Chapter 44: Enhanced Gene Agent

Fang Heng followed Qiu Yaokang into another room at the end of the basement.

In the center of the room stood a metal frame, similar to an airport security scanner.

Over a dozen wires of various sizes and colors were plugged into the frame.

The other ends of the wires were connected to a large machine nearby.

Qiu Yaokang first demonstrated for Fang Heng by walking through the frame.

"Your turn."

Fang Heng thought Wirtel was right; this friend of his must have some issues with his brain.

Qiu Yaokang urged him.

"Hurry up."

Fang Heng shrugged and followed Qiu Yaokang's lead, walking through the frame.

"Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep..."

Just as he passed through the metal frame, an alarm went off.

Fang Heng turned back, looking at Qiu Yaokang blankly.

"I told you, something is wrong with you."

Qiu Yaokang had expected this.

He walked over to the large machine to check the data report displayed on the screen.

"Recently, I've heard people say that there is an extremely small probability that a type of crystal containing special energy remains in a zombie's body after death. Certain people with special constitutions can absorb these crystals."

"I call these 'Alienation Crystals'."

"I'm not sure if this is a form of mutation."

"The effect of Alienation Crystals on the human body remains to be observed, but from the information I've gathered so far, they almost always provide a positive buff to the human body."

Fang Heng muttered to himself.

*The "people with special constitutions" you're talking about are all "Players," right?*

"You must have undergone physical alienation because you absorbed Alienation Crystals."

Qiu Yaokang looked up at Fang Heng.

"Your level of physical alienation is quite high, and your various physical attributes are higher than those of an ordinary person, especially your perception."

*Yeah, because my level is high,* Fang Heng continued to mutter internally.

"You must have absorbed a large amount of Alienation Crystals."

Qiu Yaokang stared at Fang Heng.

"Is that it? Answer me."

"You guessed right."

Fang Heng only wanted to finish this task as soon as possible. As he spoke, he took an Evolution Crystal Fragment from his backpack and tossed it toward Qiu Yaokang.

"By the way, we call this thing an Evolution Crystal Fragment."

"Oh?"

Qiu Yaokang's eyes lit up.

He was extremely interested in crystals. He caught the fragment and held it in his palm, observing it closely.

"I've conducted many studies and killed many zombies myself, but this is the first time I've seen this kind of crystal structure with my own eyes."

*Of course, NPCs killing zombies don't drop crystals,* Fang Heng answered silently in his mind.

"I suppose your luck just isn't very good."

Qiu Yaokang put the crystal away. He turned around, pulled a small bottle of green potion from somewhere, and tossed it to Fang Heng.

Fang Heng caught the flying bottle mid-air.

Upon reading the attribute description, Fang Heng's heart skipped a beat.

[Prompt: You have obtained the item—Improved Zombie-fied Strength Enhancement Gene Potion].

Item: Improved Zombie-fied Strength Enhancement Gene Potion.

Description 1: A potion manufactured using the zombie virus. After use, it permanently increases the Strength attribute by 1 point (this potion can be used repeatedly, up to a cumulative increase of 5 Strength points).

Description 2: Using this potion will cause the player's genetic state to become unstable, granting the negative status: "Genetic Chaos." Each dose increases this status by 10%-30%. Once the cumulative increase reaches 80%, the player will directly contract the zombie virus and die.

Description 3: Players can eliminate this status by consuming Evolution Crystal Fragments.

"I'll take that crystal. I never take things for free; consider this my payment."

*Incredible!*

Fang Heng was overjoyed upon hearing this.

Players could also craft similar potions, but at least not until the mid-to-late game, and the required materials were numerous and complex, with a low success rate.

In previous servers, these types of potions and their raw materials were strictly controlled by major gaming guilds and the game company.

Fang Heng tilted his head back and downed the potion in one gulp.

[Prompt: You have consumed an Improved Zombie-fied Strength Enhancement Gene Potion. Your base Strength +1].

[Prompt: Repeated use of this potion will gradually decrease its effectiveness].

[Prompt: You have gained the "Genetic Chaos" status].

[Prompt: Your "Genetic Chaos" status has increased to 13%].

[Prompt: You can consume 13 Evolution Crystal Fragments or 1 complete Evolution Crystal to clear this status].

"Please tell Wirtel for me; I need him to help me collect more of these crystals. I'll need them for my next stage of research."

Qiu Yaokang rubbed his chin, thinking. "As for the payment..."

Having finished the potion, Fang Heng still felt unsatisfied.

He interrupted, "Do you have any more of those improved potions?"

"Hmm?"

Qiu Yaokang looked up at Fang Heng.

"This potion still has flaws. Repeated use carries the risk of contracting the zombie virus. You can check your arm."

*My arm?*

Hearing this, Fang Heng rolled up his protective suit to check his arm.

He discovered that starting from his wrist, a bluish-gray color unique to zombies was surfacing on his skin.

The bluish-gray color gradually spread upward toward his elbow, looking somewhat terrifying.

Fang Heng wasn't worried at all. He had plenty of Evolution Crystal Fragments; he could just clear it directly.

"I get it, the negative status of the potion. I understand. I can trade Evolution Crystal Fragments with you. Look, is this enough?"

As he spoke, Fang Heng pulled a large handful of Evolution Crystal Fragments from his backpack, spread them across his palm, and held them out to Qiu Yaokang.

A momentary flash of astonishment finally appeared on Qiu Yaokang's usually calm face.

He looked at Fang Heng, wondering internally how he could have obtained so many crystals.

"If it's not enough, I have more."

"The first stage of research requires at least 100 crystal fragments. If you..."

"Fine, I'll give you 200."

Fang Heng still had nearly 400 Alienation Crystal Fragments left in his backpack.

He had been struggling to find a place to spend them.

Being able to use these fragments to exchange for potions that directly increased his attributes was an absolute steal!

"Alright. I've already told you about the side effects of the potion. Follow me."

Qiu Yaokang and Fang Heng returned to the previous laboratory together.

He opened a password-protected freezer in the corner and took out a box containing twenty vials of potion.

"This potion is my latest research achievement. Due to the raw materials, it cannot be mass-produced. As the number of uses increases, the potion's effectiveness will gradually diminish until it becomes completely ineffective."

"Currently, the potions are divided into three types: Strength, Agility, and Constitution. Then there are the side effects. For an ordinary person, three doses is the limit; continuing beyond that carries a massive risk of contracting the zombie virus."

*Risk of contracting the virus? I'm not afraid!*

*I have plenty of Evolution Crystal Fragments!*

Fang Heng's eyes practically glowed as he stared at the box of potions.