Chapter 282: Chapter 277 Exercise
"Damn it!"
"Are you targeting me on purpose?"
A surge of anger welled up inside Chen Pingchuan, and who could blame him? It was just too obvious. When I wasn’t here, none of this happened. The moment I arrive, there’s an insect apocalypse and a Genetic Bomb. I know the planet’s will is trying to eliminate the simulator—this virus—but you can’t just destroy the software along with it, can you?
Just as Chen Pingchuan was pondering this, Lu Jiaojiao flashed behind Liu Yaowu. She pressed a sharp blade against his neck and threatened in a saccharine voice, "Dr. Liu, since you’re so capable, you must have a solution, right? Tell me now, and I won’t kill you. How about it?"
Everyone saw Lu Jiaojiao’s actions, but no one moved to stop her. Their boss hadn’t given an order, and besides, they also hoped to get something useful out of Liu Yaowu.
"There is no solution," Liu Yaowu’s voice remained calm.
However, as the blade sliced into the skin of his neck, he finally panicked. Realizing he couldn’t reason with the woman behind him, he changed his tone and sighed, "Really, there isn’t. I know none of you have studied genetic engineering. If you don’t believe me, ask Miss Xu. She’ll tell you if I’m speaking the truth."
"Dr. Liu is telling the truth," Xu Lingyin said. "However, I suspect there are still ways to suppress or alleviate the effects. Am I right, Dr. Liu?"
Xu Lingyin felt no guilt for betraying an ally. None of this matters. What happens to anyone else has nothing to do with me. My life was supposed to be brilliant and colorful... Now, I’m starting to regret my impulsive decision to bring Chen Pingchuan back. I wasn’t even planning to go to that bar that day. Why on earth did I go?
Caught in his lie, Liu Yaowu didn’t look embarrassed. He cracked a smile that didn’t reach his eyes and said nonchalantly, "There’s an accelerator, but the more people who’ve taken the bomb’s agent, the longer it takes for the accelerator to work. According to experimental calculations, the fastest possible recovery would still take half a year. By then, everything will have long been decided."
The others were about to press him further, but Chen Pingchuan stopped them.
"Dr. Liu, I have a problem, and I need your help."
"Let’s hear it."
"I need to take a genetic agent."
"What?"
This time, even Liu Yaowu was shocked by Chen Pingchuan. Were all my warnings useless? Or does he simply not believe me? It felt like having his own expertise questioned.
As Liu Yaowu opened his mouth to explain again, Chen Pingchuan cut him off.
"No more talk. Help me now. If you help me, you live. If you don’t, you die."
Liu Yaowu’s eyes widened, and he stared intently at Chen Pingchuan, trying to find a hint of a joke in his expression. But his gaze was as firm and cold as a winter star, making it clear he wasn’t bluffing.
"You’re... you’re destroying your own future! I’ve made the drawbacks of genetic agents perfectly clear. Taking one now is no different from drinking poison to quench your thirst!" Liu Yaowu was so agitated that the veins on his forehead pulsed, and his voice rose uncontrollably.
Chen Pingchuan sneered internally. I have a cheat system. What the hell would you know about it?
Outwardly, however, he put on an air of righteous resolve. "We have no choice. Do you have any idea what’s happening outside? Giant monstrosities are rampaging out there. Who knows if they’ll breach the facility’s defenses in the next second and tear us all to pieces. I have to increase my strength, and quickly. Even the slimmest chance of survival is better than just sitting here waiting to die."
Lu Jiaojiao slightly withdrew the dagger from Liu Yaowu’s neck. She looked at Chen Pingchuan, worry filling her eyes as she suddenly remembered the swarms of monsters still ravaging the city. If they couldn’t get through this, there was no point in even thinking about the future.
"You aren’t talking about the giant Corpse Worms from the border, are you?" For the first time, Liu Yaowu started to listen seriously to what they were saying about the monsters.
"Of course. What else did you think? The entire city is overrun with those damned things," Chen Pingchuan confirmed.
"Hey, bro, you guys got any food here?" For once, Porcupine had actually hit the nail on the head, but his very next thought was about food again.
Seeing the situation, Liu Yaowu steeled himself. "Alright, I understand. But if something goes wrong, don’t blame me."
Though deeply reluctant, Liu Yaowu felt the pressure of the situation and had no choice but to compromise. He led the group to an inconspicuous laboratory and opened a safe. Inside, dozens of vials containing genetic agents were arranged in neat rows.
With a complicated expression, he handed a vial to Chen Pingchuan. "These are all the usable ones we have. You’re on your own now."
Chen Pingchuan took the vial and glanced at the user level indicated on it. He first instructed the others that he was going to focus completely on increasing his strength and was not to be disturbed unless it was an absolute emergency. Then, he selected a level-four genetic agent and prepared to ingest it.
As the liquid flowed down his throat, it entered his stomach and was absorbed rapidly.
Instantly, a surging heat erupted through his body like a volcano. His muscles swelled as if ignited by gunpowder, and his bones emitted subtle cracking sounds, as if they were being excruciatingly reforged. Veins bulged on his forehead and sweat poured down like rain, but he clenched his jaw and refused to make a sound.
This was the first time Chen Pingchuan had actually taken a genetic agent. He had only ever done so in the simulations and had never personally experienced this kind of agony.
"Boss..." Porcupine’s face was etched with worry. He wanted to say something, to stop him, but he swallowed the words. He might seem carefree, but he wasn’t stupid. He could sense a genuine warmth from Chen Pingchuan, which was why he had so readily decided to follow him. Since his boss had made up his mind, all Porcupine could do was silently pray that he would achieve his goal quickly, even though he had no idea what that goal was.
Enduring the searing pain from the genetic agent, Chen Pingchuan stumbled, yet his steps were unnervingly steady as he made his way to the training room he had seen earlier.
The mingled scent of sweat and grinding metal hit him as he entered. His eyes, sharp as torches, quickly scanned the equipment and locked onto the heaviest squat rack. He stepped forward boldly.
The next second, a tremendous gravity pressed down on him, making his bones creak and groan.
At the same time, a mechanical voice sounded.
"Residual traces of a level-four genetic agent detected. Activating level-five gravity field. Please exit promptly if you experience physical discomfort."
The cold, mechanical voice repeated three times.
Chen Pingchuan quickly adapted to the gravity in the room. His hands firmly gripped the barbell, its cold, hard touch sending a jolt from his palms straight to his heart. He took a deep, sharp breath and then exploded with force. His legs, as if powered by mighty springs, squatted low before he rose with earth-shattering power.