Chapter 110 – The X-Gene Carried by a Virus
Selene fell silent after hearing William's explanation.
She looked at him… then at the dagger in her palm.
Even for a vampire, what he described sounded unreal.
But she was a warrior.
And no warrior could truly resist the temptation of greater power.
Selene took a slow breath, flattened her palm, and balanced the dagger across it.
Her eyes locked onto the blade.
She tried — just like William — to move it with her mind.
Time seemed to stretch thin.
Both of them stared at the dagger.
Waiting.
Then—
A tremor.
Barely noticeable.
The dagger quivered…
And slowly, unsteadily, lifted into the air.
---
William's heart pounded.
Selene had just used Metal Control.
That meant one thing:
He could create superpowered subordinates.
And the method was unbelievably safe.
Because at any moment, he could take the ability back using Disease Transfer.
The virus embedded with his genetic modifications had carried over:
Metal Control (Level 3)
Regeneration Factor (Level 3)
All transferred into a new host.
Still, there was one thing he needed to confirm.
If he removed the virus… would the abilities disappear too?
Without warning, William seized control of the floating dagger and pulled it back into his storage space.
In the next instant, he stepped forward and grabbed Selene's arm.
Inside her body—
[Undying · X Subtype]
Just as he expected. Her virus had evolved into the same strain as his.
Before she could react, William extracted it.
Instantly.
Selene staggered.
Her strength drained away like water through open fingers.
Her eyes widened.
"What did you do to me?! Why is my strength gone?!"
A six-hundred-year veteran of countless battles, she did not panic.
No strength?
Then use technique.
Her body shifted, ready to counterattack—
But William had no intention of restraining her.
He stepped back calmly.
The scan had already confirmed it.
There was no Undying virus left in her system.
Which meant—
If the abilities weren't permanently written into her genes…
She shouldn't be able to use any powers now.
William took the dagger back out and tossed it onto the ground between them.
"Try again."
Selene didn't move this time.
The sudden loss of strength left her with an overwhelming sense of danger. Instinctively, her hand went to her waist.
"Looking for this?" William said casually. "You think I'm dumb enough not to take your weapons first?"
He held both of her USP Match pistols, one in each hand.
Sleek guns. Good design.
He logged them into his armory database before storing them away.
"Selene," he continued calmly, "I suggest you try controlling the dagger on the ground."
Instead, she stayed where she was, eyes locked on him.
"Who are you really?"
"I already told you." He flashed an easy smile. "William Blake."
Infuriatingly harmless.
But the situation was clear. No weapons. No vampire strength.
Right now, she was trapped prey.
Her only chance lay with the dagger.
She looked at it. Then at him.
She inhaled slowly and extended her hand.
Reaching for that earlier feeling.
Seconds passed.
Then minutes.
Three full minutes later…
Nothing.
The dagger didn't budge.
The last flicker of hope died in her eyes.
William rubbed his chin, thinking.
"So the genes carried by the virus don't overwrite the host's own genome… at least not with short-term infection. Long-term symbiosis might be different. The Undying virus does coexist with the host…"
He looked up.
"What do you want?" Selene asked, arms folded, still composed despite the situation.
"Just running an experiment. Nothing more."
He stepped forward and took her hand.
In her weakened state, she couldn't resist.
Instantly—
[Undying · Subtype] flowed back into her body.
Power returned.
Her eyes changed.
Now there was caution… and something else.
Confusion.
"What are you doing? Why give it back?"
William leaned casually against the car.
"I don't know everything," he said, "but I'm fairly certain Kraven is a traitor. The real question is—do you want to stand here interrogating me… or do you want to go see how long it takes before he opens Viktor's coffin?"
Before he finished, Selene moved.
She was suddenly right in front of him.
"What do you know?"
Before learning Viktor was her true enemy, her loyalty to him had been absolute.
"You'll have to find out yourself."
People only believe what they see with their own eyes.
He needed her to uncover the truth.
Only then would she truly break from Viktor.
Only then could he pull her to his side.
And now William's ambitions had grown.
This wasn't just the Underworld.
This was the MCU.
He needed his own power base here.
"You're letting me go?" she asked, surprised.
"I don't see a reason to stop you."
She studied him in silence.
Ten long seconds.
"I need to take him," she said at last, glancing at Michael. "The Lycans are hunting him. He can't fall into their hands."
At her core, Selene was still someone who leaned toward good.
William? He would've killed Michael already—clean, efficient, no future risk.
"Pretend you didn't say that," William replied flatly.
There was no way he was handing Michael over.
If Selene and Michael bonded inside the vampire stronghold, that would be a disaster for him.
Selene understood. She couldn't beat him.
So she compromised.
"…Then at least give me my guns back?"