In the research institute, crucial experimental subjects were confined within life pods, similar to the metal pods used to transport 07 initially. The subjects would lapse into unconsciousness inside the pods. If forcefully opened from the outside, it would trigger the self-destruct program of the life pods. This was also why 01 wanted to use Lu Yan as a bargaining chip for the experimental subjects.
Even though Lu Yan genuinely felt that exchanging himself for experimental subjects was less effective than capturing several researchers to extract passwords, he couldn't alter 01's decision. In the face of absolute power, any other idea seemed futile. Despite 01 intentionally concealing his aura, approaching a strong pollution source still caused Lu Yan's mutation level to uncontrollably rise. Qin Woyu in his arms seemed to struggle for breath, emitting painful coughs.
03's pale face sprouted fine and elongated fuzz. [Many years ago, due to an operational error by 03's researcher, his mutation level exceeded 100. After surpassing 100, 03 didn't become a pollutant; instead, his mutation level decreased to 13.] [But in reality, 03 had "died" several times. Although he wouldn't truly die, he still experienced pain equivalent to death.]
Perhaps for this reason, 01 didn't take 03 along; instead, he placed him in an adjacent room, planning to retrieve him later. 03 grabbed 01's arm, "Don't... involve unrelated people."
Without any emotional fluctuation visible in 01's crimson eyes, he spoke solemnly, "Anyone who can appear here is not unrelated."
After saying this, 01 closed the door.
Eight floors underground.
Tang Xunan took a few minutes to listen to 07's story. When discussing human experiments, his teammates beside him already showed shock, "How is that possible? All research should adhere to the terms of the scientific institute! No experiment should violate the volunteers' will and human ethical standards..."
07 just looked into Tang Xunan's eyes, "I have no reason to deceive you. The current research institute is no longer the same as when Professor Qiao was in charge. We met at Luochuan Botanical Garden a few months ago; I can't believe you were oblivious."
"On your way here, you encountered quite a few pollutants. Almost all of them, as experimental subjects, have exceeded the prescribed standard values. Since the initiation of the 'God-Making Project' by the first research institute thirty years ago, it has deviated from the original purpose of the institute," flames flickered from 07's fingertips, "and I am the product of this project, standing on a unique evolutionary sequence, codenamed as the monster of gods."
"You too. From 01 to 10. The initial ten volunteers of the institute correspond precisely to the ten evolutionary directions in the prophecy of apocalypse. Fortunately, you have a father with high status, even though he has passed away, still causing others to be cautious." Tang Xunan looked silent, tightly gripping a knife.
The surviving researchers, hiding in the safety zone behind other apocalypse initiators, shouted emotionally, "Our research is for a better future! Sacrifices are inevitable! If I were an experimental subject, I would willingly sacrifice myself!"
A sense of ruthlessness flashed on 07's face. The surrounding flames intensified momentarily.
But he quickly calmed down and continued, "I have been a human for twenty years and an apocalypse initiator for over eighty years. I am well aware that the situation of apocalypse initiators is not good. You possess powerful abilities, but in the end, you either die in euthanasia due to excessive mutation or sacrifice in the fight against pollutants. And the people you protect don't even consider you as their kind."
"I haven't measured my current pollution level, but I believe it's not low. I am a pollutant; I don't need to worry about mutation levels, but you do, Tang Xunan. You can't save everyone. Whoever you want to protect, I won't object. I just want to take away other experimental subjects. 03 to 09, my relatives have already passed away, and they are my family."
"I admit, to rescue them, I had to take some extreme measures, which might result in the death of many ordinary people. But as long as other experimental subjects can leave, I am willing to atone for my sins with my own death."
Finally, Tang Xunan spoke at this moment, "Zong Yan, even if you die, those people won't come back to life. Mothers lose their children, wives lose their husbands. Is this something that can be easily dismissed just because you die?"
"I sympathize with your plight. There could have been a better solution to this. After I returned from Luochuan Botanical Garden, headquarters had already started investigating. Gong Weibin fled in fear. That's why I've been staying in City A for this period, waiting for headquarters' instructions."
07's expression froze.
"Unfortunately, the actions of some people made you lose trust in others; it's not your fault." Tang Xunan drew out his knife, "But when you chose this path, reconciliation became impossible. Ten minutes are up; step aside."
This was the fate Tang Xunan chose for himself. 07 was right; resolving him would indeed take a lot of time. The important individuals and data on the ninth underground floor, the life pods containing experimental subjects, were also Tang Xunan's mission objectives. Killing 07 was temporarily lower in priority than these things.
In the darkness, applause suddenly rang out.
"Nicely said, Number 10. What if 03 to 09 were your relatives? Would you make the same choice?" Gu Zheng, holding Lu Yan in his arms, walked out from the corner of the corridor, "I've heard others in the institute talking about you; they say you prioritize responsibility over your own life."
He emitted a strong pollutant aura, causing Lu Yan's distortion to become uncontrollable.
Gu Zheng pinched Lu Yan's chin, turning his face towards Tang Xunan with interest, asking, "What about other people's lives?"
Tang Xunan's golden eyes narrowed in an instant, resembling a threat, and a beast-like growl escaped his throat, "Let go!"
07 looked shocked, "01?! Why are you here?"
He had planned to rescue all the experimental subjects first, then find Gong Weibin and save 01.
"Ah, because..."
顾峥 turned his head to the side— in an instant, Tang Xun'an's yellow dust unsheathed. However, Gu Zheng made no unnecessary moves; instead, he grabbed Lu Yan's waist, positioning him in front.
The chilling blade, with its blade edge, forcefully halted just an inch away. The blade's peripheral light scratched Lu Yan's chest, drawing a layer of bright red blood.
Tang Xun'an's eyes showed bloodshot veins, tightly clenching his teeth, his hand trembling as he almost lost grip of the blade.
Just a little more.
He would have killed Lu Yan.
The system nervously commented: [Wow, if Tang Xun'an had been a bit slower in retracting the blade, we'd have become a pair of fugitive lovebirds.]
Lu Yan hoped the system could learn Chinese properly and refrain from using metaphors.
Gu Zheng seemed to find something amusing, almost bending over in laughter. His laughter echoed through the eight underground levels.
"You're afraid, you're scared!" Gu Zheng pointed, laughing heartily. "Your words sound good, but it's just a knife on someone else, not feeling any pain. I don't care if other people's children and wives die. I just want the ones I care about to live."
His fingers touched the knife wound on Lu Yan's chest, wiping off some blood. Gu Zheng's actions were not gentle, causing Lu Yan to shiver in pain.
"Survival of the fittest. People kill each other more than pollutants eat. Why don't I see you standing up for justice?"
With that, Gu Zheng sniffed: "Smells sweet?" He instinctively licked it.
Lu Yan's blood merged with the blood behind the wall of resentment. It could provide buffs to the Harbingers and had a certain impact on pollutants.
Gu Zheng's thoughts wandered for a moment. He seemed to go back decades, submitting his discharge application to his superior.
The superior said, "I was about to promote you. Why leave the military at this time?"
The Fire Seed Project was a confidential plan, and according to the rules, it couldn't be disclosed to ordinary people.
01 remembered, and at that time, he smilingly replied, "Reporting, sir, I'm going on a secret mission! I've been an orphan since childhood, never married. If I sacrifice, remember to sweep my grave every Qingming Festival!"
The superior didn't take it seriously, kicked him, and scolded, "Brat. Such a talented sniper, I've been in the army for over a decade and never encountered someone like you. Fast in training but lazy, I think you just don't want to be a soldier!"
...
...
His body's stiffness was too apparent. Although it was a very short moment, someone seized the opportunity.
Shen Qingyang, already severely injured, suddenly surged at this moment. His pitch-black tentacles swelled several times, wrapping in a direction, but not attacking Tang Xun'an.
"Hmm?" Gu Zheng's brow furrowed. These tentacles posed little threat to him but were extremely annoying, especially when he still held Lu Yan, unable to move his hands.
The massive black tentacles almost engulfed him.
Gu Zheng stood in place, his head splitting open in an extremely unscientific manner, splitting straight to the neck, like a starfish extending its arms, or a man-eating flower with a wide blood-red inner wall covered in sharp bone teeth.
The fleshy strips that split from 01's head couldn't expand and extend like Shen Qingyang's tentacles. However, when they actually collided, the red fleshy strips, like venomous snakes, fiercely bit onto the tentacles, tearing off large chunks of flesh, resembling the rotating blades of a meat grinder.
For Lu Yan, he only felt a strong wind, and the battle had already ended.
He was covered in blue blood.
The system sighed: [Isn't this the little earth octopus? Haven't seen him for a few days, how did he get beaten up so badly.]
Due to the severe injury, Shen Qingyang couldn't maintain a completely distorted form and fell from the ceiling.
His lower half seemed to be severed, completely disappearing, and his waist was blurred with blood and flesh. The left eye had no eyeball, with a few small black tentacles wriggling. That was the location of his main brain, still connected to Shen Qingyang's last heart.
In other words, killing this tentacle would mean killing Shen Qingyang.
The severed tentacle returned to normal size, fell to the ground, still showing some consciousness, struggling.
"Poor thing, only one is left." Gu Zheng looked at him, his crimson eyes holding a hint of mockery, then turning into rage. "You dare to think of killing me?!"
[Talent 271 - Teleportation].
This talent could only be used by oneself and couldn't carry others, but for Gu Zheng, it was enough.
He lifted a foot, stepping on Shen Qingyang's face.
After becoming a pollutant, Shen Qingyang hadn't felt this kind of death threat for a long time.
However, when Gu Zheng's foot stepped over, his first reaction wasn't to protect his main brain but to reach out, grabbing Gu Zheng's ankle.
Behind Tang Xun'an, the black dragon wings spread open in this moment. He rushed forward, holding Lu Yan and enveloping him with the dragon wings, avoiding 01's attack.
In that instant, 01 did consider teleporting back.
However, he was blocked by a sudden wall of fire.
The flames weren't enough to cause serious injury, but passing through them inevitably affected his speed.
It was in this brief moment that Tang Xun'an seized the opportunity.
Gu Zheng looked at 07 with a gaze full of confusion and anger. "07?!"
His inner anger at being betrayed was so overwhelming that it even made him lose control over his body's distortion.
White bone spurs pierced out from under 01's skin. Apart from the split head and the metal arm filled with ammunition, his entire body was like a hedgehog, covered in spikes.
07 slowly retracted his hand, and the flames reentered his body.
Zong Yan lowered his gaze, saying softly, "Sorry, the doctor saved me too."
The author has something to say: Lu Yan: Thank you, 01. Otherwise, with so many fish, it would have been really hard to end it.
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