Chapter 381: Shadow in the Deep Night
"I'm not sure." Little Black's nimble fingers danced across the screen.
The Gale Rabbit's physical data began to show a sharp decline.
"Oh no, the genetic instability of the Gale Rabbit is flaring up at the worst possible time..." Little Black couldn't help but sigh. It seemed this race was destined to be a loss.
Silas nodded in understanding. No one could have predicted the genetic flaw would trigger right now. Sure enough, the data on the screen began flashing red; the rabbit's heart was beating violently, unable to keep up with the exertion.
Thump!
The Gale Rabbit skidded and tumbled across the grass, kicking up a layer of dirt. Its body lay there, twitching uncontrollably. Silas turned and opened a shadow portal, appearing instantly by the rabbit's side.
"Master, let me!" Big Black scooped up the Gale Rabbit and pulled a syringe from his gear, plunging it into the rabbit's vein.
Slowly, the twitching subsided. Its heartbeat and other vitals gradually stabilized.
"I guess we'll have to wait until next time." Silas looked up at the cheetah, which was now far out of reach, feeling slightly speechless. What kind of Cheetah is that? Have you ever seen one maintain that kind of high-speed cruise for so long?!
The cheetah reached the finish line, dissolved into a cluster of yellow light particles, and vanished—the system had reclaimed it.
Once the Gale Rabbit felt better, it looked dejected, lowering its head as if apologizing to Silas.
"It's okay. You worked hard. We'll overtake it next time," Silas crouched down and stroked the rabbit's head. Feeling the comfort, the rabbit stood on its hind legs and rubbed its head against Silas's palm.
"Alright little guy, keep it up for next time." Silas stood up to leave.
To everyone's surprise, the Gale Rabbit nipped at Silas's pant leg.
"What is it?" Silas asked, puzzled. The rabbit began hopping around his feet, seemingly trying to communicate something.
"The Gale Rabbit wants to give you a high-five, Master," Big Black explained.
"You understand it?" Silas raised an eyebrow.
Big Black replied sheepishly, "Dealing with it every day has made us good friends."
"Impressive." Silas smiled softly and crouched down, raising his palm.
Slap!
The Gale Rabbit leaped up and struck Silas's palm with its front paws.
"Cute little fellow." Silas was delighted. He hadn't expected a high-five from a rabbit. After one last pat on its snowy fur, Silas stepped through a shadow portal back to his room.
The Gale Rabbit gazed at Silas's tall, retreating back. It vowed that next time, it would definitely outrun that stinky cheetah.
"Alright, little rabbit, we need to give you another full check-up." Little Black recorded the data. They needed to return to the Shadow Kingdom for a comprehensive examination.
"Let's go, bunny." Big Black patted his shoulder, speaking gently. The rabbit immediately hopped onto Big Black's shoulder, affectionately rubbing its face against him. They were the best of friends.
Queens
"A failure..." Silas had thought he'd finally get the Rabbit Talisman, but he came back empty-handed. The system's cheetah was simply monstrous—insane endurance and explosive speed.
Silas twirled his pen. What if I improved the Gale Rabbit using the spider decay formula? He wondered if Peter could study Richard Parker's research and replicate a genetic formula. If that worked, a "Spider-Rabbit" might be born.
"Peter!" Silas decided to make use of the perfect "tool" living in the next room.
"What's up?" Peter heard the call and immediately climbed through Silas's window.
"Have you studied that decay formula of Dad's yet?" Silas asked, spinning his chair around.
"I've looked at it, but there's a lot I don't understand." Peter scratched the back of his head. "Why do you ask?"
"I need to use that formula," Silas said directly.
"Use it?" Peter was surprised. "Why? Do you want to inject yourself?" To Peter, Silas's magic was already strong enough; why would he care about spider genes?
"No, I don't need it." Silas shook his head.
"Then who does? Misty? Felicia?" Peter guessed the names of the girls Silas was close to. If he had known about Wanda, he would have included her.
"None of them. I just need it. Aren't you interested in what Dad left behind?" Silas stepped forward and put an arm around Peter's shoulder.
"Well... I am interested, but I'm out of my depth with a lot of it," Peter admitted awkwardly. He had tried to calculate the formula, but without a full understanding, the math was useless.
"Keep at it." Silas felt a twinge of regret for killing Professor Connors; the man was a biological expert.
"Thanks, but what do you actually need it for?" Peter was still curious.
"Hmm... Peter, do you think a cheetah could reach a speed of 300 kilometers per hour?" Silas asked.
"300 km/h?! Silas, you've got to be joking." Peter clearly didn't believe it. Silas simply handed him the video of the race. Peter took the device skeptically, but as he watched, his pupils dilated. "This... this is incredible." He had never heard of a predator that fast.
"Pretty quick, right?" Silas's rabbit had lost to that very cat.
"Do you have any fur from that cheetah?" Peter asked excitedly.
"Fur?" Silas realized why Peter was asking. Yes! Why hadn't they plucked some fur to analyze its genetic makeup? But then he remembered—the cheetah turned into light. Could you even pluck fur from something like that?
"It's so cool. Like Quicksilver, though Quicksilver is much faster." Peter grew more excited as he watched.
Misty's Villa
"Multiple reports of 'Black Cat' burglaries in Hell's Kitchen area..." Misty read the reports on her computer.
Black Cat? Cat Burglar? They sounded like the same type of person. "The Black Cat is probably Felicia." Misty hadn't expected her love rival to have such a background. It explained why Felicia's physical fitness was far beyond a normal person's; otherwise, she would have been caught long ago.
Now, Misty knew that if she handed her evidence to the police, they could arrest Felicia immediately.
"Little kitty, I've got your secret right in my hands~" Misty downloaded the evidence onto a USB drive.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, a dark silhouette flashed past Misty's window.
"Hmm?" Misty's ears twitched at the sound.
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