章 10: Volume 2 Episode 4

Lin Hamill's Basement.

"I guess now it's enough, right?"

Lin told himself as the test subject had survived for a seventh day. The test subject didn't show any symptoms that was worrying or wasn't unhealthy either.

With this, Lin had considered to finally end the dual power test and move on to other experiments. But first he had to do something about the lab rat. The subject, now unconscious, was very powerful and had an incredible recovery rate. Moreover, the subject had shown an incredible amount of energy release without having to wait to get charged up. The experiment enhanced the subject as a whole in all respects.

As he closed the book on the dual power experiment, he went near the test subject, took a pillow and started to suffocate him. The test subject, who was heavily sedated during the time, couldn't even try to squirm or resist the suffocation and in the end, took his last breath.

Lin called Richard to help move the body to a table that was prepared beforehand, where he did his surgical studies. Having a perfect memory did help him remember everything that he had seen, but it didn't make him perfect practically. While it did help in making it easier and faster to learn than a normal human being, that was the extent to it. So he had studied surgery on the subjects that had their purpose fulfilled so as to learn and get good at it.

As he cut open the body of the lab rat, he found that the internal organs had gone through what could only be described as enhancement. They all had been covered by some sort of extra layer of protection. That explained why most magic users, even though had their chest pierced, didn't die faster.

Lin started looking and studying the body of the enhanced individual to find out what were the key differences between a normal human body and a dual power enhanced human being. He figured out that there were many differences. Even though the man was not breathing anymore, the heart was beating and pumping blood with no problem, and even though he had been ripped open with no care for blood loss, he surprisingly didn't run out of blood, which might be one of the reasons for not running out of energy to use.

Did the dual power holder's body evolve so as to survive even in extreme situations?

After examining the body for a long time, he stored the body in a storage unit that he had ordered where he could keep bodies to further examine them.

"Well, now that the examination of the body has been dealt with.. I guess it's time for me to take the test," as Lin lied on the bed, he called Richard and instructed him to start the transfusion process, and told him to inject the two potions with it into his bloodstream at regular intervals. He nodded and started the process.

"Master Lin, you are sure this will work, right?"

"Didn't you see my tests yourself Richard? Don't you know that there weren't any problems when I tested it on the subjects?"

"Very well Master Lin, I will inject you with the potions after thirty minutes, shall I turn on the sedatives?"

"Yes you may."

Richard listened to the order given by Lin and turned on the sedatives, making Lin doze off into his dreams.

**********************************************

" Welcome back, Mr. Lin."

A familiar voice made Lin open his eyes. He was back in the dream world. This was where he met The Man Upstairs for the first time. He had been in a bad place and wanted to escape from this world. He wanted a miracle, and surprisingly he had gotten one. He didn't know what it had cost him, he didn't even know if miracles could even have a price, but he didn't take it for granted. Especially if it is given to you by an innocent looking man who asks you to save the world.

"It seems like you still don't believe me."

"I don't know you well enough to believe you."

"Would you believe me if you did know me well enough?"

"... No."

"Haa…." The Man Upstairs sighed. He seemed absent-minded for some reason. There had been hints of worry hidden in his eyes. It didn't match the unwavering amount of confidence that was practically oozing out of him the first time they met. What had caused him to start worrying?

" You don't need to know that. I have my own problems."

" I just didn't expect that someone as powerful as you also had problems."

"When one person is powerful, the universe gives another person the same powers to find balance. I'm not the only one who's so strong you know."

"I did not know that. You didn't tell me."

" I don't know you well enough."

"..... touché,"

The Man Upstairs smiled. It seemed he found something to stay calm. Or he hid the worry well.

"So… how's your new life? Did you start enjoying it?"

"Not yet, I have to finish my goals. But yes, I am doing better than usual."

"Wow, I would've at least taken the time to enjoy life and do what makes me happy I guess."

" I do find it happy." Lin answered.

"Then I guess it's fine. But still, I hope you complete the mission without any hiccups. I don't want to feel like I've spent all that power to send you to another world for nothing, you know."

"I do know. Don't worry, everything is going according to plan." Replied Lin without even a care which received a glare from the man for just a second.

"Oh really? Are you sure?"

"What do yo-" his train of thought had been interrupted by an ungodly amount of pain bursting through his head. He felt dizzy. He felt so much pain that he wanted to kill himself. He wanted to pry open his head and find whatever was causing the pain.

Lin couldn't handle it anymore and fell down on one knee. His vision became blurry and he couldn't even ask for help. He looked at The Man Upstairs, wondering if this had been his doing, but he merely shook his head, and pointed his finger at Lin.

"This is the last time I'm going to help you. As I told you before, we weren't supposed to have met yet. This meeting was not supposed to happen and as a result our destined meeting shall be prolonged even more. I hope you shall be careful from now on. Remember this pain, and embrace it. We will meet again. Goodbye."

As The Man Upstairs faded away.. Lin slowly fell into the darkness, with the pain deteriorating slowly.

********************************************

Lin opened his eyes slowly. He couldn't feel the pain in his head anymore. As he got up, he looked around only to find out that the entire basement had been engulfed in flames, including his body.

His body was burned to a crisp, and if not for the protection from having a dual power evolved body, he would've likely been dead. As he looked around he saw that the transfusion machine had been stolen. He looked at his body. It seemed he couldn't feel any pain.

"Is this your power, old man?" As Lin wondered the numbness to pain was a power bestowed upon him by The Man Upstairs, he thought about the culprit. It looked like no one had entered the room, as the only key to enter was kept inside by his side, and the door wasn't busted open. Then the likely culprit must've been...

"... Richard," Lin sighed as he thought about why Richard would do it. Aside from Lin, he was the only one who was inside the room at the time and had access to the key. He most likely wanted to make it look like an accident, so he didn't kill me using weapons and left me to die.

"'Son of Hamill Family killed in the middle of disturbing experiment', has a nice ring to it. It would most likely keep the people and the family occupied, which could help Richard escape. As there are countless bodies inside the room, they would have a hard time identifying the bodies and may assume he died here as well, given how much of a loyal dog he is…" Lin used his Information hint ability to come to a conclusion.

"Well, he most likely didn't know how the transfusion machine worked, so he thought of taking it with him. Can't actually blame him, it would be revolutionary. He must've thought that it just doubles my powers. But what he didn't know was that my body as a whole has been enhanced to the maximum. I only wrote them on the logbook which I keep hidden even from him. Now…. How to escape this room?"

Lin looked around. Richard had taken the key and locked it from the outside, meaning he couldn't use the door. Well then what to do? He searched his brain for answers. Then he remembered that there was an extra floor right below the basement, for extra use in case the basement wasn't enough. And he had used it for testing of subjects before. He remembered leaving a key there. But how to get there? If he could destroy the walls or the door he wouldn't have the need to go to the extra floor. But he couldn't.

Then he remembered that there was a false safe hidden on the ceiling of the extra floor, meaning below the basement floor he was standing on. The false safe had a lot of space, meaning he could most likely smash that part if he really tried. He looked around, hitting the floor as he moved around. Even if his body was advanced, the fire was taking a toll on him. He had to find it quick.

Lin kept on hitting the floor, suddenly he heard a different sound than the rest of the times he heard the sound.

"Found it." As Lin found the hidden safe, he closed his eyes as he used his second power he received, Electricity, to hit the exact spot as the safe had been present.

As electric current started flowing around Lin, he used his first ability, Fire, to make the flames around him to focus on the spot where the safe was. As the flames burned even more intensely, his body finally started hurting.

"I have to do it now." Lin, having made up his mind, used all his power to strike the spot all at once, which caused an intense explosion, destroying the safe and the floor it held, and Lin jumped through the opening, took the key and opened the door to go outside.

As his body started recovering at an extraordinary speed, he picked up his pace. His senses had been enhanced to the maximum, which allowed him to locate Richard by his scent.

Richard… I'm coming for you. And I'll make sure that you regret your decision.

*********************************************

Outside Lin Hamill's apartment.

Ten Minutes Earlier.

A man dressed in all black had arrived at the gates. He was welcomed by Richard, who had the transfusion device and the blood samples with him.

"Is this the device that can give you two magic abilities, Mr. Richard?" The man in black asked.

"Yes it is. I have personally seen it happen. The young master had been testing it for several months now. He has finally achieved success as of late, and was in the middle of using it on himself. That was when I stole it."

"You did very well Mr. Richard. Don't worry about anything. We'll help you to the best of our abilities, in just a few days we will assure your safety and get you and your family across the country from the hands of the Hamill Family."

"You guys better keep your promise. Don't forget, it's precisely because of you guys that I'm in this mess."

"Ha ha.. If you really are looking for someone to blame, blame yourself Mr.Richard, it was because you stole from the Hamill Family that caused this. We just took advantage of that information and used it to get what we want."

At the man's half hearted response, Richard grit his teeth. He really wanted to punch him, but in the end he held himself back and did nothing, even if he wanted to do it. As the man said, it was because of his greed that everything happened. He had been embezzling money from the Hamill family funds for many years without anyone knowing. Somehow the information got out and he was made an informant through the use of blackmail. As he thought about the things he had done, he couldn't help but regret his actions. He had bitten the very hand that had been feeding him, and all for what? For a few extra bucks?

"I'm sorry Master Lin. I had no choice. I hope that yo-" his thoughts about asking for forgiveness was suddenly interrupted by a large explosion from the apartment.

"What was that? Were there any explosive devices in the room?"

"N-no, not that I remember. There wasn't anything that could explode. And even if it did, the floor had been on fire for several minutes now. It would've exploded ages ago."

"Then… What was that explosion? "

"I have no idea."

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