Lady Scarlet's rage had descended upon 'Iron-Cliff City' like a catastrophe. Following the incident at the auction house, she had sealed every exit of the city. Elite guards were patrolling the streets.
Vikram, now back in his slave uniform, was sweeping a corner of the barracks. His face was expressionless, but his mind was racing.
Master Yu's voice was coming through a tiny 'bone-conduction earpiece' inside his ear.
"Listen, Vikram," Master Yu's voice was grave. "The 'Origin-Source Gene' inside your body is like a nuclear reactor placed inside a clay pot. Your human body won't be able to handle it for long. If you don't stabilize it, it will burn you to ashes from the inside."
"So, what do I need to do?" Vikram muttered softly, ensuring no guard was watching him.
"This city... Iron-Cliff City... it isn't floating in the air by magic," Master Yu explained. "It is built atop the ruins of an ancient 'Crystallizer' civilization. Deep beneath the city, in the depths of the 'West Sector' (waste area), lies an old 'Gene Temple.' That is the only place where you can refine your new power."
West Sector - Waste Disposal Area
Luckily (or by Vikram's design), Scarlet, in her anger, had sent a team of slaves to clean the 'West Sector' because of an infestation of 'Sewer Beasts.' Vikram immediately raised his hand to join that team.
The West Sector was a foul-smelling and dark place. All the city's garbage and chemical waste were dumped here.
"Everyone stay together!" The team leader shouted. "If anyone gets lost in the dark, the rats will eat them."
Vikram was walking at the very back. As they reached a turn, he used 'Void Walk' and vanished into the shadows. The team moved ahead, and Vikram took a different path—downwards.
The deeper he went, the heavier the air became.
"Spell," Vikram took out the mechanical core from his pocket. "Show the way."
Spell's (the gun-girl) hologram appeared. Her eyes were functioning like a radar.
"Energy signal detected... 500 meters below," Spell reported. "But Master, there are no life signs there. Only... machines."
The Gate of the Gene Temple
After crossing mountains of mud and debris, Vikram reached a massive metallic wall. This wall seemed thousands of years older than the city's technology. Strange, glowing blue 'Runes' were carved upon it.
"The door is locked," Vikram tried touching it. "And there's no keyhole either."
"Blood won't work," Spell said. "This is 'Crystallizer' technology. It requires pure energy."
Vikram understood. He placed his hand on the wall and released a tiny bit of his 'Origin-Source Gene' (that black/gold energy).
As soon as the 'Void' energy touched the ancient metal, the Runes on the wall began to glow rapidly.
Whirrr-whirrr-whirrr...
Dust that had settled for centuries fell away. The massive wall split down the middle, revealing a dark corridor.
The view inside was breathtaking.
It wasn't a cave. It was a colossal laboratory. Blue light dripped from the ceiling. In the center stood a massive pyramid-like structure, atop which was built a glass chamber.
Vikram walked forward slowly. The air here was very pure.
[System Alert: Entering Ancient Zone.]
[Location: Gene Refinery - Sector 9]
"So this is the place," Vikram stepped toward the pyramid.
But the moment he placed his first foot on the stairs, four stone statues standing around the pyramid began to move.
Red lights flared in their eyes. They weren't stone; they were ancient 'Guardian Droids.'
"Unauthorized entry... Exterminate."
All four droids raised their hands. Laser blades emerged from their arms.
"Spell!" Vikram shouted.
"I am ready, Master."
Spell flew into the air and activated her machine gun mode.
Rat-tat-tat!
But the bullets bounced off the droids' armor harmlessly. Their armor was tougher than even modern 'Mutant' beasts.
One droid leaped at Vikram.
Vikram tried to use 'Yin-Yang Blast,' but the droid grabbed his hand and slammed him against the wall.
"Ugh!" Blood trickled from Vikram's mouth. "These machines... their strength is at the 'Sacred-Blood' level!"
Vikram knew that if he used 'God Mode' (Dollar) here, his remaining energy would be depleted, and he wouldn't be able to use the temple. He had to win with his 'Base Body' and technique.
He observed the droid's movements closely. The 'Dongxuan Sutra' activated.
He noticed that even though the droids' armor was hard, the flow of energy in their joints was slightly stalling. They were old.
"Spell! Aim behind their knees!"
Vikram drew his dual blades. He used 'Seven Twists.' He twisted in the air like a snake, dodging the droid's attack and reaching behind it.
Slash!
He jammed his sword into the joint of the droid's neck. At the same moment, Spell's precise shot hit the back of the droid's knee.
The droid stumbled.
"Yin-Yang Blast... Internal Destruction!"
Vikram sent his energy into the droid through the sword.
Boom!
The circuits inside the droid exploded, and it collapsed in a cloud of smoke.
"Three left," Vikram said, wiping away sweat. "Let's finish this."
Inside the Refinery
After much struggle, when the scrap metal of all four droids lay on the ground, Vikram succeeded in climbing the pyramid.
Inside the glass chamber was a strange machine that looked like a 'Throne.'
Vikram sat on it.
The machine clamped onto his body. Several needles pierced his skin.
[Scanning...]
[Anomalous Gene Energy detected.]
[Origin-Source Gene: Unstable.]
[Initiate Purification Process?]
"Yes," Vikram said through gritted teeth.
Suddenly, he felt as if his body were being torn into pieces. The pain was so terrible he couldn't even scream. The black 'Void Energy' that was going out of control inside him was being forcibly pulled into order by the machine.
Hours passed.
When the process ended, Vikram fell from the throne, drenched in sweat.
But when he stood up, he felt light. That heaviness was gone.
[Process Successful.]
[Origin-Source Gene: Stabilized.]
[New State Unlocked: 'Super Gene Warrior' - Stage 1]
Now he could use his 'Origin Spirit God Body' (Dollar Form) for longer periods without harming himself. And most importantly, the strength of his 'Base Body' had now become equal to a 'Sacred Blood' warrior.
Vikram looked at his hand. His skin looked normal, but when he clenched his fist, cracks began to form in the air.
Just then, his eyes fell on the machine's panel. A hologram was glowing there. It was a map.
[Next Destination: 'Endless Sea']
[Warning: The second 'Origin-Source Gene' is located there.]
"Endless Sea..." Vikram thought. "That is the territory outside the city, where only death reigns."
Before he could think anything else, the temple's alarm began to ring.
[Warning! External Intrusion!]
[Lady Scarlet's forces have located the entrance.]
Vikram was startled. "What? How did they get here so fast?"
Spell reported, "Master, the energy you released was tracked by their scanners. They are at the door. And this time... Scarlet is not alone. The Duke has come with his 'Mech Army.'"
Vikram had two choices.