Fusion T-Virus [Seeking Follow-up!]

"The T-Virus triggers an extraordinarily intense metabolism in its host. Such intense metabolism means an immense energy demand, which causes side effects in the infected, such as a ravenous appetite and loss of reason. At the same time, that rapid metabolism also grants the host the ability to heal wounds quickly."

"Ordinary human cells simply cannot sustain the T-Virus's consumption. Alice was able to eliminate those side effects because of her special constitution. At the start of merging with the T-Virus, she could reduce its consumption and activity, gradually improving her physique until she could adapt before slowly restoring its effects. That was why I initially believed her fusion to be a perfect fusion."

"But you are different. Based solely on the information from your blood research test report, the energy contained within your body is enough to supply the T-Virus's consumption. In theory, you are the T-Virus's perfect match!"

Dr. Ashford became slightly excited as he spoke.

"So, I can inject the T-Virus to strengthen myself?"

After asking that, Ren Ze tried his best to remain calm and not act too rashly.

"What I just said is only theory. I'm still somewhat concerned that some accident may occur during the actual process."

Although they usually got along like friends, Ren Ze was, after all, the true leader. Dr. Ashford feared that something might go wrong.

"Don't worry. What I want to know now is this: if I successfully merge with the T-Virus, will I become a walking source of contamination and cause the biohazard crisis to spread again?"

"That possibility is unlikely. After all, my daughter and Alice are both considered deeply infected, yet the T-Virus in their bodies has had no effect on others. But the specifics will still depend on the test report after the fusion."

"True. Purify the T-Virus stock solution first. I'll think it over some more."

Ren Ze did everything he could to keep himself from being blinded by the temptation of merging with the T-Virus. He ended the conversation, intending to calm down properly first.

Before leaving, Ren Ze took his own blood research report with him. Even if he might not understand it, he could study it slowly, or even have the artificial intelligence analyze the report's authenticity and the feasibility of merging with the T-Virus.

As always, Ren Ze would not easily place his life in someone else's hands. Even if, both in the movie and from what he had seen so far, Dr. Ashford truly had been coerced by the Umbrella Corporation, what if?

Every scientist was a potential madman. Even if the doctor did not intend to harm him, what if he wanted to witness the scientific miracle of Ren Ze merging with the T-Virus and had exaggerated certain claims?

After all, the T-Virus was no joke. The purified T-Virus stock solution produced in a laboratory was worlds apart from the T-Virus carried by Zombies outside.

Dr. Isaacs had combined serum from T-Virus-infected Zombies with Alice's clones, creating a batch of mutated Zombies. After being bitten in Las Vegas, they mutated so severely that even Anti-toxin Serum could not save them, turning them into monsters neither human nor ghost. Perhaps that thing had been the G-Virus?

Though he possessed formidable strength and a budget version of an immortal body, Ren Ze still shuddered at the thought of looking like that!

Whether strength was great or not was a matter of the current version!

Whether one was handsome or not was a matter for life!

If not for his utterly ordinary face, would Wu Yazi have taken a liking to him and passed down all his knowledge? Would Alice have fallen for him so quickly?

Ren Ze was utterly convinced that this face was the greatest cheat he had gained from traveling through the myriad worlds!

Whether it was purifying and preparing the T-Virus stock solution or modifying the artificial intelligence's permissions, both required time. Since he had nothing else to do, Ren Ze took the opportunity to learn some knowledge related to biological genetics.

"Ren! Have you lost your mind?!"

Alice hurriedly shoved open the door, her face full of urgency.

"The doctor told you? Don't worry. The doctor also said that, in theory, I can merge perfectly with the T-Virus."

Seeing Alice's anxious expression, Ren Ze felt warmth in his heart and comforted her.

"But theory is only theory! What if something goes wrong? What if the T-Virus mutates inside your body? Ren, I don't want you to merge with the T-Virus. I'm worried about you... I'm afraid of losing you!"

As she spoke, Alice threw herself at him and hugged Ren Ze.

With his arms around Alice's slim, toned waist, Ren Ze instead thought of something a famous person had once said: the best way to persuade a woman was to persuade her!

Alice felt a little guilty, wondering if her restraint over the past few days had led Ren Ze to consider something as dangerous as merging with the T-Virus. So, unlike usual, she did not use Psychic Power to stop him and let his hands roam as they pleased.

As Ren Ze's movements became increasingly excessive, Alice stopped indulging him and rose up to fight back.

Clearly, it was another evenly matched battle. Ren Ze still had a long way to go before he could persuade her.

Ren Ze held Alice in his arms and told her everything he had discussed with Dr. Ashford. He also shared his theories of cultivation with Alice, leaving out the parts about traveling between worlds.

"That's the situation. My strength came from cultivating martial arts. You practice Lingbo Micro-steps often, so you should be able to feel that force arising inside your body, right?"

"That's right. Every time I finish practicing Lingbo Micro-steps, I can feel a faint energy being produced within my body."

"Exactly. Cultivating true qi requires accumulation over time. Even years of arduous training cannot compare to your current strength, so I never taught you internal cultivation methods."

"I once had a master, and he taught me most of my martial arts. Before he died, he transferred all the true qi he had cultivated over more than seventy years into my body. That was how I gained my current strength. But I can feel that this path has reached its end, so I must seek new power to temper myself. The T-Virus is that opportunity! I also need to personally verify whether my theories match reality!"

Ren Ze's calm words carried unwavering resolve.

As for why he had not taught Alice the Genetic Energy Cultivation Method, it was because even his own cultivation speed had slowed greatly in this world, turning it into a rather useless technique.

After hearing Ren Ze's speculation about the system of power, Alice fell silent. She understood his determination and did not try to persuade him further, only hugging him tightly.

That was the part he could tell her. The part he could not was that a warrior sniper was still waiting for him in Devouring World. If his strength could not improve drastically, he would be stuck in the biohazard world for a long time. He was unwilling to accept that!

If he were willing to accept it, he might still be at Spirit Vulture Palace on Misty Peak right now...

After that, Alice completely let herself go with Ren Ze. Aside from continuing to train those girls during the day, she spent every night clinging to Ren Ze as they explored the intricacies of the various forms of the Tianshan Zhemei Hand.

One week later, in the underground base laboratory.

"This is the T-Virus stock solution?"

After spending a week gaining a preliminary understanding of all the T-Virus's characteristics, along with the artificial intelligence's renewed analysis of his blood research report, Ren Ze confirmed that Dr. Ashford had not deceived him.

Although Ren Ze had made up his mind, when he picked up the T-Virus stock solution before him and examined it closely, the deep blue within the test tube seeming to speak of its mystery and danger, his heart still trembled slightly.

"Certainly. If you're ready, the experiment can begin immediately," Dr. Ashford replied.

"Then let's begin!"

He let out a soft breath. He was already here—what was there to be afraid of?

Ren Ze lay down on the hospital bed and let the assistants attach various life-sign monitoring instruments to his body, though thankfully, the nutrient injection process was skipped.

Outside the laboratory window, Alice watched anxiously as the dangerous blue T-Virus stock solution was slowly injected into Ren Ze's body. She covered her mouth tightly, afraid of making even the slightest sound.

After the T-Virus stock solution entered his body, Ren Ze initially felt only a little hot and numb, with an itchy sensation. He was even so bored that he almost laughed, raising an eyebrow at Alice through the window.

"How is he?"

Alice asked Dr. Ashford.

"Judging from the monitored vital-sign data, everything is normal. The T-Virus is slowly integrating."

Dr. Ashford carefully reviewed the various monitoring readings before answering.

Ten minutes later, Ren Ze felt as if his entire body were soaking in a hot spring, so comfortable that he nearly moaned.

Thirty minutes later, a sudden burst of excruciating pain struck him. Ren Ze felt as though his brain had exploded on the spot, but before he could cry out in pain, he instantly lost consciousness.

"Doctor! Something's wrong! He passed out! Take a look!"

Alice, who had been watching Ren Ze's condition the entire time, naturally noticed it and hurriedly alerted the doctor.

"Don't panic. All the data is normal. The T-Virus has finished integrating. My hypothesis was correct—Ren Ze's body has fused perfectly with the T-Virus, with no adverse reactions."

Dr. Ashford answered after examining the monitoring data.

"Then why did he suddenly pass out?"

Alice's expression relaxed slightly after hearing that, but she was still worried.

"That isn't something the monitoring data can reveal. My guess is that, like you, the T-Virus fusion and modification increased his brain development."

Dr. Ashford pondered for a moment before continuing, "Unlike your special constitution, let me put it this way: when the T-Virus first entered your body, it effectively fused by only ten percent, while the rest remained dormant. After that ten percent modified and strengthened your physique, the remaining portion gradually fused as well. It was a gradual process, which is why your strength has been slowly increasing every day without any major negative reactions, until the fusion is finally complete."

"But Ren Ze is different. The energy within his cells is sufficient to support the T-Virus's high energy consumption, so he fused with the T-Virus at one hundred percent right away. Once the fusion was complete, the sudden increase in brain development would have caused considerable stimulation to the human body. His loss of consciousness should merely be a protective response from the brain."

"Is that so? Then when will he wake up?"

Alice pressed on.

"That, I can't say for certain. It depends on when his body adapts, and there's no way to determine the timing. Alice, go take care of your work first. I'll watch over things here. I'll notify you the moment the boss wakes up."

"No. I'm going to wait until he wakes up."

Alice shook her head, declining the doctor's kind offer.