Longevity Gene Type 1, Side Quest Reward

"Longevity Gene Type 1," Side Quest Reward

Meng Yi's "illegal inheritance" of Umbrella Corporation took one day. Disseminating the meeting's information took three days. Blackwatch Troops spent another two days purging Raccoon City.

The rookie Selection Dungeon only gave them a single short month. Now, one-fifth of that time had already passed.

As Raccoon City turned into a blazing inferno, with Blackwatch Troops driving tanks and armored vehicles through the streets, hundreds of Attack Helicopters filling the skies, and soldiers venting their anger and frustration upon Zombie Infected through artillery fire, Meng Yi, deep within The Hive beneath the city, had not been idle either.

He had packaged and sealed the research memories of every Scientific Researcher in Raccoon City's underground Hive, including Dr. Isaacs, within his own "Memory Palace," while also developing a new virus.

Across all worlds, power could be exhausted and equipment could wear out, but knowledge alone endured forever.

For now, Meng Yi had merely swallowed most of Umbrella Corporation's research achievements whole. He had yet to sort through, compile, and integrate them into knowledge truly his own.

Even so, it was an immensely valuable fortune, one that did not require him to spend Paradise Coins or even more precious permissions to have it "certified" by the Selection Dungeon.

Inside a Sterile Lab in Raccoon City's underground Hive, every single piece of equipment was worth millions of dollars.

Wearing nitrile gloves, a respirator, and a White Coat, Meng Yi carefully manipulated a culture dish through the lens of a high-precision microscope using microscopic Psionic Power.

"The Progenitor Virus development data is all here. The C-Virus, T-Virus, G-Virus, and T/G Synthetic Virus are also fairly complete. The Veronica Virus only has a rough description of the general concept. As for the Abyss Virus and Ouroboros Virus, there's nothing."

"Alexia Ashford at the Antarctic Research Facility held something back. She never uploaded the T-Veronica Virus to headquarters."

"Heh. That woman had some cleverness, but not much."

Meng Yi multitasked, pondering while using Psionic Power to interfere within the Microcosm Domain and accelerate the fusion of the Progenitor Virus strain and queen ant cells.

The virus synthesis formulas stored within the Memory Palace were comprehensive.

The T-Veronica Virus was created from the Progenitor Virus, the Ancient Queen Ant, and the DNA of certain plants.

Raccoon City's underground Hive had abundant material reserves and a relatively complete collection of stored samples. Only the designation "Ancient Queen Ant" was somewhat vague.

Although he did not know exactly what material Alexia Ashford had used.

As long as he knew the approximate outward effects, there was no need to follow the original process step by step.

"Ancient Queen Ant sounds impressive, but its DNA map isn't all that different from a fire ant queen's."

In Resident Evil: Code Veronica, Alexia Ashford's blood spontaneously combusted upon contact with air, allowing her to attack with flames.

Coincidentally, Firefly had also used flame-based attacks against B.O.W.s a few days ago. Their manifestations in the Material Realm were similar to Alexia's authentic T-Veronica Virus.

As for the azure cracks caused by Firefly's Entropy Loss Syndrome, he could explain those away through shallow fusion, deep fusion, and perfect fusion.

That's right, Meng Yi was developing the T-Veronica Virus to patch up the enormous lie he had spun.

Putting himself in their shoes.

Meng Yi did not believe those Elder Vampires would dare to put themselves in danger first.

They would send younger members of their families into danger, watch the entire process through the network, and only step out from behind the scenes once they were certain it was safe.

Therefore, he needed both the flame attacks to support his lie and the Thought Seal to use on those Young Vampires.

Several hours later, microscopic interference through Psionic Power relied on Might Makes Right, forcibly blending the Progenitor Virus strain with fire ant queen genes.

Yet the moment the Psionic Power dissipated, the fragile original balance would immediately collapse.

"When the T-Veronica Virus loses control, it displays outward symptoms like flowering and Vines. There are many categories to choose from."

Meng Yi's brows furrowed slightly before relaxing.

"What I need is controllability and reproducibility, not temporary 'power.'"

"Those Elder Vampires crave longevity. Since the modified Veronica Virus will serve as one part of the 'balancer,' I'll use plants from the Longevity Tree category."

Ginkgo trees, spruce trees, locust trees, and the like were all types of Longevity Trees.

Theoretically speaking, the immortal jellyfish could also be used, but animal-based materials were far less stable than plant-based ones.

"Plants that can withstand high-temperature flames... heat-resistant, sun-resistant... geraniums? Lotus flowers? Bougainvillea? Jasmine? Rain lilies? Trailing peonies? Sunflowers?"

Meng Yi could only choose from the materials currently available to him.

He added ginkgo to the double-gene blended strain, then added heat-resistant flowers.

Failure—

Bang!

Failure—

Experiment after experiment, failure after failure.

Meng Yi remained calm. How could scientific research succeed without experiencing failure?

If it could succeed casually and effortlessly, that would not be scientific research. That would be cheating!

Four days had passed since the meeting. The ordinary soldiers of Blackwatch Troops were still clearing Raccoon City's surface, while Meng Yi completed his modified Veronica Virus.

After repeated verification.

The Composite Virus created from the Progenitor Virus, Spruce Tree Gene, fire ant queen gene, and Sunflower Gene had the highest stability.

One of Albert Wesker's clones was anesthetized and sent into Meng Yi's laboratory.

The genes of the immensely popular villain Uncle Wesker were vastly different from those of ordinary people. Since he would be able to fuse with the more complex Ouroboros Virus in the future, he should have no problem serving as a Test Subject. If it failed, then he would merely die.

Wesker's clone was placed upon the cold test bench.

Meng Yi's eyes were as still as an ancient well, as though he were calmly gazing at nothing more than a pile of flesh.

The syringe pierced the Test Subject's vein, injecting the red-and-green strain solution.

C+-grade Psionic Power went Full Firepower, spreading through the Test Subject's limbs and bones in an instant to assist, monitor, and record the fusion between the strain and the subject's genes.

"Chairman Bai, will it succeed?"

Dr. Isaacs, who was assisting at the side, asked with slight concern.

Meng Yi Glanced at Wesker's original body standing guard at the door and replied in a Flat intonation, "It had better succeed. Otherwise, what lies on the test bench later won't be just one clone."

Hearing that, Dr. Isaacs also Looked towards Wesker by the door.

The immensely popular villain Uncle Wesker—no, the weak, pitiful, and helpless little Wesker.

Unable to endure the looks from the two Scientific Researchers that seemed ready to dissect him, little Wesker instinctively shuddered.

"Chairman Bai, you haven't slept for four days and nights. How about you get some rest? I'll keep watch here."

Remembering Wesker's earlier flattery, Dr. Isaacs tried to smooth things over with a suggestion.

"You? Forget it. I don't trust you."

Meng Yi replied coldly, then kept his Mouth shut and said no more.

The remaining energy in this frail body was all being used to sustain Psionic Power's interference in the Microcosm Domain. How could he have the mind to chatter with some grown man?

Twenty-two hours later, Blackwatch Troops completed their mission on schedule, and the light of success also shone upon the underground Hive laboratory.

After perfectly fusing the new virus, Meng Yi ordered Wesker's clone to demonstrate its new ability.

The Experiment Subject sliced open a finger. The blood that spilled out spontaneously ignited, while web-like patterns resembling plant veins emerged along the flame-wreathed wrist, greatly increasing its resistance to fire.

The flame projection ability had been replicated!

The Experiment Subject's appearance, which had looked to be just over thirty, now seemed closer to someone in their twenties.

Within the Microcosm Domain beneath the high-precision microscope, the Telomeres at the ends of the Experiment Subject's eukaryotic cell chromosomes had lengthened considerably. Its estimated theoretical life span limit had risen to two hundred years.

The grand promise of "longevity" had been drawn!

"Oh my God! Is this a miracle?!"

"Dr. Bai, I've never admired anyone in my life. Your talent has utterly convinced me!"

Dr. Isaacs praised him sincerely, clicking his tongue in amazement as he examined Wesker's clone with an intensity in his eyes that surpassed even the way he looked at popular Hollywood actresses.

Having gone five days and nights without sleep while manipulating Psionic Power for so long, Meng Yi was utterly exhausted.

"Red Queen, suspend the records. Seal the relevant Experiment Data, and remember to edit the video files properly."

A holographic projection condensed before him. The red-clad girl bowed. "Yes."

Meng Yi let out a long breath and waved away the assistance offered by Wesker's original body, Wesker's Experiment Subject, and Dr. Isaacs.

"I'm going to sleep first. Wake me when our 'guests' arrive to visit."

The AI Red Queen Nodded Slightly and obediently said, "Yes! The chairman's schedule has been updated."

"Dr. Bai, what should this 'new creation' be called?"

Reluctantly tearing his gaze away from the sample on the test bench, Dr. Isaacs called out to Meng Yi.

"A name?"

Suppressing his dazed state, Meng Yi thought for a moment. "Virus doesn't sound good. Let's call it Longevity Gene Type 1."

[Notice: Having thoroughly mastered Umbrella Corporation's knowledge, passive skills—chemistry, medicine, and biology—have improved. Current level: Mastery-Grade → Specialized-Grade.]

[Notice: Developed a new virus—"Longevity Gene Type 1."]

[Name: Longevity Gene Type 1

Creator: White Devil (Meng Yi)

Evaluation: F+-grade body-enhancement agent

(Original Overall Evaluation: E--grade viral agent)

Effects: ① Minor fire resistance; ② Spontaneous Combustion Blood; ③ Life Extension (theoretical lifespan limit: 200 years); ④ Enhanced self-healing; ⑤ F+ Body Strength (Human Body Limit); ⑥ None (viral transmission capability removed by the creator); ⑦ None (queen-ant-level dominion over viral Infected removed by the creator).]

[Notice: Slightly altered the world's overall situation. Obtained: Grade E Evaluation ×1 + 2,000 Paradise Coins.]

[Notice: Even outside the Selection Dungeon, Player 'White Devil' may spend Paradise Coins to purchase materials from Evolution Paradise and produce it independently.]

Sure enough, knowledge itself has no right or wrong. Used for good, it becomes good; used for evil, it becomes evil.

Meng Yi Sneered inwardly. He needed a good night's sleep.

The complete Longevity Gene Type 1 had an Overall Evaluation as high as E-, but Meng Yi clearly would not be satisfied with that level.

Type 2, Type 3, Type 4... this was only the beginning.

As long as he broadened his horizons, the Selection Dungeon was a great treasure trove.