The scene was surreal. A man was transforming into something unnatural right before our eyes. The bloodied corpses of the dead scientists on the floor only heightened the dread.
“What the hell is this!?” Billy shouted, his voice laced with shock. “We need to kill this thing—right now!”
I could feel it too—immense, unstable energy radiating from the man. Billy’s instinct was right. But kill him?
Without hesitation, Billy unsheathed his blade and stepped forward.
“Wait!” William blocked his path.
Then he turned to face all of us. “He’s still human—and he’s in pain. We need to help him.”
The man’s screams tore through the room. His bones cracked and reformed in grotesque, unnatural shapes. He was enduring unimaginable agony.
Could he even be saved anymore?
“It’s too late,” said a man in a blood-splattered lab coat, standing beside the chained figure. “The process has already begun.”
Four corpses lay sprawled across the room, blood still dripping from the blade in his hand. He had killed them. That much was clear.
Before we could react, the chained man started muttering.
“Please... help me!” he finally cried. “I don’t know what’s happening to me!”
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But his body kept warping and twisting.
Time was slipping away. He was begging for help, suffering. But every instinct screamed: danger. End this before it’s too late.
As the transformation accelerated, a familiar sensation surged through me—the same I’d felt when fighting Randy. My heartbeat slowed. A strange calm settled in. My wounds sealed instantly. My eyes glowed blue.
I had entered the Solid State again, though I still didn’t understand how.
Everyone recoiled in shock.
“Your eyes...?” William gasped.
Then the man in the lab coat stepped closer, eyes gleaming.
“Interesting,” he muttered. “You’re a Level Three. But blue eyes? Your energy... it’s resonating with him?”
“Did you create this thing?” William demanded, turning to the man. “Where’s the device?”
“I’m afraid you’re too late,” the man replied coolly. “I’ve already destroyed the subatomic condenser and killed everyone who worked with me to build it. I’m the only person left alive who knows how to recreate it.”
“Wait! I know you!” Loid Anderson’s eyes widened in recognition. “You’re Steven Hush—Dr. Necro!”
“Dr. what?” William asked.
“Dr. Necro, the smartest, vilest man on Earth, with an incalculable IQ,” Loid explained. “I came across his file while investigating Nebula, a criminal organization. He’s a dangerous man with no moral limits—wanted for creating a biological weapon that wiped out a village, targeting only humans.”
The most wanted man, here on this island! Was it a coincidence? How had they acquired the serum? Questions multiplied, but there was no time to ponder them.
“Whoever he is, he destroyed the device,” William said, his voice firm. “Change of plans—he’s coming with us!”
While William moved to apprehend Steven Hush, Drake suddenly took his gun and fired a shot at Dr. Necro. In the Solid State, with hyper-cognition and enhanced speed, I intercepted the bullet before it could strike.
“What are you doing?” I confronted Drake, stunned by his reckless action. “We can’t kill him! Our orders were to retrieve the device, and he’s the only one who knows how to rebuild it. The captain said it’s vital for the fight ahead!”
“Get out of the way, kid! I don’t want to hurt you,” He said. His expression as serious as ever.
“Drake, what do you think you’re doing?” William snapped. “As Cipher said, we need him alive!”
“You don’t know what you’re dealing with here,” Drake growled. “None of you do! I didn’t want to do this, but you’ve left me no choice.”
He tossed his pistol aside and pulled a strange weapon from his pocket—an oddly shaped gauntlet that absorbed his energy, concentrating it into a single point.
“I know you’re fast enough to dodge this,” he said, and then he aimed his energy gun at Loid Anderson, who stood beside him. “But he won’t. Get out of the way now!”
“Whoa, whoa! What do you think you’re doing? Get that away from me!” Loid shouted, panic creeping into his voice.
“Guys...” Zack murmured, his tone uneasy.
But all of us focused on Drake.
“Have you gone crazy?” William roared at Drake. “Why are you suddenly acting like this?”
“You’re all clueless!” Drake retorted. “This is bigger than you realize. That device cannot be allowed to exist—for the sake of our country, the entire world! He has to die.”
“Guys...” Zack said softly. “That guy is..."
“You’ll understand soon enough,” Drake continued. Before he could finish his sentence, the weapon discharged at Loid Anderson and he collapsed down, lifeless.
William quaked with rage
He took the gun away from Drake, and grabbed him by his suit. “What have you done!?”
“Wait!...” Drake stammered, “I didn’t mean to...” His voice faltering.
That’s when the air suddenly turned icy, the temperature began plummeting as if winter had swept into the room. Frost spread across the walls, and our breath became visible in the frigid air.
“What’s happening?” Billy shivered, his voice tight.
“It’s that guy!” Zack pointed, his tone urgent. “Something’s happening to him!”
“The process is nearly complete,” Dr. Necro said, his eyes glinting with satisfaction. “HIRA-125 has successfully reached Phase 3. The experiment was a success. We should leave—now!”
“Experiment?” William’s jaw clenched. “You made this thing? Why would you do that?”
“Curiosity, I suppose,” Dr. Necro replied nonchalantly. “I wanted to push the limits. Don’t worry—I placed a small explosive device in his head before the experiment began.”
He pressed a button on the remote he held, and a muffled explosion sounded from within HIRA-125’s skull. Smoke seeped from his ears, and we watched, tense with anticipation.
Then, impossibly, HIRA-125 raised his head, and the room grew even colder.
“I’m starting to feel weak,” Zack said, his teeth chattering.
I looked around, and it was true for everyone else.
That’s when I realized what was happening: HIRA-125 was absorbing all the surrounding energy, draining the life from the room itself. And I knew immediately what was going to happen next
“He’s going to explode!” I deduced, “William, grab the doctor! Everyone, get out of here now! I’m going to end this monster!”
“I’m not a monster!” HIRA-125 replied, his voice raw. “Why are you doing this? Help me!”
William grabbed the Doctor, and they all bolted from the underground complex. Everyone except Sane
“Sane, I know you’re strong, but you’re no match for him,” I warned him. “Get out before it’s too late!”
As usual, Sane ignored me, drawing his blades with steely resolve. I picked up a sword and stood beside him.
“Fine, let’s do this together,” I said. “We strike his neck at the same time—let’s stop this monster before it destroys everything.”
With a roar, HIRA-125 snapped the chains binding him. Sane and I charged, aiming our swords at his throat. At the peak of our speed and precision, we struck in perfect unison. But before our blades could touch his skin, he caught them with his bare hands, his grip unbreakable.
“I told you, I’m not a monster!” he growled, his voice distorting. “My name is Maxwell Cole!”
We looked into his eyes.
And prepared for the worst!