“Sis, let me… explain.” Fang Yaori took the kick square on. His first reaction upon getting up wasn’t to lash out but to beg for mercy. That just shows how intimidating his sister was!
“Go on, explain!” Fang Mingyue was so angry she kicked Fang Yaori several more times, making him yelp in pain.
Shen Ge wasn’t sure whether to intervene or not. Fang Mingyue was telling him to explain, but her feet never stopped. Fang Yaori couldn’t get a single coherent word out, only screams.
Ten minutes later, Fang Yaori lay on the floor, barely alive, finally getting his chance to “explain.” He haltingly recounted the whole story.
When Fang Mingyue heard that her brother had agreed to the monster experiments because he wanted to prove himself in the Fang family and was tricked by a former Monster Association cadre who had been “brought into the fold,” she didn’t know whether to be angry or not.
But more than whether Fang Yaori had genuinely been fooled or was secretly cooperating with monsters, Fang Mingyue was more worried about his physical condition.
Because whether he was tricked or not no longer mattered; what mattered was that he had set foot on the path of being a living monster experiment subject, and there was no turning back.
Only two outcomes lay before Fang Yaori: one, he wouldn’t be able to suppress the monster cells in his body and would completely turn into an Abnormality; the other, he would manage to suppress the monster cells, but the constant absorption of strange energy would cause physical damage and drastically shorten his lifespan.
Either outcome meant Fang Yaori only had a few years left to live. As his older sister, Fang Mingyue’s feelings at that moment were incredibly complex. Grief naturally outweighed anger.
The siblings talked for a long time. Shen Ge and Fang Mingyue also learned the whole story from Fang Yaori, which matched his account in the Strange Space.
“Supervisor Chen, huh.” Fang Mingyue frowned.
Shen Ge asked, “This Supervisor Chen works in your Second Division. Do you know him well?”
Fang Mingyue shook her head and sighed. “After the Great Capital Catastrophe last year, Grandfather formed an investigation team to look for moles. We did catch quite a few eyes and ears of the monster organizations. The Special Tactics Department went through a major reshuffle. After that, the higher-ups thought that managing the department the old way might lead to repeating past mistakes, so they decided to split headquarters into three divisions, each keeping the others in check.”
“At the time, we thought this was a good way to govern the department. We didn’t realize the monster organizations’ reach had extended to places we couldn’t touch. This division actually let them successfully transfer some people who were about to be exposed.”
“Supervisor Chen’s full name is Chen Yao. He was one of the most senior researchers in the Special Tactics Department’s Strange Energy Equipment Research Division. He was transferred over as the research head for the Second Division. Our country places great importance on protecting researchers, so their files are heavily encrypted. Some even have fake information mixed in to mislead, all to prevent a repeat of the Haiya Research Institute incident where researchers were killed.”
“Plus, the work of the Research Division is classified by nature. Even though I’m a team leader, I don’t have the authority to inquire about their affairs. In fact, since the Second Division was established, I’ve only met Supervisor Chen twice, both times during the handover for Abnormality containment and new Strange Energy equipment.”
Shen Ge listened, then lowered his head in thought. He took out the transmission device Supervisor Chen had secretly planted on Fang Yaori from his Bloodskin Backpack.
“Xiao Qi, have you cracked it?” Shen Ge asked.
Xiao Qi replied, “Report, Master. They were more alert than expected. After you left the Strange Space, they tried to remotely activate the transmission device. After I blocked it, they immediately cut off contact. Based on the last detected Strange Energy fluctuation, the location was in the suburbs, far from the city center.”
As Xiao Qi spoke, it marked a location on a map for Shen Ge.
Shen Ge took out his phone, snapped a picture of the location, and sent it to Fang Mingyue. “Send some trustworthy people to check this place out. Even though they’ve probably moved, we might still find some clues.”
“Understood.” Fang Mingyue nodded and contacted a few Strange Investigators from the Second Division, sending them to investigate the location on the map.
But Shen Ge was really just sending them to try their luck. According to Xiao Qi, the other side had probably even taken the floorboards by now.
As for Fang Yaori’s problem, Shen Ge didn’t really have a good solution. He could only comfort Fang Mingyue and tell her that the Rong City branch had recently started researching monster antibodies, which might save Fang Yaori’s life.
Fang Mingyue trusted Shen Ge completely. She agreed to the arrangement for Fang Yaori to return to Rong City with him with almost no hesitation.
In truth, Fang Yaori’s identity as a monster was a hot potato. Even if he had been deceived, he had still participated in monster research, which was strictly forbidden by the Special Tactics Department. If headquarters found out, taking him back for further study would be the least of their worries; there was even a chance of a secret execution.
So letting Fang Yaori go with Shen Ge back to the Rong City branch might give him a slim chance of survival. Although headquarters knew about the Rong City branch’s specialized monster research department, it was focused on creating antibodies against monsters; they didn’t know about the existence of a “living monster, Yoona.”
In a few days, the Asian Strange Research Conference would be held. The Rong City branch would send people to attend, which would be a good opportunity to transfer Fang Yaori.
After learning from the conversation between Shen Ge and Fang Mingyue that he didn’t have long to live, Fang Yaori had fallen silent, visibly depressed and dejected.
Shen Ge stood up and patted his shoulder. “I believe this trip to the Strange Space helped you grow. Remember how you suppressed the monster cells. I believe if you could do it once, you can do it again. How much time you can buy until the antibodies are ready depends on your own willpower.”
“Shen Tan, I understand. I’ll definitely try my best to hold on,” Fang Yaori said earnestly.
Fang Mingyue smacked Fang Yaori on the head with the back of her hand, frustrated by his failure to meet her expectations. “You better do what you say. If you dare turn into a monster, I’ll personally take care of you!”
“Sis, I’m your own brother,” Fang Yaori said with a wry face.
Fang Mingyue snapped, “It was because I treated you like my own brother that I let you get to this point step by step. I should have followed the ancestors’ rule of strict discipline. Then you wouldn’t have caused such a huge mess.”
“I was wrong.” Fang Yaori didn’t dare talk back now. He was afraid that before he could turn into a monster, his fierce sister would take care of him first.
With Shen Ge looking after Fang Yaori, Fang Mingyue left the hotel to investigate Supervisor Chen. Shen Ge got another room, took out the Strange Eyeball again, and fell into deliberation.
Based on past experience, system advancement would definitely put him to sleep for a while. Although basic functions wouldn’t be affected, the system’s early warning and detection features would be unavailable.
If he hadn’t recovered before the Asian Strange Research Conference started, it would mean losing a major advantage for hunting monsters afterward.
But on the other hand, upgrading the system would grant him trait enhancement points. Some of Shen Ge’s current traits only needed one point to evolve into new abilities, which was also crucial.
Additionally, the system’s own functions would improve after the upgrade. For example, the “Detection” and targeted drawing functions he’d been using so smoothly lately were very convenient.
If, after reaching 5th stage, detection could make Abnormalities and monsters completely unable to hide, that would be a huge boost for Shen Ge.
The only question was, how deeply would a 5th-stage system affect Shen Ge’s “humanity”?
After much thought, Shen Ge ultimately couldn’t resist the allure of advancement. He gave Xiao Qi several commands, making extra preparations to prevent this advancement from causing him to “lose control.”
Then, Shen Ge gripped the Strange Eyeball and said, “System, devour the Strange Eyeball.”
[Beginning devouring of Progenitor Abnormality cells——]
[System basic functions are being upgraded. New functions will become available after the upgrade. Please check back in two days.]
[All current system-related functions are temporarily unavailable.]
It was the familiar offline update, but this time the period had changed from a few hours to two days.
“Two days. Waking up before the Asian Strange Research Conference isn’t bad.” Shen Ge had Xiao Qi run a check on his body. For now, no abnormalities had occurred.
Over the next two days, Shen Ge and Fang Yaori, under Fang Mingyue’s arrangements, moved to a safer hotel. Due to Fang Yaori’s special situation, he was basically confined to the hotel before being transferred to Rong City, unable to wander around. He could only stay in his room and undergo Abnormality training from specialists arranged by Fang Mingyue.
Shen Ge took the chance to rest for two days. Although he didn’t personally need rest, he had to keep an eye on Fang Yaori to prevent any plots from the monster organization. So he stayed put at the hotel, and whenever something needed investigating, he simply had Fang Mingyue look into it.
Two days later, Shen Ge was video chatting with Cheng Shengnan when the system notification for the upgrade completion suddenly sounded in his mind. He ended the video call to check the information——
[All current system functions are back to normal.]
[System has completed 5th Stage upgrade. Host can check new functions via the status panel.]
Shen Ge opened the panel. Compared to the huge changes during the 4th Stage Aberration, the 5th Stage Aberration showed only some detailed changes from the previous version. Apart from two new functions, the rest of the changes were minimal.
Although the system’s changes were “minimal,” the changes this upgrade brought to Shen Ge were significant. First and foremost, the biggest change was in his attributes!
[Shen Ge]
Rating: 5th Stage
System Integration Rate: 100%
“System (5th Stage)”: Artificial Abnormality Sequence 1, Trait: Devour——After killing an Abnormality, its corpse can be devoured.
System Integrity: 50%
Trait: “Devour”
The abilities of this trait are divided into “Charging Devour” and “Fusion Devour.”
Charging Devour: Devouring a target charges the system, obtaining energy (System Points) to use the “Random Material Delivery” and “Targeted Material Delivery” functions.
Fusion Devour: Devour high-level Abnormalities (Traits Abnormalities, Progenitor Abnormalities, Strange Kings), extract the target’s trait abilities, and accelerate the restoration of system integrity.
After performing a “Fusion Devour,” if the host’s body is injured, the devoured Abnormality corpse will be rapidly digested to repair the host.
(Note: Cannot repair the brain or internal organs.)
[Basic Attributes:]
Strength: 308% (Host Base Value) +0% (System Attribute Boost)
Evaluation: Extremely Strong. Your strength value has reached the limit of an adult human male, 3.08 times the average. Devouring more high-level Abnormalities will allow you to break through even higher limits.
Agility: 301% (Host Base Value) +0% (System Attribute Boost)
Evaluation: Extremely Strong. Your agility value is 3.01 times the average adult male. —— omitted.
Physique: 303% (Host Base Value) +0% (System Attribute Boost)
Evaluation: Relatively Strong. Your physique value is 3.03 times the average adult male. —— omitted.
Strange Energy Intensity: 1477% (Host Base Value) +6379% (System Attribute Boost)
After being boosted by system attributes, your Strange Energy reaches a total value of 7856%, higher than the average 5th stage Abnormality’s total value of 5000%;
(1st stage Abnormality Strange Energy Intensity: 100%)
Your current Strange Energy Intensity is 78.56 times the average intensity of a 1st stage Abnormality.
(6th stage Abnormality Strange Energy Intensity: 10000%)
Tip: While increasing your Strange Energy Intensity, absorb high-level Abnormalities to restore system integrity and thus raise your rating.
————————————————
The biggest change after this system’s 5th Stage Aberration was the evolution of the “Devour” trait, allowing Fusion Devour to also heal Shen Ge’s injuries.
Based on the note stating “Cannot repair the brain or internal organs,” it seemed that even if Shen Ge lost a limb, he could repair it this way.
In this regard, Shen Ge was truly “no longer human.” After all, even those cadre-level 4th stage monsters from the Twelve Branches and the Heavenly Stems didn’t have such an insane regenerative ability.
Secondly, after the system devoured the Strange Eyeball and upgraded, Shen Ge’s attributes saw another significant boost. And the system’s hint that he could still break through human limits showed he had completely become a monster; his physical abilities could no longer be measured by human standards.
Also, because he had devoured the Progenitor Abnormality’s Strange Eyeball, aside from the “Devour” trait, the system ability that changed significantly was “Strange Eye.”
[System Functions:]
1, Strange Eye
The host’s eyes can directly observe a target’s Strange Energy intensity and rating.
Consuming 1000 System Points allows scanning and analysis of a target’s abilities (including but not limited to traits, attributes, equipment).
It can also be used for deep observation of a target to find physical weaknesses and determine if a target Abnormality or Monster possesses Progenitor Abnormality cells.
————————————
Not only can Strange Eye observe a target’s weaknesses, but most importantly, it can directly determine if a target possesses Progenitor Abnormality cells, making it easier for the system to find “ingredients.”
The other system functions, “Transfer (Lottery),” “Map,” and “Missions,” showed no significant changes. The third change in the system came from the Log——
Its “change” was so significant that it left Shen Ge dumbfounded.
————————————
4, Log
Allows viewing the “future” situation at the same time four years later via [Log].
“Prediction”——Consumes 1000 System Points to predict an event at a certain point in the future on the current timeline, used to trigger random missions.
Prediction content includes but is not limited to “random events,” “Abnormality events,” “Strange Calamities,” etc.
Observe [Log] information of already mastered Dream Fragments.
Currently mastered Dream Fragments: 2
————————————
“…”
Hoo.
Shen Ge let out a deep breath, trying to process the surprise and shock brought by this system upgrade.
[Log]… it could now observe Dream World Fragments whose outcomes had already appeared!
