For the Sake of Survival [Sea Emperor x Reader]

Chapter 9: Enzyme 42

'Enzyme 42 acquired.'

Through the empty laboratoires and alien working desks, a lonesome human sat, hands slightly shaking with anticipation.

(Y/n)(L/n) thought that silence was painful, when they sat down and couldn't hear a noise. They would get the delayed ticking of the fabricator that hangs on the middle of the alien working station, and the beating of (Y/n)'s pulse against their skin. The Fabricator analyzed the rare RNA catalytic substance, also known as 'Enzyme 42' - to only think of it ; the cure that the previous natives of this planet risked their life and energy to contain it, was now in front of a mere human.

The Enzyme was shiny, orange-hued while some specks shone brighter while other paler. A sluggish dose of it was carefully contained on a glass plate, while being placed within the scanner. The (gender) human held their hands together, apprehension taking over them.

They sighed : "It's time."

Unzipping their diving suit, (Y/n) lat their bare skin feel the cold air of the Primary research facility. As a Body-gloved shorts and top swimwear was their only pie of coverage, (L/n) felt a shiver ran through their spine. The human contemplated, should they inject the Enzyme in their body? Consume it, maybe? Or just apply it on their whole body? All in all, (Y/n) was standing dumbfoundingly for a long while, not knowing what to do. Deciding on should they touch it or not, (Y/n)(L/n) finally came to a decision of taking a dose of this substance within his/her hands. It should be harmless to the touch, right?

With slow maneuver, they submitted their hand onto the shiny blob of this stimulant, only to feel the slimish texture envelope their finger.

Surprisingly, (Y/n) felt calm. The Enzyme was cool, and slick on the texture, no signs of activity with it being placed on a infected hand. Although (L/n)'s infection was getting violent, with her/his skin slightly cracking with green veins, The enzyme reacted as a cream for hands.

(Y/n) chuckled : "huh, it's not so ba-"

Within a moment, Enzyme 42 started to shift its temperature from being cool onto extremely cold and icy. It started to sting the (gender)'s hand. Feeling the sudden numbness, (Y/n) tried to brush the substances off his/her fingers, only to get more of it covering her/his both hands.

A wave of pain and terror suddenly washed over (L/n) ; it was exquisite, and debilitating even for most experienced of fighters. For (Y/n) it was the worst burning sensation they had ever felt, even worse than actually being burned by the Sea Dragon or being frozen to death at the same time.

"...AGH!" - a bloodcurdling scream cut through empty auditorium of the Alien facility while it tore through the (gender)'s vocals. Their pain was unbearable, and their body went stiff and cold. The sluggish enzyme was now shifting onto their hands and arms, slowly absorbing within their skin and blood streams. Fear washed over the human survivor, more pain gushed into their systems. Poor (Y/n) tried to look at her/his hands only to see bright lights blind their vision - bright neon-blue lights.

They shook, unable to stand still with shaking hands while grabbing onto their burning skin. (L/n) failed to maintain balance, causing them to fall on their knees. The Human weeped at their own suffering, rolling up in a ball of pain, only to struggle to breathe and spitting blood. Slowly breathing hard, (Y/n) tried to dragged themself into a sitting position, hands clutching his/her side as an electric shock from the enzyme went through their veins ; but the pain was merciless.

"No no no... I can't.. I can't die now..." - (Y/n) felt too weak to continue, their head fell onto their shoulder. The Human couldn't see around them, more neon-blue lights blinding them. Their body was pulsating, the infection slowly fading while veins started to change in colors drastically. Eventually, the pain settled into a sort of sharp throbbing slowly fading them out of consciousness.

(Y/n) went limb on the floor.

Days passed, The Sea Emperor no longer swam alone in their aquarium - they had their younglings.

There's something magical about The Sea Emperor being a parent. They just love everything their little babies do, praises them and makes jovial conversation. They have the kind of bond a civilization could be forged on, just by following their example. The juveniles paddled around their parent, sneaking and cuddling onto them.

The Sea Emperor was happy.

A soft splash of water was heard within the Aquarium, causing the colossal Sea emperor to focus on the lift entrance. Of course, they knew it was none other than their dear human friend who saved the life of their babies, but the Sea Emperor did not expect such a sight in front of them.

"Hey..."

In front of the Sea Emperor gilded (Y/n).

Her/His skin no longer held the sick infection marks that covered their limbs and cheekbones with green colors. It no longer pulsated, no longer throbed from the inside - there was no sight of the kharaa on the Human. Instead, even in the dark you could see (Y/n)'s soft (skin-tone) facial expression, the creamy tone of their skin was clear, yet pale, making their stance seem softer. But what surprised the Sea Emperor the most were the neon-blue eyes. The human no longer starred at the Emperor with their (eye-color) orbs, but now with cyan blue sclera.

'You are no longer contaminated.'

The Sea Emperor didn't see a human - they saw a (gender) human mutated with a Leviathan Enzyme within their blood. Now once infected and anxious human, was a human survivor with a unbreakable immunity and shining blue eyes, just like the Emperor's.

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Follow next onto what actually happened to your DNA! Sorry for the delays - exams and recent summer vacation with colleagues were rough. But All in All, I'm back writing!

Note: Reader is - He/she, They.