2: Chapter 2 Inverted Cross Blood Table

The excruciating pain receded like a tide, replaced by a hair-raising sensation of tearing.

Lynn stared fixedly at his left wrist.

Beneath the titanium alloy shackle, his flesh was curling outward. There was no gushing of blood, for all of it was being frantically sucked up and reorganized by a bizarre force.

The dark red bio-metal, like a living parasite, pierced through Lynn's ulna and radius, forcibly twisting and merging with his blood vessels and nerves. Accompanied by the tooth-aching sound of bones grinding, a metal wristwatch filled with a tyrannical aura was forcibly "grown" out of his flesh.

The strap was a dark gray bony structure, deeply embedded in his flesh. In the center of the dial, a crimson inverted triangle mark, like a demon's vertical pupil, shimmered with a bloodthirsty light under the shadowless lamp.

[ Bloodtrix (crimson blood watch) physical connection complete. ]

[ Soul binding complete. ]

[ Host: Lynn. ]

[ Warning: Large-scale necrosis of host cells detected, vital signs below threshold, system about to enter hibernation... ]

[ Error! External high-energy genetic material (inferior Super Soldier Serum) injection detected! ]

[ Initiating Devour Rule. ]

In Lynn's mind, the cold mechanical voice had just faded when an abrupt change occurred on the operating table.

The blue serum that had been frantically surging into Lynn's veins along the IV tube and destroying his genetic chain suddenly changed its flow.

They no longer destroyed Lynn's internal organs, but were instead pulled directly toward the Bloodtrix on his left wrist by a terrifying suction force!

" Beep, beep, beep, beep—! "

The monitoring instruments in the laboratory instantly erupted with shrill alarm sounds. The data on the screens displayed a cliff-like, bizarre fluctuation.

" This is impossible! "

The Chief Surgeon lunged toward the console, his hands frantically hammering the keyboard; his originally fanatical eyes were now filled with terror.

" My Lord Baron! The genetic collapse of Experiment 109 has stopped! No... that's not right! " The Doctor turned his head, his voice becoming shrill due to extreme disbelief. " The serum inside him is disappearing! That metal instrument that appeared out of thin air is 'eating' our Super Soldier Serum! "

Outside the explosion-proof glass, Baron Strucker's expression instantly darkened to the extreme.

He looked at the wristwatch on Lynn's wrist emitting an ominous red light, and a sense of crisis stemming from instinct surged straight to his scalp.

Having been in power at HYDRA for so many years, he had seen all kinds of superpowered individuals and mutants, but he had absolutely never seen a mechanical construct that could grow out of human bones!

" Stop the infusion! Cut the power immediately! " Baron Strucker roared into the communicator.

" We can't cut it! " The researcher was drenched in sweat, desperately slapping the control panel. " That thing has generated a small bio-magnetic field; it's not only absorbing the serum, but also drawing energy from the Base's power grid! "

" Zzzzt—bang! "

The shadowless lamp overhead let out a mournful sound, and the bulbs burst one after another.

The backup power for the entire underground laboratory was forcibly activated, and glaring red light, accompanied by ear-piercing alarms, instantly enveloped every corner.

" Hum—hum—hum— "

The alarms tore through the deathly silence a thousand meters beneath Siberia. All HYDRA armed personnel inside the Base raised their assault rifles and rushed toward the core laboratory.

Amidst this deafening alarm, Lynn slowly raised his head.

The unfocused look in his eyes completely vanished.

Replaced by a pure, bone-chilling brutality.

[ Devouring complete. ]

[ Inferior Super Soldier Serum analyzed. ]

[ Energy conversion rate: Extremely low. Current Bloodtrix charging progress: 1%. ]

[ Energy fed back to host, physical restoration complete, basic attributes elevated to human limits. ]

" Click, click, click... "

Lynn clenched his right fist tightly.

His body, previously emaciated from experimental torture, now had muscles bulging slightly like coiling dragons. An unprecedented sense of power surged through his limbs and bones.

But this was not enough.

This only restored his body; it was the most insignificant feedback from the Bloodtrix.

[ Minimum charging threshold detected. ]

[ Primary Alien Gene Bank, unlocked. ]

" Kill him! "

Baron Strucker's voice exploded through the laboratory via the broadcast, carrying unquestionable coldness and a trace of undetectable panic: " Forget about the experimental data, kill him immediately! Cut off his hand and bring it back to headquarters! "

" Bang! "

The Chief Surgeon did not hesitate, immediately pulling a large-caliber pistol from under his white coat and aiming it at the center of Lynn's forehead.

At the same time, the laboratory's heavy alloy door was roughly kicked open.

A full team of heavily armed HYDRA soldiers in black combat uniforms rushed in, their dark gun barrels instantly locking onto Lynn on the operating table.

A dead end.

In the eyes of an ordinary person, this was a hopeless situation with no chance of survival.

But Lynn smiled.

He looked at the dark gun barrels, parted his dry lips, and revealed a smile more ferocious than a demon's.

He struggled violently.

" Snap! "

His right arm, just strengthened to human limits by the serum, erupted with astonishing, monstrous strength, forcibly snapping the titanium alloy shackle on his right wrist that had malfunctioned due to the power surge.

His blood-soaked right hand finally gained freedom.

The Chief Surgeon pulled the trigger without hesitation.

" Bang! "

The bullet whizzed out.

But in the instant before the shot was fired, Lynn's right hand, with speed exceeding human limits, slammed hard onto the crimson dial on his left wrist.

" Click. "

An extremely crisp mechanical clicking sound, as if some ancient seal had been unlocked, drowned out the gunshot and the alarm, clearly reaching the ears of everyone present.

The Bloodtrix's inverted triangular dial popped up suddenly!

Blinding blood-red light, like tangible liquid, instantly gushed out from the gaps in the dial, completely engulfing Lynn.

The bullet fired by the Chief Surgeon hit that mass of blood-red light, like a clay ox entering the sea; it was melted and severed instantly without even causing a ripple.

Outside the explosion-proof glass, Baron Strucker stared fixedly at the constantly expanding, twisting cocoon of blood-red light.

Through the cocoon of light, he saw Lynn's body undergoing some kind of terrifying physical distortion.

Bones were elongating, muscles were tearing.

What made his scalp tingle the most was...

In that mass of crimson blood mist, beneath the two human arms, two more dark red giant hands, as thick as tree trunks and covered in sharp bone spurs, had been forcibly torn out!

A low, hoarse roar, as if from the abyss of hell, slowly emanated from the center of the blood mist, shaking the entire laboratory's explosion-proof glass until fine cracks appeared.

" Now... "

" It's my turn. "