Eternal Winter's Reign - Book 2 - Chapter 68 - New Benefits (Patreon)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Don't mind this. It's so that free readers can't see half the chapter.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For those of you who are reading this on a website that is not Patreon, please stop. You're reading a pirated version. Instead, if you would be so kind, please click on the table of contents link below and go to my Patreon instead. Or even read it off of Royal Road, which is free.

Discord Invite

Top Web Fiction

Table of Contents

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alexander North

The moment my eyes open, I feel a strange sensation fill me from head to toe. Almost like I’m full of energy, but not one hundred percent the exact same energy I’m used to. Not entirely just cold energy.

There’s heat energy as well.

Something I’ve only seen before but never really had available to me to actually use.

|Analyzing… analysis complete. User has evolved. Additionally, the original evolution path was altered by external forces, improving the evolution further.|

I sit up while rubbing my temples, feeling a slight headache as I look around, briefly muttering to the terminal, “And the results of the evolution?”

Only for me to notice my wings, which are very odd. They’re still made of ice, but at the same time, they’re giving off heat.

Which is just bizarre.

Ice shouldn’t be warm.

It just makes no sense.

|The changes during the evolution process include but are not limited to: The addition of heat energy to the user’s energy reserves. The addition of two heat energy based abilities. The alteration of the user’s DNA to bring the angel DNA to the surface of the user’s warm one DNA. The alteration of the user’s DNA to purify the user’s cold one DNA, changing it from its previous virus form to a natural form.|

I blink in surprise at the many changes. Then I focus on my surroundings, where I find quite the number of soldiers with weapons trained on me.

My eyes narrow and I turn towards the lieutenant colonel to ask, “What’s the meaning of this?”

He focuses on my eyes, not saying anything for a few seconds. Then he raises his hand and states, “At ease, men.”

And all of the soldiers lower their weapons.

“I wasn’t sure if you would be getting out of whatever just happened with your mind in tact or not,” the lieutenant colonel explains without a hint of apology. “Will you be up to another assault of the hive today, or should we wait for tomorrow for the next assault?”

Putting aside the pragmatic nature of the military and the lieutenant colonel, I stand up while brushing some snow off of my rather shredded pants as I answer with a frown, “Give me a few hours to adjust. Then we can continue the assault.”

He nods his head, still looking me over and seemingly giving a bit more focus to my eyes and wings.

My wings I understand, but not really sure why he’s looking at my eyes.

“Inform me when you’re ready to begin the assault,” the lieutenant colonel eventually says before turning around and raising his radio to his mouth as he says, “Everyone, take shifts watching the hive. We will go on the offensive again when the Frozen Consultant gives the word.”

I watch him leave for a bit before looking down at my hands.

Terminal, is there a change in my eyes?

|Affirmative. The user’s eyes have now changed to take on the appearance pitch black orbs with faint glowing red and orange pupils surrounded by glowing rings of blue.|

Huh. So mixing together the warm one and cold one aspects then.

Just like my wings.

Well, the first thing I want to know is what did the purification of my cold one DNA do?

|Previously, the user’s DNA was categorized still as mutated human DNA via a virus. However, now your DNA is considered as if you were naturally born as a cold one. The benefits of this include: Improved abilities, improved efficiency of cold energy usage, and the ability to use pressure.|

I frown at that as I walk over towards the edge of the hole leading to the hive.

How improved are my abilities?

Actually, now that I think about it, Sol mentioned the cold ones needing cold immunity.

|All cold energy abilities have been improved in their efficiency by approximately 50%, including Cold Immunity.|

My eyes widen at that in more than a little surprise. Then a smile forms on my face.

Now that’s nice.

Very nice.

Alright, condense all of the changes that you believe I need to know about.

|In addition to previously mentioned changes, the user’s gained the Heat Energy Absorption ability, an ability similar to Cold Energy Absorption, along with the Solar Flare ability, allowing the user to emit heat energy from their wings in a burst. The user has received a heat energy reserve to use along with any heat energy ability you may receive. Lastly, the user has received a pseudo ability called Steel Mind, which makes it impossible to control or alter your body and thoughts by outsiders.|

Hmm. All around, they’re quite good.

That said, what’s a pseudo ability?

|A pseudo ability refers to an ability that is not given by any specific change in the user’s DNA but is a side effect of other abilities and changes conjoining their effects together.|

Interesting.

What lead to this pseudo ability?

|The purification of the user’s cold one DNA included a process to control your mind by the Winter God, however, this process was interrupted by the enhancement of your angel DNA along with your Cold Immunity.|

I feel a chill run down my spine at the realization of just how close I was to ending up becoming a subordinate of Winter.

It also means I need to get Alexia the Cold Immunity ability before she reaches Tier 4. Not that it’ll happen anytime soon.

|It is unlikely that Alexia would undergo the same evolution as the user.|

I glance in the direction of Alexia and Cynthia’s building as I ask, “Why not?”

|According to this unit’s hypothesis, the evolution the user underwent was not entirely natural and was induced by outside sources.|

Right. So Winter and Sun both caused it.

But that’s still just a hypothesis, correct?

|Affirmative.|

Then I still need to get her the ability. Just in case.

Not now though.

Because now I need to get used to the new changes in my body.

I turn to look at the hole.

And after that, we can finish off this hive.