"Right,if it's really that simple, why is he looking for us?"
The burly men who had been squaring off moments ago exchanged glances. Realization dawned, and their raised fists slowly lowered. A few sharper ones had already begun slipping quietly back into the crowd.
"Drag him out."
Dr. Ryan tilted his head slightly, signaling to the soldiers behind him. When he turned back, his gentle smile had already returned.
The soldiers moved swiftly. Wherever they passed, the mutants instinctively stepped aside, clearing a path.
A tall, thin youth covered in scars was brought forward.
"Colin,!"
Just before he was taken away, Colin felt someone grab his arm. The hand was quickly shaken off by a soldier.
"Colin!"
He turned his head instinctively and caught a glimpse,through the shifting bodies,of a red-eyed boy.
Ryan. His cellmate. The closest person he had in this hell.
But the moment passed. The soldiers closed in, blocking everything behind him,sight, sound, all of it.
"Is he crazy? If others want to go, let them. Why shout?"
"Look at his body… being cut open every other day,anyone would break. Maybe he just wants to die…"
"Doesn't matter who goes. As long as it's not us."
Amid the whispers, Colin finally came face-to-face with Dr. Ryan.
"Colin Israel. Level 2 mutant. Ability: lizard transformation. Low combat ability, but decent regeneration."
Dr. Ryan looked him over, then smiled lightly. "You have beautiful eyes."
"Thank you, Doctor."
Colin didn't expect to be chosen so easily. His tone carried genuine gratitude. "I'm honored."
Dr. Ryan reached out, brushing lightly over the scars on Colin's body. His expression shifted, almost curious.
"They say I'm ruthless… but those in biological research are far worse."
He withdrew his hand. "You'll do."
With a wave, he turned and began walking away.
Behind them, the crowd let out quiet sighs of relief.
Colin's ears twitched slightly. The corners of his lips lifted,just a little.
"Not afraid of radiation?" Dr. Ryan asked, glancing at him.
"Radiation?"
For a moment, Colin pictured Godzilla crossing continents just to feed on nuclear energy.
He chuckled.
The Alkali Gene Research Institute sat in a remote region of New York State, sprawling across vast land.
After entering the main building, Colin followed Dr. Ryan through layers of security,checkpoint after checkpoint,until they finally stopped outside a massive chamber.
"This is my laboratory."
Dr. Ryan pointed toward a heavy alloy door. "Behind that is an independent reaction chamber. Due to a mistake by my assistant, Reactor Vessel No. 3 developed a small crack."
"The system has already stabilized the situation. Your task is simple,find the corresponding valve and shut it."
He spread his hands. "That's all."
Colin glanced around. The lab was empty.
"…What happened to your previous assistant?"
Dr. Ryan didn't respond. He simply continued adjusting something at the console.
"…After you come out, I'll transfer you here. Life will be easier."
That silence said everything.
Colin's eyes flickered.
"So the radiation is worse than I thought…"
Instead of fear, a faint light ignited in his gaze.
He thought of the Titan Codex,of Godzilla.
For the first time, suppressing his smile felt… difficult.
Dr. Ryan mistook his expression for anticipation and handed him a protective suit.
Colin took it,and his smile immediately faded.
It was absurdly thin.
Forget advanced materials,this thing looked worse than a sackcloth outfit with a few pieces of lead sewn into it.
…Was he not even pretending anymore?
"This is specially designed," Dr. Ryan said, patting his shoulder. "Trust me,you'll be safe."
"…More like I'll be carried out."
Colin's eye twitched.
Still, he checked his progress.
Godzilla's unlock rate,just over 25%.
Barely any change.
He sighed softly and put on the suit.
Dr. Ryan watched silently. Once Colin finished, he pressed the door control without hesitation.
With a deep rumble, the alloy door slowly opened.
Colin stepped inside.
The moment he crossed the threshold,
Boom.
The door slammed shut behind him.
"…So they're not even planning on letting me out."
Clicking his tongue, Colin turned and surveyed the chamber.
It was enormous.
Massive reaction vessels towered overhead, connected by thick pipes running in every direction.
"Just as I thought…"
"In high radiation areas… the unlocking speed increases."
He opened the Codex.
The progress bar,still moments ago nearly stagnant,was now climbing at a visible rate.
His eyes lit up.
"Colin, have you found Reactor Vessel No. 3?"
A camera turned toward him. Dr. Ryan's voice echoed through the chamber.
"Looking," Colin replied casually, casting a cold glance at the lens as he wandered.
Time passed.
A strange dizziness crept into his mind.
His steps grew heavy. Every breath carried a metallic tang.
"…So fast?"
He braced himself against his knees.
His already damaged body was deteriorating rapidly under the radiation.
"Vessel No. 3 is ten meters to your right," Dr. Ryan urged. "Go check it."
He sounded anxious now.
He knew exactly how lethal the radiation inside was.
Colin wouldn't last long.
And there were only so many "test subjects" he could use.
Colin forced himself forward, enduring the burning sensation crawling across his skin.
"As long as it unlocks before my body gives out…"
The progress surged.
Forty percent.
Forty-five.
Nearly fifty.
Almost there.
Almost,
"Yes! That's it!"
Dr. Ryan's excited voice rang out as Colin reached the reactor.
"The outer shell cracked under pressure. Listen carefully."
"Follow the blue pipe. Good,on your right, there's a black valve about a meter high. Turn it clockwise. Over three hundred rotations."
"…Three hundred?"
Colin paused.
"I thought you said one minute?"
"…A safety mechanism I just discovered," Dr. Ryan replied calmly. "Don't worry. Afterward, you'll receive proper treatment."
Then his tone sharpened.
"There's also a small red valve next to it. Do not touch it."
"That's the pressure valve. If opened, it will overload all the reactors."
"The entire chamber will rupture."
"And the resulting radiation… will turn the entire base into a wasteland."
"…Hmm?"
Colin's eyes lit up.
End of Chapter