After continuously replacing three batches of materials with different properties, attributes, and categories, Doctor Ai Yue still couldn't find anything usable to advance the special research project. There had been no shortage of rare or even precious-grade materials among them. If even materials of that level were insufficient, didn't that mean the entire project required at least extremely rare materials to advance?
However, all the extremely rare materials Doctor Ai Yue knew of were related to the Herrschers. How many materials of that level could there possibly be in the world?
Regardless, he would make a start first.
Doctor Ai Yue sighed, then took out a pale pink crystal and held it in his palm.
This was a special crystal found at the birthplace of the Eighth Herrscher. Like the "Honkai Thunder Crystal" he had previously obtained from Vill-V, it was a product born alongside a Herrscher and carried a trace of an ability related to Herrscher authority. The system had therefore labeled it "Honkai Energy Sample: Eighth Herrscher."
Something like this should originally have been used for research projects related to the Eighth Herrscher. However, Doctor Ai Yue was more interested in finding out what exactly the special research project contained, so he had to set everything else aside for the time being.
Yet as he gripped the crystal, a complicated expression of surprise and relief appeared on Doctor Ai Yue's face.
There was now one piece of good news and one piece of bad news. The bad news was that this thing couldn't advance the special research project either. The good news was that he could at least confirm that the special research project did not require materials of a particular grade. There had to be some other restriction.
"Transcription of genetic information... So it needs materials related to genetic information? But I already tried Aponia's hair, and that didn't work either."
Doctor Ai Yue shook his head and unwillingly took out the hair, blood, and other materials of various Fused Warriors for testing. He found that none of them worked.
"Damn it. I'll put that aside for now. I'd better finish the artificial synthesis of Honkai energy crystals as soon as possible."
Doctor Ai Yue finally sighed in resignation, closed the special research project interface, and brought up the conventional technology tree again, preparing to restart the temporarily suspended research project.
However, he glanced at it unintentionally and immediately froze in place.
In a familiar corner, the name of that familiar star had gained an unexpected description.
"Fused Warrior Formula: Usable Value 100%."
"Wait, that's what the specific material meant?"
Doctor Ai Yue was stunned for a moment, then wore a complicated expression. On the one hand, he no longer needed to worry about materials, which was a good thing. On the other hand, once the system consumed the material, it would be gone. Would the research projects he had already developed disappear after being consumed as well?
After confirming with Prometheus that she had backups of all the current Fusion Warrior technology, Doctor Ai Yue finally felt reassured enough to use it to advance the special research project.
However, the conversion progress of the special project was astonishingly slow. Doctor Ai Yue stared at the special research project interface without moving for five hours. He even tried not to think about anything in order to free his mind for the system to use—though of course, that was actually useless. In the end, he simply went to sleep. After sleeping until the next day, he discovered that the overall progress had advanced by only one percent.
"At this rate, when will I ever get to use it?"
The only good news was that consuming the "usable value" of the "Fused Warrior Formula" did not affect its existence or erase the memories in Doctor Ai Yue's mind. In fact, nothing changed at all. It was as if he had merely returned usable value that had never existed in the first place.
It was not until a month later, when the project finally lit up, that Doctor Ai Yue understood what made the special research project special.
Unlike ordinary research projects, the results of a special research project could not be mass-produced.
Although it appeared to be a technology, it could not be realized without the system's help. Therefore, unlike ordinary research projects, it could not be taught to others like ordinary knowledge after its principles had been fully mastered.
At the same time, precisely because the system had intervened, the results of the special research project were outrageously powerful.
Doctor Ai Yue had made its final product in the shape of a wristwatch and worn it on his wrist.
"So this counts as..." Doctor Ai Yue looked at the various patterns and silhouettes constantly flickering across its "dial," an indescribable expression appearing on his face. "A low-profile Superpower Instrument?"
The Fairy in the Lake Makes Her Grand Debut, Chapter Twenty-Six
"Data Transcription Technology for Genetic Information."
In simple terms, this was a technology that converted genetic information into data.
It sounded plain and unremarkable, but that was not actually the case. This technology did not simply decode the contents of genetic information and input them into a computer. Instead, it converted genetic material itself—something that physically existed—into pure information, allowing it to be stored, transferred, and so on with ease.
It could be said that this technology completely shattered the established belief that "matter is the foundation of information," allowing genetic information to be stored like electronic data and greatly reducing the difficulty of preserving it over the long term.
Of course, this was merely the conclusion Doctor Ai Yue had drawn after gaining a basic understanding of the technology. Ultimately, the idea that "matter is the foundation of information" was only one interpretation humanity currently had of the rules governing all things. It could not be equated with the truth of the universe, so overturning it perhaps was not particularly outrageous.
Of course, if the special research project only amounted to this, Doctor Ai Yue could not have created a machine similar to the Superpower Instrument. Its key feature was that, perhaps because it had absorbed too many research projects related to Honkai Energy, the genetic information could merge with Honkai Energy after being digitized and transcribed, producing a phenomenon known as "energy mimicry."
When this energy mimicry merged with a human, it allowed that person to display certain abilities carried by the genetic information.
Therefore, although it could not transform Doctor Ai Yue into another species on a biological level like a true Superpower Instrument, it could still allow him to release abilities possessed by other people.
For example, as long as Doctor Ai Yue activated the genetic information from Kevin, he could temporarily use the other man's ability to control ice and snow. If he activated the genetic information of the Second Herrscher or the Eighth Herrscher, he could also briefly wield their authority—though only in an inferior form.
That was why Doctor Ai Yue called it a low-profile Superpower Instrument. Strictly speaking, the genetic information compendium and the ability to transform into creatures of other species were the Superpower Instrument's primary functions. Displaying the abilities of various creatures was merely an added bonus.
Of course, once Doctor Ai Yue completely mastered this technology, creating a true Superpower Instrument would probably not be difficult.
The problem was that this prerequisite was already somewhat difficult. After all, he could not even understand the basic principles of the technology.
Fortunately, although he could not understand it, he could still use the device.
Doctor Ai Yue toyed with the dial on his wrist, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.
Since it was a low-profile Superpower Instrument, should he just call it the Low-Energy Device?
Of course, Doctor Ai Yue ultimately did not use that rather idiotic name. Although this was only a low-profile version of the Superpower Instrument, it was still the first special piece of equipment he possessed in this world. Unlike consumables such as the Limited Gauntlet, it deserved a more solemn name.
Therefore, Doctor Ai Yue ultimately decided to call it the Superpower Instrument. In any case, no one in this world could sue him for copyright infringement.
Of course, although it was a low-profile version, the Superpower Instrument in Doctor Ai Yue's hands had still been improved in several ways. First, it no longer required manually selecting a transformation target. It had been changed to read mental commands and activate automatically, avoiding the various problems caused by bizarre operations in the original work.
Second, the Superpower Instrument in Doctor Ai Yue's hands could directly replace its energy core without requiring a recharge. Furthermore, since the artificial synthesis of Honkai energy crystals had already been developed, he basically did not need to worry about its energy supply.
However, because energy mimicry consumed a tremendous amount of power, one core could support Doctor Ai Yue in borrowing a Fused Warrior's power for no more than thirty minutes. If he wanted to use Herrscher genetic information, the duration would be even shorter.
Of course, a short duration was not necessarily a bad thing. It also served as a form of protection for Doctor Ai Yue—the prolonged use of this power placed a tremendous burden on him.
A human body was still too fragile. He should hurry up and develop the Ultimate Fused Warrior Formula.
Doctor Ai Yue had high hopes for the Fusion Warrior Project. For humanity at present, mass-producing Fused Warriors was the most convenient and successful way to resist the Honkai. However, because the success rate had previously been far too low, he did not want to carelessly send warriors who could have been saved onto the operating table.
After this period of iteration, the Fused Warrior Formula had now matured. As long as the prescribed procedures were followed, even if Sōgen and Danzhu performed the surgery, the success rate would not fall below ninety percent. If the Honkai Beast Gene Compatibility Screening Method was used to eliminate candidates with low compatibility beforehand, the surgical success rate could basically be stabilized at one hundred percent.
Of course, Doctor Ai Yue's expectations for the Fused Warrior Formula went beyond simply making it "mature." He hoped to use the system to continuously optimize and upgrade it, then combine it with other research projects of the same type to obtain an even more perfect result.
In the depths of Doctor Ai Yue's heart, he hoped that the "Ultimate Fused Warrior Formula" could eventually become something like the "controllable X-gene."
Of course, this was merely wishful thinking. Truly mastering the X-gene would be no less difficult than handcrafting the Plasma Spark Tower. By comparison, the Plasma Spark Tower might even be easier.
Come to think of it, should he find someone to test the Superpower Instrument's power?
As Doctor Ai Yue pondered this, he suddenly heard Prometheus's voice. "Doctor Ai Yue, there's an incoming call from Doctor Mobius."
He really had gotten what he was thinking about.
Doctor Ai Yue put down the Superpower Instrument and answered the call. "What is it?"
"Don't tell me you forgot? Today is the day the Fusion Warrior Project restarts." Mobius's voice over the phone was filled with deep exasperation. Doctor Ai Yue could even imagine her rolling her eyes. "And judging by your reaction, you probably didn't read the report I sent you yesterday either, did you?"
Doctor Ai Yue rubbed his slightly sore eyes. To avoid missing the moment the special research project was completed, he had gone another twenty-four hours without sleep, so naturally he had paid no attention to anything else. "What report? I thought I had entrusted the entire project to you."
"It's mainly about the participant candidates... Forget it. It's too late to change anything now." Mobius sighed. "Hurry over. Everyone will feel more at ease with you there."
Participant candidates?
Doctor Ai Yue hung up, then pulled up the message Mobius had sent him the previous day. After opening it, a familiar figure appeared in the photo on the first page.
"Su?"
The white-haired warrior looked at his friend with concern. "Are you really not going to reconsider? You don't have any reason to become a Fused Warrior."
Kevin truly could not understand why Su had volunteered to participate in the Fusion Warrior Project. Everyone knew that the relationship between the Fifth Academy of Sciences and the First Research Institute was tense. How could Spasi have agreed to let Su act so recklessly?
"I've thought about it for a long time, Kevin." Su lay on the medical bed, yet a relaxed smile appeared on his face as he looked at his worried friend. "Besides, becoming a Fused Warrior doesn't mean I can't still be a doctor, does it?"
"But..."
"There is no Fifth Science Department anymore, Kevin." Seeing that Kevin still wanted to say something, Su simply took the initiative. "You should have heard what happened, right? My teacher has now gone to the Mu Continent to oversee the containment and treatment project related to Honkai Sickness."
"I know, but what does that have to do with this?" Kevin scratched his head, an unusual look of confusion appearing on his face.
Ever since Doctor Ai Yue had solved his body-temperature problem, the "personality" that had grown faint through a series of experiences had gradually become distinct again.
"Of course it has something to do with it. The problem of Honkai Sickness has already been overcome, but its source has not been resolved." Su continued, "If we want to truly eliminate Honkai Sickness, we must defeat the Honkai. And if we want to defeat the Honkai, we need more Fused Warriors, don't we?"
Kevin fell silent, then eventually nodded.
"Integrating Honkai Beast genes is indeed difficult for a doctor to accept. But if this is the only way to eradicate the source of the disease, then the doctor must walk ahead of the patients." Su's tone was calm. "I heard Doctor Mobius say that the success rate of the Second Generation Fused Warrior Surgery is extremely high. I also have excellent compatibility with Māhori, so there won't be any danger."
Māhori was the Emperor-class Honkai Beast born alongside the Eighth Herrscher. It resembled a massive peacock, which was why it had been given that codename.
After the Eighth Herrscher appeared, the Moth to Fire realized the importance of Mental Perception Fused Warriors. Therefore, this surgery was primarily aimed at that area, with the hope of creating another powerful Mental Perception Fused Warrior whose abilities were gentle and controllable.
"Su, are you ready?"
Just as the two fell silent, Dr. Mei walked out of the surgical preparation room. She had already put on her full set of equipment and was clearly going to participate in the surgery as well. "If you're ready, Kevin, push him in."
"Then I'll leave it to you, Kevin," Su said.
Kevin still did not speak. He merely nodded and pushed Su's medical bed toward the operating room.
At that moment, the nearby door suddenly opened. Doctor Ai Yue walked in while tidying his disheveled hair. "I think headquarters' transport vehicles need an upgrade. This is way too slow, isn't it?"
"Doctor Ai Yue!" Kevin immediately relaxed when he saw him. "You're finally here."
Compared to Mobius, Kevin trusted Doctor Ai Yue more. This man, who was always one step ahead no matter what he did and had created countless miracles, gave people a sense of security simply by being present.
"Looks like I made it in time." To save time, Doctor Ai Yue had directly used Desdrobia's energy mimicry and flown over with telekinesis, so he had arrived promptly enough. "Su, you're really going through with the surgery?"
"As a doctor, this is a responsibility I must shoulder." Su's tone remained firm. "Sorry for the trouble, Doctor Ai Yue."
"All right, then I won't try to dissuade you." Doctor Ai Yue shook his head. He understood Su's personality, so he merely patted Kevin on the shoulder. "Don't worry. There's no risk of the surgery failing. Also, don't leave after it's over. I have something to discuss with you."
And that was exactly what happened. The safety of the Second Generation Fused Warrior Formula was beyond question. Not a single trace of rejection appeared throughout the entire surgery. None of the three doctors even had to operate personally; Klein and the Sōgen Sisters alone completed the entire procedure.
"What a bore. It's over just like that?"
After confirming that everything was complete, Mobius even complained, "Removing an appendix would be more troublesome than this, wouldn't it?"
"In any case, a smooth procedure is a good thing." Dr. Mei breathed a sigh of relief, then headed toward the preparation room. "I'll go out and share the good news with Kevin. I'll leave the follow-up observation to you."
"I never thought I'd get to participate in such an advanced surgery..." Danzhu lowered her head and looked at her hands, her face full of disbelief. "Sister, we're amazing!"
"Danzhu, we were only responsible for handing things over and wiping away sweat." Sōgen looked exasperated. "The one who actually did the work was Senior Klein."
"Oh, right! Senior Klein is the most amazing!"
"I only handled the preparatory work in advance." Klein remained as composed as ever, her face expressionless beneath enormous dark circles. "Besides, thanks to Doctor Mobius, this surgery has basically become effortless."
"Hmph. Soon, there won't even be any surgery." Mobius turned her head toward Doctor Ai Yue. "Before long, all we'll need to do is inject the medicine, right?"
"That depends on the progress of your research." Doctor Ai Yue shrugged. "To be safe, it would still be better to have an observation period."
"You really aren't willing to take the slightest risk, are you?" Mobius sighed. "Whatever. You're the one in charge now, anyway."
As she spoke, her gaze focused on Doctor Ai Yue's left wrist. "Speaking of which, when did you start wearing a watch?"
Mobius knew perfectly well that Doctor Ai Yue would never wear a useless ornament, so a trace of curiosity appeared in her eyes as she looked at the Superpower Instrument. "What is this thing?"
"You'll find out later." Doctor Ai Yue gave a mysterious smile and did not answer Mobius's question.
Since he was going to conduct a practical test, the more test subjects there were, the better. If the other Fused Warriors had not all been on missions, Doctor Ai Yue had even considered testing the device on every one of them.
Come to think of it, now that Su had completed the Fused Warrior surgery, shouldn't he transcribe Su's genetic information as well?
Just as Doctor Ai Yue's thoughts began to wander, Su suddenly let out a hoarse cry and opened his eyes.
Because the anesthetic was still taking effect, he could not control his body. He could only struggle to open his mouth and say, "D-Did it succeed?"
"You're awake?" Doctor Ai Yue leaned over mischievously with an ill-intentioned smile. "Congratulations. The surgery was a success. You're a girl now!"
Su:?
Chapter Twenty-Seven: Stop! Don't Fight!
Seeing the normally calm expression on Su's face turn flustered, Doctor Ai Yue could not help bursting into loud laughter.
The sex change was of course a lie. Even if Doctor Ai Yue truly had enough ability to unlock the strange technology tree node known as the "TS Virus," he would never waste precious research time on such a useless technology.
Not to mention that the technology requirements for this ridiculous thing were actually higher than those of the Fused Warrior Formula. If Doctor Ai Yue really wanted to develop it, he would at the very least have to completely master Ouroboros's cyborg surgery first.
After all, the TS Virus's effect was a perfect change of sex, completely different in nature from an ordinary sex-change operation.
Of course, that was beside the point. Seeing Doctor Ai Yue's smug expression, Su realized that he had merely been tricked and immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
"You're even more mischievous than I am." Mobius walked over and frowned at Su. "But honestly, seeing that man's student walk out of my laboratory in one piece is really irritating. Why don't we take advantage of the anesthetic and get started?"
Because this was the first practical application of the Second Generation Fused Warrior Formula, they had conservatively estimated the procedure would take some time and given Su two hours of anesthesia.
Unexpectedly, the surgery had been completed in only one hour. As a result, although the operation was already over, Su was still under anesthesia. The fact that he had recovered consciousness at all was already due to the power of a Mental Perception Fused Warrior.
"You two, could you stop making fun of me?" Su knew that the two were only joking, so he could only give them a helpless smile. "Speaking of which, is there any way to make the anesthesia wear off faster?"
"That depends on you." Doctor Ai Yue raised his brows. "Judging by the results, you became a Mental Perception Fused Warrior just as the project predicted. Anesthetic is, in the end, merely a drug that acts on the nervous system and blocks peripheral nerve conduction. If you use your powerful mental strength to guide it, you should be able to end the numbness ahead of schedule."
Before you continue