Chapter 95: The Alpha, Fierce Outside, Tame Within
Corvus had a construction crew build a temporary kennel specifically for the 30 Dobermans.
Among these 30 dogs, one was particularly aggressive. If the other dogs came within a meter of it, it would growl a warning, and if they got any closer, it would attack viciously.
On the first day the kennel was completed, this dog mauled three other Dobermans, establishing itself as the alpha of the pack.
Ryan opened the gate and entered the kennel, immediately alerting all the dogs.
The alpha stood in the center, front legs lowered in a predatory stance, lips pulled back in a snarl, its fierce eyes locked on Ryan as if ready to attack at any moment.
Ryan chuckled and walked forward calmly.
The alpha didn't disappoint. It instantly lunged at Ryan's arm, clamping down hard and shaking its head violently, trying to tear through flesh and bone.
Ryan lifted his bitten arm, and the alpha, refusing to release its grip, was hoisted into the air.
"You're the one."
With his other hand, he grabbed the alpha by the scruff of its neck, opened the gate, and left the kennel.
The remaining 29 Dobermans gathered at the fence, watching in stunned silence as their new pack leader was carried away by Ryan.
Ryan returned to the lab with the alpha. Maya Hansen and the white mouse turned to look at him simultaneously.
"Grrr—WOOF!"
"Squeak!" The white mouse, unaccustomed to dogs invading its territory, instantly extended its tail and lashed it across the alpha's face with surprising force.
SMACK!
The alpha froze momentarily, clearly stunned by the blow from such a tiny creature.
The mouse turned away smugly and resumed watching its cartoons.
Ryan secured the alpha's muzzle and legs with restraints and called to Maya Hansen, "Get me reagent number 25."
Ryan kept his most important serums and blood samples in secure cold storage, while the experimental reagents were stored in the main lab.
Maya Hansen retrieved a vial labeled 25 and asked, "I haven't run any data evaluation on this formula yet. What are its effects?"
"It's a modified version of the Beast serum—triple-helix genetic structure. It's incompatible with human physiology and can only be used for animal testing. I haven't determined its full efficacy yet."
Ryan first drew a blood sample from the alpha, then used Reagent 25 to perform a cellular integration test. As long as there was no severe rejection response, they could proceed directly to live trials.
The cellular integration test seemed routine to Ryan, but Maya Hansen, watching as an expert, noticed something remarkable.
Ryan's injection technique could accurately target the cell nucleus without microscopic guidance. Few humans possessed such precision—most relied on automated equipment.
After the integration test, the cells were placed in observation equipment and rapidly generated detailed data on cellular division and mutation.
"Take the dog to the sealed testing chamber and prepare for injection."
"Got it." Maya Hansen wheeled the examination table into the containment room.
The alpha was strapped to the table, unable to move, and could only whimper in protest.
The sealed laboratory was constructed entirely of reinforced alloy, making it the safest place to conduct potentially volatile experiments.
By the time Ryan arrived with the printed data analysis and the prepared serum, Maya Hansen had already connected all the monitoring equipment.
Having an assistant made the work significantly more efficient.
"Step outside. Seal the door behind you."
Maya Hansen didn't know what consequences might result from staying. She assumed Ryan was sending her out because he didn't want her observing the critical details of the procedure.
After leaving, Maya Hansen closed the containment door but remained outside, watching through the observation window.
Ryan knew she was watching but didn't care.
He loaded the serum into the injection gun, activated the optical microscope overlay, and located the precise injection point. With a single shot, he delivered the entire solution into the alpha's bloodstream.
Whimper!
The dog struggled briefly, then immediately began convulsing. Foam bubbled from its mouth, its eyes rolled back, and it looked as though it had been poisoned and was dying.
A minute later, the alpha began to expand. To prevent the restraints from causing injury, Ryan materialized energy blades and cut through several of the straps, then watched as the transformation accelerated.
Huff... huff... huff...
The rapid growth put immense strain on the cardiovascular system. During genetic modification, incomplete evolution could cause catastrophic organ failure.
Ryan administered the nutrient solution he'd prepared, and the alpha's breathing quickly stabilized.
When the alpha reached its full size, it nearly startled Maya Hansen outside the window.
She'd never seen a biological agent work so rapidly. The faster the reaction, the more precise and potent the genetic targeting. She knew she couldn't replicate this level of modification—not yet.
This required the ability to observe and manipulate genes at the microscopic level. Maya Hansen didn't yet possess that capability.
After several minutes, the alpha slowly opened its eyes. A cold intelligence shone within them as it raised its head slightly to look at Ryan. Ryan met the creature's gaze without fear.
The alpha slowly crawled from the examination table to the floor, then rose to its feet. Only then could one truly appreciate the magnitude of the transformation. Standing on all fours, its shoulder height was roughly 160 centimeters. Including its neck and head, its total height reached nearly 180 centimeters—just slightly shorter than Ryan himself.
Its previously lean body had filled out with dense muscle, appearing incredibly powerful.
Man and beast stared at each other. The alpha slowly opened its mouth, about to bare its teeth, when Ryan slapped it.
SMACK!
The blow landed on the alpha's muzzle, making its head snap to the side.
The alpha turned to look at Ryan again. Ryan slapped it again.
SMACK!
SMACK!
SMACK!
Every time the dog tried to meet Ryan's gaze at eye level, Ryan struck it.
Finally, the alpha could endure it no longer. It bared its fangs, opened its massive jaws, and lunged to bite Ryan's head clean off.
WHOOSH!
A cosmic energy shield materialized in front of Ryan, and the alpha crashed into it with a resounding CLANG!
Ryan's right hand formed into a solid energy baton, which he used to strike the alpha twice across its flank. The creature, proving itself intelligent, immediately dropped to the ground and whimpered pathetically.
It lowered its head and looked up at Ryan with what could only be described as a wounded expression.
"That's better. I like obedient dogs, not aggressive ones. Get up."
Perhaps the serum had genuinely enhanced the alpha's intelligence—it actually understood Ryan's words. It cautiously stood up and followed Ryan out of the sealed laboratory.
Maya Hansen, waiting outside, immediately found a place to hide, terrified the massive creature would go berserk and bite her in half.
"Clean up the lab. I'm taking the dog for a walk."
Maya Hansen nodded repeatedly, not daring to emerge from behind the equipment until both Ryan and the alpha had left.
The alpha, now larger than any mastiff or guard dog in existence, followed Ryan with its head held high and chest puffed out, assuming the aloof demeanor of a professional bodyguard. However, only Ryan knew the aloofness was completely fake.
"Corvus, get me a leash."
Corvus, who'd been supervising cargo operations in the distance, saw the enhanced creature behind Ryan and his jaw dropped open.
If you ignored the alpha's submissive body language, its appearance resembled something between a dire wolf and the Hulk's pet.
After returning the alpha to the kennel and instructing it not to bully the other dogs, Ryan headed to Dr. Pym's work site.
All the equipment had been connected, and the family was assembling a massive quantum tunnel.
Scott was sweating as he dragged heavy cables, Hope was busy calibrating the equipment, and Hank Pym was discussing the current situation with his wife, Janet.
"All we need to do is reverse-engineer the quantum GPS Tony Stark created, and we'll be able to navigate the timestream safely. But I need more information about the deeper layers of the Quantum Realm."
Janet listened carefully but finally shook her head. "Hank, it's not that I don't want to help, but I genuinely don't remember much. The Quantum Realm... it changes you. Time works differently there. My memories of the deeper regions are fragmented at best."
Hank persisted, "Janet, we all need your help. If we can't figure this out, none of us can leave here."
"Why not? I brought these!" Janet revealed several small discs—the Pym Particle regulators she'd managed to keep hidden.
Hank shook his head helplessly. "Even if we escape, where would we go? Join what's left of the Avengers?"
The Avengers were essentially homeless—hunted by federal agents as wanted fugitives, ultimately forced to seek refuge in New Asgard.
If the U.S. government hadn't wanted to risk conflict with the Asgardians, the Avengers would have lost even that sanctuary.
Therefore, joining the Avengers was clearly not an attractive option.
Hank was about to continue when Ryan walked in, and the conversation immediately ceased.
As Ryan approached, Hank stood and made introductions. "Janet, this is Dr. Ryan, the administrator of Celestial Island." Then, "Ryan, this is my wife, Janet van Dyne."
"Hello, Dr. van Dyne."
Ryan extended his hand cordially. After shaking Janet's hand, he smiled and said, "The situation outside has become quite volatile. War may break out soon. I'd advise against leaving unless absolutely necessary."
Scott had grown increasingly irritated with Ryan lately and didn't even acknowledge his presence.
Janet pressed for details. "War? Between whom?"
Ryan's expression turned grave. "We've received intelligence that a conflict is about to erupt between the Avengers and the Skrull refugees. The Avengers discovered the Skrulls are developing a powerful weapon, so they're planning a preemptive strike on their hidden compound."
"While I respect the Avengers' capabilities, I don't think this will be a clean victory." Ryan shrugged.
The Skrull base was located in a heavily irradiated zone in Eastern Europe. Aside from a few enhanced individuals, most Avengers couldn't operate there safely. Furthermore, intelligence suggested the Skrulls had created a strike force of Extremis-enhanced warriors—formidable opponents by any measure.
"Isn't the government going to intervene? Or you?"
Ryan's tone turned sardonic. "The Avengers want me dead, so why would I help them?"
In Ryan's assessment, neither the remaining Avengers nor the desperate Skrulls were particularly trustworthy.
Ryan wouldn't intervene, but that didn't mean he wouldn't observe the outcome with great interest.
He wondered if a Super-Skrull would emerge from this conflict. Ryan genuinely wanted to study their shapeshifting genetics—perhaps finding a way to incorporate adaptive evolution into his own enhancement protocols.
If the Avengers and Skrulls wanted to tear each other apart, Ryan was more than happy to collect the pieces afterward.
End of Chapter 95
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