Chapter 80: CH 080: The Mergers (MR 7)

Chapter 80: CH 080: The Mergers (MR 7)As soon as Dave stepped out of the apartment, the door swung shut behind him with a soft creak. The full moon continue to smile brightly in the sky. As he walked, his shoes kicked through the rubles and piles of dead bodies on the ground, each step echoing roughly in the quiet night. He then checked his system tab where his current energy points was displayed to him. He couldn’t help but grin at the amount of energy points he has managed to obtain in just a few hours. [Energy Points: 445] Taming ordinary beasts required 5 energy points, which in turn enhances and double their original strength. In contrast, hybrids requires a hefty amount of 40 energy points, but in turn transforms them into formidable entities of the king-tier rank; the highest tier currently available. From the information obtained at White’s laboratory, Dave had uncovered a disturbing network: fifteen laboratories spread across the nation’s five major cities, each city housing three labs all owned by White. And unlike White’s main lab which was secluded on the city’s outskirts, these labs were embedded within bustling urban centers. He imagined the countless individuals subjected to inhumane experiments, their humanity stripped away to create hybrid creatures. The thought tightened his jaw, a mix of anger and determination flaring in his eyes. It had gave him a task to complete, and that was to dismantle this grotesque network, one laboratory at a time. He would confront the horrors within each laboratory and liberate those still clinging to their humanity. Another thing he discovered from white’s laboratory, was the news of people being able to use superpowers. There was a certain incident where someone witness a man being able to control fire with their bare hands. The name associated with the story had struck a chord in him. "Master Tyler?" Dave murmured, his brow furrowing. The name was common enough, and it had only added an air of familiarity to him as he recalled a certain individual he knew bearing that name. But he immediately shook his head, dismissing the notion. "No, it can’t be the Tyler I know. I doubt he could have a superpower." Lost in thought, Dave’s steps had immediately slowed down. The rustle of leaves behind him snapped him back to the present. He halted, ears straining. The path behind lay empty, yet the soft crunch of footsteps persisted, drawing nearer and closer to him. Suddenly, a sharp sensation pricked the nape of his neck. He reached up instinctively, fingers brushing against a damp spot. The system message had immediately flashed before his eyes. [A poisonous sleeping substance is being introduced into the body of the user] [Endurance is active. Do you wish to neutralize its effect?] His vision blurred, the edges darkening. With a mental command, he clicked on the yes option, and the fog had started lifting almost immediately. Then, from the shadows emerged a figure, humanoid yet distinctly beastly. Whiskers could be seen on his cheeks, and elongated fangs glinted in the moonlight. The creature’s eyes widened in surprise as Dave remained upright, unaffected by its bite. "Why didn’t it work?" the creature hissed, disbelief evident in his tone. Dave’s gaze hardened, muscles tensing as he prepared for the confrontation ahead. He noticed that the fellow in front of him was a young boy, but his facial features was altered by the beastly features he possessed. "Who are you?" Dave’s voice was calm, yet firm. "Why did you attack me?" The boy remained silent, tension radiating from his stance. Without warning, he lunged forward, his fist aimed at Dave’s face. However, his attack happened to be so slow as Dave casually sidestepped him, catching the incoming punch mid-air. The boy’s eyes widened in shock as Dave’s counterattack connected, a powerful punch that sent him hurtling through the air, disappearing into the underbrush. Without hesitation, Dave sprinted after him, rubles and dust flinging off as he did this. But upon reaching the spot where the boy should have landed, there was nothing, only the faintest trace of blood glistening on the floor. He knelt, examining the droplets. They formed a trail, leading deeper into the woods. Determined, Dave followed, the path winding through dense foliage and overgrown vines. Eventually, the trail led him to a clearing. At its center stood an abandoned factory, its rusted metal exterior looming ominously against the night sky. Broken windows and a sagging roof spoke of years of neglect. The blood trail disappeared beneath the heavy doors. Dave approached cautiously, with his senses alert. He pushed the door open, its hinges groaning in protest as he was initially greeted by darkness. The scent of rust and mildew hung heavilyin the air, mingling with the faint metallic tang of blood. Suddenly, overhead lights flickered to life, casting harsh white beams that sliced through the darkness. Then, before him stood a group of men, each of them clad in matching black and blue uniforms. Their eyes glowed with an unnatural hue, as beastly features could be seen on their faces; elongated fangs, slitted pupils, and patches of fur peeking from beneath their collars. Among them, Dave recognized the boy he had previously confronted, now clutching his abdomen, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. The boy’s eyes widened in alarm as they met Dave’s. "That’s him! That’s the guy that attacked me!" he shouted, his voice tinged with both fear and accusation. Dave’s brow furrowed. "I attacked you?" he replied, disbelief evident in his tone. "You’re the one who ambushed me." An older man stepped forward from the group, his presence commanding. He examined the boy’s injuries before turning his gaze to Dave. "We don’t know who you are, and we don’t bully others, unless they bully us first. You’ve harmed a member of our faction, which means you must be from a rival group. For that, you’ll pay, and so will every member of your faction!" The surrounding men let out a collective roar of agreement, their bodies beginning to shift and contort. Limbs elongated, muscles bulged, and snarls escaped their throats as they transformed into beasts. Dave took a step back, his mind racing. "Wait, what faction? I don’t belong to any faction!" he protested. But his words were drowned out by the growls of the advancing men. Suddenly, a digital interface materialized before his eyes: [Warning! Two mergers are approaching the user with fighting intent] "Mergers?? Are they different from Hybrids?" Dave inquired. [New Quest!] [Defeat every single one of them and earn experience points!] Dave clenched his fists, feeling a surge of adrenaline. The odds were against him, but he had no choice. He’s prepared to face the onslaught, determined to survive and uncover the truth behind these mysterious people called the Mergers.