Beyond Human: The Experiment Who Became a Monster

CHAPTER 3: The Son of a Legend

"I kept him under your supervision for more than four years," General Conrad continued, "because I hoped he would display her extraordinary potential. I thought he might become a prodigy in his own right, someone capable of following in her footsteps."

Doctor Shaw's brows furrowed.

"With all due respect, General, why would you assume that some random boy could possess the same potential as Ravenna Whitmore?"

"The boy isn't some random child." General Conrad's voice was calm as he finally revealed the truth.

"His name is Azrael Whitmore."

Doctor Shaw froze. His pupils contracted, and for a moment, he struggled to process what he had just heard.

"D-Do you mean..."

"Yes." General Conrad nodded, completing the question before he could finish. "He's Ravenna Whitmore's son. Her only child."

Doctor Shaw stared at him in disbelief.

"But how is that possible? The records show that she was never married. There's also no record of her ever being pregnant, let alone giving birth to a child!"

"That's because the information was deliberately kept confidential," General Conrad explained. "Ravenna wanted her son to grow up away from the public eye. Given her status, revealing his existence would have placed him under intense scrutiny from the moment he was born."

He paused, a thoughtful expression crossing his face.

"Perhaps she had her reasons for keeping him hidden. Maybe she feared the expectations that would be placed on him as her son, or perhaps she simply wanted him to have a normal life."

General Conrad shook his head slightly. "Whatever her reasons, she made certain that his existence remained a secret."

He fell silent for a moment before adding, almost to himself, "Who knows? Perhaps she even suspected that he wouldn't inherit her extraordinary talent. Maybe she wanted to spare him the burden of living in her shadow."

Doctor Shaw said nothing.

He had spent four years overseeing Azrael's case, treating him as little more than another failed awakening candidate. Never once had he imagined that the boy he considered defective was the only son of the most powerful Variant in human history.

And now, after four years of testing, the boy had failed to awaken a single ability.

Doctor Shaw couldn't help thinking that perhaps it was a good thing the world didn't know Azrael was Ravenna's son. If the truth ever came to light, it would only tarnish her reputation and cast a shadow over the legacy she had spent years building.

For a once in a lifetime genius like Ravenna Whitmore, whose talent had surpassed everyone else's, to give birth to a child who couldn't even awaken the lowest-grade ability would make her a laughingstock in the eyes of the public.

"You can send him to a foster facility for unawakened individuals," General Conrad suddenly said, interrupting Doctor Shaw's thoughts.

He had already accepted that Azrael would never amount to much, let alone reach the heights his mother had achieved. Keeping the boy under their care any longer would only waste more time and resources. There was no reason to continue investing in someone who had shown no promise after four years of testing.

"General, there's actually another reason I came here," Doctor Shaw said, remembering the original purpose of his visit. "Since the boy is no longer of any use, I was wondering if we could use him as a test subject for our ongoing experiment."

"Ah, that?" General Conrad replied indifferently. "Sure. Do whatever you want with him."

Doctor Shaw's face brightened at the easy approval. He had expected to explain his proposal in greater detail, but it seemed the General no longer cared what became of the boy.

Bowing his head slightly, he turned and left the office. Having obtained the approval he had originally come for, there was no reason for him to remain any longer.

Before long, Doctor Shaw arrived at the room that had been prepared for the experiment.

Azrael lay on a narrow bed, his arms and legs secured by restraints that kept him firmly in place. A metallic band encircled his head, with numerous wires extending from it and connecting to a large machine positioned a short distance away.

Doctor Kay stood beside the equipment, making a final check of the setup.

"Doctor Kay, is everything ready?" Doctor Shaw asked as he entered the room.

Doctor Kay nodded. "Everything has been set up properly. All that's left is for you to give the order to begin."

He paused briefly before asking, "Have you obtained the General's approval?"

"Yes. He gave his approval," Doctor Shaw replied indifferently. "As far as he's concerned, the boy is no longer of any use, so he couldn't care less what happens to him."

Hearing this, Doctor Zho, who was also present in the room, felt a dull ache in his chest as he looked at Azrael.

He couldn't help feeling sorry for the boy. After all, General Conrad had been the only person in a position to protect Azrael from being used as a lab rat. Now that even he had abandoned the boy, there was no one left who could intervene.

Doctor Zho lowered his gaze, unable to bear looking at Azrael for much longer. Yet, despite his discomfort, he knew there was little he could do. His position within the facility gave him no real authority to challenge the decision.

"Since that's settled, let's proceed without wasting any more time," Doctor Shaw announced.

He turned toward the machine and raised his hand.

"On my count!"

The room fell silent as everyone focused on the equipment.

"Three…"

"Two..."

"One…"

"Begin!”

Doctor Kay, who stood closest to the machine, reached out and pressed a large red button.

The machine immediately roared to life, and a surge of electricity coursed through the wires connected to the metallic band around Azrael's head, causing it to glow.

"ARRRGHHHH!"

A piercing scream tore from Azrael's throat as a wave of unbearable pain overwhelmed him. His body convulsed against the restraints, while the veins on his forehead bulged and his face twisted into an expression of unimaginable agony.