World's Best Protagonist [BL]

I stared through the glass, my breath hitching.

It was a laboratory.

Rows upon rows of human suspended in tubes lined the walls, their bodies submerged in thick, bubbling liquid. Wires and needles pierced their skin, connecting them to machines that beeped and whirred. Some of them were unconscious, their faces eerily peaceful. Others twitched—alive, aware, and suffering.

A sharp, suffocating chill crawled up my spine.

"What the hell..."

My voice came out hoarse. I swallowed the bile creeping up my throat and turned back to the bastard responsible for all of this.

"What the fuck have you done?"

Sergio didn’t flinch. He smirked as if my reaction was expected. He wasn’t surprised that I changed. He did think I wore a mask, but this was real, my genuine reaction.

If those people eyeing me weirdly saw this, they’d think twice about who was less human between me and this old man.

"Isn’t it magnificent?" he mused, his eyes gleaming with pride.

Magnificent?

The urge to punch him was overwhelming. I clenched my fists, forcing my nails into my palms to keep my fury in check.

"You’re experimenting on humans! Do you see them as pigs? Tools? You’ve strayed too far from humanity."

He just fucking waved a hand, as if dismissing a foolish remark.

"It’s not as sinister as you think."

I let out a bitter laugh. Until to this day, I can’t imagine how my mother came to love this monster wearing a human hide. His blood that runs through my veins makes me want to puke all my guts.

"Not as sinister?"

I gestured at the tubes, at the living, breathing people being treated like lab rats.

"You’ve completely lost it. You’re insane. Your mind is rotten. Go die—argh!"

Diego twisted my arm. I could hear my bones crackling. He gripped the broken bones tightly as a silent warning.

I swallowed my scream. My eyes watered a bit from the pain.

Sergio leaned against his desk, crossing his arms, completely unconcerned. "Jade, I’m doing these people a favor. They all volunteered to come here."

I spit on the floor, then scoffed. "Yeah, I bet you held a gun to their heads and asked nicely."

Sergio chuckled, shaking his head. "You still underestimate me, Jade. I no longer need violence to get what I want. Your father’s way has improved and he’d been more considerate and benevolent as a leader."

He turned his gaze back to the lab.

"These people felt cheated by fate. The world keeps changing. Everywhere you look, priorities are the ’awakened’. They were left behind, powerless while others ascended. I had the means to help them; therefore, I did."

I stared at him, my stomach twisting in disgust. I was suddenly reminded of my conversation with Director Alistair.

"You’re forcing awakenings."

"Correct," Sergio smirked. "And it’s working, Jade. These experiments have yielded results already. Isn’t it amazing? You don’t need to rely on fate, on God, or whoever giving us these powers. We can be it ourselves."

In my eyes, this person who was once my father was no longer human.

I looked at the tubes again. One of the bodies twitched violently before going still. My chest tightened. At what cost?

I exhaled sharply, trying to think through the anger flooding my veins. I shouldn’t let my emotions rule over me. Even if I tried to fight back and save those people, what could I do? I’m alone, in a sea of... forced-awakened people.

"And what will happen next? You want to turn every ordinary living person into a superhuman? Shepherd them to vortexes and teach them to gather the spoil for you?"

I pushed Diego away with all the strength I mustered.

"I don’t care what you do. I just don’t want to be involved with you again. Don’t expect anything from me."

"No, Jade." I flinched. Don’t say it. "I expect you to join me, my son."

I shook my head. I could never stomach it. Instead of listening to him, I started devising a plan to escape. Sowing my ability will be risky. If this madman learns of it, he won’t let me go. I observed Norman and the other guy. Their builds aren’t bigger than mine; the problem is the mad dog.

He’s as large and tall as Claude.

Sergio stepped closer, eyes gleaming with something dark. I ignored him, but then he said something that made me freeze.

"You haven’t awakened yet, have you?"

I confirmed he doesn’t have connections to the NSA, NMA, and UAO. Thank goodness. Then, which sector of the government does he have influence?

He smiled knowingly.

"Son, I can help you. I can make you into the most powerful awakener, anything you want, tell me. I can make it happen."

I let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "Yeah, no thanks. I don’t want to end up in a fucking tube."

He exhaled, as if disappointed. "Jade—"

"I’m not interested," I bravely cut him off, my voice colder than ever.

There was silence. Suddenly, a knock on the door broke the loud silence in the room. Norman opened the door and a maid pushing a food cart was revealed.

"My lord, I brought refreshments."

The maid looked younger than I was. I couldn’t help but wonder if she was one of the subjects too. She carefully arranged the table, seemingly unaware of the tension in the room.

Once she finished, she looked up, her innocent-looking eyes met mine. A small smile appeared on her lips before she bowed and walked away.

However, her path was blocked by the other guy.

"Sir?" She asked, wondering.

Sergio clapped his hand, gaining my attention again. He studied me, as if calculating something. Then, slowly, he smiled.

A knowing smile.

I hated it.

"You’ll change your mind, Jade," he said simply.

A cold chill ran down my back. My heartbeat drummed louder and faster, and beads of sweat formed on my forehead.

No. Don’t do it. That thing he always did to get me to follow him. I never allowed him to, until he got ahold of my only weakness.

However, that source of weakness had long been dead.

So, now, I’m afraid.

I’m afraid a life will end, and I might just couldn’t care.