The sky was clear, and sunlight spilled over the high walls and electric fences surrounding the recreation yard.
"Colin, it's bad! There's been a, leak in one of the nuclear reactor rooms in the base!"
A panicked voice rang out, waking Colin from his nap in the shade.
"It's not like Magneto is coming to save us, so what's the fuss about?" Colin lazily opened one eye and glanced at the panting boy. "Let me sleep. The day before yesterday, I was cut open on an operating table for over thirty hours. They nearly drained all my bone marrow."
Hearing this, Ryan lowered his gaze and saw the scars covering Colin's entire body. Fortunately, thanks to Colin's lizard-like mutant healing ability, fresh pink flesh had already grown over the stitched wounds.
Ryan quickly looked away, unable to bear it any longer. "I heard they might send us in to close the valve this time… Nuclear radiation isn't something to joke about…"
"We're valuable test subjects. In a base this big, wouldn't it be easier to grab a few death row inmates?" Colin waved his hand casually, offering, what little comfort he could.
"That… makes sense. You should get some rest." Ryan nodded and hurried off.
Watching Ryan run to spread the news to the other "lab rats," Colin's expression slowly changed. He was no longer as relaxed as before. Gritting his teeth against the stinging pain throughout his body, he sat up.
"Nuclear radiation…"
An ancient-looking book suddenly appeared before his eyes.
On its cover were several ferocious beast heads hidden within a mist, their forms barely visible. The book was called the Titan Codex. It had appeared when Colin transmigrated into this world a few months ago, and it contained records of various Titans from a legendary monster universe.
There was the world-destroyer from space, King Ghidorah; an ancient ice demon capable of triggering an ice age; and Rodan, who slumbered in volcanic magma. There was also the guardian Kong, the monster queen Mothra, and the deep-sea deity Tiamat…
Every Titan possessed the power to destroy the world.
Through the Codex, Colin,a mere mortal,could gather the power of these Titans, eventually becoming one himself, perhaps even surpassing them.
Thinking of the nuclear leak Ryan had mentioned, Colin's eyes flickered.
The Codex flipped open on its own, revealing a massive creature over a hundred meters tall. Its legs were thick and rugged like stone, and sharp dorsal plates ran from its tail to its neck, glowing with a brilliant blue light.
Looking at the creature's short arms and its oddly "friendly" nuclear-powered grin, Colin couldn't help but smile.
The King of the Monsters,Godzilla. The last atomic dinosaur.
Most living beings avoided radiation at all costs, but for Godzilla, whose body contained an internal atomic reactor, even the strongest radiation was nothing more than food. The more he absorbed, the stronger he became.
"A reactor leak… This is a perfect chance to absorb radiation…"
Colin fell into thought.
Although the Codex contained many Titans, each had different unlocking conditions. For example, to unlock the atomic dinosaur, Colin had to continuously absorb radiation.
He glanced at Godzilla's entry. Less than a quarter of it was illuminated.
From the moment he transmigrated, he had been placed on the dissection table. Only after months of suffering had he made this little progress. At this rate, he would need at least two more years to complete it.
But if there was a source of radiation ready for him to absorb… everything would change.
He carefully lay back down, making sure not to trigger the ability-suppressing collar around his neck. As the pain eased slightly, he let out a long breath.
"When I finally obtain even a fraction of the King of the Monsters' power… even one-thousandth of it… I'll be able to slaughter these beasts with my own hands…"
The next day.
A gentle breeze blew under a sky dotted with light clouds,perfect weather for basking in the sun.
When Colin arrived at the recreation yard as usual, he immediately noticed something was off. The normally noisy area was unnaturally quiet.
"What's going on?" Colin slipped to the back of the crowd and whispered to Ryan.
"Dr. Lane is here."
Following Ryan's gaze, Colin saw a middle-aged researcher with graying hair, surrounded by heavily armed soldiers in one corner of the yard.
"He's in charge of the lab where the leak happened."
Colin immediately understood.
They were here to pick someone.
One unlucky mutant would be sent into the radiation-filled reactor room to close the valve.
The dozens of mutants in the yard clearly understood this as well. Fear and dread spread across their faces.
Staying in the base at least meant a chance,however slim,of survival.
But high-level radiation exposure?
That only led to a slow, agonizing death.
No one wanted that fate.
A heavy silence fell over the yard. Everyone wished they could disappear, afraid of being chosen.
"Colin… didn't you say they'd use death row inmates?" In a remote corner, Ryan clutched Colin's sleeve, his body trembling. He was still young,far too young to face something like this.
"Who knows what they're thinking?" Colin replied calmly. "It's just a one-in-dozens chance. Your luck's always been good. Don't worry."
While comforting Ryan, Colin's eyes remained fixed on Dr. Lane.
One man's poison was another man's treasure.
Forget just closing the valve,if he could, Colin would stay inside that reactor room forever.
Before long, Dr. Lane began walking toward the crowd, flanked by armed soldiers.
"I know what you're thinking," he said with a gentle smile that made him seem completely harmless.
"Yes, there was a leak. But it isn't serious. Otherwise, I wouldn't have waited until today to come."
His calm, steady voice was strangely reassuring.
"As you can see, I'm a nuclear physicist. I have nothing to do with mutant experiments. You can trust me."
"Right now, I need an assistant. If you come with me, you'll never have to undergo those cruel experiments again. You'll be able to live a normal life."
An uproar broke out instantly.
In this hidden mutant research base, the life he described was exactly what everyone dreamed of.
Colin scanned the crowd. Many faces were already relaxing, their fear fading.
After letting the murmurs die down, Dr. Lane continued:
"The only requirement… is that you help me solve a small problem."
"I guarantee that the protective suit will keep you completely safe. You'll only need less than a minute to close a small valve."
"After that, your life will change forever."
He fell silent, watching as the mutants whispered among themselves.
The offer was tempting,too tempting.
Soon, a few bold individuals stepped forward.
As more people realized they might lose this "opportunity," tension began to rise between them.
"A mission that was basically a death sentence… turned into a prize everyone's fighting for with just a few words?"
From the back of the crowd, Colin watched quietly, a trace of admiration in his eyes.
There's no such thing as a free lunch.
As the atmosphere grew more heated, several burly mutants began eyeing each other warily. Meanwhile, the smile on Dr. Lane's face deepened.
"Hey!"
A voice suddenly rang out from the back, deliberately disguised.
"If it's 100% safe, why don't you go close the valve yourself? Why bother looking for us?"
Dr. Lane's smile froze instantly.
End of Chapter