Escape

Smack

The guards from the Magic Development Bureau threw Cain, who had just finished the experiment, into his room, then turned and left without looking back.

"Ugh... damn it."

"What... what kind of experiment are those... assholes doing...?"

Cain curled up on the bed, trying to withstand the agonizing pain raging through his body.

His vision gradually blurred. Am I... going to die...?

The doctor stood before the instruments, expressionlessly watching the images on the monitors while his assistant reported the conditions of the test subjects in real time.

"Test Subject No. 97 is dead."

"Test Subject No. 121 is dead."

"Test Subject No. 54 is unconscious. Body temperature continues to rise."

"Test Subject No. 115 is unconscious. Body temperature has reached the critical point."

"Not a single one can withstand the Demon Factor?" Though he had expected this outcome, disappointment still welled up within the doctor when faced with the reality.

The Demon Factor experiment was currently the Magic Development Bureau's most important project. If it succeeded, even ordinary people could possess tremendous strength and vast magic power.

So far, of the five hundred test subjects injected with the Demon Factor, four hundred and sixty-nine had died, ten had turned into mindless beasts, and twenty-one had become vegetative.

Just as the doctor was considering how to improve the experiment, a strange change began occurring inside Cain's body.

The magic he had never used since awakening began little by little to purify the Demon Factor within him. The purified Demon Factor was absorbed by his body, slowly increasing his physical strength and magic power.

As the Demon Factor was purified, the pain that felt as though it were tearing him apart gradually faded, and his rising body temperature slowly returned to normal.

"Doctor, No. 115's body temperature is starting to drop."

The assistant's words did not bring the doctor much surprise. "Continue observing him."

The previous test subjects who had become vegetative or turned into beasts had shown the same symptoms. At the time, the doctor had thought his experiment was about to succeed.

But some of them never woke up, while those who did woke only to suddenly transform into mindless beasts a few days later.

No, they should have been called monsters.

"Huh? I'm not dead? Hahaha, I'm back!"

After waking up, Cain discovered that not only was he alive, but his physical condition was unexpectedly good. However, he did not celebrate for long, because surviving this time did not mean he could survive the next.

"Looks like it's time to put the escape plan into motion."

Inside the recreation room.

Ultear watched Cain stroll over at his leisure and complained, "Cain, you're so slow. Hurry up and build a house with me."

"Don't rush, Ultear. We have plenty of time." Cain sat down beside Ultear and began playing with the building blocks with her.

As she fiddled with the blocks, Ultear said, "Time passes so quickly. Today, I'll be the mother, and you'll be the son."

That was right, they were playing house.

Cain swept his gaze around and saw that no one was paying attention to him. He then whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Ultear, I'm planning to escape the Magic Development Bureau. Will you come with me?"

Cain's words made Ultear's hands pause slightly, but she was smart enough not to show it and continued acting as usual.

"Where could we go after we leave?" As though recalling something, the light in Ultear's bright eyes dimmed, and she asked in a low voice.

Cain thought for a moment. "Anywhere is better than staying here. Haven't you noticed there are far fewer children in the recreation room than before?"

Ultear looked around. Just as Cain had said, the recreation room was much emptier than before.

"If we stay here, maybe one day I'll disappear too."

Hearing that, Ultear suddenly looked up, tightly grasped Cain's hand with both of hers, and said in panic, "I don't want you to disappear."

Cain smiled and squeezed Ultear's slightly trembling hand. "Mm, I won't disappear. And I don't want to never see you again either, Ultear. So let's leave this place together."

"Then where will we go?"

Unlike her previous gloomy tone, this time Ultear's eyes shone with a radiance of hope and longing.

Cain thought for a moment. "Well, my family was killed. Ultear, are your father and mother still alive?"

"My mother doesn't want me anymore."

Cain knew it was all a misunderstanding, but he could not directly tell Ultear that yet. So he asked her why she believed her mother did not want her.

If Cain had asked Ultear that when they had first met, she definitely would not have told him. Not only would she have refused to answer, she would have swung her little fists and beaten up this damn blondie.

But their relationship was now far from ordinary, so Ultear told Cain about her past.

After listening, Cain crossed one arm over his chest and rubbed his chin with the other. "Mm, Ultear, did your mother ever directly tell you she didn't want you?"

"Uh, no."

"Then let's go find her and ask whether she really wants you or not."

Cain's words made Ultear's eyes light up, but she soon asked worriedly, "If... if Mom really doesn't want me, then..."

Before Ultear could finish, Cain immediately said, "Then I want you."

Cain's resolute tone was like a heavy hammer striking Ultear's young heart, making it tremble violently. A brilliant smile spread across her face, and she nodded with all her strength. "Mm!"

Ultear then explained how she had escaped before. After listening, Cain could not help but marvel at how Ultear was not only smart, but incredibly bold as well.

Back then, in the middle of the night while everyone was asleep, Ultear had secretly opened her room's coded door. The Magic Development Bureau was not some military base, so its internal defenses were not especially tight.

They clearly had not expected a group of six- or seven-year-old children to have the courage to escape the Magic Development Bureau.

As for the room password, Ultear had secretly memorized it when she was taken back to her room. According to her, the rooms where they were kept should all have the same password.

After hearing this, Cain made an immediate decision. "Ultear, we move at two in the morning."

Ultear was surprised by Cain's decisiveness, but she was not someone who hesitated either. She nodded to show that she understood.

Soon, activity time in the recreation room ended. Before leaving, Cain and Ultear exchanged a glance before the guards took them back to their respective rooms.

After dinner, Cain lay quietly on his bed, waiting for nightfall.

When the time reached two in the morning, Cain suddenly opened his eyes. Looking at the pitch-black room, he muttered, "The operation begins."

Cain quietly approached the door and looked outside through the window. Seeing no guards, he entered the password Ultear had given him and opened the door.

Cain cautiously made his way to the entrance of the recreation room. A small figure was already there, anxiously looking around.

When she spotted Cain, Ultear slowly let out a breath of relief. Before she could say anything, Cain took her hand and whispered, "Go!"

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