World Traveler Villain

{Chapter: 321 X-Cell Project}

William chewed on the banana that White Queen had aggressively shoved into his mouth, his expression exaggerated with offense. "Fine, fine—I'll eat it if that makes you happy. You really don't appreciate my kindness. It's wasted on you."

White Queen folded her arms and glared with her signature deadpan. "Tch. Giving me bananas, huh? That's all you're offering?"

William raised his hands in mock innocence. "Of course I'm just giving you bananas. What else would I be giving you, huh? Why is your mind so filthy? You're imagining things. I didn't think of anything like that."

White Queen arched a brow suspiciously. "Sure. Very convincing."

Ada sighed and her slender fingers moved in slow, affectionate circles through William's hair, gently massaging his scalp as she said with graceful annoyance. "Can you two stop flirting or whatever this is? You're never this enthusiastic when we talk about serious things, but start talking bananas and innuendo, and suddenly you're Shakespeare."

William gave a devilish grin, the kind that suggested he'd been caught but didn't care. "Come on, Ada my dear Wifey. Am I really that bad?"

"Yes," she said flatly.

Alice stepped forward, her tone serious. "Enough. White Queen, let's focus. What's your plan for handling the instability of the X serum?"

The White Queen's eyes glowed faintly as she shifted her focus. "There are two primary issues with the X serum," she explained, turning to Alice but keeping William in her peripheral vision. "First: once injected, the subject becomes prone to violent, uncontrolled emotional states—almost feral. Second: the serum possesses aggressive cellular erosion properties. If the host's cells cannot endure the change, the body… well, explodes."

William gave a suspicious look. "Why are you looking at me while saying all this?"

"Because," White Queen replied calmly, "you are the best candidate among us. Physically and mentally. You're the first viable test subject for human compatibility."

William threw his arms up. "No thanks! I don't feel like turning into a living hand grenade."

"You're not a mouse," she replied. "You're different. Your neuro-resilience and cellular regeneration thresholds are considerably higher. The serum is dangerous, but your mind is stable. At least as stable as it can be. You won't lose yourself to rage. And your immune system might hold the erosion at bay."

William rubbed his chin, conflicted. "You really think so? Because I'm not interested in being a science experiment just for a bit of extra muscle. I'd rather stay alive, thank you very much."

White Queen gestured with a flick of her fingers. "Then let me show you."

Her eyes glowed brighter, casting a faint green hue into the room. A human body projection appeared in mid-air—undeniably William's anatomy, detailed and precise.

William pointed at it and looked horrified. "Wait a second. You scanned me?! You've been collecting my biometric data without consent? White Queen, I knew you were into me, but this is full-on obsession. White Queen, you must have some special hobbies."

"Please," she snapped, rolling her eyes. "Fuck you, you have special hobbies. When I talk to you seriously. Don't flatter yourself. You're just the most annoying lab rat I've ever met. This is for science. You'd know that if you had two brain cells not arguing with each other."

William smirked like a child caught stealing cookies. "Right, right. You're serious. I'm the distraction."

"Glad you finally understand," she said sarcastically.

He placed a hand over his heart. "I solemnly swear not to distract you… too much."

White Queen ignored him and waved her hand again. The projected human body was now injected with a virtual needle filled with glowing green liquid.

"These green streams represent the X serum. Watch carefully."

The simulation showed the serum entering the bloodstream through the arm and spreading quickly through the circulatory system. The green trails flowed through arteries and veins, glowing ominously as they moved deeper into the body.

"As the serum invades the body," White Queen explained, her tone clinical, "it aggressively attempts to replace or assimilate cellular functions—attempting to transform every cell into part of its system. However, the moment it enters the bloodstream, it meets resistance."

"T cells," Ada said with interest, watching the simulation.

"Exactly." The White Queen nodded. "The bloodstream is the T cell stronghold. They immediately launch a counteroffensive, attacking the serum with everything they have."

The simulation showed small, glowing white specks—the T cells—rushing toward the intruding green serum particles. A microscopic battle ensued, with both sides clashing in frenetic chaos.

"Of course," she continued, "the X serum doesn't go down without a fight. It adapts quickly. It attempts to mutate and overtake immune defenses."

The bloodstream had become a chaotic battlefield, a microscopic warzone where neither side showed signs of retreat. T cells and the invasive X serum were locked in a brutal, unforgiving clash. Every inch of blood territory was contested, every second filled with the silent screams of cellular warfare.

Gradually, the T cells began to gain the upper hand. These specialized defenders, honed by William's unique physiology, pushed the X serum back inch by inch. Like well-trained soldiers, the T cells coordinated their assault with ruthless efficiency.

The X serum, however, refused to accept defeat.

Rather than continue a losing battle, the invasive green substance took a different route. It veered off from the bloodstream, slipping through tissue layers and making its way toward the bones—seeking a new foothold.

"There it goes," the White Queen said with a smug, knowing smile. Her eyes glowed faintly green as she observed the cellular simulation. "Now it's trying to erode the bone cells. But unfortunately for it... that's suicide."

She pointed at the projection. "Your bones, William, were long ago reconstructed with metamorphic Transformium cells. The X serum can't dominate here. In fact, it'll be hunted."

The simulation showed the serum attaching itself desperately to bone tissue, attempting to corrupt it. But in moments, golden-hued metamorphic cells surged forward from within the marrow. They responded like territorial beasts whose den had just been invaded.

"These cells are born from transformation and adaptation. Their territory is sacred, and the X serum is about to learn what it means to trespass," White Queen said confidently.

The metamorphic cells struck without hesitation, devouring and overwhelming the intruder. The X serum, which had been barely surviving against the T cells, now found itself outmatched and outnumbered. Beaten and cornered, it fled back into the bloodstream, but the metamorphic cells didn't let up—they gave chase, following it like relentless golden wolves.

In the bloodstream, things grew more chaotic. While blood belonged to the T cells, their relationship with the metamorphic cells was surprisingly cooperative. Though biologically different and unable to merge without external will, the two types of cells respected each other's boundaries. There was no conflict—only unity in purpose.

Ada narrowed her eyes as she watched the display. "That level of synergy… it's rare. Most bodies would've imploded from internal rejection by now."

"Exactly," Alice said, nodding in agreement. "But this isn't most bodies. William's physiology has evolved past the normal limits. Even his cells have learned to cooperate under extreme pressure."

White Queen's expression turned serious. "Remember what happened during the last forced fusion, when William fought the Zombie King during the Biohazard Uprising? The fusion between T cells and metamorphic cells only occurred under critical duress. It pushed his body beyond its limits. He fell unconscious for two years, and we lost half of both cell types in the aftermath."

Alice nodded solemnly. "It was a miracle he survived at all."

"But that's why we used the golden pill," White Queen said, tapping the side of her temple as the simulation shifted. "It altered the outer layers of both T cells and meta-cells, making them compatible for fusion—at least temporarily. The two can merge into Transfigured T Cells without harming each other now."

William folded his arms and raised a brow. "Yeah, but there's a time limit, right? Eventually they separate again so they don't damage each other?"

"Correct," White Queen said. "When the internal critical threshold is reached, the cells naturally disengage. It's a safeguard."

In the simulation, the X serum was now cornered between a wall of aggressive T cells and the pursuing metamorphic cells. It twisted, pulsed, and spasmed—trapped in a pincer assault with no escape.

"Hmph," White Queen scoffed, placing a hand on her hip. "So much for the glorious power of the X serum. If it gets crushed by both Transfigured T Cells and Transfigured Meta Cells, then injecting it into William would be pointless. All it would do is waste time… and serum."

Ada gave a rare frown. "Then what's the plan?"

The White Queen's smile returned, sly and bright. "Simple. We evolve it."

She flicked her fingers, and the projection changed again. "My idea is to fuse the X serum with William's normal epidermal cells—transforming it into a new class of cell entirely: the X Cells."

"X Cells?" Alice and Ada asked in unison, interest piqued.

"Yes," White Queen said, her tone turning slightly excited. "Imagine it—a three-fold cell harmony. From the inside out, you'd have metamorphic cells in the bones, T cells in the blood, and now X Cells residing in the skin layer. They won't conflict with each other. Instead, they'll support one another, forming a biological trinity."

Alice leaned forward. "So bones, blood, and skin would each house a different elite cell type?"

"Exactly," White Queen said, eyes gleaming. "Transfigured Meta Cells in the bones, Transfigured T Cells in the blood, and X Cells in the skin. Each with a role, each with a domain—balanced like a three-legged tripod."

Ada looked impressed despite herself. "Then William wouldn't just resist the X serum—he'd become its master."

William smiled faintly. "I like the sound of that. As long as none of them try to fight over rent inside me."

"Don't worry," White Queen said, almost laughing. "They're all getting free housing in a luxury suite."

******

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