ONE WEEK LATER
Rouge walked into the lab.
"How is it going?"
"Oh, hey, sir. We're all doing pretty fine."
"That's not what I asked."
The scientist frowned. "Right."
Another scientist approached Rouge, holding a vial filled with a mysterious liquid. "We haven't been able to do much with it, but we successfully created a perfect replica."
Rouge took the vial from his hand, inspecting it. "Have you?"
"Yes. After countless hours analyzing its cellular structure, we managed to replicate it."
"Then why did you say you hadn't accomplished much?" Rouge asked, holding the vial up to the light. "This is more than enough, gentlemen."
A second scientist stepped forward. "Because we don't know if it's safe for humans. Hell, we're not even sure it originated from a human."
Rouge sighed. "There's an easy solution to that."
---
A man lay strapped to a medical bed, completely unaware of what was about to happen.
Three doctors entered the room wearing protective suits. One of them carried a syringe.
The man's eyes widened as he realized.
"Get me the fuck out of here! I didn't volunteer for this!" he screamed, struggling against the restraints.
"We know you didn't volunteer," one of the doctors replied coldly.
Without another word, he carefully injected the syringe into the man's arm.
Silence.
Nothing happened. For a moment, everyone simply watched.
Then the man's restraints snapped apart.
A deafening roar erupted from his throat, shaking the room.
The doctors immediately rushed outside and sealed the heavy door behind them. Rouge watched through the observation window, a faint smile spreading across his face.
The man's skin began hardening into rough, stone-like plates. He thrashed violently, smashing through equipment and punching craters into the walls.
Then, he suddenly collapsed.
White gas hissed into the room.
Only after several moments did the doctors cautiously enter.
"Interesting..." Rouge murmured.
The unconscious man was transferred into a stasis pod for further examination.
Rouge folded his arms. "Perhaps it has something to do with his emotional state. Human emotions can push people far beyond what we believe they're capable of."
"So what do you suggest?" a scientist asked.
"Find another subject. This time, make sure he's healthy. Don't let him panic." Rouge kept his eyes on the pod. "He needs to stay calm and composed."
The scientist nodded.
---
Another man sat on a medical bed. This time, he wasn't restrained.
A doctor entered wearing ordinary medical attire.
"Alright, Mr. Enzo. I'm just going to perform a quick check-up."
After a brief examination, the doctor smiled.
"Everything looks good. I'm just going to give you some medicine. Around here, we like to make sure all our employees stay healthy."
Enzo nodded. "Go ahead."
The doctor gently injected the syringe.
"There we are. Just wait here while I grab something."
The doctor stepped outside and closed the door.
Rouge watched from a surveillance monitor.
At first, nothing.
A minute passed then Enzo coughed once.
Rouge didn't react.
Another minute, still nothing.
Rouge narrowed his eyes. He couldn't tell whether the experiment had failed or simply hadn't taken effect yet.
"Go back in," he ordered. "Tell him it's over."
The doctor nodded and walked back toward the room.
Just as his hand reached the door, Enzo suddenly coughed up blood.
The doctor immediately stepped back and slammed the lock shut.
"What the hell's happening, doc...?" Enzo wheezed. "Fuck... it hurts..."
His coughing grew more violent.
Then—
His entire body exploded. Blood and flesh splattered across every wall.
Rouge let out a disappointed sigh. "Another failure..."
Then he noticed something unusual.
The blood was steaming.
When the doctors cautiously opened the door, a wave of scorching heat rushed into the hallway.
They immediately slammed it shut again.
A scientist staggered back, panting. "Hot blood...? That's... impossible."
Rouge slowly shook his head. "No."
He stared at the crimson stains coating the room. "That was probably his power."
"Powers?"
"Just like the previous subject." Rouge kept his eyes fixed on the room. "He manifested an ability... and still died. It grants powers, but it's highly unstable and often fatal."
"Often fatal?" another scientist asked. "What does that mean?"
Rouge finally turned toward them.
"I think it's extraordinarily potent..." He smiled. "...and extraordinarily volatile."
He glanced back at the destroyed room. "I'd call that a success."
The scientist hesitated. "So... do we continue replicating it until someone survives?"
"We could make it safer, but it'd be far less potent." Rouge handed the vial back to the scientist. "I'm not trying to create medicine. I'm trying to build an invincible army. One success is all we need. Once someone as powerful as Monarch is under our control..." He smiled. "...we've already won."
"Do we continue gathering subjects?"
Rouge shook his head. "No. I don't want people asking questions about what we're doing."
---
An employee casually walked through the facility, carrying out an order she'd been given.
The moment she passed John's chamber, her legs gave out beneath her.
She collapsed to the floor, clutching at the wall as dizziness washed over her.
Several employees rushed over to help.
The instant they stepped within range of the chamber, they collapsed one after another.
None of them were unconscious.
None of them were injured.
They simply felt... empty.
Their bodies had become so weak they couldn't even stand.
The hallway fell silent.
"What the hell has he done?!" someone shouted.
An employee sprinted toward the emergency gas controls.
He reached for the button beside John's chamber—
—and crumpled to the floor before his hand could touch it.
"Everyone stay back!" another employee yelled. "Don't go anywhere near that chamber!"
Rouge looked through the observation window, his eyes widening. "What the fuck...?"
He snatched the microphone. "What the fuck have you done, Monarch?!"
John frowned. He had no idea what was happening outside.
"Answer me," Rouge barked, "or I'll fucking kill you!"
John suddenly laughed.
"Kill me?" He shook his head. "I'm not stupid enough to believe that. You need me."
A grin spread across his face.
"And judging by the way you're talking..." He chuckled. "Something's gone horribly wrong."
He stepped closer to the glass. "Are you panicking?" His smile widened. "Are you afraid I'll get out?"
Rouge's face twisted with rage.
Without another word, he stormed out of his office.
He raised his pistol and shot the emergency switch.
White gas immediately hissed into the chamber.
Within seconds, John's eyelids grew heavy.
He collapsed unconscious.
Rouge lowered the gun.
"Someone get to the chamber and see what happens."
Nobody moved. They stared at one another.
Rouge clenched his jaw. "Fucking imbeciles..."
He marched toward the chamber himself and nothing happened. The oppressive feeling was gone.
Several scientists cautiously hurried over.
"What's the call, sir?" one asked. "Do we kill him?"
Rouge looked at John's unconscious body.
"No. He still believes he can't escape. That confidence was nothing more than a momentary outburst."
"But..." another scientist said, glancing at the collapsed employees. "How did he do this?"
Rouge remained silent for a moment. "He used his powers subconsciously. And he won't use them again."
"Bu—"
"Enough." Rouge shot him a cold glare. "Just do as I say."
The injured employees were examined immediately.
A few minutes later, the medical team returned.
Rouge folded his arms.
"So?"
A scientist lowered the scanner, still staring at the readings. "It's... bizarre. Their ATP levels have plummeted. Blood glucose is critically low, and their glycogen reserves have been almost completely depleted."
Another scientist frowned. "That's impossible. A human body can't burn through that much energy in a matter of seconds."
Rouge slowly looked toward John's chamber. "Unless it wasn't burned... it was taken."
Rouge looked back. "What about the body itself?"
A scientist sighed, still baffled. "Physically, they're perfectly healthy. No signs of trauma. No organ damage." He looked back at the readings. "It's as if every usable source of energy in their bodies was suddenly drained."
"It's obviously Monarch." Rouge exhaled. "That's his powers. There's no theorizing it anymore."
"Monarch's power is the ability to drain the biological energy from any living being."