Chapter:17-Auction House(1)

The lab was eerily silent, save for the soft hum of machines and the occasional scrape of metal on metal. The room was sterile, clinical, a place where the very air felt thick with the weight of the experiments conducted within its walls. A cold, blue light bathed everything in a harsh glow, reflecting off the shiny metallic surfaces and sleek equipment. On one side of the room, two doctors, their white coats stained with a variety of liquids, examined their subjects

"He's a true masterpiece," said the bug like doctor,his name was Frighon, he leaned over Adam's submerged form in the tank. His voice was filled with awe. He placed his hands on the control panel, making a few adjustments to monitor Adam's vitals.

"Indeed," the robot like alien,his name being Hrivin, agreed, his voice deeper, more gravelly. "This one's a marvel of engineering. His muscles are so dense, even Ravans would be impressed. We might have finally found something... close to perfect."

The two scientists had spent countless hours studying Adam, their eyes gleaming with the promise of something groundbreaking. Yet, despite their excitement, there was a subtle underlying tension between them. They both knew what they were dealing with: a weapon, a bio-human far beyond the limits of what they had expected.

"But it's his ferocity that's truly remarkable," Frighon continued. "The others, you know... they always lose control, get too unstable. But him? His aggression is... calculated. Directed."

Hrivin gave a slow nod. "Controlled fury," he said. "We just need to awaken his other powers. Once that happens... he'll be unstoppable."

Both of them stared at the still form of Adam, submerged in the greenish liquid, the machines keeping him alive as his body healed at an unprecedented rate. A soft mechanical whirr came from the tubes connected to his body, pumping vital fluids and nutrients to support his regeneration. His muscles twitched beneath the surface, but he was still, for the moment.

Adam's mind, meanwhile, was slowly beginning to wake. His thoughts felt disjointed, like a dream that was fading the moment he tried to grasp it. He had no idea where he was. The last thing he remembered was... what? A battle, a fight, pain, something... everything had gone black. Now, as his eyes slowly opened, he found himself surrounded by sterile, metallic walls.

"Where am I?" he thought, his vision blurred as he took in the unfamiliar surroundings. His mind tried to piece together the fragments of his memories, but it was like trying to catch smoke with his bare hands. His head ached, and his body felt strangely heavy, but there was a sense of calm spreading through him. His regeneration had finished. His brain was at ease.

He was still wearing the breathalyzer mask attached to his face, tubes running into his skin from various points, keeping him alive. The scent of chemicals and antiseptic was heavy in the air, and something about the place felt wrong. His eyes flicked to the opposite side of the room where the two doctors were working on the blockhead, their backs turned to him.

A sudden thought gripped him—he needed to move. He had to get out of here. Adam clenched his fists, feeling the pulse of his muscles beneath his skin. Without hesitation, he shot his hands out, breaking free from the tank with a loud crash as the glass shattered around him. His body surged with energy, instinct guiding him as he grabbed the neck of the robotic scientist, snapping it in one smooth motion. The body crumpled, falling lifeless to the floor. Oil like blood sprayed out from his neck.

The other scientist barely had time to react. As the man fumbled for the alarm, Adam's mind was already calculating. He reached for a nearby surgical knife, hurling it with deadly precision. The blade hit the scientist in the skull, embedding deep into his brain with a sickening sound. The man's body went limp, crashing to the floor as blood splattered across the room.

"Goddamnit..." Adam muttered to himself, his voice low and gritty. "I'm naked and covered in oil..."

He wiped his hand across his face, looking down at his body. It was slick with the greenish substance that had surrounded him in the tank. His body felt light, his muscles taut, but he still didn't know where he was or what the hell had just happened. His eyes fell to the discarded clothing on the floor—the only item left from his previous scuffle with the blockhead: a pair of pants. He grabbed them quickly, pulling them on with a quick motion.

Then, as his eyes scanned the lab, his gaze landed on the blockhead's body, now reconstructed and lying on the operating table. The sight of it filled him with an unexplainable anger, a surge of frustration. He stepped over the bodies of the scientists and walked toward the blockhead, crouching next to it.

"No harsh feelings," he muttered, his voice tinged with sarcastic humor. "Just got a bit lost back there... sorry."

His hand hovered over the blockhead's chest, the cold, lifeless form reminding him of the cruelty of whatever these people had done. He couldn't help but feel pity for it, though it was hard to distinguish if it was sympathy or the remnants of his own rage. His eyes scanned the lab for his Energy Saber, but it was nowhere to be found. He cursed under his breath.

"Oh... hell no!" he roared, his anger rising again. His jaw clenched, teeth grinding together as he surveyed the room in a frenzied panic. They had taken it. They had taken his weapon.

Fury burned in his chest as he stormed out of the lab, his footsteps echoing against the cold, metallic floors. The halls outside were dimly lit, the lights flickering weakly. It felt like he had entered a maze of decay—a forgotten section of the facility that seemed abandoned. The walls were water-damaged, rusted, and stained with some unidentifiable substance. The air was thick with dust, and yet the humming of machines persisted in the background, creating an eerie contrast between the high-tech lab he'd just escaped and the shoddy, decrepit hallways.

"What the hell is this place?" Adam muttered under his breath, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "How careless do you have to be to leave something like this?"

His boots clicked against the concrete as he walked down the corridor. The atmosphere was suffocating, the walls closing in on him as his anger swelled. But he wasn't alone.

The sound of footsteps grew louder behind him. Two figures appeared in his peripheral vision—massive, insect-like men clad in blue exoskeletons. Their bodies were built like tanks, muscle bound and brimming with raw power. Each step they took reverberated through the hall. The longer he looked at them, the more intimidating they seemed. Their legs were thick and muscular, each movement calculated and deliberate. Their eyes locked on him, expressionless but filled with an undeniable threat.

"You must be Shaltrin and Altrin," Adam said coolly, his voice dripping with disdain. He didn't even bother turning around. The name was one he had overheard in passing, but it seemed fitting. These men were not human, not entirely.

Neither Shaltrin nor Altrin spoke. Their silence was more chilling than any words they could have spoken. The two bodyguards simply moved closer, their hands hovering near their weapons. Adam's muscles tensed, ready for whatever was coming next.

"I'm guessing you're not here for tea and conversation," Adam said, turning slightly to face them, his eyes narrowing. "But, if that's the case, then I suppose it's just a matter of time before we get down to it."

The two men didn't react, their expressions unreadable, but Adam could feel the tension building. His mind was already working, calculating his options. The hallway was narrow—he would have to move quickly.

Back at the Auction House's VIP Room,

Meanwhile, in a room far removed from Adam's chaos, Savan sat at the head of a long, polished table. The wine glass in his hand gleamed as he swirled it, watching the liquid spin. His expression was calm, but his eyes gleamed with dark satisfaction. Beneath the veranda, the auctioneer and a bunch of bidders were seated, their voices hushed as they prepared for the next item.

A new item was revealed: a hybrid bike, sleek and futuristic, capable of transforming from a hoverbike into a land vehicle. It gleamed under the harsh lights of the room. But that wasn't all. The auctioneer brought forth a deactivated Energy Saber—a weapon that had once belonged to Adam. Its black blade, etched with silver wave-like patterns, lay on the table.

Savan's eyes glinted with amusement as he watched the unveiling and the excitement of the bidders also rose. The auctioneer slowly activated the saber, and in a flash, the blade lit up in a blaze of blue energy. The hum of power filled the room as the blade thrummed with life, its glow casting an eerie light on the faces of the bidders.

A slow smile spread across Savan's face as he leaned back in his chair. "Adam....hmm,what a truly interesting thing," he said, his voice smooth and calculating.

The auction room fell silent as the blade's power surged, a symbol of the unspoken power that Savan had been collecting. He knew what this meant: Adam would be coming for it.

And when he did, Savan would be ready.

End of Chapter