Ryuk's body was anything but normal.
It was an abnormal component, a combination of technology and Nanobody.
But it wasn't just any Nanobody—it was a Nanobody capable of instant regeneration and one that could cause the growth of true flesh over itself.
Ryuk's heart sped up this growth as the Nanobody created veins, tissues, and blood that coursed through Ryuk's body, its source none other than his beating heart.
If a shallow cut was made on Ryuk, blood would pour out, making anyone believe he was made of flesh.
However, if one completely severed a body part, they would see the machine part underneath, leaving them stunned and in disbelief.
Ryuk didn't think his body was anything special—or at least, that was until he saw its inhuman regeneration and, ultimately, its ability to absorb an energy known as Source Energy from the rejuvenating pool.
Ever since then, Ryuk had been fascinated with his own body. Just what were its further capabilities?
Right now, however, he could see a message from the system flashing with a red light.
[Possible Evolution State Is Being Accessed!]
Though shocking, Ryuk did one last thing before the evolution began, and in the next instant, a python appeared in the Apex Pool.
Of course, it was none other than Isha.
Ryuk had been able to sense that the pool was no ordinary rejuvenating bath. Somehow, the Source Energy present should also be available to the Fallen Geniuses, even if it didn't increase their strength right away like it did for Ryuk.
It should be able to store in their body and increase their future potential and talent.
This pool, in a sense, was a talent-enhancing pool.
Now it made more sense why the man had said for some geniuses, it would be more than just a simple rejuvenating pool.
An interesting idea occurred to Ryuk once he entered the pool and sensed the abundant Source Energy.
Why not summon Isha to the pool to further increase Isha's talent?
It wasn't mentioned that only the Fallen genius could use it, right? And Ryuk himself was human and could use it. So, who's to say the pool would have no effect on Isha?
Immediately, Isha appeared in the pool.
It stared mysteriously at the liquid around it, but its eyes soon shone with light as it began circling around with speed.
Quickly, runic lines began making their way up Isha's body as a small whirlpool appeared around it, with the energy being quickly absorbed into its body.
The python's excitement increased as it felt itself being given the best nourishment of its life.
But soon, its eyes narrowed as it looked around and found Ryuk nowhere.
Immediately, it dropped its head and tried to see if Ryuk was beneath the waves.
There, it could see Ryuk swimming farther down.
The python looked at Ryuk for a while, and when it sensed no signs of distress from him, it decided to leave Ryuk be and focus on getting as much nourishment as possible from the rejuvenating pool.
Unknowing to Isha, right now, Ryuk himself was going through the most devastating experience of his life.
The pain of every single cell in his body crashing apart and exposing itself one by one was excruciating.
So much Source Energy was entering Ryuk's body that his Nanobody began breaking apart.
Ryuk watched in horror as strange cracks emerged all over his flesh. Quickly, his skin wrinkled and folded, turning into nothing but ashes.
The phenomenon started from Ryuk's right arm and quickly began spreading until there was eventually nothing but a white, robotic-looking humanoid at the deepest depth of the pool.
Somehow, Ryuk's body had gotten incredibly heavy, sinking him farther and farther down the pool.
Eventually, he landed on the soft, sandy ground of the pool, the only sounds he could hear being machines whirring and turning. Hot steam and dirty oil-like liquid dripped out of Ryuk's body, getting absorbed into the ground.
Holes began appearing around Ryuk's Nanobody in the Apex Pool.
Previously, the Source Energy from the rejuvenation bath had only entered him through his mouth and pores.
But this time, his own Nanobody cast away his flesh and instead opened up specialized holes in its parts, directly suctioning the Apex Pool.
The more liquid from the Apex Pool that entered Ryuk's body, the more dark, oil-like liquid was flushed out.
After an hour of the oil seeping out, it stopped, and then his Nanobody itself began breaking apart.
Ryuk's humanoid shape never changed, but he could feel plates of technological material forming onto him. Tiny pieces of Nanobody components rearranged themselves endlessly.
Slowly, Ryuk's hand and limbs began lengthening, his Nanomusculature gaining a rounded, enhanced shape and perfectly replicating a humanoid body.
Accompanying Ryuk, however, wasn't marvel or awe—but pain. It was like being sliced into a thousand pieces and having ants walk over a person's naked bones while alive.
Somehow, he wanted to scratch and rip apart his own body, but he couldn't move a single muscle.
The control of his Nanobody had been hijacked.
The feeling of owning a body at all had completely disappeared, replaced with helplessness and grinding teeth, with his eyes bulging and stinging, veins writhing in red like worms benetah them.
Red notifications flashed at the corner of Ryuk's gaze, but the pain wouldn't let him look down and read them.
The text on the notifications was changing so fast that even if he wasn't in agony, he wouldn't grasp it.
Strange, weird codes and the word [ERROR! ERROR!] were the most prominent things Ryuk could see.
Even though he had no idea what his own Nanobody was doing, one thing Ryuk felt through his entire state was that something was changing.
The creation of a new form of body.
'So this is... evolution?' Ryuk wondered, another set of notifications flashing before his gaze.
But he was unable to see them.
Eventually, his consciousness darkened, and he saw nothing more.