'Someone's coming.'
While Albion was attuning himself to his newly reinstated body, he picked up the faint subtle sound of footsteps with his sharp ears.
Tap, tap, tap…
The rhythmic sound of footsteps could be heard with increasing volume as it echoed in the long hallway just outside of Albion's isolated cell. The sound of the footsteps was very distinct and not common within the facility.
It was the sound produced by stiletto shoes that only women wear, and perhaps a very small, if not exceeding rare group of men with peculiar tastes.
There were very few female whitecoats within the facility, and those that blatantly wear stilettos were even fewer.
Simply by hearing this peculiar set of footsteps, Albion was able to immediately determine the person behind it. It was Helion, the only person who showed compassion for test subjects like him in the research facility.
But whether the person had compassion or not, didn't matter to Albion. Having compassion for test subjects were meaningless if they participate in the inhuman experiments anyway.
Albion did not express any coldness towards this person like the rest of the whitecoats, but neither would there be any warm feelings. Just neutral indifference.
By the time Helion arrived at his cell and peered inside, Albion reverted back to his previous 'absolute obedience' puppet look. He sat on his bed quietly and stared at nothing in peculiar like a mindless robot that didn't budge until ordered.
Helion was surprised to see Albion seated upright and not within the game. But upon recalling that the facility had just been struck by lightning, she became slightly worried that something might have happened to Fifteen, their prized test subject.
Anything can happen to other test subjects, but nothing can happen to Fifteen, their longest surviving test subject, and product of limitless wealth. This was another reason Albion did feel indebted to Helion. His name was recorded in the profile, but he was still called by his number.
He was, however, grateful for the rich self-studied education from [Bloodlust] under Helion's recommendation. [Bloodlust] was just another version of [Divine Lands], modified to suit the military usage. [Divine Lands] was an overwhelmingly popular VRMMORPG that was still going strong in Haven City ever since its introduction apparently.
Albion wasn't too sure. [Bloodlust] ran on a private server by the military and wasn't connected to the main server of [Divine Lands].
It was a game based on the real world and had integrated all the knowledge of the world with 99% realism. Unlike the original game [Divine Lands] however, [Bloodlust] had removed all the unrealistic elements such as the chance of becoming awakened human in-game. It was more aligned with the real world and wasn't farfetched to say that playing [Bloodlust] was like living a second life in an alternative universe.
If there was one thing Albion was grateful for, it was the self-taught education he learned in-game under Helion's recommendation. Because of this, he didn't lack education despite never making it past fifth grade. The knowledge he acquired might prove useful when he returns to Haven City.
At this moment, Helion opened the cell's door and entered with concern that Albion might attack her. Forgetting that he was supposed to be in an extremely weakened state, he had even once acted in violence against the researchers and obeyed all orders. The trust built over 10 years in his characterless state had turned into a blind trust that he could now exploit to maneuver around the facility.
"Fifteen, are you alright? The power surge didn't affect you, did it?" Helion asked as she studied Albion's blank expression.
Thoughts formulated in his mind before Albion gave a short answer. "I, yes. VR equipment, no."
Helion glanced over to the VR Headset on the bed, before picking it up to study. The green light was missing from the battery life and network indicator. In fact, there was no light at all. Connecting the recent lightning strike that caused chaos in the facility and the current state of the VR Headset, it wasn't hard for her to conclude that the circuit inside was fried and became scrap.
"Are you sure you are alright?" Helion repeated.
"Yes."
Albion answered without any change in his blank expression. The truth would soon be known anyway. There was no need for him to hide the state of the VR Headset. If the whitecoats found out he lied, he would lose all the trust they had in him.
Helion creased her brows, before shaking her head. "Not good, I need to make sure nothing. Follow me to the lab for an MRI scan."
She didn't wait for Albion to reply before leading the front. A chilling light flashed in Albion's eyes before it was quickly suppressed. He bore Helion with no ill will, but if she threatens his chance of escaping, he will not hesitate to find the opportunity to quickly and silently end her.
Helion led Albion outside the cell obliviously and made headway for Lab-07. Each head researcher was assigned their own personal labs and the number indicated their ranking of importance and status. Having toiled in the facility for 10 years, she had risen from an assistant researcher to a head researcher at a tender age of 30.
The two didn't make it far from the Cell-15, Albion's cell number, before they heard hurried footsteps behind them, forcing a backward glance from Helion. Several assistant researchers and a head researcher were rushing in their direction.
"What are you in a hurry for, Zandun? What's all the panic?" Helion asked with surprise.
Although the lightning strike had caused power outages in a few areas, messed with some ongoing experiments and even setting dozens of experimental subjects ranging from animals to sea monsters loose, it was quickly brought under control by the two awakened humans on site. Since it was brought under control quickly, what were these people running form!?
The head researcher glanced at Albion with dread, before grabbing Helion's arm.
"Why did you bring him out of his cell…? No, never mind that. No time to explain. If you want to live, run for your lives!" The head researcher said with haggard breathing, out of breath and exhausted. However, the will to live compelled him to continue fleeing for his life.
He tried to drag Helion with him, but when he felt resistance from Helion tripped on her heels, he decisively released his holding and continued running without looking back.
Helion was dumbfounded, but she was left with no time to ponder. Several more whitecoats were running in their direction after the first group. Behind them, there were sounds of screeching screams and cries for help.
Seeing this second group of terrific whitecoats running, her danger sense finally kicked in.
"Let's go!"
Helion threw away her heels and pulled Albion along. Albion continued following with a blank look, but he was full of bitterness inside. Without comprehending the situation, he was already going to be exposed.
How does a weakened person suppose to keep up the same running pace as the others? Naturally, he wasn't supposed to be able to and deliberately chose to lag behind Helion, forcing her to frown as she realized his condition wasn't as 'good' as hers.
Albion wasn't sure if the danger behind was also directed at him, but he wasn't taking chances. He didn't have to be the quickest runner, he just had to run quicker than the one behind him.
"What are you all running from!?" Helion hollers to the group behind her, while she was slowing down to match Albion's pace.
"One of the test subjects awakened his supernatural ability and started going on a rampage outside his cell! The soldiers are no match for him!"
Amidst haggard breathing and hurried steps, one of them answered her doubts. Her eyes widened with horror. Unlike the 'docile' Fifteen, the other human test subjects were all filled grudges against them, researchers.
She immediately released Albion's hand and abandoned him behind. Albion's expression didn't change. He had anticipated this would happen sooner than later. Such was human nature. When their own lives are in danger, they place themselves ahead of the others.
Only a saint or hero would risk their lives for others, but not Helion, she was no saint. She might have slight compassion, but a person's heart would still be tainted with wickedness when exposed to all the ongoing cruel experiments within the last ten years, let alone participate in them.
Albion continued his act of lagging behind as a few figures started passing him. He flashed a look behind and gotten himself a clear look. The scene was met with a black metallic figure drenched in blood grabbing an assistant researcher by the leg with great strength and slamming the poor bloke into the ground repeatedly until death.
'An ability to turn one's own body into metal and become impenetrable to bullets is definitely at the A-rank. What luck!' Albion's eyes glowed.
If this fellow test subject sows enough chaos, forget about the days to come, he might just be granted an opportunity to escape today!