After his genetic potential was activated, Li Aoz quickly regained consciousness. His body temperature returned to normal, and although he was still weak, his health points began slowly recovering. He estimated that he would be back to normal by tomorrow morning.
He stole a glance around him. Assistant Physician Anna and the others were still busy nearby, monitoring his condition. Armed security personnel stood not far away on either side. If anything went wrong, they could immediately form a crossfire network and prevent an accident.
"They're quite experienced at handling this."
Li Aoz was somewhat surprised. These humanitarian physicians from the Outland were actually more cautious than Emile Pharmaceutical Group of the Sky Ring.
The latter had let as many escaped biobeasts and high-risk test subjects loose through careless operators and laboratory accidents as construction workers inhaled dust at a worksite. Players had suffered plenty at the hands of the monsters "proudly produced" by them.
In comparison, the Nethermark people were Well-Trained and rigorous. They had quality when it came to quality, and quality when it came to technology. Li Aoz practically wanted to toss a bundle of explosives into Emile Pharmaceutical's headquarters.
Since people outside were monitoring his health, Li Aoz could not be bothered to communicate. He simply closed his eyes and inspected his personal information.
"Once I obtained a specialty, my attributes immediately went up."
Gravity was not a particularly aggressive Aoneng. Its destructive power was not especially strong, its early-game range was limited, and it was difficult to master. Understanding it required long-term exploration.
But Li Aoz did not care.
Strength? Nothing but a lie fabricated by capitalism!
Gravity Aura was one of the universe's four fundamental forces, as well as one of the Aoneng required to become a Starcaller.
The early stage might have been miserable, but once he entered the universe, those cosmic soldiers would learn what a Battleship Breaker was! "Unfortunately, the Gene Awakening Potion can only be taken once. Now that the genetic fragments in my body have begun leaking, I might only have around twenty years left to live."
Li Aoz did not mind at all. It was a necessary sacrifice. Anyone with experience knew there was no such thing as a free lunch, and things that appeared free were often the most expensive.
"It's best not to carry too many types of Aoneng. Otherwise, the genetic pressure will be too great, and it'll be easy to collapse. Likewise, although I can theoretically obtain three doses of Esha Experiment Drug - Type VI from Nethermark... without special measures, it could awaken some unexpected Aoneng in me."
Li Aoz pondered for a moment. At first, he had been pressed for time and had no chance to worry about genetic collapse. Things were different now. He still had some money in his account, though he needed to save it to exchange for resources with NPCs.
So what should he do next? "I still need to raise my Faction Favorability with Nethermark. I have to stockpile Faction Contribution Points."
Li Aoz did not hesitate for long.
After all, this was not a game anymore. He was a living person now, and being able to choose Gravity Aura was already fortunate.
Nethermark Humanity was not the game's official developer. Unstable quality control was something he had to take into account.
The worst-case scenario was that he took all three doses of Esha Experiment Drug - Type VI and failed to gain even one Aoneng required for the Starcaller class, instead obtaining three useless abilities.
Still, Li Aoz did not intend to waste the opportunity. He calculated that with a Constitution of 5, he could theoretically take fifteen genetic potential-releasing drugs.
This was not the universe, after all. Azure Planet's technological level was still stuck boiling water. It simply had no ability to conduct genetic modification or targeted genetic optimization.
Fundamentally speaking, Esha Experiment Drug - Type VI and the Omega-Grade Gene Awakening Potion were both methods of artificially shattering Gene Sequences. The only differences were how much they shattered, where they shattered them, and what genetic fragments they released.
Some people were born in Rome, while others were born as mules.
Most advanced civilizations possessed genetic optimization programs. Some geniuses were even born with awakened Aoneng, essentially stepping straight into the prerequisite for becoming an Ability User.
"I should prepare for the worst. I need to roll a Constitution-type specialty directly and raise my Constitution. If fifteen attempts don't work, then twenty-five, thirty! I refuse to believe I won't get one!"
The reason Li Aoz was so determined was not anything noble.
It was because Galaxy Civilization would come to blow up Azure Planet in version 2.5.
"If I don't reach level 60 before version 2.0 arrives, I'll have absolutely no chance of survival."
This was no joke. Li Aoz knew Azure Planet's fate better than anyone. When the dazzling fireworks bloomed, not even players were spared. Players who failed to evacuate in time had their Azure Planet accounts forcibly deleted and were not transferred to a new server until seven days later.
In version 2.1.7 of "Star Abyss," a fatal bug appeared on the Azure Planet server. At first, no one paid it any attention and let it develop. It was not until version 2.4.8 that people discovered in horror that the bug would make the game nearly impossible to continue. If it were allowed to spread further, the data of the entire nebula might have to be removed completely.
The developers seized the opportunity presented by the version 2.5 update and brought in Galaxy Civilization, which should not have appeared in that version, as a patch. Together with the players, they permanently eliminated the bug—the price being the complete destruction of humanity's homeworld civilization.
The players might have complained and lamented, cursing the damned developers for being unfair and not even offering maintenance compensation. But for Li Aoz, who was on Azure Planet, one of the fifty-six players operating Galaxy Civilization's Star Destroyer Cannons had been him!
"I still don't know whether the players will descend. Maybe another 'Li Si' will appear... Damn it, don't let me end up earning some cursed achievement called 'I Killed Myself,' okay?!"
Just thinking about it made Li Aoz lose his composure.
"Speaking of which, the health monitoring shows that he is out of danger now."
The professor pushed aside the tablet, removed her glasses, and looked at the two women standing before her with a faint smile. "In that case, Anna, Nordly, why have you come to see me?"
"Professor—"
"It's because of that guy that we came to see you!"
Anna had barely opened her mouth when Head Nurse Nordly beside her immediately stepped forward to the desk. Facing the professor's gentle smile, she said solemnly, "Professor, he has only been here for a few hours, yet he has already wasted a great deal of our manpower and resources. We still don't know what benefits we can gain from him. If he has such difficult problems every time, requiring massive amounts of time and energy to handle every day... in the long run, it will not only place enormous pressure on our internal treatment and containment, but Nethermark's field operations will also be affected..."
Nordly spoke at length for several minutes. The professor merely listened quietly, smiling as she gestured for her to continue.
Anna was left standing to the side. She held the report in her arms and silently waited for Nordly to finish venting.
"...In conclusion, I do not think we should continue investing so many resources into monitoring and follow-up treatment for Li Aoz."
The instant Nordly finished speaking, the professor nodded and asked a question in return.
"Then according to Head Nurse Nordly, how should Li Aoz be handled?"
"Treat him as an ordinary infected patient. He has already displayed dangerous tendencies. Even as a Martial Artist, I was knocked down when he lost control. Therefore, he must be physically detained, have his freedom of movement restricted, wear a full-body restraint suit, and undergo regular sampling tests—"
"In other words," the professor said leisurely, "you believe that a restraint suit which may not even be able to restrain a level-three infected patient can contain someone suspected to be a level-five infected patient, who can defeat a Martial Artist in a single strike while berserk?"
"No, what I mean is that we could reinforce the materials..."
"Li Aoz has not awakened Aoneng yet. What if he does?"
The professor asked seriously, "Not even the Four Nations would dare claim they could reliably control a transcendent who has awakened Aoneng. If we could completely restrain an infected patient who awakened Aoneng, wouldn't that mean we are stronger than the Four Nations?"
"No, that's not it, Professor..."
"If Nethermark were stronger than the Four Nations, then why are we trapped in an abandoned shelter instead of going out to save all the suffering Outland People?"
The professor frowned and sighed. "If we possess strength far beyond the Four Nations yet refuse to save the world and its people, choosing instead to hide in one corner, then Nethermark is merely struggling to survive while secretly conducting unknown forbidden experiments. It would be entirely understandable for the world to see us that way."
Head Nurse Nordly was a little bewildered. What did any of this have to do with anything? This was clearly an issue of containing Malefic Calamity-infected patients. How had it suddenly become a public relations crisis for Nethermark Humanity?
If the professor kept talking like this, Nordly felt as though she would be burdened with an enormous crime.
"Actually, I understand. After all, Malefic Calamity infection is only my personal hypothesis. Nethermark became what it is today because of my own opinion as well. You could say that after Nethermark Humanity was placed in my hands, the damage to our reputation, the loss of talent, and the reasons people misunderstand us are all because of me alone..."
The professor's eyes reddened and grew slightly misty. A trace of self-reproach and disappointed frustration entered the white-haired beauty's voice.
"I never wanted things to turn out like this. It's all my fault... I wasn't capable enough. I couldn't protect you all, and that's why Nethermark has fallen to the point where everyone condemns us!"
"Sure enough, I should have resigned back in 201 and entered the Third Floor hospital."
"That's not true!"
Overcome with guilt, Nordly hurriedly clarified.
"Professor, you bear no responsibility whatsoever. Without your wise leadership, there would be no Nethermark Humanity, and the continuation of humanity's noble virtues would be impossible. Nethermark Humanity's leadership, especially our ideals and original aspirations—of course, only in your hands can they be preserved."
"Nordly... thank you for saying that."
The professor wiped her eyes and said bitterly, "It feels wonderful to be trusted."
The sight of her rubbing at her eyes and forcing a smile cut through Nordly's heart like a blade. The Head Nurse, who had arrived so aggressively, now felt as though she had thorns against her back.
There were clearly only three of them in the professor's office, yet Head Nurse Nordly felt as though she were exposed before a crowd.
The faint, indistinct pointing and whispering from below the stage seemed to jab directly at her spine. A powerful wave of shame erupted within her, and emotions of humiliation, regret, and self-reproach spiraled out of control.
The professor is under such immense pressure, yet I was still criticizing and doubting her.
Nordly's heart roared like crashing waves.
I'm truly awful. She's the one in the higher position, yet she still forgave my impulsiveness and disrespect.
Despite being a somewhat accomplished Martial Artist, her face flushed red. She lowered her head, bowed deeply, and loudly offered a sincere apology to the person seated in a wheelchair, who was quietly sobbing while comforting her. "I'm deeply sorry, Professor! I regret my irrational remarks and apologize to you."
"Nordly, get up. This isn't your fault."
The professor's eyes were slightly red, and her voice became hoarse.
"I want to bring everyone a better tomorrow. You know... a level-five infected patient may truly be able to prove the existence of the Malefic Calamity theory. I was too impatient. I failed to consider your feelings..."
"My perspective was too narrow, Professor."
Nordly sucked in a breath. Her body trembled slightly, and she nearly lost control of her facial muscles as tears streamed down her face. "We were too selfish. We only thought about making our own jobs easier, forgetting that Nethermark Humanity has spent decades pursuing the Malefic Calamity theory without ever making substantive progress... Yes, you were doing this for our sake. We all know that. How could we question you..."
Her body, more muscular and imposing than a bodybuilder's, seemed like that of a kindergarten child who had made a mistake before the professor.
"Nordly... you've suffered."
"Professor, please give me another chance. I will never make another mistake."
"In that case," the professor said, her cheeks slightly red as she sniffled softly, pretending to compose herself and force authority into her voice, "there is still some resentment between you and patient Li Aoz. I know he seriously injured you before he was contained and consumed a great deal of manpower and resources."
"However, when facing the unknown, even if all our efforts prove futile, merely coming into contact with the unknown is already tremendous progress."
"If we miss this level-five infected patient, the next opportunity to prove the theory's validity... will take a very, very long time to come."
"I don't want the blood of Nethermark's generations of predecessors and volunteers to have been shed in vain. I have always encouraged myself to achieve something, to prove the Esha Virus truly exists, and to use this theory to end the suffering of the Outland People."
"Professor..."
"Please continue cooperating with the research. The patient's body is still very weak. If another unexpected situation like yesterday's occurs, then perhaps we will lose such a precious opportunity..."
The professor said solemnly, "Everything will proceed according to plan. I will remove every obstacle, and I will bear the cost. This is humanity's ideal and conviction. For it, we will pay any price!"
Her tone became increasingly impassioned. Nordly was stirred, straightening her chest with a face full of righteous resolve.
The professor said, "The glory of humanity shall be remembered forever."
"The glory of humanity shall be remembered forever!" Nordly repeated firmly.
"I will remember all of this and conscientiously complete the training."
"Well done. That's our Nordly."
Filled with high spirits, Nordly looked determined as she promised seriously, "Then I'll go prepare the training plan. I will not let you down."
"Wait a moment..."
The professor suddenly called out to her.
"Professor?"
"Nordly."
She raised a hand to her neck and asked with concern, "...Does your neck still hurt?"
Boom! Thermite blasted open the door. The armed female agent threw a gas grenade inside, then shouted, "Law Enforcement Division Four on duty! All women, put your hands on your heads! Men, get on your knees properly!"
Several human smugglers had yet to react before the gas stung their eyes shut, leaving them coughing and crying uncontrollably. Before they could cover their eyes and flee, Law Enforcement Division Four agents rushed inside and subdued everyone within.
"Damn it, stay still! We're female law enforcers! Any resistance from you is an infringement upon the great rights of women!"
Agent Tima smashed one frail man down with her pistol. She kicked away his dropped handgun, planted a foot on his head, then pressed the earpiece on the side of her gas mask and spoke into the channel. "Team Leader Nimoting, everyone here has been secured. Some others are moving toward your side."
"Very good."
Nimoting nodded and led her people to block the back door.
A moment later, several bedraggled smugglers fleeing in panic appeared in sight.
"Don't move."
She casually raised a hand. Her palm instantly split open, exposing the cybernetic cannon within. "You are suspected of assisting rioters in leaving the country. Submit to Law Enforcement Division Four's investigation!"
Before you continue