Subject Zero (Prologue)

"Doctor Schmertz the experiments have been progressing without result for ten years already, and we haven't had even a hint of success. The genomes are just too different, there is no way this experiment will ever be successful."

Doctor Francis Schmertz, a renown geneticist, and advent eugenicist hearing the truth that his life's work has been unsuccessful looked at his assistant and frowned.

"Clarence, even if we are unsuccessful, we must continue our research. We both know that if we stop what we are doing here, the world government won't let us go. We have used too many of their resources and promised too much; failure could result in the loss of both our lives."

Clarence hearing the Doctors unfiltered comment shuttered, then looked at the artificial insemination pod with a longing hope in his eyes.

"Doctor, how much longer before we run out of our modified Grade 9 Demon seminal fluid?"

"We only have two more batches, so we'd better make these next two count, or..."

"I understand Doctor. I'll prepare for the next batch immediately."

As Clarence rushed out of the lab and into the stockroom. The Doctor watched him and sighed. Feeling lost, the Doctor walked over to the safe under his desk and pulled out a cryogenically frozen biological sample along with a bottle of 500 years aged malt whiskey.

"I've been saving these for the day when I achieve success with my experiment, but it looks like I'll have to use my good luck charm."

Looking at the last surviving remnant of his deceased wife, the doctor opened the bottle and took a hefty swig.

At this moment Clarence walked back in with the Demon 'juice', and gave the doctor a somber expression.

"Clarence prepare the machine and the accelerated cell development serum."

Getting to work, Clarence asked, "Doctor which females reproductive materials will we be using?"

With a quick flash of sadness in his eyes, the Doctor replied: "We will be using this canister right here."

Within a second, the assistant grasped the situation at hand. "Isn't.... isn't that the canister with the ovum your wife left for you to start a family with? We can't use that; you're forsaking your future happiness."

"What use is future happiness, if I'm dead. Besides she was a late transcendent stage combatant, comparable to rank nine and even some rank ten demons. As she was one of humanities strongest, her cells have the highest chance of surviving under the influence of the demons cells."

Giving his boss one last solemn look, he hesitantly took the case from the Doctors hands and inserted it into the machine.

"Are you sure about this?"

"I'm sure. Begin the process."

Through advanced nano cameras within the apparatus, the two scientists saw a mysterious dark black fluid move towards the egg, penetrating the outer lining. Subsequently, the machine produced a flashing green light.

"Doctor, the insemination is successful, proceeding to add the cell development serum."

"Proceed"

As the two looked on, the original ovum began to split and divide, quickly forming a zygote.

"Doctor! It's happening! We are finally seeing a breakthrough in our research."

"Clarence! Quickly before the skull begins to form add the artificial intelligence implant directly below where the cerebellum should form."

As the cells began to develop into what continuously looked more and more like a human infant, a microchip half the size of a grain of rice attached itself to the developing child's growing brain.

"implantation successful, growth rates seem normal, mana, and ki ratings... Doctor, these readings are off the charts, and they only keep growing, if they keep increasing..."

"I know, brace for the worst, and lock down the lab, if this fetus explodes in an uncontrolled environment it could take out the whole city block."

Soon after, warning lights began flashing from the machine.

"Warning! Warning! Life form exceeding normal mana thresholds. External release of energy imminent!"

"External release of energy! Doctor does it mean..."

Looking at his assistant, Francis gave him a sad and apologetic look. "Yes, we have succeeded! But it seems that our luck has still run out... Lucy, I couldn't grant your wish of bearing a child made by the two of us, but your child will be the greatest and strongest being ever to exist... a Human demon Hybrid!"

Tears were streaming down their faces, both in excitement, and sadness, they began to accept their imminent deaths. Quickly the fetus grew into a baby, sensing the developed life form the machine started to drain the nutrient-rich fluid the cells had been sitting in, and as soon as the babies head surfaced from the liquid, it began to cry, releasing all of its stored mana.

On July 20th, 2545, the people of Star City looked on as the World Governments foremost research institution collapsed after what seemed to be an earthquake of unforeseen proportions.

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...

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"We recovered the specimen; research subject Zero has been successfully obtained.