Anti-Cells

Seeing Li Luo's confused expression, Station Master Liang sighed and explained, "These are Theseus Cells. Some people also call them Anti-Cells."

Theseus Cells?

Anti-Cells?

What were those?

Hearing the name, Li Luo picked up the electronic screen and began searching.

Mo Ling also hurriedly looked at the information on the screen.

Theseus Cells.

They were a lifeform discovered only recently.

Why had they only been discovered after so long exploring the Abyss?

Because they were simply too well-hidden.

They had always existed, yet no one had ever found them, until something strange happened at the Seventh Monitoring Station.

For a period of time, researchers discovered that all the biological samples hunters brought back from a certain area of the Abyss First Layer tested as the same species.

At first, the researchers thought the hunters were falsifying their findings and even produced evidence.

They believed the hunters were trying to fool them.

But the hunters refused to accept that and argued their case, producing all their own footage.

In the videos, the hunters had indeed killed those creatures.

After discussing it, they concluded that the samples had been switched.

So they checked the surveillance footage inside the Monitoring Station, but found nothing unusual.

Afterward, they suspected a Relic Phenomenon, but after conducting a large-scale investigation, they found that area completely normal.

Nor did they find anyone inside the Monitoring Station causing trouble with a Relic.

The investigation stalled.

So the Seventh Monitoring Station dispatched a special team consisting of researchers and hunters.

Together, they ventured deep into that area and killed several creatures.

Under layer upon layer of security and the researchers' watchful eyes, those biological samples were transported from that area to the microscope in the research institute.

Yet even so, they still tested as the same species.

This bizarre phenomenon brought the investigation to a standstill.

That was until a researcher discovered that, despite being the same species, the individuals in that area had cells entirely different from those of their counterparts outside it.

With a breakthrough, the researchers continued studying that area.

At last, they figured out the cause of the strange phenomenon.

It was because of a type of cell.

It could imitate any lifeform. From birth to death, even the descendants naturally produced during that process were made up of this type of cell.

That was why all the creatures in that area were made of those cells.

Creatures composed of these cells showed no abnormalities. They ate, drank, and lived normally.

Nor did they infect other normal lifeforms.

It was simply that individuals made of these cells would blend into a population and gradually spread.

After producing descendants with normal individuals, these cells would appear within the descendants' bodies.

Then, cell by cell, they would replace the normal cells within the individual.

Until that Descendant was completely transformed into a creature composed of them.

While the individual was alive, even the most sophisticated instruments could not distinguish them from normal cells.

Only after death would they revert to their original form.

Once they understood these cells, the Monitoring Station treated them as a grave threat. The researchers had nearly wanted to slice up everyone in the entire Monitoring Station.

In the end, to prevent panic, the Monitoring Station drew blood from everyone under the pretext of a routine physical examination.

Fortunately, no one in the station had been replaced by these cells.

Because of these strange characteristics, the researchers named them Theseus Cells.

All the cells in a lifeform could be replaced by another kind, yet those cells could still perform every function without affecting the lifeform's self-awareness.

Was it still the original lifeform, then?

Theseus Cells caused no harm, which made them extremely difficult to detect. Yet their eerie nature sent chills through everyone.

When an entire species had been replaced, could that species still be considered extinct?

If a species discovered that every member of its kind was made of Theseus Cells, and that the continuation of its population existed only so those cells could survive—

How despairing would they be?

By this point, Mo Ling felt a chill run through his entire body.

He looked again at the slow-moving, utterly normal-looking cells on the screen and suddenly understood why those researchers had panicked.

Station Master Liang walked up to the screen, his back to Li Luo.

His voice trembled slightly as well.

"Theseus Cells. Some people also call them Anti-Cells."

"Imagine that one day, a world is filled with lifeforms made of Theseus Cells, and you, with your normal cells, are discovered by them."

"They will only capture you, study you, and then reach one conclusion."

"You are an aberration!"

When Anti-Cells held the dominant position, normal cells became the aberration.

At that point, what was normal? What was anti?

Li Luo was too shocked to speak and stood frozen in place.

Station Master Liang comforted Li Luo. "Fortunately, these cells can only spread within a population."

He stared intently at the screen, his face full of worry.

"At first, some researchers planned to use these cells to develop drugs."

"We extracted Theseus Cells that had not yet begun replacing cells from newborn descendants."

"They can replace all kinds of organs, regenerate Severed Limbs, and even take the place of a brain."

"Do you know what that means?"

"Humans could use those Relics with powerful abilities at no cost!"

"You should know about the Enchanted Pickaxe, right? The pickaxe that can dig up any mineral its user desires anywhere. Its cost is the user's hands."

"Theseus Cells could allow that Relic to be used indefinitely!"

"But the use of these cells was still strictly forbidden. No one dared bear the consequences of humanity being contaminated by Theseus Cells."

Station Master Liang sighed.

"That area was sealed off as well, yet Theseus Cells have now appeared somewhere else."

Only then did Mo Ling realize that he had underestimated the severity of the situation.

Outside the sealed area, Theseus Cells had appeared in the Shock Beasts' habitat!

No wonder Station Master Liang had repeatedly sought confirmation while questioning Li Luo.

"I'll send people to investigate the Shock Beasts' habitat again. You should head back first." Station Master Liang sighed wearily. "I also have to thank you, Li Luo, for uncovering such a major hidden danger."

"It's nothing."

After briefly saying goodbye to Station Master Liang, Li Luo returned to her room, but she still seemed unable to snap out of the information about Theseus Cells.

Mo Ling was filled with doubts.

The biological sample they had brought back had been obtained the moment they entered the valley.

Mo Ling had not noticed any difference in the Red String Worms inside the other Shock Beasts, either.

Mo Ling did not know how many Red String Worms had been composed of Theseus Cells, but regardless, every Red String Worm had dissipated.

But why had Theseus Cells, which never altered a creature's habits, suddenly replaced the Red String Worms and then violated their usual behavior by infecting on such a massive scale?