Chapter 71 – The Flow of Perfection

  The vast ocean pressed in from all sides, a world of endless dark and shifting currents. Eo did not move. He had no need to. His form remained suspended in the abyss, an entity of thought and evolution, his mind unraveling the complexities of his own existence. The water whispered through the currents, tracing the outline of his body, but it was not the outside world that held his focus—it was the flawed system within.

  Something was still missing.

  His Core-Brain Hybrid processed every detail with relentless precision. He could feel the veins that now ran through his form, channels designed to carry the potent force of his Elemental Blood. But they were crude, inefficient. The flow was erratic, unable to sustain the true magnitude of his energy. His veins bulged when overloaded, thinning when drained, an unbalanced network that struggled to distribute magic evenly.

  His mind reached for the answer, tracing the fragments of knowledge he had gathered. Human anatomy, studied in meticulous depth. Frid’s body, once observed down to its finest structures. The diagrams from the underground chamber, detailing the complex pathways of blood and energy that allowed creatures of flesh to function with seamless efficiency.

  The truth settled upon him like the weight of the ocean itself.

  He had been too simple in his design. His veins existed, but they lacked the layered complexity that true circulation required. The humans did not rely on a single type of vessel to move their blood—they had arteries, veins, and capillaries, each with its own distinct function. He had overlooked this fundamental truth, and as a result, his energy flow was unrefined, forced through an incomplete structure that failed to regulate the power coursing within him.

  He needed division. A structured, hierarchical system.

  His focus sharpened.

  Eo began restructuring his circulatory network.

  Deep within his form, the transformation unfolded. His existing veins twisted and expanded, splitting into three distinct layers of circulation. The primary conduits thickened, their walls reinforced to handle the most intense surges of Elemental Blood. They became akin to arteries, the main highways of power, directing vast reserves of energy to where they were needed most. These conduits would sustain his high-output functions, ensuring that his body could handle immense bursts of magic without strain.

  Next came the secondary channels, smaller yet equally vital. These pathways acted as regulators, balancing the movement of energy, absorbing excess flow from the primary conduits and redistributing it throughout his body. Like veins returning blood to the heart, these pathways ensured that no part of his system was overwhelmed or left stagnant.

  Finally, the micro-capillary nodes emerged, delicate yet precise. These minuscule pathways reached into every fiber of his being, allowing for refined control over localized energy distribution. They acted as precision channels, enabling him to direct power with absolute accuracy, whether to reinforce a specific section of his form or trigger an instantaneous reaction in combat.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  As the transformation solidified, Eo felt the difference immediately.

  The sluggish delays that had once plagued his movements were gone. His Elemental Blood flowed without resistance, each layer of circulation working in harmony to maintain a perfect balance. His Core-Brain Hybrid processed the new structure in real time, adjusting and optimizing as necessary. No longer did his veins struggle to contain his power—now, they wielded it with purpose.

  He tested it.

  A single thought sent a controlled pulse through his veins, surging through the primary conduits before branching into the secondary channels and filtering down to the micro-capillary nodes. The response was instant. His body shifted with seamless precision, the energy adjusting exactly as needed without the slightest waste.

  Perfection.

  Or at least, the closest he had come to it.

  Yet even now, his mind refused to settle. There was always more to refine. More to evolve. His Core-Brain Hybrid, while an unmatched system of control, was still adapting to the intricacies of his new structure. The balance was not yet absolute.

  Eo focused deeper, letting his awareness stretch through the intricate pathways he had just created. His new veins were stable, but stability alone was not enough. They needed adaptability, the ability to shift and evolve alongside him, to grow stronger as his power increased. The rigid structures of organic life were bound by limitations, but he was not. He could be fluid, dynamic, unrestricted by a single form.

  And so, he willed it into being.

  His circulatory system became self-modulating, capable of expanding and contracting with his energy output. The primary conduits could widen when needed, accommodating explosive bursts of power before settling back into an efficient state. The secondary channels adjusted in real time, redistributing energy with intelligent precision. The micro-capillary nodes refined themselves, developing the ability to reconfigure their pathways based on immediate necessity.

  The change was profound.

  Eo felt the difference as though his entire being had been reborn. His Elemental Blood no longer simply flowed—it adapted. It pulsed in perfect synchronicity with his Core-Brain Hybrid, responding to thought as if it were an extension of his mind itself. No delay. No inefficiency.

  True harmony.

  The ocean around him seemed different now. The water, once an ever-present resistance, felt almost nonexistent. His movements required no effort—his body simply responded, as if friction had ceased to exist. The dense pressure of the deep no longer pressed against him; rather, he was one with it, his energy flowing as effortlessly as the currents that surrounded him.

  This was what he had sought. Not just control, but total unity between thought, energy, and form.

  And yet…

  Eo knew this was not the end.

  Perfection was an illusion, a concept that shifted with every new discovery. He had reached another threshold, but beyond it, more remained. His body was now an optimized system, but the world itself was an equation still unsolved. What of the forces beyond himself? The mysteries of magic that stretched far beyond his understanding? He had evolved, but there was still more to consume, more to learn, more to become.

  A thought stirred deep within his Core-Brain Hybrid.

  What would come next?

  The question sent a thrill through him, not of uncertainty, but of anticipation. There were no limits. Not truly. The world had more to offer, and he would take it all.

  As the ocean currents swirled around him, silent and eternal, Eo moved.

  This time, there was no hesitation.

  He would not stop. Not now. Not ever.