Zombie Apocalypse: I Have Safe Zone Superpower

Chapter 674: Torture

The researchers exchanged glances, nodding as they observed his reactions.

"The compound is working," one of them noted calmly.

"Increase the dosage," another added.

"No...!" Ian tried to resist, but it was useless.

The overwhelming sensation intensified, twisting his body into something he no longer recognized.

Rage burned within him, but even that was drowned out by the unbearable storm coursing through his veins.

Eventually, the strain became too much.

His vision blurred. And everything went dark.

When he regained consciousness, his body felt heavy, drained, as if every ounce of strength had been stripped away.

The researchers stood nearby, discussing him as though he were nothing more than a specimen.

"We’ll administer smaller doses daily," one of them said. "Observe long-term reactions."

Ian’s fists clenched weakly against the restraints. ’These... insects...’ he thought, fury boiling once more.

"I’m Ian!" he shouted hoarsely. "Release me immediately!"

But his words fell on deaf ears.

No one believed him. And no one cared.

A full day passed.

And within that single day, Ian experienced horrors he had never imagined.

His body was treated like an object...cut, tested, pushed beyond its limits. There was no mercy, no hesitation.

Even the simplest actions felt like torture.

At one point, he felt sharp pressure against his body...tools pressing, cutting...while his screams echoed helplessly in the cold room.

Another time, something heavy struck him, sending waves of pain through his skull.

There were moments where he thought, ’This... this is madness...’ yet it never stopped.

One experiment was particularly horrifying.

Something was placed on his skin...cold, writhing, alive.

Leeches.

He felt them latch on, their movements sending shivers of disgust and pain through his body.

He screamed, struggling violently against his restraints, his entire being revolting against the sensation.

Only when his reactions became extreme did they finally remove them.

But the torment did not end there.

Another researcher, his eyes gleaming with twisted curiosity, suggested testing whether consuming his flesh would transfer abilities.

The idea alone made Ian’s stomach churn.

’These people are insane... completely insane...’

Yet one of them actually agreed.

Ian’s voice cracked as he shouted, begged, threatened...but nothing worked.

Pain followed. And then...the unbearable sight of them examining, even tasting his toe, as though it were nothing.

That was the moment his mind snapped. Darkness claimed him once more.

Robert’s situation was no better.

Though his treatment appeared slightly less brutal on the surface, it was no less horrifying.

The experiments focused on different aspects...his endurance, his limits, his reactions under pressure.

At one point, a researcher brought shards of glass.

Robert’s eyes widened as realization hit him. "Don’t you dare..." he growled, struggling violently.

But they forced it toward him.

"Let’s see how far his mental tolerance goes," someone said casually.

The glass shards were shoved in his mouth.

’I shouldn’t have trusted Wade...’ the thought repeated in his mind like a curse. ’What kind of monster did we bring in...?’

As the hours passed, both he and Ian were pushed to their limits.

Sleep became a distant dream.

Whenever exhaustion overtook them, they were jolted awake...slapped, forced to endure more stimuli, denied even a moment of peace.

Their bodies ached, their minds frayed, and yet the torment continued without pause.

By the end of the day, they were barely conscious.

All they wanted... was rest.

Then the door opened. Footsteps echoed.

Ian lifted his head weakly, his vision blurred.

Two figures entered. Ian and Robert.

But...that wasn’t possible.

The moment Ian saw himself, something inside him snapped.

"Who are you?!" he shouted hoarsely. "How dare you imprison me?! What have you done to me?!"

By now, he had already realized the truth.

He had become Ivy.

And Robert... had become Silas.

The man wearing Ian’s face chuckled softly, his expression calm and amused.

"Impressive," he said lightly. "Ivy really knows how to twist reality."

He then turned toward the researchers and gave a small nod. "Good work. You’ve done well. You may leave."

The researchers, pleased by the acknowledgment, quickly exited the room.

Once the door closed...silence returned.

Then...the disguise faded.

Silas stood there, his true form revealed.

The moment Ian saw him, his eyes widened in shock and fury. "You...!" he snarled. "What did you do?! What kind of trick is this?!"

Silas chuckled softly, his voice low and calm. "A trick?" he repeated. "You could call it that."

He stepped forward slowly.

Then... smack.

His hand struck Ian’s face sharply, the sound echoing in the quiet room.

Ian’s head snapped to the side, his cheek burning as a red mark formed instantly.

"Lower your eyes," Silas said coldly. "I hate that look."

His hand tightened around Ian’s collar, his grip firm and unyielding.

"And now," he continued, "you get to experience it yourself."

He leaned in slightly, his gaze piercing.

"I know what you were planning for Ivy," he whispered. "So consider this... your lesson."

Ian struggled against the restraints once more to his growing dismay.

He lifted his head and glared at Silas, his breathing uneven and laced with disbelief.

"I never thought... that one day I would be trapped in my own trap," he muttered.

’This wasn’t how it was supposed to end... not like this...’

Taking a slow, steady breath to suppress the rising panic clawing at his chest, he forced himself to calm down and tried to negotiate.

"I don’t understand what you’re trying to imply, Silas. You must have misunderstood something," he insisted.

"Yes, we wanted to capture Ivy, but we never planned something as grotesque as dissecting her."

Silas didn’t respond immediately.

Wade, who stood quietly beside him, broke it with a calm, almost indifferent tone. "He’s lying."

The moment those words fell into the air, something inside Ian snapped.

His pupils shrank sharply, his body stiffening as he whipped his head toward Wade, shock flooding his face.

Wade merely chuckled under his breath.

Wade’s ability wasn’t thunder ability... He could detect lies without fail. And worse, that wasn’t even his only power.