With Archbishop Platin's retreat, the million-plus Zerglings left behind in Griffin City-State all became Green's Zombie Hoppers.
Green's forces now numbered more than six million.
Most were Zombie Hoppers and Zombie Magic Beast Soldiers, but their sheer numbers were formidable. As cannon fodder in a large-scale war, they would play a vital role. Paired with the Marine Armor Legion, they could make full use of the Marine Armor's firepower.
The only drawback was that the Zombie Hoppers and Zombie Magic Beast Soldiers had disappointingly short lifespans.
Professor Arkansas estimated that Magic Beast Soldiers could survive for at most three years after becoming Plague Zombies. Zerglings, with their simpler biology, would actually last longer—roughly five years.
After that, the Number One Virus inside them would lose its potency from reproducing too many times.
Solving the problem would require further improvements to the Number One Virus's genetic structure and a way to increase the limit on its cells' divisions.
The task once again fell to Professor Arkansas.
To support the work, Green removed Professor Arkansas from Black Claw's leadership and established an independent research institution dedicated to biotechnology.
It was another sign of how seriously Green took the Biochemical Virus.
For the first time, Black Claw felt challenged by a fellow researcher.
Of the three—Black Claw, Dr. Vincent, and Professor Arkansas—Professor Arkansas had joined Green first, but his talent and research ability were the weakest.
Professor Arkansas was a well-known scientist in his field, yet he was not especially gifted. He had climbed to his position through years of diligent study.
Black Claw and Dr. Vincent, by contrast, were both geniuses. As Green's chief scientist, Black Claw had never paid Professor Arkansas much mind. Dr. Vincent was the one he guarded against.
He had never expected Professor Arkansas to seize this opportunity