101: Chapter 101 News of the Primarch

The projection on the right began playing dynamic footage:

First was a rapid evolution simulation of Zerg units—the genetic iteration process from basic Drones to the leviathan mothership.

Next was a human laboratory scene where scientists extracted genetic fragments from Zerg samples and conducted cross-comparison, editing, and recombination with the genes of various animals, plants, bacteria, viruses, and even star beasts.

Finally, a series of "biological prototypes" with various forms appeared on the screen: some combined the strength of star beasts with human intelligence, some fused plant photosynthesis with animal mobility, and some could even survive in a vacuum and feed on radiation...

"Our philosophy is: widespread, low-cost, and easy to cultivate." The Guide's voice became impassioned.

"We do not seek to create a few 'heroes', but rather, through gene editing and bioengineering, mass-produce 'Gene Warriors' capable of adapting to various battlefield environments and possessing specific expertise. They may not be as powerful individually as Super Warriors, but they can be rapidly mass-produced and deployed, using targeted biological characteristics to counter the Zerg's numerical advantage."

Chen Jingyi suddenly raised her hand: "May I ask, is there actual comparative data for these two philosophies?"

The Guide glanced at her and smiled: "A very good question. In fact, over the past two hundred years, the two paths have conducted seventeen simulated confrontations on the 'Trial Battlefield'. The results are—"

He brought up a data table:

[Super Warrior Path] Wins: 11

[Primarch Path] Wins: 6

"Looks like the Super Warrior path has the advantage?" Sai Wei raised an eyebrow.

"But please note the cost." The Guide pointed to another set of data, "The individual cultivation cost of a Super Warrior is, on average, three hundred and seventy thousand times that of a Primarch. And in a medium-scale galactic defense war, the number of combat units required is in the 'billions'."

On the table, the cost curve showed a terrifying disparity.

Chu Xinghe whistled: "Good grief, this cost-effectiveness difference is a bit ridiculous."

"Therefore," the Guide summarized, "there is no absolute superiority or inferiority between the two paths; it is simply a choice based on the resource endowment and strategic needs of different civilizations. The Blazing Dragon Federation has vast lands and abundant resources, with a huge population base, and primarily focuses on the development of energy weapons; gene weapons are just an optional extra."

"And for many civilizations that have not yet entered the Confrontation Era, the Primarch path may be their only choice."

He turned off the holographic projection.

"Next, we will visit several open laboratories of the 'Primarch' project. Please note that all laboratories are under the highest level of biosafety control, so please strictly follow the visiting rules—especially, do not touch anything you do not recognize."

He paused and added:

"Last time, a visitor from the Ultraman race curiously touched the 'fluorescent slime mold' in a petri dish, and as a result, their entire arm glowed for three days. Although harmless, it was... quite embarrassing."

"Then if they coated their whole bodies in this mold, wouldn't they always have light, be able to unplug their timers, and fire infinite Spacium beams!" Li Yuan suddenly interjected.

Several Giants of Lights heard this and their eyes instantly lit up.

...

The group followed the Guide, took the internal high-speed elevator, and descended deep underground.

The moment the elevator door opened, everyone was stunned.

What was before them was not the "laboratory" they had imagined—at least not the traditional kind filled with test tubes and microscopes.

This was an... ecological park.

A huge spherical space, over five kilometers in diameter, simulated various ecological environments inside: on the left was a scorching desert zone, where scorpion-like creatures with carapaces shimmering with metallic luster crawled on the hot sand; on the right was a dense tropical rainforest, where swift ape-like figures were faintly visible among the vines; in the middle, there was even a small artificial ocean area, inside which streamlined aquatic creatures were swimming.

"This is the 'Adaptability Testing Ground'." The Guide introduced, "All newly cultivated Gene Primordial Bodies will undergo basic environmental adaptability and combat instinct tests here."

He pointed to the desert area: "For example, those 'Sandstorm Scorpions' fuse the heat-resistant genes of desert star beasts with part of the carapace structure of Zerg Ultralisks. They can operate normally at high temperatures of 800 degrees Celsius, and the penetration power of their tail stingers is enough to pierce light armor."

He then pointed to the rainforest: "And those 'Shadow Blade Apes' fuse the agility of primates with the neural reflex speed of a certain assassin bug. Their claw blades are almost invisible in the moonlight, and they are adept at night raids."

Finally, he pointed to the ocean area: "As for the 'Deep Divers'... sorry, they are resting today and cannot be seen. In short, it is an amphibious combat unit capable of diving to a depth of 10,000 meters and withstanding immense water pressure."

Li Yuan looked at the creatures moving in their respective environments, feeling a bit complicated.

From a military perspective, these Gene Primordial Bodies were indeed very practical—targeting the Zerg specifically, and the cost was low.

But from the perspective of bioethics...

"Do they have self-awareness?" Laya suddenly asked.

The Guide was silent for a second.

"These are first and second-generation Gene Primordial Bodies; they are just biological weapons cultivated from cells and have no self-awareness." He answered cautiously, "Their nervous systems have been specially designed to only retain combat instincts and basic learning abilities, without high-level emotions or complex thinking. But they can be connected to the fleet's central superbrain."

He did not continue.

But everyone understood the subtext.

Next was a visit to the "Gene Editing Laboratory".

This was more like a traditional laboratory—rows of transparent sterile operating chambers, with holographic projections of various biological tissues floating inside. Researchers wearing sealed protective suits were performing precise gene cutting, splicing, and editing work through robotic arms.

"This side is the third and fourth-generation Primarch laboratory, mainly for 'fine-tuning' existing organisms at the genetic level." The Guide pointed to an operating chamber, which was displaying a 3D model of the gene chain of a certain reptile, "For example, enhancing the expression of certain traits or suppressing unnecessary mutation tendencies."

Chen Jingyi watched very carefully, even taking out her personal terminal to record some data.

Sai Wei was more interested in the "finished samples" on display on the other side.

Those samples were sealed in transparent energy cubes and had various forms: there were small creatures with insect compound eyes and bird wings, fish combined with plant photosynthetic organs, and even a mass of silver liquid that constantly changed shape, seemingly alive.

"This thing..." Sai Wei pointed to the silver liquid, "what is it?"

"Memory metal slime mold." The Guide explained, "It fuses the characteristics of special metal bacteria and a certain star region fungus. It can freely transform between solid and liquid states, and 'remember' the shape it was previously molded into. Theoretically, it can be used to manufacture self-repairing armor, or... uh, shapeshifting weapons."

Sai Wei's eyes lit up: "Can it be mass-produced?"

"It's still in the experimental stage." The Guide smiled, "And even if mass-produced, the first batch of orders will definitely be for the Holy Alliance military. If Student Sai Wei is interested, you can consider coming to work at Holy Brilliance Purity after graduation—we welcome researchers with lightning talent."

Sai Wei: "...I was just asking."

Ansevier laughed softly beside him: "Sai Wei loved playing with transformable toys when he was a kid."

Sai Wei: "If you mention childhood stuff again, I'll—"

"You'll what?" Ansevier blinked.

Sai Wei opened his mouth, and finally choked out: "...I'll tell Auntie you stole her cosmetics!"

Ansevier's smile froze: "You!"

"Alright, alright," Chu Xinghe quickly mediated, "Next stop, next stop, I see something even more explosive over there."

He was pointing to an independent area deep in the laboratory.

The samples displayed there were clearly more... "advanced".

Or rather, closer to "humanoid".

There were humanoid creatures with incomplete wings of light growing on their backs, but with insect abdominal segments for the lower body;

There were humanoid individuals with skin covered in fine scales and the faint outline of demon horns on their heads;

There was even a "sculpture" made entirely of crystals with energy veins flowing inside—if not for its chest slightly heaving, everyone would have thought it was an artwork.

"These are..." Li Yuan frowned.

"Fifth and sixth-generation Gene Primordial Bodies."

...

At this time, in the secret base on the trial planet. A group of people was rapidly unloading something from a Sky Feather-class spaceship at the entrance.

"Quick, quick, put this batch of seventh-generation Gene Primordial Bodies away, set the activation date for 8 days later, target: Zerg." The person who looked like a commander shouted.

No one noticed that when the operator turned around, they bumped the down arrow key, and the attack target was switched to "All"!

...

In the further space, the Leviathan cluster of the Fourth Mother Nest was turning, this time their troops were even more massive, and there were more new units mixed in the ranks!