Panshi Fortress, Ninth Underground Level, Top-Secret Research Institute.
The air was as cold as a morgue, permeated with a deep, bone-chilling stench of dragons.
On the massive liquid nitrogen freezing platform, a colossal corpse lay like a frozen mountain, its body covered in grayish-white bone armor, gleaming with a metallic, deathly luster under the pale lights.
Dark golden blood had long congealed, like winding amber streams, solidified around the edges of gruesome wounds.
Lin Mo stood before the control panel, the lenses of his gold-rimmed glasses reflecting the waterfall-like stream of data on the holographic screen.
His fingertips tapped on the virtual keyboard with such speed that they were mere afterimages, like a precise machine.
On the screen, the three-dimensional model of the corpse was dissected layer by layer; muscle fibers, bone density, internal organ structures—all broken down into billions of cold data points.
Research Log 7-12
Project: Dragonkin (Codename ‘The Boulder’) Biochemical Application
Phase: Bone Eater Stage Peak Biological Sample Analysis
Core Discoveries:
Serum Rage (SERUM-RAGE)
Extracted from ventricular residual blood (87% activity)
Injected into mice (0.1 ml) → Strength +300% / Pain sensation blocked / After 3 minutes, systemic blood vessels rupture
Application Direction: Disposable Super Soldier Serum (Suicide Squad)
Bone Armor Bioactivity
Live stem cells detected in the basal layer of scales (cell division speed x10)
Implanted into severely wounded soldiers’ wounds → Bone callus formation accelerated by 500% → Rejection reaction after 12 hours (host bone embrittlement)
Application Direction: Battlefield Emergency Bone Armor Patch (Limited to 3 hours)
Neurotoxin ‘Dragon’s Grudge’
Spinal fluid extract (0.3% concentration)
Atomized spray → 100%Rigidity rate of zombie hordes (lasts 5 minutes) → Mutated beasts indiscriminately attack their own kind
Fatal Flaw: Evaporation causes human hallucinations (62% self-harm rate)
Lin Mo’s fingertips unconsciously rubbed his cuff.
The cold computational power of his Mechanical Heart roared in his skull, instantly deducing three hundred and seventy serum formula improvement plans, only to reject them one by one.
Rejection reactions. Uncontrollable rage. Flaws like maggots clinging to bone. The value of this corpse… was far lower than expected.
“Dr. Lin.”
The alloy door slid open silently, and a young assistant in a white protective suit stood at the entrance, his voice betraying a hint of imperceptible tension.
“Emergency meeting at the Commander’s headquarters. Commander Qin requests your… immediate attendance.”
Lin Mo’s fingers, which were tapping the keyboard, suddenly froze.
His gaze behind the lenses pierced the assistant like an ice pick.
“Critical phase of the experiment. Reason.”
The assistant felt his scalp tingle under Lin Mo’s gaze, but he steeled himself and said, “People from the Tang Family have arrived. In the top-floor conference room. The Commander said… it’s related to the dragon corpse.”
The Tang Family.
A reclusive family.
Lin Mo’s mind instantly flashed through the encrypted files in his database—gene monopoly, ability breeding, live experiments… colder than the fortress’s rules, greedier than the zombie tide of the apocalypse.
He slowly took off his gold-rimmed glasses and rubbed his temples, which throbbed from excessive computation.
A familiar warmth trickled down his nose—he was having a nosebleed again.
The price of the Mechanical Heart.
“Understood.”
His voice was calm and unruffled. He pulled out a sterile wipe to clean the blood, then put his glasses back on.
“Sample to be cryogenically sealed. Data backed up to ‘Black Box’.”
“Yes!” The assistant, as if granted a great pardon, quickly retreated.
Lin Mo took one last look at the massive dragon corpse on the freezing platform.
Its crimson beast eyes were frozen in the white mist of liquid nitrogen, holding their last vestiges of ferocity.
He imperceptibly curled his lip downwards.
Even waste utilization… depends on how it’s used.
Fortress Top Floor, Circular Strategic Conference Room.
The heavy alloy door closed behind him, cutting off the outside clamor.
On the holographic sand table in the center of the conference room, the crimson dots representing the southwestern beast tide, like a boiling sea of blood, were slowly approaching the fortress’s outer defense line.
The air was so heavy it could be wrung out.
At the head of the long table, Qin Weiguo sat as steady as a pine tree.
His left arm was bandaged, and his face showed some fatigue, but his eyes remained as sharp as an eagle’s.
To his left sat Chu Hang, his pure white mask concealing all expression, only the faint tapping of his fingertips on the table betraying a hint of imperceptible… irritation.
To his right were Chen Xue and Lin Wei.
Chen Xue unconsciously rubbed a silver cross in her palm; a soft silver light flowed through her fingertips, but it carried a persistent… blood-like impurity.
Lin Wei, meanwhile, had her head bowed, her fingertips rapidly sliding across a tablet computer.
Her Discernment ability was operating at full capacity, analyzing the sand table data, and fine beads of cold sweat appeared on her forehead.
At the other end of the long table, a figure completely at odds with the solemn atmosphere of the conference room leaned lazily back in his chair.
Tang Zhao.
He appeared to be in his early twenties, dressed in a finely tailored dark green silk Tang suit with dark gold chi dragon patterns embroidered on the collar.
His skin was pale from prolonged absence from sunlight, and his narrow phoenix eyes were half-closed, like a lazy feline observing its prey.
His fingertips toyed with a warm, creamy white jade pendant, and a faint hint of… mockery hung at the corners of his mouth.
An innate, aristocratic aloofness, steeped in the heritage of an ancient family, acted like an invisible barrier, separating him from the smoke- and blood-stained soldiers around him.
“Dr. Lin has arrived.” Qin Weiguo broke the silence, his voice carrying a deliberate lightness, “Just in time, let me introduce everyone. This is Mr. Tang Zhao, special envoy of the Tang Family.”
Tang Zhao didn’t even lift an eyelid, merely tapping the white jade lightly on the table, producing a crisp “tap” sound.
“No need for pleasantries.” His voice was clear and cold, with a metallic quality, “I’m here to find someone. Tang Buyu.”
The conference room instantly fell silent.
Tang Buyu? To most present, that name was like a visitor from another world.
Qin Weiguo frowned slightly: “Mr. Tang, there’s no such name in the fortress’s personnel registration system. Are you sure he’s in The Boulder?”
“Unsure.” Tang Zhao finally looked up, his gaze sweeping over everyone like a splash of ice water, “That’s why I need to search.”
His fingertip lightly swiped the jade pendant.
Hum—
A faint white light flashed.
Above the holographic sand table, a clear photograph was projected out of thin air.
The photo showed a seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy.
He wore a Linghui Academy uniform, standing on a sunny playground, a hint of unruly smile on his lips.
His brows and eyes were sharp, his nose bridge high, but what was most striking were his eyes—deep within his pupils, there seemed to be faint metallic glints flowing.
“Ah!” A low cry came from the corner.
It was Lin Wei.
She suddenly looked up, her Discernment ability allowing her to instantly capture the details of the photo.
“He… he’s the president of our academy’s club! His name is Tang Buyu! He… he went missing before the apocalypse!”
“Yes! It’s him!” Another voice spoke up, it was Zhao Xiaodao, sitting in the back row.
He excitedly pointed at the photo, “President Tang! He helped us fix the training equipment!”
Chen Xue also recognized him.
She covered her mouth, a hint of disbelief flashing in her eyes: “He… wasn’t he… when the zombie tide broke out…”
“Dead?” The mockery on Tang Zhao’s lips deepened. “The direct bloodline of the Tang Family doesn’t die that easily.”
He withdrew his finger, and the photo vanished.
“His last known location was the Linghui Academy’s underground air-raid shelter.
I need the fortress to provide exploration access to all relevant areas and… a spinal fluid sample of that dragon corpse.”
The last sentence was like a stone thrown into a calm lake.
Qin Weiguo’s eyes instantly sharpened like blades: “Mr. Tang, the dragon corpse is the fortress’s highest strategic asset.
And the spinal fluid is even more…”
“It’s compensation.”
Tang Zhao interrupted him, his voice still flat, “If Tang Buyu is found, the Tang Family will provide three doses of ‘Nirvana’ serum.
The effect…”
His gaze swept over the crack on Chu Hang’s mask and the wheelchair beneath Zhou Yunguang.
“Is ten times stronger than those inferior dragon blood products you’re tinkering with.”
Nirvana Serum! The Tang Family’s secret genetic agent! Legend says it can repair rule backlash injuries and even stimulate a secondary awakening of abilities!
A collective gasp of suppressed breath filled the conference room.
Even Chu Hang’s tapping fingers on the table paused for a moment.
Qin Weiguo was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke: “Access can be granted. The spinal fluid… will require Dr. Lin to assess the risk.”
Everyone’s gaze instantly focused on Lin Mo.
Lin Mo pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses.
His gaze behind the lenses was calm and unruffled, falling on Tang Zhao like a scanner.
The Mechanical Heart operated at high speed.
Target: Tang Zhao.
Behavioral pattern: Aristocratic indifference (disguise layer).
True intention: Spinal fluid priority ≥ finding the person (67% probability).
Potential threat: Rule-based ability (not activated).
Recommendation: Transaction acceptable (spinal fluid residue sufficient for analysis).
“Spinal fluid extraction has entered an inert state.” Lin Mo’s voice was like a machine synthesis, “Providing 50ml will not affect core research.
But a biochemical contamination waiver agreement must be signed.”
Tang Zhao’s eyebrow twitched almost imperceptibly.
He seemed somewhat surprised by the young researcher’s straightforwardness.
“Understood.”
“Alright, business is concluded.” Qin Weiguo clapped his hands at the opportune moment, forcing a smile to try and ease the tense atmosphere, “Let me introduce two newly promoted pillars of strength.”
He pointed to the two people sitting at the far right end of the table.
“Commander of the Rocket Army, Xiong Yan!”
A burly man, like an iron tower, stood up in response.
Nearly two meters tall, his military uniform, even oversized, was still stretched taut by his bulging muscles.
He had a full beard, and his large, bell-like eyes sparkled with vigor.
He grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth, and his voice boomed like a bell: “Commander! From now on, any bastard who dares to approach the fortress, I’ll burn his ancestors so badly they won’t recognize him!”
He flipped his palm! Whoosh—! A ball of blazing white flame with a bluish-green halo ignited out of thin air!
The terrifying high temperature instantly twisted the air in the conference room!
Chen Xue, who was closer, even smelled burning hair!
Samadhi True Fire! Capable of melting metal!
This was his ability.
“Commander of the Air Force, Li Fan!” Qin Weiguo pointed to Xiong Yan’s side.
A lean, stern-faced man slowly rose.
In stark contrast to Xiong Yan’s boisterousness, he was like a drawn military knife, silent and sharp.
He merely nodded slightly, saying nothing.
But when he looked up and scanned the room, deep within his narrow eyes… a hint of… inhuman… dark golden vertical pupil phantom flashed!
A fierce, brutal, terrifying aura, as if to tear everything apart… like a tangible blade… instantly swept through the entire room! And was instantly reined in by him!
Ability: Beastification · Ya Zi! One of the Nine Sons of the Dragon! Bloodthirsty and combative!
The conference room was dead silent.
Everyone was awestruck by the terrifying aura emanating from these two men.
“Cough.” Qin Weiguo cleared his throat.
“Commander Xiong and Commander Li have a life-and-death friendship; back in the Northwest Gobi…” He changed the subject, with a hint of playfulness.
“…their biggest hobby was getting together, one would spit fire to roast meat, and the other would be responsible for eating it all.”
Xiong Yan burst into laughter, his large, fan-like hand slapping heavily on Li Fan’s back: “Old Li! Hear that! The Commander’s spilling our secrets!”
Li Fan stumbled from the slap, and a rare hint of helplessness appeared on his stern face, but he didn’t move away.
Everyone chuckled, and the tense atmosphere eased slightly.
Just then, the conference room door was pushed open, and a young scout rushed in: “Reporting, Commander! The vanguard of the southwestern beast tide has broken through the seventh alert line! There are flying species…”
His voice abruptly cut off.
His eyes widened, staring intently at Xiong Yan and Li Fan, who were standing with their arms around each other.
Especially Xiong Yan’s large hand still resting on Li Fan’s shoulder, and Li Fan’s slightly helpless but not resistant profile.
The scout’s face instantly flushed crimson, his mouth opened, and meaningless “ho ho” sounds came from his throat, his gaze drifting, as if he had seen something extremely shocking and… unspeakable.
“Speak!”
Qin Weiguo frowned.
“Uh… Yes! The number of flying species exceeds three hundred! Suspected… suspected of having a command-type individual!” The scout snapped back to attention, stuttering his report, but his eyes still uncontrollably darted towards the two men.
Xiong Yan scratched his head in confusion.
Li Fan, meanwhile, gave the scout a cold glance, the dark golden vertical pupil phantom flashing and disappearing.
The scout shivered all over, nearly biting his tongue.
Qin Weiguo didn’t notice these details, his face grave as he turned to the sand table: “Chu Hang, rule prediction!”
Chu Hang’s gaze beneath his mask locked onto the sand table, his fingertips lifted, and a pure white light began to condense…
The clamor of the conference room was cut off by the heavy alloy door.
Lin Mo walked alone down the cold corridor leading to the underground research institute.
Footsteps echoed in the empty hallway.
The cold computational power of the Mechanical Heart still revolved in his skull, dissecting every detail of the meeting.
Tang Zhao.
Clear objective: spinal fluid, Tang Buyu is just a cover.
Probability 92.7%.
Xiong Yan, Li Fan, Samadhi True Fire, Ya Zi Beastification.
Combat power assessment: Bone Eater Realm (not fully unleashed).
Emotional bond abnormally strong. Usable.
Nirvana Serum. Repairs rule damage.
Extremely valuable to Chu Hang. Strategic value to the fortress… incalculable.
Risk: The ‘Dragon’s Grudge’ neurotoxin contained in the spinal fluid.
Once mastered and weaponized by the Tang Family…
He pushed up his glasses.
The lenses reflected the pale light of the overhead lamps.
Risk and reward, the cold formula was instantly deduced in his mind.
Worth it.
He reached the airtight door of the research institute and unlocked it with his fingerprint.
Inside the door, the white cold mist of liquid nitrogen permeated out.
Just as he was about to step in—
Buzz!!!
Deep within the research institute! The dragon corpse frozen in liquid nitrogen! Its chest, covered in thick bone armor… very faintly… trembled!
A cold, dead, yet subtly… indescribable… mental fluctuation… like a stone dropped into a deep pool… penetrated through layers of freezing liquid and alloy cabin walls… and violently slammed into Lin Mo’s mind!
Lin Mo’s footsteps suddenly halted!
His pupils behind the gold-rimmed glasses… abruptly contracted!
P.S.: Thanks to “Tianchai Shaolian” for “Powering with Love” x 2, and “Luozhisang” for “Powering with Love” x 1 (｡•̀ᴗ- )✧