The forest wasn’t as quiet as it was before.

  Leaves rustled—not from the breeze, but from something heavier, lucking throughout the lush area of the thick jungle. Kaizo could kinda sense the presence of a predator lurking in the deep depths of the forest.

  Kaizo had barely made it back to the edge of the trees, where had accidentally stumbled off course when a voice echoed inside his head.

  Infinity (warning tone): “Kaizo. We’re not alone.”

  Kaizo slowed, with his instincts on high alert. He turned slowly—then froze.

  Kaizo (observant): “Yeah, I can feel it…”

  A hulking black bear stood just thirty feet away. But this wasn’t your typical lumbering wildlife documentary type that behaved incredibly well. Its eyes glowed faintly. Its shoulders were broader than natural. Its muscles twitched with inhuman strength.

  Kaizo: “…Hey, Infinity?”

  Infinity: “Yes?”

  Kaizo (deadpan): “Why does that bear look like it’s on crack?”

  Infinity: “That would be a PrimeBeast Bear. Just one of the thousands of animals affected by the lab explosion. Everything about them—instinct, strength, perception—was enhanced. Think of it like… evolution at 2x speed, if that’s the best way to put it.”

  Kaizo’s eye twitched as the bear sniffed the air and began to inch closer.

  Kaizo: “...And you figured this out how, exactly?”

  Infinity: “Easy. I contain the DNA blueprint of every known organism on Earth. When a PrimeBeast Parrot flew into the facility months ago, I analyzed its genome from a distance. Compared it to baseline species. The difference was… drastic. It’s like they reached the absolute pinnacle of animal evolution, it’s quite fascinating really-”

  Kaizo (quickly): “Cool exposition but not the best time, Infinity….”

  The bear let out a deep snort, locking eyes with Kaizo.

  Without a second thought, it began charging at Kaizo

  Infinity (calm but urgent): “Alright. I’m syncing now. I’m going to try adjusting your DNA for escape protocol—target species: cheetah.”

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Kaizo’s legs suddenly lit up with energy—his muscles tightened, spring-loaded and burning with sudden vitality.

  Kaizo: “…Whoa, I feel fast!”

  Infinity (pleased): “You are fast. Now run.”

  And so he did.

  Kaizo took off through the trees like a cannonball, narrowly dodging branches and leaping over roots with an agility that surpassed his wildest expectations. But behind him, the PrimeBeast Bear was gaining ground—pounding through obstacles, fueled by raw power and aggression.

  Kaizo (while sprinting): “This thing’s cheating! Bears aren’t supposed to move this fast!”

  Infinity: “Correction: normal bears aren’t.”

  After several minutes of desperate fleeing, the forest thickened—and they finally saw it: a cluster of dense trees forming a natural choke point.

  Kaizo veered into the area, then vaulted into one of the trees, pulling himself onto a branch with newfound strength. Infinity was caught a little off guard by how easily Kaizo was able to maneuver up there, but decided to blame the adrenaline rush and moved past it.

  Infinity (calming): “Stay still I got you. I’ll do the rest.”

  As the PrimeBeast Bear stomped into view, Infinity began manipulating Kaizo’s body again—this time targeting a different creature.

  Infinity: “Engaging chameleon DNA transfer. Adjusting skin pigmentation and heat signature.”

  Kaizo blinked as his skin shimmered, his presence fading into the bark of the tree.

  The bear sniffed around, eyes scanning... but it kept moving.

  Silence followed and after a long, tense moment, Kaizo dropped down softly behind it—landing just a few feet away as it finally disappeared into the woods.

  Kaizo: “…Did we just Solid Snake a mutant bear?”

  Infinity: “I don’t know what that means but if that means we escaped—then yes.”

  As they exited the forest, Kaizo glanced down at his legs.

  They looked completely normal—no fur, no claws. Just… legs.

  Kaizo: “Huh. I thought you gave me cheetah legs?”

  Infinity: “I did. But I can alter your physiology internally—without changing appearance. It’s… more efficient. And way less suspicious in public.”

  Kaizo nodded slowly, a grin forming.

  Kaizo: “…That’s very convenient."

  Confidence returned to his stride. For the first time since entering Shinkami, Kaizo was excited to enjoy this new city.

  He felt like someone different, capable of achieving things he wouldn’t think was possible before.

  Kaizo: “Alright, Infinity. Let’s head home. We’ve got a lot to talk about.”

  Infinity: “I’m all ears.”

  Kaizo: “…You don’t have ears.”

  Infinity: “I could use yours!”

  They laughed.

  And beneath the orange hue of the fading day, Kaizo Nekodaira—symbiotically bonded to an experimental creature with limitless potential—walked back toward the world he was ready to look at with a new set of eyes.