I Became A Zompirewolf

Within moments, the [Silent Kill Zone] faded out of existence. The room was just as Ashton had left it, which meant he had a lot of 'cleaning' to do.

"Wouldn't you say it's the perfect opportunity to test our recruit's abilities?" Ashton remarked.

[Well, it's for you to decide whether you created a weapon or a sweeper.]

Ignoring Astaroth's comment, Ashton instructed Viper to pick up the mop and get to work. A look of annoyance flashed on Viper's face, but he obeyed the command like a puppet. The vampire blood coursing through his veins compelled him to fulfil his master's order.

However, instead of doing the work himself, Viper commanded his newly regenerated tentacles to do the work for him while he stood like a tree in front of Ashton.

[Looks like being turned by a fool did not affect him.]

"It took you so long to realise that?" Ashton scoffed, "I mean, even with you inside my head, I'm getting by just fine."

[Ha! The man has jokes! I won't retort because it was a good one. Humour aside, what are you planning to do next?]

Ashton immediately understood what Astaroth was hinting towards. Like when he turned Anna, he was now responsible for feeding Viper. While his lust and blood could satisfy Anna's hunger, Viper might not share the same cravings.

Considering that Viper had turned into a vampirewolf, he would need to feed on human blood, at least.

While the werewolf genes wouldn't require human flesh for nourishment, vampire genes would require human blood as there was no replacement for it. Getting human blood or flesh wasn't that big of a deal in Nirvana, but suspicion would arise if a human started consuming things they shouldn't.

Moreover, if Viper were to act as a spy, he would need to continue, as usual, not to arouse any suspicion. Consuming blood and flesh was likely not a part of his routine.

"Before you order me to give you a lapdance, let me make something very clear to you." Viper calmly stated, "I'm not a human like you believe. I'm an Octuri, a humanoid species living on the planet earthlings known as Phaethon in the Alpha Centauri system."

[In other words, he wouldn't need to resort to cannibalism. Good news!]

Astaroth's words didn't go unnoticed by Ashton. However, following Viper's words, something else had acquired Ashton's attention.

"Wait, so you mean to say those tentacles around you-"

"We are born with them, yes." Viper nodded, "However, they have been genetically modified since."

With the sudden revelation came a plethora of questions. If Viper was an outworlder like he said, why did it show him as a human when Ashton used [Detection] on him? More importantly, what was a supposed alien doing 4.5 light years away from his home planet?

Viper had the answer to one of those questions, while Astaroth had the answer to the remaining.

"I'm a slave. At least I was when we arrived on your planet." Viper sighed, trying to remember more about his past, "I was sold off to an intergalactic merchant after being branded as a 'traitor'. Just the thought of that bullshit makes me laugh.

"In reality, the men in the position of power were too scared of me to let me live. So they decided to frame me in some scheme and then sell me off."

He continued, "Everything happened so quickly I didn't even get the chance to fight back, and before I knew it, I was here... strapped to an operating table.

"I was deemed a specimen as your kind did experiment after experiment on me. Changing me to the point I failed to recognise myself in the mirror. Until... I became the ultimate assassin that they wanted me to be."

While he had no interest in listening to a pawn's backstory, Ashton couldn't stop him once Viper started. Maybe the little bit of humanity left inside him prevented him from treating Viper like a weapon, as he had intended.

But more importantly, Ashton was much like Viper in a way. After all, he was supposed to be a weapon, engineered by the genes of an intergalactic warmonger and the most badass human to have ever lived on the planet.

Even Astaroth held back his stream of witty humour for once. While he couldn't connect with the creatures like them, he knew how it felt to be betrayed by the ones for whom he constantly put his life on the line.

"You are stronger than anyone on the continent, so why were you doing their bidding?"

"You think they'll leave someone like me unchecked?" Viper laughed.

Afterwards, Viper explained how a chip had been implanted in the back of his neck. In his words, 'it was an invisible whip designed to keep him in line'.

Viper continued, "The pain of being remade into this 'thing' was nothing compared to the pain of disobedience. So I decided to follow their order like a dog."

"You speak as if the chip isn't there anymore."

"It's all thanks to you. Something must have happened to the chip while I was transforming because I don't feel it anymore." Viper smiled wanly, "I am finally free from the shackles of involuntary slavery, and for that, I would gladly become your pawn. At least I'll willingly follow you, not the other way around."

"There won't be a need for that," Ashton replied, "As long as you can help me with a few things, you're free to do as you want."

"You're being awfully nice for someone who forcefully converted me," Viper chuckled, "well, what do you want to know?"

"Tartarus, what do you know about it?" Ashton asked, ignoring Viper's remark.

The smile on Viper's face disappeared faster than snow in mid-summer. Judging by his look, he knew more than the facility's address.

"That place... stay away from there." Viper stammered, "You can't possibly imagine the carnage those sick bastards have caused. To them, it doesn't matter who you are and which faction you belong to. If you can walk, they will relentlessly experiment on you until they are satisfied or you are dead."

Viper did not say another word. His apathetic eyes reflected the state of his shattered mind. They must have done quite a number on him for him to behave like this.

Ashton didn't know whether the rage he was feeling was because Viper was now a member of his pack or for another reason. But one thing was certain; those bastards should start counting their days.