~Umbrella Corporation, Main Research Building~
The researchers, usually buried in their work, had all set aside their tedious experiments and tests, forming a loose gathering...
When Dr. Connors walked through the door, a round of enthusiastic applause erupted.
*Bang!*
Hiding in the crowd, Gwen popped a party popper.
Colorful confetti rained down from above. Dr. Connors froze for a moment before realizing what was happening. His eyes reddened slightly as he removed his glasses to wipe them, then sincerely thanked his colleagues around him...
"Doctor, congratulations on finally fulfilling the greatest ambition of your life," Sean said, looking at the beaming Dr. Connors...
In the original timeline, the disabled scientist had dedicated himself to cross-species genetics research in pursuit of limb regeneration.
The middle-aged doctor had drawn inspiration from lizards' ability to regrow lost tails, leading to the development of a serum infused with lizard DNA.
However, due to genetic rejection, the serum triggered severe side effects. While Dr. Connors did regrow his arm, he also transformed into a half-human, half-lizard monster... the infamous Lizard.
But now, Dr. Connors' fate was entirely different.
Back when Oscorp faced crisis, he had been forced to test the unstable serum on himself prematurely. However, Sean's intervention had altered his tragic path.
After joining Umbrella, Dr. Connors had ample time and resources to refine his research. With unlimited funding and a top-tier scientific team, the disabled scientist could immerse himself fully in his work without pressure.
"...There was no need for such a grand gesture," Dr. Connors said, slightly flustered.
"Don't thank me, this wasn't my idea." Sean pointed at Gwen who was stifling a laugh in the crowd, mercilessly throwing her under the bus, "Your thoughtful student wanted to surprise her mentor. Who was I to refuse?"
"...Besides, you deserve this honor. The release of the Chrysalis Serum will bring hope to those suffering from disabilities and discrimination. Doctor, you've saved their lives."
"This is the proudest achievement of my life," Dr. Connors admitted, unable to contain his excitement.
He glanced at his empty sleeve, his voice thick with emotion.
"Ready to prepare your acceptance speech?" Sean teased, "I'm sure the betting agencies will list you as a frontrunner for the next Nobel Prize in Medicine!"
With 'Metis Serum' for neurodegenerative diseases and 'Chrysalis Serum' for limb regeneration, Umbrella was poised to reap immense profits, solidifying its foothold in the medical industry.
As a cutting-edge research institution, this year's financial reports were bound to be impressive.
After the brief celebration, everyone returned to their busy work schedules... after all, that was the rhythm of daily life...
...
When the crowd dispersed, Gwen tiptoed up behind Sean like a mischievous kitten, a playful grin on her pretty face.
"Hey– ah!"
Sean suddenly turned around. Caught red-handed, Gwen let out a startled yelp and stumbled straight into his arms, almost as if she had thrown herself at him.
The intimate proximity made the usually cheerful blonde blush furiously. After hesitating for a few seconds, she pushed Sean away, grumbling, "You scared me..."
"Are you sure you weren't just caught in the act?" Sean smirked, his eyes glinting with amusement.
Flustered, Gwen raised her fists, scrambling for an excuse, "You sold me out!"
Sean endured her half-hearted punches without complaint. There was no need to expose the girl's innocent crush... keeping things ambiguous added a little spice to life.
'I'm such a good person,' he thought to himself.
"Dr. Connors said you've been holed up in the lab lately. Found a new research project?" Gwen quickly changed the subject to mask her embarrassment.
Sean nodded slightly, his gaze meaningful. "Studying the effects of high-voltage currents on brain responses to pain, as well as memory manipulation and thought implantation."
"Sounds like something a supervillain would do," Gwen muttered...
...
After exchanging a few more casual words with the lovestruck Gwen, Sean returned to his private laboratory... a restricted zone within Umbrella.
Unauthorized personnel who ventured too close would be flagged by the Red Queen as intruders, triggering security protocols.
Closing the door behind him, he stepped into the dark room where a lone figure sat. Without turning on the lights, Sean walked into the shadows and took a seat opposite.
"What is your name?" he asked gently.
"...Victor von Doom," a hoarse voice answered.
"Are you sure?" Sean pressed.
The metallic figure trembled slightly, as if recalling something terrifying. Then, hesitantly, he corrected himself: "Doctor Doom."
The answer was uncertain, his mind was a battleground between two conflicting identities. Yet the searing white electricity that had drowned his memories resurfaced, reinforcing the new persona.
"Correct." Sean nodded approvingly. "Can you tell me about your past? Do you remember anything?"
Doom shook his head in confusion. Fragmented memories flickered in his mind, but whenever he tried to focus, they were swallowed by blinding light.
Like a broken radio, static noise buzzed in his skull, leaving him agitated.
"Your name is Victor von Doom. You hail from Latveria, the 'Pearl of the Balkans', a war-torn, impoverished nation nestled between Hungary, Serbia, and Romania..." Sean's calm narration carried an almost hypnotic quality.
The metallic figure began repeating the words, creating an eerie scene like cultists chanting dogma in the dark.
"...Through relentless struggle, you earned admission to Columbia University, escaping your destitute homeland for the glittering metropolis of New York. There, you became a celebrated genius, even winning the admiration of Susan Storm, the campus beauty. But your old classmate, Reed Richards, envied everything you had..."
"...Reed convinced you to invest in his experiment, then deliberately miscalculated, causing a catastrophic accident. Your fortune vanished overnight. Your business partners conspired to oust you. The woman you loved abandoned you... You lost everything. Victor von Doom was left with nothing!"
As Sean spoke, the metallic figure's breathing grew ragged. His fists clenched, electricity crackling along his arms, white-hot energy dancing across his form.
"...Betrayed time and again, you swore vengeance. Victor von Doom, the Wall Street magnate, was no more. In his place rose... Doctor Doom!"
Sean's voice resonated with overwhelming authority, reshaping Doom's psyche, "You will return to Latveria. You will lead its war-ravaged people toward a brighter future... Like a shepherd, you will become their revered leader, establishing a theocratic regime! You will ascend to godhood, worshipped as a supreme being!"
"No... I want revenge!"
Amid the chaotic memories, Reed's smug and triumphant face loomed large.
Doom refused to accept exile to that barren, war-torn wasteland while his rival basked in glory and adoration!
"I will kill them... All who stand in my way!" His voice, thick with fury, echoed through the room. Had the soundproofing been any weaker, the entire lab would have heard...
Electricity flared, illuminating the darkness. The metallic figure rose abruptly, his emerald cloak billowing. Behind the steel mask, his eyes burned with hatred and vengeance.
Sean remained seated, his expression cold. With a flick of his wrist, a searing beam of light lanced out and slammed Doom into the reinforced alloy wall with a deafening–
*Clang!*
"Know your place. And remember... until I permit it, you will suppress your rage. Be a tamed beast."
Sean stepped forward, his palm glowing crimson. The energy beam sliced through Doom's metal skin like a laser scalpel. A bestial howl of agony filled the room as the once-proud villain writhed.
"You are a caged animal. Disobedience earns only the whip."
Watching Doom tremble at his feet, Sean withdrew the energy beam and healed the wounds with a surge of life energy, "Play your part, and soon you'll leave this place. You'll return to Latveria, a paradise tailor-made for you..."
"...So, the next time I come... impress me." Sean's figure vanished into the shadows.
Left alone in the darkness, the broken figure of Doctor Doom curled into himself, muttering incessantly:
"I am Victor von Doom... Doctor Doom... Latveria..."
Through repeated torture and relentless indoctrination, the lines between truth and fabrication had blurred beyond recognition.
The man who had once been Victor von Doom was gone. In his place was a puppet, his will subjugated by the devil who now ruled his mind.
Only one thing kept him going... vengeance...
He blamed Reed for his downfall. His hatred burned hotter than ever, like a poison-flame that would consume everything in its path...