—


    Everyone’s gaze shed with varying levels of awe as Kieran guided them through the facility. The state-of-the-art structure was outfitted with technology unfamiliar to all of them.


    “Whoa… you’ve been here all this time?” Bastion muttered in a dazed tone. His gaze circled the walkways, paying close attention to the sleek metal design.


    Hidden underneath this outeryer of metal were ion beams activable through a motion-detection feat.


    Once turned on, even if one managed to get through the hyper-reinforced steel door, it’d be a nearly impossible task to make it past the beams in one piece.


    “More or less,” Kieran nodded. “Before we get you guys settled upstairs, there’s someone you all need to meet.”


    After bringing the inevitable meeting to their attention, Kieran guided everyone to the extensive medical room, where Dr. Riley stood over her desk.


    Everyone first noticed her focused expression as she analyzed the newly collected data.


    “Kieran! I need to speak with you as soon as possible,” Dr. Riley said. Just as she was about to continue, she stopped speaking and looked at her new audience.


    Their presence came as a surprise because she prepared the upper floor for their stay. Dr. Riley presumed Kieran would show them around upstairs and get them settled beforeing downstairs.


    Although it was a surprise, the current situation didn’t bother her.


    Kieran took the lead in introducing Dr. Riley to everyone. “This is Dr. Lillian Riley, the only staff her as far as I’m aware. I suggest you stay on her good side because she is a contentious one. Don’t let her stunning appearance fool you.”


    An abruptly cut-off sound erupted from Dr. Riley’s throat, but she immediately closed her mouth with slightly reddened cheeks. ‘What type of introduction is this? He’s painting me in an awkward light!”


    Dr. Riley cleared her throat with an expression befitting aposed medical professional. “Please excuse anything he says because it is utter foolishness. I’vee to learn that he’s prone to making silly jokes once he besfortable with someone.”


    “Agreed. You’re not wrong. But… who is Kieran?”


    Naturally, his teammates were still unaware of Kieran’s real name.


    Up til this very moment, they had always addressed him as Aatrox. But, given he was more trusting and they were in his presence, it was time to divulge that information.


    “Ah—! Allow me to clear that up. You know me as Aatrox, but my real name is Kieran—Kieran Silver.”


    “That… isn’t a bad name at all. Since we are on the topic of real names, I suppose we should all introduce ourselves,” Nemean said.


    He stepped forth and extended his hand to Dr. Riley. “Thank you for housing us here. The name’s Arthur Rojas, a member of Kieran’s team of sorry misfits.”


    One could tell from Nemean’s shoulder-length curly hair, tanned skin, and distinct features that he was of Hispanic descent.


    “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Rojas,” Dr. Riley politely replied.


    Afterward, Bastion introduced himself. “Thomas Navarro.”


    Simr to Nemean, Bastion was also of Hispanic descent, which wasn’t odd, seeing as they grew up in the same neighborhood of Ridgewood. Unlike Nemean, however, Bastion possessed a stockier frame as his feature were more defined.


    Additionally, Bastion kept his dark brown hair short, just longer than an inch, so he could style it as he saw fit.


    Dr. Riley returned the same reply to Bastion.


    After Bastion came Alice’s introduction, she stepped forth in pair of tight ck jeans with subtle rips along the left thigh and a white blouse that disyed her graceful shoulders and neckline.


    Her dark-brown, nearing ck hair was tied up in a long ponytail with a few stray hairs purposely styled to give her look volume. The light blush on her cheeks made it clear she had applied light makeup.


    “Ste LaRossa,” Alice said.


    Unlike Nemean and Bastion, she was of Italian descent and didn’t live in New Metro City. She was from a more high-ss city known as Minence City, which, although it didn’t require a ne ride to reach, took some time in regr transportation.


    Afterward, Altair walked up to Kieran and smirked while wrapping his arm around Kieran’s shoulder. Although he was two inches shorter than Kieran, the height difference was negligible.


    “It looks like you’ve been working hard, huh? I guess your in-game character isn’t the only thing to change.”


    Altair wasn’t familiar with Kieran before the game, but he understood that a starting character was the reflection of a yer’s actual body. When he first met Kieran, his character wasn’t muscr at all, only slightly above average.


    But his current condition was an entirely different story.


    Altair’s appearance was identical to his in-game form. His hair was the color of ash, and his eyes were a bright silver, a trait of the Wiyan Family, who possessed a specific mutation in their genes.


    While bumping fists with Kieran, Altair introduced himself.


    “Xane Wiyan, nice to you all.”


    Different from the rest, Dr. Riley’s eyes widened after hearing Altair’s name. “Any rtion to the Wiyan Magnate Family responsible for supplying the United States with freakish super soldiers?”


    “That’s… the one,” Altair admitted with a slight grimace. He had heard stories of the atrocities associated with this name. But, he had no intentions of changing his name. Even if he was an illegitimate son, he possessed a birthright that he would im.


    After Altair’s introduction, the others went around naming themselves.


    “Roxy Grant,” Cygnus said.


    “Sara Murray,” Sera said after.


    “Preston Walsh,” Sithik added.


    “Corey Saint-Cyr,” Cyr revealed.


    With the introductions finished, Kieran led everyone upstairs, where there were several separate rooms. They were all identical, so Kieran had them pick for themselves and get settled before walking downstairs.


    “You said there was something you needed to talk to me about?”


    “Yes… and it’s very urgent. Come here and look at this.” Dr. Riley pulled Kieran by the arm and led him to her desk, where she revealed some shocking information on her tablet. There were two sets of information, but it was easy to understand with Dr. Riley’s thorough annotations.


    One was before Kieran woke up, and one was from minutes ago. Although there was only a three-day difference between the collected data, the information Kieran sifted through was genuinely shocking!


    “No way, are these correct?” Kieran muttered.


    “Completely. I’ve double and triple-checked—you experienced some sort of unusual strengthening because your cellr energy is radiating a signature almost double its previous levels. I wouldn’t be surprised if your body could now handle X-hancers at the 20% concentration level.”


    Dr. Riley and Kieran looked at each with equally mystified gazes. In the end, it was Dr. Riley who spoke first. “I’vee across some interesting information in these past few days. Apparently, with the help of these X-hancers, we can be inhuman. Do you believe that?”


    “Actually… I do,” Kieran nodded. He then recounted some information Ezra told him.


    “Whoa! You found this out, and you’re just now telling me this? This changes everything! We need to thoroughly research these X-hancers to see if what you say is true. I didn’t know they’re the cause of H-COS,” Dr. Riley gasped.


    “That’s the thing. How will we fund that research? That’s why I refrained from telling you. I knew you’d be interested in unearthing the truth at all costs… but it maye at an absurd cost.”


    Dr. Riley pouted like a sulking toddler when hearing Kieran’s response. She hugged his arm and pleaded. “Please! Please! We must! How can you reveal this attractive piece of information and not let me delve into it? It’s not right! You know venturing into the unknown is my one pleasure.”


    “Is it?” Kieran asked with an arched brow. His gaze swept over Dr. Riley’s figure, making her shudder.


    “W-why are you looking at me like that?”


    Kieran smiled and averted his gaze after hearing iing footsteps. “No reason in particr.”


    “Yo, Aatrox-“


    “Call me Kieran when we’re in the real world,” Kieran interjected. “But go ahead, Thomas.”


    “Ah-! Er, gotcha, boss. Anywho, Altair told us that you’d be training us here? Is that true? If so, that’s cool because I saw some sick training facility downstairs while curiously touring the ce.”


    “It’s true,” Kieran admitted. “I have every intention to train you all and extract every bit of your potential. Also, I wouldn’t advise absentmindedly touring this ce. Lillian has turned back on the security.”


    “Enough of that… why is the doc hugging your arm?!” Bastion paused and gasped while covering his mouth. “Don’t tell me you’ve seduced the doc! No way, this is insane. Not her too.”


    Dr. Riley’s brows furrowed after hearing Bastion’sment. “What does he mean not her too?”


    Kieran didn’t turn his head, but he could feel Dr. Riley’s icy re befall him.


    “Tell me, Kieran, did you truly earn those X-hancers, or did you do what I suspected and wielded your good looks to your advantage?! You’re a naughty boy!”


    Kieran sputtered and snapped his head between Bastion and Dr. Riley countless times. “WH-WHAT?! I’m innocent, Lillian. Not a word out of his mouth is to be trusted. I haven’t seduced anyone….’


    However, in Kieran’s mind, he asked himself a question. ‘Have I?’