The human body possessed certain limits. Not in a philosophical sense, much less a figurative one, but quite literally. There was a limit to the force its muscles could exert, as well as the strain its bones and joints could withstand.
In truth, many of those limits existed as a protective measure. They were a natural barrier that prevented the organism from destroying itself by demanding more than it could endure.
However, under certain circumstances, those barriers could weaken. When a person faced imminent danger, the body reacted instinctively.
The heart rate increased, breathing accelerated, and the muscles received a greater supply of energy within seconds. The perception of pain diminished while the mind focused almost entirely on a single need.
Survival.
In extreme cases, this could produce surprising results. Ordinary people managed to move objects that would normally be too heavy for them, run despite suffering severe injuries, or continue fighting even after their bodies had surpassed the point at which they should have stopped.
That phenomenon was known as «hysterical strength».
It was not a true supernatural power. Nor did it mean the human body could multiply its strength without limit. It was, rather, a desperate reaction: a way for the organism to temporarily sacrifice its own safety in order to increase its chances of survival.
The main problem was that such a state had not been designed to last for long. Muscles could tear. Tendons could suffer damage. Joints could become overloaded, and organs could be strained by the extreme effort.
Even if a person survived the immediate danger, their body would have to pay the price afterward.
Rilley had known about that phenomenon for years, not only in this life, but also in his previous one. It had been during the latter that he saw an entertaining documentary on the subject. It was certainly interesting, but not especially informative. That television program had turned the topic into a confusing mixture of reality and exaggerated fiction.
Discussions about hysterical strength often gave rise to myths and unproven beliefs. It was difficult to fully understand the phenomenon amid so much misinformation and so many vague claims. Even when well-documented information existed, it often ended up ignored because of the lack of seriousness with which the subject was normally treated.
Despite all that, Rilley considered it important and worthy of study. He had been captivated from the first time he watched that documentary in his previous life. Even so, he had not taken it too seriously despite his genuine interest. After all, hysterical strength was a difficult reaction to reproduce, impossible to control, and far too dangerous to be considered truly useful.
But now things were different.
The idea had returned to his mind while he observed the results of «Project Superhuman» and analyzed other possible routes that were relatively safer.
A deep mutation could certainly grant extraordinary abilities, but it was also far too unstable. The more he tried to push the human body away from its original state, the greater the chances of causing rejection, collapse, or an alteration impossible to control.
That brief moment of inspiration had allowed him to glimpse a different path. Without wasting any more time, Rilley had taken the nearby keyboard and begun typing a complex series of formulas onto the screen. Despite what it might have looked like from the outside, he had not acted at random.
Everything had emerged from a simple thought.
If granting powers required forcing a modification that was too profound, then perhaps there was no need to begin there.
He could advance through smaller steps.
The human body already possessed strength, endurance, reflexes, and a capacity for reaction far greater than what it normally used under ordinary conditions. It did not need to receive something completely foreign to its nature.
At least, not yet.
Perhaps it was enough to find a way to amplify what already existed within the organism.
The prototype formula obtained during the first phase of «Project Superhuman» could offer part of the answer. Not to reproduce an arachnid mutation, nor to introduce genes from another species as its primary objective, but to isolate those components capable of temporarily increasing the physical performance of an organism.
The perfected formula of the «Cellular Regeneration Serum» completed the other part.
By combining both formulas and discarding the components with the highest mutagenic risk, he could obtain a far more stable derivative. Reactivating the mixture through concentrated «Ultra Plus Rays» inside a specially insulated container would complete the process.
Even if the human body managed to surpass its natural limits for a certain period of time, that would inevitably cause damage. Muscular tears, physical exhaustion, excessive strain on the joints, and deep deterioration in various tissues.
But if the regenerative serum could gradually repair that damage, then the problem no longer seemed impossible.
For the first time, the idea was beginning to take shape as something with genuine practical value.
And that was because this was not about granting powers. Nor was it about transforming an ordinary person into something completely different.
In truth, the idea was much simpler.
Take what the human body released only in a desperate situation and turn it into a state that could be activated in a controlled manner.
Those had been the foundations of the calculations Rilley had written only moments earlier.
All S.O.P.H.I.N. had done was take that initial proposal, process its variables, and determine whether both formulas could be integrated without causing immediate instability.
The results were still preliminary. Real tests, adjustments, and far too many difficult-to-calculate variables were still needed, all of which could emerge as that new line of research continued.
But the percentage displayed on the screen already made one thing clear.
The idea was not absurd.
When applied to a standard human genetic chain, the new formula had shown a theoretical compatibility of 93.54%.
A result far too promising to ignore.
Rilley remained seated in front of the computer, observing that number with a thoughtful expression. This new formula could become useful. It would be a way to release a far greater portion of human physical potential.
It certainly would not allow him to stand on equal footing with mutated superhumans, powerful sorcerers, dimensional anomalies, or extraterrestrials belonging to warrior races.
But despite that apparent limitation, the new formula could become the root of a gradual transformation. It would be from this point onward that something far greater and more promising would emerge.
If the human body broke before it could sustain a superior state, then he would patch the design.
Little by little, he would give it the properties and strengths necessary to withstand deeper changes and transformations.
"Sophin, produce the first test vials. This line of formulas will be called «Compound U». Register this first version as «Compound U1». We will observe its reaction in laboratory mice. Prepare a total of fifteen subjects. If no anomalies appear, we will proceed to the next stage of the protocol."
The theoretical compatibility was high enough to immediately establish a controlled testing protocol with human volunteers.
But prudence and caution had become deeply ingrained in Rilley's mind. There was no room for absolute confidence.
Observation in animals could allow him to detect inconsistencies or possible side effects that had not been taken into account during the preliminary calculations.
Rilley sighed as he leaned back in his seat. The exhaustion was still present, but his mind was clearer than before. His body had not yet fully adapted to the serum, and he would likely need several hours of observation before considering the procedure completely stable.
He looked at the watch on his wrist and realized he still had time before heading to his parents' house for the scheduled dinner.
"Sophin, begin continuous monitoring to evaluate my physical condition and any delayed reactions following the use of the reinforced variant of the «Cellular Regeneration Serum». Maintain medical observation until I leave the laboratory. I want records every ten minutes during the first hour, then every thirty minutes until the cycle is complete. If any anomaly appears, notify me immediately."
[Order executed.]
"I also want a regression projection. Calculate how long my genetic structure can remain stable before the hereditary defects begin to manifest again."
[Understood. Initiating genetic-regression projection.]
Rilley's gaze returned to the two remaining vials inside the case.
Only two were left.
One for his father and one for his mother.
Rilley remained silent for several seconds. Despite the favorable results obtained up to that point, he still could not afford to become careless. If something went wrong, he preferred the damage to fall on him rather than on them.
After all, it had been his decision to test the reinforced variant first.
To others, that might have sounded like a noble gesture.
To Rilley, it was simple logic.
If the formula concealed an unknown risk, then he was the most suitable test subject because of his genetic condition.
He would not dare experiment on his own parents.
"Sophin, lock access to the case until further notice. No one is to remove the other two vials without my direct authorization."
[Order registered.]
The lock on the case emitted a soft sound as the security mechanism activated.
While S.O.P.H.I.N. began producing the first vials of «Compound U1», Rilley rose to his feet and walked toward the testing room.
After opening the door, he found a group of medical-assistance androids preparing the equipment necessary for the production of the vials. They were silver humanoid robots created from modified versions of designs originally developed by GIG.
Rilley had simplified certain complex mechanisms in the original design and replaced them with more practical alternatives suited to his own needs.
It was not because the original models were defective.
Quite the opposite.
His intention was to separate himself completely from the designs used by the corporation. If any of his private models were ever leaked, he did not want them to be easily linked back to GIG.
Every one of their components had been manufactured inside his personal laboratory through specialized production lines reserved exclusively for his own use.
The original GIG models possessed a relatively well-defined human form. Built from high-quality metals and flexible synthetic materials, they had been designed as assistance androids intended primarily for the medical sector.
Each unit could be linked to an individual user through a customized configuration, functioning as a constant support companion.
These models had been assigned exclusively to the private hospitals managed by GIG.
Their purpose was not to replace human doctors. Although they could perform certain tasks with even greater precision, their true function was to serve as assistants.
Every doctor and nurse working in those hospitals had an android assigned to support them during their usual duties.
That had neither reduced nor undermined the medical staff's confidence. Nor had it generated any fear of being replaced.
On the contrary, their performance had improved considerably, as had the speed with which they could carry out their respective tasks.
The benefit had been so clear that several department directors within GIG proposed an initiative to assign customized androids to workers in other branches, whether as support for their professional duties or as personal assistants.
The proposal remained under review for possible future implementation.
The models designed by Rilley were different.
Their appearance was far simpler. They could not be considered exact replicas of the human body, since none of their features were fully defined. However, from a certain distance, a humanoid silhouette could still be recognized.
Where a face should have been, they possessed several slits that simulated basic features.
Two short openings served as eyes, from which a constant green glow emerged to indicate that the unit was active.
A wider opening occupied the position of the mouth, allowing sound to emerge through an internal system.
In addition, Rilley had added a highly resistant exoskeleton and a protective coating designed to reduce the deterioration of their components.
But those improvements were not limited to his medical-assistance androids.
They had also been incorporated into other specialized units within the laboratory.
Among them were the combat androids assigned to protect the facilities and carry out special missions, constructed from materials of greater resistance than those used in the basic models.