At home, giving me a big hug, Nojiko spoke with relief in her voice: "I'm so happy you came back safe and sound."
"Hey, heyyy, I'm here too, you know?" Nami said.
"Oh, Nami, you were still here?" Nojiko said indifferently: "Yeah, yeah, welcome too~"
Nami: "..."
I held back from laughing as I saw Nami with her mouth open, surprised by Nojiko's reaction.
Of course, I knew Nojiko was teasing Nami, but it was something Nami clearly wasn't expecting...
--
--
Later in my room, I wanted to assimilated myself with the Elastigirl card.
I admit her powers are quite tempting.
However, nonetheless... I was being somewhat greedy and wanted to buy two scrolls and try to get a character that could be more useful to me than her.
[-100 GP!]
At the notification, I saw two golden scrolls available for use in my status.
Clicking, I opened the first one.
His room lit up, the glow of the scroll opening before me faded, soon replaced by a card.
════════ ××× ════════
Audrey Ramirez (Atlantis: The Lost Empire) - ★★★★]
Description: Genius mechanic, capable of repairing and operating complex machines, including Atlantean technology.
[Assimilate] – [Summon]
════════ ××× ════════
Looking at the card in my hand, knowing how useful it could be, I even thought it would be a good idea to assimilate. Of course, I also considered summoning.
But it would be useless to summon right now under Arlong's supervision.
So I went to the next and last scroll.
Similar to the previous glow, with a few golden sparks, I saw the scroll turn into a card.
════════ ××× ════════
Frozone (The Incredibles) - ★★★★]
Description: Frozone manipulates ice with precision, creating barriers, ramps, projectiles (like stalactites), and surfaces to slide on. He relies on environmental moisture or his water bottle, which limits his power in dry environments.
[Assimilate] – [Summon]
════════ ××× ════════
I touched my chin, thoughtful.
Another card from "The Incredibles." Part of me wanted to assimilate this card, but thinking about Elastigirl's versatility made me reconsider.
'What's the best choice for me right now?' I thought.
When I stopped to think, that's when I realized how well Elastigirl's ability would combine with 'Maui's Fish Hook.' I could even see myself using Maui's Fish Hook while my hands stretched.
Closing my eyes, my resolve became firmer.
Although Frozone isn't a bad character to assimilate, for now, I'd rather gain Elastigirl's abilities.
Storing it in the nightstand drawer next to my bed, I took the Elastigirl card and clicked on assimilate.
"Shine!"
The card dissolved, merging with me. I felt a chill, as if my body were lighter, elastic.
"Ah, ahh..."
My voice sounded strangely high-pitched for a second, and I wondered if the assimilation would bring some of her traits.
'I'm not going to become more feminine, right?'
I hadn't considered that possibility, since I didn't have a strong genetic influence from Hercules or Li Shang.
'But maybe because I'm biologically different, the influence is stronger on me?'
I admit that scared me quite a bit.
I didn't want to become effeminate!
"A, e, i, o, u." I murmured softly.
My voice still sounded sweeter...
I wanted to cry.
But then, remembering something, I went to the mirror!
"Sigh, thank goodness..."
Looking at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, I was visibly relieved.
In my reflection, my appearance remained the same.
That was good.
Then, I had another concern... When I looked at my 'buddy', seeing that he was still there, another wave of relief went through my body.
Back in my room, I sat on the bed and opened my status.
════════ ××× ════════
Assimilation in Progress [2/2]: [Hercules (Hercules) - ★★★★★ (15.3%)] - [Elastigirl (The Incredibles) - ★★★★☆ (5.5%)]
════════ ××× ════════
'... My voice changed that much with only 5.5%?'
I had an ironic and desperate smile.
Still, trying to think positively, I tried stretching my hand or something like that, only to be disappointed...
'Sleep, sleep! I'll think about it with a clear head tomorrow.' I thought.
--
--
The next morning, I woke up feeling like a lesbian girl in a man's body...
My sexual preference was still for women, but even if just for a brief time, I really felt like a girl trapped in a man's body.
'I'm never assimilating a female character again!' I made a vow.
'Even if it's a 6-star character, I wouldn't... Seriously, I won't!'
Why do I feel like I'm not that convincing?
But I didn't want to lose my identity as a man!
[Elastigirl (The Incredibles) - ★★★★☆ (6.7%)]
After a night, the increase was even smaller than Hercules's assimilation.
'Maybe because I'm indirectly rejecting it or I'm biologically less compatible?'
Whatever it is, I don't know whether to be happy or sad.
In part, happy. That way, I wouldn't suffer major influence from Elastigirl. Sad, because I want to be able to use her powers.
In the end, I was neutral between the two.
I still want the elastic powers, but I still want to keep my identity as a man.
'If I assimilate more of Hercules, maybe it'll cancel out Elastigirl's feminine influence.' I thought, hopefully.
Hercules was basically the definition of a straight man. There's also Li Shang, whom I assimilated, and myself.
Basically 3 against 1.
By the way, fortunately, my voice, although a bit softer, wasn't as feminine as it was before.
'At least that.' I thought, critically.
...
In the dining room, while eating breakfast, Nojiko kept looking at me more than usual.
"Is there something on my face, Nojiko-nee?" I asked.
She, who had her hand in a cat paw shape resting on her chin while looking at me, adjusted herself at my question and answered with a smile: "Nothing much, I just feel like in the few days I didn't see you, you've become more handsome~"
I blushed a little at her straightforward words. And I was startled right after.
"Are you okay?" Nami noticed my awkwardness.
"Yes, yes..." I replied, stiffly.
"He blushed, so cute~" Nojiko teased me.
Nami was also looking at me in a way that made me want to hide under the table.
'Heavens! I don't want this!!' I screamed in my mind.
Clearly, I wasn't like this before.
This could only be the influence of the Elastigirl card!
I had never regretted my actions so much.
If I had known, if I had even a simple warning, I would never have assimilated with that card, no matter how tempting her abilities were.
I wanted to cry, but had no tears.
--
--
For the next few hours, I locked myself in my room and meditated.
'I'm a man, I'm a man. I'm alpha, I'm not a woman... I, I'm a lesbian girl in a man's body...'
"Damn it!" I ended up cursing out loud.
"Noah, are you okay?"
"Nojiko-nee? Yes, yes, I'm fine...!" I couldn't sound very convincing as I said it.
I was relieved when she didn't press further and left me alone.
Now, sitting in the corner of the room, I was drawing circles on the floor, depressed.
'Seriously, I haven't even assimilated 10% and I'm already being influenced this much?'
My worry was almost palpable.
'If I continued to assimilate this card, what would happen to me then?'
A concern I believed was valid.
This time, I made a sincere vow to never again assimilate any female character, even if it were a 6-star card!
How could I?
If the level of influence from a 4-star card left me like this, imagine a 6-star one?
That was something I didn't even want to imagine...
--
--
A week later.
Which I call the week of nightmares.
Every day I spent in my room meditating while the inevitable assimilation of the Elastigirl card continued to increase.
However, strangely enough, meditating helped me.
I was managing to fight against this 'evil' influence!
It was also then that I knelt on the floor and thanked God.
'Thank God it wasn't a 5-star card, or worse, a 6-star one...'
Just thinking about it gave me chills.
Assimilation in Progress [2/2]: [Hercules (Hercules) - ★★★★★ (16.6%)] - [Elastigirl (The Incredibles) - ★★★★☆ (9.9%)]
But, let's face it, not everything was bad.
When it hit 9%, I started being able to stretch 10 cm of my body.
It may seem little, but it was already a start.
And with Hercules's strength, the 10 cm of my hand stretching was like a powerful "Jab."
Believe me, 10 extra cm makes all the difference – If you know what I mean...
Okay, okay, I digressed a little.
'Today, I will strike my first blow against Arlong and...'
I didn't finish my line of thought, didn't even need to.
It was night and Nami had gone out again, this time without me, and Nojiko was sleeping.
The window in my room was open. In my hand, I had a giant Fish Hook and in the other, a card.
On my head, I wore a hat. The same hat as the Cheshire Cat that I got through the scrolls.
My partial invisibility made me less detectable.
At my feet, there was a carpet, and soon the carpet began to float under my mental command.
I had gone out before, although at the current moment I could only fly for 1 hour, it was enough. My destination wasn't that far after all.
--
--
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