NABC Chapter 61 The Dark Forest Law
Chapter 61 The Dark Forest Law
Qi Te paused for a moment, then quickly turned to look at the display screen.
Among the string of data results, a set of DNA sequencing patterns unique to humans exploded in his mind like a thunderclap.
Most carbon-based organisms have genes that are homologous to those in humans, but the sequencing and coding differ.
The exact same arrangement and combination, which Zite had seen before, was the mutated aquatic plant that he had brought back to the laboratory from the bottom of the lake.
By working backward from the results, it is not difficult to determine that after Lao Mo's body decomposed, the flesh and blood tissue was absorbed by ordinary aquatic plants, causing the ordinary aquatic plants to undergo gene mutation.
The mutated aquatic plants rapidly decomposed the remains of Old Mo. This is the key reason why aquatic plants, which should grow slowly in winter, are more lush than in summer.
The master and apprentice also came to the hypothesis that only the flesh and blood of superhumans could cause mutations in other organisms.
If this is true, then the colossal creature that swallowed and absorbed a dozen-story building and possessed the ability to become invisible must have also devoured and decomposed the superhuman, which is why the special gene fusion phenomenon occurred.
But the question is, when did that enormous creature begin to mutate?
Liu Baichuan has handled thousands of abnormal biological samples, but he has never detected any samples with a gene sequence identical to that of humans. In other words, there has never been a phenomenon of human DNA chimerism with the DNA of other organisms.
No, neither the aquatic plants nor that enormous creature should be isolated cases.
However, their numbers are extremely small, and they have remained undiscovered until now.
Also, when did that enormous creature exhibit the special gene fusion phenomenon?
Judging from the size of the cub that appears to be in the 'uterus' in the operating room and is already taking shape, it must have grown to this size in just a few years.
More than ten years? Several decades? Or even longer!
In a brief moment, Zite experienced a brainstorming session.
"Instructor Liu, over at the Oasis..."
Ding was about to speak when Liu Baichuan immediately raised his hand to interrupt him, then gestured for the students to step back and not crowd in front of the control panel, leaving only Qi Te behind.
"Don't rush to contact Oasis," he added after a moment's thought. "Take out the instrument's data chip and make a backup using a portable storage device."
Ding Xiang nodded and agreed, while Liu Baichuan walked to the side and said softly as if talking to himself, "It was truly preordained that it was named the Special Gene Combination."
Both major discoveries were thanks to Ziete, but he paid no attention to the issue.
"Teacher, this is definitely not an isolated incident."
Liu Baichuan nodded in agreement, then shook his head regretfully, saying, "It's a pity the mutated aquatic plants haven't fully evolved yet."
"If we could get a live sample of that behemoth, we could test whether this unique and anomalous creature possesses an accelerated evolution zone, a DNA segment that is unique to it and different from other animals and humans."
The accelerated evolutionary region (HAR) is a DNA sequence region in the human genome that exhibits a faster rate of change compared to other species during evolution. It is highly conserved in other mammals, with a significant accumulation of nucleotide substitutions only in the human lineage.
The liquid samples collected by Qi Te were not enough to prove Liu Baichuan's idea that he needed to obtain the flesh and blood tissue of the giant beast itself.
On the way here, G4 explained to the students the Federation's classification and sequence of anomalous creatures.
Although they are all ABCDEF, their individual combat strength is completely incomparable.
Ordinary superhumans who haven't received combat training would have a hard time surviving, let alone superhumans of the same level, or even superhumans of a lower level. Of course, superhumans without proactive aggression are an exception.
As for the sequences, like the ability sequences, abnormal creatures are also divided into six sequences, but the differences are very significant.
The six sequences of human superpowers are fundamentally categorized based on the type of superpower and the way energy is used. However, the only criterion for classifying abnormal beings is their brain activity index.
Sequence 6: The lowest level of anomalous organisms, mainly plants and insects. Sequence 5: Low intelligence, including reptiles, mollusks, and fish.
Sequence 4: Possesses teamwork capabilities; commonly found in mammals. Sequence 3: Moderate intelligence, equivalent to a human infant. Sequence 2: Moderate to high intelligence, comparable to a seven- or eight-year-old child.
Sequence 1 possesses intelligence comparable to the average adult human. The Blue Shield Squad has encountered primate anomalies that have learned to hunt using tools.
Putting aside its ugly and terrifying appearance, it looks quite human.
Sequence 0: Brain area index unknown, classification unknown, basic information such as survival habits and even physical characteristics are all unknown.
To date, only two cases have been discovered globally. Moreover, each case presents with a different morphology.
You can't find this kind of thing online at all; G4 has only heard about it from senior colleagues in the company.
The amount of information was extremely limited, but the colossal creature that had nearly killed Zit on the spot with just its willpower was an absolutely terrifying existence.
The eleven heroes of the Blue Shield Squad, even if they stood shoulder to shoulder, wouldn't be enough to fill someone's teeth.
Old Liu actually wanted to take a piece of their flesh; he was just dreaming.
"Teacher, I would like to explore this old city further."
Liu Baichuan glanced at his beloved student with satisfaction: "Having a research spirit is good, but this place is too dangerous..."
Before he could finish speaking, hurried footsteps sounded outside the gate.
Team leader Xu Su, along with two team members, hurriedly returned to the base.
......................
"As it stands, the anomalous creature is still in hibernation and has not fully awakened. However, the hospital building has undergone significant changes."
After Captain Xu finished speaking, the short-haired female team member pulled out a silver square tube from her tactical vest, pressed down one end, and a holographic image was projected onto the top of the tube.
In the footage, the hospital entrance is covered by a large area of fungal carpet, and nearly half of the building is submerged in dark red and dark green. Moreover, the fungal carpet is still climbing upwards, seemingly aiming to completely seal off the entire building.
"The growth trend far exceeds the normal growth rate of fungi."
After Liu Baichuan finished speaking, Captain Xu nodded solemnly and said, "The defensive methods of anomalous creatures vary, but this is the first time I've encountered such a situation. The footage has been transmitted back, and headquarters has recommended suspending the collection operations in this old city."
After a couple of seconds of hesitation, Liu Baichuan looked troubled and said, "The harvesting has just begun this year. If we stop now, wouldn't I have made a wasted trip?"
Xu Su seemed to have anticipated his response and immediately replied, "Professor Liu, there's no need to worry. We've already dispatched a drone to investigate the second base. Once it's confirmed, we'll begin the transfer."
"This old city still has great exploration value. Since you think the danger level is too high, I can accept the suggestion to temporarily withdraw from Outpost No. 2." Liu Baichuan said with a half-smile, "However, I believe that once the Oasis receives the sample test results, they should immediately send people to help."
This time, Xu Su fell into deep thought. After a few seconds, he nodded and said, "To be honest, Professor Liu, headquarters has dispatched a full team, along with three A-level officers, to rush here."
"Before our departure, surveillance satellites and drones conducted a full scan of the old city, but they did not find the creature. It is our responsibility that your student was nearly in danger because of it."
"Therefore, headquarters has made it clear that if Blue Shield can obtain an active sample of a mutated sequence 0 organism, it will be delivered to you as soon as possible."
Liu Baichuan, still with a stern face, shook his head in dissatisfaction and said, "If we can get the sample, that would be a good thing, but it wasn't your Blue Shield that discovered that creature, but my student."
Xu Su's expression stiffened slightly, then he said with difficulty, "I understand what Professor Liu means. Please wait a moment."
After saying that, he turned and left with two team members, walked out the gate, and jumped into the lead pickup truck.
Liu Baichuan's series of maneuvers were absolutely brilliant, leaving everyone in Qite completely stunned.
He initially thought Lao Liu's idea of creating a live sample of a colossal object was a pipe dream. Turns out, he himself was the clown.
Sequence 0 is as precious as discovering a new continent.
Although Blue Shield is a security company, how could it let go of the gold mine right in front of it? It will definitely send a large number of people and heavyweights to do everything possible to complete the harvest.
Old Liu feigned nonchalance, deliberately not contacting Oasis immediately, with the aim of hindering Blue Shield.
They are merely professors and students, lacking both combat power and equipment, and can only obtain what they desire through the help of others.
But merely having live biological samples was far from enough. After much haggling and back-and-forth, even though Captain Xu was a seasoned veteran, he was no match for Lao Liu in negotiations.
However, if Blue Shield headquarters wanted to hunt Sequence 0 anomalous creatures before the Oasis received the message, they had to accept all of Liu Baichuan's demands.
Regardless of whether Blue Shield ultimately succeeds in encircling and capturing them or is counter-killed, they will inevitably suffer heavy casualties.
And that enormous creature was doomed.
Because there are many who covet it.
Even if Blue Shield can't crack this tough nut, there are still the world's three largest technology companies and the federal military.
Regardless of who wins, Lao Liu, himself, and everyone in the entire mining team will benefit greatly.
Qi Te suddenly remembered an old science fiction novel he had read when he was a child, which mentioned a very profound theory—the Dark Forest Theory.
The universe is a dark forest, and every civilization is an armed hunter. When they discover other life in the darkness, they can only do one thing—shoot and destroy it.
And the vast border regions are no different.
Humans are both prey and hunter in this game.
The anomalous creature of sequence 0 was undoubtedly a hidden coordinate accidentally discovered by this intruder, and this coordinate will inevitably attract the hunters' brutal hunt!