Chapter 87: An Indescribable, Unknown Serum
A tube of colorless, transparent liquid sat in a sealed test tube on the laboratory bench.
Ryan sat nearby, fingers rubbing his chin as he stared at the sealed tube, transfixed.
Since beginning his career in biological genetics, Ryan had never encountered such a bizarre serum.
A serum with virtually no cellular activity. Even in deceased subjects, before flesh decayed and bones turned to ash, extracted genes retained some activity.
But this serum—a fusion of Thanos-derived enhancement serum, the immortality gene, and Celestial genetics—three genes combined into one—was completely devoid of activity, as pure as distilled water.
Ryan even wondered if he was hallucinating.
"This is impossible! What's wrong with it?"
Ryan had created a strange substance he wasn't even sure qualified as a serum.
Unable to identify its composition, he had no idea what it was for.
Ryan stood and left the lab, returning minutes later with a starfish. He planned to experiment on a living subject to determine what this colorless serum actually did.
First, he collected baseline samples from the starfish to facilitate post-experiment data comparison.
A small amount of colorless serum was drawn into a syringe, and the starfish was placed inside the adamantium containment cage.
"3:27 PM, first test of Anomalous Serum Zero, starfish subject, 11 milliliter injection, beginning now."
Ryan secured the starfish's five legs with restraints, then positioned the syringe against the starfish's central body. With a quick motion, the serum was injected.
"Start timer."
Ryan stepped out of the adamantium cage, activated the timer, and began observing the starfish for changes.
Initially, the starfish appeared dead, completely motionless. After about fifteen seconds, the starfish suddenly began convulsing violently, its five legs frantically contracting. Just when Ryan thought the subject was dying, something unexpected happened.
BOOM.
The starfish suddenly expanded, bursting its restraints, and continued growing at an alarming rate.
"What the—?!"
In the blink of an eye, the palm-sized starfish rapidly expanded to the size of a washing basin. Ryan blinked again, and it had doubled in size, continuing to expand exponentially.
Even the laboratory mouse, normally unflappable while clutching its tablet, was startled.
"Squeak..."
Ryan shook his head. "I have no idea what's happening."
"Squeak!"
The mouse jumped onto Ryan's shoulder, tail twitching, joining him in observing the enormous starfish.
Time passed, and the starfish showed no signs of stopping. Now, it nearly filled the adamantium cage.
Suddenly, a starfish leg shot out through a gap, sweeping with incredible force and sending Ryan's chair flying against the wall where it shattered. The strength was terrifying.
"Squeak, squeak!"
The starfish seemed to have found the cage opening, attempting to squeeze through the gaps between bars. Only adamantium's incredible strength prevented the cage from bursting—any other metal would have failed.
The starfish had swollen so large it couldn't fit through. Suddenly, a leg stretched out, nearly as wide as Ryan was tall. It waved twice and shot toward him.
"Squeak!" The mouse, terrified, dove into Ryan's pocket.
Ryan channeled cosmic energy to materialize a shield and blocked the appendage.
CRASH.
Ryan stumbled backward slightly. It wasn't that he couldn't withstand the force—his shoes couldn't. The combined pressure tore through the footwear, separating sole from upper.
"What incredible strength!" Ryan exclaimed in amazement.
To prevent laboratory destruction, Ryan conjured a longsword to finish the creature.
Before he could strike, there was a grotesque squelch, and the starfish exploded in a shower of fragments and viscous fluid, spraying everywhere.
Fortunately, Ryan reacted quickly, creating a massive shield and taking cover, avoiding being drenched.
"Squeak~"
The mouse poked its head out cautiously. Seeing the starfish was dead, it crawled out of Ryan's pocket.
It hopped to the ground, picked up a piece of starfish fragment, sniffed it with its nose, and actually put it in its mouth to chew.
Ryan didn't notice the mouse's behavior, as he was busy collecting starfish samples for data comparison.
A sample was extracted from the tissue and placed under an electron microscope for observation. The cells were still highly active and continuing to divide and grow.
"Inactive serum becomes activated after encountering organic biological cells?"
"Rapid growth, but no evolutionary process. Simply enlargement and strength enhancement."
"The genetic programming hasn't changed—still starfish DNA, but..."
"This substance is extremely dangerous. It could easily create a monster."
After comparing the data, Ryan summarized the experiment and recorded his findings. Next came cleanup.
He first tried burning the remains but found they wouldn't combust. So he used a laser cutter. It was slower, but at least safer.
After hours of work, the lab was finally clean.
The moment Ryan left the lab and returned to his residence, he received a call from Corvus Glaive.
"Sir, the Avengers are in serious trouble."
"What's happening?" Ryan held the phone in one hand while using chopsticks to twirl noodles with the other.
Corvus reported in his cold monotone, "The Skrulls have replaced many people associated with superheroes. So far, confirmed replacements include Dr. Hank Pym, Spider-Man's friend Ned Leeds, and former S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Sharon Carter, among others."
"Both S.H.I.E.L.D. and New Asgard have been infiltrated to varying degrees. Ross is investigating high-level federal officials, and I believe further action will be taken soon."
"There are also several superheroes forming makeshift teams active near Washington. I suspect they might attempt to break into federal prison and rescue Maria Hill. Do you want me to capture them?"
Ryan slurped a mouthful of noodles and said calmly, "No, let them fight the Skrulls while we observe. Keep monitoring Ross, and report anything unusual immediately."
"Understood, sir."
After hanging up, Ryan carried the empty bowl to the kitchen, washed it, and placed it on the drying rack.
He then went to the bathroom, washed up, and returned to bed, lying against his pillow while examining the bottle of colorless synthetic serum.
Washington, D.C.
Several superheroes gathered in a safehouse apartment.
Shang-Chi sat on the sofa, fingers lightly touching the Ten Rings on his wrists. Ant-Man and the Wasp sat on the opposite side, the atmosphere tense and subdued.
Spider-Man Peter Parker, unable to stand the silence any longer, spoke first. "Everyone, we're wasting time just sitting here. We should take action immediately."
Punisher Frank Castle, leaning against the window, turned and asked, "Do you have an action plan? Do you know where to investigate? How can you act when you don't know anything?"
"But are we just going to sit here staring at each other? My friend has been captured!"
"Hey kid, calm down. Impulsiveness will only cloud your judgment and won't help rescue anyone." Isaiah Bradley, the first Black Captain America, spoke to comfort him, then looked around. "Although we lack investigative direction, I agree with the kid. We shouldn't waste time here."
Ant-Man Scott first glanced at Hope, then sighed. "Agent Hill from S.H.I.E.L.D. said the federal government has a classified file on the Skrulls. S.H.I.E.L.D. hasn't found the source yet. Perhaps it contains important clues."
"So, we're going to steal classified files?"
Scott raised his hand. "I'll go, but I'll need backup."
The files they discussed did exist. They were top-level classified documents created by President Ross himself, sourced from Ryan's intelligence. After confirming the Skrulls' existence, Ross had consolidated Ryan's information into a classified file.
The federal government's real purpose for not immediately acting against the Skrulls was to contain the Avengers, ideally weakening or even dismantling them entirely.
"I'll drive."
"I'll keep watch."
"I can provide technical support."
The improvised superhero team's first operation was about to begin, targeting the classified White House archives where President Ross maintained his office.
CIA Headquarters, Langley, Virginia
Ms. Seraph, a senior official and trusted Ross operative, drove through security.
Passing through two heavily fortified checkpoints, she arrived at the operations center where Corvus Glaive was overseeing intelligence activities.
Seraph glanced at Corvus's prosthetic arm replacement, approached, and offered a greeting. "Hello, I'm a senior liaison from the White House. You're Corvus Glaive?"
Corvus, standing at 6'3", glanced down at Seraph, who stood barely 5'2", and gave a cold "Mm."
Seraph quickly produced a document and handed it to Corvus, explaining, "A quantity of adamantium, approximately three kilograms, has been stolen from Celestial Island. It was initially sold to Japan by a criminal organization, then stolen by another group. It's been transported to Mexico and could be sold to another buyer at any time. The President wanted to inform you first."
Celestial Island had become Ryan's personal sovereign territory. Especially after the conflict between Celestial Island and India, other nations had gained clear understanding of the island's military power.
Abomination capable of dismantling warships with bare hands, legions of super-soldiers, and an even more powerful leader.
This existed completely outside normal military considerations. Unless a counter-strategy was found, no government would directly initiate war against Celestial Island.
Adamantium was Ryan's personal property, and now someone had the audacity to steal it. Corvus, already stern, grew even grimmer.
"Hmm." Corvus took the document, examined it carefully, then without another word, turned and left.
Seraph quickly followed. "Mr. Glaive, what are you going to do?"
Corvus glanced at her and said coldly, "Retrieve what belongs to us. Whoever took it will die."
Corvus immediately assembled his squad of super-soldiers and prepared for deployment.
End of Chapter 87
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