The Light That Follows Darkness

I was ecstatic, my heart soaring with joy.

At long last, I had achieved the impossible – the infusion of chi into my muscles.

It had been a grueling two weeks of relentless meditation, marked by countless setbacks and agonizing failures. But now, the fruits of my labor surpassed even my wildest expectations.

Emerging from my deep meditation, a wide grin spread across my face as I beckoned the twins over.

Ha-Eun, her eyes filled with curiosity, couldn't contain her excitement as she asked: "Xeno, tell us everything! Judging by your expression, I can tell you've succeeded. Am I right?"

With a playful gesture, I tousled her shimmering silver hair and replied: "You bet I did. After pouring my heart and soul into this, I have finally, finally mastered the art of infusing my muscles with chi. And now, my dear ladies, it's time for our favorite pastime in this confined space – experimentation. Are you ready?"

The twins beamed with anticipation, nodding eagerly as they followed me to the center of our cell.

With a surge of chi coursing through my veins, I attempted to move, but alas, I misjudged the amount of chi required. The result was an explosive burst of speed that sent me careening into the bathtub, tumbling headlong into its watery embrace.

The cold water splashed over my face, snapping me out of my exhilaration. I gasped for air, feeling a mix of shock and amusement. I looked up and saw the twins staring at me with wide eyes and open mouths. They seemed unsure whether to laugh or scream.

“Are you okay, Xeno?” Ha-Eun asked, concern in her voice.

I nodded, then chuckled. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just a little miscalculation on my part. I guess I need to practice more on controlling my chi.”

Before I could get up from the bathtub, I heard Hana then burst out in laughter and said:” This is the coolest and funniest thing I have ever seen in my life. I mean you should have seen your position when you hit the bathtub, ass up with your head buried in the bathtub. You reminded me of that animal that hides its head in the sand and leaves its body out. I mean hahahahaha….”

Even though I tried to shake off my embarrassment and act as if nothing had happened, Hana didn’t seem to want to leave it that easily and began throwing sarcastic jabs at me and laughing. So, I did what I usually do and bumped her on the head while saying:” Why don’t you learn some tact from your sister you buffoon? I mean you are always like this. Well, whatever back to my experimentation.”

With that said, I climbed out of the bathtub, shaking off the water from my clothes and hair.

I felt a surge of energy and confidence, despite my clumsy mishap. I wanted to control and discover more about muscle-infused chi.

After a series of limited experiments, in the confines of our cell, I was capable of discovering a lot of benefits to muscle chi infusion.

Passing chi through my muscles made them more powerful and efficient. It increased my strength, endurance, and overall speed. It also made them more adaptable and responsive, allowing for more precise and smoother movements. Moreover, it enhanced the recovery and regeneration of muscle fibers, reducing fatigue and soreness.

Ending the experimentation, which the twins and I enjoyed, we each went to take our baths. We then sat on the bed and began to chat amicably.

As time passed, we were suddenly interrupted by a knock on the door, a hatch opening, and food being passed through it. It was none other than Ryuji, bringing our food as he always does.

I smiled at Ryuji and said: “Ryu, it’s nice to see you again my brother, and what’s up with you? You don’t seem happy at all has anything happened to you?”

Ryuji nodded his head and said: “Well Xeno, first of all, I’m here to warn you. Rick is about to come to your cell soon. I don’t know when but I think it’s soon, so be ready. Second of all, I’m in such a bad mood since I forgot to give you this paper yesterday and just seeing what’s written on it causes my blood to boil and old memories to resurface.”

Seeing Ryuji’s infuriated look and hearing the venom in his voice I knew that this information he brought today was something that had to do with his past and most likely to do with this facility or the organization behind it. And it seems that my assumption was true.

Once I opened the paper after Ryuji left, I found these words written on the top of the page with large letters and some blood that dripped on it “The Cult of The Damned”. It seems that this is the organization's name that caused Ryuji to lose all the people he cared for and the organization that brought us here illegally and made us go through all this hell.

I couldn’t help but crumple the paper from the rage and sadness boiling inside of me.

The twins noticed my reactions immediately and got closer to me. They looked at what was written on the paper and saw the bloodstains on it. Their faces turned red with anger and frustration, and their hands began shaking uncontrollably. I immediately held their hands tightly in an effort to calm them down.

I then proceeded to read what was written: The Cult of the Damned is an underground organization that operates in the shadows of society. They conduct illegal human experimentation in their relentless pursuit of creating superhumans to combat the monstrous threats that plague the world. The cult has poured immense resources and efforts into its experiments for years. Their laboratories buzz with activity as scientists and researchers toil day and night, driven by a fervent belief in their cause. They seek to unlock the hidden potential within the human genome, to create beings with extraordinary abilities that can stand as the last line of defense against the encroaching darkness.

Despite their unwavering dedication, the cult’s efforts have yielded no success. Countless subjects have been subjected to their experiments, yet not a single superhuman has emerged from their trials. Instead, their laboratories have become chambers of horrors, filled with abominations and genetically modified subjects, twisted and tormented by their misguided ambitions.

Frustration gnaws at the core of the cult’s members. Their dreams of creating saviors have turned into a nightmare of failure. As the line between good and evil begins to blur, desperation seeps into their hearts. The once noble intentions that had driven them now give way to a dark and twisted obsession with power.

No longer content with willing subjects, The Cult of the Damned has turned to kidnapping and torture. They roam the streets, snatching unsuspecting individuals, leaving their families wondering what has become of their loved ones. And if pursued, the families will be disposed of with force and the incident covered with political clout.

These innocent souls become unwilling participants in the cult’s macabre experiments, subjected to unspeakable horrors.