Nighttime.
Inside the Osborn Industries employee dormitory.
Jack and his group of underlings donned the work uniforms that Norman had previously prepared for them. Slowly, they made their way toward Norman's lab. Along the way, the security guards they encountered didn't raise any suspicions, seeing their employee badges and work attire.
Soon, they reached the door of Norman's office.
"Boss, what if Norman's still inside the lab?" one of the lackeys asked.
Jack sneered, "Wouldn't that be perfect? We can settle the score for how he's been using us."
"His enhancement serum may only be a prototype, but something like that would fetch a decent price on the black market."
Seeing their leader's confidence, the rest of the group felt reassured. Jack glanced around to ensure no one was watching, then used his employee badge to unlock the lab door.
"Hm?"
As soon as the door opened, Jack felt something was off. "Does Norman usually leave the lights off in his lab at night?"
The lab was pitch black. While it wasn't so dark that they couldn't see anything, the dimness created an unsettling atmosphere.
"Boss, should we still go in?" asked the most timid of the group, swallowing nervously.
Jack, not wanting to show any weakness in front of his men, replied firmly, "Of course we're going in. If we don't, how are we going to survive out there?"
The thought of their bleak future fueled Jack's anger, overshadowing his fear. For weeks now, Norman had only provided them with basic necessities—food and a place to stay—but nothing extra. Jack was practically broke at this point, which was why he'd set his sights on the half-finished enhancement serum Norman was working on.
"I'll go first. I remember where the light switch is. Follow me."
Despite his growing unease, Jack couldn't afford to lose face in front of his underlings. He mustered his courage and carefully stepped into the lab, feeling his way toward the light switch based on memory.
The timid lackey trailed behind, glancing nervously around the darkened room.
Suddenly, he felt a cold draft above his head, as if something had just flown past him. His skin prickled with goosebumps. As he opened his mouth to scream, he felt something cold and clammy grab his neck.
Crack.
"Hm? What was that sound?"
Jack, walking at the front, abruptly stopped in his tracks after hearing the strange noise. One of the underlings behind him, not paying attention, bumped right into him.
"Damn it! Who just bumped into me?"
"Sorry, boss! I... I wasn't paying attention!"
Hearing the apology, Jack, whose eyes had adjusted to the dark, could make out the faint silhouettes of his men behind him. He figured the strange noise had been caused by someone stepping on something.
"Be more careful. I've almost found the light switch."
"Once the lights are on, start searching for the enhancement serum immediately. When we find it, we're out of here!"
"Got it, boss!" they answered in unison.
Jack's hand reached the wall and found the switch. With a click, the lab's lights flickered on, illuminating the room. Everyone let out a sigh of relief, as the darkness had been oppressively unsettling.
"Alright, now let's—"
"Bo-boss… Bo-boss…!" one of the lackeys stammered in terror, his voice trembling.
Everyone turned toward him, and when they saw what he was staring at, they collectively gasped.
On the floor lay the corpse of one of their comrades, his body motionless. His head was twisted to the side at an unnatural angle, and his eyes were wide open in terror.
"Bo...boss… what the hell is going on? How did he…?"
The sight chilled the remaining group to their core. It was far too eerie. They had all entered the lab together, alive and well. But now, with the lights on, one of their friends was dead, lying right behind them.
Jack struggled to stay calm, replaying the events in his mind. That's when he remembered the strange "crack" sound from earlier. Coupling that with the grisly state of his lackey's body, he quickly realized what had happened.
"There's someone else in here. Stay alert," Jack ordered, his voice tense.
"Everyone, back-to-back. Stay close."
Jack's command was almost a shout, driven by fear and urgency.
A few of the lackeys quickly formed a circle back-to-back with Jack after his shout. They anxiously scanned the various corners of the lab, trying to locate the "other person" Jack had mentioned. Just as their hearts raced to their throats, a familiar voice came from another direction.
"Jack, what are you doing in my lab so late?"
Following the sound, Jack saw Norman emerge from behind a privacy curtain, wearing a white lab coat. Jack furrowed his brow. "Norman…"
Norman frowned as he glanced at Jack and then at the corpse on the floor. He spoke up, "What's wrong with your lackey? Why is he lying on the ground in my lab?"
Just as Jack was about to say something, his expression suddenly changed, as if he had realized something. It seemed that apart from them, Norman was the only one left in the lab!
"Norman, did you do this?"
Upon hearing Jack's question, Norman looked at him with suspicion. "Do you really think I killed your lackey?"
Norman's serious tone made Jack feel uncertain. Logically speaking, to take someone out so effortlessly would require a top-notch assassin. But Norman... that seemed impossible. Could it be that enhanced being had returned?
Just as Jack began to dismiss his suspicions about Norman and intended to share his own guesses, he saw Norman lean down, holding his head.
The next moment, Norman burst out laughing. "Hahaha... I can't help it, Jack, you idiot!"
"Hahaha... I killed your lackey, and you're still questioning yourself!"
"What a fool you are, hahaha!"
"Norman, you bastard!!!"
Feeling mocked, Jack's anger flared. He lost all sense of restraint and grabbed a chair nearby, hurling it at Norman.
In Jack's mind, Norman was just a weak scientist. Perhaps he had merely used some trick to kill his lackey.
However, what happened next completely shattered Jack's perception of Norman.
As the chair flew toward Norman, the metal legs of the chair twisted and bent upon impact, as if it had struck not a person, but a solid concrete wall.
Jack's pupils dilated in shock.
"Jack, that hurts a little," Norman said, unfazed. "But I'm feeling excited now!"
With one hand gripping his lab coat, Norman forcefully tore it apart, revealing a full suit of green exoskeleton armor underneath.
"Boss... what... what is that?" one of Jack's lackeys asked, his voice trembling.
Before Jack could respond, Norman leaped onto the nearby lab table and looked at the trembling lackey with regret.
"He's a curious little child," Norman said. "I'll tell you before you die."
Pointing to the green exoskeleton he was wearing, he explained, "This is called a full-body exoskeleton."
"Originally, the military wanted me to develop a wearable combat mech, but I couldn't solve the energy issues."
"So, I created this exoskeleton, which significantly enhances human strength and uses special bulletproof materials."
Norman shook his head and continued, "But the military, those ignorant fools, thought the production costs were too high."
"It wasn't what they wanted."
Seeing Norman's maniacal demeanor, Jack asked, "Norman, did you inject yourself with the gene enhancement serum?"
Norman pointed at Jack. "Good boy! You got it right; strictly speaking, it's an optimized gene enhancement serum."
"I admire your curiosity, so I'll let you die painlessly."
All of Jack's lackeys were drawn to Norman, completely unaware of what was happening behind them.
A green flying machine slowly ascended into the air.
At that moment, only Jack noticed a strange sound behind him. When he turned around, he saw a bat-like creature flying toward them, with two glinting blades at the front.
Jack's expression changed drastically. He pushed down one of the lackeys beside him and shouted at the two in front, "Get down!"
But it was too late; the blades at the front of the flying machine pierced through their chests, lifting them off the ground and bringing them before Norman.
The two lackeys coughed up blood, staring in disbelief at the blades that had impaled their chests. When they looked up, they saw a deranged Norman standing before them.
"Such a pity, Jack. You could have died together..."
As Norman looked at the two gasping for breath, he simply tugged, pulling their lifeless bodies from the flying machine and dropping them on the floor like garbage.
He then turned to Jack, who was on the ground, and shook his head.
At that moment, Jack felt an overwhelming fear toward the Norman before him.
Is this even human...?
...
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