Kaiza was injected with a full dose, and it was expected to plunge him into a deep, unconscious sleep lasting approximately twenty-four hours. Alongside this, he was supposed to lose a portion of his memories, with no chance of recovering them for several years. Even when those memories eventually resurfaced, they would hold no value to him, as he would have become a complete stranger to them. However, things didn't go as planned.
Kaiza's sudden awakening stunned M. Boss, his thoughts spiraling into chaos. This was unprecedented—a mere human surviving the effects of the deadly fluid and regaining consciousness in just thirty to forty minutes.
"Could I have picked the wrong dose?" M. Boss questioned himself, scrutinizing the situation as he fixed his gaze on the boy. Yet, he quickly dismissed the idea. It was impossible. No one else had access to his sanctuary, and trespassing was unthinkable.
Then, a realization began to crystallize in his mind. Kaiza wasn't a mere human. He had injected countless humans before, and every single one succumbed to unconsciousness the moment even a drop of the fluid entered their veins. But Kaiza was different. The pieces started falling into place, and suddenly, everything made perfect sense to M. Boss.
Back in the building, M. Boss's sudden attack took an unexpected turn after the devastating revelation of Kaiza's parents' death. Fueled by rage and betrayal, M. Boss attempted to unleash his powers on the guards, but something shocking occurred—his powers were gone. It was as if his energy had been completely drained, leaving him powerless.
Desperate, he attempted even the simplest feats, like moving objects with his mind, but nothing worked. He tried turning the guns pointed at him against their owners, hoping to fire a single bullet into Keaton's arm, but his efforts were futile. Only after the boy left did his powers inexplicably return.
It felt as though his abilities had been temporarily shut down, like a machine without current, only to reawaken after a mysterious reset. M. Boss was left with nothing but speculation. Had he lost his powers because of his unrelenting thirst for dominance? Were his abilities fading for some unknown reason? Fear gripped him, but he masked it carefully, ensuring Keaton and his men saw no sign of his vulnerability.
Determined to take the first strike, even with the knowledge that his powers were gone, he lunged forward. Unbeknownst to him. His powers had returned. He moved with blinding speed, almost reaching Keaton before being stopped by a sudden explosion that sent him sprawling.
Moments later. Kaiza returned to retrieve the briefcase. Powerless once again he could only watch in helpless frustration as Kaiza carried it away. Once Kaiza left his strength began to return. Seizing the moment. He unleashed his regained power, instantly killing four of the men.
His rage turned to Keaton, and he attempted to finish him as well. However, just as he moved towards the target, something inexplicable occurred—his power teleported him to the corridor before he could strike. Stunned and confused, he struggled to make sense of what had just happened. Despite the fear gnawing at him, he decided to test his powers again.
Away from Kaiza, his abilities worked flawlessly. He manipulated a dagger, sending it hurtling towards Keaton. The realization hit him—his powers only failed when he was near Kaiza.
Now it all made sense. This boy was a rare human type—a being whose mere presence nullified any superpowers or abilities that tried to harm him or those around him. M. Boss concluded that Kaiza was not an alien but a unique human because he had red blood, just like his father. If Kaiza's blood had been black, he would have been labeled an alien without question.
What baffled M. Boss even more was the color of Kaiza's blood. It wasn't blue—the mark of humans who possessed extraordinary abilities. Red-blooded humans were ordinary, devoid of any special powers. Yet Kaiza defied that logic. How could someone with red blood have such a profound effect? What was going on?
Then, as he watched the boy climb out and stand on the ground, eye-level with him, clarity struck. Kaiza wasn't just rare—he was something entirely unique. A special being unlike anything M. Boss had ever encountered. But how could such a thing exist? The question lingered, unanswered, as he stared at the boy in disbelief.
"If I can't use my abilities on you, then I'll make sure you die by my hand," M. Boss said coldly, slipping his phone into his pocket and beginning to stride towards Kaiza.
Kaiza, caught in a moment of daze, struggled to think. His mind raced, calculating and formulating a plan to escape this dire situation. Fear gripped him tightly as he assumed the man might use his powers at any moment. What Kaiza didn't realize, however, was that M. Boss's abilities were useless in his presence, unable to harm him even from a distance.
Running seemed like the logical choice—he thought of fleeing into the forest. But as he tried to muster the energy, his body betrayed him. The fluid coursing through his veins, though unable to render him unconscious, had drained his strength. Every part of him felt unbearably heavy, unmovable.
Escape wasn't an option. Even if he somehow managed to run, he knew M. Boss could catch him in seconds. He was trapped, vulnerable, and cornered. The odds felt overwhelmingly stacked against him.
Despite his weakened state, Kaiza summoned every ounce of strength he had left and made an attempt to run. To his surprise, a sudden relief in his legs allowed him to move, albeit at a fraction of his usual speed. Still, it was enough. He began to run, though painfully slow compared to his normal pace.
"Boy, don't run away from me," M. Boss muttered, his voice laced with disdain. "Strong-headed, just like his father. Let's see how far you can get with that pitiful speed."
He stood motionless, watching Kaiza stumble deeper into the dark forest. The boy was moving as fast as he could, but it wasn't enough to escape the ever-watchful gaze of M. Boss. As Kaiza's silhouette faded into the forest's depths, nearly swallowed by the shadows, something shifted.
"My power is back," M. Boss said, his tone tinged with excitement. He could feel his abilities surging through him once again, unshackled by Kaiza's strange presence. A devilish grin spread across his face as he fixed his gaze on the forest. "I don't know who—or what—you are, Kaiza Lotan, but today is your end."
With that, he stepped forward, his malevolent intent unwavering. The chase had only just begun.
M. Boss crouched into an athlete-like stance, poised for a burst of speed. Unlike a traditional runner's pose, his knee hovered above the ground, his left leg stretched out behind him, and his arm arched back with a predatory elegance. His eyes locked on Kaiza, whose faint silhouette flickered in and out of view among the towering trees and dense shadows of the forest.
Kaiza's erratic movements made it hard to track him. Whenever he disappeared behind the massive trunks, M. Boss adjusted his focus, never losing sight of the boy's faint trail. Remaining in position, he activated his dash to its fullest potential.
In a blink, M. Boss launched forward, his speed a blur. Within three seconds, he was less than twenty meters from Kaiza. But then, just as he got closer, his powers abruptly shut down. He felt the change before it happened—his speed dropped dramatically, and his movements grew sluggish. Finally, he came to an abrupt halt, frustration boiling beneath his calm facade.
"Little stubborn one," he growled, his voice dark and ominous, "it's time." Without hesitation, he launched an attack, lunging toward Kaiza with bare hands.
Kaiza, on the other hand, was nearing his limits. The fluid in his veins, combined with his weakened state, was taking its toll. His body was drenched in sweat despite the biting cold of the forest, and his every movement felt like a monumental effort. Yet, he pressed on, driven by sheer will.
His grip on the briefcase tightened as he stumbled forward. He couldn't stop—not now. The thought of M. Boss laying his hands on the weapon inside the briefcase sent a fresh wave of determination coursing through him. He didn't know how long he could hold out, but he knew one thing: stopping was not an option.
Would millions of souls be destroyed, just as his father had warned him? If that happened, Kaiza knew he'd be among the—and he wasn't ready to die. This thought alone fueled his desperate movements, even as his body fought against him.
His breaths came in ragged gasps, and every step felt like dragging a boulder uphill. His body was now ten times slower and heavier than before. Finally, he stopped, leaning against a tree to catch his breath. His trembling hands gripped the briefcase tighter as he glanced over his shoulder, scanning for any sign of pursuit.
He knew the man wouldn't give up so easily. M. Boss wanted the bag, and he had been willing to kill his own men—or rather, the men who seemed less like his allies and more like expendable tools. Yet, as Kaiza stood in the eerie silence of the forest, something felt off.
No footsteps echoed behind him. No rustling of leaves. Nothing to indicate that M. Boss was closing in. Could the man have actually backed off?
Kaiza's mind raced. That didn't make sense. M. Boss wasn't the type to come this far and give up. The absence of pursuit was unsettling. The quiet forest seemed to mock him, amplifying his unease. With a deep breath, Kaiza pushed off the tree and forced his legs to keep moving. There was no way this was over—not yet.
Just then, Kaiza felt a hard, powerful kick slam into his stomach, sending him crashing into the ground. He rolled over, groaning in agony. The kick was too strong for him to endure, even with his agile body. Though he wasn't entirely weak, the fluid coursing through his veins made him more vulnerable, draining his strength and leaving him unsteady.
Kaiza lay sprawled on the forest floor, clutching his stomach in a futile attempt to quell the pain. He could feel his body trembling from the impact, his breaths shallow and uneven. But he wasn't given the luxury of reprieve.
Before he could process what had happened, his attacker grabbed him by the shirt and yanked him upright. Kaiza's toes barely scraped the ground as he dangled helplessly, his strength fading fast.
"When I'm done with you, you'll regret ever climbing out of that pit," the man snarled, his voice dripping with menace.
Without warning, a heavy punch slammed into Kaiza's face. Then another. And another. The relentless blows kept coming. Each one more brutal than the last. Kaiza's vision blurred, his body growing limp with every hit.
Finally, his eyes fluttered shut, his consciousness slipping away as the pain consumed him.