Cloudhawk furrowed his brows. “So what are you saying?”
“It’s simple. I’ll teach you the language of the Elysian lands, and you teach me the ancient scripts. I’ll also use the resources we have here to make you stronger, improving both your abilities and body, so long as you agree to work with me and follow my every command. Whatever I tell you to do you will perform unconditionally without complaint.”
Cloudhawk was unprepared for her offer. She understood what the language spoken in the Elysian lands? And she was promising to make him stronger?
Ignoring the former, the resources commanded by the Seekers could certainly benefit him greatly. After all, whatever medicines and materials were found in the wastelands were produced by them. With their support, Cloudhawk could reap considerable benefits.
And yet, there was something about this woman that Cloudhawk didn’t trust. In fact, he would trust few people anymore, especially someone as intelligent and puzzling as her. “How do I know you aren’t trying to trick me?”
Hellflower’s plump lips spread into a smile. “The Academician is very interested in the abilities of the demon hunters. He will certainly want to experiment on you. During this process, no one would dare harm you, myself included. You don’t need to worry about your health.” She left out the fact that during this process, he wouldn’t be permitted to leave either.
Cloudhawk had no reason to trust her.
However, it was also true that right now, there were no better options. Cloudhawk was also interested to learn what he could from the Seekers. If he spent some time here and learned their knowledge, perhaps it could serve him well in the future.
She didn’t wait for his reply. Her keen and insightful mind could see discern his decision from his expression. She spoke softly to him, “I’ll set up a cot here in the study. For now, you’ll live with me, and your primary job will be translating data.”
108 Examinations
Hyena often had dreams. This time, he was in a dark forest, surrounded by fog and ruined buildings coated in damp moss. The trees were twisted and ferocious, like terrifying demons that groped at him from the darkness. The sky was vast and felt as heavy as an iron curtain settled over the stretching nightmarish landscape.
He was lost.
The darkness was stirring, and an unsettling rustle came from the trees. Something was coming.
Hyena was wracked by an unexplainable fear that made him shiver like he knew something terrifying was about to happen. Just as he was preparing to flee, the mists parted, and an ethereal grey figure crept into view. It was a wolf.
This wolf was no ordinary creature of the forest. Its shoulders were wider than its hips, and the muscles of its upper body were vastly stronger than those in its lower half. He could tell the beast could both walk on all fours and also upright like a man. As he looked, the wolf fixed him with glowing green eyes that were replete with some dark magic. They were calling him closer.
“Have you already forgotten who you are?”
As the creature spoke with human words, Hyena’s hair stood on end. His panic was dispersed by an inexplicable wrath, and with a roar, he flung himself at the beast, ready to tear it apart with his bare hands. Only, when he reached the wolf, it vanished.
A lake of limpid water appeared next, free of any ripples or waves and clear as a mirror. Slowly, he approached the shore, and when he saw his reflection in the waters, his pupils shrank to black dots. A green-eyed wolf was staring back at him.
“No!”
Hyena snapped out of the nightmare with half his body drenched in sweat. Dark hairs had begun to slither from his pores but vanished once he woke up. With heart pounding, he pushed himself out of bed and approached a mirror. When his familiar ugly face greeted him, his ragged breathing slowly calmed.
Bang!
Hyena put his fist through the mirror, sending blood-smeared glass scattering every which way. Each shard reflected a part of his twisted features. With a pained expression, he dropped to the ground with his head in his hands, pressing in on his scalp with all his might. A bestial growl issued from his throat.
It was breakfast time.
Hyena sat in a rather luxurious dining room. He was the greatest warrior the Seekers had, so he was treated with amenities a normal wastelander couldn’t imagine even in their wildest dreams. There was bread, milk, fruit – things a typical person wouldn’t dare imagine.
Several attractive servants addressed him respectfully, “Please help yourself, sir.”
With a scowl on his twisted face, Hyena sniffed the air. He plucked up a piece of bread, took a small bite, and quickly spat it back out. Enraged, he flipped the table over, sending the delectable meal rolling across the floor. “This bullshit is fit for people to eat?!”
Rivulets of fresh goat’s milk marked a trail along the ground. This treasured luxury of the wastelands was cast away like garbage and the stink of raw meat hung in the air. Several of the maids hurried to clean up the mess. They were at a loss. Over the last half year, their master’s temperament had become stranger and stranger.
Before, he had been vigorous and lively. Every night, he would take three women to bed. Now, though, he barely touched any of them. Where before he could eat as much as four or five men, now, he barely picked at anything they brought him.
The problem wasn’t with his appetite. When he stared at them now, there was a hunger in his eyes, but not a hunger for pleasure. It was a hunger for their flesh!
Hyena stomped from his residence and, snatching up two large chunks of raw meat, made his way to the Academician’s sample collection room. There were many subjects gathered for Roste’s experiments, from giant rats to lizards to even wolves.
His intention was to do what he always did in the past and feed the beasts to keep them strong. Instead, he found himself in front of the wolves’ cage staring at the mutated creatures.
The wolves kept here were the offspring of experimental subjects. Their original stock was normal wasteland wolves, but the Academician’s medicines had increased their mutation rate. Each evolution was faster and more dramatic than the last. Now, they were stronger, smarter, and more cunning.
Every one of them had undergone incredible strengthening. Even the weakest of them would be a wolf pack alpha if released back into the world. A handful of them was even displaying signs of higher intelligence.
Academician Roste was a genius – but he was also a madman.
The wolves had gathered round, jostling for position to grab the fresh meat. The largest one, in contrast, was seated calmly nearby. Her fur was a silvery white, majestic and awe-inspiring. Without any anger or feral madness, she calmly watched the man standing outside of the cage. She and Hyena stared at each other for a long time. It sent a shiver up Hyena’s spine.
They called this mother wolf Subject Zero. She was their most successful trial yet, coming from a strong and stable pedigree. As such, Roste didn’t experiment on her and instead used her for breeding. Her offspring had the same doughty constitution, thus giving the Academician no shortage of good experiment material.
The truth was that Hyena wasn’t entirely human. The strongest of this majestic creature’s offspring, whose blood and essence flowed through his veins.
The old matriarch caught his familiar scent. Her sharp, calm eyes settled on him. A steady gaze that filled him with dread.
He felt like he was losing his sense of identity.
Hyena had lost all interest in women as well as in bread, fruit, and alcohol. He felt a closer kinship to these beasts now through a connection that seemed to grow out of his very bones.
He dropped his head and stared at the bloody slabs of meat in his hands. The stench of it filled his nose and made his mouth water. He fought the desire to lick it, to just taste the fresh blood and uncooked meat.
He gulped down a mouthful of spit.
In the end, his human will won over and he managed to fight down the call of the beast within.
&n
bsp; Moments later, a researcher stepped into the room. “Hyena, sir. The Academician has called for you.”
Hyena cast a final look towards the mother wolf before throwing the meat into the wolf cage.
When he arrived at the laboratory, there were three people already waiting. One was the shapely and attractive Hellflower. Another was the unassuming, balding old Academician who feebly held himself up with a walking staff.
The final person was a lascivious man, thin as a rail. At a glance, one could tell he was a vulgar man. He couldn’t keep his eyes off the swell of Hellflower’s chest and the curve of her backside. He was director of the laboratory, both a Seeker and a scientist. Although he certainly had a name taken from the ancient days, most of the Seekers preferred to call him by his nickname: Chimp.
At one time, Hyena himself had drooled over Hellflower. He had to fight the urge to tear his pants off and mount her like a beast, ravaging that peach-shaped tail for his pleasure. Now, though, his tastes have changed. It didn’t matter how attractive a woman was. He was no longer excited by the view. To him, they might as well be beautiful monkeys. He simply wasn’t interested.
Academician Roste coughed feebly before peeling open his dim eyes and fixing them on Hyena. “You seem a little off today. What’s the matter?”
“Thank you for your concern, Academician.” His feelings toward the old scholar were complicated. On the one hand, he’d brought Hyena back from the brink of death. On the other, his current troubles were a result of the Academician’s work. Whatever the case, he held the man in the highest esteem, barely daring to look him in the eye. Hyena addressed the old scientist with the utmost respect. “I’m fine.”
Academician Roste stared at Hyena for a moment, his turbid eyes seemingly able to pierce all the world’s obfuscations. He spoke again through a series of coughs, “You are my greatest work and the only one whose memory I did not erase with pharmaceuticals. If there are any problems, we can solve them together. I am your creator, but more than that, I am like your father.”
“Hyena, I really do envy you!” The expression on Director Chimp’s face matched his words. “You were a first-class soldier once, and thanks to the Academician’s efforts, you have been turned into one of the greatest warriors of the wastelands. Even Greenland Outpost’s leader, Hydra, has nothing on you. If only I had the kind of power you possess.”
Hellflower answered with a pretty laugh, “At best, the process only offers a fifty percent chance of success. Without the appropriate willpower or constitution, do you think you’d survive?”
Her biting words angered Chimp, and though it was just banter, he couldn’t endure her disdain. His response was deliberately ambiguous and thick with contempt. “My constitution? Find us a bed and you can see for yourself. You’ll learn what a real man is!”
“Stop wasting time.” Roste’s words quavered soft as gossamer. He really did seem like he would keel over at any moment. “Bring the young man in. We must begin the examination.”
The young man entered shortly after, clad in his cloak with his features hidden behind a white mask.
Cloudhawk wasn’t entirely sure what situation he found himself in. He looked around at his surroundings in confusion, his right hand never leaving the shaft of his exorcist rod. He gave others the impression of someone who was on edge, vigilant against any danger. When he saw the Academician, Hellflower, and the others, he approached without hesitation. “Why did you call me here?”
“Don’t be nervous, my young friend.” The Academician greeted him with an amiable smile. “We’ve asked you here because we’re interested in testing your unique abilities. Please relax. You’re in no danger.”
Cloudhawk glanced at Hellflower and then walked into the test chamber.
Several Seekers got the tests underway.
The first in the series of examinations was designed to analyze his skills as a demon hunter. By asking him to awaken his relics, they tested his abilities and used the data to extrapolate his strength. They determined that his psychic energies surpassed those of a typical novice. Yet, it was still slightly inferior to that of a full-fledged demon hunter.
Weaker than they expected!
Even master demon hunters were of little concern for the Caliph of the Sands. In comparison, Cloudhawk was hardly worthy to serve as cannon fodder before the demon. However, his skills as a demon hunter were worth noting. Besides, where else were they going to find a proper demon hunter out here?
Next, they tested his physical abilities.
Wastelanders possessed neither the holy inheritance of the gods nor the Elysians’ methods of cultivation. Typical denizens of the wastes were forced to awaken their potential through hardships, facing death in order to make themselves stronger. There were gene activating medicines, but they were few and far between out here. Mutagens also varied in effect depending on the individual, and like panacea, they drew on the latent potential of the subject to overdraft what their bodies were capable of. Using them to improve one’s physical characteristics wasn’t always a wise decision.
No such substances were detected during Cloudhawk’s physical test.
Everyone’s constitution was different, and as such, so was his/her developmental process. Some people were strong enough to easily lift a thousand pounds. Some were so agile that they had supernatural reaction times and movement speed. Still, others could recover from injuries faster than normal. Some were abnormally intelligent. No two individuals were alike.
However, Cloudhawk was especially unique. They discovered that while his mutations didn’t develop particularly quickly, they were systemic. He was stronger, faster, and smarter than any normal person, not to mention his increased regenerative capabilities. Whether it was his muscle or neural connections, he was better than average across the board!
Unbelievable! It was hard to accept! It only became more astonishing after he answered a series of questions about his personal history.
His increased capabilities had only manifested in the last three months. At this rate, his improvement would be spectacular in a decade or two!
Academician Roste was so excited that his veiny hands were clenched into fists. This boy wasn’t strong now, but his potential was incredible!
The elderly scientist spoke softly with Chimp, “Go make the preparations. Use Subject Zero.”
Chimp’s expression betrayed his surprise. Subject Zero? Hyena reacted as well, the knuckles of his scarred hands whitening as he curled them into fists.
109 The Dark Atom
The final test measured Cloudhawk’s endurance and willpower. The methodology was simple, including tests such as having him lift something that was just heavy enough that it nearly exceeded his abilities and seeing how long he could hold it or having him enduring increasing amounts of painful stimulation.
Once again, the results surprised the researchers.
If normal subjects were given a measure of one to represent their stamina and willpower, Cloudhawk was a three or more.
The young man was a model wastelander, at least in terms of mannerisms. He was fanatical, tenacious down to his bones, and even when brought to the brink of death, his will was unbending.
Cloudhawk, meanwhile, was becoming more and more infuriated by the process. These tests were going on for fuckin’ forever! What the hell were they doing?!
Roste, leaning heavily on his cane, led his three subordinates into the testing chamber. By now, he regarded Cloudhawk with entirely different eyes, like a treasure hunter who’d found his buried riches. He drew on his several decades of preparation, careful not to reveal his deep excitement at their findings. He carefully sized Cloudhawk up as they entered. “Tell me, are you interested in becoming the strongest organism in the wastelands?”
Cloudhawk found the old scholar’s question baffling. “Who wouldn’t be?” he flippantly replied.
Academician Roste idly fingered his bone necklace and sighed emotionally. “Indeed, who doesn’t want to be stro
nger? Our biology is so fragile – we humans are so easily broken. The smallest injury or illness could take away the ones we love. Only the strong can protect that which means the most to them.”
Why did everything this old man say sound so mysterious?
Hellflower suddenly chimed in, “As I recall, the Conclave of the Dark Atom should be smuggling in a shipment of materials from the Elysian lands this afternoon. None of our other subjects would be able to handle the steroids. We can use them on Cloudhawk.”
“Alright,” Roste answered without hesitation. He winced as another set of hacking coughs overcame him. When he caught his breath, he opened his eyes once again, turning them towards Hyena. “Gather some people and head out to meet the Dark Atom party. Offer double the price they ask and have Wolfblade bring more materials from the Elysian lands.”
“What the fuck are y’all planning?” Cloudhawk was becoming less comfortable with his situation by the minute. “I’m getting pretty damn tired of being kept in the dark!”
Cloudhawk was not one to believe that gifts were magically showered on people from on high. The Academician had taken him in, given him fine food and drink, and was now preparing to use precious materials smuggled from the Elysian lands to make him stronger. None of this would be cheap.
This question sent the old man into another fit of hacking coughs. His chest heaved as he fought for breath. This time, it was so bad that he was having difficulty staying on his feet.
“Don’t be so ungrateful!” Chimp’s creepy face twisted in indignation as he glared at Cloudhawk while supporting Roste. “The Academician thinks highly of you. He wants to help! To have this sort of patronage would be a dream come true for many in the wastelands!”
Roste eventually caught his breath and waved his hand, entreating Chimp to silence. He regarded Cloudhawk with that calm, erudite expression and those rheumy, wise eyes. “Young man, you can see what condition I’m in.”
The Wastelander Page 75
