As Dec enters the lab, he sees that no one is there. Everything is in its proper place. He walks further into the room and tries to unlock the back door, but it's still locked. Mark is inside, and Dec has no idea what he is doing. The fact that Mark is hiding things from him makes Dec really angry.
"What is it about this research that Mark is hiding from me?
Does he want to become a great scientist alone?
I won't let that happen without me," Dec says, heading toward the lift.
He steps into the elevator and presses the button for the third floor. When he reaches the third floor, he enters the room to the right. It also looks like a lab, but there are only chemicals here—no computers or lab testing machines. It looks like an advanced lab, filled with everything from a modern world.
There are three people working there. One is conducting a test, another is trying to create something by mixing chemicals, and the third is experimenting on a living creature on the right side of the room.
Dec approaches them and says,
"Do you guys know which chemicals Mark took from here?"
His face is tense and full of worry.
"Mark hasn't come here in a while, Dec. It's been days since we saw him," the first guy replies.
"What happened? Why do you look so serious and angry?" the second one asks.
"I'm not angry, just worried," Dec answers.
"Mark is doing a heart experiment on a dead body, and he's not telling me anything. I just want to help him."
"But you two are friends. Then why isn't he telling you? Is something wrong?"
"I don't know, Jorge," Dec says helplessly. "But I'm really concerned about him."
"Can we help you in any way?" they ask.
"Yes, definitely,"
Dec responds quickly.
"You all can help me find out what kind of experiment he's doing."
"But how?" the second guy asks Dec.
"You people should go into our lab and simply ask Mark what he's doing," Dec explains to them.
"But why would he answer us?" the second guy replies, showing a bit of wisdom in his tone. It seems like he doesn't want to interfere in someone's personal life.
"I think whatever he's doing, just let him do it. He's a good scientist. Whatever he's up to, the results will come out eventually. Dec, don't worry so much about him," he adds, as if ending the discussion.
But Dec stays firm.
"What if, like always, his experiment goes wrong again? This time, it could harm all of us. There's nothing wrong with just finding out what he's doing."
He seems determined—like today, he will finally discover what Mark is really trying to do.
"Alright, I agree with you," says the first guy, then adds, "But James also has a point."
Jorge, Dec, and James all finally agree—they should at least ask Mark what he's working on. After all, Dec had trained them himself, and they all understand the importance of this. They're ready to approach Mark directly.
"Peter, aren't you coming?" James asks.
"No, I've got work to do. I'm trying to examine this turtle," Peter replies, focused on his task.
The three of them leave the lab and head back down to the first floor via the lift. They walk toward Mark's lab and enter quietly. As they step inside, they see Mark working on a metallic machine. He's attaching wires to it, connecting it to a computer. Another wire links the machine to a heart sample.
On the computer screen, there are graphs showing heartbeats, pulse rates, and other vitals. Mark seems to be adjusting settings, trying to calibrate something.
"Mark, what are you doing?" Jorge asks as he walks forward.
"I'm trying to make this metallic machine function like a real heart," Mark explains. "If it works, it'll pump blood just like a human heart. I'm adjusting the pulse rate and the internal pump system to match an actual heartbeat."
"Then why don't you just implant this heart sample into the body? That way you won't need to use a machine," Jorge suggests helpfully.
"This heart sample isn't ready yet," Mark replies.
"It does pump for now, but if we take it out of the chemical solution, it becomes useless. It can't function on its own—it needs energy to survive. But it can't produce energy inside the human body. Its size is also larger than a natural human heart, so the body wouldn't accept it.
But this metallic heart is different. It runs automatically, and the energy it needs is generated by the blood flowing through it. Also, we might be able to convert this sample into something more like the metallic heart. That could work, because it contains original tissues. But still, it's artificial—it doesn't generate energy."
"Your thinking is truly impressive, Mark," James says, stepping closer.
"You always think ahead of everyone. We believe that whatever you do will be great."
"Thank you, James," Mark replies with a small smile.
"I'll try my best not to leave anything incomplete this time. I want to understand everything—completely."
"Now that you're working so hard, I think we should leave you alone and not disturb you," Jorge says, placing a hand on Mark's shoulder encouragingly.
"If you need our help, don't hesitate to ask."
With that, the three turn to leave. Dec follows silently, but something about his face seems off. His expression isn't normal—there's something brewing inside him.
Maybe he's already sensing Mark's future success.
Or maybe… he just can't bear it anymore.
"You don't have much time, Mark," he mutters under his breath. "Whatever you're building… whatever you're trying to do… I'll keep track of every single part of it."
Dec is the kind of man who's better not to be considered human at all. He can't stand seeing others succeed or be happy.if it's not meant to him. His so-called friendship with Mark was never real some times—just another step toward his own ambitions. Using people, ruining their work, then claiming it for himself has become his habit. He buys his way out of every situation, throws money at people to silence them, and reduces others' hard work to nothing. He only enjoys hearing praise for himself, and kindness feels like a weakness in his eyes.
But Mark's experiment… it's working.
The metallic machine heart is finally functioning like a real human heart. Mark has managed to integrate the work of veins and vessels into the system. Now, the only step left is to test it inside a human body—to see whether it can truly sustain life.
With a quiet, hopeful smile, Mark begins disconnecting the wires from the metallic heart. One by one, he unhooks the intricate circuits, then detaches the samples. After making sure everything is ready, he turns away and walks toward the next room.
He pushes the door open and steps inside—a room filled with the chill of preserved death body. A sharp, sterile wind greets him. He moves to the right and presses a button on the wall to stabilize the cool temperature inside. Then, walking forward, he carefully removes the sheet covering the lifeless body laid on the metal table.
His gaze sharpens.
Head Carl's method is working. The chemicals applied to the corpse have started generating new layers of skin. If the process continues successfully, then once the heart is implanted, the body may begin to regenerate its own skin naturally—a breakthrough in biomechanical reanimation.
Mark whispers to himself, studying the body intently.
The chemical reaction is triggering tissue response. Patches of skin are forming on the hands and lower back. Nerves are beginning to reconnect. With the nerves in place, the chances of higher motor function improve dramatically.
He steps back, turning toward the surgical table, and picks up a set of precise tools.
He's ready now.
It's time to fit the heart—to attempt the final step that could change everything.
Mark brings the tools forward, positioning them carefully near the exposed chest. But then—he pauses.
Just for a moment, he freezes.
His hands tremble slightly as he moves the tools aside and places them down. He takes a slow, deep breath.
Is it fear?
Or is it a lack of trust in himself?
Fear—the most paralyzing weakness in a human. It holds you back, stops you from trying, and kills the will to move forward. Fear of failure, fear of judgment, fear of loss… all of it. Sometimes, not thinking too much and just acting is the only way to move ahead.
Mark steps back from the stretcher, his movements quiet but tense. He walks to the side table, reaches for his gloves, and pulls them on with slow precision. Then he picks up a medical face mask and secures it firmly. A thin layer of sweat glistens on his forehead.
Something is weighing on him—a thought, a memory, a doubt.
He wipes his forehead with a tissue, then exhales deeply, steadying himself.
"I can do this," he whispers to no one but himself.
Mark comes back to his place and picks up his tools again. He looks at the open nerve endings on the chest—partially cut earlier—so he can now attach the fresh nerves properly. The heart had already been removed from the dead body, and now only an empty space remains in the chest.
Mark starts working.
He takes the Zyreth Core and begins attaching the nerves one by one. It's a difficult task, because everything needs to be placed in the exact position. Slowly, carefully, he connects each point. Within a few moments, Mark completes the job. He exhales deeply.
It's done....
His eyes close briefly, as if a small smile forms on his face. Drops of sweat roll down his forehead. The final step now is to activate the Zyreth Core. Mark presses the button.
Red light turns on.
He stares at it without blinking.
The color of the body begins to change. The blood inside starts to move—slowly, drop by drop. Warmth is returning. It's working. The blood begins to circulate properly inside the nerves.
This body has been dead for four days, and has been kept in cold storage for the last two. But now… the blood is warming up.
The body doesn't have skin—except on the lower back and hands, where the chemical has already started doing its work.
Mark, without even realizing it, is watching his success come to life right in front of him.