90: Crystal Blue

[Consciousness Space]

[Warning! Aptitude Holder's vital signs are dropping sharply! Heart rate: 0! Blood pressure: undetectable!]

[High-specificity biotoxin intrusion detected. Target: myocardial cells! Triggering forced contraction arrest!]

The System's alarm was cold and urgent.

"Cardiac arrest?" Han Chengyu's consciousness instantly tensed, all his thoughts converging into a single focus in a thousandth of a second—the heartbeat must be restarted! In a hospital... defibrillation!

His train of thought was terrifyingly clear, instantly locking onto the only hope: "Use the energy from the 'Biological Hub' in his body to deliver a high-intensity electric shock to the heart. This is the only feasible method."

[Theory established. Biological Hub energy Rank sufficient. However, the Aptitude Holder's consciousness is lost and cannot actively guide it.]

"Then we'll guide it." Han Chengyu's command was without the slightest hesitation, as calm as if stating a predetermined procedure. "Immediately take over his motor nerves, control his arm, and perform an external electric shock. Execute immediately!"

[Command confirmed. Initiating emergency protocol, temporarily taking over target motor nervous System permissions...]

[Real World]

Under the horrified gazes of 'Mountain Cat' and the team members, the silver armor that had already collapsed on the ground suddenly erupted with a blinding blue-white light from the center of its chest plate! The light did not come from outside but radiated from within the armor, as if a lightning core had been detonated inside the chest cavity!

"Zzzzt—!!!"

An intense arc sound pierced the silence of the ruins. Lu Jianchuan's armored body convulsed and twitched violently on the ground, the powerful energy pulse even causing the biological texture on the armor's surface to emit an overloaded glow.

The heart, forcibly restrained and fallen into dead silence, was as if struck by an invisible giant hammer, suddenly, spasmodically, beating once!

Then, a second time, a third time... though weak and irregular, it had indeed, truly, begun to beat again!

As if yanked back from a cold, dark abyss, Lu Jianchuan's consciousness reassembled amidst intense palpitations.

He abruptly opened his eyes, greeted by a pure white, unfamiliar ceiling, the air filled with the scent of disinfectant. He found himself still in the 'silver skeleton' armor form, lying on a medical bed.

Almost instinctively, he raised his right hand and pressed the crimson gem at the center of the armband on his left wrist.

The silver-white armor shattered into countless points of light, rapidly vanishing into the air. Almost at the same moment the armor was dispelled, that familiar, extreme hunger originating from the instinct of life surged like a tsunami, making his vision darken and his stomach convulse violently.

He struggled to sit up, his gaze immediately drawn to the items neatly arranged on the bedside table—there were boxes of high-energy military compressed biscuits, several protein bars, and even a few modified high-calorie sugar pills he had seen at the base before.

Without a moment's hesitation, he tore open the packaging and began wolfing down the food, frantically stuffing it into his mouth, trying to fill the emptiness that seemed capable of devouring everything.

As he ate, the hospital room door opened, and a medical staff member wearing GUPA's internal uniform walked in. Seeing him awake and eating, the staff member's face showed a relieved expression.

"Great, you're finally awake!" The medical staff member walked to the bedside, checking the monitoring instruments nearby as they spoke. "Your condition was extremely critical when you were brought back; your vital signs were almost gone. According to our scans and analysis, you were poisoned by an extremely dangerous neurotoxin targeting the heart."

The doctor paused, their tone carrying a hint of disbelief and admiration. "But... it seems you saved yourself. A powerful bioelectric current erupted from within your body, precisely acting on your heart. Its principle... is very similar to medical defibrillation. It was this force that forcibly broke through the toxin's blockade, allowing your heart to resume beating."

Lu Jianchuan's chewing slowed. He recalled the cold, stinging pain before losing consciousness and the ensuing boundless darkness, and... the feeling as if something inside him had exploded before his consciousness completely sank.

"Is that so..." He swallowed the food in his mouth, his voice somewhat hoarse from weakness, his face appropriately showing a hint of confusion and lingering fear. "Probably... it was my body's own reaction before I lost consciousness."

At that moment, the hospital room door was knocked on again. The squad leader with the codename 'Mountain Cat' pushed the door open and walked in. His face showed unconcealable fatigue and a hint of guilt. After nodding to the medical staff, he walked to the bedside.

"'silver skeleton,' how are you feeling?" Mountain Cat's voice was somewhat hoarse.

Without waiting for Lu Jianchuan's response, he continued, his tone solemn. "I'm here to apologize to you. This operation was my serious mistake." He took a deep breath.

"I underestimated the enemy; I didn't expect it to be a trap targeting you. What makes me even more ashamed is that during the explosion, it was you who protected me. I was only focused on capturing the target and failed to confirm environmental risks, almost getting you killed... I'm sorry."

Looking at Mountain Cat's sincere apology, the bit of displeasure in Lu Jianchuan's heart dissipated. He shook his head. "It's alright, Captain. The situation was urgent, and the enemy was cunning. Protecting teammates is what should be done. The most important thing is that we're both alive."

Mountain Cat's tense expression eased somewhat. He patted Lu Jianchuan's shoulder firmly. "Good! I'll remember this favor. Rest well."

Under the careful care of GUPA's medical department, Lu Jianchuan's body recovered at an astonishing speed. Thanks to the powerful metabolic ability brought by the evo factor in his body, along with a continuous supply of high-calorie food, in just three days, his severe energy deficit and internal injuries had already healed.

After being discharged, he returned to his daily work at the Police Station, but his mind grew increasingly heavy. The Heartbinder's trap and that anger stemming from the desecration of life made him even more wary of the 'Prometheus' organization.

One evening, just after finishing his patrol, his personal terminal received an encrypted communication request from GUPA. He immediately opened it, and an emergency mission briefing popped up, but its content made his pupils suddenly contract.

Target: Abnormal Evolution Individual - 'Crystal Orchid' (File Number: GES-EVO-113) Background: Confirmed that the target was originally an ordinary citizen, recently subjected to forced evolutionary modification by the 'Prometheus' organization, and implanted with a 'neuro-weaver' control Unit, currently in a controlled state.

Location: West District, Green Source Ecological Botanical Garden and surrounding areas Status: Target activated. Its ability manifests as releasing highly corrosive bio-enzyme mist, decomposing organic matter and absorbing energy.

The evolution individual codenamed 'Crystal Orchid' has appeared, currently in a highly active state, causing regional chaos and structural damage. Conventional forces are unable to intervene. Instruction: Proceed immediately for disposal.

Looking at the sketch on the screen of 'Crystal Orchid's' porcelain-white, shell-covered inhuman form, and phrases like 'forced evolutionary modification' and 'neuro-weaver control,' Lu Jianchuan's fist instinctively clenched. This was yet another tragedy created by 'Prometheus.'