Chapter 51: The Plan

Inside Lynn's underground laboratory,

"How is she adapting?"

"According to reports from the observers on-site, the pseudo-god crystal is able to perfectly control the gamma energy, and no malignant mutations have been observed in her body. It took her only ten hours from regaining consciousness to successfully controlling her body. Doctor, it appears to be a great success."

"The next step is to wait for actual combat testing. What is the situation with Romulus Pharmaceuticals?"

"Maria is indeed just as she described, but gaining control over the entirety of Romulus Pharmaceuticals will still take some time. After all, what controls their entire enterprise are not humans, but vampires. Controlling them will be somewhat more troublesome, but it is expected that the management of Romulus Pharmaceuticals' entire upstream and downstream industries can be completed within three months. She has already finished most of the preliminary work; the rest only requires dispatching zoanoids to eradicate those lingering minor bosses. It isn't difficult, it just takes some time."

Kara had figured out Maria's progress in just a few hours. Fortunately, much like vampires, she did not need to sleep and could maintain a high level of mental concentration at all times, making these tasks effortless for her.

"Fortunately, we have plenty of time now, but you need to keep the conflict escalation level under control. Don't make it too conspicuous. Right now, it's best not to proactively provoke large-scale battles, so as not to stimulate the sensitive nerves of the authorities."

"I understand, Doctor."

"Very well, proceed. Have the observers maintain their distance and monitor them. Remember, just keep a long-range observation; there's no need to meddle in their battles."

"Is there no need to protect the pseudo-god crystal test subject?"

"Unnecessary. If she can be killed by vampires, it means she is not qualified enough as a test subject, and I can easily find another one."

"Understood. Then, Doctor, I will go handle the matters regarding Romulus Pharmaceuticals and the test subject."

Kara took a stride and left the underground laboratory, while Lynn digested the data he had obtained from a round of modulation.

The modulation he performed on Rachel was not that of a standard zoanoid, but rather utilized much more advanced technology.

The creation of the Guyver Zoalords was no simple matter. Lynn needed to accumulate more technical expertise before completion, after which he planned to conduct the first complete Guyver Zoalord experiment.

Prior to that, testing the pseudo-god crystal was an excellent choice.

This technology utilized parameters Lynn had obtained from the gamma monsters, combined with the technology of the Creators. It was similar to the former pseudo-god crystals—essentially the mass-produced Guyver Zoalords replicated by humans within Lynn's memories.

Gamma energy was utilized to resolve the energy issues of the mass-produced units, while the principle of the control medal was employed to regulate the continuously mutating gamma cells, thereby achieving a complementary steady-state structure.

Rachel was Lynn's first creation, and he hoped that the blonde stunner would collect more combat parameters, allowing him to further refine this technology.

"I hope to get all this sorted out before Asgard's hammer drops onto Midgard."

Lynn glanced at the other test bodies in the laboratory, instinctively pinched the bridge of his nose, and then drove the entire laboratory into operation once more using his psionic power.

He stared at three of the test bodies that were about to take shape.

"The more parameters, the better, indeed. Hmm..."

Muttering to himself, Lynn controlled the biochemical reactor to begin his experiments on those three subjects. These three entities required neither loyalty nor the injection of complex personalities.

"Using three immature individuals to preliminarily test combat capabilities is also a good choice, but where should they be deployed?"

Pondering his target, Lynn soon opened the computer placed to the side and browsed through it...

"Hmm?"

An interesting piece of news caught his eye: Tony Stark planned to launch the latest Stark Expo, during which he would announce the newest development roadmap of Stark Industries, with several other corporations participating in the technology expo as well.

"This place is indeed very suitable, but only after I've dealt with the Hand and Madame Gao."

Once Lynn decided on a course of action, he no longer hesitated. He initiated the modulation program, determining the purpose of those three laboratory units.

"I hope your armor has progressed a bit, Tony. Don't disappoint me."

Lynn looked at the high-spirited Tony Stark on the television, nodded to himself, and muttered.

***

Meanwhile, Jessica was standing atop a tall building in Jersey City. She was currently in the bio-boosted state of the prototype Guyver, watching a man a little over a thousand meters away.

Even though it was nighttime, Jessica could clearly see the man's every move.

"Is he really this casual for a vampire, just grabbing people off the street like this? And walking so openly through the streets of Jersey City... Doesn't Lynn's friend specialize in hunting vampires?"

Blade was indeed hunting vampires, but the vampires throughout Jersey City had been overly active lately. The Shadow Faction was frantically expanding its influence, leaving Blade with no time to spare.

Such blatant and barbaric actions actually resulted in these vampire leaders being ambushed by Blade somewhat less often, not to mention there were deeper reasons behind it all.

However, Jessica was unaware of this. Reviewing her memories once more and confirming that the vampire before her was the target she needed to eliminate, Jessica immediately sprang into action, leaping forward across the rooftops.

At the same time, she activated her optical camouflage, concealing her form. The Guyver prototype did not originally possess this function; it was an ability Lynn had added on afterward.

The vampire leader not far away naturally had no idea Jessica was approaching him. He was still wreaking havoc inside a vampire stronghold, turning ordinary citizens who had been lured away through various underhanded means by his subordinates.

"Boss, our recent quotas are being met very quickly. We'll soon reach the headcount required for the first batch of tasks. If it weren't for Blade interfering with our subordinates, this process might have even been faster."

"Hmph, that Daywalker can only act arrogant for a few more days. The Master's plan is proceeding steadily. Once we accumulate enough influence afterwards, we will launch the Night War once again. After purging Madame Gao and the Hand, it will be the humans' turn."

This vampire boss was evidently full of confidence, whether influenced by Shathras's mysterious self-assurance or simply because he was an absolute fool.

"However, Lord Nathan doesn't seem very satisfied with our progress; he's urging us to move faster..."

"Ha, that clown playing the Dark Knight in modern times—only Lord Shathras thinks highly of him, otherwise I could crush him just like a bug!"

Upon hearing these words, his subordinate nervously glanced toward the window and muttered inwardly to himself.

"Why didn't you dare say those words while he was actually right here?"

Ultimately, however, he kept it to himself. After all, whether it was his immediate superior right before him or Nathan Garrett, either one could indeed crush him as easily as a bug.

"Go check on those livestock, pick out a few strong ones, and bring them over. I want to turn them into new blood. As for the rest—not strong enough, failing to meet the criteria—you lot can divide them amongst yourselves."

The boss gave his command, and the vampire showed an excited expression. Clearly, compared to walking on eggshells around the boss and risking punishment from these mentally unstable high-ranking vampires for a slip of the tongue, he much preferred holding the power over life and death of the weak.

Quickly departing the boss's room, the lackling walked down to the lower level. That was where the boss arranged for the captured ordinary humans to be kept, concentrated on a single floor for easy management.

"Are they still behaving?"

"Very well behaved, what could possibly happen? By the way, is the boss planning to turn them now?"

"Hmph, that's precisely why I'm here. Gather the others, take the strong ones from inside, and pick out a few tender ones. After that, it's time for the initiation ceremony!"

As he spoke, the lackling licked his lips, revealing his dazzling fangs. Evidently, as a vampire, this was the process he enjoyed the most.

Watching those people cry and submit to the craving for blood, turning their fangs toward their familiar friends or lovers, was his absolute favorite scenario.

Afterwards, they could enjoy those fresh bodies, admire the new blood trembling in the corner, and finally join their ranks due to the scent of blood, completely abandoning all rational thought. He never grew tired of this little drama.

Walking up to a cage, he flashed a cruel smile at the two innocent people inside, tapping the cell door with an iron bar to send the man and woman inside screaming into a corner. There were needle marks of varying sizes all over their bodies.

Clearly, these vampires regarded them not only as reserves for turning, but also as a food stockpile.

"Ohoho, babe, I'm here to check on you again... Huh? What are you looking at?"

Right at that moment, however, he noticed that the gazes of the two humans he frequently tormented were not fixed on him.

Just as he was about to turn his head back, he found that his head remained right where it was, while only his body had turned around. At the same time, his head tumbled to the ground.

As head and body parted ways, his field of vision rapidly ignited with flames, and he caught sight of a silhouette that was blurred to the extreme.

*Hiss—*

The exhaust vents on the head of the Guyver prototype blew out a burst of cooling gas, and then it departed the scene. The two vampire victims hugged each other tightly, closing their eyes in terror, fearing that whatever fate had befallen the vampire would happen to them in the next second.

Yet, second by second ticked by, and ultimately nothing happened.

Slowly opening their eyes, they saw only piles of ash scattered across the floor.

"Did we... did we survive?" the woman said.

"I'll go check outside, you stay here." Summoning his courage, the man stepped out of the cell, then looked fearfully at the piles of ownerless clothing and the ashes left behind by the slain vampires.

"What... what is going on here?" The man's voice clearly betrayed a sense of utter disbelief. Those vampires had seemed like insurmountable chasms to ordinary people, yet now they had been silently slaughtered right inside their own lair.

"Is... is it safe?" The woman reached out and grabbed her fellow prisoner's arm. "Can we leave now?"

"I—I suppose so. Right... the keys, I'm going to get the keys..."

Speaking as he searched through the ashes, the man quickly found the keys to the prison cells and began opening the cell doors one by one.

When most of the people had gained their freedom, the man approached one particular cell. This cell was much larger than the others and housed several fierce-looking inmates who, interestingly enough, bore no needle marks on their bodies.

"What are you doing? How dare you try to break out here!"

Seeing the man approach, the prison bully immediately rushed over, fiercely grabbing the cell bars and reaching out to clutch the other's collar.

However, the man took a step back.

"The vampires are all dead, you moron. You're going to starve to death in here now. Bah."

With that, he spat on the ground. This action clearly enraged the prison bully, who began violently shaking the cell bars. The huge noise terrified the man, who glanced slightly down the end of the corridor, only to see not a single vampire coming.

This time, the bully's expression changed. According to what the vampires had leaked, tonight was supposed to be the night of the so-called initiation ceremony, at which point he too could become a vampire and freely enjoy ordinary human bodies.

Yet now, everything seemed to have changed.

Just as he wanted to put on a pleading expression, the male prisoner had already turned and walked away without looking back, paying no heed to the crying, pleading, and eventual cursing coming from inside the cell.

He led his female fellow prisoner all the way down, looking at the ownerless clothing and ubiquitous piles of ash along the way, realizing these were all the remains of the vampires.

The stairs leading down seemed to have been severed by something, revealing glass-smooth cutting edges, scorch marks on the walls, and deep gouges.

Clearly, these vampires had been killed by Jessica. The prototype's high-frequency blades and thermal radiation beams dealt with these completely unprotected vampires without any difficulty, and Jessica had slaughtered them before any of the vampires could even warn their comrades.

Consequently, not a single person had raised an alarm along the way.

Fearfully and trembling, the man arrived at the ground floor. This hall should normally have been heavily guarded by a large number of vampires, but now there was only a thick layer of dust swirling in the breeze from an electric fan...

He swallowed hard and surveyed his surroundings.

"Aren't we leaving..."

"Could that guy from just now still be here?"

"He didn't kill us right away, so it should be fine, right? And look at those footprints and that open door—they must have all run away."

"You're right."

Just as the man intended to take a step forward and leave this vampire hell, he suddenly saw a heavy object drop with a loud thud near the front entrance, slamming into the ground.

It even smashed the hard concrete floor, and the rising shockwave scattered the vampire dust across the entire hall, obscuring their vision and causing both prisoners to cough violently.

Finally, the dust cleared, and the man saw a massive monster standing before him: huge bat wings, a crimson body, massive claws on its hands flashing with electric arcs, and eyes on its terrifying, ugly face staring intently at them.

"Aah!"

He screamed, clutching his female companion and retreating. The two of them lost their balance from the sheer terror and fell to the ground.

However, the high-ranking vampire did not move, and the electric arcs on its claws began to slowly fade.

*Squish—*

Accompanied by an indescribable, slick sound, a cross-shaped gap finally split open across its chest.

Its body slowly broke apart into four pieces of meat and fell to the ground, kicking up dust and splashes of blood.

Jessica's bio-boosted form also appeared behind the vampire. The corpse of the high-ranking vampire began to burn, and she activated her optical camouflage once more, vanishing from the pair's field of vision amidst the flames. The entire process was absurdly quiet.

Not a single vampire had emitted a roar or a scream.

There hadn't even been time to beg for mercy.

Clutching his female companion, the man stared blankly as the Guyver departed amidst the flames. Until the fire died down and the vampire lair returned to a dead silence, the two of them finally remembered to leave.

Before doing so, they glanced back at the building that had imprisoned them.

The top floor of the building had already begun to burn fiercely, with flashes of fire igniting repeatedly. Those prisoners trapped inside, destined to become vampires, would likely never escape...

"Did we... did we really survive?"

With weak legs, they sat on the ground. Remembering then that the nights in Jersey City were not safe, they endured their fear and weakness to leave the place, seeking a safe spot to rest for the night and wait until daytime before moving again.

At that moment, Jessica was already standing atop a high-rise rooftop.

"Let me see, my next target..."