112: Chapter 112 The Birth of the Undead Gunner

"You will be stronger."

It was not just the Knight that would be stronger.

November 19th, 9:00 AM, Antique Shop Underground Room.

The Knight's rejection period was a full day shorter than estimated. By the evening of the 18th, the feedback signal from the Mental Link had already returned to a state where noise was zeroed out. The dark red muscle texture had completely integrated into the bone seams, and the alloy luster of the scales was half a shade brighter than before the surgery.

After Yan Zheng spent the morning confirming that the Knight's various combat parameters had returned to normal, he turned his attention to the second plan spread out on the workbench.

The fifth version of the amendment.

To be precise, it was the third fine-tuning of the fifth version.

The densely packed pencil writing on the grid paper had been corrected in seven or eight places by an eraser, and the scrub marks had worn a layer of fuzzy fibers onto the paper surface.

"Mr. System, run the compatibility simulation for the Kinetic Release gene again."

Yan Zheng entered the serial numbers of the four gene samples into the simulator: Ninja Reinforced Skeleton, Kinetic Release gene, Photon Absorption and Release gene, and Sonic Resonance gene.

"The problem with the last fifth version was that Kinetic Release lacked a trigger drive source and required an emotional simulation inscription array. But I've changed my approach."

He drew a simple energy flow diagram on a blank space on the grid paper.

"No need for emotional drive. Use Sonic Resonance as the physical drive."

Yan Zheng: (ꐦ ˘ ͈ ꒳ ˘ ͈)

"The Sonic Resonance gene itself can generate mechanical waves of a specific frequency. If I calibrate this frequency to match the critical activation threshold of the Kinetic Release gene, the mechanical vibration of the sound waves can replace emotional fluctuations as the trigger source."

"Physical trigger replaces biological trigger. The dead don't need fear; they only need vibration."

He entered the modified parameters into the simulator.

Three seconds later, the results popped up.

[Stitching Simulation (Fifth Version, Correction 3) Results.]

[Four-Material Fusion Compatibility: 74%.]

[Kinetic Release Module Stability: Qualified. Sonic Resonance trigger scheme is feasible, trigger delay is approximately 0.8 seconds.]

[Weak interference exists between the Photon Absorption and Release module and the Kinetic Release module, already within a controllable range.]

[Comprehensive Evaluation: Executable. Failure risk 26%, mainly concentrated on the skeleton structure's load-bearing limit.]

"Seventy-four percent."

Yan Zheng put down the pencil and tapped his fingers on the table three times.

"What was the compatibility for the Knight again?"

He flipped through the old grid paper.

Eighty-one percent.

"Seven points lower. The risk of failure is nearly twice as high."

He picked up his enamel cup, and by the time the tea reached his mouth, he had already made his decision.

"Do it."

"If I don't do it, this Kinetic Release gene will rot in the refrigerator, and its activity will decay to uselessness in three weeks. A 74% success rate is already the best number I can get at the moment."

Yan Zheng: (˵ ꐦ ≖ ᗜ ≖ ˵)

He took out the four gene samples from the refrigerator one by one.

The first, the Ninja Reinforced Skeleton gene extracted from the remains of The Hand, was contained in a dark green sealed tube with a label handwritten by Yan Zheng on the surface.

The second, the Kinetic Release gene from that Kinetic Mutant in Flushing, Queens, was a pale orange semi-solid tissue soaking in preservation fluid, emitting a faint glow.

The third, the Photon Absorption and Release gene retrieved from the gene backup library, was a purified product from the remains of a low-level Mutant he had picked up under the Brooklyn Bridge three months ago.

The fourth, a derivative extract of the Sonic Scream gene from Bruckner Boulevard, was the Sonic Resonance module.

The four sealed containers were lined up on the workbench, their colors from left to right being dark green, pale orange, cold white, and gray-blue.

"Mr. System, start the four-material fusion stitching program."

"Architecture plan: Ninja Skeleton as the main load-bearing frame, Kinetic Release as the core output module, Photon Absorption as the energy supply cycle, and Sonic Resonance as the trigger and amplification."

"Execute."

[Four-material fusion stitching program started. Estimated time: five hours.]

The stitching process was much more complex than the Knight's surgery.

The four genes from different sources clung to each other under the catalysis of the Undead Energy solvent. Yan Zheng needed to use an inscription engraving tool to manually guide the energy flow at every key node, ensuring that the four gene chains would not devour each other during the fusion process.

In the first hour, the skeleton took shape.

The Ninja Reinforced Skeleton gene provided the underlying frame; the bone density and hardness were not high, but the flexibility of the joints was excellent, making it suitable as a chassis for a long-range output platform.

In the second hour, the Kinetic Release module was implanted.

This was the most dangerous part. The pale orange gene tissue released a wave of weak Impact the moment it touched the skeleton, knocking the pencil and eraser on the workbench to the floor.

Yan Zheng pressed his left hand on the skeleton's shoulder blade, injecting Mental Power from his fingertips to forcibly suppress the spread of the Impact.

"Behave."

His voice cooled by half a degree.

In the third hour, the Photon Absorption module was embedded into the spinal canal.

It went fairly smoothly; the nature of the Photon gene was gentle and not picky about the frame, spreading evenly along the spine to the limbs.

In the fourth hour, the Sonic Resonance module was mounted on the inside of the skull.

This step required the highest precision.

The sound wave frequency had to be calibrated to be exactly consistent with the critical threshold of the Kinetic Release gene, with an error margin not exceeding 0.3 Hz.

Yan Zheng used the finest titanium alloy inscription engraving tool to carve twelve concentric circular inscriptions on the inner wall of the skull, with the spacing of each one precise to the millimeter level.

When he carved the ninth one, his right hand trembled.

The consumption of Mental Power was too great. Running background monitoring for the whole morning with dual-line control, plus the continuous infusion during the stitching surgery, had turned the dull ache in his temples into a sharp pain.

Yan Zheng put down the engraving tool and closed his eyes to take three deep breaths.

The sharp pain receded slightly.

He gripped the engraving tool again and finished carving the remaining three inscriptions.

The moment the twelfth concentric circle closed, the Sonic Resonance module hummed, and the frequency quickly converged from unstable noise into a clear single tone.

It matched the critical threshold of the Kinetic Release gene perfectly.

In the fifth hour, the energy solvent catalyzed the fusion, and the inscription links throughout the body were connected.

On the workbench, a brand-new Undead Creation slowly propped up its body.

Yan Zheng stepped back two steps, leaned against the back of the chair, and wiped the sweat from his forehead with a white glove stained with gray-green solvent residue.

He looked at the creation before him.

It was completely different from the heavy feeling of the Knight.

Thin.

The outline of the skeleton was thin and slender, and the frame endowed by the Ninja gene gave the overall lines a sharp, geometric feel.

The arms branched out from the elbow joints, with each forearm splitting into two long, thin, bone-like tubular structures, with trumpet-shaped ends.

Four gun barrels.

There was no mask on the head, only a bare skull. The surface of the cranium was smooth, and purple phosphorus fire burned in the eye sockets.

Purple.

This was the first time purple phosphorus fire had appeared in Yan Zheng's legion.

"Mr. System, evaluate."

A panel with a golden border popped up.

[Undead Gunner · Void (Rare Grade).]

[Combat Power Evaluation: B+ Grade (Long-range output ability reaches A Grade).]

[Core Attributes: Quad-linked Kinetic Cannon, Sonic Resonance Amplification System, Photon Energy Cycle Supply.]

[Special Ability 1: Quad-linked Kinetic Cannon. Simultaneously releases four Kinetic Impact waves, effective range 100 meters, single-shot penetration can pierce light armored vehicles.]

[Special Ability 2: Sonic Resonance Amplification. Through sound wave frequency superposition, briefly charges for 0.8 seconds before firing, increasing Kinetic Cannon penetration by 50%.]

[Weakness: Very weak melee combat ability. Poor mobility. Low skeleton load-bearing limit; there is a risk of structural collapse if continuous high-frequency shooting exceeds three minutes.]

[Control Slot Occupancy: 3.]

Yan Zheng: (˵ ꐦ ✧ ⌓ ✧ ˵)

"B+ grade comprehensive evaluation, A grade long-range output."

He walked up to the Gunner and tapped his finger on the longest of the four gun barrels, and the bone tube wall emitted a crisp echo.

"A glass cannon. Shoots far, hits hard, but can't take many hits."

Withdrawing his finger, Yan Zheng sat down at the workbench and drew a simple formation diagram on the grid paper.

Knight in front, Brute on the side, Gunner in the back.

"The Knight draws fire from the front; it can't be killed. The Brute compresses the enemy's maneuver space from the flanks. The Gunner performs point clearance from one hundred meters behind using the quad-linked cannon."

"A three-minute shooting window is enough to clear a city block of enemies."

He closed the grid paper, picked up the enamel cup, and drank the last bit of cold tea in one gulp.

"Two Rare grade creations. One can't be killed, one can't be outmatched."

"Ten days left until the bill vote. These ten days are my window of opportunity."

Yan Zheng looked at the purple phosphorus fire dancing in the Gunner's skull and was quiet for two seconds.

"Mr. Void, welcome to the ranks."

The purple phosphorus fire jumped, its frequency offset by half a beat from the Knight's golden pulse.