---- innovation and hard work.


    Dont you think? T give them one order and they upturn the entire world to fulfil it.


    Such loyal pets.


    What the fuck do you even want, Gerald? Why are you doing all this? I snarled, my voice hoarse.


    Isn''t it obvious.


    I want the entire world to bow to me.


    Thend of light and darkness.


    And very soon it will be going to be reality.


    What-what do you mean? Geralds smile was the kind that made my skin crawl This isnt the worse...


    the worst is yet toe.


    Thave this sickening feeling in my gut.


    Those creatures you so valiantly ughtereddo you know what I call them? Carriers.


    ---- My stomach twisted It''s not just a fancy name, my dear boy.


    Their ws and bites? They''re not just weapons.


    They''re delivery systems.


    Delivery systems? My voice was low, dangerous.


    For a serum, he said, almost gleefully A little something I''ve been working on.


    Wherever those creatures scratch or bite the person gets...


    infected.


    And soon they will be like them...


    Monsters.


    No.


    My heart dropped.


    My mind freezes as I look back at everyone to find them looking at Gerald in dread.


    Oh, yes, Gerald said, his tone light, as if discussing the weather.


    The transformation has already begun.


    You''ve fought bravely, Damien.


    Congrats! You stayed untouch, you will survive this but I''m afraid your special seven may not.


    ---- llooked at my teamJason, Lilly, Ben, Summer.


    The wounds on their bodies, the blood that wouldnt stop flowing Jason, battered and barely breathing: Lilly, clutching her bleeding shoulder, her once-fiery eyes dim; Ben and Summer, slumped against the wall, blood.


    pooling beneath them.


    Every wound, every scratch screamed betrayal, not by them, but by me: I was supposed to protect them.


    I was their leader.


    And I had failed.


    The weight of Geralds words sank in like lead in my gut.


    The serum.


    The carriers.


    Every wound inflicted wasn''t just an attackit was a death sentence.


    They weren''t just bleeding out; they were changing, bing something monstrous.


    Just like them.


    And T feel my mind going nk.


    Fear of death was evident on everyone''s faces and let me tell you it was the worst feeling in this world.


    ---- Thave failed them.


    I failed to protect them.


    I''ve sent these carriers to thend of light, Gerald continued, his voice a twisted melody of triumph.


    Soon, you''ll see this entire world shifting.


    A new order, Damien, one where the weak perish and the strong thrive.


    Sit back.


    Enjoy the spectacle of the biggest transformation this world has ever seen.


    1 stared at him, my vision blurring, not from exhaustion but from the fury boiling beneath my skin.


    This fucker! My ws twitched, itching to rip that smug grin off his face.


    Extending my ws I stagger forward to attack him when out of the blue a sound is heard and I see clouds of smoke surrounding us T press my arm on my mouth, trying to avoid inhaling it.