Villain: Ultimate Mutation System in the Alternate World

"Why are you here?" she asked while crossing her arms.

Skepticism flickered across her face as her hazel eyes narrowed.

The light caught the angles of her cheekbones, intensifying her gaze, while her platinum blonde hair was tied into a neat knob, emphasizing the sharpness of her facial features.

"Just doing a routine check. Protocol." he responded in casual manner.

"Routine check? You're not supposed to be here, This is a no-go zone for soldiers. Did you not know that?"

Her fingers tapped impatiently against her arm waiting for a response.

Reign looked around, feeling a bit lost.

The place was huge, and if he was being honest, knowing which spots were okay and which were off-limits was tricky, even for someone who worked there.

He realized his cover might be slipping, but he wasn't too concerned. He could easily deal with her, but causing a scene might alert more people, so he quickly changed tactics.

"Oh, sorry,"

He forced chuckle, scratching his head awkwardly.

"I must've gotten confused. This place is big, you know how it is. "

The engineer sighed. "Yeah, it's massive. But you really shouldn't be wandering around here. Head back to your post, alright?"

"Yes, ma'am."

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He walked back the way he came, and retraced his steps.

"Wait, on second thought, I need help with something. Come with me," she called out.

Reign paused, turning back slowly, and mentally sighing. This wasn't part of his plan.

But he had to play along, though. Drawing too much attention now would ruin everything.

"What do you need help with?" he asked, trying to sound like a typical, clueless guard.

The engineer waved him over. "One of the hangar battery is acting up, and I need someone to hold it steady while I recalibrate the system. You up for that?"

"I've got it. Lead the way."

"Lead the way ? Get a transport cart; it's a long way from here," she ordered.

Reign followed her gaze and spotted a vehicle that resembled a golf cart but was slightly larger.

It was all black and appeared to be electrically powered, its compact design suggesting it was built to navigate the hangar more efficiently.

Not wanting to look more suspicious, he casually hopped into one of the carts.

There were no keyholes—just a push-to-start button.

When he pressed it, there was no sound due to the electric motor.

But as he stepped on the pedal, the cart moved forward effortlessly, fully automatic with no shifting required.

He drove it close to her, and she settled into the back seat.

"Go that way!" she ordered.

Along the way, he caught glimpses of more areas of the hangar that were usually off-limits to soldiers.

The machines inspired him a lot, and he realized he could use this knowledge in the future.

In a way, being her lackey wasn't turning out to be so bad after all.

They stopped in front of a massive battery, wires and conduits snaking out from it like veins.

She crouched down and pointed to a bulky, sparking piece of machinery.

"Just hold this in place while I make adjustments," she instructed, completely oblivious to the danger standing right beside her.

Reign took hold of it effortlessly, pretending to strain a bit for show.

As she fiddled with her tools, he considered his options.

She was distracted, focused on the task. Taking her out would be easy—just one quick move.

But before he could go ahead with his plan, she spoke again.

"Hey, after this, come with me again. I need someone to test a new weapon I'm developing."

"What weapon ?" he asked.

"It's a hand-carry prototype of the same cannon that Behemoth is using," she said, clearly proud of her work.

"That sounds... intense," he replied, keeping his tone neutral, though his curiosity was now piqued.

"Yeah, it packs a lot of punch," she stood up ,wiping her hands on her orange jacket.

"That's why I need someone tough, you know? Someone who won't go flying when they pull the trigger."

"Sounds good to me," he replied.

"I like your spirit, soldier. Just remember, when I say 'brace yourself,' I mean it!"

She shot him a grin, oblivious to who she was really talking to.

'Oh, you're the one that should brace yourself self,'

Once she was finished with her job, she wiped her hands again .

"Alright, let's head over to the testing bay after we get the weapon. I'll show you what that baby can do."

She led him down a long corridor toward another section.

As they walked, they passed by several other engineers, all busy with their own projects.

None of them paid much attention to Reign, assuming he was just another soldier lending a hand.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

It wasn't uncommon around here for the soldiers to be pulled into odd tasks when there wasn't any fighting going on.

As they passed through various sections, Reign noticed the high-tech equipment scattered around—massive engines, weapons under construction, and complex machines.

'They really poured everything into this ship,' he thought. 'Too bad they're not going to get the chance to use it for long. '

A few engineers waved casually as they passed by, one even calling out, "Hey! Another one of your guinea pigs, Mara?"

"Yup!" she called back, laughing. "Let's hope this one has a sturdier backbone!"

He just gave a slight nod, playing along.

Finally, they arrived at a large room filled with all sorts of heavy-duty equipment.

Mara gestured to a table where a sleek, handheld cannon sat.

It was bulky but compact for something supposedly based on the Behemoth's main gun.

"There she is!" she said proudly, tapping the cannon's side.

"A prototype of the ship's main cannon, just scaled down for personal use. You'll be the first one to test it outside of simulations."

Reign stepped closer, looking over the weapon.

It was impressive, but nothing that could really hurt him.

Still, he couldn't help but admire the craftsmanship.

'This thing would vaporize any normal person... but then again, I'm not exactly normal.'