Chapter 23: Rage Exploded : Almost Big Bang

While the three stood stunned by their surroundings, the sound of a loudspeaker suddenly crackled to life.

"Welcome to my army barracks."

Nolan, Nina, and Nadine pulled back together, dropping into their combat stances as they scanned the room.

"What do you mean, your army barracks, huh?" Nina shouted, her voice thick with rage.

"You see, all these creatures have been adapted to navigate the desert. They are equipped with fire and water Orbs combined into one, then infused with reptile DNA to reinforce their skin and insect eyes that can see both close-up and panoramic views simultaneously. Simply put, I need them for an expedition to the desert—to penetrate the tornadoes that always protect the yellow tower. Do you understand?" Harold explained.

"Hoo... so you intend to reach the yellow tower, and then what? Kill the people in the villages or cities there and turn them into your experiment subjects, just like you did to my town, huh?" Nina screamed.

"Hmm... oh, wait. You're... a survivor from the town I destroyed near the red tower, aren't you? I remember... you're the one who escaped with my experiment. Shouldn't you be dead? And surely, you’re the one who’s been investigating me for the past year, right?" Harold replied.

"So you know who I am... good. This makes things easy," Nina said through gritted teeth, her face looking like she was ready to destroy everything in sight.

"Hoho... calm down. Now you're reunited with your fellow townspeople. Perhaps your parents are among them, hohoho," Harold taunted.

"Shut your mouth! Get out here and fight me!" Nina yelled.

"Ah... no... I'm busy enjoying myself here. How about you have a little reunion with them first," Harold replied.

Suddenly, five tanks from the top columns and rows hissed open—two on the right and three on the left. The yellow liquid inside flooded out, spilling all the way to the floor. "Bum," five creatures leaped out and landed directly in front of the trio. But as Nina looked at their faces, her eyes widened; their features weren't fully formed like the others and still appeared partially human, even though their eyes had turned entirely red.

"W... what?" Nina muttered, trembling. Her face went pale as she saw something she was never meant to see.

"Hey... what’s wrong?" Nolan shouted.

"They... they’re my friends who gave me information over the past year... the ones who sent the photo of your older sister last month," Nina answered.

"What? Them?" Nolan asked, staring at the creatures in front of him.

"I’m sorry, Nina, but I don't feel a soul in them anymore... they are dead. What stands before us are clearly not your friends; they are something else," Nadine replied.

"Stay here, Nina. Let me take care of them," Nolan said.

Nina didn’t move. "Thump," she fell to her knees in shock, tears streaming down her face.

"Nadine, watch Nina!" Nolan yelled.

"Got it," Nadine replied, immediately pulling Nina into an embrace.

Without another word, Nolan dropped into his combat stance. "Skrieeeeeeek!" The creatures charged, rushing Nolan with their claws out and their mouths hanging open, revealing rows of horrific, slimy teeth.

"Damn it," Nolan muttered.

Nolan extended his arms, shaping his hands into blades. A green light, sharp as a leaf, emerged from his hands. He lunged forward, slashing one creature across the waist and slicing it in two; the wound erupted with a disgusting, frothing mixture of red and yellow blood. Nolan spun his body and impaled a creature behind him with his arm. After wrenching it free, he pivoted and kicked another creature head so hard it flew backward, before swinging his hand-blade sideways to decapitate a fourth. Finally, he leaped into the air, aiming a strike at the last creature—a female whose face was still mostly human.

From above, Nolan saw the creature’s face as she looked up at him. He saw her smile and close her human eyes. Nolan grimaced, his heart heavy with mixed emotions, and "slash"—he cleaved the creature from the head down, her body splitting in two as it fell to the left and right. Nolan landed on one knee, his blade-hand still extended. He trembled for a moment, then clenched his fist and stood up.

"Hey... you bastard! Come out here and face me! You've played with human lives long enough, you demon!" Nolan screamed, overwhelmed with emotion.

Suddenly, a yellow holographic screen flickered open. Nolan’s eyes went wide and his jaw tightened until his teeth ground together. On the screen, Harold appeared in his bedroom, unclothed. On his lap sat Heidi, moving up and down, completely naked, wearing an expression Nolan had never seen in his life—one of surrendered pleasure and lust. To make matters worse, both of them were facing the camera, putting exactly what they were doing on full display.

"Can’t you see? I’m busy enjoying myself," Harold said with a smirk.

"Le... let her go," Nolan said, trembling as he stared at the ground.

"Huh... what was that?" Harold asked.

"Let Heidi go!" Nolan screamed.

"Oh... wait... you know my pet? Take a good look at this," Harold said with a smirk. He moved the camera to show Heidi’s face clearly on the screen; she looked lost in pleasure, her eyes rolling back and saliva dripping from her mouth.

"You bastard... I promise you’re going to die tonight," Nolan shouted, his emotions boiling over.

"My, my... I didn't expect my guest to be an acquaintance of my pet. Who is she to you? A girlfriend? Or what?" Harold asked mockingly.

"She’s my foster sister... Heidi!" Nolan yelled.

Hearing Nolan’s words, the Heidi on the screen seemed to snap back to reality. She turned toward the screen, her eyes widening as she stared in shock. Nolan could see his sister’s face—she clearly recognized him.

"Heidi... it’s me... Nolan... your brother," Nolan said.

"No... lan?" Heidi asked.

But suddenly, Harold yanked Heidi’s hair, jerking her head back while she continued to move up and down, and her expression quickly faded back into that same lustful daze.

"Hey... hey... don't go said whatever you want. It was hard enough for me to break this one," Harold said, sounding annoyed.

"Heidi!" Nolan screamed.

But Heidi didn't hear him anymore. Nolan was consumed by rage, the veins in his forehead bulging. Without him realizing it, a gray energy began to swirl around his feet, rising upward like a tornado. This caught Harold’s attention; he pushed Heidi aside and leaned into the camera so his face filled the screen.

"Huh... what kind of creature are you?" Harold asked, bewildered.

"Yaaaaaaaah!"

Nolan let out a primal scream. His gray aura shifted into a kaleidoscope of colors as orbs and beams from every element erupted from his body. They surged outward, obliterating every single tank in the room without exception. The entire chamber was bathed in a brilliant, multi-colored light, resembling the Big Bang he had once shown Otis in the Room—but this time, it was far more devastating. Faintly, a gray tower began to manifest, as if trying to tear its way into the physical world. Seeing this, Nina snapped out of her grief, and Nadine immediately scrambled to her feet.

"Nolan!" Nina screamed, shielding her face with her arms.

"Nolan... stop!" Nadine cried out, also covering her face for protection.

But Nolan didn't hear them. Instead, he snapped his eyes open and stared upward, his gray energy spiraling out of control. His eyes emitted radiant energy like grey fire and lightning, striking out in every direction. The entire room was swallowed by a brilliant, multi-colored gray light, and the gray tower became increasingly solid, as if a black hole were opening around it. Nina forced herself up and moved toward Nolan, with Nadine following close behind, both shielding their eyes with their arms. When Nadine reached out and touched Nolan’s arm, she was immediately jolted by the energy and looked back at Nina.

"Do something!" Nadine screamed.

Nina hesitated, thinking fast, before she formed a hand-blade shrouded in a fiery aura. She raised her hand high.

"I’m sorry... Nolan," Nina said.

"Thump." Nina struck the back of Nolan’s neck, sending him to his knees as he lost consciousness. Nadine caught his limp body instantly. Following the impact, all the gray and multi-colored energy surged back into Nolan’s body, and the gray tower vanished completely. Once the light faded, the room was left in total ruin and silence. Every creature from the tanks was gone, the vats destroyed, and yellow fluid soaked the entire floor. The holographic screen was nowhere to be seen.

Nina sat down immediately, resting Nolan's head on her lap while Nadine lay down and embraced his body. The two of them glanced at one another before turning their gaze back to Nolan.

"It's okay, Nolan... it's okay," Nina whispered, stroking his hair.

"I... I still love you, Nolan," Nadine added, holding him tightly.