CHAPTER 89: The Serum

CHAPTER 89: The Serum

An unsettling calm, the silent prelude to a storm, enveloped the hallways of Enid Corp. Phoenix moved with studied nonchalance, adjusting the collar of his impeccable suit as he stopped before a large window offering a panoramic view of the city. Leaning against the glass, he paused. His gaze, charged with a glacial intensity, looked directly outward, but with the certainty of one who knows he is being watched, breaking the fourth wall with the ease of an actor on his stage.

"So here we are again," he began, his voice a low whisper that cut through the silence. "I bet some of you have been wondering... what happened to the famous Über Lycan serum? It worked, of course. It granted me superhuman power, impossible endurance, and strength that not even the best of the pack could dream of matching. But, like everything that seems too good to be true, it came with a price."

He paused, letting the weight of his words hang in the air.

"The side effects were... an unpleasant problem. The cerebral overload, the potential cellular degeneration. I could have turned into a monster, an uncontrollable one. And for me, that was never an option. So, I decided to make some... adjustments to the formula."

A barely perceptible smile touched his lips. He pushed away from the window and began to walk slowly, like a professor delivering a masterclass.

"Yes, there were changes. But not the ones you might imagine. We scrapped the original formula completely. It was a dead end, an elegant poison. The new cocktail, which we call 'Phoenix's Ecstasy,' operates on a different level. Let me give you a quick rundown."

"—Extreme Metabolic Stabilizer: The first thing was a complete redesign of the biochemical base. The new serum doesn't attack the nervous system. Instead, it generates such a radical metabolic stabilization that the body can assimilate the stress of the transformation without suffering collateral damage. It means my cells strengthen instead of degenerate. It's as if the body receives a perfect roadmap to handle the power, without getting lost along the way."

"—Adaptive Regeneration Catalyst: Then came the real breakthrough. Instead of external armor, the serum now contains a catalyst that hyper-accelerates tissue regeneration intelligently. If a muscle tears, it recomposes itself instantly, stronger. If there's toxicity, it's purged. My own body has become its own shield, adapting in real-time. Zero risk of turning into a 'defective sack of meat,' as the old formula used to say. Now I am... resilience made flesh."

"So, basically, I became the ultimate version of myself, but with style," he concluded, stopping and slipping his hands into his trouser pockets. "Was it a complex process? Absolutely. Was it worth it? Without a doubt. It's all a small price to pay to ensure the monster is not only under control but is a perfect extension of my will."

He adjusted his jacket with a sharp tug. His expression was one of quiet superiority.

"You see, you can't be the best without reinventing yourself. Some call it obsession; I call it evolution. Now, the question is... is the world ready for what's coming?"