Chapter 30: Genetic Experimentation, Dragon Gods and Alien Visitors
Following Justinian using his powers to modify Mars to his standards, the entire Martian ecosystem changed. With the new Leylines running through the entire planet, the concentration of natural mana and psychic energy flowing was rising by the day.
The months after the modifications were chaotic as the Empires on Mars began to panic at the influx of Psymana. Their very planet had been expanded and they now had a giant moon in the sky.
This instantly caused the borders between Empires and Kingdoms that had stood for generations to be warped. The new Leylines were everywhere and they released a constant stream of energy through the crust and even the mantle.
The core of Mars itself was drawing in this energy and from what Justinian knew, it was possible that Mars would develop a consciousness. The chances that it would be on his side were high because the Psymana had his signature.
He would only have to wait for it to finish forming, but with the new magnetic field, the solar rays of the run no longer constantly irradiated the Martian surface. On a normal planet, with science, it would take a long time to form a 'livable' atmosphere, but with the presence of the magic physic-breaking properties, recovery was starting by the day.
The water ice that was trapped under the surface, at the poles, and near the equator began to melt. This water then pooled near the surface before it started to evaporate into the atmosphere.
With the presence of mana and psychic energy in large quantities, the first rain showers began to appear on Mars. The Martians who lived underground to avoid the desolate surface began to surface to see these never-before-seen Martian rainstorms.
The weather change was just one of the many changes happening to the planet because of Justinian. The life forms present on Mars began to mutate at the exposure of Psymana. From simple bacteria, plants, and animals to the White Martians themselves.
The livestock and crops that the White Martians used at the exposure to both energies mutated into powerful beasts that were no longer controllable to most. In smaller weaker city-states, these livestock broke free and used their newfound abilities to fight back.
They went from mostly docile to Psymagic Beasts that could kill White Martians. These creatures developed psychic and magical abilities of their own which was hard to control for weak City States.
The Kingdoms and Empires for the most part succeed in controlling the new Beast Tide that was forming at a cost. Their livestock was gone because the newly evolved beasts were nearly uncontrollable.
Tens of thousands died in the first few days, and that was just counting those killed by the Beast Tides. Some White Martians just could not tolerate the higher concentrations of mana which resulted in uncontrollable mana outbursts resulting in deaths.
Martian resilience made it rare, but not all were built the same. Another real danger was geothermal activity, and earthquakes, which started to cause long-dormant volcanoes to begin building up energy.
These were just a few of the disasters that the White Martians had to face outside of Cadia City. With Psymages existing already, and exposure to mana beforehand, none of his citizens experienced Mana Outbursts.
Rather, more of his citizens were helped to develop magical abilities. As for the Beast Tide that the other populations faced, Justinian's Space Marines, Scions, and Shapers managed to bring the evolved Beasts under control.
Justinian could see use in these creatures and he ordered them tamed. His Shapers began to work on this project as they could be used as Shock Troops. Once genetically and magically modified they would be real terrors.
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They could even be used as familiars for Psymages among the Shapers. A good investment for their breeding and taming so their status as livestock was switched. Losing the natural Martian livestock was a loss, but they made up for it by replacing them with some of the Terran Crops and livestock they had been raising.
For one, the crops that grew larger, healthier, and far more prolific with mana. Some did become man-eating, but they were the minority. With the changes, they could be grown far faster than before resulting in better food yield.
He also ordered his farmers to start growing Earth crops like Wheat, Corn, Potatoes, carrots, cucumbers, apples, pears, peaches, blueberries, strawberries, and blackberries. Mostly, crops that Justinian himself liked to eat, but plants were not the only thing being produced.
Cows, chickens, goats, pigs, and wild boar which were purchased and kept in Bounded Fields for their safety after being allowed to acclimate were started to be bred. These were meat animals other than the cows and chickens which were being raised for their eggs and milk.
Once they were modified to live on the Martian surface, the livestock and plants all began to mutate under the Psymana on the planet. This made them larger, stronger, and hardier for livestock to be raised.
This was mostly an experiment to see if it would work and in the month that the experiment was undergone, it was a success. Near the fortress that Justinian had constructed, farms stretched for miles on the surface.
Rain was still sparse, but small clouds began to form in the sky. The sun was less intense than before and with human fertilizers, farms began to be expanded on the Martian surface.
As for Justinian himself, he had kept himself busy in his laboratory working on his genetic experimentation. Using his vast intellect, and his magical know-how, he started to use science and magic to work on cloning technology.
He still planned to create a Clone Army much like the Clones from Star Wars. However, the main Template would still be Slade Wilson. He could also produce clones of Krypnians, Tamaranians, Daxamites, and other powerful alien species in the future.
With the use of his reality-manipulating abilities, Justinian upgraded his laboratory and set up a separate dimension where he was conducting his experiments. His main current material was the many corpses of the Green Martians that were buried all over Mars by the White Martians in mass graves.
After so long, all that was left was mostly bones and in some cases mummified corpses. Justinian could reverse this decomposition which allowed him to experiment on the Green Martian DNA.
He took some DNA from one of the Chapter Masters of his Chapters of Space Marines which was of the Warrior Cast. He spliced the two together leading to him creating effectively a Green Martian Warrior Cast.
They were not Burning Martians, but they were closer to his Honor Guard them others. In his lab, only they could enter the dimension where he did his genetic experiments. Currently, 30 days after he used his God-like abilities to grow Mars he was standing in front of a floating specimen.
Remnosh was looking at the test tube where a large Green Martian floated. Its features were closer to White Martians while having the Green skin of the Green Martians. Remnosh turned to him.
"What do you think, love?"
Justinian turned to her with his helmet currently off.
"I think, that this experiment was a success."
As he said that, a portal opened to his Dimension where Sigismund entered. With a wave of his hand, a pile of skeletons and mummies was dropped on the ground.
"Here you are, my Lord. More Green corpses."
Justinian nodded as the A.I in his lab dragged away the bodies for processing.
"Thank you."
With a bow, Sigismund left Justinian and Remnosh alone. He walked away from the tank as he looked at some of his creations. Floating in the alchemical fluid was a giant T-rex covered in biological armor.
It had three pairs of eyes, a carapace, and what appeared to be fire burning on its body. Remnosh crossed her arms as she looked at that creature.
"What is that?"
"A Dinosaur, chickens, and birds are descended from them. I effectively turned back the evolutionary clock on their genes with some science and magic. By increasing the concentration of those genes, I produced this specimen from mostly chickens. A few more genetic modifications and I should be able to create more of such creatures."
Remnosh nodded as she looked up at the giant creature. Justinian had spliced some of her DNA into it. At the moment it was in stasis along with some other monsters.
"And the one next to it?"
Justinian looked at the next specimen, a mix of an eagle and a wolf.
"I call that a Luquilla, I spliced Wolf and Eagle DNA."
The large creature was effectively a Griffin, but rather than an Eagle and Lion, it was a Wolf. The creature had a wolf body, an eagle head, three sets of wings, and a pair of back eagle talons.
Justinian planned to release these creatures into the Martian ecosystem to begin to seed them with mystical animals. He also had a regular Griffin, but for the most part, these were works in progress. Justinian walked over to a false dragon in the alchemical fluid.
He made this one by gathering his Draconic genes and mixing them with the DNA of Crocodiles, Alligators, Lizards, and some snakes. It was the only one as he was just experimenting, but one just had to look across the room to see the monsters he was cooking up.
Remnosh liked to ask him what he was making, and he always explained. Just as he was walking around he froze in place as he felt two familiar consciousnesses awaken. Ddraig and Albion had awoken from their one-month hibernation.
'It is about damn time.'
Justinian raised his left arm to gaze at the Boosted Gear. The purple-gold gem fired up as pure Divine Energy roared through his body.
[Lay off, we worked just as hard as you to make sure you didn't pop.]
{He is right Justinian, imagine if you didn't have us.}
Justinian smirked as he was glad to have his friends back with him.
"I know, glad to have you boys back."
Justinian could just feel their mighty souls linked back up with his own causing an endless circuit with his soul as the core. His aura started to rise as with their ascensions completed he was now hosting the souls of two Dragon Gods.
If not for his Perpetual status, his body would fall apart at containing even just one of these Dragons. Let alone two and their Concepts that now truly made him a menace. He began to feel the inheritance of the Emperor begin to grow even stronger as his Psychic and Magical abilities were expanded.
Remnosh who was in his lab grit her teeth as she feels more energy flow through their bond.
'AGAIN!'
This time, it was far less severe than before thanks to her being a Burning Martian, but it was not pleasant. In only a few moments, Justinian settled himself down as he, Ddraig, and Albion processed the power upgrades.
[You know, I always wondered what Great Red felt like, guess this is it.]
{He had a body, we don't.}
Justinian smiled.
'Make avatars, give it a try.'
Ddraig and Albion both separated their consciousness from their souls which would not leave the Boosted Gear or Divine Dividing. Two small orbs left the two Sacred Gears before a surge of Conceptual Energy gathered together.
In front of him, two draconic-looking men appeared. Ddraig for one, was massive, 7'5, with dark red hair, a manly beard, slit-like eyes, and body builder-like muscles. A large set of draconic horns and a swaying tail.
Albion was more regal, he was 6'2, he had long flowing silver hair, and a pair of prideful blue eyes, he wore a regal robe, and despite having a regal face, his body was anything but regal. He had large draconic muscles and a broad chest.
Ddraig took a deep breath as he began to stretch.
"Why didn't I think of that? Even if they destroy these Avatars, our souls and minds will just return to our Sacred Gears."
Albion clenched his fist as he glanced up at Justinian.
"This could come in handy in a fight."
Justinian sat down with a smirk.
"I can see it now, a good old jumping. Oh, by the way, Remnosh, meet my friends. That big guy is Ddraig, The Dragon God of Domination and this is Albion, The Dragon God of Supremacy."
Ddraig and Albion greeted her politely. However, Ddraig walked over and wrapped her up in a tight hug. Kinda funny because she was three feet taller than he was.
"Nice to meet you, glad of you to take care of our bro, Justinian."
Remnosh frowned as Ddraig let go of her.
"Is he always that touchy?"
Justinian shook his head.
"No, imagine losing your body for centuries. A good hug is probably what he needs."
Ddraig smiled as he grabbed Albion in a headlock.
"True, and women. Where are the human princesses?"
Albion frowned as he looked at Justinian.
"Ddraig is where the legend of dragons wanting human princesses originated. He had a thing for them."
He elbowed Ddraig in the chest making his rival and now friend let go of him. Once he was released, Albion fixed his robes before turning to Justinian.
"Oh right, while we were sleeping we could feel someone trying to communicate with us. Their attempts failed as we both blocked the communication."
Justinian frowned as this could be troublesome.
"I may know what that was, good of you to block it."
Just as Justinian was going to explain, Sigismund rushed back into the secret Cloning Lab in the secret dimension.
"MY LORD! I BRING NEWS!"
Justinian frowned as he looked at his guard.
"What is it?"
"A ship coming from the deep Solar System has been reported to be descending near our fortress. All of our weapon batteries are primed to shoot it out of the sky, but they have sent communication attempts."
Justinian hummed as he had an idea who these were.
'Either the Jovians which are from planet Jupiter or Saturnians, Red Martians who come from clones. At least that is what the old comic wiki said.'
"I will go see them, Sigismind, bring all of my Honor Guard, and my Predacons."
With a bow, Sigismund returned to gather his fellow Burning Martians. As for Justinian, he was curious about what these aliens wanted. If they wanted War, he was all for it because he and his Honor Guard were enough.
"Remnosh, let us see what they want. They should know better than to enter my planet without permission."
She smirked as she placed her helmet on.
"Let's."
Justinian teleported them all to his surface fortress where just as Sigismund said, all of the weapon batteries were locked on a small ship. It was not moving because it was not permitted to land, but soon after Sigismund teleported in a burst of flame with the rest of the Justinian Honor Guard.
This included his 5 pet Predacons who looked even more dangerous than before. They were massive creatures of living flesh and they all locked on the craft. Justinian squinted his eyes as he initiated communicating with the visitors.
'You may land.'