After dinner, David approached his bed, clutching three old and rusted glyphs in his hands. His room was just as small as it had been in his old world, except now, he had the whole place to himself.
It was the typical teenage boy room, with soda cans and broken gadgets littered around. A poster of a female tamer named Fenris Harkson, who David presumed was Jethro's celebrity crush, hung on the wall. And a framed picture of Mardetta sat by the bed.
David took down the Fenris poster, folded and flung it into the bin, then picked up the picture of Mardetta and stared at it thoughtfully.
Save for the snow-colored hair, Mardetta was a literal photocopy of Margaret, David's mother. It was still a shock to him that he was living the life of one of his versions in the possible multiverse.
Exhaling softly, he gently set down the picture. He picked up a cloth and used it to make a small nest for the lizard. After pulling it off his shoulder, David dropped it on the makeshift nest, picked up the three glyphs and sat on his bed.
The glyphs contained information on separate subjects.
The first glyph— the newest amongst the bunch —contained information on Basic Beast Development and Taming. This subject would inform David on the growth path of mechbeasts, including things to do as a tamer to ensure your mechbeast reached its full potential.
The second glyph explored the Hierarchy of Mechbeasts, explaining how ranks reflected potential, distinct from raw power. It outlined power scaling using feats that had been recorded over time, including beast battles, the Games, one-on-one encounters and overall harnessing and containment of aether by measuring the amount inside the core using units.
The third glyph— the oldest and grimiest of the three —contained information on evolution. Evolution was a process where a mechbeast could change its size, power and form to another much stronger one that is multiple ranks ahead of its original form.
This glyph was the most interesting to David, although he already knew from Jethro's memories that most mechbeasts couldn't evolve. It was a sporadic trait given to select few mechbeasts usually in the Gold and Silver Ranks, giving them the chance to evolve to Platinum and sometimes Black.
Still, David could only dream.
Jethro had read these glyphs before, but that had been a long time ago, and the knowledge was too fractured. David needed to read them over again to refresh his memory.
As much as he wanted to, he couldn't just jump into the Evolution Studies glyph, and so he began with the one on Basic Beast Development.
He laid on the bed and placed the glyph in front of him. The object was round and thick, with a tiny projector in its center, and a button on its frame for activation.
When David pressed it, a holographic image appeared before him, showing screen 66, where Jethro or another reader had left off. David slid his finger along the scroll below the button, rewinding to the first screen.
Then, he began reading.
All mechbeasts, whether hatched in ceremonies or in the wild, progressed through five growth phases.
The first was the Hatchling Phase, which encompassed Levels 1 to 10. At this stage, the mechbeast was just hatched from the egg. The body was fairly weak relative to its overall potential, their functions were limited, and the beast core was unstable.
At this phase, it was optimal for the tamer to teach the beast basic combat, work, or care instincts, depending on what the mechbeast was meant for. For combat instincts, a tamer would teach the beast how to bite, claw, or bash.
In David's case, since the gutterling wasn't a combat type mechbeast, he would teach the lizard how to snap its tongue at flies.
Even though some of these actions came to the beasts instinctively due to their nature, early guidance fostered obedience and control, teaching beasts when to act or refrain.
Light training was also advised; such as reflex training and basic mission handling.
Nutrition for mechbeasts differed depending on the species, but they must not be overfed at this stage, as it increased the chances of gluttony in the future. Gluttonous beasts attacked humans when food became scarce.
Also, Aether absorption must be regulated according to their rank limits to avoid corruption.
David searched for the aether limit of a Red Lizard and found it to be 20 units per day. When he searched for the limit of a Vulcan Hydra and a Shadow Fiend Raven, he got 1500 units and 1000 units respectively.
The amount of aether consumed between these mechbeasts was mind-blowingly incomparable. It also explained the disparity in the units of aether Beastcorp shared.
The next phase was the Juvenile Phase, encompassing Level 11 to 30.
At this stage, the beast's body naturally matured.
Mechbeasts weren't robots. They were bio-synthetic creatures grown from stored DNA and beast cores, then encased in a body of living alloy called Vincinite Fiber— named after its creator.
Vincinite Fiber grew like tissue and repaired like muscle. It responded to the beast core and the aether stored within it the way flesh responded to protein— healing the core-threaded organs inside it and the bones made of micro-filament steel.
Because of the beast cores within them, these beasts retained their natural character, abilities, and traits— but were given new skin that was even more natural to them than humans perceived.
If the processes from Phase One were done right, not only did the mechbeasts naturally grow— frame expanding —but they maintained peak body health as the Fiber responded to the core. If the core was fed well and given the right amount of aether, the body grew impeccably.
Too little aether and the Fiber became weak; the body would be malnourished. Too much aether and the Fiber became corrupted; the body, unable to contain the energy, rotted.
At this stage, low-risk missions and slightly increased training should begin. This way, the mechbeast could start unlocking movement techniques, boosting agility, syncing with the tamer, and learning its duties better.
Aether absorption dosage should be increased by x2 of its former dosage, and food intake could also be slightly increased.
At the next phase, the Adolescent Phase— from Level 31 to 60 —the mechbeast began showing signature abilities based on their species. Elemental abilities, energy blasts, field manipulation, and similar traits emerged.
Frame strength and neural capabilities jumped. The core expanded vastly, so aether absorption increased to x5 of the base dosage. Serious battles could begin, and more in-depth training, plus Rift engagement, was advised for optimality.
The Mature Phase, Levels 61 to 90, equipped beasts for prolonged battles, depending on rank. Their bodies neared full growth, and their abilities were best upgraded at this time to ensure quick adaptation.
It was at this stage that evolution potential or dormant bloodlines started to reveal themselves.
Tamers should focus on battle efficiency and survival, cultivating its powers in the beast's natural environment.
The final phase was the Apex Phase, from Level 91 to 100.
At this phase, the mechbeast had reached the peak of natural growth. Their powers were at their highest, and they were prepared for high-level Rift Clearing missions.
They became eligible for tournaments such as the Mechbeast Games and earned the tamer recognition from Beastcorp.
If present, hidden bloodlines could awaken, and beasts with evolution traits could transform into their mightier forms using an evolution trigger.
Feeding soared, and so did aether absorption, with a x20 increase from its base dose.
At this phase, it was expected that the mechbeast had reached perfect synchrony with the tamer; if cultivation and training had been done concisely.
All mechbeasts reached their apex eventually, whether it was done the right way or the wrong way.
However, because of power scaling, there are some beasts that even at their Apex Phase weren't half as strong as other beasts at their Hatchling Phase.
Croak!
David glanced up at the Gutterling, which had abandoned its nest to perch on his head. "They're talking about you, aren't they?" he mumbled, exasperated.