Content:
The basement of the hospital was no longer just a dark room; through Arjun's Infrared Vision, it was a map of heat signatures. He could see the warmth radiating from the pipes and, more importantly, a cold, moving trail on the floor.
[Warning: Level 4 Mutant - 'Emerald Viper' nearby.]
Suddenly, a blur of green struck from the ceiling. Arjun's Enhanced Olfactory Bulb had already picked up the scent of sulfur, allowing him to dodge just in time. The snake was massive, its scales shimmering with a metallic 'Chitinous' layer.
"You're just another step in my evolution," Arjun muttered.
The viper hissed, spraying a cloud of acidic mist. Arjun felt his skin burn, but then his system kicked in.
[Activating Rapid Cell Regeneration...]
The damaged skin cells began to divide at an impossible speed, replacing the burnt tissue with tougher, darker scales. This was Mitosis on steroids.
Arjun lunged forward, his hands now equipped with sharp, bone-like claws. He grabbed the viper's throat. As the snake bit into his forearm, the system analyzed the toxin.
[Neurotoxin detected. Initiating DNA integration...]
Instead of dying, Arjun's body began to 'swallow' the poison. He felt a stinging sensation in his salivary glands. His own biology was mimicking the snake's venom apparatus.
[Evolution Successful: New Skill Unlocked - 'Venomous Spit']
[Passive Ability Gained: Toxic Immunity (Level 1)]
With a final snap, the viper went limp. Arjun felt a surge of energy as the Cytoplasm in his cells absorbed the creature's core. He wasn't just a survivor anymore; he was becoming the very nightmare that the apocalypse had created.