Shi Weikang was fully aware that even if they managed to cut through every steel barrier, the integrity of the core zone would be utterly compromised. Still, if he could not claim it, he would ensure no one else could either.
Thus, he dispatched a humanoid salamander to deliver the irrevocable order to breach the steel wall to Xiao Meini, while he personally set out to enact Plan B.
When the second steel layer was finally carved into a circular hole twenty centimeters in diameter, a humanoid salamander darted through with the force of the water jet. Before it could even land, CHT9413 seized it with both hands and, with a sharp twist, snapped its cervical spine—then promptly sank her fangs into its throat.
She fed only on blood; flesh held no allure. Though its neck had been broken, the creature's formidable vitality allowed it to writhe and convulse, a futile resistance against death.
The second salamander had barely squeezed halfway through when CHT9413's serpentine tail lashed forward in a violent arc, cleaving its body clean in two.
The creature wore a camera affixed to its headgear, transmitting real-time footage through a tether. The two women watching were immediately confronted with the carnage. Xiao Meini paled and issued a hasty retreat order.
CHT9413 resembled a humanoid serpent, but her origin was far more sophisticated. Unlike the octopoid and salamander hybrids—creatures merely infused with fragments of human DNA—CHT9413 was a human enhanced with a segment of serpent genetics.
Yet that was not all. Upon maturation, she was forcibly fused with a genetically modified python. More precisely, her human skin was stripped away and her body surgically embedded within the muscle structure of a de-boned transgenic snake.The goal of this grotesque experiment was to meld human intelligence with the raw, primal power of the animal kingdom.
The CZR3857 Research Institute had seemingly succeeded—except for one fatal flaw: she was uncontrollably bloodthirsty, savagely violent, and irredeemably rebellious. In short, they had conjured a monster beyond restraint. Ultimately, she had to be forced into cryogenic stasis.
Now awakened, the serpent-demon picked up the slab of steel that had been cut away. She pressed it back into the breach, sealing the hole. The pressure of the surrounding water was immense, forcing her to hold the panel in place with her bare hands.
The octopus monstrosity, witnessing the scene outside, immediately thrust one of its tentacles straight through the opening. The serpent-demon could not withstand the force—she was hurled aside with the steel plate, both sent flying by the impact.
She let out a shriek of fury, braced her powerful tail against the floor, and shoved the steel plate back into the breach once more.
Again, the octopus monster struck with its tentacle, but this time, the makeshift barrier held firm. Realizing it had met a worthy adversary, it thrashed with exhilaration, tentacles writhing in a grotesque dance. Three of its limbs braced against the ground, four clung to the outer steel wall, and the remaining tentacle gathered all its might for one devastating thrust.
This time, the plate and the serpent-demon were sent crashing back, the tentacle plunging over a meter deep into the corridor.
But it was no accident—the serpent-demon had deliberately evaded to the side. She had been waiting for this very moment. With both hands, she swung the iron slab high overhead and brought it down with bone-splitting force, severing the intruding tentacle clean off.
The octopus creature, grievously wounded, spiraled into a frenzy, flailing wildly, entangling its own helmet in a desperate, spasmodic fit.
The helmet was its control hub—capable of transmitting simulated commands and delivering neural shocks. Xiao Meini pressed the shock trigger on her remote.
To her horror, the creature only grew more deranged. Wrapping four tentacles around the helmet, it began wrenching with savage force, heedless of the agony it inflicted upon itself, until at last it tore the device free.
Its bulbous head was stretched grotesquely into an elongated mess, blood streaming from crushed tissue. Juliet screamed in sheer terror; Xiao Meini turned and fled without hesitation.
One of the monster's tentacles ensnared Juliet and shoved her toward its grotesque posterior mouth. With a sickening crunch, her head—along with her breathing mask—was bitten clean off. Then, the beast tore loose the air tank's harness from her back and stuffed the rest of her body inside. Another round of crunching echoed in the corridor.
Through the surveillance feed, Shen Jilan witnessed every second of this massacre. And yet, her emotions were conflicted—a blend of grim satisfaction and deep unease. She was relieved, knowing the serpent-demon stood guard against any further intrusion. But that very guardian might just as easily turn on her.
Now, all her hopes rested upon CHT1024.
CHT1024—her only test subject to undergo rupture and live.
This so-called rupture referred to the violent proliferation of neural cells following injection with the mutant rabies virus. The primary symptom was massive hemorrhaging, even through the skin itself.
If the escalation could be halted just before the human body reached its breaking point, it would unlock the utmost limit of physical potential. Otherwise, the subject would die—ripped apart by the disintegration of their nervous system.
The chaos in the hallway did nothing to disturb Lizhui's blissful slumber. In his dream, he had become a man of wealth and stature.
Within a resplendent golden hall, he lounged upon a genuine leather sofa. A stunning, voluptuous beauty knelt before him with docile elegance, her delicate hands caressing his right palm with teasing strokes.
Suddenly, countless insects seemed to squirm beneath Lizhui's skin, his body writhing as though possessed. The woman abruptly seized his hand and pressed it against the softness of her own flesh.
Like a jolt of lightning, his body convulsed violently—something within him was about to erupt.
He gasped inwardly. No—he couldn't lose control in front of such a woman! He tried to withdraw his hand, but she held it tight—and at that very moment, something burst forth.
But it was not what he feared. From the back of his hand, a slender serpent emerged and sank its fangs deep into the woman's body before he could react.
He awoke drenched in cold sweat. And when he opened his eyes, he was struck speechless—for seated on the edge of the bed was a breathtakingly seductive woman.
Beneath her enchanting visage rose a majestic peak that no masterful brush could adequately capture; and astonishingly, one of her delicate fingers clasped his right palm, pressing gently atop that very summit.
"Don't be afraid," the alluring beauty smiled sweetly. "That was merely a test—I must say, your reaction was quite impressive."
He must be dreaming. Surely dreaming. Li Zhui stared blankly at the seductive woman, his mouth agape wide enough to swallow a duck egg, utterly speechless.
Seeing Li Zhui's dazed expression, Shen Jilan smiled charmingly. "It seems you're truly famished. Let me get you something to eat."
Soon, Shen Jilan brought a cup of warm milk and a bag of bread. "Here, have some milk first."
She helped Li Zhui sit up and took a seat closely beside him on the bed's edge. Then, she lifted the cup to his lips, feeding him gently.
"By the way, I haven't yet asked your honorable name," she whispered almost into his ear.
"I… I… what's my name again?" Li Zhui furrowed his brow, straining to recall.
"Never mind, sir. You just woke up, so it's natural that some memories haven't returned yet. I'm confident that, given time, your recollections will come back."
"Thank you, Doctor Shen. You are truly kind!"
"Hehe, no need to thank me—really, no thanks necessary. Honestly, though we've only just met, it feels as if we were lovers bound through life and death! I believe it must be destiny from a past life!" Shen Jilan declared with heartfelt passion.
Li Zhui was overwhelmed by her affection. "Doctor Shen, you're… you're far too generous to me…"
"Hehe, from now on, don't call me Doctor Shen. Call me Lanlan, and I'll call you A Bebi, understood?" Shen Jilan's eyes fluttered seductively as she pressed her face close to his.
The heady scent of her perfume almost made Li Zhui spit out the milk he had just swallowed.
"Lanlan, you… you are so beautiful…" he murmured to himself.
Unwilling to succumb to complete embarrassment, Shen Jilan, seeing the play had run its course, stood up without wasting another moment.
"All right, A Bebi, try moving around a bit," she said with a smile.
"This iron brace on me feels so heavy. Can you help me take it off?" Li Zhui asked naïvely.
Shen Jilan regarded him with a teasing smile, inwardly wrestling with her own doubts.
After a moment's hesitation, she resolved to remove his restraints. Long ago, after undergoing a volatile experiment, Li Zhui had suffered complete amnesia and had become remarkably docile. She felt confident enough to take the risk.
She detached the prison-guard-like exoskeleton. "There, A Bebi, you can get out of bed now."
At her words, Li Zhui attempted to move instinctively, twisting his upper body sharply while his lower half remained rooted as if molded from clay, allowing any part to turn independently.
He was aghast, but Shen Jilan chuckled softly. "A Bebi, don't rush. Here, let me help you turn over first. Then, follow my instructions and try again."
She assisted him in realigning his body and guided him through the motion. The technique was simple: isolate each involved body part and move it independently at first.
Following her lead, Li Zhui moved his thighs and calves, then his waist and back, followed by his shoulders and arms—essentially warming up the muscles to exert force together. After several repetitions, he finally succeeded in turning his body over.
The next challenge was to learn to support his upper body with one hand. Yet, just as Li Zhui managed to lift himself, his elbow unexpectedly buckled backward, causing him to tumble off the bed.