Time flies, and half a month has passed in the blink of an eye.
During this two-week period, Loren continued to devote all his energy to the laboratory, just as before.
Previously, he had been working on A2 and his own nanotech armor, but this time, he was developing a perfected version of the Hulk serum—one capable of enhancing his physical strength once more.
That day, a hearty laugh rang out in the lab.
"Success! Finally, success! My perfect Hulk serum is complete! This process was truly arduous!"
In his hand, Loren held a vial of a mysterious, crimson potion—flame-red and shimmering—the very serum he had just perfected.
According to the system description, the serum could grant the user terrifying power, 1.5 to 3 times stronger than the standard Hulk. The exact enhancement varied from person to person.
Most crucially, unlike the original Hulk formula, this version allowed the user to grow stronger the angrier they became—without transforming into a monstrous behemoth. In short, its cost-effectiveness was unbeatable.
At the sound of Loren's excited shout, his two protectors—2B and A2—immediately burst through the laboratory door.
"Boss, what happened? Are you okay?" A2 asked, staring at Loren with a puzzled expression.
"Sister A2, can't you see? The boss must have succeeded—otherwise, he wouldn't be this excited," 2B said calmly.
Having been with Loren the longest, 2B understood him best. The crimson vial in his hand made the situation clear.
"Yes, the research was a success," Loren confirmed. "The perfect Hulk serum is complete. Now, we can move on to the next stage: human trials!"
As he spoke, Loren walked toward an experimental pod—a specialized chamber he'd built specifically for human testing.
The entire pod was controlled by Alice, an artificial intelligence designed to monitor every phase of the experiment and ensure maximum safety.
After placing the red serum into a glass injector inside the chamber, Loren stripped off his clothes and stepped inside.
Seeing him prepare to test the serum on himself, both 2B and A2 grew visibly anxious.
"Boss, there's no prior human trial data for this new enhancement serum," 2B warned. "Testing it on yourself is extremely dangerous. We strongly advise against it."
"Yeah, boss!" A2 added. "You did the same thing with the super-soldier serum last time. It's reckless—you're being irresponsible with your own body!"
Loren merely smiled, unfazed. "Don't worry. I'll be fine."
What they didn't know was that his confidence came entirely from the fact that the perfected Hulk serum formula had been a reward from the system.
In this world, he might doubt anyone else—but never his own magic touch.
After all, the system had been the cornerstone of his rise to the pinnacle of power. Nothing—and no one—could replace it.
As he stepped fully into the chamber, the glass door sealed shut with a soft hiss.
Then Alice's voice echoed through the lab:
"Boss, should we begin injecting the Perfect Hulk Serum? You have five seconds to reconsider."
"No need to hesitate. Inject the serum immediately. I've waited long enough for this day—let's begin!"
"Understood. The Perfect Hulk Serum Enhancement Project is now officially underway."
The moment Alice finished speaking, restraints made of advanced composite material swiftly locked around Loren's limbs, securing him in place.
This is because no one knows what will happen during the strengthening process.
Therefore, restraining the experimental subjects is the safest approach—
not only to protect the test subjects themselves, but also to safeguard outsiders.
Once Loren's body was secured, a needle was suddenly plunged into his spine before he could react.
Instantly, his face contorted in agony, and he let out an involuntary scream.
Hearing his cries, 2B and A2 outside the experimental chamber grew even more anxious.
Their expressions were on the verge of tears—but alas, they were androids, and had none to shed.
Otherwise, these two young women would surely have been weeping.
"Boss, can you handle this? If not, let Alice stop! From now on, let us protect you!"
"Yes! Why suffer like this? With me and Sister A2 here, no one can hurt you!"
Hearing their words from inside the chamber, Loren gritted his teeth and roared,
"The phoenix is reborn only through nirvana—and so am I!
Alice, don't stop! Keep going! Inject all the serum—I can still hold on!"
"Understood, Boss," Alice replied. "Gamma-ray energy levels are rising steadily, and the drug is being administered continuously. Injection at 70%... 75%... 85%... 99%!!"
As both the gamma-ray energy and reagent dosage surged,
Loren felt as though his bones and flesh were being crushed, then reassembled—
only to be shattered and rebuilt again, over and over without end.
The torment pushed him to the brink of unconsciousness.
Yet gradually, his body began to acclimate.
The pain dulled into numbness, until he no longer felt it at all.
Then came the rebound: as the agony receded, a warm, soothing sensation washed over him—
like sinking into a tranquil hot spring.
At that precise moment, both the drug infusion and gamma-ray energy reached 100%.
Suddenly, the lights in the laboratory flickered—then the entire manor, then the whole surrounding area.
With a final, thunderous bang, the entire region encompassing Lorent Manor was plunged into darkness.
Meanwhile, deep within Morgan Manor's secret lab, the experimental chamber housing Loren erupted with crackling lightning and thunder,
as if some extraordinary being had just been born.
The sight left 2B and A2 utterly dumbfounded.
Isn't this just an enhancement serum injection?
Why did it cause a total blackout? Is this thing really that power-hungry?
Just as they stood in stunned silence, a pair of scarlet eyes ignited in the darkness.
Then—BOOM!—the reinforced chamber door exploded outward from a single punch.
Loren emerged, completely naked and radiating a crimson glow, striding deliberately into the dim corridor.
"Is this the effect of the perfected Hulk serum?" he murmured, clench
ing his fist.
"It's... incredible."
His voice trembled—not from pain, but from undisguised exhilaration.
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