Rex held the newly obtained commander plate in his hands, feeling it pulse with a steady warmth. Both his tattoos—the serpent across his chest and the frog-fish along his spine—reacted instantly, sending waves of energy racing through his body. The plate seemed alive, almost aware of him, syncing with his heartbeat as if it had been waiting for this exact moment.
Then, almost on instinct, the plate began to reshape itself. Metal and gemstone shifted, forming a nearly foot-long dagger. The blade was broad, Roman in style, with an engraved crown at the base. Six gemstones, perfectly set, glimmered faintly in the dim lantern light. The dagger hovered for a heartbeat, vibrating with power, a tangible pulse against Rex's palm.
He threw the blade across the cave. It cut cleanly through the air, spinning in perfect arcs before recalling back to his hand with unnerving precision. Rex flinched as the blade returned, expecting the familiar sting of metal on skin—but it didn't hurt. Instead, it melted into a dark liquid-like-smoke and seeped under his forearm skin. He gasped, fascinated and wary, and watched as the liquid spread, forming a fish-shaped tattoo along his forearm. Six gemstones inlaid themselves along its back, embedded as if they had always been part of it.
He flexed his arm, testing it. It didn't hurt. It didn't burn. It didn't feel alien—it felt natural, as though the plate had simply become a part of him. He made a mental note: this power wasn't just a weapon—it was a part of his body now.
Rex set the tattoo aside for a moment and gathered all the remaining gems he had salvaged from previous plates. He placed them carefully in a small waterproof pouch, feeling the weight and potential energy of each one.
Next, he turned his attention to his wetsuit. With precise motions, he used his claws to cut the arms completely off, then the legs. The fabric fell away in pieces, leaving him exposed but mobile. He did the same with his protective pants, severing the legs to convert them into shorts. Finally, he carefully slit open the chest area of the suit to prevent burning when his gills appeared. Once satisfied, he donned the modified wetsuit and shorts, feeling the freedom of movement.
He slung the small pouch and the rest of his essentials into his scavenging pack and hoisted it over his shoulders. Everything was ready.
Rex pulled out his waterproof map, studying it carefully. The nearby city was his destination. Only a small danger area stood between him and the urban ruins he planned to navigate. He traced the path with a finger, visualizing the currents, the obstacles, the threats he might face along the way.
Finally, he looked toward the mouth of his cave. The water shimmered faintly in the ambient light, calm but filled with unknown dangers lurking beneath. Taking a deep breath, he steeled himself, flexed his claws, and dove into the water.
Ahead lay the journey—and with the commander plate now part of him, he felt ready to face whatever the depths had to throw.