Time seemed to freeze in that instant.
Before Lin Xuan could even process the power coursing through his body, survival instinct drove him into action.
He rolled off the lab table in a single, fluid motion, his movements as swift as lightning.
The two Hydra Soldiers were clearly stunned.
They hadn’t expected this “failure” to still be mobile, let alone move with such incredible speed.
For a moment, they were completely caught off guard.
Lin Xuan gave them no time to recover.
He lunged forward, his elbow striking the side of the left soldier’s neck with pinpoint accuracy.
*Crack.*
With a faint sound, the soldier collapsed without a whimper.
Immediately after, Lin Xuan ducked low, dodging the right soldier’s instinctive swing with the butt of his rifle.
He seized the man’s gun-wielding arm, twisted it violently, and used the momentum to slam him into the nearby metal wall.
*Thud!*
After the dull impact, the second soldier slumped to the floor, unconscious.
The entire sequence had unfolded in a flash.
Swift and decisive.
Lin Xuan leaned against the edge of the lab table, his breath coming in shallow gasps.
The sudden burst of exertion had nearly drained the meager strength he had just recovered.
A deep-seated weakness still pulsed through his body, but compared to his near-death state moments ago, it was a world of difference.
Just then, a cold, synthesized voice chimed in.
[System Notification: First battle victory. Defeated 2 Hydra Soldiers.]
[Reward: +5 Tech Points.]
*Tech Points?*
Lin Xuan’s mind raced.
What were they used for?
Upgrading the Xiongxin Engine’s functions?
Strengthening this newly superhuman body?
Or perhaps… unlocking more black-market technology?
Countless possibilities flashed through his mind, but now was clearly no time for system research.
He knew that the soldiers’ collapse would soon draw attention.
The footsteps outside and the threat of an alarm sounding at any moment hung over him like a sword.
He had to get out of here—now.
Without hesitation, Lin Xuan moved to strip the combat uniform from one of the fallen Hydra soldiers.
The fabric still held the man’s body heat, mixed with the faint scent of sweat and disinfectant.
He clumsily slipped into the combat suit.
It was a bit ill-fitting, but it would have to do.
He picked up an assault rifle that had fallen on the floor.
The cold, metallic feel of the weapon brought him a flicker of reassurance.
Though he had never handled a real gun before, it was better than nothing.
Taking a deep breath, Lin Xuan donned the combat helmet, concealing his face.
He mimicked the posture of a Hydra Soldier, trying his best to look inconspicuous.
His plan was simple: impersonate a Hydra Soldier and sneak out of this damned laboratory.
Holding his breath, Lin Xuan crept to the metal door and peered through the observation window.
The corridor was brightly lit and temporarily empty.
But from a distance, he could hear the faint murmur of voices and the hum of machinery.
He had to hurry.
He needed to find a way out before Hydra discovered something was wrong.
Just as he was about to push open the door, a system notification flashed in his mind.
[Mission Activated: Escape]
[Objective: Successfully escape the Hydra underground laboratory base.]
[Reward: +20 Tech Points.]
*So there really is a mission.*
Lin Xuan’s eyes sharpened, and he hesitated no longer.
He gently pushed open the laboratory door and slipped out.
The moment his foot touched the corridor floor—
*Wooo—Wooo—Wooo—*
A piercing alarm suddenly echoed throughout the entire base!
Red warning lights flashed frantically, bathing the corridor in a crimson glow.
*Damn it!
They found me after all!* Lin Xuan cursed inwardly.
*Was it because those two soldiers failed to report in on time, or did the laboratory’s internal life-sign monitoring system detect an anomaly?*
He had no time to dwell on it and immediately quickened his pace.
After running just a few steps, three Hydra Soldiers armed with weapons rushed out from the corner ahead, their dark muzzles instantly aiming at him.
“Halt! Password!”
*Password?
How the hell should I know the password!*
Lin Xuan’s mind raced, but his expression remained calm.
He mumbled a vague response: “For Hydra…”
Before the words had even fully left his lips, he had already lunged forward like a cheetah!
The three Hydra soldiers had clearly never expected him to strike so suddenly.
In the split second they froze, Lin Xuan had already closed the distance.
He was too fast.
His body, infused with the optimized Super Soldier Serum, granted him speed and reflexes far beyond any ordinary human.
Lin Xuan held a gun in his right hand, but his left hand became a blur of motion.
Parry.
Disarm.
Elbow strike.
Knee strike.
His movements flowed like water, a perfect blend of power and skill, as if he had been trained for a thousand lifetimes.
*Crack!
Thud!
Grunt…*
After a few sharp sounds and muffled groans, the three Hydra soldiers followed their comrade’s lead, collapsing to the ground, neutralized.
Lin Xuan shook out his slightly numb arm.
Looking at the soldiers and their dropped weapons, he couldn’t help but mutter under his breath:
“Within ten paces, my fist is faster than your gun.”
Without a moment’s delay, he oriented himself and sprinted toward the base’s likely exit, as he remembered it.
The alarms blared louder, and footsteps echoed from all directions.
He had to hurry!
***
Meanwhile, deep within the base, in a dimly lit surveillance room.
The only light in the darkened chamber emanated from the cold glow of the monitors.
Baron von Strucker, a high-ranking Hydra official, stood before the massive screen, his expression impassive as he watched the rapidly moving figure on the display.
Beside him stood Dr. Lister, the very man who had previously ordered Lin Xuan to be “dealt with.”
His face was now pale.
“My Lord Baron… HY-15… Has he… succeeded?” Dr. Lister’s voice trembled with a hint of disbelief.
A cold smile curved the Baron’s lips, his eyes gleaming with excitement and curiosity.
“Interesting… Very interesting,” he murmured.
“It seems our experiment wasn’t a complete failure after all.”
“HY-15 absorbed the serum, survived, and is even demonstrating combat capabilities far beyond our expectations.”
He turned to the squad leader nearby.
“Pass the order.”
“Mobilize the base’s elite agents and combat teams. Hunt him down.”
“But…”
Baron von Strucker paused, a cruel glint flashing in his eyes.
“Try to take him alive. I want to see exactly where the limits of this ‘successful’ specimen lie.”
“Yes, my Lord Baron!” Dr. Lister snapped to attention, a fanatical spark igniting in his eyes.
An invisible net was closing in on Lin Xuan.
***
Lin Xuan moved swiftly through the area.
The Super Soldier Serum’s enhancements were comprehensive, boosting not just his strength and speed, but also his senses and cognitive abilities.
He could hear sounds from much further away and analyze his escape route with lightning speed.
But this power came at a cost.
A fierce hunger, like a raging fire, tore through his stomach.
This was a normal reaction after awakening the Super Soldier abilities.
Such immense power required a massive energy supply, and he had been nearly drained dry on the experimental table.
The recent battle had only made matters worse.
He needed to replenish his energy immediately.
Otherwise, far from escaping, he would collapse from starvation right here.
He had to find a place to eat and recover his strength.
“A tavern…”