"The Scarlet Strain"

The cold wind blew across the forest clearing, rustling leaves and sending a sharp chill through the air. Above them, clouds darkened, gathering together like an dark and gloomy darkness.

From a distance, the silent figure of the assistant stood hidden behind a tree, his eyes narrowing as he watched the battle take shape. His breath caught as he saw the doctor transform.

"So... he really used it, the assistant" thought grimly.

His vision grew hazy for a moment as memories overtook him.



Flashback—

Decades ago—
Dr. V, cast out and exiled, had wandered the forests like a ghost of his former self. His lab destroyed. His name cursed. Alone in a quiet, mansion, he had resigned himself to obscurity. That was until one rainy day—when he found an injured man bleeding beneath the roots of a toppled tree. Without hesitation, Dr. V dragged him back to the cabin, patched him up, and saved his life.

The assistant had never forgotten that moment. He gave up his life to the man who saved him, and from that day onward, he had served Dr. V loyally.

"But I never thought he'd use the "Scarlet Strain"..."



Back in the present—
The doctor’s body twisted and grew. Two monstrous new arms formed from his sides—one ending in a whip of flesh, the other hardened into sharp bony blades. His skin was patchy and pale. His grin remained unchanged.

Helwin stepped forward first, his eyes cold. “We’re ending this.”

He slammed his palms into the ground. Ice burst up, freezing Dr. V’s legs in place.

Dr. V lunged forward, aiming at Shin'ō—but his attack collided with Jovino’s sudden stone wall and Shin'ō’s spirit shield.

Bezkon fired thunder-charged arrows from the side, crackling with energy. They struck the doctor, sending volts of lightning surging through his regenerating flesh.

Audaxor clenched his fists, flames roaring to lite up his arms. “Get Cooked!!”

With a shout, he charged in and landed a burning punch across Dr. V’s jaw. The doctor staggered, but already the charred skin began to harden—bones knitting over it like armor.

“Is he still evolving!?” Helwin questions.

Suddenly, Dr. V roared and shattered the ice. He dashed forward with terrifying speed and swept his whip-arm at the group. They were all flung backward.

Jovino recovered fast. He slammed his hands down and created a raised platform beneath Dr. V, sending him staggering as the ground rises awkwardly.

“Bezkon, now!” he shouted.

Bezkon leapt onto the platform and launched off it, diving feet-first into the doctor’s head with a crack. The blow landed—but at a cost. Bony spikes shot out from Dr. V’s shoulder and impaled Bezkon’s leg.

“Bezkon!” Audaxor and Jovino dashed in to shield him as he fell.

Helwin summoned thick vines of ice to wrap around Dr. V, holding him still. “NOW!”

Shin’ō, standing behind with eyes glowing and one hand glowing violet, raised it calmly.

“Destruction Magic Type 2: CONTINOUS BLAST.”

A pulse of mana echoed through the air. A sphere of energy darted from Shin'ō’s hand and latched onto Dr. V. Then—BOOM—BOOM—BOOM—BOOM.

Explosions rained down. Rapid. Violent. Dozens in a single minute.

From afar, the assistant watched in stunned silence.

"He’s still... regenerating?"

Dr. V’s grotesque body limped out from the smoke, his legs barely holding together. Bones grew, cracked, healed—his breathing ragged, but still smiling.

“He won’t stop,” Bezkon shouts. “Then let’s finish this—together.”

Audaxor stood beside him. Their eyes met. No words were needed.

The two fused fire and thunder into a single spear. Burning bright. Crackling with furious energy.

“Flaming Spear—BLAZED BOLT!”

They launched into the air and came crashing down. The glowing spear stabbed into Dr. V’s chest and pinned him into the ground. His body shook. His laughter finally faded.

As flames engulfed the corpse, the sky turned crimson with the fire’s glow and smoke.

Dr. V’s eyes fluttered open one last time. His lips curled.

“C-cells d-die... but DNA... remains...”

The gang walked off as the doctor’s smoldering remains brun in the background. A glowing spear marked the end of the mad scientist’s twisted reign.



Hours later—

The boys slumped down in Bezkon’s living room, bloody, bruised, but alive.

Shin'ō, holding his hand over Bezkon’s wound, spoke. “I’ve stopped the bleeding. It’ll take time, but you’ll heal.”

Bezkon looked down at his leg, then at his friends. “Tch. So I won’t be able to run for a while, huh...?”

Helwin gave a tired laugh. “At least we’re still standing.”

“Yeah, that’s valid,” Audaxor nodded.

“Here.” Jovino placed a bowl in front of them. “I made this.”

Shin'ō blinked. “Wait. You can cook too?!”

The old man laughed from the kitchen. “I taught him that recipe. Pretty good, right?”

Bezkon looked around. The room was trashed. The walls cracked. His home... wasn’t really a home anymore. “Guys... we can’t live here.”

They all looked at him.

“This place was never meant for people like us.”

A moment of silence.

Helwin raised a brow. “That means... we need to make a base.”

Audaxor grinned. “Not just any base.”

He extended his fist. Sparks danced over his knuckles.

“A mega base.”