"A man most...adaptive."
Epitome, the Paragon of Persistence
Name: Pyotr Daeger I
Aliases: Epitome, the Acrobatic Achilles, the Paragon of Persistence, the Superior Survivor, the Savage Survivor, the Unstoppable Man, the Adaptive Achilles, the Blazing Beast, the Vizier of Velocity, the Sole Survivor, the Pinnacle of Persistence, the Post-Mutant Prodigy, the Parahuman Pinnacle
Age: Indeterminate; approximately nine centuries
Species: Advanced Parahuman / Post-Mutant
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Appearance: Variable.
Hair: Black
Eyes: Pitch dark, variable
Height: 6'4, variable
Weight: 200 lbs, variable
Country of Origin: Scandinavia
Ethnicity: Indeterminate
Origin
Pyotr Daeger endures. That's all he does. Any challenge, surmounted. Any obstacle, cast aside, utterly destroyed. Any wound, healed. He has conquered the state we know as life, waiving hunger, disease, age, and senility. He has survived for centuries, a seemingly immortal Norseman who has survived to this day as what may be the pinnacle of genetic superiority. Ever-adapting, he is no longer a mere man, no; he is one of the world's earliest recorded parahumans, spoken of in legend, the name eventually falling into obscure myth. He has lived countless lives, as a conqueror, an artist, a scientist, a beggar, a fighter, a lover, and most commonly, a warrior. He evolves on the spot, adapting to his surroundings instantaneously through sheer genetic alteration. Within mere seconds, his genetic code re-writes itself, altering its very structure to provide Pyotr with whatever advantage he may need to endure...for that is what he does.
Pyotr Daeger endures.
Powers
Spontaneous Evolution / Adaptive Countermeasures: In any given situation, at any given time, Pyotr's immortal body is taking stock of its surroundings. It constantly gauges his environment, a subliminal organic computer measuring his adrenaline, body temperature, ambient energy levels, barometric pressure, and a host of other variables in order to determine what he'll need to survive any conceivable encounter. Like a supercomputer searching for the ideal match, his body changes, growing, altering, evolving into whatever he requires. He can match any threat, his genetic code able to rewrite itself in mere nanoseconds. Pyotr could be described as one of the world's first "Post-Mutants," or a being that exhibits an entire DNA ladder made of X-Genes. For example, an ordinary mutant human is a human whose genetic ladder contains an X-Gene, which endows them with a particular parahuman trait. Pyotr's genetic ladder, on the other hand, is comprised almost entirely of these X-Genes, giving him an incredible, if not infinite, range of desirable traits to choose from. Based on his surroundings and his requirements, he will spontaneously develop new parahuman attributes, his body changing in order to meet the necessary survival requirements. He cannot control these spontaneous evolutions; they occur naturally. There are a number of recurring, if not constant, evolutions he is subject to. They are as follows.
- Agelessness: Pyotr's body has not aged in nearly nine centuries, remaining essentially the same for the entire time. His cells constantly and consistently replicate without issue, maintaining his careful physique as well as keeping him sane. His brain cells have not deteriorated, either; vast subliminal copies of his thought patterns and memories are encoded in his very DNA itself. Any attempt to destroy said brain cells, or remove his memory, will eventually fail, the repressed thoughts re-emerging in a given amount of time. Additionally, because of his memories being encoded into his X-Ladder, Pyotr has perfect recall, able to accurately remember any event he witnessed or recite any fact he has knowledge of. Combined with his centuries of experience, this is Daeger's most useful adaptation, even if it isn't his most showy.
- Omnidexterous Form / Superhuman Speed: Pyotr's body is self-designed to be the pinnacle of advanced movement. Pyotr exists to be at the top of his respective food chain, and thus, he is designed to be the perfect predator. Every limb, every tissue, is crafted to work in tandem with another, a parahuman level of accuracy and stability put in place. Most notably, the soles of his feet and the palms of his hands are "treaded," endowing him with a superhuman grip that provides perfect traction for movement. He is unwaveringly agile, able to put even the world's most talented gymnasts to shame, with enough muscle power to move at a pace that makes him appear as little more than a blur. This ability works in tandem with his highly advanced muscle cells, which allow him to exert himself at levels nearing 100% efficiency. Daeger is an organic machine, able to move at speeds nearing one-hundred miles per hour with hardly any effort.
- Inhuman Muscular Structure / Physical Perfection: His spontaneously adaptive form is naturally inclined to seek out the best of human and inhuman traits alike, combining both into a cardiovascular miracle that can perform at levels previously thought unattainable. He possesses an extraordinarily dense, efficient muscular structure, the pinnacle of physical might. Moreover, it has been measured that through his consistent subliminal DNA modification, he can increase his mass to uncanny levels, his strength exponentially growing in correlation with whatever threatens him. In addition to his ever-advancing muscular structure, his body produces none of the detrimental lactic acids that generate fatigue, allowing him to exert himself for as long as he needs. While Daeger still processes nutrients, it has been observed that if he grows hungry enough, his internal regulatory biocomputer will obviate the need for more food, putting him into a fugue-like state that does not require sustenance nor sleep until he can find food and revert to normal.
- Extranormal Nervous System / Reflexes / Thought Process: Daeger's reflexes and nervous structure have all been vastly overhauled by his X-Ladder, evolved to a point where his reflexes are uncanny to the point of being practically precognitive. This "adrenal precognition," as he calls it, is a form of advanced reactionary reflex that preemptively warns him of threats to his body in the surrounding environment. Daeger's reflexes outmatch those of a machine, his reworked synapses sending information throughout his body at hyperaccelerated speeds. Additionally, his mind is thus immune to the effects of telepathy, his very rationale completely overwhelming to the untrained psychic. Daeger's thought process works on an entirely different level, an inhuman biocomputer that analyzes natural data more efficiently and dangerously than any metal machine.
- Abnormal Healing Factor: In accordance with his ever-advancing genetic structure, it stands to reason that one of Pyotr's chief evolutions be one that provides him with ample time to adapt and survive in his environment. He possesses an incredibly powerful healing factor, a side effect of his X-Ladder that enables him to recover rapidly from even the most grievous of wounds. When he experiences pain, the first thing his body does is deactivate the particular synapses that experience nociceptive sensation, numbing the otherwise disruptive pain and allowing him to continue functioning. Following this, a cyst-like buildup of rapid, cancer-like cells move over the wound, sealing it to prevent infection. The body then rapidly produces replacement cells, the information encoded in his highly advanced X-Ladder, rather than being gathered from regular DNA. Depending on the severity of the wound, he can often return his body to normal within an hour.
Pyotr's adaptive nature knows no bounds; any conceivable mutant power can be instantly thrust upon him, should the situation demand it. However, this in-built survival measure is not without limitation; the ability granted to him cannot be chosen, nor can he dictate the length of its availability or its nature. It is based solely on his requirements for survival; he cannot will himself to develop additional muscle mass, or gain the ability to teleport, or any other number of more advanced, "niche" mutant powers. Recurring powers that he develops in certain scenarios are as follows:
- Immeasurable Mass Increase / Bioalloy Bone Growths: Should Pyotr find himself in a situation where he must engage a foe far stronger than he is, he will often find himself spontaneously developing massive, armor-like bone grafts, in addition to a huge increase in cellular activity and size. These "bioalloys," or organic metals, are inconceivably durable, jutting forth from his skin in order to create a massive, impact-absorbing exoskeleton. This exoskeleton is naturally suited for close-quarters combat with parahuman entities; he can lift in excess of one hundred tons in this advanced form, which is only called forth when he faces an opponent far stronger than he could possibly imagine.
- Underwater Adaptations: One of Pyotr's simplest adaptations would be the development of gills alongside webbed hands and feet. Whilst submerged, his eyes develop a secondary membrane, allowing him to see clearly at murky depths and preventing his eyes from being disturbed during his swim. His lungs become linked directly to a set of gill-like tissues on his neck, which gathers diffused oxygen from the water in order for him to breathe. These gills function exactly like those of a fish, taking in water and excreting carbon dioxide. His enhanced body density prevents him from being harmed by the vast pressures at the bottom of the ocean.
- Survival Shell: Similar to the bioalloy bone growths, the so-called Survival Shell is a mutation that arises when Pyotr is in an environment far too dangerous for even his regular adaptations to handle, such as a highly radioactive area, or the vacuum of space. The shell is one of his most advanced mutations, lacing his body with the same bioalloy as the regular bone growths. These alloys are developed through the X-Ladder interacting with his bone marrow, energizing it to produce a far more durable substance, which is excreted through his pores. This alloy then solidifies, a bioelectric charge running through his form. This charge excites the molecules in the liquid alloy, melting them together with a bright flare of magnesium-like light. The shell redirects most kinds of harmful energies, an incredibly strong electron sea on the surface functioning like a minute shield. This alloy is thus extraordinarily resistant to chemical change, making it ideal for toxic or acidic environments as well. The shell is apt at redirecting harmful changes in temperature, keeping his internal equilibrium normal even in areas of intense heat or cold.
- Teleportational Escape: One of Daeger's often less-favored evolutionary backfires is the spontaneous development and usage of a teleportation gene. This gene shunts his vibrational form from our own, recreating his frequency in another, safe area. This type of adaptation is only used in scenarios in which even Daeger's subliminal biocomputer cannot find a way out of the situation, electing instead to shunt him from existence. He cannot control these shunts, nor use them for infiltration or travel; they occur only when he is in such unavoidable danger that he cannot readily adapt in any other manner.
Abilities
Centuries of Experience: Having lived for nearly nine centuries, with a perfect memory, Daeger possesses knowledge that could fill libraries, having lived hundreds of lives as a master of one distinct profession. Daeger is more of a social genius than a scientific one; while he has considerable knowledge of physics, engineering, and astronomy, his focuses drift more towards classical fields, such as philosophy and linguistics. Nevertheless, he is adept at nearly any basic task, and is able to speak a vast number of languages and dialects.
Inconceivable Agility: Pyotr's standard mutations make him a master of movement and agility, perhaps more so than any other mutant's. His regular adaptations work perfectly in tandem with one another, providing him with enough strength, speed, and reaction time to easily perform extremely complex movements, dodges, and attacks. The grips on his hands and feet enable him to scale sheer walls whilst moving at speed, making the art of freerunning, or parkour, ideal for his practice and use.
Techniques
Savate-Based Fighting Style: Throughout many ages, Pyotr has made use of his bare hands and feet in combat. He shuns the weapon, sculpting his mutant body into a lethal tool instead. And in order to maximize both his lethality and effectiveness, he taught himself a vast variety of martial skills, each involving the use of balance and the body to hone his accuracy and effectiveness. But in order to make the most use of his default mutation, the choice was clear: Pyotr uses, and has used, the French art of savate, or foot-boxing. His feet and legs are his most advanced adaptations, as well as the strongest muscles in his body. Through a combination of graceful kicks and sweeps mixed with punches, Daeger can annihilate a foe with a series of superhumanly-strong foot strikes. Due to both the treaded, rough nature of his foot and the superhuman force behind it, Daeger can launch foes through the air with a single roundhouse, the force behind his legs equivalent to that of a hydraulic jackhammer.
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