I believe that dreams are symbolic versions of our own thoughts. They are like little short stories which capture conceptual emotions. So maybe the dream captures thoughts connected with (quote) "expanding consciousness and acquiring potentially dangerous abilities". The dream is merely linked to how our minds store concepts. They use metaphors which may seem strange and totally unrelated to real life but they capture key concepts.
Have you been thinking along the following lines eliminating "traits such as, paranoia,greed,lust for power and homicidal mania". What does that make you think of. If you can make an association with that then you will know the dream is connected to that thought.
What do you think the serum represents in your own emotions and thoughts?