Bang !
A figure hit the ground hard, sending up clouds of dust and bits of broken debris. The boy rolled several times before coming to a stop. He was no older than seventeen. A deep cut bled across his forehead, his lips were split, and his body curled in pain.
Four other boys walked toward him, their steps heavy and threatening. One of them stood out. He was older, about twenty, and clearly the leader.
He stood over Julius, looking down with a smug expression.
"You really thought the failed serum was yours to keep? Someone like you can't trigger cellular resonance. You don't have the talent. Using that serum would be a waste. We're all scavengers here, but I'm the strongest. That means everything you find belongs to me."
He scoffed. "And yet you tried to hide it. Thought you could inject it in secret? If I hadn't found out, you might've actually used it."
Serums are made from unstable genetic material turned into liquid. They can boost strength, speed, harden the body, and if someone is lucky, unlock cellular resonance.
Syringes are made of glass and metal. Billions are used every year, and many still carry leftover energy. This residue can cause radiation that harms normal people and pollutes the environment. If ignored, it can even cause explosions.
To manage this, special treatment stations were built outside cities and towns. One of them is Special Waste Station 92, located far south of Flore Town, in a place called Green Sea Village.
Scavengers like Julius survive by digging through trash. Most syringes are used up, but some still hold a few drops. Over time, those drops can be collected and turned into full syringes. These are either sold on the black market or used by those desperate enough to take the risk.
Serums are ranked by grade. The weakest are failed serums. The strongest ones are kept far from the hands of ordinary people, no matter how much they're willing to pay.
Failed serums still work. A low-grade one can double your strength or speed for ten minutes. A mid-grade can extend that boost for almost two hours. A high-grade defective serum can cause permanent physical changes. The first dose is powerful. The second is much weaker.
A year ago, Julius found a few drops of high-grade serum in a dumped syringe. It was rare. He didn't tell anyone, except his girlfriend, Lana. Each month, when new waste was delivered, Kael returned to search for more. Slowly, he collected enough to fill a syringe. His plan was simple. Use the serum to increase his strength and pass the school's final test. If he did well enough, he might get a recommendation to a better school in town or maybe even the city.
But someone found out. Jack.
How? Julius had only told one person.
Jack's face darkened. He kicked Julius again, sending him tumbling across rusted steel and shattered glass.
"You trusted the wrong person. Lana's way out of your league. You should've known that. With your talent, you're not even worth her attention. Stay away from her. If I catch you near her again, I'll break you."
"Impossible." Julius's voice was weak. His eyes were wide. He couldn't believe it. The one person he trusted had betrayed him. He clenched his fist.
"What? You want to fight?" Jack snorted. "You think I can't kill you right here? No one would care."
Julius coughed blood and passed out.
"Search him. If it's not in his shack, it's on him."
The other three got to work, going through Julius's clothes without hesitation. One of them pulled a metal syringe from his inner pocket. It gave off a faint blue glow.
Jack's eyes lit up. He took it from the lackey, holding it gently. He had handled serums before, but this one was different. It was cleaner. More refined. More powerful.
This single syringe could change everything. With it, he could live in comfort for ten years without lifting a finger.
He looked down at Kael's body and kicked him again.
"Bitch."