UNIFIED W

Chapter 46: Irregular, part 11

Inside the secret lab beneath HQ on Prov Island...

Sparks flew as Zeru's dual blades clashed against steel. Humanoid robots armed with lethal weapons closed in from all sides inside the massive training room.

Thomas and Doctor X watched from a glass room above as Zeru sparred, their eyes tracking every strike.

Each humanoid robot was programmed to test a certain technique of Zeru's. The compact robots moved around him, pushing his speed, while the bulky heavy robots pressed him relentlessly to challenge his strength and endurance.

Every clash with the humanoid robots honed Zeru's reflexes and attuned his body to the second crystal. His strikes had grown more destructive, yet his mind stayed calm and controlled, no longer lashing out recklessly.

Inside the training room, Zeru suddenly heard Thomas's voice through the speakers.

"Good job today, Zeru! You can have the rest of the day off."

Zeru cut down the remaining humanoid robots in a single strike.

Fire erupted with the motion, sparks flying as the machines twisted and collapsed. Moving past the wreckage, he walked into the main hall of the secret lab.

Thomas and Doctor X remained in the glass room above the training area, speaking in private as they looked over the wreckage below.

"You were right about the boy... Sir."

Thomas let out a quiet laugh.

"This is only the beginning. With him as a test subject, we can produce more like him and grant our people powers the Wind Clan could never imagine."

Doctor X turned to Thomas, a flicker of doubt in his eyes.

"Sir, I know we've found a rare opportunity, but is it too early to mass produce the crystals for our people while the AC project is still in its early stages?"

Thomas' gaze sharpened at the doctor's words, a flicker of disappointment crossing his face.

"Tell me, Orin, what more proof do you need? You can clearly see the potential of what we, the people of the V Clan, have created. The same people the world considers almost as useless as those without powers."

"Sir, I know our work here will make history, but we must remain patient and study carefully, since the side effects of the artificial crystal are not fully understood."

With a sharp slam against the glass, Thomas let out a roar of frustration that filled the room.

"Do I need to remind you that time is the one thing we do not have, especially with everything happening around the world?"

For a split second, Doctor X forgot his place and raised his voice.

"Sir, you know what they will do to us if we are not careful!"

"Orin, if we do not act now, there will be no clan left to rule. We will end up like Von City, a dead leader and a rebellious people tearing everything apart."

The room fell silent. At the entrance, Zeru stood frozen, his eyes wide as the weight of Thomas' words settled in.

Doctor X and Thomas shared a quick look before turning toward him. Zeru entered without a word and stopped in front of Thomas, his eyes no longer shocked but burning with anger.

"What happened to Von City?"

Silence answered him. Zeru swung his swords, and a vortex of fire erupted around him, spiraling into a blazing storm as heat flooded the room.

"Zeru... please, calm down. We'll tell you everything."

"Tell me right now, or I'll turn this room into ashes!"

Thomas realized Zeru wasn't bluffing, and the fire spiraled higher, scorching the air around them.

With the lab on the verge of being consumed, every secret and resource at risk, Thomas had no choice but to explain everything about Von City to Zeru.

Disbelief flashed across Zeru's face, and his anger ignited, hotter than ever.

"I have to get off this island now!"

"YOU CAN'T!"

Thomas and Orin spoke at the same time. Orin stepped forward, opening his mouth to explain, but Zeru didn't even glance at him. Thomas nodded once, and Orin pulled a device from his lab coat.

"Listen closely, Zeru. I didn't want this, but you leave me no choice."

Zeru advanced a few steps toward Orin, the heat from his fire swirling around him as his eyes locked on the doctor.

"Do you really think that tiny device can keep me here?"

The doctor met Zeru's glare with calm confidence and spoke without hesitation.

"This device will take away the gift we gave you."

Zeru froze, his gaze locking on the device, stunned by the doctor's words.

"Exactly, Zeru. During the operation, I slipped a small detonator right next to your healing crystal. One push, and it's......"

Before Doctor X could finish, Zeru concentrated all his power at the tip of his sword and sliced off the doctor's arm. The device dropped to the floor at Zeru's feet.

Orin screamed, clutching his severed arm as blood poured down. Thomas pressed against the glass wall, frozen, eyes wide at the scene.

Zeru gripped his other sword and glanced down at his chest, flames flickering along his blade.

"This is going to hurt a lot."

Zeru slashed open his chest. Blood gushed out as he pressed his fingers into the wound and pulled the detonator from his body.

He dropped to his knees. Blood continued to pour from the wound as sweat ran down his face and the world around him began to fade.

But the healing crystal suddenly glowed a brighter green and began healing Zeru. Thomas stared in disbelief.

He watched as Zeru's body began to regenerate before him, bones repairing, flesh reforming, and skin sealing the wound all in the blink of an eye.

Doctor X screamed at Thomas as he stood behind Zeru.

"Sir, call for help! Send the humanoid robots to stop him!"

Thomas pushed a button on his band watch. Instantly, five giant humanoid robots smashed through the glass, forcing Zeru into the training hall and surrounding him.

The lab went into lockdown. Thomas had sealed every exit, and Zeru's chance of escaping grew smaller by the second.

But Zeru did not falter. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and fused his powers with his swords, ready to fight.

The swords erupted in Zeru's flames, shifting to a dark blue. His expression turned serious, and his scarlet eyes began to glow as a single thought burned in his mind.

'I have to get back to Von City.'