25: Gene serum, everyone ascends to immortality

"Zzz—" The electronic lock's indicator light flickered a few times, changing from a harsh red to a soft green.

The heavy metal door let out a dull sigh and slowly slid open to both sides.

A wave of cold air rushed toward them.

It was the chilled air unique to the climate control system, carrying a faint scent of ozone.

"Done."

Gu Nian's calm voice came through the communicator.

"Although this encryption algorithm is complex, in the face of my 【Queen of Finance】 talent, the flow of data is traceable."

"As long as I find that overflowing data node, I can reverse-crack it."

Gu Pingsheng pressed his earpiece.

"Good job."

"I'll add a chicken leg to your meal when we get back."

"I want steak, medium-rare." Gu Nian made her demand without hesitation.

"Deal."

Gu Pingsheng cut the connection and strode into the core database.

It was much cleaner here than the laboratory outside.

There were no disgusting lumps of flesh, nor were there shards of broken glass.

There were only rows of neat silver metal cabinets, upon which eerie blue streams of data flickered.

In the very center stood an independent cylindrical display stand.

Beneath a bulletproof glass cover, a row of test tubes lay quietly.

There were ten in total.

The liquid inside exhibited an eerie deep blue color, like concentrated deep sea water; occasionally, a bubble or two would slowly rise and burst at the surface.

【Unfinished Gene Serum (Blue · Rare)】

【Description: A high-level experimental product of the Umbrella Corporation. It can significantly enhance human physical functions and has a certain chance to awaken supernatural abilities. However, the side effects are extreme, with a 30% mortality rate.】

"Is this... what we were looking for?"

Tang Xiaoxiao leaned in, looking at the test tubes, and swallowed hard.

"It looks a bit creepy..."

"Wealth is sought in danger," Gu Pingsheng said indifferently.

He reached out and pressed his hand against the glass cover.

No password.

Brutal cracking.

"Crack!" The glass cover shattered in response.

Gu Pingsheng picked up a test tube.

A cold sensation traveled along his fingertips.

This was the seed of power.

Although it was an unfinished product, and although it had side effects.

In this apocalypse, this was already a miracle drug that countless people dreamed of.

However...

For him, it was not enough.

"System."

Gu Pingsheng thought silently to himself.

"Hand of God, activate."

"Hum—" An invisible ripple spread from his palm, instantly enveloping all the test tubes.

The originally deep blue liquid suddenly began to boil.

The color rapidly faded, becoming clear, becoming transparent.

Finally, it actually shimmered with a faint silver light.

It was like liquid mercury, slowly flowing inside the test tube, emitting a sacred and mysterious aura.

【Ding! Hand of God activated! Blue -> Silver!】

【Obtained: Perfect Gene Strengthening Serum (Silver · Legendary) x10】

【Description: A perfect serum purified and sublimated by the Hand of God. All side effects have been removed, and the genetic modification effects have been retained and enhanced.】

【Effect: All attributes +20. Significantly improves physical strength and neural reaction speed. 100% chance to awaken or strengthen supernatural abilities.】

Gu Pingsheng looked at the silver test tube in his hand, a satisfied arc curling at the corners of his mouth.

This was right.

This was the thing he wanted.

"Take these."

He casually tossed four test tubes to the four people behind him.

Lin Qinghan, Su Ruan, Ye Hongyu, and Tang Xiaoxiao, one for each.

"What is this?"

Ye Hongyu caught the test tube, looking at the mesmerizing silver liquid inside, her eyes somewhat dazed.

The previous blue serum had looked creepy, but this silver one... it was practically a work of art.

"Something that can make you stronger." Gu Pingsheng did not explain further.

He uncorked his own test tube and drank it down in one gulp.

There was no taste.

It was like drinking a mouthful of cold boiled water.

But the next second.

"Boom!"

A heat flow exploded in his stomach.

No, that wasn't a heat flow.

That was lava!

The scalding energy instantly flowed through his blood vessels across his entire body, scouring every cell and every nerve.

Pain!

Intense pain!

It felt as if all the bones in his body had been shattered and reorganized, and his muscles torn and regenerated.

Gu Pingsheng let out a muffled groan, cold sweat instantly beading on his forehead.

But he did not cry out.

He gritted his teeth tightly, feeling the violent power within his body.

This was reorganization at the genetic level.

This was a leap in the level of life.

This kind of pain was the price of becoming a god.

About five minutes passed.

That tearing, intense pain finally began to recede.

In its place was an unprecedented feeling of comfort.

It was like shedding a thousand-pound burden, his whole body feeling light and airy.

Gu Pingsheng clenched his fist.

"Crack."

His knuckles made a crisp popping sound.

The air in his palm was crushed, emitting a dull thud.

Power.

Explosive power.

He felt that he could punch through a steel plate right now.

Vision, hearing, smell... all his senses had been amplified to the extreme.

He could even hear the sound of a fly flapping its wings dozens of meters away.

【All attributes +20.】

This was not just an increase in data, but an evolution in the essence of life.

"Hoo..."

Gu Pingsheng exhaled a breath of stale air.

He turned around and looked at the four women behind him.

"Drink it."

"If you don't want to die, then endure it."

The four women exchanged glances.

Lin Qinghan was the first to uncork the stopper and drink it down.

Next was Su Ruan, then Ye Hongyu.

Tang Xiaoxiao hesitated for a moment, but seeing that everyone else had drunk it, she gritted her teeth and downed it as well.

"Ah—!"

A few seconds later.

Screams rose one after another.

Tang Xiaoxiao was in so much pain that she rolled on the ground, twitching all over like a boiled shrimp.

Ye Hongyu gripped the ground tightly, her nails digging into the alloy floor, making a teeth-grinding friction sound.

Su Ruan hugged her rabbit, her little face pale, looking at Gu Pingsheng with teary eyes, yet stubbornly not crying out.

Only Lin Qinghan.

She remained standing.

Although her body was trembling violently, and although her lips had been bitten until they bled.

But she never fell.

In those eyes, a flame called "perseverance" burned.

Gu Pingsheng watched her, a flash of admiration appearing in his eyes.

She was a ruthless one.

Time passed minute by minute.

Finally.

The screams gradually subsided.

In their place, powerful auras rose up in the core database.

The first to change was Lin Qinghan.

"Crack—"

With her as the center, the surrounding air suddenly solidified.

On the ground and on the walls, a thick layer of frost instantly formed.

That was not ordinary ice.

That was mysterious ice, carrying a faint blue light, as if it could freeze the soul.

【S-Rank Talent · Ice Age -> Strengthened】

【Unlock new ability: Absolute Zero Domain.】

Lin Qinghan opened her eyes.

Her pupils had turned into an eerie ice blue, devoid of any emotion, containing only endless coldness.

She raised her hand and waved it gently.

"Whoosh—"

A cold blast swept across a row of metal cabinets nearby.

Those hard alloy cabinets instantly turned into ice sculptures.

Then.

"Clatter."

They shattered into a pile of ice shards.

Even the metal had been frozen brittle!

"So strong..."

Lin Qinghan looked at her own hands, a flicker of shock in her eyes.

This power was more than twice as strong as before!

Next was Tang Xiaoxiao.

She climbed up from the ground and brushed the dust off her body.

Her previously somewhat frail body was now full of definition.

Although she hadn't turned into an exaggerated muscle woman, every muscle contained explosive power.

She tried throwing a punch.

"Bang!"

The force of the punch actually created a sonic boom!

【A-Rank Talent · Flesh Overclocking -> Strengthened】

【Unlock new ability: Iron Body. When Overclocking state is activated, defense is increased by 300%, capable of withstanding small-caliber bullets.】

"Holy crap! Did I become Superman?!"

Tang Xiaoxiao jumped up excitedly and slammed her head into the ceiling.

"Thud!"

She dented the alloy ceiling, but she was completely fine, just rubbing her head.

"Hehe, doesn't hurt!"

Ye Hongyu also stood up.

The injuries on her body had completely healed, not even leaving a scar.

Her skin had become more delicate, yet it possessed a tough, resilient texture.

She flicked the long whip in her hand.

"Snap!"

The whip traced a red afterimage through the air, actually sparking a trail of sparks.

【A-Rank Talent · Pain Domination -> Strengthened】

【Unlock new ability: Pain Conduction. Attacks can ignore a portion of defense and act directly on the nervous system.】

"This feeling..."

Ye Hongyu licked her lips, her eyes flashing with dangerous light.

"It's amazing."

As for Su Ruan.

The rabbit doll in her arms seemed to have grown a size larger.

The originally tattered fabric now shimmered with a metallic luster.

In those ruby-like eyes, a heart-palpitating evil aura radiated.

Everyone strengthened.

Everyone ascended.

This team, as it was now, if they were to encounter those three Lickers again.

They wouldn't even need Gu Pingsheng to take action.

Lin Qinghan could freeze them into ice pops all by herself.

Tang Xiaoxiao could blow their heads off with a single punch.

"Very good."

Gu Pingsheng nodded with satisfaction.

This was the team he wanted.

Not a bunch of liabilities who only knew how to scream, but sharp knives.

"Don't just stand there."

"Get to work."

Gu Pingsheng pointed to the precision instruments and data cabinets around them.

"Take everything that can be moved."

"If you can't move it, take the parts apart and take them with you."

"Don't leave even a single screw for me."

Since they were here, they had to implement the "Three Alls Policy."

These instruments would be invaluable for Gu Nian or that Wen Wan to use in the future.

"Yes! Captain!"

The women replied in unison.

Their voices were loud and full of confidence.

With power, they worked with much more energy.

Tang Xiaoxiao hoisted a centrifuge weighing hundreds of pounds and walked as if flying.

Lin Qinghan used frost to make a skateboard, pushing a pile of data boxes while gliding.

Su Ruan commanded the rabbit, swallowing the dismantled parts into its belly (the rabbit's interdimensional stomach function).

In less than ten minutes.

The originally packed core database had been emptied cleaner than a face.

Even the cables on the ground had been pulled out.

"Retreat."

Gu Pingsheng waved his hand.

The group returned fully loaded and walked toward the exit.

However.

Just as they had walked out of the core database and arrived at the large laboratory outside.

"Boom—!"

A loud bang.

The entire laboratory vibrated violently.

It was as if an earthquake had occurred.

The overhead lights flickered frantically, dimming and brightening.

"What's going on?!"

Tang Xiaoxiao was startled, almost throwing away the centrifuge on her shoulder.

"Alarm! Alarm!"

A harsh, synthesized electronic voice echoed throughout the empty laboratory.

The red alarm lights spun frantically, dyeing the entire space a blood red.

"Warning! Biological containment measures failed!"

"Warning! Tyrant T-001 has awakened!"

"Warning! Extremely dangerous! Please evacuate immediately!"

Gu Pingsheng stopped abruptly.

His gaze pierced through the layers of mist and looked toward the deepest part of the laboratory.

There.

There was a huge, cylindrical cultivation tank.

At this moment.

The glass wall of that cultivation tank was covered with spiderweb-like cracks.

The green nutrient solution inside was gushing out frantically.

"Crack—"

A crisp sound.

The glass shattered completely.

The green liquid poured down like a flood, instantly submerging the ground.

And in that green torrent.

A huge figure slowly stood up.

It was over three meters tall.

Its entire body was knotted with muscles, as if built from blocks of granite.

Its skin presented a deathly gray-purple.

One of its hands was a huge, deformed claw, with nails half a meter long, flashing with cold light.

The right hand was a thick, heavy fist.

It wore a tattered black trench coat, covered in broken chains.

It had no hair.

On that face, there was no expression, only a pair of grayish-white, death-filled eyes.

【Tyrant T-001 (Tier 4 Lord · Prototype)】

"Thud."

It took a step.

The ground shook.

"Thud."

Another step.

That heavy sense of oppression was like a great mountain moving toward them.

"Roar—!!!"

It roared at the sky.

The sound wave spread like a tangible force, shattering all the surrounding glassware.

Terror.

Suffocation.

This was the pinnacle of biochemical weapons.

This was... the Tyrant.