7 Sectio

(Advice: Maybe kinda boring this chapter, lot of info and that stuff Btw idk character's height so don't ask me, just my thoughts.)

{Where am I?}

'Another voice, another system?'

[What a crappy host joke, that... I don't know what it is, but I can only assume it's what just got inserted into you]

'Don't tell me, I hadn't thought of that.'

Niko was quite nervous, just moments ago he thought he had become the protagonist of a tentacle hentai and now a voice somewhat similar to that of a man was heard in his head.

Suddenly a fourth voice was heard in his head, this seemed like a rave.

[Hey 'Niko', it's me, your favorite God, how's my precious 'star'? If you're hearing this it must be because you received the bonus I mentioned, how you got it, no idea. It's a somewhat special symbiote, I took it from a certain stalker spider and now it's with you. If you're waiting for me to tell you something about her, well, keep waiting. Bye bye.]

'...'

[...]

'This has to be a joke.'

Niko tried to mentally communicate with the unnamed symbiote but received no response.

He tried to move but everything hurt so he resigned himself to stay buried in the wall, he glanced at Zilean but the old man still remained in the same position as from the beginning, he had no idea why.

The he tried to speak but a small cough came out and he had to grab some air to speak almost in a whisper.

"H-hey, is anyone there?"

Moments later a tentacle emerged from his stomach, which felt quite strange, forming a kind of head that reminded him a lot of Venom but white and red instead of black.

{...Hello kid}

"Hello, um, what are you?

{I'm a symbiote}

"Uh, cool. I'm Niko, you?"

{I don't have a name, I don't remember if I ever had one. }

"Uh...Where do you come from?"

{I was recently in a state of lethargy and when I woke up I was here}

"You're quite kind despite your appearance, I hope it doesn't offend you."

{It did, don't worry}

Niko looked away while the symbiote stared at him.

[You don't need to call me, host. Being a gift from God and considering what he said it seems that it's a symbiote compatible with you]

'What about the colors? I saw Venom and Carnage, but I thought symbiotes were only black or red.'

[Colors usually refer to the behavior of the symbiote, white ones are purer and more benevolent, while red is associated with chaotic behavior and violence]

'It's red and you say it's compatible with me? I don't remember any of those characteristics in me.'

[A few hours ago you beat up three guys and broke one's jaw]

'...Touché, anything else to add?'

[There's just one more thing, you know about symbiosis, right? Symbiote and host unite, one provides improvements like strenght, curing cancer or regaining control of a part of the body and the other provides food. However, there's a step further, symbiosis at the cellular level, the union combines them in all physical aspects to the point that they can share even brain cells, and this only happens when the relationship between both reaches a point or when the symbiote finds the perfect host]

'Are you saying it 'may' will read my memories.'

[Exactly]

Niko turned his gaze back to the symbiote.

"I have a question."

{Yes?}

"If you merge with me, will it be a normal symbiosis or one at the cellular level?"

The floating face contorted with surprise.

{How do you kn-}

"Just answer, okay?"

The symbiote wasn't too alarmed due to Niko's state and responded calmly.

{Right now, I'm parasitizing you to communicate with you. Due to the compatibility I perceive, we have the ability to merge at the cellular level.}

"Will you be able to read my memories?"

The symbiote sensed Niko's insecurity and distrust and hurried to respond.

{Yes, I might be able to, but I can assure you I have no ill intentions towards you.}

Niko didn't dwell on it much since he didn't believe God would send him a murderous piece of crap like Carnage to his 'beloved star'.

"Go ahead... uh... If you'd like, I'll give you a name once you're done with everything you need to do."

{Relax and close your eyes, it won't hurt.}

'...Why am I even alive?'

____________________________________

The minutes passed and passed, around fifteen minutes later a figure emerged from the rubble of the room.

[IMG here]

{These memories... I've found an incredible host, to think of the strength we'll achieve together and all the worlds I'll be able to see... Thank you for being the reason I emerged from my lethargy, Niko.}

Niko was currently completely impressed. Near the walls, there was a full-body mirror where he could observe his current figure. His height differed and his field of vision was elevated. He felt immense strength and vitality, but also immense hunger.

{I created this appearance based on your memories and manipulated the height to resemble that of that Spider-Man, I'm glad you like it.}

'It's amazing, thank you... uh, have you thought of a name?'

The Spider-Man figure dispersed and Niko fell to the ground with his face kissing the floor.

"Ouch."

{There's a problem, Niko.}

'...Don't tell me, what happened?'

{The fusion was finishing when my cells and yours started to merge completely.}

'That means...?'

{The restrictions on your powers have been applied to me as well, considering me as one.}

'Great, you've been nerfed.'

{Indeed, I've been nerfed.}

[Indeed, he's been nerfed. Your symbiote's capabilities have been limited but its limit has increased. That means, you have a growth partner, haha.]

{The epitome of comedy, system.}

'Can you hear him? Oh right, we're merged. Very funny by the way, almost died laughing, system.'

As Niko easily got up from the ground, he stood listening to the voice of his new companion.

{System, if my limitations grow with his, does that mean they also go by percentages?}

[It will be simpler to show you.]

A familiar floating window appeared again, but this time it was reddish with white spots.]

[Symbiote (Nameless): Existence that merges with the host at the cellular level in a symbiotic relationship, enhancing the host's abilities (Currently limited proportionally to spider strength: 4%)]

[Symbiotic Transformation: The symbiote envelops the host, providing enhancements.]

[Symbiote racial abilities: Enhancement of strength, speed, reflexes, durability, and regeneration.

Symbiote talent: ??? Currently awakening]

Niko read the screen and was surprised to see that his limited spider strength had increased by 4%, and he became even more excited to see in the mirror that his body had slightly changed, increasing his height by a few centimeters and showing traces of muscle.

He turned back to look at the last part of the screen, and the last part confused him a little. As he asked the system, a pain pierced through his brain, causing him to fall to his knees while clutching his head.

{ARGHHHH} "ARGHHHH"

This scream finally awakened Zilean from his trance, directing his gaze to Niko.

"What's happening!"

[Ding!]

[The Web of Life and Destiny is influencing the host and the symbiote]

[The host is facing a critical situation]

[The host's abilities Adaptability and Web of Life and Destiny are resonating in a confrontation]

[The symbiote's talent is being influenced by the confrontation and by the Flow ability]

[The Multiversal Cellular Resistance ability has been developed: The host's cells adapt to not be affected by the dimension they are in]

[The symbiote has developed Network Repairer: The ability to repair flaws in the Web of Life and Destiny

Symbiotic Arsenal: This ability stems from the will of the symbiote, absorbing weapons and transforming into them, inheriting their characteristics.] 

Finalizing the screams, two colors shimmered on the backs of both hands, forming into a white and red serpent with a crimson tear inside.

"Niko, hey Niko, are you okay?"

Zilean shook Niko back and forth uneasily until the latter got angry from the dizziness.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine, thanks for worrying."

Niko raised his palm in front of him, and a terrifying growl sounded from his stomach.

"I know you have questions, and I'll answer them, but first, I need to eat, a lot"

Zilean nodded somewhat resignedly and waved his staff, conjuring a huge banquet on the floor. When he looked back at Niko, he saw that his gaze was somewhat lost, nodding at nothingness, and red-and-white tentacles emerged from his body, wrapping around all the food and making it disappear.

Niko had to raise his palm again.

"A little more, please."

Zilean repeated the process, and the situation repeated itself about four more times.

"Done?"

"Yes, thank you for the food."

Zilean headed to two chairs and sat in one, gesturing towards the other with one hand and pointing to the sky with the other shortly after.

"What happened?"

"I'm not entirely sure, but I think it's because of my presence here."

"That's somewhat obvious, I mean what is that?"

Niko looked up and saw the multiple red-and-white spiderwebs.

"Well... you could call it the representation that this universe has connected to a count of different universes that have one thing in common."

Zilean was surprised and couldn't respond a word because his mouth was open. The fact of mentioning that other universes exist was already part of his knowledge, but emphasizing that they were connected blew his mind.

As a master of time, he was aware of most temporal variables, and the inclusion of all recent events simply continued to surprise him.

"Niko, can I assume that the common thing is you?"

The boy's face became serious, and he intertwined his hands.

"Before I answer that, I need to know your intentions regarding me."

Contrasting Niko, Zilean relaxed his posture.

"As I explained, I've been looking for an anomaly, one that prevents the destruction of Runeterra from the threat of the Void. I have the ability to visualize and alter the time streams, and in each of these visions in about three decades, this threat becomes strong enough to devour Runeterra.

Oh right, do I need to explain what the Void is?"

Niko shook his head as he assimilated the new information.

'System, I'll need some explanation tonight.'

"So, Mr. Zilean, you're looking for someone in me who can defeat these threats or someone who can defend an entire planet.

If you haven't succeeded before by analyzing all possibilities or with all the great warriors and powers that exist in these lands. What makes you think I could do it?"

Zilean contemplated his words and simply pointed at him.

"Firstly, I thought of discovering the anomaly and observing it to see what kind of existence it was. But upon meeting you, the fact that you noticed that staff," Zilean pointed at the staff on the ground, "The Rod of Ages, that means you have a great perception of mana. Also-"

"WAIT! DID YOU JUST SAY THE ROD OF AGES?"

"As I suspected, you know it."

Niko couldn't believe it, he had before him an item from the game, and above all, it was his property! Zilean had to interrupt his thoughts.

"The other reason was because of your knowledge.

Earlier, I mentioned my name and title to show authority, but your reaction went beyond mere impression, you seemed to know me and also my abilities, the fact that you know The Rod of Ages and about the other universes, let's not forget about those spiderwebs and what got into your body.

...I won't even ask about the tentacles, I want to know your intentions towards these lands and if you have any intention to protect them."

"*sigh* Honestly, I don't want to be a hero or bear the burden of saving a world, but I promised someone that I wouldn't turn a blind eye to injustices, and I don't think letting an entire world perish is very fair.

Let me make this clear, I'mma do my own thing, with weapons, skills, people, and the future, I'll wander all over Runeterra and change what needs to be changed ...and I might also need some exotic metals you have, just saying... *whistle*"

Zilean was somewhat surprised to see that the boy in front of him had clear ideas. He would help, but not because he wanted to, but because he had to.

But in his eyes, it seemed like he was trying to avoid the possibility of regretting it if he didn't help.

"It's good to hear that. Since you arrived, I assumed that the future would take another course, so you are free to do as you wish as long as you manage to prevent the end of everything.

Regarding the metals, you caught me off guard. I only have some orichalcum from Ancient Ionia and black iron from Noxus."

Niko seemed somewhat confused by the materials but thought of asking the system about them later.

"Well, Niko, that's all. Take care, I'll send you the metal later."

"What?"

In the blink of an eye, Zilean waved his hands, causing Niko's figure to disappear, and finally he sighed. The aura of the spiderweb really scared him, and even though it disappeared, he preferred to say goodbye immediately after speaking with Niko.

"That thing doesn't compare to the Void, but... holy crap."

____________________________________

In the middle of the same secluded area as before, Niko appeared again with the Rod on his hand, but quite confused and with his physique somewhat different.

The symbols on the backs of his hands had lost their colors, leaving only the marks. Until this moment, Nikoni wasn't even aware that he had them.

'Shit, how do I explain this?'

Nikoni looked at his body and noticed that his height had increased, and not just a little. He had gone from his previous 120 cm (3.94 feet) to his new 130 cm (4.27 feet). He began to devise a way to explain it and communicated with his symbiote.

'Ehhh... I really need to call you something, do you thought any name yet?'

{I've thought of some, but none convinces me. Do you have any idea?}

"I have two in mind, 'Sectio' or 'Decisio'."

{From Latin? According to your memories, both mean 'cut', but 'Decisio' refers more to a judge. Sectio sounds better to me, it's more straightforward, and since what happened earlier, I've become interested in becoming a weapon myself.

By the way, can I eat that rod? My ability allows me to replicate it and acquire its characteristics}

Niko was surprised to discover that Sectio was right, the Staff of Ages was considered a weapon.

'Aren't you a bit overpowered?'

{I don't think you're the most qualified to say that; I saw the powers you requested, and that electricity is something else. If it absorbs mana and then uses it to power up, don't you have a portable mana reservoir now?}

'Sectio... you're something else. If you absorb it and inherit its characteristics, could you generate mana to fuel the bioelectricity?'

{You catch on quickly. Your electricity will be enhanced with mana that I supply. I'll also gain some regeneration.}

'It's all yours.'

Niko's arm expanded into a red-and-white mass that enveloped the staff as it twisted. Seconds later, it returned to normal, but the staff had disappeared.

'How do you feel?'

{Filled with power. Look at this.}

Niko's palm twisted, and tendrils formed the shape of a purple staff with a beautiful purple gem accompanied by rays emanating from his palms, absorbing a trace of blue within it.

'You're incredible, Sectio. By the way, you don't happen to hav-'

{I know what you're thinking. I can't make you any smaller, compressing mass is something I still can't do. The only thing I can do is increase it.}

'...Can't complain... *sigh*'

Niko resigned himself and slinked through the alleys as the staff absorbed into his flesh, heading back to his shop with an incredible headache from using Synaptic Stability, but mostly imagining the reactions of others.

____________________________________

As Niko made his way to The Last Forge, the couple Mark and Tessa found themselves surrounded by children under the watchful eye of someone they didn't expect to know.

When Niko parted ways with them, they continued walking until they reached the shop he described and prepared to knock on the door.

However, it opened before they could even knock, revealing a woman with a terrifying demeanor who scrutinized them with her gaze.

Mark and Tessa were so startled that Mark left the small cart and stood in front of his partner. As business owners, they needed to know who to avoid trouble with in the area, and Sevika definitely wasn't someone to mess with.

Her reputation preceded her, especially being under Vander, but what stood out about her was undoubtedly her character and strength.

All they could think was that poor Niko's shop had been taken over. Meanwhile, Sevika glanced at the cart and the brown-haired couple for a few seconds before her expression softened slightly.

"I suppose the boss sent you to deliver the materials. Where is he?"

The couple was surprised once again. Was Niko some secret younger son of Vander? Putting aside their imaginative speculations, Mark dropped his protective stance and nodded as he extended his hand; this could be a business opportunity if handled well.

"It's a pleasure, Miss Sevika. Your reputation precedes you. I'm Mark, and this is my wife Tessa."

Tessa nodded with a smile, and Sevika stared at the extended hand. If Niko sent them and she offended them, it would reflect poorly on her with her boss.

Reluctantly, Sevika forced a 'smile' and shook hands, squeezing tightly.

"Where is he?"

"H-he's on his way. He separated from us about five minutes ago, saying he was going somewhere."

Sevika glanced at Tessa, who quickly nodded and returned the gesture.

"I suppose he'll be back. You can come in; I'll start unloading the metals."

Mark and Tessa didn't bother to help her, as they didn't want to inconvenience her, and they headed inside while Tessa checked her partner's hand.

Inside the building, they found an empty room with a slightly ajar door on the left side, from which a small blue head peeked out.

"Uh, and Niko?"

A hand grabbed Powder's head, pulling it back and making way for a red-haired girl.

"Who are you guys?"

"Hi there, little one. I'm Tessa, and he's Mark. We're here to bring something to Niko."

"And why are you inside?"

"...Good question."

Vi raised an eyebrow at their confusion and let them into the room, where they stood staring at the forge. Ekko decided to hide the thermos inside the brick oven just in case, and all the kids stared at the couple, who were feeling somewhat uncomfortable and trying to start a conversation.

Minutes passed accompanied by the sound of Sevika moving the metals and entering the room, which was silent since no one said anything while they patiently waited for Niko.

About ten minutes later, Niko finally arrived at the entrance, breaking the silence as everyone rushed towards him. They crossed the threshold, stopping instantly and sharing a common thought, 'What the heck?'.

He was taller and more defined, sporting a smile.

"Is something wrong, guys?"

Vi was the first to react.

"Is something wrong? What the heck happened to you? You got taller."

"OH! Tessa and Mark, I'm glad you were able to find the shop, thank you for helping me bring it, and I apologize for taking your time. If you'd like, you can go eat, I'll visit you again tomorrow."

The couple looked at each other and then at Mark, repeating this process a few times, they nodded without saying a word and left, they simply came in because Sevika told them to.

Vi spoke up again, taking a step forward.

"Now that they're gone, will you tell us?"

'Are you sure it will work, system?'

[I hope so, host. There really couldn't be another explanation. Well, that or you know, playing dumb, which will create more problems]

{Just say it, Niko. If someone talks too much, we'll take care of it}

Niko let out an internal sigh and showed a serious look.

"The six of you present, can I trust you no matter what happens? Before you answer, no, the answer is no. But being honest is something I must do if I'm going to continue to relate to you all in the future."

'Do it, Sectio'

The room chilled a few degrees, and a violent aura emanated from Niko, accompanied by four tentacles on his back, which took the form of huge white-crimson spider legs.

"I am Niko, and I believe I am a vastaya."