COVELENT: XenoTrait

Rain faded into the distance as Felix checked Abel’s condition.

His eyes narrowed.

Abel’s wounds weren’t healing the way his own had.

"...Why?" Felix muttered under his breath.

Broken bones. Deep cuts. They were recovering—but far slower than expected.

Felix paused, thinking back to when he first received the serum.

Weakness. Instability. Then adaptation... after feeding.

His gaze sharpened.

"...So it’s the same process," he concluded quietly. "But slower."

He exhaled.

"We’ll test it later."

For now, survival came first.

Felix lifted Abel over his shoulder.

"The only option is Takakura’s place."

He took off into the night.

By the time Felix reached the compound, his breathing had grown heavy.

"...Damn. I’m tired."

He vaulted over the outer fence.

Instantly, guards surrounded him.

"Stop! Identify yourself!"

Felix didn’t bother answering.

"I don’t have time for this."

He flicked his head sharply.

Strands of his hair shot outward like fine needles, striking each guard.

They collapsed instantly.

Felix adjusted Abel on his shoulder and moved forward.

More guards appeared inside.

He ignored them—moving past before they could react.

Then—

"Mr. Felix?"

Felix stopped.

Jean approached, eyes shifting immediately to Abel.

"...Is your friend alright?"

"He needs help," Felix replied. "And we need somewhere to stay."

Jean nodded without hesitation.

"Follow me."

They walked through long, dim corridors.

Halfway down, Felix spoke again.

"I need a reinforced room. Something strong enough to contain Joel Jones."

Jean stopped.

"...Why?"

"I’ll explain tomorrow."

Jean studied him for a moment, then sighed.

"...Fine. Tomorrow."

He led Felix to a massive reinforced door.

"Put him inside."

Felix entered, laying Abel carefully on the bed before stepping back out.

Jean closed the door.

"You still remember your room?" he asked.

Felix scratched his head lightly.

"...No. It’s been a while."

Jean gave a small nod.

"We kept it the same."

The room was untouched.

Clothes neatly folded. Dark jackets, loose shirts, boots—all exactly how Felix used to keep them.

It smelled faintly of dust and memory.

Felix exhaled.

"...Thanks."

Jean left quietly.

Felix sat on the bed, staring at his hands.

Why isn’t he healing properly?

The serum should work... unless—

His eyes narrowed.

"...He hasn’t adapted yet. Or the formula isn’t stable."

Exhaustion caught up with him.

He fell asleep sitting upright.

Morning came.

Sunlight slipped through the curtains.

Inside the reinforced room, Abel stirred.

"...Ugh..."

Pain hit immediately—but something else felt wrong.

He looked down.

His body had changed.

Thinner. Weaker. Almost starved.

"...What happened to me...?"

His eyes widened.

"My hand... it was crushed..."

Now it was healed.

"...This doesn’t make sense..."

The door opened.

Felix walked in, carrying water and food.

Their eyes met.

"...You’re awake."

Abel tried to stand.

His legs gave out instantly.

Felix caught him and eased him back down.

"Easy."

Abel stared at himself.

"Why do I look like this?!"

Felix sat across from him.

"The serum," he said. "I injected it to stop the Mark 8 infection from killing you."

Abel stayed silent.

"When I first got it," Felix continued, "I was the same. Weak. Barely functional."

He leaned forward slightly.

"Your body is rebuilding itself. It burns energy faster than normal. That’s why you look like this—it consumed everything to survive."

Abel clenched his fists.

"So... I’m not dying?"

Felix shook his head.

"No."

A pause.

"You’re evolving."

He handed Abel the food.

"Eat."

Abel started eating immediately—then stopped.

"...This tastes terrible."

Felix sighed.

"I was hoping you’d be different."

Abel looked up.

Felix continued flatly:

"I can’t eat normal food anymore. Only raw flesh."

Silence.

"...You’ll need the same."

Abel froze.

"...Felix."

Felix looked at him.

"...Where’s Amme?"

Silence filled the room.

Felix didn’t answer.

"...Felix?"

Nothing.

Abel’s breathing became uneven.

"...Where is she?"

Felix looked away.

That was enough.

"...No..."

Abel’s voice broke.

"She was right there... I couldn’t—"

Tears fell.

"I couldn’t protect her..."

Felix remained still.

Guilt flickered briefly across his eyes.

"...We’ll find her," he said quietly.

Abel didn’t respond.

Later that morning, Jean escorted them to an underground testing facility.

Reinforced floors. Observation glass. Steel walls.

Abel looked slightly better after eating, but still weak.

Jean crossed his arms.

"This is the new subject?"

Felix frowned slightly.

"He’s not a subject."

Jean smirked faintly.

"Sure."

A mechanical drone activated.

Abel stepped back.

"You want me to fight that?"

Felix’s voice stayed calm.

"Don’t think. Let your body react."

The drone lunged.

Abel raised his arm instinctively.

CRACK.

The impact landed—but his muscles tightened automatically, absorbing most of it.

Abel blinked.

"...What?"

The drone attacked again.

This time, Abel moved—faster.

His breathing shifted. His eyes sharpened.

Felix watched closely.

"...Good."

Abel threw a punch.

Clumsy—but powerful.

The drone slid backward.

Jean raised an eyebrow.

"Raw strength."

Seconds later, Abel collapsed to one knee, exhausted.

Felix nodded.

"Energy depletion."

As they left, a voice called out:

"Felix?!"

A girl with long red hair ran toward them, stopping in front of him with a bright smile.

"You’re finally back! Do you know how long you’ve been gone?!"

Felix blinked.

"...Rose."

She laughed and lightly punched his arm.

"I thought you died!"

Then she noticed Abel.

"Oh... who’s this?"

"My friend."

She smiled warmly at Abel—then turned right back to Felix.

"You didn’t even come see me first. I’m hurt."

Jean smirked behind them.

Abel noticed immediately.

She likes him.

Later, Felix entered the main office.

Two guards opened the doors.

Mr. Takakura sat calmly behind his desk.

"You returned sooner than expected."

Felix stepped forward.

"I need the animals I requested."

Takakura folded his hands.

"They’re prepared. Twenty-six starfish. Ten octopuses. Twenty-two zebrafish."

Felix nodded.

"And the axolotls?"

"Soon."

Takakura finally looked up.

"...So the experiment succeeded."

Felix’s eyes hardened.

"He’s not an experiment."

Takakura smiled faintly.

"Everything is."

A pause.

"Regardless... he proves something important."

Felix said nothing.

Takakura continued:

"You’ve found a way to counter Mark 8."

Silence lingered.

"Your animals are in the east wing," Takakura added. "You may begin whenever you’re ready."

Felix turned and left.

Behind him, Takakura watched quietly.

"...The serum, Felix," he said, just loud enough to be heard.

Felix didn’t respond.

Takakura’s gaze shifted to a screen displaying Abel’s movements.

"I need that power."

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