Liam woke up with a loud crash.
His eyes were wide open, chest rising and falling rapidly as if he had just escaped from an all-too-real nightmare. His breathing was ragged, and cold sweat ran down his temples to his neck.
The white mattress beneath her body felt unfamiliar, as did the sterile lamplight that dazzled her view from above.
"Where am I...?" she thought. But the words only echoed in her mind.
Her body trembled, not from the cold-but something much deeper. Fear. Anger. And exhaustion that had built up to the point of being almost unbearable.
She tried to sit up, but the medical wires and IVs were still attached to her body. The oxygen hose hung from her nose. With rough and impulsive movements, Liam pulled them all out.
"Hhh-arghh..."
A frustrated sigh escaped his lips. The wounds on his body had not fully healed, and the pain struck hard as he got up.
But his eyes-that was different.
The pupils glowed a faint red. Traces of Octarion... still lingered.
In that look, there was no fear. Only pent-up anger, and frozen determination.
She looked down at her still shivering hand, slowly unfolding her fingers.
"You're still there... yes, you coward..." he muttered softly. His voice was hoarse, almost like a whisper into the abyss.
The door to the room opened automatically.
Two white-clad medics entered hurriedly. One of them carried a data tablet, the other immediately tried to approach Liam.
"Mr. Louren, you shouldn't-"
But Liam's gaze stopped them.
One look was enough to make both of them shut up. Not because of a physical threat, but something behind the look in his eyes had changed. Dark. Unexpected.
"Give me some time alone," he said quietly, but firmly.
They looked at each other for a moment, then backed away slowly. The door closed again, leaving Liam alone in heavy silence.
Liam looked down. His hands were clenched into fists.
His breathing began to slow, but inside his mind... the storm was still churning.
"I have to end it... before she takes over again."
And within his consciousness, in the darkest corner of his mind, Octarion's laughter rang out.
Slowly. But clear. As if he knew...
This was only the beginning.
A few minutes passed.
The automatic door opened again.
Black shoe steps echoed in the sterile white space.
Thiago Lucien entered first-his black NEXARIS intelligence coat fluttering gently behind him. His face remained flat, but the look in his eyes was sharp as a scalpel.
"Welcome back, William Louren," he said simply. "You've made quite a racket."
Not long after, two other figures followed.
Eren Marcier, Deputy Branch Manager, stepped in with his hands behind his back. He wore a formal suit with the NEXARIS insignia pinned to the left breast. His demeanor was cold, his expression neutral-like a man used to making decisions without feeling.
And behind him, stepping slowly but with authority, Luca Moren. NEXARIS Southeast Asia Branch Manager.
A tall man in his forties, neatly combed silvery hair, with piercing eyes that held absolute firmness. He wore a dark blue long coat with silver accents on the lapels-the highest symbol of the branch.
Liam looked at them one by one without saying a word.
Luca approached, standing in front of Liam. His gaze was calculating and assessing.
"So... this is it. The source of the transport unit's destruction, the biological energy leak, and-of course-the public hysteria," he said coldly.
Liam let out a small snort, dried blood still lingering at the corner of his lips.
"You think you can treat me like an experimental subject?"
Eren tucked one eyebrow up. "We don't think, Liam. We know."
Thiago added, his voice calm yet piercing,
"You're no longer just a problem child. You are an anomaly. And your existence-biologically speaking-is beyond the limits of human reason."
One of the doctors gestured to the biometric screen: Liam's stress level was elevated.
Liam clenched his fist.
A small clink sounded. The metal of the bed was almost scratched by the pressure of his physical strength.
Luca stared calmly at the screen.
"The question now is not what we're going to do with you, Liam."
He stepped closer, looking directly into those faint red eyes.
"...but what will you do to us?"
Liam looked away. Didn't answer. He was fed up. Fed up. But not ready to give up.
Luca took a short breath. "Okay. If you don't want to talk, we'll continue with the standard examination."
He turned to Thiago. "Send me the condition report for the last few days."
Thiago quickly handed him the report tablet. Luca skimmed it, his eyes narrowing sharply.
"Interesting," he muttered.
"Continue the examination. And... cover his eyes again afterwards," Luca ordered. "We can't get his statement at the moment. But sooner or later..."
He looked at Liam one last time.
"...you'll talk."
A few minutes after Liam was laid back down and the medical team began to recheck his condition, the atmosphere in the main observation room suddenly changed. The staff who had previously passed by now straightened up, their faces looking more tense than usual.
Heavy steps echoed from the main corridor of the headquarters. Between the clink of shoes hitting the marble floor, there was a notification sound on the internal security system.
"Access granted. Level Alpha-Central Authority."
Luca Moren, who had just handed the report tablet to Eren, immediately turned to the door with an expression that was hard to read. Eren's gaze hardened. Even Thiago, who rarely looked nervous, reflexively adjusted the collar of his coat.
The door opened slowly.
A middle-aged man stepped in. His jet-black hair had begun to gray at the temples, but his body was still well-built with an almost undeniable aura of dominance. A black uniform with the NEXARIS Central insignia embroidered in gold thread on the left breast solidified his presence: General Adrien Calbourne, Supreme Leader of NEXARIS globally.
His gaze swept across the room before finally stopping on Luca.
"Immediate report," he said simply, without preamble.
Luca saluted, then gave a quick nod. "Southeast Asia unit secured the target alive, albeit with unidentified biological complications.
A few minutes after Liam was laid back down and the medical team began to recheck his condition, the atmosphere in the main observation room suddenly changed. The staff who had previously passed by now straightened up, their faces looking more tense than usual.
Heavy steps echoed from the main corridor of the headquarters. Between the clink of shoes hitting the marble floor, there was a notification sound on the internal security system.
"Access granted. Level Alpha-Central Authority."
Luca Moren, who had just handed the report tablet to Eren, immediately turned to the door with an expression that was hard to read. Eren's gaze hardened. Even Thiago, who rarely looked nervous, reflexively adjusted the collar of his coat.
The door opened slowly.
A middle-aged man stepped in. His jet-black hair had begun to gray at the temples, but his body was still well-built with an almost undeniable aura of dominance. A black uniform with the NEXARIS Central insignia embroidered in gold thread on the left breast solidified his presence: General Adrien Calbourne, Supreme Leader of NEXARIS globally.
His gaze swept across the room before finally stopping on Luca.
"Immediate report," he said simply, without preamble.
Luca saluted, then gave a quick nod. "Southeast Asia unit secured the target alive, albeit with unidentified biological complications.
full. Subject exhibits active regenerative abilities, external control potential, and emotional response to neural stimulation interventions."
Adrien stepped towards the one-way glass wall-staring at Liam's body from a distance.
"He's still a child..." he muttered softly, almost as if talking to himself. "But he carries something that even our best scientists can't yet understand."
Eren moved closer. "We have locked down access to all data related to the subject. We will proceed internally."
Adrien nodded slowly. "I didn't come all the way from headquarters just to be a spectator. That child... is a turning point. If we don't make a quick decision, the power he brings could break the foundation of the entire Screening program."
He then looked at the three in turn.
"The board meeting will begin in an hour. All regional branch heads and research heads will attend in person or via encrypted line."
Luca nodded firmly. "I will prepare the briefing."
Adrien looked once more at Liam who was now being examined with a neural scanner.
"Make sure he stays alive. But leave no room for him to manipulate anyone."
Thiago asked quietly, "And... if he shows signs of dominance from his internal entity?"
Adrien gave him a sharp look.
"If that happens-"
He let out a short breath.
"-we'll no longer be talking about a kid named Liam. We'll be talking about an Epsilon-class biological weapon."
And for that... there would be no compromise.