"Castor Damon..."
Hearing the name, Zed recalled how Castor Damon and his team forced him and hundreds of slum dwellers into BSE-79.
He remembered how every slum dweller other than him died like an insect and the scorn the deaths brought from Castor Damon.
The scene of him escaping from Castor Damon was still fresh in his mind. It caused him to meet Enchantia and experience the chilling events that made him Kiba.
These memories made him clench his teeth and tighten his fist around the serum tube.
Raging heat surged out of him and invaded the glass tube, causing it to explode from inside.
The serum splashed out like a crimson rain, and as it swept into the air, the heat instantly vaporized it.
Whoosh~!
The heat manifested physically and spread out, releasing a temperature that was no less than the core of a volcano. As a result, the floor began to melt, and the air distorted sharply.
Sophia was startled, and she shot back while looking at Zed.
His hair was floating and flames burned in his eyes. Gone was the calmness and kindness she has grown fond of. He now seemed like a demon incarnate.
"Is this really Zed?!"
Sophia was taken aback. She summoned an energy barrier to block the heat.
Rebecca, Katherine, Kirstie, Heather, and Leyla were shocked.
Rebecca, Katherine, and Heather were strong enough to resist the heat without using their strength. Still, his powers turning berserk shocked them greatly.
[[Master! Stop!]] Claudia’s voice reverberated like thunder.
The flames wildly dancing in Zed’s eyes flickered. There was something soothing in her voice, causing rationality to penetrate his memories of anger and resentment.
"Sighs~"
Zed let out a heavy sigh and controlled his powers. Finally, the heat stopped, and his hair fell back.
"I’m sorry, Claudia."
He apologized as most of the floor has already melted, and the ceiling was charred black. And it wasn’t the first time he has done something like this to the lab.
[[Please don’t apologize, sir.]]
Claudia replied with warmth instead of her usual sarcastic tone.
Zed smiled and turned towards others.
"I’m sorry if I said something wrong," Sophia started before he could.
She was only praising him by comparing him to the greatest scientist the world has seen. Yet it invoked his fury like never before. She now felt she has done some wrong, and it made her sad.
She never wanted to make the man she liked angry!
"No, you didn’t, and you never can," Zed responded with a warm smile. "The fault is mine for getting angry by a name despite years having been passed."
Sophia was confused but also pleased. Naturally, because he believed she can never say anything wrong!
"Though he doesn’t agree with me on the villain, he knows I’m always right, just like my mom!"
Sophia thought with bright eyes.
On the side, Katherine smiled wryly.
"This daughter of mine is so easy to please!"
She noted in her heart.
"And that’s only because he’s Zed!"
She then turned to Zed and said, "So I assume you know Castor Damon?"
He was calm, so she was sure he wouldn’t get offended now.
"Well, yes."
Zed nodded while stepping back. Two droids stepped in to repair the floor and the damaged equipment.
"He was my mentor."
"?!!!!"
The expressions of everyone changed dramatically. Even Rebecca, who associated with Castor Damon much before, was surprised.
Zed couldn’t help but smile further.
"Well, not a mentor in the traditional sense," He clarified. "But in a way, he taught me everything I know and gave me everything I have."
Now that Zed thought of it, Castor Damon was a good guy.
Alas, he was dead. But had he been alive, he would have thanked him!
✻✻✻✻
No conscious lifeform ever stepped in or flew over the mountains. This was thanks to the waning force surging from the depths of mountains. The force would suck the life energy and turn one into dust.
As for non-human objects, they would experience a terrifying gravitational pull that would instantly turn them into wreckage.
The source of this devastating phenomenon was a lab!
Hidden deep underneath the mountains, the lab was the wet dream of every scientist and researcher. This was despite the cobwebs and the rotten, burning stench that emerged from the center of the lab – a large crystal container.
Inside the container was a brain!
Not any brain, but the brain of legendary Castor Damon! The only Rank IX scientist in the world!
The brain floated amidst a sticky liquid, its neurons connected with nano-sized wires.
[New report]
A message rang in the lab, seemingly awakening the brain from its rest.
"What is it...?" A hollow voice emerged from the container.
[Zed alias Kiba has met Dream Weaver.]
"Dream Weaver... she’s the one that gave that wretched slum insect his new name!"
[...yes. They supposedly fought though none noticed her presence.]
"How could others do?! She’s just a projection of dreams!"
A virtual screen flashed before the container and displayed the battle at a fast pace.
When the scene of Kiba’s ultimate move – Booby Trap – emerged, the brain’s neurons turned hyper.
"That insect! He’s wasting everything I d.e.s.i.r.ed!"
All the brain "saw" was a screen full of titties, and it caused its neurons to burn from fury.
Simultaneously, strands of lightning emerged in the core of the brain and began to spread out.
[Warning: Lightning from Evolution Domain is turning active. Urgent rest recommended.]
The brain once again turned silent and fell into rest. The lighting dimmed as if it was being suppressed.
✻✻✻✻
At the same time, in the most beautiful place on the Earth – Eden.
Ice Queen stepped into the palace. Threads of ice appeared in the path ahead of her and crisscrossed, turning into a carpet of ice.
Her lithe figure stepped on the carpet and walked to the aisle to her throne.
On either side of the carpet, her loyal servants bowed in utmost respect. Their gazes were full of reverence.
Ice Queen sat on the throne and placed her hands on the armrests.
There was a veil of mystery on her, and just the act of sitting caused millions of sparks to sputter around her.
The servants felt a bone-numbing chill from the sparks, and if not for their queen’s protection, they would have frozen to death and shattered into billions of dust particles.
Ice Queen rested her chin on a hand, and with disinterest, asked, "What’s the status of the revived Legacy Masters?"
Martha – the second-strongest person on Eden – stepped forward. Dressed in the warrior outfit, her rosy brown swells of b.r.e.a.s.ts pressed together as she answered with a deep bow.
"After capturing Alphas they could, they have now gathered at the Black Sea, the border of Paradox Dimension."