In the brief darkness that covered Sunstone Town, announcements from loudspeakers mounted around the city started broadcasting. That familiar deep, smooth voice of Mayor Volt.
"I apologize for the inconvenience, everyone," Volt's voice came out calmly. "We had a temporary malfunction with the city's backup power system, causing a brief blackout. But everything's back to normal now. Again, my apologies for the inconvenience."
As soon as the announcement ended, lights along the streets and buildings blazed back to life all at once! Sunstone Town was bright and cheerful again, like nothing had happened!
"Oh! My friend! You're back!" A man standing by the roadside shouted with pure joy before bending down to whisper intimately with his own shadow on the ground! The townspeople's weird behavior started showing again once the lights came back on.
Volt stood watching the townspeople return to their activities with a thin, unreadable smile. Then he turned and walked back into his mansion silently. He headed straight down to the basement.
"I have important business downstairs. Keep an eye on the townspeople for me," Volt told an elderly maid who stood trembling nearby.
"Me... me, sir?" The maid's eyes went wide with shock and fear. She was just an ordinary housekeeper with no authority at all.
Volt ignored the maid's reaction. He headed down to the secret laboratory in the basement, where his two victims were waiting.
"Well kids... awake already, huh..." Volt's voice rang out in the silence. Dim light from just a few bulbs revealed Leon and Shion tied to separate chairs. Both looked worn out and bruised from being beaten.
"Hey you!!! Let us go right now!!!" Shion screamed at him furiously, trying to struggle free from her bonds. But the ropes were tied too tight.
"Tsk tsk... can't sit still for a minute, can you, little girl?" Volt pushed his glasses up slightly and dragged another chair over to sit calmly in front of them both. "Just letting you go easy like that would be so boring."
He got up and walked to a control panel on the wall. Pressed some buttons!
*Whirrrr...*
The sound of machinery working started up before part of the wall slid open. It revealed a large glass cabinet filled with strange-looking "meat" pieces stored inside! It was the same stuff Leon had seen at the meat stall that morning!
"You two have probably heard of 'Life's Fresh' before," Volt said proudly, his eyes sparkling. "They say it's rarer than gold these days."
He paused for a moment, watching Leon and Shion's reactions with satisfaction before continuing. "That's why 'we' decided to create it again!"
"You've probably seen some Sunstone citizens talking to themselves or acting weird, right?" Volt grinned, clearly enjoying himself.
"That was... your doing!!!" Shion yelled. The whole picture was starting to come together in her head. "It really was you! You sick bastard!!! You experimented on the townspeople!"
"Ha ha ha, not exactly," Volt laughed deep in his throat. "They're just 'test versions' that aren't perfect yet." He gestured toward the glass cabinet full of artificial Life's Fresh. "But now... I've created what you could call 'the pinnacle of perfection'! And today... you two will have the honor of being among the first to try it!"
Volt walked over and picked up long metal tongs from a drawer. He carefully grabbed a piece of artificial Life's Fresh. It looked like a dark red chunk of meat that was still twitching slightly in the tongs! Then he walked straight toward Shion first!
"You can go first... red-haired girl." Volt smiled coldly before reaching out to squeeze Shion's chin hard, trying to force her mouth open!
Shion gritted her teeth and struggled with all her might! But what little strength she had left couldn't resist Volt's power at all!
"Stop it!!!" Leon, who'd been watching silently, screamed at the top of his lungs! "If someone has to eat it... let me go first!!! Leave her alone!"
Shion, who'd been closing her eyes and gritting her teeth for whatever was coming, opened her eyes and looked at Leon in shock. "What are you... what are you trying to do?! Don't do anything stupid!"
Leon didn't answer, but sent her a determined look instead of words. He nodded slightly.
"Hmm... that works for me," Volt laughed with satisfaction. "Makes it easier. I'm too lazy to sit here prying open this stubborn girl's mouth anyway." He let go of Shion's chin roughly, making her head snap back, before walking over to stand in front of Leon.
"Open your mouth, kid..." Volt commanded coldly.
Leon hesitated for a moment. His heart pounded with fear. Small beads of sweat formed on his forehead. He had no idea what would happen to him after this. But to protect Shion... he had no other choice! The young man slowly opened his mouth...
Chomp!
The artificial Life's Fresh was shoved into Leon's mouth! A cold feeling and disgusting taste spread throughout his mouth!
[....]
[....]
Volt stood watching Leon with expectant but puzzled eyes.
Time passed for a moment... but nothing happened to Leon at all! His body didn't convulse, he didn't show signs of madness, and no weird shadows appeared like with the other townspeople!
"Hmm... nothing's happening..." Volt frowned in surprise. "That's really strange... this is supposed to be the most perfect version."
Suddenly Leon's eyes went wide! He coughed violently! Then he spat the artificial Life's Fresh chunk right out of his mouth! It was still in its original state, not digested or absorbed into his body at all!
"Bleh! Ugh! That tastes awful!!!" Both a deep voice in his head and Leon shouted out at the same time.
Volt stood there stunned! What the hell was this?! Why didn't the artificial Life's Fresh work on this kid?!
"Shion!!! Now's our chance!!!" Leon yelled! While nodding his head toward something!