Chapter 216 — The New Mutant Beasts of Meridian
S.C. 1512 — Next Morning
Hidden Island — Outer Research Valley
The mist was still lifting when Ren walked into the valley sector behind the Hive Lab, the restricted zone known only to:
Ren
Kiro
Mira
Bram
Leo
Garin
Lira
Zemo
This was the Mutagenic Habitat—the place where Ren tested animal gene grafts, selective breeding, and controlled mutation serums.
Today, he wasn't here to test.
He was here to inspect.
Because several new species had reached stable maturity.
Mira, Bram, and Kiro followed him, each with a notebook.
Leo stayed close to the trees, senses sharp.
Zemo walked proudly beside Ren, tail held high.
This was his patrol area.
Ren inhaled.
"Let's begin with Habitat Sector A."
---
1. Sword Mantis — The Green Executioner
They entered a reinforced dome-like cage with thick steel bars.
Inside, a creature as tall as Ren stood silently—a bright green mantis with long scythe-like arms, razor-sharp, gleaming like polished metal.
Its eyes tracked Ren carefully.
Mira whispered,
"It looks like that creature from your drawings… Scyther."
Ren nodded.
"Yes. One of my early inspirations."
The Sword Mantis had:
lean segmented armor
high-speed reflexes
cutting force equal to a trained swordsman
camouflage ability
a high loyalty tendency if raised from egg
Bram pressed his forehead to the bars.
"This thing could slice a pirate ship mast in half."
Kiro muttered,
"If trained well, it'll be one of our best silent killers."
Ren scribbled notes.
"Still territorial. Needs social conditioning. But stable."
Zemo growled at it, not in aggression—more like rivalry.
Ren chuckled.
"You two would probably get along."
They moved on.
---
2. Electric Spider — The Shock Web Weaver
Sector B was dim—controlled lighting only.
Tiny sparks glowed between strands of a massive web stretching between stone pillars.
Leo stepped closer.
"Boss… the webs are humming."
Ren nodded.
"The Electric Spider produces conductive silk. Low voltage… but enough to stun anything small."
A spider the size of a dog crawled upside down, electricity crackling through its legs.
Mira kept her distance.
"Are these safe to handle?"
"Only with insulated gloves," Ren said calmly. "They're defensive, not aggressive."
Bram poked a web with a stick.
ZAP!
He yelped and dropped it.
Kiro sighed. "Idiot."
Ren wrote calmly:
Electric output rising — positive.
---
3. T1 Cobra — Silent Death
Sector C was kept colder.
A massive tank filled the room, reinforced with three layers of glass.
A snake coiled inside.
Black scales.
Blue markings.
Eyes like glowing coals.
Five meters long.
Ren spoke softly:
"The T1 Cobra. Its venom breaks down muscle in thirty seconds."
Mira tightened her jaw.
"Too dangerous."
Ren shook his head.
"No. Only dangerous if released. It's for serum production."
Leo grimaced.
"Just looking at it makes my skin crawl."
Zemo barked nervously.
Ren tapped the glass.
"We take extra precautions. No interaction today."
---
4. Blazing Horse — The Thunder Runner
Sector D wasn't caged.
It was a vast open field, surrounded by tall fences and reinforced walls.
A rumble shook the ground.
Then a flash of golden-red lightning tore across the field.
A horse—ten meters tall at full adult size, though this one was "only" five meters—raced past.
Its mane shimmered like flowing flame.
Hooves cracked the soil with explosive force.
Ren smiled slightly.
"The Blazing Horse."
Bram's eyes sparkled like a child.
"I WANT ONE."
Mira said, "It's too fast for you."
"It's perfect for me!"
Kiro rolled his eyes.
Ren noted:
"High stamina. High top speed. Needs emotional bonding."
---
5. Royal Bee — The Honey Sovereign
The next habitat buzzed loudly.
Golden bees, the size of Ren's palm, flew in orderly patterns around a central hive.
The queen bee, half a meter long, rested deep within the hive chamber.
Leo held up a vial of honey.
"This stuff… it increases stamina by 15% for six hours."
Mira blinked.
"That's… priceless."
Ren nodded.
"It's our most valuable export in the future. But we have to keep the hive safe."
Zemo licked his lips.
"No. You can't eat them," Ren said.
---
6. Glazing Rainbow Butterfly — The Hypnotic Dancer
Sector F shimmered with soft rainbow light.
Butterflies the size of shields fluttered gently, their wings glowing with refracted colors.
Bram stared in awe.
"They're… beautiful."
Ren's voice dropped.
"And extremely dangerous."
One flap released a faint powder.
Mira stiffened.
"That's toxic, right?"
Ren nodded.
"Yes. Powder can cause hallucination, paralysis, or sedation depending on density."
Leo watched carefully.
"So these are for…?"
Ren finished:
"Defense. Non-lethal. Crowd control."
Zemo sneezed from the powder.
Ren patted his head. "Careful."
---
7. Iron Armor Rhyno — The Living Bulldozer
Sector G shook.
THUD.
THUD.
THUD.
A gigantic rhino—thrice the size of a normal one—charged into a steel plate.
The plate dented.
The rhino did not.
Kiro whistled.
"That thing could tear down a fortress."
Ren nodded.
"Armor density comparable to low-grade marine steel."
Mira smiled faintly.
"Good for defense patrols."
Ren stroked his chin.
"Maybe for siege operations too…"
---
8. Iron Arm Gorilla — The King of Beasts
Sector H was dark.
A gorilla stepped forward, massive, silver fur bristling.
Six meters tall.
Arms thick like tree trunks.
Heavy muscles rippling under armor-like skin.
It thumped its chest.
BOOM.
The shockwave rattled the floor.
Bram gulped.
"…Okay. Even I'm scared of this one."
Ren nodded.
"Strongest raw physical power among all our current beasts."
Zemo growled in awe.
Ren made note:
"Needs calm trainer. No aggressive personalities."
---
9. Water Monkey — The Ocean Hunter
Sector I was half-land, half-water.
A tribe of blue-skinned monkeys splashed in a large pool.
They had gills on their necks, webbed hands, and long tails used like rudders.
Leo grinned.
"These guys are incredible swimmers."
Ren crouched.
"They can stay underwater for fifteen minutes. Perfect for underwater recovery, sea-map scouting, and even confronting sea creatures."
Kiro nodded.
"They'll be good for ship rescue operations too."
Zemo dipped a paw into the water—one monkey splashed him.
Zemo barked angrily.
Ren smiled.
---
10. And More…
They walked through Sector J, K, L…
Stone-eating beetles that produced shiny crystals
Fire-resistant boars with charcoal-black hides
Long-leg rabbits jumping ten meters high
Miniature oxygen-rich moss-frogs
Silk-spinners producing fabric twice as strong as cotton
And dozens of small harmless creatures raised for food or materials
Mira let out a soft breath.
"…Ren. You're turning this place into something beyond imagination."
Ren didn't answer immediately.
He looked over the valley, the habitats, the countless lives thriving under controlled care.
Then he spoke quietly.
"These creatures aren't just beasts. They're our insurance. Our economy. Our defense. Our future."
Kiro nodded.
"And the world has no idea what you're building."
Bram grinned.
"Good. Let's keep it that way."
Zemo barked proudly.
Ren stroked his fur.
"Let's move on. We still have the main hub to inspect."
The group walked deeper into the valley—
Surrounded by creatures that would one day shake the seas of the East Blue.
---
End of Chapter 216