VIVIAN
The pain she felt suddenly disappeared. She knew she had self healed. The boy’s eyes were on her. What if they report her and she gets taken again for an experiment.
"Ah!"
She screamed, and closed her eyes feigning to be in great pain. "It hurts."
Herbert was frightened. "Are you okay?"
Then he withdrew his concerned face. "Just a little scratch won’t kill you. Since you decided to stay in this school. Get ready to die anytime."
Serial cuts the thorn vine with his sword and rushes toward her.
"Don’t touch me!"
She pushed him away. Her breathing became ragged.
The other thorn vine slowly withdrew from her arm.
Blood continued dripping down her arm.
Vivian stared at the wound.
The wound on her arm was closing and she didn’t want them to know..
She pressed her palm against it. Vivian’s heart pounded.
As she saw the drone she quickly turned her back from it and the boys.
She pulled her torn uniform over the wound and pretended to be in extreme agony.
"My shoulder..."
"I can’t move it."
The two boys exchanged glances.
"You need medical treatment."
Vivian shook her head.
"No."
She deliberately coughed. "I’m fine."
Serial snapped. "You were stabbed by a mutated plant! You know it could be poisonous, let me check."
"I said I’m fine!"
Serial frowned. "You’re bleeding."
Vivian looked down. Some parts of her uniform were soaked in blood.
She snapped back. "I am a female, I CAN’T let you see my shoulder."
He had a sour look. "There is no male.or female at war. Any sex can treat the other."
"I am just not okay with it. Do you want to force me?
Herbert sneered. "Let her be. Or you just want to see a female shoulder?"
Serial gave up.
Vivian ignored them. As long as they could see the blood, they wouldn’t know the truth.
She had no idea what was happening to her body.
And she certainly wasn’t going to tell anyone.
Another branch suddenly swung toward them.
"Move!"
The three jumped apart. The branch smashed into the ground. Vivian rolled across the dirt.
The mutated tree shrieked. Its enormous roots ripped through the ground.
"It’s coming again!"
Serial grabbed weapons from his space ring and threw a metal rod for Vivian to catch. He knew of her enormous strength.
He said. "Let’s finish it off!"
The three attacked together.
Serial used his sword to cut the root thou it was hard, he kept cutting.. While Harbert used his ability to scan the mutant tree weak point.
As he pointed it out. Serial pulled out a gun from his space ring and shot it.
The mutated tree thrashed wildly. Branches struck from every direction.
Vivian ducked beneath one and smashed the metal rod against the thick root.
The root split.
The tree made annoying creepy sounds.
"Again!" They attacked it.
Another root broke. Then another.
Finally...The enormous tree collapsed.
Dust covered the forest. Vivian stood among the broken branches.
She slowly touched her shoulder.
Nothing.The wound was completely gone.
Not even a scar remained. Her face paled.
Impossible. She had been stabbed through the shoulder.
This was enough to kill someone?
She looked at her blood-covered hand.
Her healing ability...Was it connected to the lotus?
Before she could think further...
"Vivian!"
She immediately lowered her hand.
Herbert was staring at her. "Are you still alive?"
Vivian forced a weak smile.
"Unfortunately. I am."
Inside the observation hall, Vincent Hale stared at the holographic footage.
Vivian appeared on the screen.
The thorn entered her shoulder. Blood exploded from the wound. Then she turned to her back standing behind the surveillance drone.
Vincent narrowed his eyes.
"Replay that."
The technician obeyed.
Again. The footage showed Vivian being stabbed but they couldn’t see the injury.
Replay again. "He said, and Vincent leaned closer.
"Stop."
The image froze.
"How long was she hidden?"
"Eight seconds."
Vincent’s eyes narrowed. "Show me the moment she turns back.."
The technician hesitated.
"Sir..."
"What?"
"It ends there. I think she purposely blocked the drone."
Vincent turned sharply.
"Really?"
"Yes. She glanced at the drone at this spot. Then turned instantly."
Vincent stared at the screen.
Then he smiled coldly.
"Delete the footage."
The technician froze.
"Sir?"
"You heard me."
"But this is an official examination..."
"Delete it."
The technician swallowed.
"Yes, sir."
The screen went black.
Vincent leaned back.
"Don’t report Vivian Lilian’s injury."
The technician lowered his head. "Understood."
Vincent looked toward the dark screen.
"A Zero-Class female..."
"Shattering a Grade-S strength stone."
"Surviving a mutated plant."
His eyes narrowed. "What exactly are you hiding, Vivian?"
VIVIAN
Night fell over the abandoned forest.
The three students eventually found shelter beneath a massive flowering tree.
Its branches spread across the sky like a giant umbrella.
Small glowing flowers covered every branch.
Their soft light illuminated the darkness.
"We’ll stay here tonight."
Herbert sat against the tree.
Vivian lowered herself onto the grass.
Her body was exhausted. She looked down at her ruined uniform.
Blood still covered the fabric.
She touched her shoulder again.
Perfectly healed. She clenched her fist.
I need to find out what this lotus is.
Her consciousness flashed through her mind.
The mysterious lotus floated silently in the darkness.
One new petal had appeared.
And somehow...Her body had healed.
Vivian closed her eyes. Maybe tomorrow I’ll figure it out.
She leaned against the tree.
The scent of the flowers slowly calmed her.
Her eyelids became heavy.
Then...Everything disappeared.
She woke up in a Pure white room.
Vivian opened her eyes. She couldn’t move.
Her wrists were strapped to a metal table.
Her ankles were restrained.
A transparent mask covered her mouth.
"What..."
Panic rushed through her.
She struggled. "Let me go!"
She tried to think. "I thought I was at the abandoned forest for the assessment. Why am I here?"
No one answered. Cold machines surrounded her.
Strange tubes were connected to her arms. Holographic numbers floated above her.
Then a mechanical voice spoke.
"Subject V100."
Vivian froze.
"Subject... V100?"
A door opened. Footsteps approached. It was the sound of a heel shoe.
Vivian’s eyes widened. A woman entered the room.
Long blond hair. Elegant clothes.
A familiar face.
Her mother. Emelianna Astronova.
"Mother?"
Emelianna didn’t answer. She walked toward Vivian.
A syringe was held between her fingers.
Vivian’s heart began pounding.
"No."
She shook her head. "Mother, what are you doing?"
Emelianna stopped beside the table.
Her expression was cold. Almost emotionless.
Vivian pulled against the restraints.
"Mother !"
"Please! Stop!!"
Emelianna raised the syringe.
"Don’t!"
The needle entered Vivian’s arm.
"AH!"
Cold liquid flooded her veins.
Vivian screamed. "You Bitch!!!"
Emelianna leaned toward her ear.
Her voice was barely a whisper.
"Subject V100..."
Vivian’s eyes widened.
"...begin the extraction of Beast Core surgery.."
Her entire body suddenly went rigid. The machines around her began flashing.
WARNING.
WARNING.
SPIRITUAL CORE REACTION DETECTED.
Vivian felt so weak that she couldn’t move her legs.
"What’s happening to me?"
The machine screamed.
"ABNORMAL BEAST CORE!"
"LOTUS DETECTED IN HER BRAIN!"
Vivian’s pupils contracted.
Lotus...?
Her mother’s face suddenly changed.
For the first time... Emelianna looked frightened.
"What do you mean Lotus? We need her Beast Core."
Vivian stared at her.
"Mother..."
"Why are you scared?"
The entire room began shaking. The machines exploded into sparks.
She screamed. "Emelianna you Bitch!! What are you doing to me!!! I am not your fucking stupid daughter Vivian. I will kill you if you hurt me!!!"
No matter how loud she screamed no one heard. It was like her voice never came out but she knew she was screaming her lungs out.
Then Emelianna turns to Vivian. Their eyes met, she saw Vivian’s teary eyes.. She was annoyed.
"Why is she awake?" she said to the surgeon assistant. "What if she gets brain damage? Increase her dosage!!!"