TIC 86

 Chapter 86

The other man leaned in slightly and planted a soft kiss on his forehead; the sensation of that fleeting touch was more vivid than the beating of his own heart.

His thoughts gradually grew hazy and began to drift; his head slowly tilted to one side as Hein gathered him into his arms.

Xiao Yan felt as though he had entered a labyrinth, where the memory of sending Hein into the reaction chamber—and bidding him farewell—played out endlessly before his eyes.

He realized, with absolute clarity, just how desperately he wanted to remain by this man's side.

In that moment, Hein was no longer merely a figure of legend—a "myth," as they called him—but rather, the place where Xiao Yan truly belonged.

Hein interfaced with the terminal built into the room, scanning and analyzing Xiao Yan’s physical condition while monitoring his vital signs in real-time. Every one of Xiao Yan’s physiological metrics was now under Hein’s direct supervision.

Xiao Yan’s body temperature continued to rise. Hein carefully rose to his feet and gently laid Xiao Yan’s head upon a pillow. He opened a storage cabinet, retrieved a supply of nutrient solution, and—with practiced ease—administered the injection into Xiao Yan’s body.

It was a long and arduous process; throughout the entire night, Xiao Yan consumed every last drop of the nutrient solution Hein had stockpiled in his room.

At dawn, when Liv arrived at Hein’s door bearing a fresh supply of nutrient solution, she cast a look of concern toward her commanding officer.

"Chief... I know that Major Xiao Yan has now been inoculated with the X-Virus—and that you feel nothing could possibly harm him anymore—but..."

"He needs energy." Hein offered Liv no further explanation; he simply swept the entire batch of nutrient solution into the room, leaving Liv shut out behind the sliding door.

For three consecutive days, Major Xiao Yan failed to return to his research laboratory. Naturally, his stated reason for requesting leave was laughably flimsy: he claimed he required time for "meditation." Curiously, the leave request itself had not been submitted by Xiao Yan, but rather by Colonel Burton on his behalf.

The reaction displayed by Loch and Ritz—who had caught wind of the news while passing through a corridor—left Lauren feeling deeply unsettled.

"Oh? So Major Xiao Yan needs to 'meditate,' does he?" Ritz winked playfully at Loch, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Even someone as dense as Lauren could tell that "meditation" was clearly a euphemism for something else entirely. Loch remained half-lidded; after a long silence, he finally uttered a single sentence: "Perhaps we ought to conduct a study—on Colonel Burton's endurance."

Lauren, baffled, whispered back: "That guy Xiao Yan must be slacking off; right now, he’s probably somewhere drinking beer and watching a strip show! What does his 'meditation' have to do with Colonel Burton?"

Reitz turned around and stared at Lauren as if he were an alien. "Major Xiao Yan won't have the chance to drink beer and watch a strip show for the rest of his life. Furthermore, only Colonel Burton could keep him 'meditating' indoors for days on end."

"Huh?" Lauren tilted his head, still trying to process the cause-and-effect relationship at play.

Loch grabbed Reitz by the back of his collar. "Come on, don't corrupt the kid. *I'll* treat you to beer and a strip show."

"Bullshit! I wouldn't be caught dead with you! Let go of me!"

Just like that, Reitz and Loch vanished down the corridor.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yan was drenched in sweat; his body temperature remained stubbornly elevated.

Hein filled the bathtub with cold water, then carefully removed Xiao Yan’s white lab coat and undergarments. He lifted Xiao Yan into his arms and gently lowered him into the tub.

"Mmm..."

The soothing relief of having his fever quelled drew a soft moan from Xiao Yan.

Hein continued to administer nutrient supplements to him at regular intervals.

Xiao Yan’s mind was still replaying the moments of his separation from Hein—each time he turned and walked away, it felt as though his heart were being torn apart. Instinctively reaching out to grasp at something, he clamped his hands onto the rim of the bathtub. The superhuman strength granted to him by the X-virus caused the porcelain to crack, leaving faint fissures in the tub. Without a word, Hein seized Xiao Yan’s wrists, then slid sideways into the icy water and held him in a tight embrace.

"I’m right here. Right by your side." "Hein leaned close to Xiao Yan’s ear and whispered softly.

As if the person beside him were the very source of his strength, Xiao Yan ceased his search for support; instead, acting on pure instinct, he turned his body and clung tightly to Hein. He held him so fiercely that Hein’s bones emitted a distinct *clacking* sound—a ceaseless cycle of shattering and instantly regenerating.

Hein did not frown, nor did he attempt to pry Xiao Yan’s hands away. From beginning to end, he held him with infinite patience and tolerance, gently pressing Xiao Yan’s head against his own shoulder.

That night, Xiao Yan’s raging fever gradually subsided, his breathing steadied, and the fog clouding his mind began to clear.

He parted his eyes slightly and saw Hein’s profile. The other man slowly turned toward him, his fingers brushing aside Xiao Yan’s damp hair as he gently massaged his temples—his voice, however, remained as cold and unchanging as ever.

"Are you lucid now, Major?"

Xiao Yan suddenly surged forward, straddling Hein’s body. He pressed his hands down onto Hein’s shoulders, the rhythmic dripping of water echoing loudly in the silence.

He gazed at Hein with a ravenous intensity, refusing to avert his eyes for even a single moment.

"I do not regret leaving you inside that reaction chamber. If I had to do it a thousand times—ten thousand times—I would make the exact same choice."

Water trickled from Xiao Yan’s face, dripping down onto Hein’s; yet Hein—leaning back against the bathtub as he gazed up at Xiao Yan—showed no inclination whatsoever to dodge or pull away.

"I know," Hein replied, lifting a hand to wipe the water from Xiao Yan’s face, his gaze fixed upon the expression now etched clearly across it.

"You were right. Regardless of whether I can ever fully piece together the memories of my past—even if I stand in awe of your power, forever chasing after your retreating figure; and no matter how desperately I wish to avoid repeating a life where I am helplessly drawn to you, losing all control over myself—I am, and always will be, drawn to you."

"I am not as strong as you imagine."

No matter the subject, Hein Burton’s words were always concise. The deeper meanings left unspoken were left entirely to Xiao Yan to decipher.

"I know that you love me, Colonel. That it is not merely a desire for possession. Otherwise, you could have simply allowed me to remain in that state of utter weakness and vulnerability—a state in which I would have remained forever sheltered beneath your wings." "You took me out to witness both the beauty and the cruelty of this world; you used the promise of freedom to lure me toward the path of greater power. But did it ever cross your mind that once I truly possessed that freedom, I might simply cast you aside?"

"Whatever you desire, I will give you. And if you were to cast me aside, I would simply chase after you."

Hein Burton maintained his upward gaze throughout—a gaze that was never submissive, but rather steadfast, as if it were the very force holding Xiao Yan aloft.

Lowering his head, Xiao Yan kissed the man with fierce intensity. Even as he heard the terrifying creak of Hein’s bones straining under the pressure, Xiao Yan felt—for the very first time—an impulse to utterly destroy him.

Hein attempted to brace himself and embrace Xiao Yan in return, but Xiao Yan, with stubborn persistence, pressed him back down exactly where he was.

They sought to possess one another with desperate force, yet Hein accepted Xiao Yan’s domination with complete openness.

For the first time, Xiao Yan felt as though he were losing his mind; the memories—those fragments of leaving Hein behind, played out over and over again in his mind—threatened to shatter him completely. Time and again, he had pieced himself back together; he had struggled with every ounce of his being, all for the sake of reclaiming his own wholeness.

And now, in this very moment, he finally held this man close in the flesh.

Xiao Yan had completely lost control; Hein’s skull was pressed against the rim of the bathtub, and at this rate, it seemed entirely possible that Xiao Yan would crush it.

Hein had no choice but to reach up, clamp his hands firmly around Xiao Yan’s wrists, and—with a surge of strength—sit up and gently push Xiao Yan away.

Pulling away from Hein, Xiao Yan glared at him fiercely. "Are you rejecting me? Colonel!"

"That is something that could never happen. It is simply that I have no desire for you to be kissing a corpse." ”

Only then did Xiao Yan realize that he had fully assimilated X-2—a virus that boosted his body's explosive power by 1.2 percent. As he stood there now, it was entirely conceivable that he could crush Hein’s skull.

Hein’s hands slid slowly down to Xiao Yan’s waist, and with a single motion, he lifted him into his arms.

It was only then that Xiao Yan noticed he was wearing absolutely nothing; meanwhile, Hein’s soaking-wet white T-shirt clung tightly to his body, revealing a physique of powerful yet perfectly proportioned musculature laid bare before Xiao Yan’s eyes. Hein lowered Xiao Yan onto the bed with deliberate weight; Xiao Yan reached out, grabbed the hem of Hein’s T-shirt, and pulled it up over his head, tossing it aside.

“Are you inviting me in, Major?” Hein’s hand had already pried open Xiao Yan’s mouth, kneading it with forceful intensity.

“Or would you rather I take you?” Xiao Yan flashed a wry smile.

“It seems I really have spoiled you rotten.” ”

Hein’s lips descended; Xiao Yan tilted his chin up eagerly to meet them, responding with every ounce of his being. Then, almost without warning, Hein entered Xiao Yan’s body. A powerful, forceful penetration—an irresistible, overwhelming impact—shattered everything Xiao Yan had ever known. This man was unreservedly expressing emotions he would never otherwise voice aloud. Hein’s thrusts were so heavy and violent that Xiao Yan felt as though his very bones were on the verge of shattering; yet, whenever Hein withdrew, Xiao Yan found himself instinctively clinging to him, desperately trying to hold him close.

Xiao Yan did not beg for mercy; instead, he strove to feel his partner with every fiber of his being. They ground against one another, pouring every ounce of their strength into experiencing one another completely.

Until, finally, Xiao Yan’s nerves could endure no more, and he drifted into sleep.

Hein lay draped over Xiao Yan’s body, planting a kiss upon the sleeping man’s brow. He let out a soft, low sound as he tightened his embrace around the man who had claimed him as his own.

Meanwhile, back in the laboratory, Lauren sat looking thoroughly dejected. Seated before him—currently utilizing the combat simulation system—was Wynn. As the designated observer, Lauren could attest that Wynn’s combat prowess was far beyond the scope of a mere word like "exquisite." With every fresh entry into the simulation, Wynn would shatter his previous record, setting a new benchmark even higher than the last. By the end of the day, Lauren found himself plagued by the distinct illusion that the system had ceased to serve any actual training purpose for Major Wynn.

In the split second that Lauren’s attention wavered, the simulated version of Wynn suddenly materialized directly before him—the razor-sharp blade of his weapon coming to rest right at the tip of Lauren’s nose.

“Hey there, you little punk—you actually did a pretty decent job on this system upgrade!”

Lauren gasped, recoiling in shock as he hurriedly exited the simulation. Wynn, too, removed his neural interface terminal and slowly rose to his feet. Lauren eyed Wynn with extreme wariness; the mere recollection of that terrifying scene within the simulation sent a cold sweat breaking out across his body, leaving his palms slick with perspiration.

“Hah! You really are a coward. I honestly have no idea what Major Xiao Yan sees in you to keep you on as his assistant. For all we know, if you ever fell into the hands of the ‘Tidal Surge’ faction, you’d probably turn traitor in less than three seconds flat.”

“You... you...! Well, at least Xiao Yan is a Major! He’s better than me at absolutely everything!” "If it weren't for the X-virus, would he really have survived against the zombies?" Lauren was provoked by the condescending attitude Wynn directed at him.

Wynn crossed his arms and watched Lauren; the smile on his face vanished completely, and his gaze grew increasingly cold.

"True—without the X-virus, facing a dozen or so zombies, Xiao Yan would have been nothing but dead meat. But *before* he received the X-virus, his combat capabilities actually exceeded those of most trained soldiers. Taking down two Level 0s simultaneously was absolutely no problem for him. In fact, back when Maya was ambushed by assassins from the 'Surge' organization and left lying in a pool of blood, he left the safety of the control room, opened fire, and took down the assassins to save her life. At that time, just like you, he was nothing more than a cadet."

Lauren swallowed hard; he had never imagined that Xiao Yan had gone through such experiences.

"I’m not asking you to act like a fool—to charge blindly into danger and throw your life away. I’m simply hoping that you’ll at least manage to protect yourself—that’s the bare minimum."

"Will you be my instructor?" Lauren asked, tilting his head back to look up at him.

Suddenly, Wynn reached out and gave Lauren’s head a vigorous rub. Lauren couldn't withstand the force and promptly tumbled onto the floor, while Wynn clutched his stomach and burst into hearty laughter.

"You’re a funny kid. I’m not your instructor. I heard Major Ling Xiao is due for his rotation next month; he’s the one who’ll likely be training you bunch of rookies who’ve just joined the Academy!"

"Major Ling Xiao?"

"Yep. That guy is absolutely ruthless! Or... you could beg me! I could have a word with Ling Xiao and see if he’d be willing to hand you over to me instead!"

"Do you find it amusing to mess with me?" Lauren stood up and glared at Wynn.

"Yeah, actually—it is pretty amusing!" Wynn suddenly bent down, planted a loud, smacking kiss on Lauren’s cheek, then turned around and strode away.

Lauren stood frozen in place, eyes wide with shock. The moment the sliding door closed behind Wynn, he instinctively clapped his hands over his face, looking utterly startled.

"Xiao Yan—when are you coming back? I don't think I can last much longer in this lab!" ”

Having slept the entire day, Xiao Yan rolled over, resting his head on Hein’s shoulder; only then did he feel something—a sensation—finally slip away from his body.

Xiao Yan opened his eyes, meeting Hein’s gaze directly.

Who knew how long this guy had been watching him?

Hein’s kiss landed on Xiao Yan’s forehead.

“How do you feel?”

Xiao Yan chuckled softly and gave the tip of Hein’s nose a playful nip. “Amazing.”

He never in his wildest dreams imagined he would ever utter those two words in front of Hein.

Just then, the communicator on Xiao Yan’s wrist forcibly activated, projecting the image of Lieutenant General Avel right before their eyes. And Avel happened to catch the exact moment Xiao Yan planted a kiss on Hein’s temple.

The Lieutenant General felt compelled to let out a heavy, deliberate cough.

“Major Xiao Yan, I apologize for interrupting your ‘meditation,’ but the Academy of Sciences is in urgent need of your expertise. Might I ask when you anticipate concluding this ‘meditation’?”

Xiao Yan had no idea what excuse Hein had used to request leave on his behalf, so he could only force a smile and reply, “Sir, my ‘meditation’ has officially concluded.”

“I am delighted to hear that. Don’t tell me your entire week of ‘meditation’ was spent simply to be with Colonel Burton.”

“No, I was just about to report to you: I have administered the X-2 serum to myself.”

Lieutenant General Avel was visibly taken aback; his brows furrowed in surprise before slowly relaxing. “In that case, your top priority right now is to monitor your vital signs and collect blood samples to verify your body’s compatibility with X-2.”

“If my compatibility proves favorable, I request permission to conduct X-2 compatibility studies on Liv, Mark, and Wynn, utilizing their physiological responses to the serum as the quantitative basis for formulating the compatibility equation.”

“Your request is approved.”

As the communication with Avel concluded, Xiao Yan let out a deep breath.

“You didn’t actually have to place them at the very top of the compatibility study roster.”

“I have to.” Xiao Yan looked straight ahead with absolute seriousness. “They are your most capable subordinates. I have a premonition: Valentine won’t remain dormant for much longer. The moment I crack that compatibility equation, Valentine will undoubtedly make its move.” "When Shire and the Surge inevitably clash head-on, I want your subordinates to be in peak condition."

The following day, Xiao Yan returned to the laboratory, collected blood samples from Mark and the others, and began an intensive, fast-paced research effort.

Armed with their previous data and conceptual framework, they completed the development of the X-2 compatibility agent in just one week.

On this particular day, in addition to Liv, Mark, and Wynn, Major General Gordon and Hein were also present in Xiao Yan’s laboratory.

Xiao Yan addressed the three of them with grave seriousness: "Although Colonel Burton and I have already served as successful test cases, I still cannot guarantee that the virus will be 100% effective when administered to you. It could even cost you your lives."

Major General Gordon gazed at his subordinates, his brow furrowed deeply. "You are the elite of the elite within the Special Operations Force; I cannot imagine losing a single one of you. Every time you leave Shire to execute a mission, I am filled with trepidation, praying in the depths of my heart that you will return to report to me—whole and intact. This time, however, the choice to accept X-2 or decline it is entirely yours. This is not a mission; it is merely an option offered to you by the Central Academy of Sciences."

The three of them turned in unison to look at Hein, awaiting an order. Yet Hein’s response was—while unexpectedly calm—at the same time entirely unsurprising.

"Whether you choose to accept X-2 or decline it, you remain my subordinates. You will be assigned the exact same missions as before, and the trust I place in you will be neither greater nor lesser."

For a moment, the entire laboratory fell silent.

"I accept. In any case, the specific X-2 formula required is unique to each individual; no one else can take my place to test it."

Liv was the first to step forward to Xiao Yan. She took the vial bearing her name, loaded it into the injector gun, and—without a moment's hesitation—injected it into her own body.

Mark watched the scene unfold with wide eyes, then let out a breath...

With a huff, he also retrieved the vial of medicine designated for him.

“Hey, Mark... you’d better think this through...” Xiao Yan knew that Mark rarely used his head, and he didn't want him making any decisions on a sudden impulse.

Mark scratched his cheek and chuckled. “Xiao Yan, you’re not the rookie you used to be! Leave the heavy thinking to smart guys like you; all I have to do is put my trust in you!”

Suddenly, Wynn gave Mark a smack on the head, grabbing his own vial in the process. “You’re clearly just picking whatever Liv picks! Look closely at the name on that bottle—that’s *my* medicine! You big dummy!”

“Ah! It *is* your medicine!” Mark exclaimed in sudden realization, quickly swapping vials with Wynn.

Instantly, the tension that had hung over the laboratory dissipated.

Mark and Wynn also received the X-2 injection; they were escorted to a specialized observation room, where Xiao Yan and Lieutenant General Averil would jointly monitor their vital signs.

As he lay down in the observation chamber, Mark reached out and grabbed Liv’s hand.

“Hey... when I wake up... I’ll still get to see you, right?”

Seeing the look of sheer anxiety on Mark’s face, Liv couldn't help but laugh aloud. “You look like it’s the end of the world—I thought you were about to propose to me!”

Mark’s face instantly turned beet red.

Before lying down in her own sterile chamber, Liv smiled and called out, “Hey—see you in a bit!”

What Wynn hadn't expected, however, was for Lauren to show up.

“Are you here to fulfill your duties as an assistant—to help Xiao Yan monitor our vital signs?”

Lauren shook his head; though his eyes betrayed a hint of worry, he still put on an air of supreme arrogance as he said, “I heard there’s a good chance you’re going to die, so I came to see you one last time!”

“Oh? Well, don’t you worry. I’ve already made arrangements with Major Ling Xiao: the moment I wake up, I’m going to train you personally.” With that, Wynn prepared to seal his sterile chamber.

Lauren took a small, nervous step forward. “Hey! You’re not actually going to die, are you?”

A broad grin spread across Wynn’s lips. Just as the chamber door was sliding shut, he gave Lauren’s nose a playful tweak. “Want to give me a farewell kiss?”

Lauren didn't have time to respond before Wynn had already settled back into the chamber, and the door slid shut behind him. Snapping back to reality, Allen shouted, "In your dreams!"

Meanwhile, Wynn lay there, laughing until his stomach hurt.

Just as anticipated, all three of them began exhibiting elevated body temperatures, irregular heartbeats, and signs of mental confusion.

Major General Gordon remarked with a hint of concern, "Perhaps I shouldn't have authorized all three of them to undergo the X-2 procedure simultaneously. We should have accumulated more experience and ensured a higher success rate before proceeding... but never mind; dwelling on that now is pointless."

Standing beside him, Maya smiled as she gazed at Xiao Yan, who was currently immersed in his work. "To Xiao Yan, these three are special—not merely comrades-in-arms, but deeply cherished friends. When he proposed testing X-2 on them first, it signaled that he possessed absolute confidence in the outcome. General, do you still view Xiao Yan as that same 'Class B' researcher who once seemed so indifferent to everything?"

Major General Gordon studied Xiao Yan’s silhouette; he was methodically processing data and maintaining constant communication with Lieutenant General Avil—poised, cool-headed, and highly efficient. Seated beside him was Hein, interfaced with a terminal, actively monitoring and safeguarding Xiao Yan’s neural activity in real time.

"No," Major General Gordon replied with absolute certainty. "He is the elite of the elite."

Of the three, Mark was the first to regain consciousness. The moment the big guy opened his eyes, he began clamoring to know where Liv was—a display that left Xiao Yan looking utterly exasperated.

"Lieutenant Mark, are you in such a rush to propose to Liv?" Xiao Yan asked. Seeing that all of the big man's vital signs were stable and that the X-2 integration had achieved a 100% success rate, Xiao Yan couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.

Mark was too preoccupied to feel any embarrassment; he exited his sterile pod and rushed to Liv’s side. Gazing through the glass at Liv—who still lay there with her eyes closed—he clenched his fists tightly. Xiao Yan found himself worrying: what if the big guy lost his patience and smashed through the glass to get to her? Fortunately, despite his anxiety, Mark refrained from doing anything rash. Xiao Yan predicted that Liv would wake up within two hours; however, the one he was truly worried about was Wynn.

Wynn’s viral activity levels were exceptionally high—a trait that correlated directly with his formidable combat capabilities. Xiao Yan let out a breath, repeatedly recalculating the precise dosage of nutrient solution Wynn required. Although he knew his calculations were infallible, Xiao Yan still found himself unable to shake a nagging sense of self-doubt.

His cold fingers were taken into a firm grasp. Without even needing to look away from his terminal, Xiao Yan knew exactly who it was; in this entire world, there was only one person capable of making him feel calm and composed—even in the face of Earth's destruction. Unlike Liv or Mark, the viral infection within Wynn’s body most closely resembled that of Hein, with the virus’s activity hovering perilously close to the critical threshold. Despite having administered a sufficient dose of nutrient solution to Wynn, his body was being rapidly depleted; he would not be able to hold out long enough for the X-virus to be fully supplanted by X-2—unless, that is, the entire process could be completed before his body was utterly destroyed.