Led by Gaius, Shen Jun arrived at the observation deck. It was located directly above the first-level testing grounds, allowing a clear view of the test subjects.
"Although these Alien Beasts have unimaginably low affinity for psionic energy and can only be crudely stitched together from multiple organisms, making them far less capable in combat than true hybrids, we also applied Abathur's mutagenic genes to them, producing new changes."
Gaius walked to the front of the observation deck, where a holographic display appeared before him. After making a few adjustments, the projection vanished. Two doors in the testing grounds opened, each connected to a separate holding cell. The doors to those cells then slowly rose as well.
Shen Jun watched the testing grounds, greatly anticipating the hybrids Gaius had created.
"Roar!" "Roar!"
Two roars, impossible to identify as belonging to any particular species, rang out. Heavy footsteps followed as two hybrid beasts crawled from their cells, releasing furious howls.
These two hybrid beasts had been pieced together from different Alien Beasts. Each incorporated no fewer than three species. Their sole common trait was the thick layer of Chitinous Armor covering their bodies—the most typical kind of heavy Zerg carapace, exceptionally tough.
The one on the left had a rhinoceros-like head, a hippopotamus-like body, and a crocodile-like tail.
The other looked even stranger. Overall, it resembled an enormous wolf, except its front claws were Sabertooth Tiger claws, its hind claws resembled those of a leopard, and its tail was slender and flexible like a snake's.
Ugly, terrifying, savage.
That was Shen Jun's first impression.
Rather than hybrids, they were more suited to be called monsters.
Both monsters were over twenty meters long and nearly ten meters tall. The force of their impact at full charge could even punch through the hull of a Void Ray. Only extremely high-strength Psionic Alloy could withstand such an impact.
It was worth mentioning that, as the Sien Star System underwent extensive mining and exploration, the Protoss discovered vast deposits of an unknown dark-element metal. Comparing it with information He Xi had provided about the Super God Universe revealed it to be a rare resource called Dark Silver. Dark Silver itself was not an especially advanced material, but if enormous quantities of it were compressed and refined to the limit, it could produce the hardest substance in the Super God Universe: Dark Templar Metal. However, the technology for refining Dark Templar Metal was currently held only by the angels, and they would never reveal it.
Weapons forged from Dark Templar Metal possessed the greatest sharpness and hardness in the Known Universe. Yet precisely because of its overly stable material structure, it could not be processed in any way beyond physical reshaping. In other words, it could only serve as a pure cold weapon, unlike a Flame Sword, which could activate Heavenly Blade Judgment...
Kerasul conducted a detailed study of Dark Silver and attempted to combine it with psionic materials. The results were unexpectedly promising. Dark Silver had a high compatibility with psionic energy, and thus super Psionic Alloy infused with Dark Silver came into being.
Having undergone inhumane genetic modifications, the hybrid beasts were nowhere near as fortunate as the Elephant Men used to test angel Super Genes, whose brain development could still improve. Instead, the hybrid beasts' brains had atrophied, turning them completely into mindless animals.
The moment the two stitched monsters saw their cell doors open, they charged out like lunatics, raced through the passageway into the testing grounds, and slammed into each other.
Bang!
A collision like thunder resounded as the two hybrid Alien Beasts were both sent flying into the super Psionic Alloy walls. They then roared and charged at one another again, biting and tearing at each other.
The rhinoceros-horned hybrid charged recklessly forward, its sharp horn piercing the wolf-shaped hybrid's carapace. However, little blood flowed out, showing that the wound was not deep. Then the other beast bit down on its forelimb, and blood immediately poured out.
Shen Jun and Gaius stood atop the platform, looking down at the bloody battle.
"Test Subject No. 1 was given the horn of a rhinoceros beast. Its straight-line charging force is significantly above the average of the other test subjects, but it cannot fully penetrate Zerg carapace. This trait is unsatisfactory. Its tail has decent power—three strikes can shatter carapace, so it passes. As expected, the massive body of the hippopotamus-like beast provides greater protection, but the carapace on its limbs is somewhat thin, and its mobility is too poor... The drawbacks outweigh the advantages. Unqualified!"
As Gaius watched the constantly refreshing data on the screen and observed the live battle, he gave his assessment.
"Test Subject No. 2 has astonishing bite force. Its flexible tail can easily strangle prey, its front claws are sharp enough to serve as weapons, and the hind limbs of the two-headed leopard beast provide powerful jumping ability. It is highly mobile... Taken as a whole, it is relatively perfect. Qualified!"
Having made his judgment, Gaius had no desire to watch the two beasts fight to the bitter end. He directly ordered the specialized staff to operate the testing grounds. A strangely shaped black-and-red cannon barrel extended from above and fired a Micro Pulse Burst Bomb at the test subject deemed unqualified, instantly blasting it to pieces.
The qualified test subject, meanwhile, was forcibly warped by a warp beam to another laboratory for subsequent testing and modification.
"Hierarch, there are currently more than thirty qualified test subjects. This means we can produce thirty cannon-fodder combat units. Their combat strength can rival lower-tier Zerg forces, and they can likewise be produced in great numbers."
Shen Jun nodded in understanding and praised, "You've done well, Gaius."
Although Gaius said there were more than thirty qualified subjects, that did not mean they had only conducted thirty-some experiments. There were probably hundreds of failed types.
After finally stressing to Gaius that progress in cracking the angel Super Gene had to be accelerated, Shen Jun left the underground research base.
Thinking back, twenty years ago, he had still been someone who had just stepped off the battlefield and could be sentimental. Now, he felt no psychological burden whatsoever over such inhumane experiments. Shen Jun gave a self-mocking smile. Had his temperament changed that drastically?
He could comfort himself by saying that the experimental subjects were merely beasts, but that was meaningless and unnecessary. The ruler of a civilization could not cling to such things. For the prosperity and strength of civilization, being somewhat unscrupulous was not necessarily a bad thing. At the very least, Shen Jun had not crossed his own bottom line.
After leaving the underground base, Shen Jun returned to his residence. Before long, He Xi hurried over.
"Shen Jun, where exactly did you go? I've been looking for you forever!"
He Xi glared at Shen Jun with a reproachful look.
How could Shen Jun possibly let He Xi know about the underground base? He could only brush it off. "That can wait. Why were you looking for me? Tired of staying on Aiur and want to go home? I already said you didn't need to come say goodbye to me specially..."
"Oh?" He Xi raised an eyebrow. "You're still hoping this old lady will leave?"
"Quit being so full of yourself. Do you think I'd come looking for you specifically?"
Judging from He Xi's expression, she seemed quite displeased. Shen Jun did not know what he had said wrong, but he knew that keeping quiet was best right now.
"It's Queen Keisha who wants to see you. She has something major she wants to discuss with you!"
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