Hero? More like a villain-Chapter 54 - 51: Mimicking

Each scientist sat in their designated seat, eyes fixed on the large projection screens displaying the child in the experiment chamber. The observation room surrounded the test area, ensuring every reaction and anomaly was carefully monitored.

In the center of the room, a projection table displayed a holographic blueprint of Iris’s body, mapping out her vitals, skeletal structure, and any mutations that might occur. Streams of data scrolled along the sides, recording every fluctuation.

The scientists remained at their stations, fingers flying across their consoles as they prepared for the next phase of the experiment. Some wore neutral expressions, while others exchanged uneasy glances.

Inside the sterile, dimly lit chamber, Iris stirred. A sharp, invasive pain jolted her awake, her breath hitching as she instinctively tried to move—only to find herself restrained. Thick, reinforced cuffs dug into her wrists and ankles.

A dense, sickly-sweet gas swirled around her, mixing with the viscous syrups that dripped from the needles embedded in her flesh. Dozens of syringes pumped a strange green-and-purple fluid into her veins, a mixture that should have been pure agony.

She braced herself for the searing pain, the unbearable sensation of her body tearing itself apart. But... nothing.

Her body remained eerily numb.

’This isn’t right.’

Her mind reeled, scrambling for an explanation. ’Iris is supposed to feel it. I need to replicate it.’

A beat passed. Then another.

And then she screamed.

A raw, ear-piercing wail tore from her throat, filling the room with the sound of suffering. She convulsed violently, thrashing against her restraints as though her body was being burned alive. The scientists observed in silence, some shifting in discomfort while others remained focused, analyzing every reaction.

"She should be entering the critical stage," one of them murmured.

"Upping the dosage now," another confirmed.

More of the strange fluid surged into her bloodstream. Her veins bulged, her skin turning an unnatural shade. Blood trickled from her eyes and mouth, staining her face crimson. Though she kept screaming, her mind raced, detached from the agony she pretended to endure.

’It’s not working. What did they do differently this time?’ Iris wondered.

And then—without warning—the restraints snapped.

A deafening crack echoed through the chamber as the metal cuffs shattered like brittle twigs.

For a second, silence hung in the air.

Then Iris moved.

Faster than any of them anticipated, she lunged toward the reinforced glass, her fist colliding with it in a brutal strike. A resounding *thud* rang out as her knuckles met the surface—only for her attack to rebound harmlessly.

Her breath came in sharp pants. The glass hadn’t even cracked.

Her strength, which had so effortlessly torn through the metal cuffs, was useless against whatever material they had sealed her in.

Iris’s bloodshot eyes darted around the chamber.

"It hurts! It hurts! Stop it! Please, someone help me—Mum, Dad!!!" Iris cried out, her voice raw with desperation as fluids were being pumped into her skin. Even though she broke out of the restraints the tubes were still attached to her.

Her heart clenched with pain. No matter how many times she called, no one came. The silence beyond the glass swallowed her cries, leaving only the sound of her frantic breathing. Her emotions tangled together in a suffocating storm—fear, anguish, and a rising, burning hatred. Her pupils contracted as the turmoil within her boiled over.

Beyond the glass, scientist Mikey’s eyes widened in disbelief. "Doctor, come look at this! This is amazing progress! Her body is fully fusing with the cells!" She tapped furiously at the keyboard, watching as the data streamed in. Ten minutes had passed since the particles had entered the child’s body, yet she had neither exploded nor mutated into an uncontrollable monster.

On her screen, a single word flashed: Compatible.

Dr. Shawart stepped forward, his gaze narrowing as he analyzed the data. "This is incredible! What cell strain was used?"

Daniel adjusted his glasses, his expression unreadable. "I believe it was the SS-Class Vampire Queen’s Chromataud cells."

A slow, devious smile spread across Dr. Shawart’s face. "Increase the dosage—triple it. Mix in additional mutations as well. Let’s see just how far this compatibility goes."

"Iris," Death called.

Through blurred vision, Iris saw a reflection of herself in the glass. But it wasn’t truly her. It was her other self.

Death sighed, arms crossed as she leaned against the glass from the inside. "Seriously, stop crying. I share this body with you, yet I feel none of this pathetic pain. Why do you keep mimicking human behaviors? It’s frustrating." Her eyes gleamed with irritation as she studied Iris with mild amusement.

Iris’s lip trembled. "I—I’m not mimicking anything...!"

Death snorted. "Then why do I feel nothing? No pain, no sadness—nothing but your useless attempt to mimick those stuffs." She tilted her head, her expression unreadable. "You’re ridiculous, you know that?"

For a moment, their gazes met. Death’s smirk deepened as she caught the cold look in Iris’s eyes.

’This master of mine can be truly ridiculous. I seriously can never know what she’s thinking,’ Death mused.

______

Back at the Saints Organization Headquarters

Isakawa sat at the head, his posture calm as he intertwined his fingers. "So then, regarding the incident that happened..." His voice was smooth, measured.

Lina leaned back in her chair with a smug smirk. "I’d say we did quite well. Hahahaha," she chuckled, tossing her hair over her shoulder.

Tael grinned, resting his elbows on the table. "I agree. You should have seen their pathetic faces." He let out a satisfied laugh, his amusement clear.

Tael leaned back in his chair, twirling a knife between his fingers with an unimpressed expression. "And those stupid government officials... always trying to play hero but never smart enough to make proper preparations." His voice held a hint of amusement before his expression dulled.

He clicked his tongue, shaking his head. "So, they might as well take all the blame. We had this right under our palm." A smirk crept back onto his face as he tapped the knife against the table.

Ryui chuckled, adjusting the collar of his coat. "Their sacrifice was quite helpful. No witnesses." He flashed a perfectly rehearsed, insincere smile. .

"Are you forgetting that I was at the damn festival?" Isakawa’s voice was dangerously calm. His sharp blue gaze swept over them. "And that I got attacked. By your men."

The air grew tense. No one spoke. No one even dared to breathe.

Isakawa leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. His fingers intertwined as his piercing gaze locked onto Ryui. "Your men didn’t even recognize me."

Ryui stiffened but quickly forced an apologetic smile. "I-I’m so sorry, Sir. I hope you can forgive my poor vigilance of the plan."

Lina, unable to contain her curiosity, finally spoke up. "But Sir... why did you go there in the first place?"

Isakawa exhaled, rubbing his temples as if the conversation itself was an inconvenience. "Personal reasons," he stated flatly. Then, with a smirk, he added, "I had to go on a trip with my lovely family."

Lina’s brow furrowed. "But, Sir... you had your medication, didn’t you? The one that suppresses your abilities for a period of time."

Isakawa gave a small chuckle. "And yet, here I am. Alive and well."

Lina hesitated, watching him closely. ’Well, he does have regeneration powers... so I don’t think I should worry too much about him,’ she thought to herself.

Jack, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke up. "Hey, Isakawa... so, after this, are we still continuing those experiments?" His voice held a note of hesitation.

Isakawa arched an eyebrow. "Yes, of course. Why would you think I’d stop?"

Jack scratched the back of his neck, choosing his words carefully. "It’s just... recently, our experimental ghouls have been showing side effects. Madness, mostly. If they go out of control, it could be a serious problem."

Isakawa’s expression didn’t change. "Don’t worry. I will make it work." His tone left no room for doubt.

Tael, seemingly unbothered by the tension in the room, suddenly grinned. "Hey, Isakawa, when this is all over... can I go hang out with your daughter? I did promise her I’d come over." His gaze was calm, and a slight blush dusted his cheeks.