Destinies Intertwined

Lu Shueng opened his eyes to a new kind of pain—a searing, burning agony that pulsed through his veins. His entire body felt alien, as though it no longer belonged to him. The dim light of the laboratory glared harshly against his skin, now marred by faint, glowing veins of molten gold running across his arms and chest. He clenched his fists, feeling raw, primal energy coursing through them.

Lopart stood on the other side of the reinforced glass, observing with detached fascination. "Impressive," he said, his voice calm but tinged with satisfaction. "The serum has successfully enhanced your physical capabilities. But we're not done yet."

Lu Shueng staggered to his feet, his muscles rippling with newfound strength. He extended his hand, and the air around it shimmered with heat. "What… what is this?" he growled, his voice deeper, rougher than before.

"Primal powers," Lopart replied, stepping into the room flanked by armed guards. "A fusion of raw animalistic energy and your own biology. Strength, speed, resilience—all far beyond human limits."

Lu Shueng flexed his fingers, testing his strength. The metal chair he'd been restrained to crumpled under his grip. He looked up at Lopart, his golden-veined eyes narrowing. "Why? What do you want from me?"

Lopart smirked, motioning to a technician who stepped forward holding a heavy metal collar. "Control."

---

The guards forced Lu Shueng by electrocuting him to his knees as the collar snapped around his neck. A surge of electricity shot through him, making him cry out in pain. His body convulsed, and he collapsed to the floor, gasping for breath.

"Necessary adjustments," Lopart said, crouching to meet Lu Shueng's glare. "Your powers are unstable, and we can't have you running wild, can we?" He tapped a small device in his hand. The collar sparked again, sending another jolt through Lu Shueng's body.

Lu Shueng growled, his muscles straining as he tried to get up. "You'll regret this," he spat through gritted teeth.

Lopart chuckled, standing. "Regret? No, Lu Shueng. I'm giving you purpose. This pain? It's temporary. But the mutation—it's permanent. You'll thank me when you crush your enemies underfoot."

Lu Shueng's hands balled into fists, the golden veins glowing brighter as his anger surged. But the collar sparked again, forcing him to his knees once more.

"Good," Lopart said, turning away. "Now, rest. Tomorrow, the real testing begins."

---

A Nightmare or Reality?

Miles away, in the quiet of his dorm room, Remond tossed and turned in his bed. Sweat dripped from his forehead as he muttered in his sleep, his hands clutching the sheets tightly.

In his dream—or so he thought—he found himself standing in a dimly lit laboratory. The air was thick with the scent of chemicals and something faintly metallic. A voice, calm and familiar, echoed around him.

"You're wasting your potential, Remond."

He turned to see Dr. Edwards, his uncle, standing beside a table cluttered with vials and notebooks. The man looked exactly as he remembered—tired yet resolute, his piercing eyes fixed on him.

"What… what is this?" Remond asked, stepping back. "You're dead. This isn't real."

"Dead or alive, does it matter?" Dr. Edwards replied, his voice unwavering. "This isn't about me. It's about you."

Remond shook his head, backing away. "I didn't ask for this. I didn't ask for your experiments, your serum, or these… powers. I just want a normal life." Remond's words were mixed with anger and agony to the loss of his uncle. "Why did you put yourself involved in this shit! Why? Answer me!"

Dr. Edwards stepped closer, his expression softening. "Normal? With what you've been given, you can't be normal, Remond. These powers are a gift—a responsibility. You can use them to help people."

"Help people?" Remond scoffed, his voice rising. "I'm not some kind of superhero, okay? I didn't sign up for this. I never wanted any of it!"

"Want or not, it's yours," Edwards said sharply, his tone cutting through the air. "You can deny it all you want, but these powers are part of your destiny."

"Destiny?" Remond snapped. "Don't give me that nonsense. You ruined my life!"

The two glared at each other, the tension thick in the air. Finally, Dr. Edwards sighed, his expression softening again. "It doesn't matter how much you deny it," he said quietly. "Your powers were in your destiny. They will change your decision one day."

---

The Next Morning

Remond woke with a start, his heart pounding. He sat up in bed, wiping the sweat from his brow. The dream—or whatever it was—lingered in his mind, vivid and unsettling.

He glanced at his desk, where the remnants of his uncle's memory (photo frame) lay untouched. The words echoed in his mind: "Your powers were in your destiny."

Shaking his head, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood. "It was just a dream," he muttered to himself. But deep down, he wasn't so sure.

---

Time Skip

The next week passed in a blur. At school, life seemed to return to normal for most students. Hayato, still recovering from his injuries, managed to keep his spirits high, though Yuki constantly hovered around him, teasing him about his clumsiness and fussing over his every move.

Sid and Remond, however, remained distant. Their once-close friendship had fractured, leaving a void that neither seemed willing to bridge. Their classmates noticed the change, but no one dared to ask about it.

---

Meanwhile, in Lopart's facility, the experiments on Lu Shueng continued. His body, now a vessel for raw, primal power, endured relentless tests and modifications. The collar remained firmly in place, a constant reminder of his captor's control.

But deep within Lu Shueng, a fire burned—a determination to break free, to reclaim his power and his freedom. His golden-veined eyes glowed faintly in the darkness of his cell, a silent promise of the chaos to come.