Edited by: Kuro and Lille
Sponsored by: AstridVinclair and two somebodies!
You are reading the revised chapter. Some content has changed and some has stayed the same. Some comments in later chapters will no longer apply to the chapter since I've made changes. Thank you for always supporting me and I hope the new Arc 5 is a better read for everyone! (This is copied and pasted to all platforms and will be in every chapter).
A few days later, everyone at MI base was introduced to Adam 1, the creator of the cure for the Z-Virus. A vaccine was produced soon after the confirmation of the cure. The vaccine was given to everyone and would help everyone fight the virus if bitten or scratched in the future. Everyone cheered and celebrated over the creation. They didn't need to worry any longer about the threat of zombies and could fight to their hearts’ content!
Even though the vaccine and cure were created, people knew the threat wasn't over. There were billions of zombies wandering the earth. And there were many bases in this country and hundreds of other ones. It would take some time before every country had vaccines available.
Also, one wrong move and they could get surrounded. No vaccine or cure could save them then. It was best to keep their guard up and push back the zombies.
Everyone at the base had a small feast at dinner to celebrate their first victory.
The only person who was not at the victory feast was Dr. Linus. He was on the top floor looking down at the party that was happening at the plaza near the research building. No one could see him from the angle he was at, so he watched everyone eating and happily chatting away.
Seeing everyone cheerfully celebrating made Dr. Linus irritable.
Why are they so happy? There's nothing to be happy about. I have not shown the world what true power is!
He watched all his subordinates surround Adam 1 probably to talk about different topics that could save humanity, like a water purifier and a way to grow crops on the contaminated soil. He knew they had genuine thoughts of rebuilding human civilization.
What was the point though? If he could control the zombies, Adam 1, and all of the ability users, he could create a worldwide empire! Everything would be in the palm of his hands. He would have everything from money, and power, to fame.
No matter. No one would be able to understand him. No one would be able to look down on him nor could they control him ever again.
Dr. Linus turned away from the window and went back down to the basement.
It was about time he showed the world the first prototype for his serum. It was all for him to become the most powerful being in this world…
Not even Adam 1 would be able to stop him.
*****
For the next few months, time went slowly for Adam 1 and the people at MI Base. Adam 1 explored the area and helped clear out the zombies as he traveled. He also looked for others like William and Jerald but only found one other named Lily. She died in her teenage years. It was quite pitiful to see her in rags and her left arm practically hanging on her body.
When he was at the base, he would help the researchers with projects like creating a water filter for contaminated water. They were almost done with that project. Though they had water ability users, there was only a limited amount of them, so the water was strictly controlled. With the water filter, they would be able to have clean running water for everyone at any time.
When he was traveling around, he noticed that even though they had similar technology and products as his original world, it was different. The countries had different names, different shapes, and sizes, even how many continents this world had was different.
It was similar to Arisa's world, the one that had the country of Japan, but in the end, it wasn't the same world as his original one.
Adam 1 wanted to travel the world and save as many zombies as he could. He knew he couldn't save everyone, but for the few that he saved, it would change their world. He had to keep reminding himself that because he knew he would beat himself up for not saving them all. That's just how he had always been.
"Let's go back." Adam 1 told his small group.
His group consisted of Morgan, Cooper, William, Jerald, and Lily. The latter three were basically mute, so the one who did the most talking was Cooper and Morgan.
Everyone knew they were a unit so no one tried to interfere with their group. They were composed of the strongest Ability Users at the MI Base, so they were looked up to by everyone.
Even Lily was extremely strong. She looked like a fairy, but her Wind ability was so strong, she could slice a whole building in two with just a wind slash. She could even conjure up her own tornados. No one wanted to mess with her after seeing that.
"You sure?" Morgan asked as he crushed the zombie core in his hands. He had already sucked out the energy from it. It was just a small drop in his cup, but even a drop made a difference.
"Yes, I can't find any others." He was looking for other zombies with the mutation. It was a lot more difficult than he thought. Maybe the mutation was extremely rare or he needed to travel further.
He could sense the mutation quite easily now that he was used to it, but he hasn't seen any others. It was frustrating.
"Alright, let's go back. We have enough supplies and cores anyways." Cooper suggested. He was tired from being gone for so long from his bed. He wanted to take a good nap after he ate a decently hot meal.
The three zombies-turned-humans didn't say anything, but Adam 1 could tell they were getting tired as well.
When they got back to MI Base, there was no one at the gates and they were closed. It was the first time that had ever happened the whole time they were at the base.
"What the hell is going on?" Morgan knocked on the gates but no one responded. He could hear screams coming from the other side though.
"There's something strange on the other side." Adam 1 used his abilities to scan the inside. Whatever it was, it was neither zombie, Ability User, or human.
Morgan nodded. "I will open the gates."
The gates were made of metal so he was easily able to manipulate them. He was also the one that created it, so it was no trouble to destroy it. He created a hole big enough to let them inside. When they entered the base, he quickly closed the hole to make sure no zombies went in.
They saw the usual gatekeeper being thrown into the air. The man hit the ground and didn't get up after that.
Adam 1 checked to see if he was breathing, and fortunately, he was, he just had a couple of fractured rib bones and his right hip was destroyed. The bodies of Ability Users were definitely much stronger as the man was still alive.
Cooper went up to the gatekeeper and laid him down in a safer place. "You guys go and check what's going on. I will stay here and make sure he is alright."
Morgan and Adam 1 nodded and they ran towards the center of MI Base where the screaming could be heard.
When they got there, there was a humanoid creature that looked like it was inflated, but with steroids. It was large, with bulging muscles. The creature was twice as tall as everyone in the plaza. Its skin was grey and the veins and arteries were very prominent on the skin. It didn't say any words, but it grunted and growled like an animal. The odd thing was, there was no hair on it and the limbs were slightly deformed. And, the thing had three arms.
"What the fuck is that?" Morgan muttered to himself.
Meanwhile, Adam 1 talked with the other three using telepathy. 'Evacuate all the bystanders and victims that are stuck in the plaza. Leave this thing to me and Morgan.'
The Homo Zom trio: Okay!
The creature stopped thrashing about when Adam 1 and Morgan came by. It was as if something clicked within it because when it locked eyes with Adam 1, it came rushing towards him. His huge body was much faster than it looked and even when it stepped on the ground, it sank in a bit, leaving large footsteps.
Adam 1 didn't move an inch as he observed the creature. Meanwhile, Morgan coated his body in metal and raced toward the thing to protect Adam 1. He had already achieved a level 5 core and was approaching level 6.
Even so, the moment he collided with the creature, they were both sent flying backward. Morgan flew pretty far but he coated himself with his Metal ability, so he was alright. Meanwhile, the thing crashed into the empty fountain, destroying it as it skidded across the plaza. It didn't go far due to inertia, but it received lots of damage already. It groaned in agony as it tried to stand up.
"He's not as sturdy as he looks." Morgan walked back to Adam 1's side.
"It seems like his transformation is... incomplete somehow." Adam 1 had already determined what the creature was.
It was a mutated Ability User injected with some sort of serum. It was a failed experiment, sad to say. The former Ability User was thrashing around because the pain coursed through its body. After colluding with Morgan, the mutated Ability User could barely move.
Adam 1 walked over to the mutated Ability User with no fear. He knew he wouldn't die as the mutated ability user was already incapacitated.
"You poor man. You must be suffering. Why don't I ease it for you?"
The mutated Ability User continued to growl as it struggled to stand up. The pain coursing through his body was more than he could take but his consciousness was wide awake. It was like he could never faint or sleep, only if he died would he be able to rest.
The mutated Ability User was someone who guarded the research facility at night so most people never saw his face or even remembered him. He had no family nor lovers, only friends that he made when he arrived at MI Base. He was actually a foreigner from the neighboring country, so he probably wouldn't be missed by anyone.
That was why he was targeted for the experiment. Someone who had no one, Dr. Linus felt no guilt about turning him into a monster.
"Don't worry. Just rest your heart and mind. Let me take care of the rest."
Adam 1 grabbed the man's hand that was struggling to move but couldn't.
"Rest now. It will be okay."
After the mutated Ability User heard those words, his mind turned dark and the pain that once assaulted him ceased completely.
*****
After Adam 1 subdued the mutated Ability User, people who were hiding came out and cheered.
They were amazed that Adam 1 was able to solve everything in a peaceful manner. One could only try to guess what his abilities were.
Actually, Adam 1 injected him with the serum he made for the mutated zombies to see if that would have any effect on the mutated Ability User.
There was somewhat of an effect. Half the man's face still looked grey and veiny while the third arm was still there. The rest of his body turned back to normal.
'It seems I will have to get his vitals and compare them...' Adam 1 couldn't help but think in a very indifferent tone. The body's personality still affected him in some aspects.
[Host… Do you think this man mutated naturally or?]
‘Dr. Linus definitely had a hand in this… From the looks of it, he’s definitely trying to create a serum to enhance human beings… For what purpose, I’m not too sure. We need to hurry up and find him before it’s too late.’
It was a struggle since System 225 could only monitor people he had encountered already… He needed to find Dr. Linus as soon as possible.
He didn’t want to see any more victims like this mutated ability user…
Mini theatre by kuro_kama:
Morgan, after seeing the mutated Ability User: What the fuck is this thing?
The mutated Ability User: <roar> HUMUNGOUSAUR <roar>
For those who didn’t understand the joke, it’s a Ben10 reference.
Lille: The ‘Cute Species’ ended up being called ‘Homo Zom’ 😔 On another note, we finally see what Dr Linus has been experimenting and it's absolutely horrid—
Grandpa Marky: Alright this is the bonus chapters! Thank you again AstridVinclair and the two somebodies who donated some ko-fi to me! I will still be posting the regular chapter for the week so I will see you all again on Saturday :D
