Chapter 203: CH 203

Words : 1545 Updated : Oct 14th, 2025

After White had uttered his words, the lab’s security system had immediately been activated. The entire doors of the lab slid shut with a metallic clang, trapping those that were inside in it. Right after, a piercing beeping sound echoed through the corridors, followed by a robotic voice that sent chills down Dave’s spines. "Laboratory self-destruct activated!" "T-Minus in 10 minutes!" The countdown had begun, and whatever Dave was planning to do, he has to do it quick and fast or he might not make it out alive. Seeing what had just unfolded, Dave’s eyes widened in anger as he turned to face White, his fist flying towards the man’s face. "You bastard," he growled, punching White with a ferocity that was tempered only by the system’s punishment that had nulled his abilities. The punch landed with a dull thud, and White stumbled backward, clutching his jaw. Lucky for White, Dave wasn’t in his OP mode, and the punch didn’t have the same devastating impact that it would have had on him, or he might have collapsed and died from just a single hit. The one hour free-time duration was up, and the system’s punishment was already in effect, reducing Dave’s stats and abilities to that of a normal human. He couldn’t fight like he used to, nor use his beast-taming abilities to summon his powerful allies. However, as he glanced at the hybrids standing beside him, he discovered that he could still control them. A wave of relief washed over him as he realized that he had something he could rely on during this crisis. Dave assumed that his ability to control the hybrids was because they weren’t pure beasts but rather hybrids, perhaps due to them being half human, half beast. It could be that he could control their human side but not their beast side. Whatever the reason, he was grateful to have the hybrids by his side. The hybrids stood motionless, awaiting his commands, and Dave felt a sense of determination rising within him. He didn’t know when he’d face the system’s punishment again, but having these hybrids beside him would be of a great help to him. At that moment, Dave’s mind had started racing with possibilities, he assessed their situation. They were trapped in the lab, facing a countdown to destruction, and he still had White to deal with. As he looked at White, who was still clutching his jaw, Dave’s anger simmered just below the surface. He knew that he had to keep his cool if they were going to survive this situation. He wants White to get the best of the punishment, but he can’t just let him die inside a random laboratory fire, it just didn’t feel painful enough. Dave’s gaze drifted to the hybrids standing beside him, their eyes were fixed on him with an unnerving intensity. His mind flashed back to the system’s quest, and to see where he was on the quest, he had to bring up the system tab. [24/25 Hybrids killed] [20/20 Basic Hybrids killed] [4/5 Intermediate Hybrids killed] It was just one more hybrid that stood between him and the completion of his quest, and Dave would have been able to end the system’s punishment. His instincts were telling him that the hybrid responsible for the lockdown and self-destruct program was an intermediate one. If he could find and kill it, the system’s punishment would lift, and his abilities would return. As he pondered his next move, White’s laughter echoed through the lab, manic and unhinged. "You’re so fucked, kid, you’re so fucked!" he cackled, his eyes gleaming with a madman’s intensity. "We’re both going to die here!" The words hung in the air like a challenge, and Dave’s jaw clenched in response. Before White’s words had faded, a deafening bang shook the lab. The backdoor exploded inward, sending debris flying in all directions. The sound was like a physical blow, and White’s ears rang from the force of it. As the dust settled, a wave of beasts emerged from the wreckage, their eyes fixed on Dave and White with a hunger that was both primal and terrifying. The creatures poured into the lab like a tide of fur and claw, their roars and snarls filling the air. White’s eyes widened as he took in the sheer number of beasts, his mind racing with the implications. [A wave of advanced tier and basic tier beasts identified] [A Basic tier boulderback beast and an advanced tier boulderback beast] The advanced tier beast was enormous, its body twice as large as the basic tier beasts. Its slow, deliberate movements belied its incredible strength, and Dave knew that they had to act fast if they wanted to survive. "Oh well, what a coincidence," he said, his voice laced with sarcasm. Without hesitation, Dave strode towards the room where they had been locked up earlier. He opted to return with a chair and the rope that had been used to tie him up before, but that wasn’t all. Dave’s hands moved with a deliberate slowness as he pulled out a container from his backpack. The dark liquid inside seemed to glow in the lab’s fluorescent lighting. Without hesitation, Dave unscrewed the container’s lid and poured the black liquid all over his body. The beast’s blood cascaded down his skin, covering every inch of him in its sticky, pungent mess. The air was thick with the scent of blood and sweat as Dave coated himself in the dark liquid. He worked methodically, ensuring that every part of his body was covered. White watched, transfixed, as Dave transformed before his eyes. "Well, let’s hope I’m right," Dave muttered, his voice barely audible over the sound of the beasts closing in. Dave has his eyes locked on the wave of creatures advancing towards them. White’s gaze followed him, a mixture of confusion and concern etched on his face. ’What was Dave thinking?’ The chair and rope seemed like an afterthought as Dave placed them on the ground. He instructed one of the hybrids to tie white up to the chair, the hybrid’s eyes flicking to Dave’s face before nodding in obedience. But White couldn’t help but yell as he saw Dave head towards the group of beasts. "What are you doing? Are you crazy?" White exclaimed, his voice rising in alarm. But Dave didn’t respond, as his gaze were locked on the creatures. The beasts drew closer, their slow, deliberate movements eating up the distance. Dave stood his ground, his sword at his side, ready to strike if necessary. But as the creatures reached him, they surprisingly ignored him, passing by him as if he were one of their own. "It worked!" Dave exclaimed, a smirk spreading across his face. The beasts continued their advance, their eyes fixed on White. Dave walked back towards him, a self-satisfied smile on his lips. "You’re a weirdo, you know that, right?" White said, his voice laced with disgust. "You just keep on doing all sorts of odd things." Dave’s smile never wavered. "I guess that makes us two, though mine didn’t have to go as far as hurting innocent lives. Yours did." The jab hit its mark, and White’s face twisted in anger. Just then, the lab’s security system crackled to life once again. [T-Minus, 6 minutes] The countdown continued, and Dave’s eyes locked on White. "Okay, let’s get to business before you get eaten by these flesh-starving beasts, and also before your remains are blown off by the bomb. So, for the very last time, will you call Tasha or not?" The ultimatum hung in the air, and White’s eyes darted towards the beasts, then back to Dave. Dave’s gaze didn’t falter as he addressed White. "As you can see," he began, his voice steady, "the beasts are not attacking me. And I’m certain you’re intelligent enough to deduce why that is." He paused, allowing his words to ring in his mind before continuing, "But you, on the other hand, are vulnerable. At any moment, these creatures would get to you and turn you into their afternoon meal." White’s eyes narrowed, his lips curling into a sneer. "How dare a kid like you try to intimidate me?" he spat, his voice dripping with disdain. "Keep on talking, I will never contact Tasha." Dave’s expression hardened, his patience thinning. "Well, if you’re unwilling to do as I say," he said coldly, "then perhaps you’ll serve as a very delicious meal for these hungry beasts." With a subtle command through his mind, Dave directed his two hybrids to lift White’s chair. The hybrids moved swiftly with synchronized movements as they carried White, still bound to the chair, into the air. "Hey! What are you doing?" White’s voice cracked with panic as he was suspended above the ground, his legs dangling helplessly. The hybrids carried him effortlessly, placing him directly in the path of the approaching beasts. The creatures, sensing the proximity of their potential prey, had let out loud growls, as their eyes were fixed on White. Fear surged through White as he realized the danger. His voice trembled as he shouted, "Please, please! Okay, I’ll do it. I’ll call her! Just don’t let them get nea

Chapter 203: CH 203

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