Chapter 70: Experiment
Two days passed in a blur. Zack's world narrowed to refining and testing, his focus unshaken despite the monotony. Meanwhile, the mechanical Ants in the community continued their relentless work, their numbers swelling to over fifty. They scurried about, fortifying defenses and constructing the prototype for the Sky Defense System. The Air Fortress's mainframe was also nearing completion, adding another layer of progress to the bustling activity.
In stark contrast, the six captives in the biological lab were spiraling into despair. Despite being provided with luxurious meals—complete with fish, meat, and even milk noodles—their paranoia consumed them. To them, these feasts were nothing more than the last meals of condemned prisoners.
Every bite was accompanied by dread, but they ate anyway. Hunger strikes were met with immediate sedation and forced nutrient injections. Their physical activity was monitored just as rigorously. Each room contained a treadmill, and they were required to jog five kilometers and sprint one kilometer daily. Refusal brought swift punishment in the form of Zack's mechanical spiders, which delivered painful but non-lethal stings to stimulate their muscles.
Zack was meticulous, ensuring their physical health at any cost. On the afternoon of the third day, Zack finally completed the element configuration for the serum. Most elements had near-perfect replacements, but five remained unstable, leaving him with 120 possible arrangements.
Zack leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. "Five unstable elements. Great. That's 120 different combinations... and I only have six test subjects."
His eyes flicked toward the breeding tanks filled with white mice. "We'll start with the mice." He prepared the first serum with precise movements and retrieved a mouse, securing it in a miniature injection chamber. "Super Serum, test one, beginning now," he announced, pressing the start button.
The chamber lit up as the serum was injected, followed by targeted radiation. Pop!
The mouse exploded. "Experiment failed," Zack muttered, already reaching for the next arrangement.
One by one, the tests continued, each ending in failure. Bang! Pop! BOOM!!!