It was a good thing Ally and Jonah were already seated, or they may have fainted. As it stood, they both looked so pale that even Gaya was worried. Alrik didn't blame them. At least Gaya and Bruno already had an idea of the paranormal side of Alrik, so learning about the origin of the beasts hadn't been too much of a shock to them. But the two IT experts received both information at once.

"I don't know what's more shocking. Finding out about the beasts or about you. I did think it was weird that you fought off those beasts in the videos going around because to the best of my knowledge, the sword was supposed to be at your home, hidden away from prying eyes. I wondered how you knew there would be an attack, and carry the sword with you. I assumed it was a coincidence, but there's more to it, right?" Jonah asked and Alrik nodded as he returned Zee to her sheath.

Then he turned his eyes back to normal and sat down.

"Let's watch more videos. As much as we can right now, then we'll check the files and decide what to do next." He said, and they all faced the screen.

The next few videos were just the doctor mostly talking about the routine he was forced to keep with other scientists being held in the underground base, then a few videos about the five ruling families' plans to force military service on every citizen above eighteen years, so they could get more blood spilled for the spells they had. Gaya took notes about important information they would need to research more on, and then the doctor gave a crude map of the layout of the underground base. He had spent days trying to map out the place but couldn't access everywhere. Then he began to talk about the abductions and experiments.

"In file 776TI, there's a list of missing citizens that I managed to obtain. A few of them were snatched off the street. Those were mostly high school runaways, drug addicts, street workers or those with little to no family that would not be easily reported missing. Then a few were gotten through orphanages that the families pretend to put under their benefit foundation. A few are people who volunteered for medical research, though they had no idea what they were truly signing up for. They're trying to make some form of super soldiers that obey commands absolutely. It makes no sense though, because they already have absolute power here. And the beasts are under the control of their master, so why try making human hybrids? The more I discover, the more I think I'm losing my damn mind."

"We're here processing samples for them. At first, we process normal samples from the humans at the beginning of what we were deceived into thinking is just a regular clinical trial. Then even the doctor teams keep disappearing one by one. They lie that some were released to their families after completing their service, and others were sent to join medical teams at the war camps. Later they conveniently get announced as dead in battle. I don't know how on earth they got the DNA of these beasts, but they're using a mix of science and something unnatural, maybe dark magic to try and merge with humans. They want to cause mutations that are more humanoid and with a higher level of intelligence. They shouldn't be able to access dark magic though. Isn't that why they keep trying to open the portals in the first place? To bring over their master, and gain dark power through him? Some parts of it make no sense, but I can't clarify because I'm not a part of the inner circle. I hope I have more information by the next video I make."

When they got to the last few videos, they began to see a change in the doctor. In the second to last video, it was more prominent. He looked pale, and thin, with bulging eyes, and peeling lips.

"I was wrong. We're not here only to help them carry out these damn experiments. I knew it was too far-fetched to assume I could get out of here in one piece, but the reality is much worse. We're also test subjects. They've been secretly adding who knows what to our meals, even the damn air in this section is tainted. And we're just lab rats for their true goal. They want to spread this to infect the citizens as well, through the food supply, water supply, ventilation systems, you name it. Though they haven't perfected it yet, and it only works in concentrated amounts and more isolated places like these. I'm starting to feel it now. Did I say I was losing my mind before? Hahaha. That was child's play compared to this. My mind is truly being scrambled. It's like there's another presence in here." He smacked his head hard, but didn't flinch, like he couldn't feel the pain.

"It speaks to me. Shows me so many depraved things and makes me want things I never would have dreamed of. I walk down the hall, and have the urge to spill blood, to devour another human's intestines. I can't even believe the words coming out of my mouth, but I can't even digest regular meals now. They no longer have a reason to hide what they're doing to us and we also can't escape here. They serve us raw and bloody meat now, and I don't want to even think about where they're getting it all from. Most of it isn't animal meat."

The doctor began to sob. But his tears weren't normal. It was light red. Like his tear ducts were filled with blood. The next video was the last, and they could barely recognise the man on the screen. His eyes had gotten bigger than normal, and the whites were almost completely taken over by a pupil that was darker than was normal. He had large fangs extending from his mouth so he couldn't even close his lips properly, and he was salivating more than normal. He lifted his hands, and claws extended from his fingers. He moved back on the screen so his full body could show, and he was bent over with a lump on his back, and his feet were curved backward a bit.

"I fear this is the last video I will be able to make. My mind is almost completely gone. And as you can see, I am barely physically human. I only came here because I thought it was a professorial higher study. To advance in my career, and return to a proud family. I miss my wife, and my daughter Anna. I fear for them. I wonder what lies will be told to them about my death. I fear for this information I have gathered. Who do I entrust it to? Who would be brave enough to put their life on the line to make sure this information reaches Valderra. Is Valderra the better option? I never got to find out if the descendants of Valderra's monarchy are still on the side of fighting against this evil. Or should I try Amreth's descendants? The Zerdon family are just as involved in the military. What if they have also been corrupted? Is there still hope?"

He tried to touch his face, but ended up slashing himself with his claws, and they saw him bleed, but it was so dark red that it almost looked black.

"I heard chatter about the Zerdon sword. It seems they're looking for it. Maybe it could protect us as it once did, or maybe they found a way to use its hidden power for themselves. So maybe there is hope. But not for me. I'm too far gone. But if this message, and all I managed to get turns out to be useful, then whoever is listening, I ask only one thing of you. My Anna, and her mother, Reese. Keep them safe. They're the only reason I held on this long. Don't tell them the truth of my death. I'd rather they remember me well, than as a monster. And I wish you luck. I will hide this as well as I can, and pass it down to the only soldier I trust here. Maybe he's also involved, who knows. But he's my last option. Tell my family I love them. I…"

He began to sob, and his tears were now just as dark red as his blood. Almost black. Then the video cut off. For several seconds after they watched that last one, they were all silent. The reality of what the doctor and several others faced and were facing was just so horrific. Ally was the first to snap out of it surprisingly.

"I'll start going through the files and see what more I can find. I'll send a copy to your personal computer, boss." She said and Alrik nodded as he stood.

"So what's the plan?"

"First we honour the Doctor's sacrifice, and his last wish. We need to find his family."

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