Chapter Seventy-Six: X-3 Serum (Part One)

“Ahhhhhhh!!!”
The screams coming from nearby chilled Beth to the bone. The girl lay on a cold metal bed, her hands and feet strapped down tight. She had no idea what was about to happen to her, and at this moment, Beth was utterly powerless. All she could do was grit her teeth, force her eyes shut, and try not to imagine what was happening around her. This was the only form of resistance she could muster—beyond that, she was helpless.

“Subject Fourteen extraction complete. Begin analysis!”

Staring nervously at the information flashing across the monitor, the researcher in the white lab coat shouted in a tense voice. Beside him, an elderly man watched the screen with a grave expression, calmly and steadily issuing his orders.

“Proceed with level three purification, then freeze for storage in a containment unit.”

“Begin purification!”

At the old man’s command, the other researchers in the laboratory sprang into action, working swiftly and methodically through their assigned tasks, following each step of the experimental containment procedure. Watching this scene, Del was filled with growing anxiety. He frowned, eyes locked on the activity before glancing at the time displayed nearby. He turned to the old man and asked urgently,

“How much longer?”

“Final extraction—five minutes left!”

“We don’t have five minutes. We must leave immediately!”

Del clenched his fists, glaring at the old man and shouting. Ever since losing contact with the external security forces, a sense of dread had been gnawing at him. He had thought, no matter what, that the test subjects would at least buy them some time. Never had he expected those subjects to be so utterly useless, wiped out before they could even slow down the enemy. Shocked and unnerved, Del felt a sliver of fear. He had never witnessed the overwhelming power of the Seven Giants firsthand, but in his view, no matter how strong an esper might be, they were still flesh and blood—beatable, breakable, conquerable, just like those the Federation had dealt with before. So why were the Seven Giants different? Had their research into espers been flawed from the start?

“We must finish this last experiment! If Subject Fifteen is not collected, the first fourteen subjects will be worthless for research! You have no idea how critical this step is. This isn’t painting—it’s science! The rigor of science is beyond the comprehension of an idiot like you!”

But unlike the restless Del, the white-haired elder replied with unwavering resolve. He then thrust his hand forward, giving the final command.

“Continue the experiment. Begin sampling from Subject Fifteen!”

A faint mechanical whir reached Beth’s ears, and she shuddered involuntarily. She didn’t know what the sound was, but instinct told her it spelled danger. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to pretend she knew nothing, that nothing was happening. But the mechanical noise grew clearer and closer. She could even feel a faint stream of air brushing her skin.

Her anxiety and terror mounted. If she could, Beth would have leapt up and fled, but no matter how she struggled, the straps binding her body refused to budge.

The sound grew louder, clearer… Until finally, Beth could endure the fear of the unknown no longer; she opened her eyes—and froze.

Before her, a massive extraction device, shaped like an enormous syringe, was inching closer. Its sharp metallic needle spun rapidly, whining like a drill as it advanced relentlessly toward her forehead.

“No… Please, no…”

Beth didn’t need to guess what it was for. She thrashed with all her might, desperate to escape. But her limbs, her body—even her head—were locked in place. No matter how wildly or desperately she struggled, she could not break free. All she could do was watch as that metallic drill edged closer and closer… until, at last, Beth felt the cold, spinning needle pierce her skin.

“No—!”

The silver scalpel slid into the soldier’s body as effortlessly as slicing through tofu. Watching the soldier’s eyes widen in horror, Ferren smiled and twisted his fingers. With his movement, the scalpel spun rapidly inside the man’s chest, then withdrew. At once, the soldier’s chest split open, and a still-beating heart tumbled to the ground, twitching feebly before falling still.

“Seems there’s a big fish hiding in here.”

Ferren let out a low whistle as he watched the corpse collapse, then continued on his way. He’d already dispatched dozens of fully armed soldiers along the way—veterans, all of them. But despite their experience, they were only human. For Ferren, killing ordinary people was absurdly easy.

Rounding a corner, Ferren dispatched the last guard who dared raise a weapon against him. Then he looked up at the massive iron doors ahead. The security here was beyond rigorous—even the doors were different from those outside: thick, tightly sealed, reinforced with a password lock and fingerprint scanner. Anyone could see this was no ordinary storage room, but a place of great importance.

Ferren had no password, no fingerprint. But for him, there was a simpler way.

With a swift motion, the scalpel, empowered by his [Severance] ability, pierced the heavy metal doors as if they were nothing. In the blink of an eye, the door was sliced into several pieces, which clattered to the ground. Smiling, Ferren stepped inside—just as gunfire erupted.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

A hail of bullets tore through the air towards Ferren. Yet, unfazed by the sudden attack, Ferren’s expression remained unchanged. His eyes narrowed; he gripped his scalpel, and then, [Swift Shadow] activated once more.

A cascade of sparks flickered into existence as Ferren’s hands moved at a speed the naked eye could scarcely follow, leaving only blurred afterimages. Moments later, the gunfire ceased. Ferren’s arms dropped calmly to his sides—his black suit and overcoat remained immaculate, not a speck of dust upon them. Only the bullet-riddled floor at his feet hinted at what had just transpired.

“M-monster…!”

Del stared at Ferren, his face ashen, sweat pouring down his back and a chill running through his bones. After losing contact with the exterior, he’d already put emergency protocols into effect, ordering all soldiers to remain on high alert and to open fire at the slightest sign of trouble. Ferren’s entry had been sudden, but Del’s five elite guards had reacted instantly, squeezing their triggers.

Yet, to Del’s astonishment, not one shot found its mark. Every furious bullet was deflected by the scalpel in Ferren’s hand—not even grazing him. More unbelievable still, the young man dodged every possible trajectory with movements that defied reason.

Could a human truly do this?

No—was this the true power of an esper?

As Ferren smiled in silence, Del felt as though he’d plunged into an icy abyss. He’d seen espers before, even formidable ones, but never anyone who dared confront gunfire with flesh and blood alone—let alone emerge unscathed. So why could this young man do it, and succeed?

Monster! He’s a monster!

Without hesitation, Del barked another order.

“Fire! Open fire! Keep firing! Kill him!”

The soldiers snapped out of their shock and scrambled back, hurriedly changing magazines to resume their attack.

But at the same time, Ferren’s slaughter had already begun.