"Boss, it's done!" Big Head rushed into the courtyard, excitement plastered across his face.
Hong Fei stood motionless in a horse stance atop the castle's flat roof, his hands cupped as though holding an invisible iron sphere. Golden energy threads shimmered around his form—not dissipating, but clinging to his skin like a second atmosphere.
Across from him, Jessica, Yelena, and Antonia mirrored his stance. At Big Head's voice, all three women's eyes snapped open simultaneously. Only Hong Fei remained still, eyes closed. "Which of you is in charge here?" he asked dryly.
The women immediately shut their eyes again. Several breaths later, the golden energy crackling around Hong Fei withdrew into his pores. He finally opened his eyes and turned. "Has it been two months already?"
"Three days left, Boss." Big Head bowed at the waist, though his elongated skull stayed upright. He held up three fingers with a grin.
"Cutting it close, aren't we?"
Big Head scratched his neck. "Heh. Both projects are finished. Didn't slack off—barely slept trying to wrap things up early. They're both done today, just like you wanted."
Hong Fei's gaze dropped to the alloy case clutched in Big Head's arms. Noticing the attention, Big Head scurried to a nearby table and popped the latches. Inside lay two items: a matte black sphere and a vial of luminescent green serum.
"Where's Abomination? Get him."
"Right away, Boss!"
Extending his psychic awareness, Hong Fei soon heard scraping sounds as Abomination scaled the castle's outer wall. The massive creature crouched on the parapet. "You called, Boss?"
Hong Fei plucked the glowing vial from the case. "Oral or injection?"
"Either works," Big Head piped up. "Potion's bitter but acts faster."
With a flick of his wrist, Hong Fei tossed the vial. "Drink up."
Abomination fumbled to catch it with both hands, his brutish face twitching with something like hope. "What...what is this?"
"Serum to suppress your mutations." Hong Fei took a seat.
Abomination's yellow eyes widened. Big Head couldn't resist needling him. "Thought you said you liked being big and ugly? That it was the 'real you'?"
"Shut your damn mouth!" Abomination roared, spraying spittle across Big Head's face.
Wiping his cheeks, Big Head grimaced. Power had its drawbacks—Abomination's hulking frame made everyday life a chore. Where others strolled freely through castle corridors, he had to shuffle sideways to avoid destroying priceless artwork. Even doorways required careful negotiation.
The bigger issue, though, was Abomination's...anatomical peculiarities. Unlike Hulk, he didn't wear pants—yet somehow avoided indecent exposure.
It was quite magical. Ever since Hong Fei quietly asked him about it one day, Abomination had been visibly withdrawn. Strength mastery had come easily—if he could control his transformations, why not grant himself some dignity? Without hesitation, Abomination crushed the vial between his teeth, swallowed the contents with a gulp, and waited.
"Barbaric," Big Head muttered under his breath. The transformation began seconds later, abrupt and jarring. Abomination's external bones were the first to shift, softening and retracting inward. His bulging muscles collapsed like a deflating balloon, the massive frame shrinking rapidly from head to toe. The sickly green hue of his skin faded with each passing moment.
Abomination clutched his head, low growls escaping his throat as he writhed in obvious agony. Hong Fei raised an eyebrow. "Big Head, did you conveniently forget to mention the pain?"
A sly grin crept across Big Head's face. "Boss, he wasn't exactly involved in the serum's development. I had to make do with small animals for testing. Sure, they grew bigger, but they couldn't exactly tell me how it felt when they reverted."
"Big Head," Hong Fei said, his tone sharp.
"Yes, Boss?"
"Am I imagining things, or have you gotten a little too bold lately?"
"Boss, you know me better than that. I'd never dare overstep with you!"
While they bantered, Abomination's transformation completed. He crouched on the ground, curled into himself like a wounded animal. At least outwardly, the serum had worked. He gingerly touched his body, then jerked his head up, his expression a mix of shock and disbelief.
"How does it feel?" Hong Fei asked.
"Amazing! Thank you, Boss!" It wasn't Abomination anymore—it was Emil Bronski, his voice brimming with exhilaration. After all, he'd just gone from a monstrous, genderless creature to a fully human man.
Hong Fei glanced at the three women nearby, their eyes still tightly shut. "Big Head, give him your jacket."
"What?" Big Head's face twisted in protest.
"Should I give him mine instead?"
"No, no, I'll do it!" Big Head hastily stripped off his suit jacket, glaring daggers at Bronski as he handed it over. "You owe me ten grand for this."
Bronski ignored him, snatching the jacket and wrapping it around his waist. As he stood, his muscular frame was unmistakable, though completely hairless—a stark contrast to Hulk's transformation, which left his hair intact.
"Not bad," Hong Fei remarked after a moment. "Big Head, how does he change back?"
"Physical stimulation. Intense exertion will trigger the transformation. Emotional extremes can force it too." Big Head grinned, pulling out a sleek black ring. "I anticipated this. Designed a shock ring that delivers a 200-kilovolt jolt—enough to trigger an instant transformation."
Bronski, ever the man of action, snatched the ring and slipped it onto his finger. "How does it work?"
"Press and hold for three seconds, or double-tap quickly."
"How do I avoid accidental activation?"
Big Head shrugged. "Wear it on a finger your thumb doesn't easily reach. Though if you activate it in your sleep, that's on you. And I wouldn't recommend using it in bed—the voltage could kill whoever's on top of you."
Bronski stared at him, his gaze icy enough to freeze lava. Hong Fei chuckled, recognizing the look of a man plotting murder. "Bronski, don't hold back on my account. If you want to hit him, go ahead."
Big Head staggered back several steps, his face slack with shock. Bronski's mouth twitched as he turned away. "Boss, I'll go change first." Hong Fei dismissed him with a wave. Once Bronski had gone, Hong Fei tapped his fingers against the table. "Continue."
Big Head approached with jerky movements, retrieving a black sphere from the case. Without ceremony, he hurled it onto the ground. The sphere's surface pulsed with intricate patterns before its shell expanded outward with a hydraulic hiss. As it stabilized, an azure glow emanated from within. The light coalesced into a translucent feminine form.
The projection possessed exaggerated curves—an hourglass waist flowing into hips that swayed even in stasis. Her legs, pressed together in mock modesty, stretched endlessly beneath a gray pencil skirt. The black stilettos added another six inches to her height. Though her facial features were flawlessly symmetrical, her eyes remained glassy and vacant.
Hong Fei's frown deepened as he examined the creation. Big Head scrambled to explain, "Every component has been triple-checked, Boss! Down to the last screw and circuit. She's perfect—just needs the final activation sequence." He bowed until his forehead nearly touched his knees, his voice dripping with sycophantic glee. "Since she belongs to you, naturally you should have the honor..."
The effect was ruined by his elongated forehead, which made his obsequious smile resemble a melting wax figure. Hong Fei remained impassive. "Activation procedure?"
Big Head's chuckle grated like sandpaper. "Pre-loaded your biometrics, Boss. Just say 'Activate' and she'll scan you. After that..." He rubbed his hands together. "Total control. Any function you can imagine."
"Activate." The command left no room for hesitation.
The hologram's eyes snapped into focus, alive with uncanny awareness. Her first action was to smile—a calculated display of dimples and lowered lashes. Then she stared, unblinking, as twin beams shot from her pupils to sweep Hong Fei's body with clinical precision.
Hong Fei sipped his water throughout the invasive scan. He didn't trust Big Head's competence, nor did he care about the man's potential scheming. If this was some ploy, he'd simply rip the fool's head off and call it a day.
"Scan complete," the AI announced. "Your physiology is optimal, sir. How may I serve you?"
"Silence."
"Confirmed."
Hong Fei turned his attention back to Big Head. "Designation?"
"Alice."
Hong Fei's glass froze halfway to his lips. "Repeat that."
"A-L-I-C-E," Big Head spelled out helpfully.
"Oh. Arthur." Hong Fei nodded as if agreeing with himself.
Big Head's smile faltered. "No, Boss, it's Al—"
"Arthur. Excellent name." Hong Fei's tone brooked no argument. "The Arthurian legends. Didn't take you for a scholar."
The blood drained from Big Head's face. "Boss, I—"
"Problem?" Hong Fei's smile didn't reach his eyes.
Big Head recognized that particular expression—the one that preceded people disappearing into unmarked graves. He straightened instantly. "None at all! I'm honored!"
"Mmm. Say the name again."
Big Head's expression was extremely firm. "Arthur!"
There is another chapter later.