Chapter 890: Anna's New Serum
In the meantime, within the underground lab managed by Anna, four Warden Units could be seen guarding the place…
The containment chamber was sealed, but Anna needed another form of protection, so these Warden Units needed to stay close to her. It also had thick walls upgraded to Epic Grade that had a triple-lock system.
Inside, the converted Super Soldier sat restrained, limbs bound with Epic-Grade Ropes, with its torso locked to a reinforced chair. Its breathing was shallow. Its skin was pale, and its veins had darkened and were pulsing with residual infection.
Anna stood behind the observation glass, reviewing the data on her tablet.
[ Subject: Converted Super Soldier - ID: 003 ]
[ Status: Viral Contamination - Licker Strain ]
[ Immunity Profile: Enhanced Super Soldier Serum Detected ]
[ Cognitive Activity: 12% baseline retention ]
[ Aggression Level: Suppressed - No active resistance ]
She exhaled.
"This is not looking good. But it might be possible…" she muttered.
The subject hadn't fully degraded. That was the key. Unlike standard zombies, this one retained fragments of its cognitive activity. Combat reflexes, muscle memory, and even partial awareness.
It wasn't enough to call it human.
But it wasn't gone either.
Anna turned to the lab bench behind her. The materials Shane had delivered were already prepped.
Viral Sac from the Infested Licker King. It was still pulsing faintly in its containment vial.
150mL of Licker King Blood. It was viscous, black-red, and chemically unstable.
Licker-Type Mutation Sample… It was a crystallized fragment of infected tissue..
She had already run preliminary scans.
The Licker strain was aggressive and fast-spreading. Designed to override immune systems and hijack motor control. But it had a weakness. its mutation pathway was unstable. It relied on constant viral reinforcement to maintain control.
If she could disrupt that reinforcement…
"I can do this… Cloud is also here to help me with the calculations. This is possible."
Anna tapped her tablet and brought up her serum library.
[ Z-Virus Stabilizers ] It slows viral spread.
[ Experimental Zombie Vaccine-V3 ] It prevents conversion even after being infected as long as it's the first stage of infection.
[ Super Soldier Serum ] This one could enhance baseline performance and could also prevent infection as long as the virus was only at the first stage.
[ Aegis Serum - Super Variant ]
This perfected version eliminates the side effects of Super Soldier Serum as it boosts cognition and strength by 600%
Still, despite their incredible effects, none of them were designed for reversal.
They were preventative. But her challenge right now wasn't prevention.
This was reclamation.
Anna pulled up her notes from the last few weeks.
Even without the captured Zombie, she'd been working on a theoretical compound, something that could bind to active viral agents and suppress their replication without destroying the host tissue.
She called it Reversion Catalyst-X.
It wasn't finished.
But with the Licker King materials, she could accelerate the process.
She began mixing.
The Viral Sac was the base… Its instability made it ideal for disruption.
She added trace amounts of the Mutation Sample, then diluted the Licker Blood with stabilizers. The compound hissed as it reacted, turning a deep violet.
She added a micro-dose of Aegis Serum… just enough to reinforce the host's neural pathways without triggering a full enhancement cycle.
The result was volatile.
But promising.
Anna sealed the vial and turned toward the containment chamber.
"Cloud," she said. "Prepare neural dampeners. I'm going in."
[ Confirmed. Neural dampeners active. Subject sedation level: 72%. ]
She stepped through the airlock, flanked by one Warden Unit…
'Let's do this…'
The Super Soldier twitched as she approached. It was as if the Zombie recognized her.
Anna didn't flinch as she observed the Super Soldier. This wasn't one of Shane's original Super Soldiers, but he was previously a Scavenger who had been infected by the virus before...
However, thanks to the Super Soldier Serum, the virus was defeated, and he was successfully turned into a perfect soldier.
"You have to fight the virus, Brian." Anna muttered as she injected the compound directly into the carotid artery.
The reaction was immediate.
The subject convulsed… Once, twice, then went still. Its breathing slowed. The dark veins pulsed erratically, then began to fade.
It did not disappear, but it faded.
"Whew~"
Anna stepped back and watched. This wasn't a cure… Not yet. However, it was a good start.
***
Whom~
The walls trembled faintly.
Not from structural failure, but from the distant rhythm of turret fire, explosive charges, and the shrieks of the undead.
The Red Sky Event was still underway after all.
If there was an emergency, someone would surely call for her presence, but for now, Anna was focused on her study…
Inside the containment chamber, the converted Super Soldier remained restrained. Its body had stabilized. The dark veins had faded from black to a dull gray. The twitching had stopped, and its breathing was shallow, but it was rhythmic.
The Reversion Catalyst-X was working… Partially, at the very least.
Anna tapped her tablet, reviewing the latest vitals.
Then, she leaned closer to the glass.
The subject's eyes were open…
"Ohhh… What's this?" Anna muttered as she couldn't help but feel excited.
It was not fully lucid or human, but it was tracking her movement.
Anna stepped into the observation chamber, flanked by a Warden Unit.
She didn't speak as she simply raised a small light and moved it side to side.
The subject's gaze followed
"Reflexes intact… Good." she muttered. "Still responsive. This is getting interesting…"
She turned back to the lab bench. The remaining materials were laid out in sterile containers. She had enough for two more doses, maybe three if she diluted the base compound.
But dilution risked failure.
"Alright... Let's finish this.
Just like that, Anna began preparing the second dose. This time, she added a trace amount of Super Soldier Serum… It was not for enhancement, but to reinforce the subject's cellular integrity.
The goal wasn't strength… It was stability.
"I know that this shouldn't be easy, but if I really helped this Super Soldier Zombie… This will change everything…"
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