Wizard: Adventures in Two Worlds-Chapter 648 - 6: The Giant
Laboratory.
As one of the only two people with access to the lab, Barro can enter even when Carl is not around.
"Beep..."
The security door slid open to both sides.
"Gulping..."
Barro’s throat moved, his palms sweating. Even knowing the lab was empty, his pupils dilated, heart racing, fear spreading within like countless eyes surrounding him.
Always a rule-abiding child, he was terrified doing something forbidden, certain of severe punishment for the first time.
Safe box!
No. 7 Reagent!
Standing at the entrance, Barro’s body slightly trembled, yet he dared not step forward.
"Hiss..."
A cold voice sounded next to his ear:
"What are you contemplating?"
"If you don’t go in and get it, the toxin will invade your heart, and even the top doctors can’t save you."
"What... what are you?" Barro stammered:
"Human or ghost?"
Since Professor Jim bit him, this thing appeared on him, invisible but audible.
The voice,
as if sounding directly in his mind, had tormented Barro these days.
"Does it matter?"
The voice chuckled:
"The priority now is to grab it, then swap for the antidote that can save your life."
"Get moving!"
"The lab is still empty nearby, hurry before others show up."
Barro sighed helplessly, heart sank, stepping into the lab and grabbing the No. 7 Reagent from the safe.
"Is this it?"
"Yes!"
The voice carried excitement:
"Hurry out!"
"Leave now."
Indeed, quickly.
The lab has cameras; Barro’s every move might be watched.
"Alright."
Placing the reagent in his inner pocket, Barro turned and walked out, instinctively quickening his steps.
The lab is on the fourth floor.
Just arriving beside the elevator, the door opened as two well-dressed, burly white men stepped out.
The men were extremely muscular, surpassing two meters in height; their loose suits couldn’t hide their muscles.
If they entered bodybuilding contests, they’d surely excel.
As Barro lowered his head to enter the elevator, one of the white men extended a hand to block:
"Barrow Gardner?"
"Huh?"
Barro paused:
"That’s me."
"Security Department." The man displayed a badge, smiling softly:
"Please come with us for an inquiry."
?
Barro froze, feeling icy water poured over him, turning him into an ice sculpture.
He hadn’t realized the school’s security wasn’t comprised of burly men who’d request cooperation in investigations.
Only one thought remained.
It’s over!
Caught stealing from the lab.
"Swish!"
Before coming to his senses, black viscous liquid shot from Barro’s shoulder, piercing the man’s chest.
"Thud!"
The liquid instantly hardened into a spike, piercing the heart, sending the man flying with immense force.
Simultaneously sweeping the other aside.
"Run!"
The voice in his mind shouted:
"Take the stairs!"
"Ah!"
Barro was stunned, consciousness unclear, staring incredulously at the scene.
"I killed someone!"
"Killed someone..."
"Shut up!" The voice roared angrily:
"He’s not dead; you’ll die if you don’t leave!"
"Cough, cough!"
Before finishing, the pierced man’s heart still pounded, as he stood, lightly coughed:
"Didn’t expect an ordinary person to host a monster."
"You... you’re not dead?"
Barro looked astonished; his recent experiences shattered all his understanding.
"I’m fine."
The man smiled:
"Be careful soon; it might hurt a bit."
He approached, fist clenched.
"Boom!"
Terror airmass surged forth; Barro felt himself scatter, the fist yet to touch him.
It was just the punch’s wind!
"Damn!"
The voice in his mind screamed desperately, and Barro felt his body twist like a snake, darting past the punch into the lab, tentacle-like limbs smashing various machines.
Suddenly.
"Beep... beep..."
Piercing electronic sounds rose, red lights flashed out.
Oh, no!
Barro’s expression changed, urgently shouting:
"It’s going to explode!"
Before the words finished.
"Boom!"
Blinding light and intense heat surged, Barro’s body shook in pain, collapsing backward.
In his vision, only blurred figures colliding, battling fiercely before fainting.
*
*
*
"Boom!"
A fire broke out on the laboratory building’s fourth floor, its roar echoing throughout the campus, prompting Carl and Riley to run downstairs.
"What’s going on?"
"No idea!"
"Call the police!"
"Get the fire truck!"
"..."
Various chaotic voices rang, Carl squeezed past the panicked crowd, approaching the fiery lab.
"Professor Karl! Don’t go near! Wait for the fire truck!"
"It’s fine."
He gestured to Riley:
"I’ll check safely."
The explosion up above hadn’t ceased; flames ignited more fires.
The lab lacked chemicals or special materials, else radiation would’ve spread.
"Bang!"
A charred figure fell heavily to the ground. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺
Hmm?
Carl’s eyes moved slightly, nearing slowly, shaking his head at the figure below.
"Barro, what happened?"
Barro lay, surface skin carbonized from high heat, one eye blinded.
Familiar buzzing voices in his ears, he struggled to open eyes, throat moving.
I’m going to die!
A realization surfaced, but strangely, he wasn’t as scared as expected.
Even,
The tension was less than when stealing from the lab.
Instead, a bittersweet sorrow appeared, followed by a helpless sigh, slowly closing his eyes.
Carl rubbed his chin, eyes staring strangely at Barro’s chest.
There.
A mysterious liquid seeped into Barro’s body, blending with blood and flesh.
Simultaneously.
Barro’s carbonized skin, shattered organs, rapidly regenerating.
Within a few breaths, he nearly fully healed.
’Interesting!’
’Mixing so many genes without rejection, likely Extraordinary Power’s effect.’
’Hmmm...’
’Professor Jim’s experiment was a success.’
"Professor Karl?"
A steady voice arose:
"Sheriff Chris, I need to take him to the hospital."
"Oh!"
Carl turned, speaking to the disheveled man:
"Thank you, Barro’s a good kid, save him."
"Of course."
The man nodded, eyes flashing with surprise gazing at Barro, then nodded again:
"He’ll be fine."
