"Also, I'll make sure you have a true vacation when I finish the report on your mission," Marshal Edwin added with a reassuring smile, his tone brimming with conviction. Christopher felt a swell of gratitude towards his uncle, a warm feeling spreading through him despite the fatigue from past events.
Once Christopher completed his report on the forced military operation, he made his way across the bustling military base, moving towards his wife's makeshift laboratory tucked into the corner of their temporary quarters. The base was noisy, with the hum of machinery and soldiers passing by in a flurry of activity, but within the small lab, there was a quiet focus.
His wife, Angella, was hunched over a cluttered workbench filled with documents, vials, and scattered papers. She was deeply engrossed in her research on their son's mysterious condition, confined to the quarantine zone they were required to stay within.
As Angella heard the doors slide open, her eyes quickly scanned the room until they landed on Christopher, and she proceeded to stop her work.
"How's your report coming?" she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity and a hint of exhaustion.
"Nothing much," Christopher replied with a weary sigh, rubbing his temples.
"The government officials are not stopping their meddling. It seems like they don't want us to have any peace, or even a short vacation."
Angella's brow furrowed, her expression growing more annoyed.
"What is it this time? More trying to interfere?"
He nodded solemnly, leaning against a chair.
"Yeah, it's just another in a long line of bureaucratic shenanigans. Honestly, I don't get why they keep pushing when we're just trying to stay alive."
She sighed, crossing her arms in frustration.
"I knew it. It's always something with these officials."
Christopher moved his chair closer to Angella, seating himself comfortably beside her, and began recounting the details of what had happened in the office, Angella cast a worried glance at him, concern evident in her eyes.
"I thought we were supposed to be going back home soon?"
Thankfully, the quarantine test confirmed that their family was safe from turning into zombies. Arthur, their son, was given an exception due to his unique immunity and had strong family connections that granted him special status.
The family's plan was to visit Christopher's father's house to take some time to recover from their recent ordeal, eager for a return to some semblance of normalcy.
"Sorry, Angella," Christopher said softly, trying to reassure her.
"Duty calls, but Uncle made sure I'll get a few months' vacation before the next mission begins." He reached out and gently took her hand.
"So, don't worry too much about it."
Angella nodded, her expression softening.
"By the way, where's Arthur?" Christopher asked.
"There, on the microscope," Angella said, pointing across the room to their son, who was standing on a chair beside a second table, carefully examining a blood sample under a microscope.
"He's analyzing his blood and the zombie lord's blood sample."
Christopher looked at Arthur with admiration and fascination.
"I still can't believe how intelligent he is. Already studying advanced science at his age."
"Right? I'm so proud of him," Angella echoed with a nostalgic smile. "Dad always said the future of the company would be bright because of his potential. Arthur is destined to be the next head of bioengineering."
Christopher shifted uncomfortably, remembering the early days of his training camp when his father-in-law would often find fault with him, trying to push him away or even pressure him to divorce Angella. However, everything changed once Arthur's genius in science and mathematics became known. He had been seen assisting his mother in several research projects, demonstrating extraordinary capabilities.
Hearing this, Christopher's father-in-law finally declared that Arthur would succeed him in the family's company, a decision that surprised everyone.
Breaking the silence, Christopher asked.
"Let's not dwell on my father-in-law. Do you have the results of why Arthur isn't turning into a zombie yet?"
Angella nodded, a subtle smile on her face, knowing that Christopher was shifting the conversation.
"Yes, he just sent me the data from his latest medical scan," she explained.
"His mutated cells can actively change and adapt, slowly absorbing foreign elements without any side effects."
"That means his blood could be a cure for diseases that are usually untreatable," she said passionately, eyes gleaming with excitement.
Christopher's heart fluttered at the possibility.
"So Arthur is also a mutant. It looks like it's better not to report everything," he murmured, a flicker of concern crossing his face.
"But aren't you worried about what might happen?" he added, his voice tinged with a mix of curiosity.
"Are you planning to use our son as a sort of living cure?"
Angella's eyes widened in shock.
"Chris! That's not what I'm doing. I just want to take a blood sample and cultivate it with herbs to see if it can mutate beneficially!" Her voice was trembling with both shock and indignation.
"What do you think I'm? Just some kind of mad scientist?" She gestured emphatically, her face flushed.
" And why are you avoiding my gaze?"
Christopher pretended to look pained.
"I apologize, I will compensate you with my body."
Angella, blushing, responded with a punch to his arm, still angry but unable to hide her embarrassment.
"What do you mean, Chris?! Arthur's still here!"
He chuckled, rubbing his arm.
"Hahaha, sorry, sorry. I was just joking."
While Christopher and Angella were deeply engaged in their 'couple bonding' moment, Arthur was entirely absorbed in his own world of thoughts. He was staring intently at the blood under the microscope, his eyes fixed on the intricate details displayed. A levitating screen hovered nearby, showing complex equations and data that only he could see, hinting at the advanced technological visuals surrounding him.
[Calculating...]
[Analyze...]
[Progressing...]
[Blood virus match by 56%...]
[Confirmed new virus strain]
(Seems like I'm a new strain of the zombie lord, but more like a hybrid in everything)
By the age of 2, when the second expansion of the world occurred, he was suddenly overwhelmed by an unimaginable pain coursing through his body. When the maids found him collapsed on the floor, screaming in agony, they immediately rushed him to the local hospital. Panic gripped them as they dialed the numbers to call the family, their voices trembled with worry as they reported the situation of Arthur.
Meanwhile, the doctor examined Arthur, running a series of tests. When they finished, they quickly reassured the family that Arthur appeared to be fine, which brought a wave of relief, though confusion lingered among the adults.
Despite the reassurance, Arthur knew that something was fundamentally different about his body now. He senses deep down that his physical internal structure has changed in ways that weren't visible to the naked eye. Only under the microscope can his organs be seen to resemble a systematic factory producing hybrid cells that combine organic tissue with mechanical components, like an internal assembly line.
By discovering what his body can do, he confided these findings to his mother, and her reaction was one of tears and shock. Yet, as a strong-willed woman, she composed herself and prepared to learn about her son's new altered physique.
Many tests and assessments of Angella demonstrated that Arthur possesses extraordinary levels of strength, intelligence, and emotional maturity beyond his years. Despite these exceptional traits, he exhibits normal physical growth for his age, indicating a balanced development. Additionally, Arthur has already begun assisting his mother with scientific research projects, showcasing his advanced cognitive abilities and practical skills at a young age. By being known, he became the first documented superhuman in the world, marking a significant milestone in human evolution and scientific discovery.
(So it's now confirmed that I mutate every time, I'm not against it, but adapting to these changes is becoming increasingly inconvenient)
(And now my senses and emotions are being suppressed, so that what it's like to be a zombie)
[I think it's alright confirmed as your subsystem that you are mutating from the beginning]
(I know that, but I still want more data to be certain)
The voice that he's talking in is a subsystem within his mind that functions like an analytical AI, maintaining a parallel thought process that can store his memories, analyze data, perform fast calculations, and compute possibilities.
(Never mind that, just tell me what percentage of the virus I've just assimilated)
[78% complete]
[The virus covers all tissues except the organs]
[Nonetheless, you're a confirmed zombie with a clear mind]
[But I estimate that you will have sporadic hunger for flesh, without understanding the triggers, you might experience a mental outburst at some point]
[I also assess that reporting this phenomenon to our mother is the safest course of action]
"I'll do that...
Arthur watches his parents as they flirt, their sweet conversation making him cringe inwardly. Yet, his emotions were suppressed, making his face expressionless.
...when they finish flirting "