1 From two to a new one

Darkness.

All over him was shrouded in darkness as he regains consciousness. His body was no more, his memories were no more, his life was no more, but here he stood in complete darkness, in none other forms that a small cloud of cerulean blue mist.

Without any memories to link to this particular state, he could only stand, unmoving, looking around with the curiosity of an unafraid child, while trying to comprehend what to do now.

With gone memories and body, any fears deeply rooted in is subconscious had vanished, leaving him genuinely breaking of the shackles of his previous humanity.

One could ask then, now that it was nothing more than a blue cloud of gas, why does he think itself as a male then? The response is quite simple; it was due to the simple fact that his new instinct, born of his actual state, dictate him that he was who he was. A somewhat shapeless mass of indefinite matter that would have either been male or female and hazard had made him male.

So now here he was in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do more than look at the infinite darkness surrounding him. Being a new leaf of its former self without is awareness, concepts like time, space, anger, sleepness couldn't affect him.

After who knows how long, something finally starts to change in the darkness. Moved by nothing more than the new change the surrounding space, it slowly drifts toward what appears to be nothing more than three dots floating.

The dots were like nothing it has seen before, not that it was something complicated when you are a memoryless cloud of mist in infinite darkness without matter around you.

But the sudden apparition was just that. After coming to existence, nothing more happened.

When is excitation toward them starts to fade, he returns to his previous state, gazing in the darkness while drifting aimlessly around his new point of anchor.

Its was only after taking them as is anchoring space that those very concepts resurface, bringing forth with its multitude of other concepts and sensation. Slowly, the knowledge he had once in his past life resurfaces, bringing along new sensations and feeling to it. While they resurface, they couldn't erase the time he had to spend here.

Merging his new and old personalities was nothing easy, knowing that you float in the space with nothing to sustain his existence here and needing nothing ever so.

After all, who could boast of having a similar experience and feeling nothing but acceptance in one part and dread that something could happen anytime in the other? Those kind existential issues couldn't be anything than armful to his mental fortitude. Thus his subconscious takes a choice for him. It has live aeons in darkness before taking conscious of what it implies and has been alright, now that he knows it and understand it why it should be different?

It was those situations that refine is two personalities in a new one, taking the good of each one and leaving its previous weakness aside, forging a more incredible fortitude, able to bore those extreme situations.

While he was subject to those, it mindset wasn't the only one that evolves. Its physical representation also changes.

If before shape could be compared to an ethereal cerulean cloud-shaped mist, now it forms was similar to a cloud of smoke. The ethereal cloud slowly turns into a real tangible one.

When his two personalities finish merging, it leaves a thick deep dark blue cloud three times larger than before and much more substantial. The only way he knows that he was that large was simply due to the existence of the three dots which were previously like a bowling ball to him and now appear like tennis ones.

Another fact concerning those balls of matters was that he was now able to identify them or at least have a good idea of where they were. The only reason that he could only suspect and not be sure was that he never seen one in is previous life, only synthesis images of them in documentaries.

Coming closer to them until nearly touch them, and carefully observe them, his first impression where confirmed. Those weren't dots of matter but eggs, none fertilised human egg's.

It's only then that he was able to gain an idea of measure somewhat. What left of it was something akin to a soul or similar and compared to its previous size, ether the soul is too tiny, or it was just him.

Completely lost in his through he wasn't able to see that three tendrils coming from it, slowly extend and enter the eggs. It was the semi-transparent white window popping out of nowhere that brought him back and let him know what happens.

{Compatible genetic material found. Please enter the new genetic code.}

'What..?'

Before he could even think of the meaning of those two simple lines, thousands upon thousands of possible genetic genome starts to appear in the elongated white window, before a cursor appear on the right size and reduce significantly in the space of mere seconds.

While he was stunned by what appears in front of him, his gaze caught the appearing icon. Those icons where divides in threes simple one:

-animal

-vegetal

-mineral

The one open was the animal one and the second line of icons divided in a further two:

-vertebrates

-invertebrates

The first divide in five other icons and the second one in two. On the third lines linked to the vertebrates were:

-mammals

-birds

-fishes

-amphibia

-reptilian

As the same that the previous one, the first choice lead to a larger than before listing of icons choice, but the one than displayed in front of him was the same as it previous race: Human.

For a few seconds, is mind fail to identify what was display before it came to him abruptly.

'No way is that...' Dumbfound by the very answer he came with that seem to prove itself as the structure in the image in front of him start to rotate slowly.

He was utterly awed by the lines of texts that start to fill both sides of the screen and progress further as the structure begin to ascend.

'The complete human genome completely undecoded.' Should he have a body at this time, only a whisper of awe would have exited his lips, fearing that any disturbance would have vanished the very thing that countless researchers he knows were still trying to achieve. At the same time, he, a complete novice in the field could leisurely look at, without understanding a single thing.

The apparition of another window shattered his dreaming state.

{Egg genome found, had the second genome desired to process the evolution.} After leaving enough time to read it, the window vanishes, bringing forth a second one similar to the first was looking at with the only difference of a search bar above the first row of icons.

'Does it want me to add the completing genome I want to the egg? How does it work, two different species shouldn't be able to merge.'

As if hearing him, a third window opens in front of the two.

{No worries need, the system will run every possible simulation until solutions found.}

'So I could add anything?'

{affirmative}

'how about it? System search for Felis uncia!'

{searching, possible match found—class: animal; vertebrates; mammal; carnivorous; feline; panther; snow panther. Confirm choice?}

'It found it?! YES! Confirm choice!'

{Choice confirmed, starting the simulation.}

As the text appears, the second window starts to open different icons, refining the search before displaying a second genome utterly different from the first one. Once the choice confirmed, the two windows merge in a single one with a genome on each side.

{Class animal: compatible.} As soon as the line appears, part of both of the genomes start to drift in the middle of the two, beginning to form a third, new genome.

{Class vertebrates: compatible.}

More part starts to detach and go for the new one, beginning to connect part of the genome and start the chain in different places.

{class mammal: compatible} New pieces and larger chains appear in the central genome as a new line appears.

{Class carnivorous-omnivorous: partially compatible. Omnivorous genes added for a further survival chance.}

This time, only part of the human genome parts themselves and came to complete further the appearing genome.

{Class human-feline: non-compatible: Feline genes add for a further survival chance.} Again, only one of the two genome parts of a few genes and merge them into the growing third.

{Class feline-panther: compatible.} A large batch of genes previously connected to the departed part flee to the near-completed genome.

{Sub-class snow panter add to the new genome.} This time, it was the third genome that reacts as it expulses and gains few genes, before starting to links the different chains that have formed. Slowly the new genome came to birth while minors changes would appear to accommodate it into a viable living being.

Once ultimately merged a 3D image resulting from the read genome form on the side. What he witnessed was a being that was not entirely unknown to him.

'Did I just create a mink?'

{Does the user confirm the created genome?}

'It wasn't exactly what I was thinking. Is it possible to further change the genome to give it a human appearance with only the minimal animal trait?'

{Simulation in progress, please wait for an instant.}

Just after the window apparition, genes of the human side start to merge with the existing genome, bringing change to the current model displayed. The fur present on the body receded into it, leaving behind human skin. The paws vanish to let hand and feet appear but leave the third articulation on the legs. Hairs sprout while keeping the snow panther coat on the two animal ears on it. A trail of fur running on the entire spine and covering it let place to the long bushy tail of the snow panther.

{simulation complete does the user wish to process the new genome?}

'It better, but they're still some trait left. Is it possible to further refine the genome?'

{Impossible, the genome has been refined to the maximum of its capacity before mutation occurs and destabilises the entire genome and lead to fatal results. The other alternative is a dormant bloodline need to awoken via still unknown means.}

'Would I still gain something with a dormant bloodline?'

{Processing ... Minor enhancement of sight, hearing, smell, strength, and agility would be gain. For maximised profits, full awaking will be required.}

'I don't know where I will land, better be safe than sorry and go with a human physique and hope that it will be alright. Confirm the second alternative.'

{confirmed second alternative, processing the evolution.}

As soon as the window vanishes, the tendrils still connected to the eggs snap and enter them, merging the two genomes into the new one.

The moment the tendrils where absorbed, the magic operates. For perhaps the first time someone was able to witness to the creation of a new being right in front of their eyes. Due to his size, he was practically able to see the chromosomes multiply and divide and look, fascinated as the first cell became two.

Within a few instants, the second mitosis starts, and soon two become four. In no time the tennis size egg has grown to the previous size it has appeared to be.

What should be the third week of development and it's becoming an actual embryo, soon came. It was at this point and forward that holds the most significant interest from it. Being able to observe to lizard look like things slowly evolve to form another completely different being.

Its size didn't stop to expend and soon became more massive than him. The embryo period has already passed, and it officially becomes a fetus. It also the time that the peak of it metamorphose had past, starting now, the difference will be scarce has the internal work takes place for most of the remaining time.

It was at this point that it start to think, why in the first place did he have to create the body? Why did it appear in front of him? Why are the two other ones near the first? What now? While it was slow, he could tell that the body was maturing, thus ageing. If the process of its growth was the same as a human one, near a year should have past since the body starts forming. Yet, the system hadn't reappeared.

Somewhat lost, he does the only possible thing for him, wait. Time seems to continue ongoing as the hair of the baby, along with his size, continues to grow. An interesting fact was that will he had no seen one, the baby does have a belly button and doesn't show signs of malnutrition, which means that something was keeping the baby healthy.

As time past, the baby has started to show some more definite features, and with a wild guess, one would tell that the body was at least three to four years old.

Not long after his observation, something finally changes in this silent, frozen space. A new window popped up.

{[Name: .658]

[Age: 1]

[Race: homonculus]

[STR: 8] [END: 7] [VIT:7] [AGI: 9]

{Skill}

'Status? Are you giving me a status?'

{No}

'Then what is it?'

{ It's the one of the body in front of you, should you accept it, it will be yours.}

'Choice, do you mean that I will inhabit it? That why you made me choose its form?'

{Yes, as according to the will of the beings that you respond, you will be sent to the One Piece world were you need to bring significant change. Being of a different plane of existence, it would be impossible for the user to enter physically and spiritually with your past upbringing. You have to attenuate your soul to one of the worlds where you are needed and create a body to enter the world without risk.}

'I will have a system?!' Before his excitement could rise, he was shot down immediately.

{No, the existence of a system would bring perturbation in the natural order. You will, however, be proposed objectives to accomplish to guide you and indirect reward could be given.}

'indirect rewards?'

{Following your action, you will receive what you can obtain, you will only be given chances, it up to you to grab them and retrieve the maximum out of them.}

'Okay... So what up with the status?'

{Since the body doesn't have an actual soul and result in human experimentation; it was given an experimental code, until real birth. Age is self-explanatory.

STR is the amount of strength possessed by the body and applicable to the world but also is the capacity to endure damages.

END is related to your overall body energy when exhausted; the user would find it difficult to move or exert any strength.

VIT for vitality and is your life force, the greater is it, the more excellent your resistance to external debuff, it also affects your resistance again devil fruits and Haki.

AGI is for agility, or your body fitness and your internal balance and equilibrium.

'Wait, what about me messing with the genome?'

{This body is only a temporary shell. None of the modification done will show useless something done. The chance for it to happen is near inexistent.}

'Damn, that suck.'

{Remember that this body is only to attenuate your soul to those worlds. It is dubious that it would exist for more than a few years, before send to your first world.}

'What? But what about this one?'

{As of today, your actual state wouldn't bring near enough change. This world fate has been altered to allow your passage toward your first destination. The start of the 'plot' isn't due before eighteen years. To bring the most results possible, you need more strength. To allow this, growth in a less dangerous world is required.}

He was stunned for a second before understanding. 'Direct changes can't be applied, but indirect ones to change the future can?'

{Exactly.}

'Ok, what about the value?' Asked him, preferring stopping to think about things he had no hold over for now.

{The average human of this world had stats of 10 at a maximum of 25 years old. Those stats will stagnate or grow until 40~50 years old before slowly regressing. Take into consideration that marine above Seamans first class are considered breaking the first shackle. Devils fruits are also not taken into consideration in those stats except Zoan users and particular Paramecia. Specials traits could also influence them (Ex: Jango's hypnotism). Fisherman race is said to have a base of ten times the strength of human, thus the ability to have ten times more in stats points at their peak age. The giant race has 150 stats point or a rate of 150:1 and peak age of 50 and falls at 250. Mink have a ratio of 5:1.

Skills rank is another set of rules; they are divide into ten levels, from acquisition to complete mastery. Devils fruits are submitted to this rule too; awakening happens at level 8 and complete mastery at 10. Skills are represented by extremely particular abilities that the rest of the races hadn't access such as devil Fruits, electro and the like.}

'Considering the already present stat and lack skills, I far from being able to survive alone. Well, no need to think of it now. What now system?'

{If the user is ready, he could be fuse with the body and start.}

'Do it.'

{Confirmed, starting the fusing of the user soul and the body!}

The window vanishes and everything turns black.