Chapter 140
Inside the empty space filled entirely with white, a fierce battle was taking place.
Bang!
Something slammed violently into the outer wall of the laboratory.
Watching the scene, one of the researchers sighed.
“Hm, seems an A-rank monster is still too much for her.”
An experiment measuring No. 66’s combat power was currently underway.
No. 66, who had been embedded into the wall, dropped to the ground with a thud.
Her appearance was difficult to look at directly.
The immense impact had twisted her body grotesquely, and in some places, bones protruded through the flesh.
A gigantic Ogre stomped toward No. 66 with heavy thuds.
Despite the obvious life-threatening situation, none of the researchers showed the slightest bit of agitation.
“Still, her durability is impressive. Normally an Ogre’s blow would make a body explode.”
“To have grown this much in just two weeks is incredible. Shall we stop the experiment here for today?”
As the elderly lead researcher nodded, another researcher pressed a red button inside the laboratory.
At once, a white mist-like substance sprayed throughout the entire chamber.
Soon after—
Thud!
The massive Ogre collapsed to the floor.
It was a powerful sleeping gas capable of putting even A-rank monsters to sleep.
The senior researcher beside me subtly gestured with his chin.
He was telling me to retrieve the fallen No. 66.
I nodded and headed into the massive testing chamber where she lay.
Two weeks had already passed since No. 66 obtained a small measure of freedom.
A great deal had happened to her during that time.
For the first time, she could move her arms and legs freely, and in exchange for that freedom, an even more horrifying hell awaited her.
The researchers brought countless monsters before her and forced her into battle in order to strengthen her ability—the Power of Predation.
To survive, she had to stain her hands with blood, devouring the flesh of her enemies as she grew stronger.
After two weeks of endless combat like that, her power had grown to the point where she could challenge even A-rank monsters.
Having witnessed the entire process myself, I felt many complicated emotions.
Her growth rate was truly astonishing.
It was thanks to the Power of Predation, which allowed her to acquire portions of her opponent’s strength.
In the game, killing monsters increased your stats beyond a certain threshold and allowed you to obtain lower-tier traits from them.
Because No. 66 appeared later than the other playable characters, she possessed several utterly broken abilities.
But regardless of that, her situation was no different from a sewer.
A pitiful monster created through genetic cloning, forced beyond humanity through endless experimentation inside a laboratory.
For the past two weeks, I had used all sorts of methods to earn her goodwill, but she refused to open her heart easily.
After returning the collapsed No. 66 to her original place inside the massive testing chamber, our eyes met once she recovered from her injuries.
“You awake?”
“…….”
She didn’t respond.
She simply stared at me intently.
By now, I was already used to that reaction, so I continued speaking to myself anyway.
“You worked hard today. To think you managed to hold your own against an Ogre. But against strong enemies, you can’t rely on instinct alone. You need to analyze your opponent and aim for their weaknesses.”
“…….”
To begin with, I never expected her to trust me so easily.
In <Become a Hero>, her concept was that of a wounded beast who slowly became more human after encountering good people and experiencing various events at the Academy.
Besides, it was only natural for her to remain wary of me while I wore the appearance of a researcher.
Although only two weeks had passed since she awakened to the world, it had been much longer since she gained self-awareness and the ability to discern things rationally.
In other words, No. 66 understood very well that the researchers here were her enemies.
As always when I left, I whispered the same words to her.
“I’m not your enemy.”
Just as I was about to leave the room, a researcher’s voice suddenly rang out through the speaker installed inside the glass chamber holding No. 66.
The voice sounded unusually urgent.
“Rookie, this is an emergency. Prepare Test Subject No. 66 immediately.”
Prepare?
I tilted my head at the incomprehensible order.
Today’s experiments should’ve ended with the battle against the Ogre.
Besides, she wasn’t even in a condition to fight anymore.
Her body had recovered thanks to her exceptional regeneration, but her exhausted stamina was another matter entirely.
The researchers should’ve known that, so why were they issuing such an order?
“Did something happen?”
“Yeah, I’ll explain later, so hurry and prepare the test subject! There’s no time!”
Judging by how urgent they sounded, something definitely happened.
I glanced outside and saw researchers moving around frantically.
Wait.
Didn’t this scene feel familiar somehow?
The sight of researchers rushing around reminded me of the atmosphere from when Biden first visited the laboratory with me.
No way.
The possibility crossed my mind, but I didn’t panic much.
Biden visiting the laboratory wasn’t exactly surprising.
To begin with, the reason he poured enormous support into this place was because of No. 66 and the Avatar Project.
Still, the timing was earlier than expected.
The Avatar Project wasn’t complete yet, and neither was No. 66.
Biden, who had stationed his Undead here under the excuse of security, should’ve known that better than anyone.
Could another variable have occurred again?
If Biden intended to seize No. 66’s body because of some unexpected variable, that would become extremely troublesome.
Shaking my head, I decided to obey the order for now.
Nothing had been confirmed yet.
Wasting mental energy over things that hadn’t happened would just be foolish.
I approached No. 66.
“Listen carefully to what I’m about to say.”
“…….”
“Biden is coming. You saw him a month ago, right? The skeleton wrapped in black demonic energy like a cloak. He’s coming here.”
At those words, agitation flickered through her eyes.
She understood what I meant.
Naturally so, since she had been conscious at the time.
“He’s after your body. And if he asks to test your strength, hide your true power.”
Just then, the speaker on the ceiling crackled again impatiently.
“Rookie! Lord Biden is heading your way. Follow immediately and receive him properly!”
Damn it.
I cursed inwardly.
If possible, I really didn’t want to face Biden in this disguise.
The Heavenly Demon saw through the Deceiver’s Mask.
Instructor Kang Jae-seok, one of the strongest high-ranking Heroes, also sensed something strange about me even while transformed.
And the Vampire Butler sensed suspicion through some sort of instinctive perception as well.
In other words, if my luck ran out, Biden might see through my identity.
An ominous force was already approaching from beyond the laboratory.
No. 66 must’ve sensed it too, because her body trembled faintly.
Clank.
The laboratory doors opened.
Biden entered, wrapped in thick black demonic energy.
“This is where the test subject Master has taken interest in is being kept.”
The Vampire Butler stood beside him.
The moment the butler recognized me, his eyebrows twitched.
I immediately lowered my head toward Biden.
Right now, I was not Devil Knight, but merely a lowly researcher.
I couldn’t even afford to meet his gaze.
Biden’s eyes lingered on me briefly.
“You…….”
The moment he addressed me, my heart tightened.
Did he recognize me?
“You carry a familiar scent of a soul.”
A familiar soul scent.
Was he referring to Devil Knight?
I could feel a gaze sharp enough to pierce the back of my head.
Soon, however, his attention shifted toward No. 66.
“So that’s the reason.”
Biden’s expression twisted unpleasantly when he looked at her.
A sinister force began to leak from him.
The ominous power of death sent chills crawling across my skin.
And I wasn’t the only one who felt it.
No. 66 lowered her body and glared at Biden.
Seeing that, the Vampire Butler growled.
“A beast ignorant of its place. Master, shall I suppress it?”
A cold light burst from his eyes as though he intended to subdue her immediately.
Biden raised a hand to stop him.
Then he slowly approached No. 66.
As he extended his hand, black energy surged forth and wrapped around her throat.
“Khk!”
A painful groan escaped her lips.
Even so, Biden merely dragged her closer and observed her carefully.
“She truly bears the exact same face as Devil Knight.”
After loosening his grip, he looked down at her.
Then, with his thin bony foot, he stepped on No. 66 as she collapsed to the floor gasping for breath.
“Next time, you’d best learn your place.”
Watching how Biden treated No. 66, I couldn’t help but feel puzzled.
Why was he expressing such disgust after seeing her?
It almost looked as though seeing No. 66 reminded him of me.
Was he upset simply because her face looked exactly like mine?
Why?
The last time I saw Biden, he had been rather favorable toward me.
Enough to tell me to abandon the Heavenly Demon and join him instead.
Had something changed in his mindset during the meantime?
But I hadn’t done anything harmful to him.
At least not yet.
Then why did the mere thought of me provoke such displeasure?
At that moment, Biden muttered quietly.
“That damned Heavenly Demon…….”
The Heavenly Demon?
Could it be that the reason he came here earlier than expected was because of her?
Thinking back, I recalled the Heavenly Demon declaring she intended to obtain power.
Even before I left the residence, she had frequently disappeared somewhere.
Don’t tell me she really fought Biden under the excuse of gaining influence?
Actually… that would explain everything.
If the Heavenly Demon, for some reason, decided to interfere in Pandemonium’s affairs and chose to beat up the relatively easier target—Biden—and as a result, the enraged Biden came here seeking a stronger body of the living to increase his power…
If my deduction was correct, then Biden’s power was currently weakened.
The Heavenly Demon was a monster that required multiple High-ranking Executives of Pandemonium working together just to oppose.
Meanwhile, among the executives, Biden’s direct combat power in his original body was the weakest.
His true strength came from his endless army of dead soldiers.
If so, then this was an extremely favorable opportunity for me.
Enough to alter my original plans.
The problem, however, was that this was merely a hypothesis pieced together from the current situation.
Its credibility was high, but it was still only circumstantial speculation.
In the end, what mattered was concrete evidence.
At that moment—
Bang!
The doors burst open as the lead researcher and several other researchers hurried inside.
They said they’d come immediately, but they certainly took their time.
Without sparing me another glance, Biden began conversing with the lead researchers.
“How far has the research on that thing progressed?”
“It’s growing rapidly, but it still hasn’t reached a satisfactory level for your expectations, Lord Biden. After giving it more time, we plan to implant another Demonic Authority.”
Using the opportunity, I approached the collapsed No. 66.
Even while sitting on the floor, she continued glaring at Biden.
Her murky golden eyes burned intensely.
Like a massive predator targeting a momentary opening in its prey.
Wait.
This girl…?
I instantly realized what she intended to do.
Her hands darkened as she scattered black demonic energy toward the researchers.
The Vampire Butler, who had been carefully watching No. 66, vanished instantly and appeared in front of the researchers, blocking her slash.
“To bare your claws before Master himself. Insolent beast.”
A crimson aura exploded from the butler’s body as though he had become slightly enraged.
At the same time, he moved his hand, attempting to restrain No. 66 using Blood Manipulation.
However, after absorbing the traits of a Golem through the Power of Predation and transforming her body into an inorganic form, she completely ignored the technique and charged straight toward Biden.
The butler looked startled that his Blood Manipulation—one of the Vampire race’s greatest specialties—had been nullified so easily.
He immediately appeared in midair.
He intended to suppress her through overwhelming physical ability.
The butler descended rapidly toward No. 66 from the air.
Boom!
Fragments of stone exploded outward.
But inwardly, I smiled.
She hadn’t been suppressed yet.
No. 66 was nowhere to be seen beneath the shattered rock where he landed.
B-rank monster, Phantom Crow’s ability—Switch.
No. 66 had already appeared directly before Biden.
Darkness coated both her hands as she swung her fist toward him.