36 36: Recipes

Just like that, Jin answered Caleb's inquiries about Destiny and how to become one. Caleb leaned forward, perked up his ears, and gave his whole focus to Jin. Afraid of missing even the tiniest detail.

First of all, to become Destiny. One has to reach prerequisites which have three classifications. Lowest requisite, middle requisite, and highest requisite. They pertain to the level of comprehensive physique of a person. From strength and agility to endurance.

The lowest requisite has a thirty percent chance of becoming a Destiny. They had stepped on the path of thirty percent of human beings. They have great strength and can take on a three to four human in a fight just on physique alone.

Then there's the middle requisite... They have fifty percent of the chance to become a Destiny! It was fairly higher and a sign that you have entered the top ten percent of the human population. They have the strength of the most athletic humans and the strongest soldiers in the Military.

Lastly, the highest prerequisite. A sixty percent success rate to become a Destiny. They are the top 1% percent of the human population. Elites among elites! They have long stepped on the peak strength the human body has to offer and one stepped away from becoming inhuman. Fushigiro, Caleb, and the rest of the hunting party had reached this level.

'So that's why they were spouting some shits about me reaching the highest requisite.'

Caleb was finally enlightened. Now, he understood why Fushigiro valued him so much. It turned out that he was considered a genius in their eyes. A seventeen-year-old that reached the top 1%! Of course, Caleb didn't let it go over his head. He knew for a fact that all of this was thanks to infinite reincarnation.

Then the second requirement after the prerequisites. Well, none. One just has to take a pill concocted with the body parts or internal organs of Apokalips. Of course, one can't just randomly use random body parts of different monsters. That's why recipes exist that record what combinations to use. For example, the leg of a spider, the heart of a Tier 9 hollow, or even the intestines of a Tier 9 leopard. They use such materials to concoct a pill.

One can't just randomly combine anything. Well, you can actually do that but with a high chance of your body exploding, or mutating into an abomination. Jin told him that there were fools who attempted to do that. A lot of them, actually.

They just use any Apokalips materials and combine them, hoping to luck out due to them not having a recipe in their hands. As a result, they either went crazy or became terrifying monsters with no self-awareness.

As for the existence of recipes. They are the combinations of Apokalips materials that were proven and tested after hundreds or even hundreds of thousands of trials and errors from experiments year after year by humanity.

As for what experiment? It was human trials... A cruel undertaking. The existence of a recipe can be said to be a blessing, but also one that took a lot of lives to be created. There are volunteers, while the majority of guinea pigs are criminals. Lastly, seven recipes corresponded to the Seven Destiny Paths, according to Jin.

One can imagine just how bloody it took just to create those seven recipes. How many lives? Thousands? Or even a million? Caleb shuddered and stopped thinking about it.

After twenty minutes of eating, the members of the hunting party began to stand up one by one.

"Well, I'll go in my room now, guys. I'm already exhausted after the entire day of travel. And now, it had caught up to me. Goodnight!" Dunn yawned, then left.

Rina stared at everyone who began to leave, one by one. "Me too..."

Then it was Fushigiro's turn, then Athena, Jin, and Tamasai, until only Caleb was left on the table.

Caleb followed their leaving backs as they went to their respective rooms. "Well, goodnight!"

Then he looked at the four ladies, and the four oldies dispersed after all the members of the hunting party were gone. The four oldies were back to their usual places and closed their eyes to sleep. While the four ladies continued cleaning, even though Caleb felt that there was nothing to clean. Well, except for the plates on top of the table.

"Guys, won't you come here? It's your turn to eat now." Caleb gestured at the four teenagers. "I-..."

Before he could even finish his words, Fatty was already sitting right beside him munching the left-over tiger meat with delighted expression.

"Ahmmm... So delicious! The crispness, juicy meat! I can't get enough of this!"

Caleb laughed as he saw this. "You really know how to enjoy."

Luna and the others also followed. Luna sat beside Caleb and began to eat slowly. Unlike Fatty, the girl has manners.

Andre and Clifford also took seats opposite them.

"Johan, well, we will have something to talk about outside. But for now, let's dig in!" Andre grinned.

"Eat well..." Caleb nodded.

Just like that, Caleb watched the four eat with a smile on his face. He also took his time, staring dazedly at the ceiling, remembering his memories of Earth. He was far away from home.

...

Beneath the ink-black night sky, a symphony of stars unfurled, each one singing its own silent song. The Milky Way stretched like a cosmic river, its luminous trail weaving through the firmament.

In the east, the constellation Orion emerged, its three bright stars forming a celestial hunter's belt. They sparkled like precious gems against the obsidian backdrop. The Great Bear, Ursa Major, stretched its familiar shape overhead, its stars like guiding lights in the night.

The owls, hidden in the ancient trees surrounding a quaint wooden house, added their voices to the cosmic choir. Their hoots resonated through the stillness, a reminder that life and magic thrived even in the darkest hours.

The house itself, nestled under the celestial canvas, wore a cloak of mosses on its timeworn walls. These soft, green cushions clung to the wood as if trying to capture a piece of the starry sky's brilliance for themselves. The house stood as a humble witness to the celestial spectacle above, a small but cherished part of the grand cosmic design.

In front of the house, five teenagers were sitting together, admiring the starry sky. They just did that for half an hour before one of them spoke.

"Johan, we won't see you for a month. I'm happy for you. Wait for us, we will become one of you!" Andre said with a hint of resolve in his eyes.

Luna, Fatty, and Clifford also nodded with fierce determination. Caleb stared at the four with seriousness. "I believe you guys. Don't worry, it's just a month. We'll meet again and I'm ten times more handsome by then!"

"Hahahaha!" Sounds of laughter echoed through the night.