Chapter 11: Dual Beast Gene
Thorne took a moment to think things through with a clearer mind.
"When a beastman’s body is capable of balancing both Beast Genes inherited from their parents," he explained in the calm, instructive tone of a veteran instructor who had witnessed countless unusual cases, "that beastman can possess two different Beast Genes."
His thoughts drifted to Shani’s Beast Energy Regulation. It had been astonishingly stable and nearly flawless.
The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became that Shani’s body wasn’t like that of an ordinary beastman.
To the technician and Mrs. Barlow, however, Thorne’s explanation sounded absurd.
Even Shani would have thought so if she hadn’t been reborn. But after everything she had experienced nothing seemed impossible anymore.
She suddenly remembered something from her previous life.
When Emilia had tested her Beast Gene, she had prepared only two compatibility samples.
One for the Feline type.
One for the Avian type.
Emilia had tested the Avian sample first, and it had matched immediately.
After that, she never bothered testing the Feline sample. Normally, everyone possessed only a single Beast Gene.
Continuing to test after finding a match would simply be a waste of money. Gene compatibility samples weren’t cheap.
Shani laughed inwardly.
In her previous life, the Ashbournes had gone to great lengths to manipulate her simply because she didn’t share their Night Panther Beast Gene.
If only they had know she was a Night Panther too, they could have saved themselves a lot of effort.
For a brief moment, Shani wondered whether her life would have been any better if they’d known she truly was an Ashbourne by blood.
But she quickly shook her head.
With her F Rank Beast Energy, no matter what Beast Gene she possessed, the outcome would have been the same.
At the very least, believing she wasn’t a Night Panther had made things a little more inconvenient for them.
Meanwhile, Thorne continued explaining the theory behind bodies capable of balancing two Beast Genes, using scientific terminology.
Most of it went over Shani’s head. Mrs. Barlow and the technician, on the other hand, understood perfectly.
Finally, Mrs. Barlow nodded. "I’ve already seen her Beast Energy Regulation data. Now everything makes sense."
The technician understood the theory as well. He was simply too shocked to believe it was happening in real life.
"That means you can join Avian Tower after all, Shani." Thorne looked at her with unconcealed delight.
Shani nodded, equally relieved and happy.
Mrs. Barlow spoke up, breaking the cheerful atmosphere. "The certificate identifying her as a Night Panther has already been sent to Feline Tower..."
"We can just correct it. And this is the perfect opportunity to prove to the world that dual Beast Genes aren’t just a theory."
Thorne’s eyes sparkled with excitement. The extra work didn’t bother him in the slightest.
Hearing that, panic immediately gripped Shani.
If news spread that she possessed both the Night Panther and Crimson Eagle Beast Genes...
The Ashbournes would instantly realize she was the girl they’d been searching for.
’Maybe the academy... or even Avian Tower... could protect me to some extent. But I’m still too weak. And with how cunning the Ashbournes are, I’d eventually end up in their hands.’
Shani shook her head firmly. She refused to become their pawn again.
"Could you... please keep this a secret?" Her words instantly extinguished Thorne’s excitement.
Her crimson eyes met the gazes of the three people before her. "I may have dual Beast Genes... But I’m still only F Rank. It was already difficult enough for me to get accepted here."
"If everyone finds out, I don’t think the focus will be on the dual Beast Genes. I think it’ll only create controversy. I don’t want to cause trouble for everyone who’s helped me."
Thorne and Mrs. Barlow immediately realized the fact they had momentarily overlooked.
Meanwhile, the technician silently concluded that perhaps Shani’s unusually low Beast Energy was exactly what allowed her body to balance two Beast Genes.
With that thought, he finally accepted the unbelievable reality before him.
Mrs. Barlow let out a disappointed sigh. Still, she agreed with Shani.
Only Thorne looked reluctant. He wanted to argue.
He wanted to tell Shani that as long as she remained in Avian Tower, he would protect her. But, he was retiring in just three years.
After that, he had no idea who would be able to protect her.
"So you truly intend to enroll in Feline Tower, in the Kingdom of Argenor? You’ll be far away from old Rowan..."
At first, Thorne had been perfectly willing to let Shani attend Feline Tower.
But now that Avian Tower was a possibility, he found himself unwilling to let her go.
Unlike Thorne’s conflicted expression, Shani answered without hesitation. "I do."
Seeing the determination in her eyes, Thorne could no longer object.
The technician and Mrs. Barlow quickly got to work.
The former erased every record linking Shani’s test to the Avian Beast Gene. And the latter deleted all of the related data.
After completing several remaining enrollment forms, Shani’s business at the academy was finally finished.
She thanked the three people who had gone out of their way to help her before returning to the first floor, where Nevie had been waiting.
...
Inside the Admissions Office, Mrs. Barlow stared at the Beast Gene certificate bearing the name: Shani Rowan.
Her thoughts drifted back to Shani’s dual Beast Genes. "Night Panther and Crimson Eagle... Both are Elite Grade Beast Genes. How is that even possible...?"
Across the continent, every Beast Gene was classified into one of four grades, from weakest to strongest:
Common. Rare. Elite. Emperor.
A Beast Gene’s grade determined not only its innate potential but also its rarity.
When two beastmen had children, the child’s Beast Gene usually inherited the lower-ranked gene.
Most bodies simply couldn’t withstand the overwhelming natural talent carried by higher-grade Beast Genes.
Those who could were considered extraordinary.
"But Shani isn’t just extraordinary. There’s something fundamentally abnormal about this." Mrs. Barlow murmured as she unconsciously rested a hand on her flat stomach.
She had been married for five years. Yet she still had no children. She had suffered nearly ten miscarriages.
The reason was simple.
Her Beast Gene ranked among the top three within the Rare Grade. Meanwhile, her husband’s Beast Gene was an Elite Grade.
When two high-grade Beast Genes came together...
It became incredibly difficult for a child to survive in the womb.
...