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After more than ten experiments, Kael's level had soared to [Level: 20].
His stats had exploded with growth, especially [HP] and [Attack], where Machop naturally excelled. The high-voltage shocks that once nearly killed him now felt like nothing more than static on his skin, annoying but harmless.
Equipping [Zamazenta's Heart (Fragmented)] and [Terrakion's Fortress Shoulder Guard] didn't change his outward appearance.
Instead, their effects settled invisibly on his body like a state buff, awakening their passive abilities simultaneously
The most critical was Zamazenta's passive [Warrior of a Hundred Battles]:
[Attacks dealing less than 25 HP damage are halved.]
[When HP drops below 30%, damage reduction increases to 75%.]
Healthy and uninjured, Kael shrugged off the collar's shocks with ease. The energy fizzled uselessly against him, like sparks against stone. At best, the only effect was giving his skin a quick sterilization.
Wrapped in silver-blue lightning, Kael felt no pain if anything, the tingling sensation almost felt invigorating.
The fat guard stared in horror, sweat dripping down his greasy face.
"H-how…? That's impossible!"
He mashed the remote again and again, but the sight that met his eyes nearly stopped his heart.
Amid the storm of electricity, a black figure stood unmoving, crimson eyes glowing like lanterns of blood.
Kael tilted his head, lips curling. "That's it?"
He raised his arms slowly, muscles flexing like steel cables. His fingers curled around the collar at his neck.
Crack.
With a twist, the restraint shattered. Metal fragments scattered across the floor in a burst of sparks. The final arcs of the current flared once, then died.
Kael dropped the broken collar to the ground. The clang echoed like a death knell.
"Stay back! M-monster!" the guard screamed.
He scrambled on the floor, limbs flailing as he tried to drag his bulk away. But Kael stepped forward, shadows swallowing him whole.
Without technology to hide behind, without a Pokémon at his side, the man was nothing weak, fragile, meat.
The cell was filled with screams and blood.
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In the sterile brightness of the operating room, Eck frowned.
"Did you hear something?" he asked one of the researchers.
"No, sir. Probably just your imagination."
"Maybe…" Eck rubbed his shoulder, sighing. Weeks of work and relocation planning had left him exhausted. He swore he'd take a proper vacation once they were settled back in Sinnoh.
But the minutes dragged on, and still no guard arrived with the next subject.
Eck checked his watch. "Ten minutes late. Useless." His jaw tightened. "When he gets here, I'll make an example of him in front of everyone."
Step. Step.
Footsteps echoed down the hall. At last.
"Finally," Eck muttered, eyes narrowing in anger.
But then came another sound drip… drip… Thick, wet, like blood hitting stone.
A draft swept through the corridor, brushing the researchers' faces with unnatural chill. Eck's eyes widened. He knew that smell of iron and death.
Something rolled across the floor, bouncing slowly toward them.
It emerged into the light: a severed head, its features mangled beyond recognition.
The researchers froze, terror gripping their throats. Their screams never left their mouths smothered beneath a suffocating aura pressing down on them all.
The atmosphere thickened, heavy as lead. Their limbs stiffened, bodies locked, as though a great invisible hand had crushed them in place.
Step. Step.
The figure emerged from the shadows.
Black skin gleamed like forged steel, mist curling from his frame. His crimson eyes blazed, rending the darkness like knives. The stench of blood rode in on every breath of air.
Kael grinned. His mouth stretched into a smile that was both cheerful and terrifying.
He raised his right hand, fingers spread, and gave it a casual wave.
"Hello, everyone," he said softly.
"I'm back."
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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