Heracles only killed one.

‘Why am I so damn warm’, thought Jason as he woke up.

Looking around, his orange and black HUD told him why, ‘Oh yeah! The whole, consuming a dragon, thing increased my natural body temperature from 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit, to 123.4 degrees Fahrenheit’.  It also gave him the chemical formula for dragon fire, not that he needed it, as well as possible applications for the integration of dragon DNA, which he read through greedily, and (this was made easier by his initial consumption of a manticore, which is a fully functioning chimera of multiple species.)Although, he did notice something strange.

‘Friend, why are there percentages, a; is that an [experience bar?], a red bar, a green bar, is that [currency?], and please tell me that is not a start menu on my HUD. I mean, Yeah I was expecting statistics and information, but now it looks like something out of a video game.’

<Do you remember how I mentioned I was cataloging what is safe, unsafe and safe with modifications. Well I placed my findings on your HUD.

: The percentages will come and go, except for two; the green ones are our research into new weapons and transformations (these will come and go as we finish and start them) we are currently integrating the heat shielding provided by dragon scales into your current evolutionary forms as well as working on creating magic pathways for pyro magic and adding the edge of dragon teeth to your own (which may also allow you to consume inorganic material , in order to further strengthen your forms) , as well as to all weapon forms.

While the 2 black percentages represent the current level of strength and speed your body is prepared to use, as I have discovered that you can change this to help in daily life without destroying everything by touching it.(these will stay constantly).

: The experience bar is used to track your proficiency, which I have obtained from your subconscious, in a form or weapon against what I have calculated you are capable of.

: The red bar is your health and the green one is available draconic magic (which will change to all magic and turn white should you consume a magical being of another species)

: That is not currency; it is pounds of biomass you currently have stored within you. (23,000)

:  And yes that is a “START” menu, but it is used to speed your mental processing for more in depth decisions and information, as well as researching new projects and looking at any objectives you set.

Now don’t whine, you know you will enjoy it because Jason really enjoyed video games. Plus you know that it will make it easier to remember your capabilities. You can also make it minimize like on a computer if it gets in your way.>

‘Fine, but just because you’re right, it doesn’t mean I am wrong.’

< Whatever lets you sleep at night now leave me alone so I can finish some research.>

“Big brother you’re finally awake!” exclaimed an almost hysteric dark grey filly, dressed in black shorts, a pink tank top, and a black windbreaker with fingerless black gloves. “I was so worried about you, master.”

“I’m fine Silver, but we have work to do. I need you to help me find a hydra, and I need to teach you about what you became when you entered that body, as well as what you can do with your new body.”

“What do you mean? What is so different about this body?” asked the now calmer Moon.

“I’m going to teach you how to use the powers of an Evolved. And I happen to have a target for some pent up aggression, I mean teach you, anyway, it’s open season and I’m on a role with eating large reptile flesh.” replied Jason.

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After a day of hiking in the Everfree, they stopped and started clearing a campsite.

“Silver. Come watch me, I will demonstrate my powers.”

‘Friend, is there any new progress on our research?’

‘Do it’

After a half hour of pain, unreachable itches, and immobility, Jason finally opened his eyes to see his skin resembled dark smoky scales and his teeth were slightly cold. Then he looked into Moon’s wide-eyes.

“What are your questions Silver?”

“Can I do all of those things?” she asked.

“No, or at least, not yet” responded Jason. “But you do have one of them. All we need to do is see which one you do have and build from there.”

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After two more days of hiking they finally made it to the Hydra Swamp.

“Are you ready Silver?”

“Always master.”

Smiling sinisterly “do you remember the rules?”

“Consume only what you kill, no magic, and don’t die?” She responded, sharing his smile.

“Good job. Remember, loser has to give a third of their share to the winner, and … GO!!!”

The two ran into the swamp as fast as they could, Silver morphing into a new class called tendril armor (it is like armored but with offensive tendrils that act almost independently of the evolved and are covered in small claw-like thorns), and started to rip apart the Hydras, they were in nesting grounds as far as the eye could see so she knew she would have fun today.

But Jason wasn’t standing idle, he made a new weapon called bone splitter (imagine tendrils with bio-mass battle-axe blades.), and started decimating them all.

Over and over and over again the Hydra’s would attempt to protect themselves or each other. But none would succeed in their endeavor. The two evolved started cutting through the monsters, creating large swatches of dead hydra’s until all that was left was the eggs that had not hatched, the animals attracted by the noise, and an armored, insect like, being who prepared a mental report to his queen, while preparing to follow the pair back to their lair. This swamp would become known as Hydra’s fall to all sentient life in the forest. One thing was sure though, all would learn of the new predators in the Everfree.

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Nightmare could hardly believe what she had just done, the rush of power, and feeling of bliss she received after every kill was almost scaring her, but she knew she had enjoyed it. Turning back to the matter at hand, the king-master had tasked her with gathering the eggs into the middle of the swamp, on a slightly elevated overhang of a hill. She had only one nest left to do when she heard a noise.

‘Fuck’, thought the figure following her ‘I made too loud of a noise,’ turning around to fly away; he was suddenly grabbed by what he saw appeared to be a tentacle.

“Master!!!!” yelled Moon, “I found a changeling spying on me!!!!”

With a gust of air Jason appeared in front of her “show me!”

She handed over the injured changeling to him, “What have you seen?!” demanded Jason.

Though scared for his life, (because the being sounded even more regal {multiple voices} than his queen’s, and somehow more menacing even.) the changeling said, “I will die before I tell you anything!”

“Truly?” asked Jason.

“Yes,” came the reply.

“Then your wish is granted”, said Jason as tendrils burst from his body, ripping through the changelings armored body and handing have to Moon. “Now, tell me your secrets,” he whispered as he consumed what was left of him, searching his memories for information.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

“Do you understand your missions?” asked a tall changeling that Jason recognized as Chrysalis.

“Yes,” came a shout from over 70 changelings, “We are to investigate the borders of Equestria and find routes for an invasion force.”

“Remember, if you do not report in you will be assumed dead. Now go, and may Swarm guard you.”

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Opening his start menu, Jason asked ‘Friend what can we do with this information and DNA.’

< The changelings have a magic that is purely biological, unless they feed off of love which gives them the ability to use any magic they learn. Similar to how they can change their bodies they can also change their magic. If we made this your main circuit then it would turn green and stay that color, while all others would simply add onto it and increase your “pool” of available magic.

They also appear to be capable of seeing in infrared vision, which we could add to the dragon eyes, which have immense range, as an extra lid.

Their fangs have a chemical that produces a hypnotic trancelike effect on their victims, if they are unprepared. We could add this to your already sharpened teeth, as well as create a possible ranged weapon for non lethal take downs.

The wings are usable if we integrate them into the already created dragon/manticore wings to allow less weight for faster flight as well as a stronger structure due to the polygonal muscle fibers that help increase the durability and strength of their wings to be capable of flight.

And let us not forget their telepathy; this would be nice for when you build your army. It could also help you keep track of your evolved subjects, once you make them. Oh mighty king.

‘What the hell are you talking about, since when am I King?’

‘Well, I suppose that is a nice title.’

‘Uhm let me think’

‘What do you mean by that?’

‘Put up a model of my body on my HUD. NOW!’

What he saw mesmerized him intensely. His base body had shifted from being a 355 lb, 6’7 man with olive skin and mahogany irises/ hair, dressed in a black combat suit wearing a large charcoal trench coat;

Looking over his full appearance, Jason asked ‘ how did I not notice I had a fucking tail?’

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