IN THE LAB —
Rime stood silently in front of her desk, her expression unreadable.
Moments later, the senior researchers entered her office. None of them spoke. They simply exchanged thoughtful glances with her.
Rime didn't need words. She stared at them, anticipation gleaming in her eyes.
The researchers gave her a subtle nod.
That was all the confirmation she needed.
A faint grin touched her lips as she pushed herself up from the desk and walked toward the exit. The researchers stepped aside and followed her in perfect unison.
"Everything in check?" she asked as they walked.
"Yes, Madam," one of them replied. "We made sure of it."
Rime didn't respond immediately. Then, in a colder tone:
"The intruder?"
"Also secured, ma'am. We've made sure he won't have it easy."
"Good."
After that, silence reclaimed the corridor.
---
INSIDE THE CAPSULE —
The intruder floated inside a glowing green capsule.
His body was frozen, unmoving.
But his mind was far from still.
> What's happening?
Why can't I move?
Am I dead?
Or going to die?
No… I can't. Dil needs me.
Not like this… not like this…
Then—
A voice.
"Calm down, my king."
!
> What—? Who?!
No answer.
Only silence.
> ...Have I finally lost it? Am I hallucinating?
Terror bloomed inside him. If he wasn't insane already, this might be the moment that broke him.
"Although your mind is unstable, you haven't reached the point of hallucinations."
"It was me who spoke earlier… I only meant to calm you."
> That voice again… it's real. It knows what I'm thinking.
"Indeed, I do."
"You're still not used to this. That's understandable."
> Who are you? Why can I hear you in my head? Why call me king?! What do you want from me?!
"Now, now," the voice chuckled. "One at a time. I can't answer a storm."
> ...Okay. Think clearly.
The intruder calmed his breathing—at least, mentally. His body was still paralyzed. His thoughts, however, began to settle.
"Who are you?" he asked in his mind.
"You'll know in time."
That wasn't the answer he wanted, but he moved on.
"...What do you want?"
"To help you, of course."
"Why?"
"Because I want to."
> Tch. What kind of answer is that?
"How can you help me?"
"By making you stronger than you've ever been."
"...How?"
The conversation went on, the voice persistent but cryptic. The intruder, though tempted, refused. He had learned his lesson.
This situation—being here—was the result of one rash decision.
He wouldn't make the same mistake again.
"I'll think about it," he muttered.
"When?"
"You don't have much time left."
"I'll manage. Don't worry about me."
Silence.
The voice was gone.
For now.
And though part of him regretted it... a larger part felt relief.
Nothing in this world is free, he reminded himself.
---
THE NEXT DAY —
Rime and her senior staff stood in front of eight black capsules and eleven green ones.
This was the real beginning.
Project:Necromancer —created to combat and control the Necrosang.
There were two paths of experimentation:
Type-1: Mindless beings fused with primal instincts, designed to control other creatures.
Type-2: Enhanced humans capable of commanding the Type-1s.
Everyone stood still, waiting for Rime's command.
"...Begin," she said.
And the experiments began.
---
A WEEK LATER —
Nineteen subjects entered the program.
Eight Type-1s. Eleven Type-2s.
Now, only seven remained: Four Type-1s and three Type-2s.
These seven were the only ones strong enough—lucky enough—to survive.
Among them, three stood out from the rest.
Shockingly, one of them was the intruder.
Despite being subjected to harsher conditions than anyone else—he endured.
The other two were a Type-1 and a Type-2, both performing above expectations.
It was time for the next phase.
The Soul Serum for Type-2s.
The Vessel Serum for Type-1s.
---
ONE DAY LATER —
All seven survived the injection.
A miracle.
They were now kept in two secured rooms—divided by type. Surveillance was constant, especially on the Type-2s. They were still human, after all… and dangerous.
But something went wrong.
One of the Type-1s was… different.
It felt something foreign.
Fear.
Or maybe—instinct.
Something deep within it screamed to escape.
And in a flash, it triggered a response that shouldn't have been possible.
It reached into itself...
And unknowingly issued a command that overrode all others.
> For one terrifying moment—it became Alpha.
And then—
All hell broke loose.
---