Chapter 35: The Blood Scientist
Lucius
The safehouse felt smaller with five people inside.
Singe lay on the operating table I'd set up weeks ago—legs broken, arms restrained, conscious but not speaking. His eyes tracked every movement, calculating odds of escape that both of us knew were zero.
The research case sat open on the dining table. Blood vials arranged in neat rows. USB drives containing data I'd need equipment to access. Handwritten notes in Singe's cramped script, detailing experiments that had killed dozens in pursuit of hybrid creation.
"This is everything," I said, examining a vial labeled 'CORVIN-A7.' "Michael's blood samples. Genetic analysis. Methods for identifying Corvinus descendants."
Selene studied the photographs scattered across the table—surveillance shots of people across the globe, each tagged with genetic markers and probability assessments.
"He was tracking Corvinus bloodlines worldwide?"
"Looking for more Michaels. More candidates for hybrid transformation." I set down the vial, turned toward Singe. "How many did you test before finding one who survived?"
The Lycan scientist remained silent, jaw clenched with defiance.
"I can extract the answer from your blood. This is your chance to tell me directly."
Still nothing.
I activated Memory Siphon Lv.2, bit into his throat.
[ BP ACQUIRED: 121 ]
[ MEMORY SIPHON: EXTRACTING TARGETED MEMORIES... ]
The information flooded my consciousness—years of experiments, carefully documented, conducted with scientific precision and moral blindness.
Forty-seven human subjects. Each identified through genetic screening as potential Corvinus carriers. Each bitten by carefully selected Lycans, then exposed to vampire venom.
Forty-six failures. Bodies tearing themselves apart as incompatible genetics warred for dominance. Screaming subjects restrained to tables while transformation went wrong in every possible way.
Michael had been the forty-seventh. The only success.
Singe's memories included detailed analysis of why—the specific genetic markers that made Michael's blood compatible, the precise timing of dual infection that allowed both species to integrate, the Corvinus strain acting as bridge between otherwise incompatible biologies.
[ HYBRID CREATION DATA: INTEGRATED ]
[ CORVINUS GENETIC MARKERS: CATALOGUED ]
[ FAILURE ANALYSIS: COMPLETE ]
I released Singe's throat, stepped back. The scientist's eyes were glazing—blood loss combining with shock to push him toward unconsciousness.
"Forty-six people," I said. "Screaming while they died. And you took notes."
"Science requires sacrifice." His voice was barely audible. "You wouldn't understand."
"I was surgeon. I understand sacrifice." I drove my claws through his heart. "I also understand the difference between necessary pain and sadistic experimentation."
He died without further words.
[ BP ACQUIRED: 0 (ALREADY DRAINED) ]
Michael stood in the doorway, face pale, expression torn between horror and something I couldn't identify.
"He surrendered," Michael said. "He was prisoner. You killed him anyway."
"He tortured humans for years. Would have done the same to you if Lucian had ordered it." I wiped blood from my claws. "War has no prisoners. Only enemies waiting for opportunity."
"That's not—" Michael's voice cracked. "That's not how civilized people behave."
"Civilized people don't live through what we're facing. Marcus is awakening. The first vampire. The original hybrid. If we stop to debate ethics every time someone needs to die, we'll be corpses before the week ends."
Rigel spoke from his position by the window. "He's right. Death Dealer protocol is clear—captured enemies are liabilities. Singe would have escaped first chance, reported our location, brought Lycans down on us."
"There are no more Lycans," Michael argued. "Lucian's dead. The pack is destroyed."
"There are always more Lycans. Always more enemies." Rigel's tone was matter-of-fact, carrying six centuries of warfare behind it. "Lucius did what needed doing. Be grateful he's the one making those decisions, not you."
Michael turned away, disappearing into the bedroom. The door didn't quite slam, but the point was made.
Selene approached once he was gone, voice lowered.
"He's struggling."
"He's still human inside. That's problem."
"That's advantage." Her hand found mine, fingers interlocking. "He reminds us what we're fighting for. Without someone like Michael, we become Viktor—pragmatic monsters who justify everything with necessity."
I considered her words. The humanity score the System tracked had been declining steadily—each kill, each manipulation, each calculated betrayal pushing me further from whatever I'd been before transmigration.
But Selene was right. Michael's horror wasn't weakness. It was anchor.
"I'll talk to him later. When he's ready."
"When he's ready," she agreed. "Now—what did you learn from Singe?"
We spent the next two hours reviewing the extracted memories, cross-referencing with the physical research data. Selene absorbed the information with clinical efficiency, her centuries of warfare providing context for experiments that would have seemed like science fiction to humans.
Hybrid creation required three components: Corvinus bloodline for genetic compatibility, Lycan infection for transformation potential, vampire venom for stabilization. Michael had survived because all three elements had aligned perfectly—timing, genetics, and luck combining in ways Singe had never been able to replicate.
My own hybrid nature was different. The System had provided shortcuts—genetic manipulation through BP expenditure, forced evolution through ability purchases, fusion protocols that bypassed the biological constraints Singe had struggled against.
[ APEX FORM REQUIREMENTS ANALYSIS: ]
[ (1) 1000+ BP: ✓ (CURRENT: 1,789) ]
[ (2) ELDER BLOOD (BOTH SPECIES): ✓ (VIKTOR + LUCIAN) ]
[ (3) HYBRID FUSION LV.7+: ✗ (CURRENT: LV.3) ]
[ (4) ESSENCE PURIFICATION COMPLETE: ✗ (UV STAGE 2, SILVER STAGE 0) ]
Two requirements met. Two remaining. Hybrid Fusion could be upgraded through BP expenditure—expensive, but achievable. Essence Purification required time and repeated treatments.
Marcus would provide the test. If I survived the first vampire's wrath, I'd be steps away from ultimate evolution.
[ ESTIMATED MARCUS AWAKENING: 18-36 HOURS ]
The countdown hung in my peripheral vision—constant reminder of the threat approaching.
Night fell outside the safehouse. Selene's UV sensitivity would protect her until morning. Michael and Rigel could survive daylight, though the hybrid would burn and the Death Dealer would weaken.
I needed to prepare the coven. Claim Elder authority before Marcus could capitalize on the power vacuum. Build forces that might survive the first vampire's emergence.
"Get some rest," I told Selene. "Tomorrow we return to Ördögház. Claim what Viktor left behind."
"And Marcus?"
"Marcus will come regardless of what we do. Better to face him with an army than alone."
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