Unwritten Mythos

IX's death?

The machine imprisoning Chino hissed as it slowly opened. With a slight stretch of his wrists, Chino gave a casual glance to Wang Ino. "The Lord isn't dead, is she?"

"Of course not," Han replied, his voice cool and measured.

"And 009?" Chino inquired, though he already seemed to know the answer.

Shaking his head, Chino mused, "Not sure. They kept us apart. Kitsune's got their own plans brewing, likely for 001 and 004."

"They don't intend to execute you?" Han's gaze sharpened, curious about the Kitsune's intentions.

Chino's eyes flickered with amusement. "They've been draining my blood, using me as raw material for some kind of drug. I'd wager it's no ordinary experiment."

Han's memory stirred, recalling the classified information he'd discovered in another lab. "Enhanced Reagent No. 01. I've seen traces of it in their experimental bases."

Without another word, Han pulled a small vial from his pocket and tossed it to Chino. Catching it deftly, Chino examined the vial, feeling the strange energy within. His eyes narrowed. "This... this is from The Deep One's cells. Interesting. How on earth did they unlock the cell lock?"

"Cell lock?" Han's curiosity was piqued.

Chino waved the vial slightly. "This type of cell has infectious properties, but they are usually dormant, sealed off. And the method to unlock that seal—well, I'm the only one who knows it. Or so I thought."

A grim smile spread across Chino's face. "Somehow, they've managed to unlock it—partially. They've restrained the infection, keeping the cells from fully transforming the hosts. Normally, once these cells enter a human, they would instantly morph them into Fish-Men."

"But Kitsune found a way to limit the transformation," Chino continued, his eyes glinting with mischief. "It gives me an idea."

Han tilted his head. "What idea?"

Before Chino could respond, a red light bathed the base, accompanied by the blaring screech of alarms.

"Class 01 Scenario: Containment Breach!" the automated voice announced. "Delta Extreme Response Force en route to the breach!"

Han spun around, but Chino shoved him back with a wicked grin. Soldiers armed with rifles stormed in, but before they could raise their weapons, Chino emitted a strange, melodic sound from deep within his chest. It resonated unnervingly through the room.

The soldiers staggered, their hands clutching at their heads, dropping to their knees as the sound took hold. Groans of agony filled the air as blue scales erupted from their skin, their forms swelling grotesquely as their bodies expanded, skin stretching taut as it transformed.

Chino's laughter echoed through the chaos. "As I suspected—once I unlock the cell lock, the transformation happens instantly. These soldiers are becoming Fish-Men, though incomplete. Kitsune's little experiment played right into my hands."

As the soldiers continued their transformation, Chino turned to Han. "I'll handle things here. I imagine the Lord has other tasks for you, yes?"

Han nodded, vanishing from sight in the blink of an eye.

In the aftermath, Chino looked upon the grotesque forms of the now fully transformed Fish-Men, his twisted creations.

"These soldiers," Chino mused, "all injected with Fish-Men cells. Kitsune thought they could control it. Too bad for them."

With his new army of Fish-Men at his command, Chino strode forward, the mutated creatures parting to allow him passage. Their scales glistened under the sterile laboratory lights, rifles still clutched in their deformed hands.