Golden Melody

Special Chapter 1

Third person point of view

The Night Before the Mimic Virus Spreads in Green City

The dim light of the crescent moon casts eerie shadows across the Botanical Garden.
To an outsider, it looked like a sanctuary of scientific innovation, a haven for environmental progress.
Damian stood at the edge of the garden, where towering trees whispered in the cool breeze.
His dark silhouette blended with the night, save for his glowing eyes, which pulsed faintly with Royal Zenips power.
Beside him, Marie adjusted the metallic gauntlet on her hybrid arm, the faint hum of its energy breaking the silence.

“They’re moving forward with the experiment,” Marie said, her voice steady but laced with urgency.
“Hundreds of students… they’ll be sacrificed.”

The ache in Damian's chest and the eternal bleeding that came with the gift of Liana’s heart intensified.
He could almost hear her voice, whispering in his ear:
“Save them, Damian. For me.”

“I know,” Damian murmured. His voice was low and heavy, carrying the weight of centuries.
“The council is testing their newest virus. A plague that will spread uncontrollably unless…”

“Unless we stop them,” Marie finished, her gaze unwavering.

The underground laboratory beneath Wayne Academy buzzed with activity.

Human scientists and Zenips, with their elongated limbs and glowing green eyes, worked tirelessly, preparing the virus.
In the center of the chamber, rows of human students lay unconscious, their bodies strapped to cold metallic tables.

Marie crouched in the shadows of the facility’s west wing, her heart pounding as she accessed the holographic terminal she’d stolen earlier.
The stolen files displayed complex diagrams, alien DNA strands, and chilling notes that confirmed her worst fears.

“The Chlorophyll Virus…” she whispered, reading through the report.

Damian stood beside her, his glowing eyes scanning the files. His expression darkened as he reached a section titled
“Phase 2: Human Transformation.”

“They created this to enslave humanity,” he said, his voice a low growl.
“The garden always claimed it was a bio-pesticide experiment. Lies.”

Marie tapped the screen, pulling up another file.

“Its getting worse. They’re planning to release it in twenty years, they’ve engineered the virus to prime humans for consumption. Their bodies will be modified to healthier, stronger, and more nutritious for the Zenips.”

Damian’s fist clenched, the air around him crackling with restrained power.
“They’re farming them like cattle,” he muttered, disgust dripping from his voice.

Marie pointed to a glowing containment pod in the center of the room.
“That’s it! the source of the Chlorophyll Virus.”

Damian nodded.

Marie’s steps faltered as her eyes locked onto one of the tanks near the center.

Inside was a familiar face.
Zatariel Wov, her closest friend. His features were peaceful, as if in a deep slumber, but wires and tubes connected to his body told a darker story.

“Zat!” Marie gasped, rushing toward the tank.

Damian followed, his gaze narrowing as he examined the setup.
The fluid in the tank pulsed with a faint green glow, the early stages of the Chlorophyll Virus.

“They’re infecting him,” Damian said grimly.
“Using him as a test subject.”

Marie placed her hands on the glass, her voice trembling.
“He’s my friend… we have to save him.”