Fusion Toxin

"You need my help?"

Senor looked at the person who arrived, surprised.

"I need some deadly toxins for research."

Abel said earnestly.

"Research? This kind of thing is too dangerous. That reason doesn't convince me."

Senor exhaled smoke, unmoved.

"Alright, actually, I read about a treatment method called 'fighting poison with poison' in a book. So I was wondering, since Lead Sickness is such a difficult toxin to remove, is it possible that another potent poison exists that can counteract it?"

Senor's hand, holding the cigarette, suddenly paused, and his expression turned serious.

Although the explanation sounded completely unreliable, there was a sliver of logic and possibility to it.

But the chance of finding it by random luck was too small, wasn't it?

"Are you sure?"

"It's just for research. Who would joke with their own life?"

Senor was finally persuaded. "I know where to get a few deadly toxins. Never mind, I'll get them for you tomorrow. Some of the more potent poisons are harder to obtain, and quite rare, especially in the North Sea. I can only try my luck through family channels."

Abel was overjoyed. Coming to the real man was the right choice!

"This is enough. Finding even one would be great. It's for research anyway, so I'll take the rest slowly."

Senor nodded. "Then there's no problem. Wait for my news."

"Thanks. I owe you one."

"No need. I just find you somewhat agreeable."

Senor waved his hand and left, very casually.

Abel, however, made a mental note to repay him when the opportunity arose.

Senor truly lived up to his word as a man of action. The very next night, he returned, travel-worn, bringing the deadly toxins Abel was so eager for.

"This tube is King Cobra Toxin, extremely potent. This one is Blue Ring Octopus Toxin, a highly effective neurotoxin."

"Since you needed them urgently, I could only find these two relatively common potent poisons for now."

Abel took the precious two tubes of toxin, no longer offering thanks. No amount of words could compare to expressing his gratitude through actions.

"These two toxins are enough for now. You've been a great help."

Senor looked at the excited Abel, hesitated for a moment, then couldn't help but say, "Even though I got the stuff for you, don't do anything reckless. There's still time, and maybe you'll really find a Devil Fruit that can cure your illness."

"Your comforting skills are terrible, but I heard you. I won't do anything without a sure chance."

Senor rubbed his nose. ".I'm leaving."

Abel couldn't help but chuckle a couple of times, which only made Senor leave even faster.

Once he was alone in the room, the smile on Abel's face vanished without a trace, his expression becoming serious and solemn.

He had always felt that the evolution of his [Ghoul Heart] was a distant prospect. Even if he obtained the right potent poison, he wouldn't dare gamble with his life.

But the situation was different now.

His orange-tier talent, [Soul of the Samurai], gave him the confidence to try!

As long as he was careful and prepared, the chance of success was high. And even if he failed, he could still save himself.

Coupled with the [Salamander Poison] he had previously bought from the System Store, he now had all three deadly toxins.

To be on the safe side, he didn't rashly inject all three toxins into his heart at once. Instead, he chose the King Cobra Toxin first, which seemed relatively easier to fuse with.

He took out a prepared syringe, drew some of the venom, gritted his teeth, and injected it directly into his heart!

This was an act akin to suicide!

But as the King Cobra Toxin entered his heart, his talent, [Ghoul Heart], immediately reacted, as if stimulated, launching a frantic offensive.

"Ugh..."

Abel clutched his chest and collapsed onto the bed in pain.

His heart began to swell and necrotize, its function rapidly failing.

Then he started to feel difficulty breathing, oxygen deprivation!

In just a few short seconds, he triggered the 'Severe Injury' state of [Soul of the Samurai].

However, the tripled combat power that surged within him was useless at this moment, because his enemy was the potent poison in his body.

But at this point, his Gourmet Cells suddenly became unwilling.

As the King Cobra Toxin circulated, Abel's Gourmet Cells were undoubtedly provoked and attacked.

So, these Gourmet Cells immediately attempted to evolve to the point of immunity to this toxin.

This process wasn't fast, but it further hindered the toxin's destructive effects.

The Purple Talent [Rapid Digestion] was also stimulated, and it even began to try to digest the toxins in his stomach and intestines.

Even Abel himself didn't expect that this series of chain reactions would occur just as he started fusing the first toxin.

This was his body saving itself!

Abel had originally planned to immediately do three sit-ups at the fastest speed to complete the 'resurrection' once he entered a 'severely injured state' and triggered the death immunity effect, entering a 'near-death state'.

But now, apart from the process being very torturous, he had unexpectedly managed to endure it.

After a few more minutes of torment, the [Ghoul Heart] finally completed the devouring and fusion of the king cobra venom.

All the toxins that had spread with the blood immediately retracted rapidly into the heart, as if nothing had happened.

But it was indeed different.

Not only had the [Ghoul Heart] completed one-third of its evolution, but with the accelerated work of the Gourmet Cells, Abel's body had also generated some antibodies to resist the toxins.

This was an unexpected joy!

Because the toxin fusion was complete, the heart also returned to normal, allowing Abel to escape the 'severely injured state'.

So he decided to take a break and wait for the 24-hour talent cooldown to pass before continuing to fuse the next toxin.

Fortunately, he played it safe, otherwise he would have almost been in serious trouble.

After 24 hours, the fusion of the blue-ringed octopus venom went relatively smoothly.

Although he still suffered quite a bit, with the experience from the first time, it could only be described as a close call, and he didn't even trigger the 'severely injured state'.

But just as he was about to press on and inject the last toxin—[Salamander Poison]—into his heart, he almost failed.

The potency of the [Salamander Poison] was even more ferocious than Abel had anticipated.

In the end, it was only thanks to one of the [Soul of the Samurai]'s death immunity effects that he finally succeeded in devouring and fusing it.

It was also fortunate that he saved the [Salamander Poison] for last. By adapting to the first two toxins, his body had developed a certain level of poison resistance, otherwise he might have failed the fusion in the end.

After succeeding, Abel finally breathed a sigh of relief, feeling somewhat exhausted from the ordeal.