"This fog! What does it do?!" Jake shouted, his voice straining over the eerie, deafening noises echoing from the city below.
"I don't know yet... Let's find out!" I called back, my eyes narrowing as I accessed the system.
"System!"
[Attentive!]
"That thick, dark fog—what can you tell me about it?"
Tti-ring. Tti-ring. Tti-ring.
The system chimed with its usual symphony of intricate, mechanical tones, signaling an active analysis.
My HUD zoomed in on the dense cloud overhead, and in an instant, it was as if the system had plucked a single atom from the mist, isolating it for scrutiny.
[Analysis of unknown compound has begun >>>>]
"Yes..." I murmured, anticipation creeping into my voice.
"Well? I thought you said your suit knows virtually everything?" Jake called out impatiently.
"Hold on, dummy!" I rolled my eyes and refocused on the task at hand.
The system twisted and rotated the glowing image of the captured atom, dissecting every microscopic detail, searching for an explanation for its ominous presence.
Just then, a bright red notification flashed across my screen, flickering with urgency.
[Analysis failed! System cannot determine the source of this specimen. It has never been recorded before and is entirely unknown to modern Earth science.]
"Are you serious?" I muttered, frustration creeping into my voice.
"Alright, then. What about the components of the specimen?"
Tti-ring. Tti-ring. Tti-ring.
The system's analytical chimes echoed once more as it dove deeper, dissecting the atom-like image and breaking down its elemental structure in an attempt to determine what made up the thick fog.
[Analysis complete!]
A few seconds later, another notification appeared.
[Specimen analysis complete. The elemental components have been extracted and carefully scanned to determine the precise composition used to create this specimen.]
"Okay? So what are the components?"
As I spoke, my eyes locked onto the rooftop of a high-rise building nearby. Almost as if Jake had read my mind, he pointed toward the same spot. Without hesitation, I adjusted my trajectory and prepared to land.
Boom!
My feet skidded across the rooftop, hitting the concrete with the force of a bowling ball. Jake, or rather, Boomerang Man, slid off my back, landing beside me with a huff.
[Readying specimen analysis >>>]
My heart pounded in anticipation.
[Specimen analysis complete.]
[The specimen is a biochemical agent composed of the following components:]
[For every 1ml of the agent:]
[Component 1: Tetrodotoxin (TTX) – 5µg; a potent neurotoxin found in pufferfish, capable of inducing paralysis.]
[Component 2: Bufotoxin – 10µg; a toxin derived from toad venom that disrupts heart rhythm and slows metabolism.]
[Component 3: Botulinum Toxin – 0.2µg; inhibits neurotransmission, leading to muscle paralysis.]
[Component 4: Orion-like Protein Complex – 50µg; an unidentified protein that severely disrupts brain function.]
[Component 5: Ricin Extract – 2µg; a deadly toxin that slowly degrades organs without causing immediate failure.]
[Component 6: Preservation Agent (Formaldehyde-like compound) – 0.002ml; prevents decomposition, extending the toxin's effectiveness.]
[The toxin is carefully engineered to remain stable at a constant temperature of 37°C—no higher, no lower.]
Tti-ring.
I skimmed through the details like I was browsing the menu of a five-star restaurant—reading the words without truly absorbing their meaning.
"So many complex names..." I muttered under my breath.
Still, one question nagged at my mind. "What happens if this... biochemical agent is introduced into the human body?"
Tti-ring.
[Calculating...]
A brief pause. Then, the system's response flashed onto my HUD.
[Based on human anatomy and neurological functions, inhalation or ingestion of this specimen is likely to result in: Reanimated Necro-Organism Exhibiting Autonomous Motor Function with Severe Cognitive Degradation.]
My eyes widened in horror as my HUD projected an anatomical diagram of the human body, illustrating in grim detail what would happen upon exposure.
"What the..."
My mind raced at a thousand light-years per second.
"Reanimated?..." I whispered, my voice barely above a breath.
"Cognitive degradation?"
And then, like the crash of a falling skyscraper, the realization hit me.
"In other words... Zombies."
I shot up, the weight of the revelation settling like a lead block in my chest. "Boomerang Man—Gravehowl is turning the entire city into zombies!! Whatever you do, do not breathe in the fumes!!!"
I shouted at Jake, who had already positioned himself at the edge of the rooftop, watching the chaos unfold below.
He spun around, startled by my sudden outburst, but quickly recovered. Without hesitation, he threw an arm over his nose and mouth, shielding himself from the thick, toxic mist.
"Are you serious!?" he called back.
I sprinted to his side, my pulse hammering in my ears. "Yes! The Forever Core confirmed it." My breath was shaky, the weight of the situationcausing me to hyperventilate.
Jake, Boomerang Man, glanced back at the streets below, his expression darkening. "So... which ones are the zombies, and which ones are his little minions?"
Then, as if the universe wanted to hammer the point home, he coughed.
Cough.
My senses twitched. No. I wanted to dismiss the thought, but the possibility was not entirely zero .
All that flying at high altitudes… Boomerang Man must have inhaled some of the biochemical agent. Maybe not enough to turn him completely, but enough to put him at risk.
I turned to him urgently, my HUD scanning his physical state. He seemed fine—his vitals held steady, his movements remained sharp. Maybe it was just a normal cough.
Until…
Cough.
Cough.
Cough.
A chill ran down my spine.
"Are you okay!?" I grabbed his shoulder, searching his eyes for any sign of change.
They still burned with determination, that relentless fire that refused to waver even when the odds were stacked against him.
"I'm fine…" he said, though his voice came out rougher than before.
I exhaled, a brief moment of relief washing over me. But it was short-lived.
"The biochemical must have already spread across the city," I muttered, dread settling deep in my gut. "At least a couple hundred people have probably been infected by now…"
Boomerang Man adjusted the sleeve covering his nose and mouth. "Is it even possible to create an antidote at this point? Because from where I'm standing, the 'zombies' don't look much different from Gravehowl's minions." He lifted his free hand and pointed outward.
I followed his gaze, and what I saw made my blood run cold.
A nightmare straight out of a horror movie.
Undead creatures—hundreds, maybe thousands of them—swarming through the city like a berserk colony of ants, tearing through streets, malls, homes, and warehouses.
The air was thick with guttural growls, throaty gurgles, and moans. Their numbers were growing, surging like an unstoppable tide.
Thankfully, most of the civilians had been transported to the ISA safe house in Sector D. But those who hadn't made it? They were either too slow or just unlucky.
Boomerang Man was right. The infected humans and Gravehowl's minions looked nearly identical.
Nearly.
The difference?
Gravehowl's minions wore nothing—completely bare.
The infected, however, still had their tattered, bloodstained clothes.
"There has to be a way to reverse the effects of the biochemical!" I said, urgency gripping my voice.
Tti-ring.
[Biochemical effect can 100% be reversed.]
[Since it primarily affects cognitive functions, an antidote can be synthesized to counteract its influence.]
My heart pounded. "How? I'm listening, keep going!"
[An antidote can be created by formulating a specific enzyme within the human body, neutralizing the biochemical and establishing immunity.]
"Good! Now, I need a comprehensive breakdown of every substance on Earth that, when combined, could create this antidote. I need it now! I needed it yesterday!"
[Initiating Antidote Theoretical Research Report...]
Tti-ring.
I spun toward Boomerang Man, gripping his shoulders with both hands, my gaze locking onto his.
"Jake, buddy, I need you to do something for me."
"Yeah, yeah, what is it?" He replied immediately, his voice tight with anticipation.
"The Core is formulating an antidote, something that could potentially reverse the effects of this biochemical disaster."
Boomerang Man nodded, processing my words.
"I'm taking you to the ISA Research Lab. My mom is there. Tell her we have an antidote coming and that they need to prep a lab—fast. We have no time to waste."
His jaw clenched. "Got it."
"I'll head straight to the heart of Gravehowl's operation and try to cripple it from within."
"But I need you to figure out a way to spread the antidote across the entire Sector. If we don't get it to the infected in time… it won't matter what I do."
"Understood!" Boomerang Man responded with a firm nod.
I tightened my grip on his shoulders.
"No!" I said sharply, my voice thick with urgency. "I don't think you understand!"
I stared into his eyes, letting the weight of my words sink in.
"I can fight Gravehowl all I want. I can win. But if you don't get that antidote to the public, we lose."
"We aren't heroes if we can defeat the villain but fail to save the people."
I took a deep breath, my voice dropping to a near whisper.
"We need to save the people."
"You need to save the people."