Noah placed the bodies on two separate analysis tables and began to work.
First, the gorilla.
The scanners ran over the beast's body mass, analyzing tissues, bone structure, genetic composition. The results appeared on the screens.
Noah crossed his arms, disappointed.
—This is quite disappointing…
The data showed that, apart from its enormous size, the gorilla was quite ordinary. Its DNA was similar to other primate species recorded in his database. No significant mutations, no special traits. Just big.
—Let's move on to the next one.
He deactivated the scanners and turned to the other table.
This analysis was more complex. The scanners revealed a severely damaged body: multiple fractures in ribs and limbs, internal bleeding, muscle tears. His vital energy, however, was notably high, though at that moment it was nearly depleted. And most interestingly: he was regenerating.
Slowly, but perceptibly, his tissues were repairing themselves.
—Interesting —Noah whispered—. He has a regeneration factor. Very weak, but present.
He moved on to genetic analysis.
And there he found the true gem.
The man possessed two distinct kekkei genkai.
The first was responsible for his wings. But they were not simple appendages; the analysis revealed that the wings alone could not sustain flight. However, the man's body passively generated a small amount of wind chakra that flowed into the wings, creating additional lift. Without that constant flow, the wings would be mere ornaments.
The second kekkei genkai was more complex. A fusion between Yin nature and Fire nature. A unique combination never seen before by Noah, neither in the anime nor during his travels. According to the analysis, the black sphere the man had launched was a direct manifestation of this power. But it came at a cost: the jutsu was activated by consuming the user's life energy. That was why the man was so exhausted after using it.
—Yin and Fire —Noah reflected—. The result is… Darkness? Fascinating.
He completed the analysis and stored all the data along with a few genetic samples. Then, he placed a hand on the unconscious man's forehead and closed his eyes.
Reading the mind of a being with no mental defenses or spiritual resistance was as easy as flipping through an open book. Memories flowed into him in a continuous torrent, images and sensations unfolding as if he were living them in first person.
He saw the island from the man's perspective. Colossal creatures dominated the landscape: beasts of gigantic proportions, some resembling gorillas like the one lying dead beside him, others taking the form of giant birds or scaly reptiles moving among the enormous trees.
The humanoids were just small pieces within that savage balance. And all of them, absolutely all of them, possessed wings.
Feathered men.
The man's memories showed his village. The inhabitants flew back and forth naturally, their wings spread, soaring through the air like fish in water.
But not all were the same.
The clan this man belonged to was the Dark Feather clan. Their wings were black as night, and their way of life was that of barbarians. They raided, fought, hunted. They lived on the fringes of any civilization, constantly facing beasts and other clans. In the memories, Noah saw violent incursions against weaker settlements, territorial fights, and a warrior culture that venerated strength above all else.
Then, the memories showed the other dominant clan of this island.
Golden Feather.
Their wings were a bright yellow, almost golden, and they lived in more elaborate settlements. They proclaimed themselves children of a sun god named Shun, whom they worshiped in temples built on the island's highest peaks. And they possessed a power that made them fearsome: they could launch orbs of light from their mouths, extremely fast projectiles that pulverized everything in their path.
With that power, they ruled over the lesser tribes of the island: winged humanoids who only possessed basic wings, without any special kekkei genkai. These lived as subjects, working for the Golden Feather, building their temples, cultivating their fields. In return, they received protection against the Dark Feather barbarians.
Noah understood the dynamics of the people of this island. A centralized empire facing savage hordes on its borders.
—This is like Rome and the Germans —Noah thought. The Golden Feather were the Romans, with their civilization and organized power. The Dark Feather were the barbarians, fierce but disorganized, always lurking.
The man whose memories he was reading was named Orkus. A mere warrior of his clan, without special relevance. He had participated in dozens of raids, and his life was simple: fight, survive, and plunder.
But in his deepest memories, there was something more. Orkus dreamed of something beyond his clan's life. He dreamed of ruling.
Noah withdrew his hand and opened his eyes.
He reflected for long minutes, observing Orkus's unconscious face.
—This might be more useful than I thought —he murmured.
He grabbed Orkus and the dead gorilla and, opening the magic door, returned to the forest clearing where he had found them. He placed the man on the ground and the beast beside him, exactly as they were before.
But before leaving, he worked quickly.
With precise movements, he injected a series of subtle modifications into Orkus's body. Nothing that would alter his essence, but rather that would accelerate his regeneration and slightly strengthen his muscles at the cost of shortening his lifespan.
Then, he implanted a message deep within his subconscious. A seed of ambition. A voice that would whisper to him in his dreams and push him to seek to fulfill his dreams and ambitions.
—I hope you don't disappoint me.
Noah's eyes gleamed with a flash of anticipation. Then, with a thought, he rose into the sky and disappeared among the clouds.
---
In the clearing, Orkus woke up.
He blinked, confused. He remembered the fight, the gorilla's blow, the darkness approaching. But now… now he felt strange. Different. Stronger.
He slowly sat up and examined his body. His wounds had completely healed. Not only that; his muscles seemed more defined. He moved a wing and found it perfectly functional, even stronger than before.
Then, a thought crossed his mind.
—The gods —he whispered, his eyes widening in amazement—. The moon gods have blessed me!
He leaped to his feet, feeling power flow through his veins like never before. He looked at the dead gorilla, and a fierce smile spread across his face.
—Ha, ha, ha! —his laughter echoed through the forest, scattering small creatures—. The moon gods! The moon gods have blessed me with their gift! I, Orkus, am destined to rule this world!
He grabbed the gorilla by the ankle and, with a strength he did not possess before, began to drag it toward his village. The beast's body left a deep furrow in the ground, but Orkus did not feel the weight. His heart beat with a new ambition, a flame he did not know had been kindled by an external hand.
High above, invisible among the clouds, Noah watched the scene for a moment longer. He saw Orkus walk away, dragging his trophy, laughing like a madman.
—Let the game begin —he murmured.
Then he turned around and ventured deeper into the island.