Wii wii wii wii—The sound of alarms tore through the silence of the facility, red lights flooding the corridors like pulsing blood.
"Head to Section C!"A sharp voice shouted, followed by a violent tremor that shook the ground — drrrrrrrrrrr!
Inside a massive glass capsule filled with glowing green liquid, a boy slowly opened his eyes.His blurred gaze drifted toward the half-open door, where chaos filled the hallway — scientists ran in panic, guards shouted commands.
His breath echoed inside the transparent mask, and he whispered to himself softly:Is this... my chance? Has the time come?
He clenched his fist tightly, then began pounding the glass...One punch... then another... and another... until the glass cracked with a faint explosion, shards scattering as the green liquid spilled across the floor.
The boy fell to the ground, gasping for air:"Ha... ha... ha..."
The lights in the room turned crimson, alarms blaring once more. Quickly, he tore off the wires stuck to his body and ripped the oxygen mask from his face.
The door burst open —Two armed guards rushed in, one of them shouting:"Hands up! Don't move!"
But the boy stayed crouched on the ground, panting without replying. As one guard stepped closer, he lunged like a freed wolf — slamming the first against the wall and punching the second before dashing toward the exit.
The corridor stretched long, red lights flashing, alarms echoing everywhere.He ran with every ounce of strength, barefoot, soaked, desperately searching for an escape.
Where... where is it...?!
At one corner, he collided with a group of scientists. One fell to the ground while another shouted in shock:"Project 96!! What are you doing here?!"
The boy bolted in the opposite direction. One of them tried to grab his arm, but he broke free violently and sprinted away.
"He's escaping! Stop him!!!"
Footsteps thundered behind him — guards pouring in from every direction.
Suddenly, a voice crackled through a radio:"Shh... permission granted... open fire!"
Dff! Dff! Dff!Bullets sliced through the air beside his head, sparks flying from the metal walls.
One guard yelled: "He's heading for the exit!"
Booof!The boy slammed the door open with all his strength — it flew wide like a mouth swallowing freedom.
The storm was raging; rain poured down in torrents and lightning split the sky.The wind whipped his bare face as he ran across the muddy ground.
Suddenly, a bullet tore through his shoulder —"Ahh!"He screamed in pain, but his legs didn't stop. He ran... and ran until he reached the edge of a high cliff, waves crashing against the rocks below: Gooosh!
He stood there, gasping, looking down... then back — the guards were closing in.
Then a strange man appeared among them — tall, thin, his limbs unnaturally long. His eyes glowed with a wild, inhuman light.
He spoke in a mocking tone:"Shiiiis... you really think this little insect can escape its nest?"
The storm fell silent for a heartbeat — then the battle began.
The man lunged with lightning speed, his arm slicing the air like a deadly whip.The boy dodged the first strike... then the second... then the third — but the fourth ripped his shoulder open.
He staggered back, blood mixing with rain, clenched his fist and countered with fury — fast punches, a side kick... but the man dodged easily, laughing wickedly:"Shiis... shiis... shiis... do you really think you can beat me, when the drug still runs in your veins?"
The boy stepped back, eyes burning with determination — but the man suddenly appeared before him and struck with a crushing blow that tore through his chest.
Bsssshhh!
The boy stumbled back, gasping, then lost balance and fell off the cliff.
Time slowed... rain froze in midair...He whispered weakly:Is freedom... really worth all this pain? Is it... worth the price?
Boooom!He hit the water, the last thing he saw — the strange man's grin.
Then darkness...
Memories flickered through the void — voices, commands, distant screams:"Project 96, come here...""Project 96, you must try harder...""96... 96..."
Suddenly, a burning pain in his chest.He looked down — his wound... it was moving, healing slowly...
Moments later, he lost consciousness completely.
Kyu... kyu... kyu...
The boy opened his eyes slowly, breathing hard, wet sand clinging to his body.Before him stretched the endless sea, the sky gray after the storm.He looked at his chest — the wound was now just a faint scar.He pushed himself up weakly, gazing around...
A distant city shimmered on the horizon.
End of Chapter 1.