"Indeed. Your commanding officer does have a good appearance. It's natural to feel desire towards him."
"Dream entry, you seem to have experienced this before, in Lu Jiahe's dream. You know what to do."
"But don't space out anymore. Once you're out, you can enjoy to your heart's content."
"After getting out, it won't be the same," Lu Yan said somewhat wistfully.
He raised his hand toward Tang Xunan, feeling a scorching heat on the back of his hand.
[Talent 99 - Dream Entry].
Lu Yan opened his eyes, feeling slightly dizzy. He lowered his gaze to find himself wearing a white coat and holding a document.
It wasn't precisely a file; it seemed to be a medical record labeled 'Fire Seed Project - File 19.'
"System?" he called out softly.
No response from the system, probably disconnected again.
An elderly, slightly chubby man approached, but what struck Lu Yan as odd was the blankness on the man's face, like a mannequin.
The name and title on the badge read: Professor Wu.
"You're also a graduate from Yan University, right, Xiaolu? A remarkable talent," praised Professor Wu. "We recruited only you for this research institute this time. Don't disappoint Director Qiao."
Director Qiao?
Lu Yan discreetly flipped open the document in his hand.
It was a surgical record, a mix of English, Chinese, and Japanese. Thankfully, Lu Yan could understand it all.
[February 11, 2038]
Tang Xunan passed the physical examination. Details in the appendix. Initial confirmation for transformation as a combat-oriented Harbinger.
Exposed to pollutants, significant mutation observed. Probability of becoming a Harbinger estimated below thirty percent.
Tang Xunan is of legal age and has signed the informed consent form, confirming the surgery schedule.
[February 18, 2038]
The first pollutant fusion surgery performed on Tang Xunan.
Fusion subject: Human-faced spider. Transformation direction: Foreign body assimilation. Pre-surgery consent signed.
Mild rejection observed post-surgery; transformation continuation possible.
(Comment: Surprisingly, the surgery was successful. We were all quite anxious before he went into the operating room. His willpower is strong, indicating he will endure more pain during surgery. However, he isn't even a Harbinger. Director Qiao has been under immense stress lately, to the extent of not being able to eat. )
[March 11, 2038]
Second pollutant fusion surgery.
Fusion subject: Viper snake fangs. Transformation direction: High toxicity. Pre-surgery consent signed.
Severe post-surgery rejection; abandonment of high toxicity transformation.
...
...
[May 21, 2039]
103rd pollutant fusion surgery.
Fusion subject: Nidhogg dragon wings. Transformation direction: Dragonification.
(Comment: I don't know what the result of this will be... He is the youngest synthetic human in our entire experimental group. Perhaps I should leave. My mental state has deteriorated; seeing him, I feel endless pain and guilt. Under my design, I turned a person into... a weapon.)
Lu Yan glanced at the electronic clock on the wall: June 2, 2039.
Professor Wu said, "Director Qiao is still in surgery. We've been advising him to take care of his health; he's only in his forties but already has white hair. Besides, as you know, his surgeries frequently involve exposure to these pollutants, and his level of mutation is already high..."
Lu Yan knew too much talk could lead to trouble, so he just sighed along.
"Professor Catherine, in charge of Tang Xunan, has withdrawn from the Fire Seed Project due to depression. Now, there's a severe shortage of personnel in the project, and since you've just awakened as a Harbinger this year, Director Qiao hopes you can handle Tang Xunan's daily data recording."
This responsibility was similar to that of a nurse.
"I assume you've already signed a confidentiality agreement and a liability disclaimer. This job bears significant risks. We truly need your help, but if you're unwilling, you can quit anytime."
Lu Yan didn't know much about the institute. However, by 2121, the institute's core team had changed...
After pondering for a moment, he softly asked, "Is it voluntary for me? Professor, among the researchers in the institute, who has the highest psychic threshold? Are they all Harbingers?"
Professor Wu answered without hesitation, "Of course, it's Director Qiao. I've heard his threshold has surpassed 6000. You're not bad either; just awakened, and your threshold is over 400. Among the Harbingers who joined the institute in these years, you're doing exceptionally well... Besides, you can't let ordinary people come into contact with pollutants; that would lead to mutations."
Good, it seemed that in the institute's early days, both the subjects and researchers were Harbingers.
Professor Wu led Lu Yan forward, and as they walked, none of the passing researchers had visible faces. Only when passing a middle-aged man with silver hair did Lu Yan discern his features.
It was someone he had seen in textbooks, Director Qiao.
He seemed younger than portrayed in textbooks but appeared fatigued, rushing somewhere.
When passing Lu Yan, Director Qiao halted.
"You're the new researcher?" he asked, "You've read all the files, right? Tang Xunan's mental state isn't stable, and after the recent dragon wing transplant, close contact could lead to infection. Be vigilant in protective measures."
After speaking, Director Qiao hesitated for a moment.
"If he... shows signs of wanting to end it all, I recall your talents are [Affinity] and [Psychological Counseling]. If counseling doesn't work, let him be."
"Sometimes, death is a kind of relief."
Having said that, Director Qiao nodded slightly and walked away.
There were no windows in the institute, and the elevators all moved from top to bottom because this was underground.
It was said that this structure aimed to minimize contamination sources' impact during experimental leaks.
Tang Xunan's ward was on the 10th underground floor, supposedly occupying the entire level alone.
With Professor Wu's guidance, Lu Yan learned how to unlock the four heavy doors leading to Tang Xunan's ward. Each layer of security seemed as tight as a vault or a tomb.
"It's unavoidable," Professor Wu expressed helplessness. "But previously, he... disabled three staff members."
Behind the four doors, the interior was less clinical and more homely.
"This is replicated 1:1 according to Tang Xunan's home," Professor Wu mentioned.
From the decorations, Tang Xunan seemed to come from a well-off family.
Sensing Lu Yan's curiosity, Professor Wu chuckled, "This kid comes from a good background. He insisted on joining the Fire Seed Project, had thoughts since he was 16, but the fusion surgeries didn't begin until he reached adulthood."
"Director Qiao often asks me if he did something wrong," Professor Wu stopped in front of the last door, speaking softly, "He probably noticed me; I won't go in."
After that, Professor Wu shouted into the room, "Tang Xunan, do you remember me? I'm Professor Wu. I have other matters; I won't disturb you today. This new researcher will be taking care of you."
Lu Yan stood at the bedroom door and finally flipped to the latest page of the records.
Tang Xunan.
Age: 19
Psychic Threshold: 7200.
Degree of Mutation: 321-977.
Talent: Dragon Bone (fusion surgery transplantation), Unknown Talent (initially suspected erosion, specifically causing rapid death upon contact with organisms)
Notes:
1. Due to previous fusion surgery, slight hearing impairment; artificial ear bone re-implanted.
2. Additional contamination during dragon wing fusion resulted in blindness.
3. Significant postoperative rejection led to heightened aggression. Discussion within the research group considered euthanasia, but Tang Xunan retained some human rationality. Therefore, the decision was made to conduct the "stranger contact experiment" to verify if he retained rationality and sociability.
Test Subject: Lu Yan (signed informed consent form).
Lu Yan took a deep breath and pushed the door open.
The bedroom was quite spacious, adorned in bright orange and gray. It had work and rest areas, with a private bathroom. There was even a dressing room with several pairs of stylish sneakers.
On the desk lay an open copy of "Wu San," Lu Yan walked over, glancing at it—it was a chemistry question from the college entrance exam. Neatly written, with a good accuracy rate.
The bedsheet was slightly messy, indicating someone had slept there. There were bloodstains on the pillow, and Lu Yan noticed a few shed scales.
Upon a quick glance, Tang Xunan was nowhere to be seen.
But Lu Yan could distinctly hear something akin to a beast's heavy breath coming from the direction of the wardrobe.
He called out, "Tang Xunan... are you there?"
Lu Yan cautiously stepped forward.
The kingfisher inside him emitted frantic warnings, struggling to prompt him to flee.
Lu Yan opened the wardrobe door.
In an instant, the figure inside lunged, pinning him down, one hand gripping his neck.
The person in front... it was hard to call them human. They possessed overly grotesque and enormous hands resembling eagle claws with sharp barbs. Their fangs were ferocious, black dragon scales covering their body, and blood-drenched dragon wings sprouted from their shoulder blades.
But those signature golden eyes remained unlit.
The colors in their pupils were faint, almost appearing entirely white at first glance.
If the information was correct, Tang Xunan should be blind now.
This seemed more like a monstrous being, part human and part dragon, rather than a person.
The excessively large dragon tail pressed heavily on Lu Yan.
Though Tang Xunan didn't exert force, the grip on Lu Yan's neck still induced a suffocating sensation.
Around his neck was an iron collar, rumored to be from a pollutant eel, capable of instantly releasing 100,000 volts of high voltage electricity.
Professor Wu had once stated that if Tang Xunan lost control, finding the button for the high-voltage electricity on his neck wouldn't kill him but temporarily immobilize him, offering a chance to escape.
Lu Yan noticed the red-glowing surveillance on the ceiling, indicating it was active.
"Tang Xunan," he tried to keep his tone calm, "I'm Lu Yan."
From deep within, Tang Xunan emitted two hoarse roars, resembling the cries of some wild creature.
"Can you hear me?" Lu Yan raised his hand, patting Tang Xunan's back, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid."
When researchers were attacked by Tang Xunan, they were too panicked to observe closely.
But Lu Yan noticed.
The hand choking his neck trembled lightly.
"I'm not here to hurt you. Don't be afraid."
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