NobleCrow

  Days had passed since I started my experiment and the body count from the failures had reached six.

  I repced the test dead men with two more. And I started again with Eve’s advice in mind.

  This time I did not sedate the men, but I still pumped them with adrenaline after feeding them the APTX-08 drug.

  After a day passed, and their vital signs started to spike I knew my time had come.

  As their bodies started to destroy itself and then regenerate, I cut my hand, fed them my blood and got back to work. This time I not only activated thermal vision and mana sense, but I also fed my brain excessive amount of mana allowing my concentration to spike.

  With my heightened focus, I could now discern even the slightest movements with extraordinary precision. I followed the path of mana and blood, allowing them to escape through the destruction of cells in the stomach, gradually combining them at the location where the dantian should be. Just as I felt the vortex starting to form, I activated my skill, soul network.

  To my surprise, nothing happened. No connection, no soul corridor—nothing.

  Frustration and anger welled up within me, but I took a deep breath and continued to rotate the mana and blood. In that moment, I revisited the skill description imprinted in my mind. It stated that a contract must be made with the consent of both parties for the skill to activate.

  Gazing at the agonized men on the metal tables, I posed a question to them amidst their screams, "Do you want the pain to stop?"

  Their desperate reply echoed through the room, "Yes, yes, please, we beg you to stop this pain. It's unbearable. It's hell! Please, make it stop."

  With a smirk on my face, I responded, "Then do you agree to form a contract with me, with the price of that contract being your soul?"

  Their pleas grew more desperate, "Yes, yes, anything, anything! We beg you, just end the pain."

  "Very well. Soul network, it's your time to shine," I decred. And with those words, I felt a connection form between us.

  My soul branched out and tched onto theirs, creating a corridor through which I could perceive their every thought and intention. Not only that, but I sensed that my soul held an unusual power over theirs, akin to a hostage situation.

  "Eureka! I have done it. I have finally done it," I excimed in etion.

  However, in that moment of triumph, the guards, overwhelmed by the newfound power, burst into hysterical ughter.

  One of them, consumed by arrogance, screamed, "Hahahaha! You motherfucker, I will kill you! I will tear you apart! I am all-powerful, all-mighty..."

  Before he could finish his sentence, I felt the bond suddenly break, and the hysterical guard spat blood, colpsing to the ground lifeless. His soul was devoured by my skill.

  Despite the immense pain from the backsh of the broken connection and soul corridor, I couldn't help but cackle hysterically.

  "Hahahahahahah! What a fool. So, this is soul network. Absolute obedience or death," I taunted.

  Turning to the remaining guard, who paled at the sight of his fallen comrade, I warned, "You see, that's the price for betraying the person you made a deal with while putting your soul as colteral. So, when you return to the cell, be a good little dog and inform the other rats what transpired here. Tell them to behave, unless they want to lose their pitiful lives."

  I summoned the guards stationed at the door and issued my command with a venomous tone, "Take this worthless piece of shit back to his cell and dispose of the body here. And bring every st prisoner to this room. I want no one left in those cells—guards, nurses, everyone. It's time to forge my army of death."

  Without hesitation, the guards sprang into action. One escorted the man back to his cell, while the other swiftly disposed of the lifeless body. After fifteen tense minutes, a line of prisoners was ushered in. Among them were seventeen guards and ten nurses, all imprisoned together. With the assistance of the allied nurses and guards, they were bound to the cold metal tables, their eyes fixed upon me.

  I cast a furious gaze upon them and decred, "From this day forward, you shall become my death soldiers. I will awaken your dormant potential and subject you to Mikhael's merciless training. The guard who was taken back has likely informed you of what awaits and the implications of the contract. I shall not repeat myself. However, I will make one thing clear—you will obey. You will all belong to me. I shall treat you as sves, your lives as disposable as mosquitoes and bugs. If I command you to kill, you will kill. If I command you to die, you will die. If this does not satisfy you, tough luck. You have no choice. Either agree to become sves, my death soldiers, here and now, or suffer an excruciating demise. Do I make myself abundantly clear?"

  A heavy silence hung in the air, so I unleashed a wave of mana, causing them to gasp for breath. Once again, I repeated my question with unwavering intensity, "Do I make myself clear?"

  All the people in the room replied with a nod, not capable of uttering any word because of the thick mana wave that I unleashed.

  With their consent, I sprung back to my work, awakening each and every one of them and then called Mikhael.

  “Mikhael are you there?”

  Mikhael through the Eve replied:” Yes sir Xeno, how can I help you?”

  “I’m sending you a batch of death soldiers. Train them as harsh as possible. Only teach them the basics of meditation, and focus on combat, infiltration, and espionage training. And if any one of even dares to utter a word against you kill them mercilessly.”

  “By your will sir.”

  “Oh, and Mikhael just so you know. They are awakened. Observe their powers and think about my offer. I promise to treat you justly and fairly. I will even stipute it in the contract between us before your awakening. I hope you would change your mind and give me an answer as soon as possible.”

  “I have already reached my decision sir. However, I will monitor them and their abilities before giving you my final answer. Is it alright with you sir?”

  “It is.”

  “Then if you will excuse me.”

  With that, the death soldiers branch has been initiated, and I now am capable of awakening my family safely. What a wonderful day this is.