18:57.
The air around the conference area was heavy-not because of the weather, but because of the
tension that hung on the palate of everyone present. NEXARIS had chosen a neutral public
venue-the Merdeka Hall, a historic convention center that had been used for national conferences
and international forums. It was chosen because it was considered "safe from speculation of
silencing"-but in reality, it was a double-edged knife.
The outside of the building was packed. Journalists from various domestic and foreign media
were crammed in. Some even brought their own documentary teams. Large live TV cars parked
on the side of the road, long cameras and microphones stuck out like digital spears. News drones
flew low, lurking above the crowd.
Not far away, there were barricades of police and civilian security forces manning the perimeter.
They were overwhelmed by the incessant human traffic.
Inside the main room, more than a hundred seats were filled. In the front row sat important
people-representatives of the defense ministry, members of the international ethics board,
representatives of the WHO and UN science & biotechnology sections, as well as several public
figures who are known to be strong critics of biological experiments.
The main stage had been set up with a large banner reading:
"New Initiative: Bioanomali and NEXARIS Collaboration - Building the Future Together".
Behind the podium stood four main seats-one for Luca Moren, one for the official NEXARIS
spokesperson, one for Eren Marcier, and one empty... which would later be occupied by William
Louren.
19:03.
The conference has begun, although one seat on the stage is still empty. The spotlight focused
on Luca Moren, who stood tall in front of the podium, wearing his signature dark suit. Beside
him, NEXARIS' official spokesperson, a middle-aged woman with a calm voice and diplomatic
tone, began to explain the framework of the event.
"We will open this session with an official statement regarding the Charmary Central High
School incident and NEXARIS' steps in response to the emergence of individuals with extreme
biological characteristics-what the media refers to as Bioanomalies."
The conference room was quiet, but the atmosphere inside was full of simmering tension.
Cameras are on standby. Reporters had prepared a list of incisive questions. Some front-row
spectators had even turned on their personal voice recorders. They were all waiting for one thing-
the appearance of the red-eyed teenager who had become a symbol of both fear and awe in the
last 48 hours.
Meanwhile, outside the building, a black, security-lined car slowed down and stopped right in
front of the short red carpet that was stretched out towards the main doors. As soon as the car
stopped, a cheer erupted.
"There he is!"
"William Louren is in that car!"
"Take a right angle, record quickly!"
"Zoom to the window-can you see his face?"
The drones swooped down, the flashbulbs flashed like a storm of light, and the crowd pressed
forward-the police had to push back so that the car could be safely opened.
In the car, Liam stared straight ahead. His eyes were dark, his look deep and empty. Next to him,
Thiago opened a small bag and took out a long black cloth. Stretching the cloth, he began to tie it
around Liam's head-covering his eyes slowly and precisely. Liam did not resist.
The car door opened.
The camera flashes haven't stopped, even though Liam has taken his first steps towards the
stage. The crowd goes wild-not just because of his appearance, but because of the way he walks.
Although his eyes are covered by a black cloth, Liam strides calmly, steadily, and as if he can
see every inch of his path. He doesn't hesitate. He didn't stumble. Didn't hang on. And that made
many people start to shudder... or exclaim in panic.
"How can he walk like that?"
"He-he doesn't see anything, but his movements are precise!"
"That's no ordinary human."
"Oh my... this is crazier than the rumors."
In front of Liam, Eren Marcier walked slowly, becoming a silent guide. Behind, Thiago followed
at an alert pace. While on Liam's left and right, four NEXARIS special security officers dressed
in all black and armed to the teeth formed a tight escort, their hands kept vigilantly on their
weapons. Ready for any eventuality... even from Liam himself.
But underneath it all, behind his steps and flat face, Liam's mind was like a storm that wouldn't
let up.
"This is my last chance"
"But what if they interfere with my friends"
"The concept of friendship should not be a threat"
His hands clenched into fists.
There were emotions that had yet to spill out.
And the podium in front of him, despite having been prepared full of scenarios, suddenly looked
like a battlefield.
"I will not let a small threat defeat me."
The crowd's voices grew louder.
Some were cheering.
Others screamed in fear.
And most... just stayed silent in suspense.
Liam kept walking.
The stage lights were blinding.
From his seat to Luca's right, Liam sat stiffly-both hands in his lap, shoulders tense. The black
cloth still covered his eyes, but his expression slowly changed as the official NEXARIS speaker
began to open the press conference in a loud voice:
"Good evening. Thank you for the presence of media colleagues, government delegates, and
observers from international organizations. Today, NEXARIS will reveal the events that
occurred at Letjen Darsa High School, as well as introduce to the world-an individual with a high
classification in the active bioanomaly category."
Polite applause rang out.
Liam did not move. Under his blindfold, his eyeballs quietly trembled.
Then Luca Moren stood up. The spotlight reflected off the hem of his perfectly ironed black suit.
The whole room fell silent as he stepped up to the podium. Not rushing. Not smiling. Just a calm
yet sharp look in his eyes, like a general who knows the battlefield is not won by shouting - but
by complete mastery over the opponent's fear.
His voice was heavy. Deep. Filled the space.
"In the last three decades, humanity has faced multiple crises: a global pandemic, the collapse of
the food system, and technological advances that have almost outstripped our own moral control.
But today... we face a challenge that surpasses them all."
He paused, allowing his words to hang in the air.
"Bioanomalies are not diseases. Nor are they simple mutations that can be quarantined or treated.
They are a new form of evolution that leaps the boundaries. Individuals like William Louren-
who in our classification is listed as Alpha-1-are living proof that we have entered a territory
where science, ethics, and global security intersect at a precarious point."
Several WHO representatives were seen taking notes. The livestream cameras are on full blast.
"Alpha-1 has biological capabilities that are not in the normal human spectrum. Regenerative
ability in seconds. Muscle mass that multiplies without logical limit. Resistance to poisons,
viruses, even bullets. And the most dangerous thing-he hasn't reached his limit yet."
The room became quieter.
"Imagine if an ability like this fell into the wrong hands. Or worse... if individuals like this
refused control, and decided to redefine the word 'power' in their own way. Cities could be
destroyed in a matter of hours. Our defense systems, even nukes, may not be able to defuse a full
Alpha."
He glanced briefly at Liam, then back at the audience.
"That's why NEXARIS doesn't just watch. We lead. We act. And we insist that the existence of
bioanomalies is not an individual right, but a global responsibility."
There was applause. Not in unison. But enough to show that most of the room agreed. Or...
afraid to disagree.
"Alpha-1 is now under full surveillance. And through the rehabilitation program we have
designed, we will ensure that a force of this magnitude does not become a tool of slaughter, but
an opportunity to protect the future of humanity."
He bowed his head slightly, full of control.
"Because one thing we must all remember... it is not just the potential power that is dangerous,
but our unpreparedness to deal with the new generation of humanity."
Done. Silence. Then a longer roar of applause.
Meanwhile, Liam was still sitting... silent. Tense. His heart was beating hard. It wasn't an
introduction. It was a judgment. And the whole world was watching. He heard the whispers from
the crowd, the few words that escaped the reporters' mouths-"threat", "creature", "experiment",
"detention". His hands were clenched under the table.