For a brief moment, the boy remained still, as though struggling to comprehend what he had just heard. Then, slowly, the glimmer of hope in his violet eyes faded.His shoulders slumped, and he lowered his head. Whatever little life had returned to his violet eyes disappeared, leaving behind the same emptiness that had occupied them before.However, this time, the despair seemed even deeper. He had hoped that this time would be different. After all the tests, examinations, and repeated disappointments, he had still clung to the possibility that one day he would finally awaken his powers and become a Variant like everyone else.Now, even that fragile hope had been taken away from him. It was as though the quiet flame that flickered in his heart had been quenched.Seeing his reaction, Doctor Kay let out a quiet sigh."You don't have to take it so hard," he said, attempting to offer some consolation. "Even if you can never become a Variant, you can still be useful to this facility. Perhap

Azrael continued screaming, the agony stretching what felt like an eternity to him, even though barely a minute had passed. The torture showed no signs of stopping. It felt as though his body was being torn apart from the inside, every nerve screaming in protest as the pain grew increasingly unbearable."His heart rate is rising rapidly. The pain index has just crossed 40%," Doctor Kay reported, his eyes fixed on the readings displayed on the machine.Doctor Shaw's expression remained indifferent. "Keep going. It's still not enough. We need to determine the limits of human endurance, especially in someone who hasn't awakened any abilities."Doctor Kay hesitated for a brief moment before nodding and continuing to operate the machine."What do you mean, the limits of human endurance?" Doctor Zho demanded, unable to contain himself any longer. "If you push him that far, even if he somehow survives, he'll be left permanently crippled, both physically and mentally. How can you do this to a

As his consciousness drifted in the darkness, Azrael couldn't help but wonder what he had done to deserve such a fate.All he had ever wanted was to help people, just as his mother had. He had wanted to become someone capable of protecting others, someone who could make a difference in the world.Yet he had never even been given the chance. Instead, he had been treated as a worthless failure, used as a laboratory test subject, and subjected to unimaginable torture before finally being killed by the very people he had once dreamed of protecting.Was this what his mother had spent her life protecting?Was this the humanity she had dedicated herself to, the very people she had ultimately died trying to protect?The same people who had shown not the slightest remorse as they tortured her son to death?If this was what humanity truly represented, then he no longer wanted anything to do with it… he no longer wanted to become a hero. They weren't worth the sacrifices his mother had made. The

Azrael turned his attention to the wound, watching closely as blood steadily trickled from the gash. Then, something incredible happened.Within seconds, the wound began to close. The bleeding gradually stopped as the exposed flesh pulled together. He felt a strange tingling sensation beneath his skin as the damaged tissues knitted themselves back together, leaving no trace of the injury.Only after witnessing it with his own eyes did Azrael finally accept that he truly possessed regenerative abilities. However, a new thought suddenly crossed his mind. If I can heal wounds this quickly, does that mean I can regenerate lost limbs as well?His gaze instinctively fell on his fingers. For a brief moment, he considered cutting one off to test his theory. However, he quickly dismissed the idea.Although his experience in the facility had made him far less sensitive to pain, he wasn't a masochist who derived pleasure from mutilating himself just to satisfy his curiosity.Just as he was abou

The flaming bird-like beast suddenly folded its wings and dove towards the ground at terrifying speed, its razor-sharp talons outstretched as it descended upon the brown-furred ape, seemingly intent on delivering the finishing blow.However, just as it was about to reach its target, a massive earth spike suddenly erupted from the ground, its sharpened tip pointing directly towards the descending beast.Given the speed of its descent and the sudden appearance of the spike, the bird-like beast had no time to change its trajectory or slow down. Before it could react, its body slammed straight into the pointed spike.Puchi!The spike pierced straight through its chest, sending blood spurting from the wound as its massive body was left suspended in midair.The flames engulfing its body began to flicker and gradually dim. However, just before they completely died out, they suddenly erupted one last time in a powerful burst, burning through the earth spike and causing the beast's body to cra