Chapter 68 - The Answers (2/2)
”I could be. But do you have any choice?”
Hero narrowed his eyes as he plopped down into the red liquid, crossing his legs, he sat down as he let out a hum. ”Okay... I'll let you out.”
”Good-”
”On one condition.”
The lab coat let out a sigh as the shoulders on it moved up then down in a shrugging motion. ”Very well Boy. What is this condition?”
”I want you to answer my questions.”
”Really?”
”Yeah.” Hero smiled slightly as he nodded his head. ”I'm curious about this whole situation. I want answers. A lot of them in fact.”
”Very well... I suppose it matters not to me, if you know the truth now... What are your questions?”
”First question!” Hero announced. ”What the hell are you?”
”I am a lab coat-”
”That's not what I meant and you know it!”
The coat made a slight chuckling sound as it gave another shrug. ”I am something created by Doctor Hyde, implanted into your mind with the goal to watch you.”
”So you're a part of his Attribute...”
”No.” The lab coat said simply. ”I am no mere Attribute. I am a mix of drugs, brainwashing, and hypnosis, all of which was performed on you in high doses, in an attempt to insert trigger words, and create me. I am not the result of any Attribute, magic, or anything. I am simply a part of your brain that was created as a way to monitor you. You are considered a failed experiment by Doctor Hyde. He wasn't able to get the necessary balance he was looking for, nor was he able to improve the Seraphin project. The only reason you were not terminated from the start was because of Okami Otoko.”
”Gramps...” Hero said quietly as he bit his lip. ”Always comes back to you doesn't it...”
”Project Seraphin, as you may be aware, is an experiment that involves a person's Life Equation being altered and tweaked, as a means to give that person two additional Attributes. However. It comes with some massive side effects. The biggest being the body lacking the ability to keep up with three powers, in the beginning. A normal body simply is incapable of keeping up with those three powers all operating at 100% all at once. As such the Doctor created me. I am in every Seraphin, and it is my goal to monitor them, as well as stop them from using all three Attributes at once.”
”So you're the reason why I can only use one at a time!” Hero said nodding his head. ”And why they are all being held back...”
”Indeed. However, I am different than most others.” The coat said proudly. ”The Doctor made me, as a way to limit your power in the beginning. On top of stopping you from accessing all three Attributes at once, it is also my goal to keep you stuck at a sat percentage of how much you can do with those.”
”Why would he do that though!” Hero questioned.
”No particular reason. He wanted to see if he could do it, so he did it.”
”What? That's dumb...”
”That is what you are. You are nothing special. Just something the Doctor made to see if he could do it. However, on the off chance that you somehow got to be a problem, that is where I step in. I am your kill switch... Literally...”
”This Equation of Life stuff you are going on about... What is it?” Hero asked curiously.
”I do not know-”
”What do you mean you don't know! You keep bringing it up!”
”I only know everything you know, and what the Doctor knew at the time, when he created me... The Doctor was very fascinated by it studying it, and some of its effects, but his research was at the time almost nonexistent. However, what I do know about it, is that it can seemingly alter the natural flow of your Attributes. This has happened twice. Once when you were with that girl... And the second time when you were defending the Village. During both those times, you somehow found a way to start using 35% of your Attributes, though you could still only use one at a time.”
”So that explains why I was filled with so much energy...” Hero muttered out as he placed a hand on his chin. ”But it doesn't explain what you meant by me being with some girl?”
”Ask your next question! Your body doesn't have all day.”
”Oh... Right.” Hero said nodding slightly. ”That weird white sludge. What is that?”
”That is the manifestation of the Monsterfication. It's the will of the Attribute taken shape, and somehow connected to the owner, though I have no idea how... It is not the only manifestation in here...”
”I think I get it.” Hero said nodding his head as he looked around. ”So umm... Where is Hospital?”
”I do not know. They are not always in here. Usually, when they are I do my best to kick them out. However, I will not be able to do that in my current condition.”
”Okay...” Hero turned away as he gave a wave. ”Well. Thanks for answering my questions Labby, but I gotta go now!”
”What are you babbling on about?” The lab coat questioned. ”You can not leave here while your body is healing.”
”Oh. Yeah, I'm done healing!” Hero said sheepishly as he shrugged.
”What? But you can't use the Monsterfications healing ability! 25% isn't enough to access it to heal you!”
”You forget.” Hero said placing a hand down in the warm red liquid. ”I have another Attribute that can heal...”
”Your mothers...”
”And it seems like 25% is enough to heal with that one!” He said smugly.
”Damn you! You knew all along! You were just playing along to get answers out of me!”
”Yep!” Hero said walking away slowly. ”I'm an idiot, but thankfully you're a part of me, so you're equally as stupid. Outsmarting myself is kind of the only thing I'm amazing at.”
”I'll kill you!”
Hero stopped as he brought his arm up. ”Oh... And Labby. One day... I will get strong enough. And I will defeat you. I'll take control of my Attribute, my mother's Attribute, and... And her Attribute. I'm going to save her. I promise.”
The lab coat seemed to let out a growl. ”You will never defeat me...”
Hero gave a goofy smile. ”We'll see!” And with that, he brought his arm down, creating a rip in the fabric of space. ”We'll see...” He took a deep breath and stepped through.
And the next thing he knew... He was awake.