Joaquin rushed out of the room and immediately gathered his team. He snatched the patients’ records from the table—X-rays, CT scans, vitals, even their MRI results. His eyes scanned each paper, and with every line he read, his chest grew heavier.Finally, he sank into his swivel chair, shoulders tense, eyes weary.“Why? What’s wrong, Joaquin?” Serena asked, stepping closer.“Is this something we should be that worried about?” Mikyla added, trying to sound calm but failing. “The scientists are already developing a cure.”Joaquin shook his head slowly, his expression grim. “If you think a human medicine can save us, you’re wrong. Because this—” he lifted the reports “—has no antidote.”Mikyla blinked, exchanging uneasy glances with Serena. Even the other doctors in the room looked confused.“What do you mean by that, Dr. Lopez?” one of them asked. “Yes, it’s a new disease, but eventually, we can develop a cure.”“You’re all wrong,” Joaquin replied, his voice low but firm. “This… thing d

Joaquin sharpened his senses, scanning the area. Two black vans were parked just behind him, engines still humming faintly.Moments later, their doors swung open one by one. Joaquin frowned when he saw that the men stepping out weren’t soldiers or agents—just ordinary-looking people.But each of them was holding a metal bat.He smirked. Gangsters. But who sent them?Within seconds, they surrounded him, their expressions dark, violent—like wolves circling prey. Joaquin could almost taste their intent to kill him.And then, as he looked closer, he realized who might be behind it all.He shook his head, almost amused.“You’re dead now!” a familiar voice roared.Joaquin turned toward it and saw Andrew stepping out from one of the vans, his face twisted with hatred.“Mr. Alvarez,” Joaquin said coolly. “If you wanted to talk, you could’ve just called me.”Andrew let out a cold, humorless laugh. “Do you really think I came here just to talk?” He shook his head, eyes burning. “You know, I’ve

When Joaquin and Serena arrived at the airport, they immediately boarded the plane. Fortunately, they made it just in time for their flight despite being hours late.Serena let out a deep breath of relief once the plane took off.“You should rest,” she told him softly.Joaquin took the blanket from the seat. “You should,” he replied.Serena blinked, surprised, then smiled.“Okay, Dr. Lopez.”Joaquin chuckled under his breath.He leaned back, allowing himself to rest for a while, closing his eyes to calm his mind.The journey took several hours, with a short stopover before they finally boarded a private helicopter that would take them to their final destination—the Arctic.Unlike other regions, this place had only one city, and it used to be the only area open to tourists. But things were different now. Joaquin knew this wasn’t just another city anymore—this was ground zero.“The AHC1 virus really hit this place hard,” Serena murmured.They could barely see any people around—only a fe

The wind howled louder as they descended the mountain, the icy air biting against their skin. Serena’s gloved hand clung tightly to Joaquin’s arm while the snowstorm raged around them. The sound of their boots crunching through the frost was nearly drowned out by the roar of the wind.“Joaquin…” Serena’s voice trembled through the cold. “Do you think that thing—the one we saw—was human once?”Joaquin didn’t answer at first. His eyes were fixed on the horizon, his expression heavy.“Yes,” he finally said. “I could sense it in its energy. It used to be human… before it was consumed by the virus.”Serena’s heart clenched. “Then maybe—maybe it wasn’t even its fault.”He nodded. “It wasn’t. That’s what makes this so tragic. They were experimenting with something they couldn’t control. Trying to turn human DNA into something invincible.”She glanced at him, her eyes searching his. “Like what happened to you?”Joaquin paused. Snowflakes gathered in his hair, his jaw tightening. “In a way, ye

The Core pulsed—once, twice—and then the mountain roared to life.The entire cavern shook as shards of ice splintered from the ceiling. Blue light flared across the walls like lightning veins, converging around the two men standing at the heart of it all.Joaquin faced Dr. Voss, his breath coming slow and steady, his body humming with restrained power. Serena stood behind him, the cold wind whipping her hair around her pale face.Voss smirked, hands clasped behind his back as if he were observing a specimen. “Still clinging to your humanity, I see. Do you even realize what you’ve become?”“I became what you forced me to,” Joaquin shot back. “But you made one mistake—you didn’t kill me.”Voss chuckled darkly. “Kill you? Oh, no, Joaquin. I gave you life. The same life that runs through that Core. You and it are one. Destroy it, and you’ll destroy yourself.”Joaquin’s eyes flickered blue for a heartbeat, then steadied. “Then I’ll die free.”Before the words even settled, Joaquin moved.A