Mutant Girl

Inside a cave tunnel.

A lab security guard, carrying a Japanese firearm, carefully searched the area to either side.

After confirming there were no companions behind him, Kyle silently exited camouflage mode, dashed to his side, and struck the back of his neck with a sharp hand chop.

The researcher rolled his eyes back, his body went limp, and he collapsed unconscious to the ground.

Kyle had not killed him because he still had other uses for him.

"Venom, you’re up." Kyle patted the combat suit on his body. Venom extended a wriggling black tendril, spun it through the air, and drove its tip into the back of the researcher’s head.

In less than ten seconds, Venom searched through his memories, seized several fragments of information, and indirectly relayed them to Kyle through its thoughts.

Kyle’s heart jolted as though he had heard something unbelievable. Uneasily, he looked toward a cave tunnel within the mountain.

There was a concealed underground research facility here, gathering nearly all of Japan’s top biological scientists under the Emperor’s orders to create a special kind of human known as the "Holy Child."

Venom could not explain the details clearly. It had only searched up vague information, which became even more abstract after being conveyed through thoughts.

After a moment of silence, Kyle had Venom disguise his combat suit as a full set of protective gear: a gas mask, white lab coat, plastic gloves, and knee-high boots. He then took the firearm and identification from the lab security guard’s body before heading toward the underground research facility.

No matter what, the so-called special humans had caught his attention.

Following Venom’s directions, Kyle passed through several naturally formed cave tunnels. One of them had been artificially constructed deeper inside. At the dead end, after his identification was checked like a pass, the wall opened to reveal an elevator within.

After descending fifty meters, Kyle reached his destination, and a blinding light flared before his eyes.

The vast underground chamber was brightly illuminated by large lamps. Advanced research equipment and glass containers stood in rows, while more than twenty researchers in white protective coats worked with their heads lowered.

"Quick! Check which data is wrong! Two more Holy Child test subjects just died…"

"Sigh, K-268 and K-269, right?"

"At present, only Holy Child K-208 is still alive."

"Unfortunately, it still isn’t perfect. But its irradiated genes should be the closest to a stable value so far."

Several biologists ranging from their thirties to their eighties gathered together in discussion. Disguised as a security guard, Kyle crossed the underground hall. No one spared him a glance; all their attention was fixed on data sheets and the tests in their hands.

Kyle moved through the facility without obstruction and reached the rows of isolated rooms at the very back. As if he had already chosen his target, he headed toward one of them.

A dedicated guard stood watch outside that isolation room. Seeing Kyle approach, he immediately said warily, "What is your identification number? You are not allowed near this area without authorization—"

Before he could finish, Kyle’s outstretched right hand clamped over his mouth. Kyle lifted him and smashed his head against the iron door, knocking him into a half-dead unconscious state.

Kyle took the key from the guard, opened the isolation room, and was met by a heavy stench of disinfectant.

Closing the door behind him, Kyle entered the room and raised his eyes, taking in everything within the isolation chamber.

In the modestly sized room, scientific equipment and medical instruments hummed around a massive cylindrical glass tank filled with translucent liquid. Amid several interwoven thin tubes, a black-haired girl of about seven or eight floated in the center.

The girl’s small naked body appeared to be in some kind of dormant state. Curled up like a cat, she hugged herself into a ball. Her fair, tender skin made her look somewhat like a porcelain doll.

"So this is their most perfect research result?" Kyle frowned as he approached the glass tank and placed his left hand against its wall. At this distance, he could already detect another person’s cards.

Sure enough, a single Ability Card floated above the girl—

Yes, there were no other white or green Ability Cards. There was only one… dark blue card.

Mind Control: A rare blue Ability Card granted by genetic mutation, allowing mental manipulation.

Possesses mental strength more than ten times that of an ordinary human, along with the innate abilities to learn quickly, comprehend quickly, and control physical objects for spatial movement.

The effectiveness of Mind Control depends on the distance and weight of the controlled object, as well as the strength of will of any controlled living being.

Current status: Ability unstable, cannot be extracted (rare blue prefix).

"The Japanese are actually creating mutants." Kyle’s eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the talent Ability Card, similar to Logan’s, which had also been gained through an innate genetic mutation.

This was the Marvel Avengers movie universe. Unlike the X-Men universe of another series, where mutants were everywhere, this world had mutations, technology, magic, and alien myths flourishing side by side. Naturally born mutants were exceedingly rare; Hulk and Spider-Man had both mutated later in life, while Black Panther’s power was inherited.

The only true mutants who had appeared in the movies were people like Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver later on.

And yet, there was one here too!

"Unfortunately, her vital signs are far too weak. She’s only a half-finished product." Kyle felt a trace of regret. The medical instruments connected to the glass tank clearly displayed the mutant girl’s heartbeat. The arc of the electrical readings was nearly a flat line.

Limited by biology and technology, they had created a mutant, but her life force was extremely weak. She could only survive in a vegetative state through the nutrients supplied by the solution.

Once she left the experimental tank, she likely would not survive for even three minutes outside.

"No value." Kyle shook his head and turned to leave. Just as he reached the door, a weak voice suddenly entered his mind.

Save me—

Kyle stopped stiffly. He turned around and stared gravely at the little girl in the glass tank. She still floated motionlessly in the nutrient solution.

An illusion? Absolutely not!

"Do you want to be freed? Then I’ll grant your wish!" Kyle smiled and approached the glass tank again. His right hand, protected by the Vibranium Bracer, clenched into a fist and struck the glass wall with all his strength.

Bang!

Under the impact of over a ton of force, several cracks split across the reinforced bulletproof glass wall.

Kyle’s face remained cold as he continued swinging his right fist. The cracks steadily widened and spread, but the deafening noise also drew the attention of the researchers and guards in the underground facility.

"My God! What are you doing?"

"Stop!"

After opening the door and seeing Kyle punching the glass tank inside, the two staff members were so frightened that they dropped to the ground.

As if he had not heard them, Kyle drew back his right hand and delivered another full-force punch against the cracked glass wall!

With a crack, the tank burst apart before the horrified eyes of the medical staff, and the nutrient fluid surged outward together with the mutant girl’s body.