217: Chapter 217 Absorbing Fear

Lin Fang looked at the photograph of the completely petrified test subject on the second page. The stone statue maintained its final posture, its expression pained, reaching out as if trying to grasp something in the air.

Petrification doesn't mean they are truly dead...

But can they still be considered human?

Faced with this question, Yodelion also looked troubled. "From a biological perspective, they no longer are. They're another form of life."

Temporarily setting this question aside, Yodelion continued to explain to Lin Fang.

"Currently, we've discovered two transmission methods for the Medusa Virus: contact and airborne. However, in both cases, it enters through the infected person's eyes, nose, wounds, or bodily fluids."

"After it enters the human body, we've observed a two-step transformation."

Yodelion gestured with one finger:

"The virus immediately spreads through the circulatory system. It has a particular affinity for nerve tissue and epithelial cells, first attacking the mucous membranes and skin to form the initial silicified lesions. At that stage, the human body experiences intense nausea and will vomit all ingested food."

"The reason for the severe vomiting," Yodelion continued to explain, "is that the virus needs to drastically lower the energy metabolism level of the host cells. The digestive process after eating significantly increases cellular activity, which conflicts with the environment it desires. It's like clearing the site before construction begins."

Lin Fang nodded, signaling for him to continue.

"Next is the second step," Yodelion held up a second finger. "The human immune cells offer no resistance to this silicon-based virus. It easily breaches all immune defenses. The virus directly invades the cell nucleus, recombining human DNA with silicon-oxygen polymers."

"This process is akin to gene editing, but more thorough. The virus not only alters the genetic code but also restructures the entire cellular foundation. Once the transformation is complete, the cell is no longer carbon-based life. It becomes a kind of living silicon crystal."

Lin Fang flipped further through the report. In the images, the double-helix structure of DNA was being replaced by some substance.

After listening to Yodelion, Lin Fang asked, "Then why aren't the Clones infected?"

"Boss, that's another one of this virus's peculiarities. We've found that this virus seems to have some unknown connection to the host's emotional state, particularly intense negative emotions like fear,"

Yodelion's expression turned subtle. "When the amygdala region of the human brain erupts with intense fear signals, the replication rate of the Medusa Virus increases exponentially."

"The fact that Clones' brains lack an emotional center is only part of the reason they aren't infected. More importantly, this virus seems capable of distinguishing intelligent beings. I had test subjects and Clones enter Andi Star simultaneously. Only the test subjects were infected; the Clones were not. The virus showed no interest in the latter whatsoever."

Yodelion's words roughly explained why Clones weren't infected, contrary to what Lin Fang had initially thought—that the infection targeted something intangible like human consciousness.

"What about the origin of the virus?" Lin Fang continued to ask.

Yodelion: "We collected samples and found this virus originates from the blue fungus ubiquitous on Andi Star. We've tentatively named this fungus 'Blue Corrosive Fungus.' The spores produced by the Blue Corrosive Fungus are the culprits. As for what you mentioned, Boss, about them once being harmless... I haven't yet discovered what changed..."

"Understood," Lin Fang sighed.

"Professor Leon, this virus is already spreading out there. We must find a way to counter it. Any leads on the virus's incubation period or treatment methods?"

"That's truly bad news. I didn't realize the situation was already so severe."

Hearing this, Yodelion frowned and said, "Boss, based on estimates, without interference, the incubation period for the Medusa Virus is five days. After five days, the infected will begin to feel stiffness in their joints and notice grayish-white spots appearing on their skin. Petrification symptoms start to manifest after one week."

"However, if the infected person experiences extreme fear, the Medusa Virus can cause localized petrification in as little as two hours. Fear acts like a catalyst, dramatically accelerating the virus's progression."

Hiss—

Did I overplay my hand? Lin Fang's expression grew increasingly grave. Faced with this bizarre, virulent virus, human civilization could easily face collapse.

"As for treatment methods, currently, there's only one most effective approach, and we owe that to the company's database..." Yodelion continued. "Based on the pathology of the Medusa Virus eroding cells, we developed an inhibitor that can block the binding of silicon-oxygen polymers to DNA. When the virus entered one group of test subjects, we injected them with the inhibitor, blocking the binding. The infection was temporarily suppressed."

"That group of test subjects are also the only two who haven't completely turned into stone statues."

"Where are they? Take me to see them."

Soon, Yodelion led Lin Fang to another isolation room. Through the observation window, they could see two test subjects restlessly sitting on hospital beds. Lin Fang noted that while the two hadn't fully transformed into stone statues, their exposed skin was covered in grayish-white patches, resembling marble, yet they still retained the texture of flesh.

Yodelion shook his head and said, "The inhibitor can only achieve this effect. It cannot reverse cells that have already crystallized. Moreover, the inhibitor must be injected at regular intervals."

"Can it be done? I'll give you one month," Lin Fang said, a flicker of thought crossing his expression.

Yodelion gave a wry smile.

"Boss, for the company, for humanity, we will put forth our greatest effort..."

"Good. You are humanity's hope."

—

After instructing Yodelion and his team to expedite the development of a reagent to detect carriers of the Medusa Virus, Lin Fang returned to his office.

"Xiao Hei, what actions have they taken?"

'They' referred to the five major nations currently dispatching research teams to the center of the Pacific Ocean. These nations were also the only ones, besides Lin Fang, aware of the impending viral onslaught.

[The operation to enter the otherworld has been terminated. The area within a 50-kilometer radius of the Rosen Bridge has been designated a restricted zone. Simultaneously, a task force has been urgently established to tackle this virus, but their research progress is far behind ours.]

[Also, they have instructed their domestic health departments to prepare preventive measures. They are considering whether to disclose this situation to the outside world, as many countries are unaware that a terrifying Petrification Virus is about to sweep the globe.]

"Xiao Hei, do you think they will make it public?"

[Based on intelligence, four of the nations are advocating for disclosure. There's a 99% probability.]

Lin Fang gave a slight nod.

"Notify Xu Anqing to come see me."

Since things had already happened, what needed consideration now was how to extract the maximum benefit from the situation.