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The city was a labyrinth of ruins, and on the ground, Arjun was constantly being tracked. He needed a new vantage point. He looked up at the skeletal remain of a skyscraper where a 'Vulture-Gryphon' had built its nest. This creature didn't just fly; it controlled the very air currents around it.
[Target Identified: Level 6 High-Tier Mutant - Vulture-Gryphon]
[Mission: Extract Avian DNA for Aerial Adaptation.]
Arjun activated Shadow Camouflage and scaled the building silently. When he reached the top, the beast let out a screech that shattered the glass windows. Arjun didn't flinch. Using Cardiac Overdrive, he moved in a blur, leaping onto the creature's back and plunging his bone-claws into its spine.
[Initiating Genetic Assimilation...]
The transformation was agonizing. Arjun felt his shoulder blades crack and extend. New muscle groups, known as Pectoralis Major, expanded to support the massive weight of emerging wings. His bones became Pneumatic (hollow and light) yet incredibly strong, similar to a bird's skeletal structure.
[Evolution Successful: New Skill Unlocked - 'Sky-Dash']
[Physical Change: Retractable Obsidian Wings.]
Arjun stood at the edge of the roof. He unfolded his wings—dark, leathery, and shimmering with the same Chromatophores he had absorbed earlier. He jumped. For a moment, gravity pulled him, but then he caught the wind. He wasn't just falling; he was soaring. The Apex Gene had conquered the sky.