A quick boost in strength that will put you ahead in the short term, but completely cut off prospects of growth in the future.
'Even scraps can be polished into something useful, but this method simply grinds it all up into a heap of trash not worth salvaging'
Noah's disdain for the implantations were clear as day, his eyes filled with contempt as he watched the researcher begin cleaning up the laboratory. Meanwhile, the Awakener subject had put on his clothes, seeming intent on leaving as quickly as possible.
"Just to confirm"
The researcher turned to the inquiring man, "Yes?"
"This is a one and done deal right?" the Awakener asked, "I don't have to come back or anything?"
The researcher nodded as he saved the testing data to a storage device, "You are correct, the procedure only requires the testing results, you are free to go about your days as normal"
"Oh alright then"
With that, he hurriedly stepped out of the experimentation room, intending to leave as quickly as possible. Noah followed closely behind, his translucent body melting into the man's shadow like water joining a puddle.
He had already obtained what he needed from the facility, and now he wanted more answers.
-
Soft clinks and the whirring of gears could be heard under a patch of greenery a few meters from the Saint Garden Cathedral. The ground split open, revealing a set of stairs that led deep underground.
The recent test subject emerged, his head swiveling around him as if checking for something with great vigilance. After seeing no one around, he breathed a sigh of relief and stepped into the grass.
With a soft click, the secret hatch closed on its down, without the slightest indication that it was there previously. The grass was even, and even the soil seemed soft to the touch.
Confident and empowered, the man used his newfound strength to quickly dash away, his body a blur in the wind as he moved dozens of miles away from the cathedral.
He was far out of sight of the cathedral and passing through an abandoned slum when a powerful hand gripped his neck.
Bang!
Flung into a heap of garbage and scrap, the man sputtered, distraught and stunned at the sudden change.
"Gah!!"
He opened his eyes, wiping trash out of his vision, "Who is it?!"
His initial thought was that the Holy Sanctuary had come for him, for these experiments were shady for a glamorous organization like them to say the least. However, after gazing around and seeing no one in his immediate surroundings, he began to question himself.
"Those zealots left me alone? Was that just a side effect of the process then?"
At that moment, a cold voice cut through the empty alleyway.
"Tell me everything you know about what the Sanctuary is doing"
Bewildered, the man spun around, though he was yet again met with not the slightest presence of life around him. The air was eerily still, and no critters disturbed the trash mounds around him.
A vein popped out on his forehead, "Who the hell is there?! Show yourself now!"
Recalling his recent boost in strength, the man's confidence soared as he openly flared up his abilities. A metallic sheen covered his skin, as he took on a fighting stance.
"You better-"
A punch landed squarely on his metallic face, a loud clang echoing across the narrow walls of the alley. Although loud, there was no one in the area that could hear the commotion.
Noah materialized himself, his powerful aura blazing, though contained to a smaller area. The man felt a great sense of dread and fear, causing his breathing to stiffen and his mind to go blank.
"gu- urk- Cough!"
Noah's cold eyes scanned the man trembling before him for a moment, before lessening his aura slightly. The air got lighter, though the fear and pressure remained.
"Speak, now"
The man shivered, a pool of yellow forming under him.
"I-I don't know anything! I swear o-on my life!"
Noah remained composed, his breathing and aura consistent, "How were you selected for the experiment"
The Awakener seemed to remember something and hurriedly took something out of his pocket, "T-there was this shady looking guy! He came up to me a few nights back and h-handed me this"
He handed over a small metal disk of sorts, a smooth silver surface that reflected light off of its round surface. Noah scanned the seemingly ordinary object with close scrutiny, eyes glowing with a light that seemed to draw everything in.
A small electronic device was hidden away inside, most likely a tracker of sorts. Clenching his fists, he crushed the disk within his grip, his strength turning it to dust.
"What else do you know," Noah commanded, his voice firm behind his mask, "What have they told you"
"Only whether I wanted the procedure or not! I swear it's the truth!"
The moment he finished speaking, Noah's hand straightened and became a blur to the eyes, though the next moment it stabilized, drops of blood covering his gloved fingertips.
A dull thud echoed through the empty alleyway as the man tipped over, his body going limp and his cleanly severed head rolling across the ground. Crimson blood seeped out from his neck, gushing out in wild spurts that sprayed along the concrete pavement.
With a snap of his fingers, the man's shadow expanded under his corpse, slowly dragging the body into the ground until nothing remained. Only the metallic musk of blood lingered in the air, with no other trace to be seen.
Noah turned away, his eyes glowering with a sharp light. Years of experience has allowed him to effectively gauge the truth of another's words.
'They sure are efficient'
A soft light enveloped his body, causing his presence to disappear from the world once more. The alleyway returned to silence, though the sound of critters quickly disturbed the scene, as if nothing had transpired here.
"It seems that I will have to do some cleaning up..."