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Chapter 4 - [4]: Shane Mountain in a Lab Coat

Two fists met, one small and one large.

In that instant, power and memory surged together, flowing into each other like rivers colliding and becoming one.

The man in the pristine white lab coat blinked in shock. This version of Shane Mountain had not simply transmigrated into another world. No he had been reborn directly into the Zombie Brother universe, carrying the weight of his past life from the very moment of birth.

At first, Lab Coat Shane believed he had merely crossed into a parallel dimension. With the knowledge of his previous life, he planned to seize the opportunities of this world, carving out a grand future for himself. He thought himself prepared for everything. But just as he began to shine, he encountered someone who completely overturned his assumptions: a boy named Julian Drake, a so-called prodigy.

Initially, Shane had dismissed Julian. In his eyes, the boy was nothing more than a child, clever perhaps, but still far beneath the maturity and knowledge of someone like Shane, who had lived through college and adulthood. What could a kid compare to a man who had already earned a degree and worked in the real world?

That arrogance did not last long.

Julian's brilliance was unlike anything Shane had ever seen. At only eight or nine years old, the boy had already mastered the entire middle school curriculum on his own. Under the astonished eyes of his teachers, Julian sat for the year's final examinations. While he did not earn perfect scores in every subject, his results were extraordinary, silencing all doubts about his genius.

For the first time, Shane realized he had encountered someone truly terrifying. This was no ordinary gifted child. This was a supergenius who defied reason itself. For a while, Shane even wondered if Julian Drake might actually be the true protagonist of this world.

After that initial meeting, the two exchanged contact information. Despite their differences, they remained in touch, gradually developing an unlikely friendship.

Shane's academic journey diverged from Julian's. Unlike the boy who leapt ahead through grades, Shane chose a steadier route. He completed all six years of elementary school normally before accelerating in middle school. After just one year, he took the college entrance exams and advanced into high school. By then, Julian was already finishing his senior year.

Yet, as Shane pressed on, reality struck. His past-life education, that of a mere college graduate who had spent his adult years working an ordinary job, could only take him so far. Much of the advanced knowledge he once learned had faded. In high school, he no longer stood out as effortlessly as before. Instead, he worked diligently, keeping his ranking around the top fifty of his year not too high, not too low. It was a quiet strategy, a way to avoid attention while still maintaining respectability.

Then came another shock.

Through distant family ties, Shane learned that he was related to Noah Blaze, the very protagonist of the Zombie Brother storyline. And when he discovered that Noah had recently started dating a girl named Weiwei, Shane could only sigh. Fate was weaving his path into the original narrative. There was no longer any way to escape.

Meanwhile, Julian's star burned brightly. He was recruited by a prestigious professor who personally mentored him, guiding him through two years of university-level knowledge before vanishing from Shane's life entirely.

Shane continued forward, completing his high school studies and earning admission into one of the nation's top universities. By the time he graduated, news of Julian finally resurfaced. But it was not good news.

Just as in the original storyline, Julian's research was stolen by his mentor. No matter how hard he fought, the professor's connections crushed every attempt Julian made to defend his work. His reputation was ruined, his name smeared, and in the end, he was expelled. Cast out by the academic world, Julian returned home, bitter and broken.

When Shane heard, he did not hesitate. He picked up the phone and called his old friend.

"Don't give up," Shane said firmly. "I'm on the verge of something big myself. I'm about to open my own research lab. Come and join me. Lend me your genius."

Julian's voice was bitter, filled with despair. "You'd really take me in? Everyone sees me as a fraud now. I'm disgraced."

"Don't be ridiculous," Shane chuckled. "You're the smartest person I've ever met. Besides… it's been years since we've seen each other. Why don't we meet up in a few days?"

There was silence. Then a trembling reply. "…Alright."

Julian's throat tightened with emotion. He had thought he was utterly alone, cast aside by the world. Yet here was someone who still believed in him, someone who called him the smartest person alive. In that moment, the crushing weight on his chest seemed to lift, just a little.

That was what it meant to have a brother.

A few days later, the two reunited in their hometown. Shane wasted no time, announcing that he intended to establish a biotech company in H City. For now, the company would consist of only the two of them.

Julian could only stare, exasperated. "Are you serious? Just the two of us? This is the least reliable thing you've ever said. Can I still back out?"

"Of course not," Shane grinned.

Julian groaned. "…Fine."

And so began two years of shared scientific endeavor.

Despite the obstacles, Shane's knowledge of future trends gave them an edge. He seized opportunities that others could not see, making enough money to keep them afloat.

But destiny was not done with him yet.

This year, Shane encountered a mysterious master who taught him the basics of cultivating inner energy. From that moment on, his body changed. He developed true inner strength. And with that power came access to a strange shared space a nexus where different versions of Shane Mountain could meet.

Now, standing in that space, Lab Coat Shane clenched his fists, feeling the surge of power coursing through him. His eyes gleamed with excitement.

"Chakra," he whispered. "Such an incredible energy. If I bring this back to my world, I'd practically be a superhuman."

Across from him, Ninja Shane narrowed his eyes. "Biological science, huh… With knowledge like yours, maybe I could consider working with Orochimaru."

Lab Coat Shane smirked. "Not a bad idea. Who knows, maybe you could even harness Ōtsutsuki genetics someday and unlock ocular powers yourself."

The confidence radiating from his body was unmistakable. For the first time in years, the weight on his shoulders felt lighter.

But Ninja Shane shook his head. "Orochimaru is too unstable. If it were the future female version of him, I might trust her more. But for now, I can't take that risk. I've only been in this world for a year, and it's the middle of the Second Shinobi World War. Without Kage-level strength, I'm constantly at risk of being killed."

He was not exaggerating. Even the legendary Third Raikage, who had fought the Eight-Tails to mutual exhaustion, had eventually fallen under the sheer numbers of Iwagakure forces.

"I understand," Lab Coat Shane said with a nod. "If things ever get too dangerous, come find me. And if I can't solve the problem, I'll consult Julian Drake. In the original storyline, he developed the God Gene in less than a week. If anyone can analyze Ōtsutsuki genetics, it's him."

Ninja Shane frowned. "That sounds reckless."

"Relax. Julian hasn't gone dark. He's trustworthy." Lab Coat Shane's smile was firm. "And even if he created something dangerous in my world, it wouldn't affect yours. Different worlds, different consequences."

After a moment of thought, Ninja Shane relented. "Fine. But hear me. If Julian ever shows signs of losing control, you must eliminate him immediately. A genius who strays can become a disaster for the entire world."

Lab Coat Shane's expression grew serious, but his eyes held steady. "I understand."

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