After killing Saiman, Andrew and his team returned to their underground base. Once inside, Andrew immediately made his way deeper into the facility, descending a long flight of stairs. He entered a vast underground cave, its walls damp and echoing every step. In front of him stretched a maze of paths—dozens, maybe even a hundred—branching off into the darkness.
But Andrew didn't hesitate. He chose a straight path and kept walking, his footsteps steady in the dim light. After some time, he reached a door and pushed it open. Inside, the atmosphere was heavy. Dozens of scientists worked intently at their stations, their faces serious and focused, barely noticing his arrival.
With a cold expression, Andrew entered the chief scientist's office. As he stepped in, James, the scientist with black hair and striking pinkish eyes, looked up. The moment their eyes met, James visibly stiffened, his confident demeanor faltering for just a brief moment. Nervousness crept into his features, though he quickly masked it with a professional composure.
Andrew stared coldly at James, his voice low and direct.
"Is the project ready?"
James met Andrew's gaze, then, with a gesture, signaled for him to wait.
"Boss, it's not possible to complete it this quickly. We've got a prototype, but it comes with side effects. You can't use it yet."
A flicker of fury crossed Andrew's face at the words. Without warning, he grabbed James by the collar, lifting him off the ground.
"Then why can Crimson Dawn pull it off, and you can't?" Andrew's voice grew harsher, his grip tightening.
Shaking James, he demanded, "Answer me."
James, now visibly angry, forced himself to meet Andrew's gaze.
"Boss, I've already told you," he said, his voice steady despite the situation. "Crimson Dawn's medicine only turns people into mindless drones, controlled by a controller. My formula, on the other hand, grants real power. Just give me more time—I'm this close to success."
Suddenly, Andrew threw James to the floor with a force that echoed through the room. His voice was cold and deadly.
"I don't have time for this. I can't wait to kill them all. Where's the injection?"
Without hesitation, Andrew began searching through James's desk.
Seeing Andrew's hand reach toward the drawer, James's eyes widened in fear. He shouted desperately.
"Andrew, it's not ready! You can't use it! It has side effects! Stop now!"
But Andrew, already consumed by rage from Saiman's death, didn't listen. His fingers closed around the injection, and before James could protest further, Andrew was about to inject it into his own body.
Just as the needle hovered near his skin, the door burst open, and Issabele stepped into the room. She froze at the sight of Andrew's disheveled appearance, his face twisted with rage and the syringe in his hand. Her eyes quickly darted to James, seeking an explanation.
"James!" Issabele exclaimed, her voice laced with urgency. "What's going on?"
James, panic clear on his face, quickly responded.
"Stop him, Issabele! He'll listen to you! You have to stop him from injecting it!"
Issabele's heart raced as she saw the panic in James's eyes. Just as she was about to shout at Andrew, the syringe plunged into his skin.
James's face went grim, his voice barely a whisper.
"It's over... It's over... How can we destroy Crimson Dawn if Andrew's not there?"
Issabele, in a sudden burst of action, grabbed the syringe from Andrew's hand. But as she looked at the empty vial, her face drained of color.
"No…" she whispered, fear creeping into her voice. The injection was already empty.
On the other side of the room, Andrew's face contorted with growing rage. Dark, black marks began to appear, spreading across his skin like a plague.
Seeing this, James sprang to his feet and quickly pulled Issabele out of the office, guiding her toward the exit.
As they reached the door, Issabele, horrified, tried to look back at Andrew, shouting his name.
"Brother! Brother!"
But James, with urgency in his voice, quickly locked the door behind them, his eyes trained on the glass as they watched Andrew's transformation.
Issabele, desperate and furious, turned to James. "What are you doing, James? Give me the keys to the room!"
James turned to her, his face grim. "Sis… this is for your own good."
Inside the office, Andrew's rage reached a boiling point, his screams echoing through the room.
"AGGGHHHHHH! AGHHHHHHHHH!!!"
Issabele's eyes filled with worry as she watched through the glass, then turned to James, grabbing his collar in frustration.
"What was the injection for?" she demanded, her voice trembling with fear.
James, his face full of worry, met her gaze and said, his voice heavy with dread,
"This formula is for superhuman strength," James said, his voice trembling. "But it's not ready yet…"
Issabele's eyes widened in shock. Before she could respond, a fist tore through the glass wall, shattering it with a deafening crash. Both she and James turned toward the office, their eyes widening in horror. Andrew's once-blue eyes were now glowing a deep, blood-red, like burning embers. Thick smoke poured from his mouth, swirling around him in a dark cloud.
Issabele, frozen in terror, could barely whisper. Her voice cracked as she murmured, her eyes locked on Andrew's transformed figure.
"B—Brother…"