Training

Art Student led Gray and the other two outside the gene enhancement chamber. The laser scanner on the chamber door swept over the four of them, and the door automatically slid open to either side. Art Student led the three inside.

Rows upon rows of glass pods stood inside the enhancement chamber. They were all gene enhancement drug injection pods. There were a total of 150 injection pods, allowing 150 people to receive gene enhancement drug injections simultaneously.

Art Student looked at Gray and the other two.

"Take off your clothes and stand in front of an injection pod. The pod will open automatically. Once inside, stand directly in the center. The gene enhancement drug injections are fully automated and require no one to operate them. The entire injection process is painless, so there is no need to worry."

Art Student explained the procedure to Gray and the other two in detail.

Gray and the other two followed Art Student's instructions. Once they entered their injection pods, the pod doors automatically closed.

Art Student stood outside the pods and watched the gene enhancement drug injection process.

After Gray and the other two entered the injection pods, the pods first sterilized them. Once sterilization was complete, the gene enhancement drug injections began. Countless tiny needles extended from within the gene enhancement pods, piercing every bone. This would gradually improve the bones' ability to adapt to high-gravity environments during intense training, making them thicker, larger, sturdier, and more resilient.

The gene enhancement drugs would also be injected into every muscle, blood vessel, nerve, tendon, internal organ, fat layer, fascia, and other parts of the body.

After receiving the gene enhancement drugs, every part of the body would improve, allowing humans to break through their genetic limits and become true superhumans.

A nanoscale brainwave neural amplifier would also be installed at the back of each person's neck to strengthen the neural connections between the brain and body. The instant the brain reacted, the limbs would respond even faster.

This equipment could greatly enhance a warrior's reaction speed. When the brain received information from the outside world, the body would react in sync.

The entire gene enhancement drug injection process took one Terra hour to fully strengthen the body.

Hiss.

Three pod doors opened, and Gray and the other two stepped out of their enhancement pods. They stood where they were, repeatedly examining their own bodies and those of their companions, only to find that nothing had changed. Nack asked Art Student in confusion.

"My Lord, why don't I feel any changes in my body?"

Art Student looked at the confused trio and smiled.

"That is normal. It is just like the cell enhancement fluid you took—becoming stronger is a gradual process. The gene enhancement drugs merely help you break through your current genetic restraints and raise your limits. They do not give you great power without effort.

"As you continue training at high intensity, your bodies will gradually become stronger. This will allow you to better control your bodies and prevent you from being unable to control yourselves because your physical abilities suddenly became too strong.

"In this dangerous world, a sudden increase in strength can drive a weak-minded person mad. Earning it through your own efforts is the proper path."

After hearing Art Student's explanation, the three apologized to him.

"My Lord, we are sorry. We had thought too simply."

Art Student waved a hand.

"Alright. It is a good thing that you asked when you had doubts. I will tell you whatever I can. Now you can return and spend more time with your families. Starting tomorrow, you will no longer have time to visit them.

"The rest of your time will be filled with intensive training. This process will probably last around ten years, so cherish the little time left today and spend it with your families."

"Yes."

Gray and the other two gave Art Student a slight bow before turning and leaving the gene enhancement chamber.

After receiving the gene enhancement drugs, the three began grueling training beyond what ordinary people could imagine from the next morning onward.

In the gravity training room, Gray and the other two adapted to the sudden changes in their bodies. Every part of their bodies felt as though it were weighed down by enormous objects. Breathing became difficult, and walking became sluggish.

Gray and the other two began all kinds of basic training in a fivefold-gravity environment, starting with the simplest task of walking before moving on to running.

Gradually, Gray and the other two began to notice the changes brought about by training in the gravity room.

Their bodies grew taller, their strength increased, their speed became faster, their endurance more lasting, and their lung capacity greater.

Having felt these changes, the three began training even more diligently. After intense training every day, they had no spare energy left to learn about changes in the outside world. They returned to their dormitory and fell asleep the moment their heads hit the pillow.

At five o'clock every morning, Terra time, they woke up on schedule and began another day of grueling training. After training until midnight, they collapsed into bed.

Time was like sand—impossible to hold, forever slipping through one's fingers.

More than three months later, another group of newcomers joined the gravity training. They were all acquaintances of Gray's, people he had personally recruited.

While chatting during training, Gray and the others learned that Mo Tuo and several others had also gone out to recruit a group of people and brought them back. More newcomers had joined the base, and its population was steadily increasing.

Mo Tuo also told Gray some news. Among their batch, many people had been incompatible with the gene enhancement drugs during the Space Marine selection. Most had chosen to join the Navy, while a small number had chosen to become part of the Galactic Defense Force. The training grounds for those other two branches were elsewhere, and Mo Tuo and the others did not know much more.

The Galactic Defense Force was a new military branch established by Art Student, specifically meant to protect the star systems he would conquer in the future.

Art Student divided the military into separate branches. The Space Marines and Navy were responsible for conquering cities and territories.

The Defense Force was responsible for protecting conquered territories, training recruits, and providing reserves for the Space Marines and Navy.

As the days passed, the population of Art Student's base steadily grew, and the size of all three military branches continued to expand.

The number of Space Marines also continued to increase, and their training intensity grew stronger as well. From the initial fivefold gravity, it gradually rose to twentyfold gravity.

It took a full five years before the Space Marines could move freely even in a twentyfold-gravity environment.

Once the Space Marines' physical capabilities reached their peak, they would gradually begin combat and firearms training. Once they could skillfully master all kinds of weapons, Art Student would grant them armor: the improved Star Power Armor that Art Student had modeled after the Imperium's.

Many thanks to Nan Huai, adoptive father, who loves Yanggao apricot preserves, for the likes. (/≧▽≦/)