Chapter 10: Experiment 1

[3rd person POV]

The Null Void, known as the prison dimension, was the home of the vilest and most dangerous beings in the universe.

It was a space filled with crimson, resembling an endless sea of blood. The vibrant red emitted a blinding light that engulfed the entire expanse, creating an eerie and terrifying scene.

Countless asteroids and small planets of various sizes and shapes floated and moved chaotically throughout the space, following an unpredictable trajectory. Chaos and distortion were the most suitable words to describe this place.

As one looked upon this spectacle, they couldn't help but feel discomfort, restlessness, and fear. The oppressive crimson hue immersed them in a dark, ominous atmosphere, as if being drawn into an endless, nightmarish abyss with no escape.

In this forsaken space, a figure calmly strolled, navigating through the debris. Moving amidst the shattered fragments was a man wearing black armor, carrying a lifeless corpse on his back. He paused on a massive celestial body, surveying the surroundings, his eyes capturing the chaotic beauty amidst the desolation. Debris danced and swirled around him in an intricate ballet, each fragment carrying its own story. It was a peculiar and captivating sight, akin to being trapped in the aftermath of a cosmic disaster.

Setting the corpse down, Kevin took a moment to appreciate the stark contrast between the grim reality and the strangely mesmerizing scenery. With a flick of his hand, he conjured a flickering flame. As he kindled the fire, the flames crackled with defiance, challenging the lifelessness of the void.

The flames eagerly licked at the corpse, engulfing it in an inferno. Kevin's expression remained unflinching, almost detached, as he watched the macabre scene unfold. He flipped the corpse, expertly rotating it over the fire, cooking it with a makeshift spit. The smell of burning flesh permeated the air, mingling with the earthy scent of the Null Void.

As the fire grew, Kevin's gaze shifted from the corpse to the chaotic yet strangely captivating surroundings. The desolate landscapes took on an otherworldly beauty, resembling a desolate painting brought to life. He found solace in the rawness and unpredictability of his environment, experiencing a peculiar sense of freedom amidst the emptiness.

While Kevin sat there, immersed in the surreal scenery, a swarm of eight Null Void Guardians emerged from the crimson sky. Their twisted, bat-like forms indicated their otherworldly nature. They soared in synchronized formation, drawn by the irresistible scent of the cooked corpse. With every beat of their wings, a low, haunting hum reverberated through the barren landscape.

However, Kevin remained undeterred, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. He knew that the true prey he sought was now present. The Null Void creatures, unaware of the trap they were walking into, drew closer, their anticipation palpable. Their grotesque forms seemed to embody the fears that consumed others.

Kevin's body contorted and transformed, morphing into an insectoid form with four crab-like legs and two arms equipped with three-clawed hands. Four small eyes on long, prehensile stalks protruded from his large head, capable of independent movement. On his back were two very fragile, light greenish-yellow dragon-like wings with veins running through them, and his limbs were a brown-greenish color. This was Stinkfly, a member of the Lepidopterran species from the planet Lepidopterra.

With a flap of his wings, he swiftly left his spot and perched on a large floating rock high above.

He watched with quiet satisfaction as the swarm of creatures descended upon the cooked prey. Their hunger was insatiable, their movements frenzied and chaotic. It was a sight that would send shivers down the spines of anyone else, but for Kevin, it was a moment of triumph.

Transforming into Upgrade, Kevin extended his arm, tendrils of techno-organic matter intertwining with the rugged surface of the boulder. The rock surged with newfound energy as Kevin assimilated its properties, merging his being with its rocky form.

Rocket thrusters emerged on the surface of the boulder, igniting a burst of blue flames as Upgrade soared straight toward the Guardians. In just the first collision, three Guardians were taken down, while the others were scattered, groaning in pain and confusion from the sudden attack.

Continuing to activate the thrusters, Rock Upgrade plowed through the remaining adversaries, taking down two more before the last three regained their senses and counterattacked Kevin with energy beams emanating from their mouths. Dissolving his merged state, Kevin effortlessly evaded every strike, approaching them with his agile body. Transforming his two arms into energy cannons, he easily subdued them with a few shots.

After the battle ended within a few minutes, a spacetime portal appeared nearby. Without hesitation, Kevin chose the three least injured Guardians and carried them through the portal. On the other side was the training area of the Plumbers at Mount Rushmore.

"Close it, BT," Kevin commanded.

"Yes, sir," replied a robotic figure resembling Chappie from the movie of the same name. Holding a Null Void Projector in its hand, this was the body that Kevin had chosen for BT. "Seems like you had a very successful hunt, sir."

"Not bad. The scenery was beautiful, and the inhabitants were friendly. Perhaps we should establish a base there," Kevin responded.

"I don't think we have enough resources for that at the moment, sir," advised BT.

"No need to rush. We still have plenty of time. Now, let's take them for treatment. I need a shower, and bring some food to my room in 30 minutes," Kevin replied, relieved.

"Yes, sir."

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Two hours later, Kevin reappeared in the training room, clean and full of energy. In front of him, six creatures were immobilized on the ground, consisting of the three previously encountered Guardians and an additional three Havoc Beasts, another species residing in the Null Void.

In appearance, the Havoc Beast is a hulking and menacing creature with a muscular body covered in tough, variable skin colors. It stands on two legs and has large, clawed hands. Its eyes glow with an intense red color. The Havoc Beast possesses a mouth filled with razor-sharp teeth, making it a fearsome sight to behold, with some being roughly comparable to a Human toddler and others being much larger. Among these Havoc Beasts, two of them were only about 1 meter tall, while the remaining one stood at a towering 1.9 meters.

"Have you gathered enough data from them, BT?" Kevin asked.

"Affirmative, sir. You can proceed," BT replied.

Without much ado, Kevin placed his hand on the body of a small red-skinned Havoc Beast. After 10 seconds, its body visibly emaciated as if it had been starved for a long time. Kevin attempted to activate his shapeshifting ability, but only his hand and mouth transformed to resemble the creature, with rougher and reddish skin texture. A few minutes later, his body returned to normal, while the Havoc Beast died due to organ failure.

Moving on to the smaller Havoc Beast with purple skin, Kevin took more than 40 seconds to transform the ferocious creature into a skeletal form. This time, he transformed into a Havoc Beast that closely resembled it. The only difference was that Kevin was about 20cm taller than the original creature, and his skin tone was much paler. Waiting for BT to approach and take a blood sample for testing, Kevin's Havoc Beast approached a pre-placed slab in the room, extended its clawed nails, and made strong scratches on the surface, leaving clear marks. Then it backed away and with a roar, a stream of mesmerizing flames spewed from its mouth, engulfing the target.

Repeating the process with the largest Havoc Beast, Kevin's form became slightly smaller compared to the creature by a few centimeters . After taking blood samples and testing new power on the training slab, He transformed back into human form and they proceeded to the second phase of the experiment.

[POV ends]