Then, his body began to tremble violently.
Muscles swelled amidst the tremors, and veins protruded during the expansion.
In just a few seconds, A-Train seemed to have been reinflated, turning into a monster full of explosive power.
He gasped for air, leaning his hands on the vanity table with his head down.
In the mirror, his eyes had turned a faint blue.
“Worth it.” He grinned, revealing a near-manic smile.
“Shockwave…
you’re finished.”
Lucas stood less than three meters behind him, taking it all in.
He aimed his phone’s camera at A-Train and pressed the record button.
High-definition, silent, and a complete record of the injection process.
Evidence obtained.
A-Train looked up and adjusted his expression in the mirror, trying to make himself look more normal.
He picked up a towel from the table to wipe the sweat from his face and sprayed some cologne to mask the chemical scent on his body.
Lucas slipped his phone back into his pocket and slowly backed away.
“Mr.
A-Train, five minutes until you’re on.”
“Got it, now get out.”
The door was slammed shut rudely.
The moment the staff member left, Lucas slipped out right behind him.
Calm returned to the corridor.
Lucas retraced his steps, passing through the two fire doors and rounding the corner.
In front of Lounge No.
12 stood a middle-aged man in a Vought uniform, speaking into a walkie-talkie.
“…Shockwave is ready.
Please inform Mr.
Homelander that the opening greeting segment went smoothly.
Yes, the entry order for the contestants remains unchanged…”
Lucas waited a few seconds.
The man turned and left.
He passed through the door again and returned to Shockwave’s lounge.
Kimiko was still in the corner.
Seeing him return, her body relaxed slightly.
Her black eyes blinked, seemingly asking a question.
“It’s fine.” Lucas crouched beside her again and lowered his voice.
“I just caught some good stuff.”
He pulled his phone from his pocket and fast-forwarded through the video he had just recorded.
On the screen, A-Train was injecting himself with the blue liquid.
Kimiko’s pupils contracted slightly.
She looked up at Lucas, a hint of surprise in her eyes—not at his methods, but an instinctive wariness of how he always seemed to know everything in advance.
“Don’t look at me like that.” Lucas put the phone away.
“I just…
did a little homework.”
He leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes.
Now, he held two cards in his hand.
Having the evidence of A-Train’s compound v injection was equivalent to holding the lifeblood of one of ‘The Seven’ and the entire Vought International.
No matter the outcome of the race, he had already won.
Inside the stadium, the announcer’s voice rang out again, impassioned.
“Ladies and gentlemen—the moment we’ve been waiting for is here!
First, let’s welcome—the speed storm from Atlanta—Shockwave—!”
The cheers were like a tsunami.
Hurried footsteps echoed in the corridor.
Someone ran past the door.
The door to Shockwave’s lounge was pushed open.
Shockwave had already changed into his black-and-gold racing suit, his face wearing a look of determined confidence.
His assistant followed behind, constantly giving reminders.
“Remember, wave to the east stands first after you come out.
It’s the sponsor’s requirement.”
“I know, I know,” Shockwave replied dismissively, walking out with long strides.
The door closed.
The lounge fell into silence once more.
Lucas opened his eyes, a curve forming at the corner of his mouth.
“Go on, go run.”
He stood up and stretched his legs, which were a bit numb from crouching.
“No matter how fast you run, you won’t be coming back.”
The race was about to begin.
And the hunter was already in position.
Maybe it’s not a big deal now… maybe it will be later.
“And If you’re enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!”