Such a feeling was entirely new to Kai.
As the warm and cool currents flowed through his body in a rhythmic cycle, accompanied by a strange pulsation in his heart, as if these currents were growing stronger, causing his heartbeat to run faster.
Though he had been beaten countless times before, even the advanced healing serums would require at least half a month or so to fully restore his health.
And once he recovered, another round of torture would inevitably start.
This had become his routine: to heal, only to be beaten down again—whether physically or mentally.
[Kai's inner thoughts: 'Just you wait! You demon bastard! (╥﹏╥)]
But this time, something was different.
The warm and cool currents flowing through his body no longer sparked disturbance, nor did he feel an unusual sort of feeling.
Instead, he felt reinvigorated, his hazy mind coming alive once more, and he could process thoughts at an even faster pace.
Likewise, His breathing quickened as a warm mist escaped from his nose and mouth~
Though these changes felt utterly new and almost magical, Kai couldn't shake a fleeting sense of confusion and disorientation.
It wasn't until his mind finally clicked into place that he realized the truth—
Yes, that was it! The serum!
This sudden transformation happened gradually, yet rhythmically, as he became engrossed in Dr. Edward's story.
Just…just why then, isn't he feeling the numbness or dullness Dr. Edward described...?
Did the medicine, intended to numb his mind, have lost its effect, or was the strange energy now coursing through his body causing certain changes even the mad scientist himself was unaware of!?
Suddenly, such questions arose in his mind, and Kai felt a surge of excitement—a rekindled hope and a deep sense of longing stirred within him.
It was like a fish yearning to return to the river, or a thirsty soul desperately wishing for an oasis in an endless desert.
Yet, all these thoughts and emotions flickered through his mind in a fleeting moment, as his racing heart suddenly calmed, and in the end, a quiet stillness settled within him.
Although Kai deeply hoped for his freedom, he chose to stay low and bide his time and decided to play and act for now.
After all, if Dr. Edward discovered anything amiss, who knew what kind of medicine he might be forced to feed...
Living under the same sky as him, Kai understood that Dr. Edward's means do not end here.
In truth, any unusual sign from him would instantly raise suspicion, and if that happened, then, let alone being freed from this hell, even his chances to escape would be even slimmer, an almost impossible hope—merely a fleeting wish.
….
Noticing the sudden liveliness in Kai's actions and words, a flicker of excitement crossed Edward's eyes.
He nodded eagerly, resembling a chicken pecking at the ground.
"Well, it seems it was a success after all! I've succeeded!"
With his voice brimming with excitement, Dr. Edward nearly leapt into the air, just like a child who had received candy for the first time.
"Haa…hah! Now this is some real achievement!"
As Dr. Edward jumped gleefully, Kai instinctively wanted to land a solid punch to his smug face.
[Kai's Inner Thoughts: 'Heiyah! Phish! bang!' Take this punch on your disgusting, pudgy face! (o￣∇￣)=◯)`ν゜) ]
Alas, glancing at his own hands and feet bound in heavy metal chains, he quickly realized it was only wishful thinking.
[Kai's Inner Thoughts: 'Well...next time for sure! yeah, next time I promise!' (￢_￢;) ]
Deep in his heart, Kai sincerely hoped that if no man could fulfill his wish, his earnest prayer would reach God—the one he believed held power over all.
[ (*＞ｖ＜)ゞ*゜Prayer x3 ]
As his thoughts and prayers drifted beyond the materialistic world, Kai suddenly heard a loud alarm and the alarming sound of sirens echoing through the lab.
[ ✧w✧ Curious x3 ]
"Ding!! Zoing! Zoing!….!"
"Attention! Attention! This is Artificial Intelligence Reeta. I've detected unusual atmospheric fluctuations and shifts in gravitational forces worldwide. Beyond the Grey Star's outer zone, a large number of meteorites have been found!!!
"Detecting meteorite movement. Ding! Movements are random and dispersive."
"Detecting meteorite quantity. Ding! The count has exceeded the scanning capacity of available satellites!"
"Ding! Reeta is now activating all security measures... All systems are operating at full power now."
"Ding! Initiating a forced transfer of all virtual data from the laboratory into Reeta's central core. Data is being stored both on the hard drive and securely uploaded to the cloud."
"Ding! Preparations are complete. Activating evacuation protocols and automatically unlocking all facilities for swift exit."
"Ding...! Reeta is now initiating a full shutdown to secure energy supplies and activate the emergency DAC."
"Ding! Reeta has shut down completely. 3… 2… 1."
.....
Although it seemed to take a long time, all of this occurred in less than a minute, before anyone could grasp what was happening. Reeta had already forced a shutdown.
Such rapid events were unprecedented.
Shocked and stunned, everyone, as if stuck in their positions, whether standing or sitting, stared in disbelief.
But the one who had the highest mood fluctuation among them was none other than Dr. Edward!
Currently, in G-0 Lab—
Despite Reeta's forced shutdown, the DAC emergency system remained operational.
Thanks to that, the virtual panels and security systems remained fully operational.
As a result, not only Dr. Edward but also Kai could witness the astonishing changes unfolding in the sky above.
In a few words, it was grand—yet terrifyingly magnificent.
The once-blue sky had transformed into a dark, reddish-black hue.
As the sky changed color, both of them soon saw a staggering spectacle: thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of fiery objects hurtling downward at lightning-fast speed!
These scarlet-purplish flames were no ordinary sight—they were tens of thousands of meteors, large and small, streaking through the sky with relentless intensity.
These meteorites arrived uninvited, without any prior warning, as if they appeared baseless.
Even the satellites orbiting the star failed to detect their sudden appearance.
It was only when they neared the planet's atmosphere that the security alarms of the High AI resounded across the surface.
A fleeting moment of beauty, yet their danger was so immense that it filled all of mankind with despair!
Across the Grey Star, those of high status, many with virtual panels floating before them, stood frozen in shock, fear, and despair.
But they were not alone after all.
Not only they, animals, humans, and even extraordinary life forms everywhere fixated their gaze on the sky.
The breathtaking yet overwhelming sight of the meteors' dominance was etched into their minds, leaving an indelible impression.
In that moment, every living being, regardless of nature, began to flee or seek shelter, desperate to save their meager lives.…
But this very day—without a doubt—was no ordinary day!
Today will be remembered by the survivors as the 'A Phenomenal Catastrophic Day,' a moment carved and passed down into history forever.
Meteorites began to fall one by one—some striking towering skyscrapers that seemed to touch the sky, others smashing into shantytowns hidden within vast cities.
These places are yet now alight, and even the darkest corner is lit with fiery flames!
The silence in itself is shattered by screams and the hurried rush of footsteps.
The chaos—traffic accidents, collapsing buildings, frantic cries- paints an endearing, almost surreal scene, both captivating and unbearable.
Countless lives were lost today, and those who survived seem no better than the living dead!
They felt as if today was the worst nightmare of their lives.
Many of them prayed, hoping they were merely asleep, that all of this was just a nightmare that would go away the moment they opened their eyes…
Alas, even with open eyes, sometimes the truth is so bitter that you have to console yourself, or better to say, perhaps deceive yourself, that at worst it is only a nightmare~
Just like humans, animals across the vast lands, whether in the skies, hidden forests, or beneath the seas and oceans, seem to have lost their composure.
Now, a cacophony of roars and screeches echoes across the continents, shattering the silence even in the far wilderness.
Today, it could be marked as the darkest day, not only for humans but for all life of Verdiz, or rather, what is now known as the Grey Star.
Today will be the day every living being will grieve and shed tears in sorrow for decades, for centuries!
[Note: Hi Guys, Panda here! I know that currently the plot has been extended, and many of the current or future readers may find it boring.
Alas, these details are crucial, and more so, that's how I write.
Another thing is that English is not my native language so it's possible that I make some mistakes.
Thus, I would really appreciate it if anyone would like to pinpoint anything or have any suggestions for the future plots and arcs.
Well, to wrap it up, Panda Family, thank you so much for your presence here and reading this throughout!]