea. Something from outside became part of the organism."

Vladimir glanced at the scrap he’d kicked aside. He’d understood the part about swallowing something, but apparently that wasn’t even the strangest part. Keeping it inside and making it useful was where Riven had lost him. He tried to imagine how that would work, then decided he’d rather let Riven finish before asking another question.

"The Mutants follow a similar concept, just on a much faster, artificial timeline," Riven continued with a nod. "The virus was a foreign invader. But now, their ability to merge biology with machinery is a native trait. They aren’t infected. They’re just the evolutionary byproduct of it."

"Evolutionary byproduct...?" Vladimir frowned, still trying to make sense of all these words.

"What was left after the changes," Riven explained. "The disease is gone, but their bodies still have the abilities it gave them."

"Then why didn’t you just say that?"

"I thought the example would help."

"It helped a little," Vladimir admitted. "Then you added more words."

Riven chuckled. He was getting a little carried away, but there was one more example he wanted to give. Vladimir didn’t look nearly as worried as before, even if he still seemed annoyed at having to work through an entire lesson just to find out whether a new arm was safe.

"In fact, even in normal human history, about eight percent of our genome is made up of ancient viral remnants. Millions of years ago, viruses inserted their genetic material into our ancestors’ reproductive cells, allowing it to be passed down," Riven continued. "Over generations, our bodies put some of that viral code to use. Some of those genes helped the placenta develop, using the viruses’ ability to fuse cells. Others contribute to regulating the immune response during pregnancy, helping protect a growing baby."

Vladimir opened his mouth, then closed it. Now there were babies involved too? He wasn’t sure how they’d gotten there from a Mutant welding its own arm, but Riven seemed to think this explained everything. At least he understood that something useful could remain after a virus was gone. The rest would probably take him a while.

Riven turned to Vladimir with a confident smirk.

"So when these guys work on replacing your missing arm, they aren’t exposing you to a plague. They’re using an integrated biological trait that lets their own cells accept, fuel, and control mechanical augmentations without their immune systems rejecting them," he explained.

Vladimir looked toward the workers again. They were still busy with their tools, completely unaware of how much explaining Riven had done on their behalf. He wanted to be excited about what they could make for him, and he was, a little. But he was also hoping they wouldn’t need him to understand all of this before they could get started.

"..." Vladimir’s eyebrows twitched. "Uh, okay?"

At his response, Riven let out a small chuckle.

"And just like that, they’ve turned a world-ending disease into the ultimate crafting blueprint for their species. Now, do you want to keep staring at them like they’re contagious, or do you want to see what kind of badass arm a bunch of genius cyborg cockroaches can build for you?" he asked.

"Hmm, so it’s not like it’s a bad thing...? Huh," Vladimir said as he stopped in front of the huge Alchemical Workshop. Several Mutants walked in and out, and some greeted Riven before coming over with materials they’d already prepared.

Vladimir looked at what they were carrying. There were metal parts of different sizes, some already fitted together, and others he couldn’t figure out the purpose of. He’d expected them to start looking for things once Riven explained what he wanted. Apparently, they’d been getting ready before the two of them arrived.

That got his attention more than the explanation about cells had. These were actual parts he could look at, and he found himself checking which ones might be meant for his arm. He didn’t ask yet, though. Riven was already looking far too pleased with himself.

Although he was trying his best to act like he wasn’t interested, he was curious about what they could do for him. Getting a new arm was his priority. He wanted to know how well it would move and whether he could rely on it in a fight. Looking impressive wouldn’t mean much if it couldn’t do what he needed.

Still, watching the Mutants bring their materials over made him want to see the finished thing, even if they hadn’t started working on it yet. He caught himself leaning forward to get a better look and straightened up. There was no need to make it that obvious. It was either this or trying to find another lizard arm.

He’d considered the Lizardman King’s arm, but he didn’t want an arm from a weak-ass monster anymore. Besides, he probably wouldn’t get as lucky as he had with that dragon-blooded Kobold King again anytime soon.

Waiting around for another monster like that wasn’t much of a plan. He could keep looking, sure, but there was no telling how long it would take or whether its arm would even be worth using. At least the Mutants were right here, ready to show him what they could make. He didn’t have to agree to the first thing they offered.

One of them came closer with its materials, and Vladimir looked from the parts to the workshop entrance. Fine, he could hear them out. He’d already come all this way, and he wasn’t about to leave without seeing what Riven had brought him here for.

"Tsk, fine! I’m interested. Show me what you can offer, shrimps," he said, bringing his remaining arm across his chest and glaring down at the Mutants with a sneer.

-----