The soft glow of the lab's magical lights cast long shadows as Arthur continued his work on Penny's transformation.
The hum of various instruments filled the air, a constant companion to his thoughts.
He was deep in concentration when a subtle shift in the air signaled Neo's return.
She moved like a whisper, appearing beside him without a sound.
Arthur looked up, a question in his eyes.
Neo, her face still impassive, pulled out a small, folded piece of paper and handed it to him.
He unfolded it to reveal an address and a time, written in neat, precise script.
It was Pietro Polendina's current whereabouts, a secluded workshop on the outskirts of Vale, far from the prying eyes of Atlas.
"Excellent work, Neo,"
Arthur said, a genuine smile gracing his lips.
Neo, in response, did something unexpected.
She didn't just stand there silently; she looked directly at him, her expressive eyes holding a spark of… something.
A desire, a request, unspoken but clear.
She then extended a small hand, palm up, in a gesture that Arthur recognized from his human life as a request for payment, or perhaps, a reward.
Arthur raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"A reward, is it?"
He mused.
He had been so focused on his work that he hadn't considered
Neo's own desires or needs beyond her efficiency as an assistant.
He paused, considering. He could offer her wealth, advanced technology, anything material.
But something in her gaze suggested she wanted something more personal.
Suddenly, a thought, a powerful surge of instinct, coursed through him.
His Dragon's Aura, usually a subtle thrum beneath his skin, pulsed with a stronger beat.
He looked at Neo, really looked at her.
Her loyalty, her silent support, her unexpected tenderness.
He saw not just a former assassin, but a being who had chosen to stand by him, to help him achieve his goals.
"Alright, Neo,"
He said, his voice dropping to a low, resonant tone that carried a hint of his draconic nature.
"You've earned it."
He reached out, and with a slow, deliberate movement, placed his hand on the back of her neck, his thumb resting just beneath her ear.
Neo didn't flinch.
Instead, a shiver, almost imperceptible, ran through her.
Arthur's eyes, now glowing faintly with golden light, met hers.
This wasn't about power in the sense of control, but about acknowledging her unspoken desire.
He leaned in, his voice a soft murmur,
"You want to feel something real, don't you, Neo?"
Her eyes widened, a flicker of vulnerability showing through her usual composure.
She slowly nodded, her gaze locked on his.
He kissed her. Neo was shocked but accepted him gladly.
Her eyes shone and changed shape into pink hearts.
She felt dominated and this was the greatest reward she ever received.
However, his reward wasn't ending there.
Arthur's Reality Blending power, usually used for grand transformations, now focused on something deeply personal.
He wasn't just giving her a reward; he was giving her a piece of himself, a connection that transcended mere words.
He allowed a gentle surge of his aura to flow into her, not overwhelming, but embracing. It was a subtle, yet profound, act of dominance, not of subjugation, but of shared power and intimacy.
As the energy flowed, Arthur felt a blockage, a knot of old magical residue, within her throat.
He remembered the stories of her muteness, how she had lost her voice.
With a gentle intent, he subtly redirected a portion of his power, not to force, but to heal, to mend.
He focused on her vocal cords, envisioning them whole and vibrant.
A soft gasp escaped Neo's lips.
Her eyes fluttered closed, and a tear, the first Arthur had ever seen from her, trickled down her cheek.
Then, slowly, hesitantly, she pulled herself from his divine kiss.
"M… Master,"
She whispered, her voice a delicate, melodic sound, like wind chimes in a gentle breeze.
It was soft, a little rough from disuse, but undeniably present. It was angelic, just as he had imagined it might be.
Arthur smiled, a deep sense of satisfaction warming him.
He removed his hand from her neck, and Neo, now capable of speech, looked at him with an awe that transcended her usual quiet devotion.
Her silent love had been clear before, but now, with her voice returned, it was amplified, expressed in the pure, unadulterated adoration in her eyes.
She reached out, her hand trembling slightly, and gently touched his cheek.
"Thank you,"
She breathed, her voice gaining a little more strength with each word.
"Thank you so much."
The next morning, Arthur prepared to meet Pietro.
He chose simple, unassuming clothes, wanting to project an image of respectful collaboration rather than overwhelming power.
He left Neo in charge of the lab, trusting her implicitly.
Using the address Neo provided,
Arthur found Pietro's workshop tucked away in a quiet, almost forgotten corner of Vale.
It was a large, unassuming building, far from the gleaming towers of Atlas.
As he approached, he could hear the faint whirring and clanking of machinery, a testament to Pietro's continued work.
He knocked on the heavy metal door, and after a moment, it slowly creaked open.
Pietro Polendina stood there, a man in his later years, with a kind, somewhat weary face, framed by a shock of white hair.
He wore a grease-stained apron over his clothes, and a pair of spectacles rested on his nose.
His eyes, though tired, held a spark of intelligence and gentle wisdom.
"Can I help you?"
Pietro asked, his voice soft and slightly hesitant.
"Professor Polendina,"
Arthur began, his voice calm and respectful.
"My name is Arthur Leywin Stark. I've come to speak with you about Penny."
Pietro's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of surprise and perhaps a hint of alarm crossing his face.
"Penny? How do you know about Penny?"
He asked, his hand instinctively gripping the doorframe.
Arthur held up his hands in a placating gesture.
"Please, Professor, I mean her no harm. Quite the opposite. I believe I can… help her, in a way you might find truly remarkable. But I need to speak with you, face-to-face, and assure you of my intentions."
Pietro studied him for a long moment, his gaze searching.
Arthur met his eyes steadily, projecting sincerity and a subtle aura of trustworthiness.
After a moment, Pietro sighed, a sound of resignation mixed with curiosity.
"Come in, then,"
He said, opening the door wider.
"But I warn you, young man, Penny is my daughter, and I will protect her at all costs."
Arthur stepped inside the workshop, a fascinating blend of advanced technology and old-world craftsmanship.
Tools lay scattered on workbenches, alongside half-finished contraptions and intricate diagrams.
The air smelled of oil, metal, and something indefinable, something akin to innovation.
Pietro led him to a small, cluttered office area within the workshop, offering him a rickety chair.
Arthur sat, and Pietro settled into his own, worn chair behind a desk piled high with blueprints and schematics.
"So,"
Pietro began, his voice a little firmer now.
"What is it you wish to discuss about my daughter?"
Arthur took a deep breath.
"Professor, I know Penny is a marvel of engineering, a testament to your genius and your love. But she is also… limited."
He paused, choosing his words carefully.
"She is artificial. Her life, her very being, is tied to circuits and mechanisms."
Pietro frowned, a flicker of defensiveness in his eyes.
"She is alive,"
He stated, a hint of steel in his voice.
"She has a soul. I saw to that."
"Indeed,"
Arthur agreed, nodding respectfully.
"And that is precisely what makes my proposal possible. I possess abilities that bridge the gap between magic and technology, abilities that allow for the manipulation of… essence."
He leaned forward slightly, his gaze earnest.
"Professor, I believe I can transform Penny. Not just upgrade her, but truly change her. Give her an organic body, a human form."
Pietro stared at him, his mouth slightly agape.
"A human form?"
He whispered, his voice laced with disbelief.
"That's… impossible. It defies everything I know about science."
"And everything I know about magic,"
Arthur countered gently.
"It is a blend of both, a unique intersection. I can weave her soul, her memories, her personality, into a new, living body. She would be truly human, Professor. She would feel the warmth of the sun, taste real food, experience the world with all the senses a human possesses. She would grow, she would age, she would live a life unconstrained by mechanical limitations."
Pietro was silent for a long moment, his eyes distant, lost in thought.
He never believed in something unscientific but he witnessed something that no science could explain and that was his daughter.
Arthur could see the wheels turning in his brilliant mind, the scientific skepticism warring with a father's deep love and desire for his daughter's well-being.
Finally, Pietro looked up, his eyes shining with a mixture of wonder and trepidation.
"You… you truly believe you can do this?"
"I do,"
Arthur affirmed, his voice firm and unwavering.
"It will be a monumental undertaking, but I have the power, and the will, to see it through. But I cannot do it without your consent, Professor. She is your creation, your daughter. Her transformation must be a choice we make together, for her own good."
Pietro slowly rose from his chair, walking over to a shelf filled with various tools and components.
He picked up a small, intricate gear, turning it over in his fingers.
"My life's work,"
He murmured, almost to himself.
"All of it… for her."
He turned back to Arthur, a profound weariness in his eyes, but also a dawning hope.
"I… I have always wanted Penny to be truly human. To have a normal life, free from the burdens of being a synthetic being, free from the constant threat of those who would exploit her abilities."
He paused, a faint smile touching his lips.
"To see her simply… live."
He took a deep breath, his shoulders straightening slightly.
"If you can truly do this, young man, if you can give my daughter the life she deserves, then… then I will help you in any way I can. I will give you my full consent, and my knowledge of Penny's intricate design, anything that might aid your… magical science."
Arthur felt a surge of relief and satisfaction. This was it. The final piece of the puzzle.
"Thank you, Professor,"
He said, a genuine warmth in his voice.
"Together, we can give Penny a new beginning."
Pietro nodded, a newfound determination in his gaze.
"Then let us begin,"
He said, extending a hand to Arthur.
"For Penny."
Arthur shook his hand firmly, a shared purpose binding them.
The meeting, once a source of apprehension, had transformed into an alliance, a testament to the power of shared hope and a father's unwavering love.
The path to Penny's humanity was now clear, and Arthur, with his growing power and newfound allies, was ready to walk it.
....
Which one should be the next world.
....
One Piece
Bleach
Dragon Ball
One Punch man
Kimetsu No Yaiba
Genshin Impact
Solo Leveling
Naruto
Tensura
Moshoku Tensei
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