After Carter successfully purged the dog cells from Adlof's bloodstream, the doctors ordered complete immobility for one month. His body needed time to adjust to the genetic modifications and to recover from the brutal experiments.
Days passed slowly, and Adlof lay motionless in his bed, staring at the ceiling in boredom. Suddenly, hunger struck him hard.
"I'm starving. Seriously, is no one here?" he grumbled, calling out to the nurses and staff.
But there was no response.
Then, without warning, the lights flickered and went out. Darkness swallowed the room. Adlof's senses sharpened immediately. "Is this a surprise dog attack? Or an emergency?" he thought, trying to move, but his body refused to obey.
Suddenly, a loud voice echoed through the darkness:
"HAAAAAAAPPY BIRTHDAAAAY!"
Adlof jumped in terror.
"What the hell is this?!"
The lights came back on. Before him stood Nour al-Din, Kim, and Ethan, grinning ear to ear.
They shouted together:
"Today's June 4th — your birthday!"
Overwhelmed, Adlof collapsed to the floor.
"I can't handle this level of stupidity after a full month in bed," he muttered.
But things didn't stop there.
A group of nurses began wheeling his bed away.
Adlof yelled, "What are you doing?!"
Kim replied, "We're taking you to the celebration hall."
Nour al-Din, tears welling up in his eyes, dramatically exclaimed, "Adloooof! You can't be weeeeeak!"
Adlof, now placed in a wheelchair instead of a bed, entered a grand hall — his very first birthday celebration.
He was stunned. Over 2,000 guests filled the room — scientists, lords, and commanders of the various human settlements.
"Now this… I like," Adlof said with a grin.
He was wheeled toward a group of well-dressed individuals who greeted him warmly:
"Welcome, Lord Adlof. Happy birthday!"
"Glad you came," Adlof replied, then paused in confusion. "Wait... who are you?"
Noticing the awkward silence, Nour al-Din quickly rushed over to prevent any embarrassment.
"Adlof, they're the heads of the settlements."
Adlof blinked, then smirked arrogantly.
"Oh! So you're the ones we beat! Hahahahaha!"
The settlement leaders chuckled nervously.
"Alright," Adlof said, stretching slightly. "Let's move on to the next part... DINNEEERRR!"