Shane Mountain was prepared for many things, but food was certainly not one of his worries.
In the underground level of his villa, he had stocked enough supplies to last years. Shelves were stacked with canned goods, crates of bottled water, sealed snacks, and even boxes of frozen meat and fresh vegetables kept in a temperature-controlled storage. Even if two or three more people joined them, they could easily survive underground for at least two years without worrying about hunger or thirst.
"Holy crap! Premium beef? Fresh garden vegetables? Wait what is all this?!" Noah Blaze's jaw practically hit the floor. He stood in front of the cold storage with wide eyes, gawking at the sight. These were foods he usually only saw in high-end restaurants, and here his cousin had stored an entire freezer full of them.
So this was what it meant to live in the world of the rich? For a moment, Noah felt like his entire worldview had been turned upside down.
A few days later, Shane and Julian Drake emerged from the underground lab, exhausted but satisfied with their latest round of experiments. As they walked into the living area, they caught Noah crouched by the window, peering through a pair of binoculars. Every now and then he let out a strange squeal of excitement.
"What on earth are you doing?" Shane grabbed the binoculars from his cousin's hands and peered outside.
The world beyond their walls had changed dramatically. The streets had become a paradise for the infected, their twisted bodies moving in packs. Some of them had already evolved into grotesque forms conjoined monsters and towering aberrations prowling the ruins of the city in search of prey.
"There are already giant variants of the infected out there," Shane muttered with a heavy expression. "I just hope this lab can hold out long enough for us to finish our research."
"What's there to worry about?" Julian grinned, his eyes still carrying the thrill of discovery. "I've already developed a subsonic frequency that can influence the infected. As long as we broadcast it, even if we walk right past them, they won't lay a finger on us."
"That trick only works on the lowest class the ones that have completely lost their minds," Shane countered immediately. His tone was firm, grounded in caution. "Once a true Infected King appears to lead the hordes, your sound waves will become useless. And believe me, it's only a matter of time before one emerges."
He turned to Noah, handing him back the binoculars. "Listen, Noah. Keep a close eye on online reports over the next few days. Julian and I might not have the time to check. No matter what happens, don't leave this villa. Here, I can protect you. Out there, you'll be on your own and I won't be able to help you."
"Relax. You know me," Noah said with a lazy grin, flashing an OK gesture with his fingers. "I'm not stupid enough to wander out. There's food, water, a warm bed, and even the latest gaming console here. I'd have to be out of my mind to risk my life outside."
"Good." Shane rubbed his tired eyes. "I need a few hours of sleep. Once I'm rested, we'll begin the next stage of Project God Gene."
Julian finished off a bottle of mineral water and collapsed onto the sofa, falling asleep almost instantly.
Hours passed.
When Shane and Julian returned to the lab, Noah was still baffled by something Shane had mentioned earlier. "God Gene." The name itself was mysterious, stirring a mix of curiosity and dread in him. What exactly did Shane mean by that?
"Babe, look at this." From across the room, Ava had pulled up a webpage. She waved Noah over and pointed at a headline. "There's this strengthening serum being sold online called KW74. They're charging a hundred thousand per dose. Do you think it's real? Would it help us survive longer out there?"
Noah leaned over her shoulder, frowned, and then shook his head. "Forget it. Shane said he can develop the God Gene. Just listen to the name it's gotta be leagues ahead of some shady black-market serum. We just have to stick with him, and he'll carry us through."
Ten hours later, Shane emerged from the lab again. His eyes were bloodshot from exhaustion, his expression hard. Without a word, he marched up to Noah, who had dozed off on the couch.
Smack! Smack!
Two sharp slaps jolted Noah awake. "Ow! What the hell, man? I was having a good dream!"
"Quit whining. I need a blood sample." Shane was already tying a rubber strap around Noah's arm. Before Noah could protest, three vials of blood were drawn.
"Press on the spot for five minutes. That should be enough."
And with that, Shane strode away without further explanation.
Blinking in confusion, Noah muttered, "Wait, wasn't it supposed to be two vials? Why three? And what do you even need my blood for?" But with no answer forthcoming, he sighed, rolled his eyes, and soon drifted back into sleep.
This time, however, his dreams took a darker turn. The warmth of a harmless daydream gave way to a battlefield drenched in blood. Screams echoed in his ears. Warriors clashed all around him, their faces twisted in rage. Blood blurred his vision, painting his entire world crimson.
"Kill!!!"
Back in the lab, Shane and Julian continued their work.
"The God Gene is nearly stabilized," Julian announced, his voice tinged with excitement. "The test mice showed no signs of infection after awakening their abilities. We might actually be ready to inject ourselves."
"Not yet," Shane cut him off, shaking his head. His expression remained stern.
Julian frowned. "Why not? The formula works. We could become stronger right now!"
"The current version is too limited," Shane explained. "Yes, it grants powers, but the ceiling is low. At best, it could push someone into the Earth-Tier bracket strong, but not nearly enough. If we rely on this alone, we'll hit a wall. And when that happens, we'll be crushed by the stronger ones out there."
That was why Shane had taken Noah's blood. He believed there was a unique factor hidden within a "Slaughter Gene," something that could be used as a foundation to create a far more adaptable God Gene. One designed to grow with its host, to evolve beyond ordinary limits.
If the experiment succeeded, Shane would replicate the process with his own and Julian's DNA, tailoring a perfected serum to each of them. Only then would they avoid becoming twisted abominations, half-human and half-monster.
He began combining the God Gene base with the extracted factor from Noah's blood.
"Activation attempt #32… start."
"Activation attempt #60… start."
"Activation attempt #130… start."
Days blurred together as Shane pushed himself beyond exhaustion. He abandoned sleep entirely, running experiment after experiment in pursuit of perfection.
By now, the reactions between the two gene strands had grown extremely potent, but still fell short of the flawless fusion he envisioned.
Julian rubbed his temples, drained and frustrated. "Brother, what exactly are you chasing? What's the result you want so badly?"
"Don't sing," Shane snapped. "Be serious."
"I am serious!" Julian shot back. "The serum we already have is incredible. If we inject this into Noah, he'll transform instantly superhuman strength, fifty tons of force in a single punch. Isn't that enough?"
Shane shook his head, his voice calm but resolute. "Not enough. As long as there's still room for growth, it means we haven't reached the true potential of the God Gene. If Noah can achieve this level, then when it's finally our turn, we deserve at least the same chance. Otherwise, we'll always fall behind him and the moment we face an Infected King, we're dead."
Julian finally understood. His earlier irritation melted into guilt. Shane wasn't doing this out of obsession he was doing it for all of them. For survival.
Shane set down the latest sample and picked up a vial of finished serum. His eyes narrowed with determination. "Let's start with Noah. If he awakens successfully, we'll send him to deliver the cure. Maybe, just maybe, this city can be saved."
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