Cheng Ze stood at the edge of the factory rooftop. The circuit board embedded in his chest had grown hotter and hotter, its edges spreading black lines through his flesh until it seemed to have become part of his body.
The mind of an organic being was like a candle flickering in the wind, suppressed and growing weaker by the moment.
Memories from the past slowly shattered, like a piggy bank smashed on the ground, its coins—each one a symbol of something precious—spilling out with a clatter.
Faces flashed through his mind: his parents, whom he had dragged down with him; Teacher Liang, who hadn't had so much white hair back then; Abiao, who had run with him in the Righteous Fist Society...
His consciousness flashed back to Jiú Sōng Port, to the shipping container where Qin Lihao kept his collection. It had been filled with all kinds of treasures.
Gold bars, cash, drugs, erotic photos and videotapes... every indulgence the rich could want.
He could imagine Qin Lihao often coming here alone, sitting on that reddish-brown leather sofa and savoring his successful, satisfying life.
"Why? Why could they live like this, while we had to scrape by on leftovers?"
Jealousy and anger welled up, urging Cheng Ze to set that fire.
He wanted to burn all these wonderful things to ashes, to destroy every last bit of them!
"Flesh is weak..."
Cheng Ze stopped suppressing the negative emotions in his heart. Suddenly, he heard a low murmur. He couldn't tell where it came from; it seemed to echo from every direction, ringing in his ears.
"Use your blood! Awaken me! Use your blood—awaken me!"
Cheng Ze did as he was told and performed a strange Esoteric Cult ritual.
Afterward, he obtained a "Mechanical Heart."
"Flesh is weak."
Cheng Ze