Brain in a Vat

"Things from that place?"

Gao Gong thought back to that failed scientific research expedition, his brow furrowing.

"What is it?"

Huang Yuanli shook her head painfully.

"I can sense its existence. It's huge and in so much pain. It's like a heartless, bodiless phantom."

"You contacted me through it just now, didn't you?" Gao Gong's heart skipped a beat.

"Yes, I found the Professor. He didn't refuse me at first. Instead, he gave me a cup of coffee. After that, I kept having hallucinations, but they were intermittent before, so I didn't pay them much mind."

"But when we failed to resist and I was whipped, the hallucinations became more severe. When I completely lost consciousness, I found that I seemed to have become a part of it."

"I can 'see' many things I couldn't before – the thoughts of the Electronic Bees, the feelings of the Mech-Dogs, even the thoughts of this forest. It's also angry, and in pain."

Gao Gong didn't speak. Instead, he glanced at the system panel.

[You are controlled by 'Telepathy', your vision is cut off, entering a blind state]

Telepathy (Mechanical) (Beginner): A superpower that can perceive the hearts of people, and can perceive more than just 'human hearts'.

"It seems the Professor gave you some kind of 'Super-Sense Drug'. And luckily, you awakened. In the radiation zone, mechanical-based telepathy is a very useful ability."

Huang Yuanli blinked blankly. "Super-Sense Drug? What's that? Wait, are you saying I have telepathy?"

"That's right, but not everyone can awaken after taking the 'Super-Sense Drug'. This drug can enhance your experience beyond your five senses. During this process, your genes might develop some kind of antibody due to this experience, and the nature of this antibody will be the nature of your superpower."

"Of course, most 'Super-Sense Drugs' are not safe. The possibility of dying from taking the drug is much higher than awakening a superpower. You should thank that 'thing'. According to my guess, it helped you bear some of the pressure."

Huang Yuanli was stunned for a long time, then suddenly became furious. "The Professor actually wanted to kill me! I knew people who wear glasses are no good!"

Gao Gong ignored her. He retraced his steps, found the original entrance, and climbed back up the straight ladder. As they emerged, both of their pupils widened almost simultaneously.

The previously empty Cable Tribe was now covered in a strange white brain fluid. This fluid slowly wriggled along rooftops, walls, and tree hollows, with thick nerve fibers emerging from the fluid, taking root and sprouting.

Even though Gao Gong had removed his 'Amplifier', he still felt an intense noise surging from all directions.

"Ah!"

Huang Yuanli suddenly covered her ears, her eyes bloodshot and filled with extreme pain.

"Deep breaths, deep breaths. Learn to control your ability. Try to accept it, operate it, don't resist it. Remember, it's a part of you!"

Under Gao Gong's guidance, Huang Yuanli's expression gradually calmed down. Her eyelids flickered, revealing a deep, lustrous sheen.

Gao Gong breathed a sigh of relief. While the Superhuman civilization was a significant branch among carbon-based civilizations, it was quite niche on Ji Lie Star. If Huang Yuanli couldn't control her ability, it would become very troublesome.

Looking at the 'brain fluid' covering his feet, Gao Gong suddenly drew his 'Red Unicorn' and severed a pink nerve bundle within it.

The panel immediately displayed the opponent's information.

[You have dealt 1 damage to 'Brain in a Vat']

[You have entered the domain of 'Brain in a Vat', your brain functions are in a state of confusion]

Brain in a Vat!

Gao Gong hadn't expected this. He thought it would be at most some kind of pre-war bionic machinery.

This thing was at least level 40, and it was a half-biological, half-information monster, extremely difficult to kill.

Especially since its mental attacks were 'true damage', ignoring all defenses. If he was caught in an AOE, Gao Gong estimated he wouldn't last two hits.

Gao Gong looked around. Not only the Cable Tribe, but all the mutated trees in sight were secreting artificial proteins, which were the raw materials for the 'brain fluid'.

'Damn, is Professor Han planning to put the entire Cable Tribe into the Brain in a Vat? He's watched too much EVA.'

However, it was clear that this Brain in a Vat was still in its developmental stage. The previous hallucinations were merely the result of Huang Yuanli's actions in her dream.

"I-I can 'see' it," Huang Yuanli gritted out. "The Professor is interacting with this thing. He wants to absorb it, but it's resisting, and the Professor is also in pain."

Gao Gong took a deep breath and turned to look. A large amount of 'brain fluid' was already drilling into the sewer.

This thing's reproduction speed was astonishingly fast.

"Let's go, we need to stop it. You lead the way!"

Gao Gong grabbed Huang Yuanli, and she pointed her finger in the direction of the mountain path.

"It's at the Great Elder's temple. The Professor's laboratory is also in that direction."

Gao Gong sprinted along the mountain path. At the same time, a 'ding' sound came from the system panel.

[Mission: Bionic Brain]

Difficulty: Hard

Mission Brief: Professor Han foresaw the arrival of the Beast Tide, but he had no means to control it. In despair, he chose the most extreme method: releasing a sealed research product. He intends to absorb it and become the Sovereign of consciousness.

Mission Objectives: Kill Professor Han / Kill Brain in a Vat / Rescue Professor Han

Mission Reward: Experience +4500, Cable Tribe Favorability +500, Clues to Bionic Technology

Gao Gong's spirits lifted. It was truly 'Bionic Technology'. He knew that one Professional Knowledge Chain contained at least 8 to 10 max-level professional knowledge.

More importantly, in future biological modifications, if Gao Gong still wanted to maintain his human form, he would be unable to do without the help of 'Bionic Technology'.

Not far after they ran, the ground began to shake violently. In their eyes, the ground split open, and tall buildings rose from the earth. The dim yellow radiation atmosphere was replaced by a clear sky. In the sky, magnetic levitation cars flew along their tracks. On the ground, living small animals hopped around, and ordinary people were strolling, chatting, and sitting on benches basking in the sun.

"What is this?" Huang Yuanli murmured.

"This is a city from the Old Civilization Era, and it's also Professor Han's memory. We've been pulled into Professor Han's mind."

Gao Gong shook his head and said, "I guess what Professor Han wants to do is make you live here."

"We, living people, living inside his brain?" Huang Yuanli asked blankly.

"Yeah," Gao Gong shrugged. "This is much better than the cruel reality. A great idea, right?"

Huang Yuanli glanced around at the beautiful surroundings, then took a deep breath. The fragrance of flowers and grass entered her nostrils, making her feel refreshed.

She suddenly looked up and yelled:

"Better my ass!"

"I don't want to become a part of this old man!"

"Use your abilities to sense it. You should have some connection with this Brain in a Vat."

Gao Gong narrowed his eyes and said, "If my guess is correct, you are the second option in Professor Han's plan."

"If he fails, you will be the next vessel."

"That old lunatic!"

Huang Yuanli gritted her teeth, reached out a hand, and tried to sense the feeling she had when she was asleep – that hazy, yet transparent and clean feeling resurfaced.

Gao Gong looked around and saw countless flesh and blood emerging from the tall buildings, covering them, and then sinking.

Everyone was 'frozen'. The next moment, everyone began to melt like burning candles.

Huang Yuanli closed her eyes tightly and walked in one direction. Gao Gong gripped the hilt of his knife and followed closely.

However, as they walked, Huang Yuanli disappeared, and Gao Gong found himself in a training simulation battlefield.

"I'm sorry, I'm not a professional. There's only a VR room for relaxation in the experimental base, so I don't know if the simulation is accurate."

A young man in a white coat appeared beside Gao Gong. The young man smiled sheepishly.

"It's very accurate. It's exactly like the training base of the Security Brigade."

Tapping his foot on the plastic track, Gao Gong turned his head to look at the younger version of 'Professor Han'.

"You deliberately separated me and Huang Yuanli. Your condition is probably not very good, Professor."

Professor Han nodded. "The base has been closed for almost fifty years. I thought that thing had 'crashed'. Merging should have been easy, but I didn't expect it to still be alive, and with such a strong 'appetite'."

Gao Gong said with interest, "So, you and it are now in a state of mutual consumption."

Professor Han replied, "Yes, I've made some arrangements, but this first-mover advantage is constantly being depleted."

"Fortunately, Lily has successfully awakened. Now, the only chance is for me to perish with it, and then let Lily become the new 'brain carrier'."

Gao Gong looked up at the enclosed ceiling. "Do you think she will agree?"

In the sky, Huang Yuanli stepped on the clouds and said excitedly, "Look, we're in the sky."

Huang Yuanli turned her head, only to find that Gao Gong had disappeared at some point. In his place was a dying old man.

Her expression immediately became complicated.

"Lily," Professor Han showed a slight smile and looked down, "Look how beautiful this city beneath our feet is."

"No matter how beautiful it is, it's fake," Huang Yuanli said coldly. "I don't want to become someone else's brain, nor do I want someone else to become my brain."

"That's right, I don't want to either," Professor Han nodded in agreement.

"Then what should we do now?"

Professor Han lowered his head, and the two of them suddenly returned to Scavenger City.

In the city district before them, a mechanical beast war involving tens of thousands of units was raging within the city.

Countless red lanterns drifted in the air, and a bloody flesh carpet spread wildly, engulfing buildings, overpasses, and expressways, burrowing into various Mech-Bio Beasts.

And in front, explosions, radiation energy, and high-temperature smoke were like a continuously exploding small nuclear bomb, emitting terrifying power.

Under its power, mature Metal Nests were destroyed and razed to the ground.

Huang Yuanli stared at the scene in stunned silence.

She recognized this monster!