Xavier swallowed his saliva as he stared up at her. The way she had said 'evolution ' had brought shivers down his spine. He was beginning to feel dizzy again from staying upside-down for a long time.
"What," He said, the words forming in his throat. "What do you mean by 'evolution'"
The creature grinned, sadistically as she replied. "You'll see?"
Suddenly, the wall opened up again and Xavier turned to the sound. Out stepped a man with a few creatures at his side as he walked up to the Demaranian who stood in front of him.
He had spiked orange hair that jutted out like a crown of fire, a pierced nose with a chain looping to his ear, and goggles pushed up onto his forehead. His lab coat was stained with blood and oil, and his gloved hands were slick with what appeared to be slime.
Xavier's stomach churned at the disgusting sight of him.
"You took your time, Theron." The Demaranian spoke, her voice icy and chilling.
The scientist whose name was Theron stared at her with a wide smile. "Please accept my apologies, Great Demaranian." He bowed sarcastically. "I just finished my special project. It just took a lot of time."
He slowly turned to where Xavier was tied and looked down on him.
"This must be the black one." He spoke, staring at Xavier with his piercing eyes. "Am I correct?"
"Yes, you are." The Demaranian replied.
Xavier stared firmly at the beady eyes of the scientist. Meanwhile, his mind shut down, trying to think of ways to escape.
"I expected more, Bignath," he said to the Demaranian, finally turning his eyes to her. "You know this is not enough."
"This is the only one I saw, Theron," Bignath replied. "Apparently, he was the only one to be awakened as an F-rank in the entire five kingdoms. No other has been sent to Carragis."
"What about the Pale creatures?" Theron asked. "Are you sure they haven't killed any of them as they did to that man two years ago? You know we saw him mauled by them."
"Look," Bignath said, her tone icy. "I do not need to answer your questions, especially from a lesser being like you. Your job is to do what you're told. The Demaranians promised you our blood, and we keep our promises, but you follow our bidding."
Theron chuckled sarcastically. "Oh, spare me the sermon. If we're lesser beings, as you say, then why do you need us? You're only stronger than us in combat, not intellectually. And besides, I'm in charge, not you. That was what Vardos ordered."
Xavier listened. 'Vardos must be a Demaranian, and a higher one at that. And this must be one of the people who betrayed humanity for power. I need to get out."
But his thoughts were interrupted when Bignath advanced forward, her face twisted in anger. She walked up, her hand stretched out, wrapping it around his neck. She cleanly lifted him up and suspended him in the air.
Xavier, who was on the chain, stared at Theron, who was choking, his hands on her wrist, his feet dangling, but he was grinning through the choke.
"You can't kill me," he gurgled. "Your nation needs me, and you know if you kill me, there will be hell to pay."
Bignath gazed at him before she hissed, dropping him to the floor, and he landed in an untidy heap. Theron gasped, inhaling air, then started coughing.
"Know your place," she simply said before walking back to her position.
Theron picked himself up, dusted his already dirty shirt, and turned to one of the minions. "Put him in the pod."
From the shadows, they emerged.
Not guards. Not soldiers.
Creatures.
Mutated assistants, half-human, half-machine, their bodies stitched together with wires and bone. Their movements were jerky, unnatural, like puppets pulled by invisible strings. One had a mechanical jaw that clicked with every breath. Another dragged a limp leg behind it, leaving a trail of fluid that hissed on the floor.
They reached Xavier and grabbed him without ceremony.
He struggled, weakly, but their grip was iron. His arms were pinned, his legs lifted, and he was carried like cargo toward a massive pod embedded in the wall. The glass was thick, fogged with condensation, and behind it swirled a viscous green liquid that pulsed like it had a heartbeat.
The pod hissed open.
Inside, restraints unfolded like arms welcoming him home.
The restraints snapped shut around his wrists, ankles, chest, and neck. The pod sealed with a hydraulic groan, locking him in darkness. A faint light flickered above him, illuminating the interior—lined with needles, tubes, and strange runes etched into the glass.
Xavier felt himself get restrained, the pod closing on his face. He struggled with all his might as he tried to get free.
Theron walked up to the pod, staring at the struggling Xavier with something that felt like amusement.
"Why are you doing this?" Xavier asked Theron, his eyes gazing up at the maniacal scientist. "What would you gain by doing this?"
Theron chuckled. "I don't think I need to explain myself to an animal like you, but I guess I can humour you."
"You see, I've always loved creating mutants," he began. "That feeling of creating something brainless, that will always do your bidding with no hesitation. It's like having srx for me. That's how I feel."
"But the Scarragos Kingdom hated my experiments. They didn't want me to leave with them, so they banished me for eternity, never to step into their kingdom again. I've not seen my wife in five years."
"I was furious. What I love was considered an abomination in their eyes. So yes, I joined the Demaranians. They promised me their blood as long as I created mutants from the F ranks that were banished to Carragis. Those mutants will join the army of the Demaranian Nation and once they do conquer this planet. I can finally visit my wife again and do what I love without oppression."
"You're fucking sick." Xavier snarled. "Those F ranks are human too, and you're transforming them into brainless creatures so they can conquer the planet?"
"No," Theron replied. "You're inaccurate. F ranks are not humans. They never were from the dawn of time. They're rats meant to be squashed, but they're lucky we take them to do our bidding."
"Anyway," Trevor continued. "It's time for your evolution. It's time to become truly what you were meant to be."
Then the liquid began to rise.
Thick. Green. Alive.
It poured in from hidden vents, creeping up his legs, cold and heavy. Xavier gasped as it reached his waist, then his chest. It smelled like metal and mold, like something ancient trying to remember how to breathe.
Outside, the scientist watched with glee.
He leaned close to the glass, his grin wide, his eyes gleaming with twisted pride.
"You should be grateful," he said, voice muffled but clear. "You're paving the path to evolution."
Xavier's eyes widened.
The liquid reached his throat.
"You'll be the first of a new breed," the scientist continued. "Not quite human. Not quite a machine. Something better. Something permanent."
The green fluid enveloped Xavier's face.
He screamed—but no sound escaped.
Inside the pod, the runes began to glow. The needles extended. The transformation was beginning. His skin tingled, his veins burned, and his mind began to fracture under the pressure of whatever was being injected into him.
And the scientist turned away, satisfied.
"Let the metamorphosis begin."