28 Stage Two Pseudo-evolved
Dennis spent the next two days in the lab getting tested and doing all sorts of exercises with the UVS.
Usually, the scientists would check up on the Modified Combatants and test their vitals monthly in the training facility, but Dennis was a special case.
Aside from the tests at the training facility, he would have to visit the lab at least once a month as well.
The scientists hadn't been able to get him to visit in quite some time, so they made sure to perform all the diagnosis they needed.
They even had Dennis equip the UVS and not only fight some simulations but also complete physically tasking challenges of their making.
They mostly did this to get him to expend the energy of the UVS to the point where his body would start wearing down and displaying the negative side effects.
To their surprise, that didn't happen. When the UVS ran out of power and deactivated, Dennis's body was still in a good state.
Except for a little fatigue, none of the negative side effects showed up.
Mr Ansel did take note of the fact that Dennis's body looked much studier than before. His chest and biceps seemed broader, not to mention the outline of the abs on his belly region.
'Could this be attributed to his body's recent developments?' Mr Ansel wondered.
"The fiscal solution... it works on you now, correct?" Mr Ansel asked Dennis.
"Correct," Dennis replied while recalling that he took another one the night before leaving the apartment.
"Hmm... why would it suddenly start having an effect after all this time?" Mr Dennis wondered out loud.
'Maybe because I did personal workouts and training? Something the old Dennis never dabbled in,' Dennis voiced internally.
"We want to give you a few physical tasks without the UVS equipped... are you up for them?" Mr Ansel inquired.
"Sure," Dennis answered.
"Good, good," Mr Ansel backed away and clapped twice.
Zzhiiii~
Dennis watched as a circular hole appeared a couple of feet away and a bike phased through.
Zhiii~
Then, by its right, a larger hole appeared, and a whole car phased through.
Zhiii~ Zhiii~ Zhii~
In just a couple of seconds, three more vehicles, each larger than the previous ones, phased through holes on the ground.
Despite the size of the fifth vehicle, the space within the all-white room Dennis was situated in remained large enough to fit all five cars.
"Let's see how much you can lift... the first one weighs 0.02 tons, the second, weighs 1.1 tons, the third weighs about 3 tons, the fourth weighs 12 tons and lastly the fifth weighs 35 tons," Mr Ansel paused with a look of anticipation after listing out the weight of each of the vehicles.
'So, they wish to grade my current level of strength without the UVS,' Dennis understood and stepped forward.
He arrived before the bike, which was the smallest in terms of weight.
'Just about 20 kilograms...' Dennis thought while placing his hands on the handlebar.
With ease, he lifted the entire bike upwards and slowly placed it down afterwards.
Wires were still attached to his body, so the moment he dropped the bike, Mr Ansel stared at the readings of the tab monitor in his grasp.
He nodded slightly, signifying that Dennis could move on to the next one.
He stood before a small red car that hardly bore any scratches. Dennis knew just how expensive such a car would be back on his earth, and yet it was being used as an experiment here because it was expendable.
It was quite a pity that many of those kinds of vehicles were no longer being used because fuel was a commodity that wasn't so easily accessible in this age.
'1100 kilograms is quite the huge gap from 20... but I'll still give it a try,' Dennis wasn't expecting to pass the stage, yet he stepped forward and squatted.
Placing his fingers below the bumper, Dennis took a firm pose and transferred strength from his lower to his upper body.
"Hngh!" Letting out a groan, he pulled upwards.
He felt a certain pressure on his arms, shoulders, and waist but kept giving it his all.
A low rumbling sound rang out in the next instant as the car lifted off the floor while Dennis took a completely upright position with both hands held high.
In this position, the only part of the car that was still making contact with the floor was its two rear tyres.
"Oh, I lifted it," Dennis mumbled in disbelief. He could feel the weight trying to push his arms downwards, but for some reason, he knew he could still hold on to it for longer.
Mr Ansel was completely shocked, but he tried to maintain a calm look as he stared at the monitor before him.
'He's a stage two pseudo-evolved,' He analysed internally.
'He couldn't even cross the first stage before, and now he is a stage two?' Mr Ansel watched as Dennis slowly lowered the car.
"Can you do the next?" Mr Ansel questioned with a look of enthusiasm.
Dennis stared at the van next to the car, which was meant to be somewhere around three thousand kilograms before shaking his head.
"No, I believe this is my limit..." He answered.
'For now,' He added internally.
"Good job. Your vitals are surprisingly stable, and we have acquired a new database from this," Mr Ansel still had a slightly puzzled look, but he turned around at that point.
"You are free to leave first light tomorrow. For now, rest and make sure to ask the attendants if you need anything," Mr Ansel walked out of the space after speaking.
"Thanks... I guess," Dennis voiced before heading back to the metallic bed to lie down.
It was currently close to midnight, so he understood why they didn't want him leaving yet. They may be scientists who never left the lab to touch grass, but they were well aware of the insecurities within the shelter at nighttime.
'A valuable lab rat, eh? Well... it's not as bad as the movies make it out to be,' Dennis closed his eyes but didn't drift off to sleep yet.
Outside the space, Mr. Ansel and the others seemed to be in a discussion.
"How did he jump from being non-evolved to pseudo-stage two?" Scientist Graham still had a tone of disbelief while speaking.
"Wouldn't have believed it if we didn't witness it ourselves," another young researcher chimed in.
"Isn't Rodrick pseudo stage three?" Scientist Belmos inquired from the side.
"Yes, he is pseudo stage three, but very close to reaching the fourth," Mr Ansel answered while stroking his bushy beard.
"So it is safe to say that the fiscal solution has better effects on Dennis than Rodrick," Belmos analysed.
"Technically, they have each taken the same amount so it is uncertain," Mr Ansel responded.
"However, it started getting effective on Dennis much later, so..."
"Let us not get ahead of ourselves," Mr Ansel cut him short.
"The negative side effects of his overly high compatibility rate might have rescinded, but we can not let our guard down. For all we know, it might return in another format... recheck and restudy his test results and everything we have discovered so far. Report the slightest bit of suspicion to me," Mr Ansel instructed before turning around to leave.
....
In the sterile confines of the laboratory, bathed in stark white light, a figure moved with purpose through the pristine space.
The stark white walls reflected the harsh fluorescent light, creating an environment devoid of warmth while the figure stepped forward as silently as they could.
The figure was clad in a white laboratory coat.
His gaze seemed focused and unwavering as he walked into another all white space and approached the metallic bed up ahead.
His expression portrayed a mixture of determination and apprehension as if burdened by the weight of a clandestine mission shrouded in secrecy.
The figure of the teenage male in the patient's outfit lay motionless on the cold metallic bed.
His breathing was slow and steady as he remained still in the realm of sleep, unaware of the imminent intrusion due to his unconscious state.
The figure held a syringe filled with a mysterious substance, its contents shimmering under the harsh laboratory light.
With calculated precision, the scientist approached the bedside, his movements portraying a sense of urgency.
With a steady hand, the scientist leaned over the patient, his gloved fingers guiding the needle of the syringe towards the exposed skin.
Fwwhii~
Just when the needle was about to pierce his skin, the patient suddenly reached out.
Pah!
He grabbed the wrist of the scientist, stopping him from lowering his arm any further.
His eyes suddenly sprang open...
"What do you think you're doing?" Dennis questioned with a chilly gaze.
The scientist was taken aback by his awakening but quickly tried to play it cool.
"Just following instructions. You are supposed to receive this shot by midnight while you're asleep. It is for your good," Belmos voiced while trying to lower the syringe but failed to get Dennis to budge.
"If I am supposed to be asleep when taking it, then why are you still trying to put it in me?" Dennis questioned with a look of suspicion.
