Translator: Abyssruler, AtlasStudios Editor: Lucas, AtlasStudios
After resting for a day, everyone gathered except for Wang Zheng, Zhang Shan, and Lie Xin. Butcher had also brought two other students from Elite Academy X, a Gemini Star person called Luo Er, who majored in life composition and social relations… This surprised Wang Zheng and Zhang Shan. Who knew that such specializations existed at Elite Academy X? It sounded awesome, even the name sounded impressive.
The other was called Basais, from Lya Sphinx. He majored in energy mediums. It sounded quite unbelievable, like he was some spirit medium. He was also participating in this experiment.
“Wang Zheng, I’m your fan!” Luo Er immediately enthused. “Can you give me an autograph?”
Wang Zheng was surprised, and could only nod. Zhang Shan and Lie Xin held back their laughter, seeing Wang Zheng ill at ease in such situations. Wang Zheng still earnestly saw it as just a battle. Perhaps he was a little better, but the phrase “idol” was still a stranger to him. In truth, the Greatest King competition had earned him many fans.
Basais expressed agreement. “In recent years, Arbiter has been virtually undefeated in military competitions. For Saruman Snake Battle Team to beat Asura Battle Team is definitely a miracle. My peers back on Lya Sphinx would love to meet you too.”
“Keke, please stop with the compliments. You’ll make me forget my name.”
“You young’uns should stop with the circlejerking. If you’re that free, spend your flattery on me. You’ve got to respect your elders.” Butcher joked. “Here, let me introduce you. Professor Beko, the leading research authority on the Zerg heredity.”
Anyone that Butcher introduced so seriously must be of serious ability. They hastened to bow, and Beko smiled genially, propping up his spectacles. “Don’t listen to that old geezer brag. Here, I’ll bring you all in for a look. The last stage of this experiment needs your help.”
Wang Zheng and the rest could sense that Professor Beko was someone immersed in the world of research. They had a good feeling about him.
They followed Beko to the second floor of the great hall. The lower floor was a sealed environment. Inside was a Zerg, in a very peaceful state.
Just by looking, this Zerg was undoubtedly the abyss type. Its color and heavy feel were all very formidable.
“This is one of our more successful creations, a low level abyss Zerg. A sickle Zerg; after numerous numerical and battle comparisons, it’s basically at around 95% similarity.” Beko introduced, signaling to the workers to begin a demonstration.
A robot was released into the room, but the Zerg did not move. The robot began attacking the Zerg, which was clearly roused, but it made no movement.
“At present, we have two commands. Stop, attack. Because it’s an area command, there’s no way to specify the attack target. But if you release this into the Zerg battlefield as the point troop, it’s very useful.”
Saying thus, Beko issued the attack command, and the Zerg promptly tore the robot to shreds. It was powerless against an abyss Zerg.
Butcher gasped in admiration as well. “Looks like your biological control system development has been extremely successful.”
“The entire process has yielded many patents. But some are indeed very dangerous.” Beko said.
Beko was a bit of a mad scientist, but not an oblivious one. The deeper the research went, the more he discovered that many of the technologies could not only be used on Zergs, but had more horrifying applications on humankind.
“Let’s not worry about those. Relax: the alliance will definitely keep them under strict control. What’s the next step?”
“Student Basais should begin. My only worry is the Zergs’ innate connection. This is the aspect we’re currently wrestling with. The communication between low rank Zergs is easy to explain, but how the mother Zerg executes long range commands is still a mystery.” Beko said.
Basais was already raring to go. His Ability X was not easily explained, involving mental perception that excluded humans. But towards animals, especially plants, he had wonderful communicative abilities.
The Zerg was shut in a special room, encased in strengthened glass as a precaution. Although this Zerg was controlled, but there was still some natural fear when one went in.
Wang Zheng and the rest were less affected, but those who were not battle types were still a little worried. A cage rose from the ground to enclose the Zerg. Clearly the safety precautions were extremely thorough. After they filed in, the abyss Zerg was still very quiet.
Wang Zheng was scrutinizing this abyss Zerg. He was no stranger to the Zergs now. They had exchanged blows many times, even with higher ranked ones.
“Wang Zheng, what do you think?” Butcher asked. He was interested in Wang Zheng’s judgement.
“This Zerg has virtually no wildness or killing intent. I feel that this Zerg will never beat a wild one in a 1v1.” Wang Zheng said.
Beko chuckled. “We judged the same thing. But we will give it man-made equipment. In a battle, it will be equipped with heavy-duty explosives, which are definitely far superior to bomb Zerg.”
They all nodded. This was impressive. Humanity’s intellect was clearly unlimited. Many times, fighting smart meant that they would never have to sustain a full-frontal.
Basais slowly approached the Zerg, which was still very peaceful. Basais’ courage grew, and looked at Beko. Beko nodded. “It’s now in the calm state. As you saw, even if it sustains attacks, it will not retaliate.”
Basais placed a hand on the Zerg. This strange feeling was something he had never experienced before. All he had touched previously were corpses, and this one was alive.
Basais closed his eyes, and waves of Ability X energy pulsed. Every living thing had life pulses. If one could attune these waves, one could learn many things.
This was his specialty and forte. Even a rock had its own pulse. The more complex the life form, the more complex the pulse, and the more difficult it was to feel. Although the life force of this Zerg was considerable, but the pulse was very simple, especially for a low-rank Zerg.
The Zerg’s eyes moved, opening and swiveling towards Basais. Basais smiled in triumph. Got it!
Fine tuning his pulse, he could quickly understand the Zerg’s situation… Pitch black… empty… waiting…
Such a controlled Zerg was not really a living thing, but more like a Zerg-type biological robot. It did not have any complicated feedback.
Basais felt it was rather meaningless as well. He thought he might be able to feel something different this time round, perhaps a stronger pulse from a live abyss Zerg. The strongest life forms, especially, left a deep impression on his mind. But this abyss Zerg was not even as strong as a normal Zerg.
Just as Basais was about to break the connection, a whisper emerged, as though a spark streaking through the darkness, gone in a flash.
But when he searched for it again, it had disappeared. After a long while, nothing new happened.
“Basais, anything unusual?”
Basais shook his head. “I can’t tell. I could have sworn I felt something different for an instant, but it disappeared too quickly. Perhaps I’m tired from the long journey. I need to continue observing.”
Beko smiled. “No rush. You all will be here for some time.”
“Professor Beko, how many of such Zergs are there, and what is the highest rank achieved?” Wang Zheng asked.
Beko smiled. “That’s a secret, my boy. Let’s just focus on our respective tasks.”
Wang Zheng shrugged grudgingly. From one side, Luo Er smiled. “To make a complete social structure, more than 100 Zergs are needed. At the same time, there must be some Zerg-commander level leaders, otherwise these Zergs will have no battle power to speak of.”
Beko and Butcher looked at each other and laughed. These youngsters were not bad at all. But there were some things they could not speak of. Each organization had its own rules.
“Wang Zheng, Lie Xin, Zhang Shan, the three of you follow me. Luo Er, Basais, you two follow Professor Beko. This is a rare opportunity for practice.”
“Yes, sir!”
This was definitely a rare chance to participate in such top-secret research. To Luo Er and Basais, the firsthand information was incomparably important.
Wang Zheng and the other two followed Butcher to the defense department of the research base. This place was in charge of the daily surveillance of the base. Of course, not far from the surface was stationed a squad of Gemini Star motorized unit. The squad was there to guarantee the safety of the experiment, especially since the Zergs belonged to a highly-dangerous classification.
