Chapter 106. 157
As Charles watched the green-hued creature scurry away, a faint smile appeared on his visage. It appeared that these living relics harbored a deeper hatred toward the Meeh'eks as compared to himself.
"Onward, quick!" Under Charles' command, explosives were systematically affixed to the door frames.
As each door was blown apart, various monsters were let out of their cells. Some of them were so grotesque and bizarre that Charles struggled to find descriptions for their appearances.
He wasn't particularly interested in finding out what these creatures were or the special abilities they possessed. As long as they spelled trouble for the Meeh'eks, they would be allies for the time being. Chart your course back to the origins of this substance at n0v^lbin
Of course, not every living relic was as amiable as the green monster. A few immediately pounced on Charles and his party upon their release.
Fortunately, Charles and his group were a formidable force. Faced with two hundred fully armed humans, any monster with a semblance of intelligence would swiftly try to avoid a clash.
When Charles realized that the Meeh'eks that should have arrived by now had yet to arrive, he knew that his plan was working. Chaos had surely erupted elsewhere.
Approaching the third last door, Charles was about to affix explosives when, much to his surprise, the door swung open from within.
It was a human, a stark naked little boy. Contrary to Charles, the shade of his skin was far from ghostly pale.
"Who are you?" Charles questioned as caution painted his face.
In response, the child collapsed and started screaming frantically.
As the boy let out chilling cries of pain, his body started to swiftly mutate. His skin began to invert as his flesh withered away. His pale lips rapidly elongated like a bird's beak. In a matter of seconds, the boy was gone, and in his place, a new Meeh'ek climbed onto its feet.
It parted its elongated beak and uttered a series of sounds. It then lifted his right leg with six toes and headed for the exit.
"This is how the Meeh'eks are created?" Charles mused to himself as he stared at the metal door before him. After a brief moment of hesitation, he carefully pushed the open door wider with his Dark Blade.
A massive, ash-gray, slimy blob appeared before his eyes. The matter pulsated at odd intervals, and its shape bore a vague resemblance to an amorphous toad.
Containment Measures: 157 must be contained in a 4m x 4m Grade H chamber. Due to the nature of 157-1, a special task force has to be on standby 24-7. Once 157-1 makes its appearance, the special task force is to terminate it immediately.
Appendix A: The proposal to use 157-1 as food for other projects has been submitted by Dr. Pede and attained the Foundation's approval.
Reading the contents of the experimental log hung on the wall, realization finally dawned on him. It finally all made sense—the completely mock city outside and the Meeh'eks' behaviors of reenacting what happened in the past.
These Meeh'eks were one of the relics being held captive by the Foundation.
"Doesn't seem right, though. It's stated here that 157 is a drama stage. Does that look like a stage to you?" Richard asked as he pointed at the grotesque blob before them.
"Remember how we could only understand the Meeh'ek when we were suffering from auditory hallucinations?" Charles asked as he recalled their past experience.
"You mean..." Richard's words were interrupted as 157 spat out another human. Within a couple of moments, a new Meeh'ek was born.
"It seems like the voices from the sea not only affect humans. Even living relics are influenced," Charles remarked with his brows pressed together.
This would then be able to explain the current appearance of 157 and its actions of producing humanoid creatures rather than humans.
"Hah, if 157 could talk, it'd be complaining. It's already weird enough, but to think it would encounter something that surpasses it here."
"Captain, are you alright?" Dipp poked in through the door frame, his face tinged with concern.
Charles cast a wary glance at the writhing 157 before he left the room and closed the door behind him.
Unfolding the island's secret didn't help his circumstances. He had to escape from this nightmarish place as soon as possible.
"How many doors are left?" Charles turned to Dipp and asked.
"Two more, but the final door looks different from all the other doors," Dipp answered.
Very soon, Charles arrived before a blood-red metal door. Layer upon layer of shimmering chains inscribed with arcane glyphs sealed the door.
"Quickly, set the explosives. Once we release this one, we leave immediately."