Evolution Serum

Closeup

The Evolution Serum is a crowning achievement of Bramon Xanthe and H.E.R.O.'s research. It is a boutique single use injection that can induce evolution in any superhuman of any level. It was through this drug that H.E.R.O was able to finally ascend its remaining captains and most promising lieutenants and is the secret to H.E.R.O's enormous force advantage over all other factions.

## Background

Evolution is a difficult and complex process for superhumans that isn't fully understood. The timing and triggering of the evolution is impossible to predict and if it happens before the superhuman is ready, the results can often be catastrophic. The worst consequence of a failed evolution is monsterification. A superhuman who monsterifies is a terrible waste since it both robs H.E.R.O. of a valuable agent but it also creates a powerful variant type monster that needs to be dealt with.

Even more pressing was the difficulty of achieving the final stage of superhuman evolution: Level 5. Unlike other evolutions the Level 5 evolution is a uniquely challenging one, with specific requirements that need to be met leading up to the evolution itself. These requirements are themselves quite dangerous and can be fatal and meeting them doesn't guarantee the evolution. Even with the decades of experience and research behind them, only three superhumans have achieved Level 5 naturally: Bernhardt Gunvald, Henrick Bendrix, and Malik Drexel.

Bramon Xanthe first explored the idea of inducing temporary monsterification as a path to evolution since it was well known at this point that contact with lots of varied monster material was an almost surefire way to trigger an evolution. The effects of this imperfect version of the drug was seen in Klaus Aldain who used it during his fight with the MC. The drug temporarily monsterified Klaus's body, granting a a power boost that was substantial, but nonetheless inferior to a true evolution.

The perfected version of the drug was obtained a little after the start of the game and was used by H.E.R.O. to massively boost their power. It also allowed them to be less strict with revealing information about Level 5 evolutions since they now had a guaranteed way to induce it and wouldn't lose superhuman agents to the attempt.

## Usage

The perfected version of the drug was first used by Alexis Allaband and Clark Cabellero during their confrontation with Ella Vulpe. The accompanying power surge enabled them to overwhelm Ella in the fight but in their exuberance she was able to escape. Happy with the results, Bramon Xanthe began to use it on trusted and powerful superhuman agents throughout the organization. The drug was also instrumental in healing Zack Zaman and the rest from his terrible injuries sustained in their confrontation with the Lord of Dark.

In ideal circumstances, Xanthe tailors each dose of the serum to the superhuman who will use it. In practice, this reduces the risk of failure but in many cases this seems to be an unnecessary precaution. Ella Vulpe for example, took a dose that was not meant for her and still achieved her own Level 5 ascension. However, any superhuman can only take the drug twice before their bodies adapt to the cocktail of foreign monster material it uses to trigger evolutions. Therefore, H.E.R.O typically uses the drug only to trigger the 5th and one other evolution. While people evolving with the drug for levels other than Level 5 are shown to be just as powerful as their naturally evolved counterparts, Bernhardt Gunvald is convinced that the serum is flawed when it comes to Level 5 evolutions. He says this because he and other two naturally evolved level 5s are vastly more powerful than those who took the serum and seem to have adapted to their finalized bodies and powers faster. Beyond that it hasn't been confirmed whether there is any difference yet.

So far in the game the following superhumans have used the serum to evolve:

* Nyx Elis - Level 4 -> Level 5
* Lucius Valentine - Level 4 -> Level 5
* Zack Zaman - Level 4 -> Level 5
* Nicolette Heart - Level 4 -> Level 5
* Alexis Allaband - Level 4 -> Level 5
* Clark Cabellero - Level 4 -> Level 5
* Lisa Corven - Level 4 -> Level 5
* Elijah Gunvald - Level 4 -> Level 5
* Kira Kelsey - Level 4 -> Level 5
* Ella Vulpe - Level 4 -> Level 5
* Tiffany Miliken - Level 1 -> Level 2
* Michael Carlowe - Level 1 -> Level 2