Each One's Choice, Sumo

Prometheus stated:

"The experimental results are in, Dr. Mei."

The casualty rate is 59%.

"A total of 410 people have entered the initial stage of genetic stabilization. We are currently compiling the specific data and need to wait for all soldiers to truly enter the stable period before we can confirm the specific individual differences."

"But as of now, there are zero people who arrived at the location where Kevin Kaslana recorded the data, and even the number of people who checked the box to use Yae Sakura as an individual template for data comparison is very small."

Mei was not surprised. Even if the same genes were transplanted from Emperor-class Honkai Beast, or even from Parvati or Garuda, the final results would be vastly different due to individual Honkai cultivation, willpower, pure luck, physical qualities, and even differences in genes.

It can turn the power residing in the genes of Emperor-class Honkai Beast into a pure key, opening a higher path, obtaining beyond its own limits, achieving a self-circulation of Honkai Energy, transforming the entire body into heaven and earth with every breath, residing within it with limitless Honkai Energy, and finally reaching the level of Herrscher individual.

They are among the very few, the limits beyond limits.

It wouldn't be surprising to call it a human miracle.

All Mei can do is make uncontrollable experiments more controllable, allowing unqualified people to potentially become Fusion Warrior and indirectly reducing the mortality rate, but she cannot make everyone a Kevin Kaslana.

That person was a born monster; their very existence represented the limits of human capability.

Even if they experience the same pain and battles, accept the same past and life, and have the exact same physical qualities and Honkai tendencies, they still cannot replicate another Kevin Kaslana.

Why was no one else considered by Mei as a potential candidate for the Seventh Herrscher on the eve of her appearance?

The reasons are not simply due to the so-called lack of government support or disagreement from higher levels.

At least at the time, there were quite a few people willing to apply for this program.

In such a world, there are many demons who crave power to take revenge on the Honkai. Even the slightest chance becomes a straw they are unwilling to give up. The probability of death and the lack of successful cases cannot compare to the despair of having nowhere to go.

Those who are truly blocked by purely threshold factors may not possess the willpower and decisiveness required for gene transplantation.

Mei chose Kevin simply because she believed that, apart from him, the probability of anyone else becoming Fusion Warrior and defeating the Seventh Herrscher in a short period of time was zero.

This idea has now been definitively validated by today's big data filtering.

The strength of the Seventh Herrscher is far beyond the basic Herrscher level, and it is currently estimated that only a dozen or so warriors will eventually reach the threshold of the most basic Herrscher level. Their specific combat power will depend on the fusion Gene Ability they develop later.

If someone possesses abilities related to space and time, like Yae Sakura, then participating in subsequent battles against the Herrscher would not be a problem.

The girl rubbed her temples for a while, then whispered:

"There are still too few true Fusion Warrior."

A true Fusion Warrior is someone who possesses a long lifespan, whose every cell in their body carries Honkai Energy and can produce it themselves, forming a self-circulating system, and whose genes are truly stable enough to achieve a harmonious sequence, enough to leave their bloodline to the next generation.

That is, another race in some sense.

Many Fusion Warrior are able to successfully stabilize their genes due to technological innovation. After the instruments detect the limits of the subjects, they will naturally use the technology of Hyper-Mutation Factor to quickly and forcibly stabilize the genes.

Of the 410 surviving Fusion Warrior, most were flawed individuals who achieved success through this method.

The combination of traditional gene transplantation and Hyper-Mutation Factor creates a hybrid transitional stage, causing these individuals' potential to be completely wasted after they pass through the subsequent growth period.

However, this is not actually a drawback, because the subjects who would become defective would not have any chance of survival if they did not undergo this mode of operation.

It's just a bit of a pity compared to the gentleness of the Hyper-Mutation Factor and the preservation of its future potential.

However, what our current civilization lacks is time. Every day that the Fusion Warrior units fail to appear will result in more and more casualties in the world, thus bringing Fuxi's awakening ever closer.

At that time, the so-called defects and regrets will all become meaningless waste.

In such an apocalyptic world, it is futile to expect the best of both worlds.

Prometheus said:

"Dr. Mei, should we inform Mr. Su about Miss Fu being forcibly removed from the first batch of names?"

Mei never imagined she would one day force someone to make exceptions for her, but whether it was out of necessity for social relationships or Fu Hua and Udu-dust, this stable approach was not wrong for her.

The young woman stretched and leaned back in her office chair, a faint smile appearing on her pale face.

"Let those two sort out their own affairs."

Prometheus asked:

"Should we approve her participation in the Hyper-Mutation Factor experiment scheduled for next month?"

Mei thought for a moment and said softly:

"Mr. Su originally intended to choose according to her own wishes, but the technology of the Hyper-Mutation Factor is still in the experimental stage, so let's be on the safe side for now."

Prometheus analyzed the little girl's personality model and stated:

"Dr. Mei, if we don't give a clear reason this time, Miss Fu might try to shift the blame to Mr. Su."

"They won't say exactly what they'll do, but they'll subtly cause trouble."

Mei thought about it for a moment and felt somewhat confused. Having always been immersed in the ocean of knowledge, she knew nothing about common sense and interpersonal relationships, so she found it hard to understand.

Prometheus, well aware of Mei's feelings about this, continued to explain:

"After all, Miss Fu's data and resume are excellent. Last time, she was rejected because of individual differences. Even if she is rejected for other reasons this time, she will probably think it's because of Mr. Su that she's not taking any risks."

Mei responded:

"Then just inform her that she has been postponed to the next batch."

"Clear."

She understood that no matter how advanced the technology became, there would still be risks of failure and even death. No matter how excellent the data was or how strong her will was, she would have to be prepared to leave a will and face death in the face of such a transformation and insurmountable barrier between humans and monsters.

The core of the so-called Hyper-Mutation Factor technology for survival lies in forcibly accelerating the fusion of stable genes, and this large-scale experiment has proven that this basic technology is mature.

Another key aspect of building upon this technology is to directly transcend the flawless genetic framework and enter a truly stable period.

The only drawback is that it takes time to accumulate strength before it reaches its full potential. However, beneath the seemingly perfect and calm surface of the sea, many undercurrents are hidden.

That is, upon successfully awakening, matching suitable genes, and undergoing rapid transformation, the genes collapse, leading to death.

There's no way to address this unless a more mature framework is built up over a long period of time.

Therefore, even though Mei intended for Fu Hua to become Fusion Warrior in the least risky way, he only planned to observe the initial batch of subjects once before letting her participate in the experiment.

After a long silence, the girl pursed her lips, her purple eyes slightly closed, and the dozens of screens reflected within them suddenly went dark, making her irises appear dim. She sighed:

"In such a world, the tenderness I can offer Mr. Su is limited to this."

She was not afraid of death.

Perhaps it is because the people around them are always like this, those martyrs followed the will of the Moth to Fire to the flame, turning into [Ashes] in the raging fire, becoming the fuel that allows the will of their successors to continue burning, supporting their spines so as not to bend, and giving them a reason to keep moving forward.

Fusion Warrior are monsters.

Even though there are very few Fusion Warrior that can be seen by the world at this stage, similar opinions continue to spread within the Moth to Fire and even within humanity.

Even if Fusion Warrior implanted with Honkai Beast genes defeats Herrscher and banishes the Apostles of Honkai from this world, isn't that itself a new representative of Honkai?

Fusion Warrior possessing immense power, capable of killing Herrscher destroys civilizations, would find it far too easy to commit crimes, destroy human order, and establish their own dynasty. At that time, the Fusion Warrior, representing the pinnacle of human science, would be unstoppable.

The world still cannot usher in a bright future.

Who can give complete trust to monsters whose skin is stained with inhuman blood, whose bones are filled with the genes of Honkai Beast, and who could turn into demons at any moment?

Given the current state of society, which is on the verge of Honkai and where lives are in grave danger, there are virtually no people outwardly condemning, speaking out against, or even resisting this situation.

Even with a degree of rationality, people can't help but view it with prejudice.

There have been very few Fusion Warrior in the past, and the power possessed by Kevin and Yae Sakura is like that of gods to ordinary people.

With hundreds of Fusion Warriors, each exhibiting varying degrees of beast-like transformation, infiltrating the human world, the resulting impact and the gazes they encounter will be drastically different from anything seen before.

Conflicts are bound to arise.

As a soldier of the Moth to Fire, Fu Hua had heard about the atmosphere and the direction of the rumors, a reality she had anticipated beforehand, but this did not change her will to participate in the experiment.

The question Su Qing'an wanted to ask was, in her opinion, something that hadn't required much hesitation from the very beginning.

The risks associated with gene transplantation pale in comparison to the intense resentment and desire to become stronger.

In such a world, being too weak means being one step closer to death.

Moreover, Fu Hua not only wanted to protect herself, but also wanted to help Su Qing'an.

This raises the level of difficulty and hurdles to face, requiring one to abandon past indecisiveness and seize every opportunity at hand.

In this way, even without reaching the Void Realm, she can still obtain enough power to advance to the same level of battlefield.

But I was rejected.

The little girl's gaze was distant as she looked at the drifting clouds on the horizon, finding the dazzling sunlight somewhat annoying.

Although I can accept the reality of our incompatibility, I always wonder if someone is secretly trying to sabotage us.

But Fu Hua quickly dispelled these minor emotions.

She was naturally a mild-mannered person, so she wouldn't hold a grudge about it.

Since her trip to Iceland, the girl has returned to the command of the Moth to Fire and is carrying out the mission of guarding Australia. Her daily routine involves cooperating with her teammates and Mechanical Force to drive out the Honkai Beast near the only remaining main city in Australia, and dealing with the occasional appearance of Zombie and the sudden emergence of low-level Honkai Beast within the city.

Not long after the Ninth Herrscher's death, the Honkai Energy index worldwide surged again. The city's Honkai Energy circulation, elimination, and dissipation systems took some time to adjust the index back to a safe range under the onslaught. As a result, many patients who were relying on Honkai potions to prolong their lives were gradually turned into Zombie by the increasingly harsh environment.

It once caused deaths, injuries, and unrest.

As a soldier who occasionally works part-time to maintain order, her mission today is to investigate the Memorial Stele erected by the teenagers during the devastation in Sydney.

It seems that because this Memorial Stele was formed from human remains and particles of Honkai Energy, groups of Honkai Beast often linger here.

The reason this Memorial Stele is located in this area is precisely because it is next to the main city, making it convenient for vehicles from the outside world to indicate that this is a route free from Honkai Energy.

Therefore, regularly cleaning the Memorial Stele and placing Abyss Flower beneath it has become a customary practice in recent days.

It was still the same three-person team.

However, their individual experiences have caused them to deviate slightly from their past selves.

Fu Hua's gaze returned to the few bunches of Abyss Flower beside the Memorial Stele, her calm expression unconsciously tinged with a hint of melancholy.

The girl next to her looked in the same direction, her golden eyes dim beneath her white hair.

During that tsunami, half of Carole's torso was severely damaged, and her right arm was torn off and crushed to an unknown location.

Even after undergoing treatment from both the Black Abyss White Flower and the medical ward, which restored his mutilated limbs and nearly crushed half-body to their original state, some aftereffects still remained.

Her armor underwent special modifications; the silver-white exoskeleton covered her entire body along the outside of the inner armor, slender and exquisite.

Due to the severity of her injuries, Carole currently needs to have her nerve endings reconnected via Nanobots to restore her damaged nerve responses to their original state in order to maintain her original combat effectiveness.

Under normal circumstances, this would already meet the criteria for mandatory retirement.

However, due to her own wishes and the increasing shortage of manpower, Carole was able to continue to participate in missions as usual. If it weren't for the occasional flash of disappointment in her eyes, her mental state would be no different from before, and her optimistic attitude still seemed to dominate.

The reason for feeling somewhat lost at this moment is that this Memorial Stele itself contains Captain Himeko's last remains.

For Carole, who nearly died in the lead-up to the disaster in Sydney, coming here would naturally evoke strong emotions. It's as if standing before her grave, and it's only natural to feel some sorrow and sadness.

Shiyu Qiluo to the side, also gazed at the towering Memorial Stele that seemed to reach into the Clouds from afar.

Her appearance has changed slightly since then.

Her once gentle blue-green eyes were now stained an ominous crimson, with deep, dark lines spreading like plant roots around the corners of her eyes, making her once beautiful face no longer as approachable.

The girl's slender, supple waist was wrapped like a ribbon by a thick, plant-like substance. A scarlet eye, about half the size of a fist, blinked from this substance that seemed to be connected to flesh and blood. The swirling pupil was captivating, like a terrifying demon.

About two weeks ago, she underwent a gene transplant experiment.

The transplanted gene is from Emperor-class Honkai Beast named Sumo.

This is a vine; its stems are picked and pressed with a stone to extract a yellow liquid, which, when fermented with milk, wheat flour, etc., can be made into Somo wine.

In ancient India, this wine was often used in sacrifices to the gods, as drinking it was believed to grant immortality; hence, it was called nectar.

Legend has it that this wine can cure the ailments of gods and grant them extraordinary courage. Later, it was personified and called the god of wine.

The Emperor-class Honkai Beast, named after this, possesses the dual characteristics of allowing its subordinate Honkai Beast to continuously heal their wounds naturally, fighting bravely and with unparalleled ferocity, making it a terrifying enemy of the Commander class.

Although Shiyu Qiluo's compatibility with him was only 53%, she managed to maintain it for half a month before being forced to use a drug injected by an instrument to stabilize her genes. Compared to her original combat power, she had undergone a complete transformation.

At the same time, although it failed to elevate Soma's original abilities to a higher level, it still perfectly inherited and optimized these abilities to a certain extent.

The visible price to the naked eye is this gruesome appearance.

The fact that Fusion Warrior are not human in a certain sense was vividly demonstrated in this large number of warriors.

Shiyu Qiluo's changes were only average.

The fundamental reason for this change is that most Fusion Warrior cannot achieve a stable period by perfectly Fusion Gene.

Consider the horrific deformation and distortion that Fusion Warrior undergo during gene transplantation. Forcibly stabilizing genes during this period and binding them back into human form will naturally be less than satisfactory.

Once the genetic chain is forcibly fixed with drugs, it becomes impossible to gradually restore one's appearance to its original state.

Even such Fusion Warrior undergo a certain growth period, during which their non-human organs gradually return to normal.

However, how much of a return to normal is possible depends on luck and other factors.

The girl's bright red pupils reflected the distant tombstones. She did not regret her choice, even though she loved beauty and her past idol dreams could only be realized based on this requirement.

Can...

If we cannot survive, and cannot withstand the ever-increasing Honkai that follows, then all of this is just empty talk.