The system is four years ahead of schedule, but Weird is still a cub.

"Cough...cough..."

Yu Tiexiong rolled over and lay face down in the mud, coughing violently. The alarm from his power armor kept ringing in his ears, and his whole body felt like it was falling apart.

Yoona, standing to the side, wasn't in much better shape. Her face was as pale as paper, and the wrist-mounted terminal in her hand was emitting black smoke, clearly indicating that it had overloaded and become unusable during the space travel just now.

Not far in front of the two.

Shen Ge sat on a relatively dry rock. His condition had not improved; on the contrary, it had become even more unsettling.

Several wisps of dense, eerie energy swirled around him, making him seem less human and more like a monster severely corrupted by this energy.

This is the lingering effect of the [Immortal] trait, and also the repulsion of the strange energy that has not yet been fully digested.

Shen Ge closed his eyes tightly, and fine beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

[Warning: Body rejection reaction intensifies... Invoking "Immortality" trait to lock state... Lock successful. Physical decay process has been paused.]

The system's cold notification tone sounded like heavenly music to Shen Ge at that moment.

Only after the excruciating pain of being devoured by a thousand ants in his body subsided slightly did the dangerous wisps of eerie black mist slowly dissipate, allowing Shen Ge to exhale a long breath and slowly open his eyes.

A deep gray glint flashed and disappeared in the depths of his pupils.

"Captain Shen, how are you?" Yoona struggled to get up and asked with concern.

"He won't die." Shen Ge shook his head, his gaze falling on the physical hard drives that Yoona had been tightly protecting in her arms.

That was the only "trophy" they brought out of the underground ruins. Although it had been damaged during their escape, the core chip should still be intact.

“The environment is safe for now. Let’s pull up the data we half-deciphered in the ruins, as well as the information about the skeletons,” Shen Ge said in a deep voice. “I have a feeling that we’ve made a mistake about something.”

Yoona nodded, took out a spare portable analyzer, and connected the hard drive.

Soon, although most of the files were corrupted, several core data models were restored and projected into the air.

It was a bizarre structural diagram.

However, this structural diagram was split into three parts.

The first part is a skeleton labeled as [Container/Torso], whose characteristics are exactly the same as the one Shen Ge just devoured.

The second part is a black sphere labeled "Energy/Heart," which is the monstrous heart that just escaped by drilling into the crack.

And the third part...

Shen Ge's gaze was fixed on the red question mark.

That is the [central nervous system/brain].

“This is…” Yu Tiexiong’s eyes widened.

“This is the true blueprint of the New God Cult and the Heavenly Stems.” Shen Ge pointed to the projection in the air, his tone icy. “We always thought they were creating something super bizarre, or trying to use these body parts to create a so-called ‘new god’.”

"But we were wrong."

Shen Ge's fingers traced the three parts, slowly piecing them together.

"The 'tonic body' possesses the property of 'immortality' and is responsible for bearing the rules; the 'heart' possesses the properties of 'pollution' and 'assimilation' and is responsible for providing infinite energy; and if we add the 'brain' that has yet to appear..."

"Resurrection." Shen Ge slowly uttered the two words.

"They are not creating gods; they want to resurrect the progenitor monster."

"Their original plan was to use this opportunity to fuse the 'heart' and 'torso' underground, and revive half of the body first."

This truth is chilling.

If this process is not interrupted, and they manage to gather the torso, heart, and brain, and resurrect a complete Progenitor Monster in the real world, then the outcome... would probably truly be the end of all humanity.

Just as the three fell into a brief silence because of this amazing discovery, the familiar roar of propellers came from the sky.

Several heavy attack helicopters painted in camouflage colors pierced the clouds and hovered above the open space.

That's the reinforcements arriving.

"Captain Shen! We've finally found you!"

Tu Doupi's anxious voice came through the communication channel, "A 7.2 magnitude supernatural earthquake just occurred in this area. We thought..."

"We're fine, we're preparing to evacuate." Shen Ge interrupted him, her voice sounding slightly tired.

Immediately, the rope ladder was thrown down.

Shen Ge took one last look at the deep jungle, then turned and grabbed the rope ladder.

The strange space collapsed, revealing the lower level of the "nest," but whether the "strange tumor heart" ultimately escaped to other fragmented worlds or was buried deep underground remains unknown.

Shen Ge's physical condition is still unstable due to absorbing the "Immortal" trait. For safety's sake, he should return to the Special Strategy Department to recuperate for a while before discussing other matters.

As the helicopter slowly ascended, the rainforest gradually shrank beneath his feet, eventually being swallowed up by the vast green sea.

As the heavy armed helicopters painted in dark gray by the Special Operations Department slowly landed at the Quanlongshan base on the outskirts of Fuzhou, a fully armed special medical team was already on standby.

Unlike the usual stretchers and first aid kits, this time, the medical staff were dressed as if they were going to dismantle a nuclear warhead.

The heavy lead suit protecting against paranormal energy corrosion, the fully enclosed independent oxygen supply system, and the item he was carrying in his hand was not even a medicine box, but a "paranormal force field generator" used to contain high-risk and abnormal items.

The wind whipped up by the propeller had not yet subsided when the hatch opened.

Yu Tiexiong and Yun'er helped each other down the stairs. Both were pale and covered in injuries. In particular, the terminal on Yun'er's wrist had been charred. The medical staff who greeted them quickly stepped forward to conduct a routine check-up.

The important part is coming up later.

When Shen Ge appeared at the cabin door, the alarm lights on the entire base's helipad instantly went up to the highest level.

"Zizzi-"

There wasn't even any physical contact; just the instant his feet touched the ground, all the electronic device screens within a 50-meter radius flickered wildly, and countless static exploded.

The instrument responsible for monitoring the levels of the strange energy was off the charts!

At this moment, Shen Ge's state was so bizarre that it was terrifying.

Although he was wearing a spare training uniform, his exposed skin still appeared sickly pale, as if he had lost too much blood, and faint golden veins could even be seen pulsating beneath his skin. Most terrifyingly, several wisps of visible, eerie black mist constantly swirled around his body.

Whenever these eerie black mists dissipated, the space around him would momentarily blur and become disoriented, like the screen of a broken old television. It was as if he didn't belong to this world for that instant.

"Everyone, step back! Activate the Level 4 Containment Field!"

The on-site commander shouted through a megaphone until his voice became hoarse.

Shen Ge waved his hand, signaling to those around him who were on high alert not to be too nervous, as he could still control himself.

ten minutes later.

Underground research institute, S-class paranormal energy isolation observation room.

This special cell, originally designed to imprison those fifth-order or higher-level monsters who were not quite dead yet, has now become Shen Ge's temporary residence.

After passing through three layers of specially made bulletproof glass infused with a large amount of "psychic energy suppressor," Shen Ge sat in a room containing only a metal bed.

The eerie black mist emanating from his body had stabilized somewhat, no longer tearing through the surrounding air as recklessly as before, but he still exuded a sense of oppression that made people afraid to look directly at him.

On this side of the glass wall.

Li Xiang, the chief research fanatic of the Special Affairs Department, had his entire face almost pressed against the glass that was strong enough to withstand tank bombardment.

Where was there even a trace of fear in those bloodshot eyes?

It was overflowing with the fervor of seeing an unparalleled treasure!

"It's...it's so beautiful..."

Li Xiang muttered to himself, his stylus tapping loudly on the data panel. "Junior sister, quick! Write down the readings! Look at this waveform! This is the rule! This is the rule of life!"

"His cell division rate and death rate are in a perfect dynamic balance... No, that's not right, it's 'state lock'!"

"He is reversing his own entropy increase!"

Although Jiang Peiwen, who was standing to the side, was also shocked by the data, she still had to play the role of the calm one. She pulled Li Xiang back from opening the isolation door.

"Senior brother, calm down! The level of supernatural energy corruption inside hasn't dropped below the safety threshold yet! If you go in now, you'll be torn apart by that out-of-control supernatural energy field in less than three seconds!"

Li Xiang, however, didn't care at all. He pointed at Shen Ge inside like a madman: "Tear him apart? To be disintegrated by this level of supernatural power is to sacrifice oneself for science! What do you know! This is the 'complete' evolutionary prototype that we've never seen before! If we could get a slice... even just a drop of blood..."

Inside the glass wall, Shen Ge slowly opened her eyes.

Those jet-black pupils glanced at Li Xiang through the thick glass: "Trying to slice me up again? Old Li, can't you wish me well for once?"

Seeing that Shen Ge was still in a good mood and joking around, Li Xiang outside breathed a sigh of relief.

Li Xiang pushed up his glasses: "Ahem... Lao Shen, scientific research, rigorous scientific research. It's just collecting samples, how can you call it a slide?"

“But then again,” Li Xiang quickly changed the subject, pointing to the fluctuating curve on the screen, “your current physical condition is very… delicate.”

"Speak plainly." Shen Ge felt that tearing, repulsive feeling rising within her again, and her brows furrowed slightly.

Simply put, it's like 'a small horse pulling a big cart'.

Li Xiang pressed a few buttons on the control panel and brought up a 3D human body model. Shen Ge's torso was illuminated by a blinding bright red light.

"According to our scans, you seem to have gained a kind of... power of rules, which is of extremely high rank and may even exceed our current rating system. What do you call that? 'Immortality'?"

“Yes,” Shen Ge replied briefly.

“This power is too domineering.” Li Xiang clicked his tongue in amazement. “It’s forcibly ‘locking’ your physical condition, protecting you from harm and aging. However, your physical foundation, that is… uh, ‘vessel’, is not strong enough yet.”

Although Li Xiang knew that Shen Ge's real trump card was the "Progenitor Strange Cell" system, he guessed it with great accuracy thanks to his top-notch scientific intuition.

"Your system completeness is around 80, right? To perfectly carry the characteristics of such a high sequence, even an incomplete version, theoretically, a higher physical strength is required."

"Right now, you're like a reactor that has to operate at full capacity 24/7. It hasn't exploded, but it's a serious case of 'rule rejection'."

At this point, Li Xiang's expression turned serious.

"Maintaining this state of 'forced immortality' requires an unimaginable amount of strange energy."

“Strange power…” Shen Ge repeated softly.

next second.

"Gululu——"

A deep, thunderous roar suddenly erupted from Shen Ge's stomach, even causing the glass of the isolation room to tremble slightly.

A hunger that almost devoured all reason instantly swept over Shen Ge's entire body!

This feeling inevitably reminded him of the negative effects of the previous system "upgrades".

"I'm hungry," Shen Ge said.

"Quick! Open the warehouse!" Li Xiang reacted immediately and shouted into the walkie-talkie, "Bring in the weird energy nutrient solution he wants! First, bring in ten servings! No, twenty servings of the super-concentrated kind! And whatever else the canteen has to offer, bring it all over."

A few minutes later.

A specially designed teleportation channel opened, and several boxes of top-grade nutrient solution, deep purple in color and exuding a strong aura of eerie energy, were sent inside.

Shen Ge didn't even look at it, grabbed a metal test tube, crushed it along with the sealing cap with a "crack", and poured it down his throat.

The strange energy that was enough to burst an ordinary person was like a drop of water falling into the desert after entering the stomach, without even making a splash.

"not enough……"

Shen Ge threw away the empty tube, and the black mist of strange energy within his body began to stir again, seemingly because the supply of strange energy was insufficient and it was starting to devour his flesh and blood.

"Not enough! Bring out the 'stock' now!"

In half an hour, Shen Ge had consumed almost all the ghost energy survival resources at the Quanlong Mountain base, even absorbing the most basic ghost energy containers completely.

After absorbing the strange energy, he then began to "eat" ordinary food. He ate a week's worth of food for a hundred soldiers by himself, and finished off the canteen's entire stock for the day.

Since only Li Xiang and his group knew that the person in the isolation room was Shen Ge, the other ordinary anti-monster warriors did not know. Therefore, for the past two days, everyone has been talking about the same topic in fear—just how big is the appetite of the "humanoid monster" locked in the S-level isolation room?

This situation lasted for a week. On this day, Li Xiang, standing outside the glass wall, frantically recorded the recovery curves of Shen Ge's various physical values ​​while he was eating, and couldn't help but mutter to himself: "Is this the price of absorbing high-sequence characteristics... maintaining 'immortality' through 'gluttony'?"

"What you've absorbed isn't 'immortality,' it's more like you've eaten a gluttonous beast!"

Although Shen Ge ate a lot during this period, the good news is that his body is gradually stabilizing, and he is able to basically control the power of his "immortal" trait. (End of Chapter)