Chapter 412: I Promise, Lord Angel

3:00 AM on the sixth day since Duan Fei and Jinghong entered the instance.

The network of pipes inside the base was intricate. A dozen or so maintenance workers tended to the ventilation ducts, and they had to clear out the yellow sand once a week to prevent blockages.

The upper half of the pipes was extremely dry, but the lower half was connected to condensation lines, from which water constantly dripped. It was enough to survive on for a short period.

The bend in the pipes was quite spacious. Here, the bright light from two cell phones illuminated the area.

Alemann was curled up to one side, asleep, while Duan Fei and Jinghong used the light from their phones to read through the documents they had snatched from the underground lab.

Since the underground base was entirely Triss’s domain, most of his research materials were here, allowing Duan Fei and Jinghong to learn more about what had happened.

Jinghong was given the lab’s operational data to read, while Duan Fei flipped through Triss’s notes, intending to piece together the man’s mental journey.

“Received a very boring assignment today. I’m to build a base in the desert. The site was previously a laboratory for human experimentation, with research focused on the effects of drugs on memory. There are several cold storage warehouses nearby, which can ultimately provide tens of thousands of test subjects. The base will be used to train Assassins to target Superpower Users. It seems the higher-ups have recognized the threat posed by Superpower Users and are preparing to deal with them. The number of Superpower Users is still small, and the proportion is low. Although they possess powerful abilities, these abilities cannot be inherited. They are not the future of human evolution. They are like cancer cells in the body and must be eliminated. This is also why I accepted this mission. The tens of thousands of test subjects are all amnesiacs. We are currently conducting cryo and reanimation experiments. Their pasts have been erased—a legacy left to me by the previous experiment. I have to say, these higher-ups never treat people like human beings, but that works out quite well for my work.”

Holding this page, Duan Fei created a new document on his phone, summarized this passage, and saved it.

‘The most crucial piece of information is that Triss wasn’t a Superpower User when the base was established.’

“The base is established. It didn’t take too long. The facility was already there, and the various pieces of equipment only needed minor adjustments to be usable. The first batch of test subjects has arrived. I just need to reanimate them and let them recover. After that, I just have to implant them with false memories. The first batch of the serum has also been delivered. The source of this serum is very strange; it seems to be from within the base itself. This is because the serum is difficult to preserve. I’ve found that it loses its potency within a day, regardless of the environment. And I’ve observed that no vehicles have entered or left in the past three days. Therefore, the source of the serum must be inside the base. The military must have another team extracting the serum, and this team’s existence is being kept secret from me. Heh. I’m not interested in whatever you’re up to, so just cut the crap, will you?”

Duan Fei pulled out the third journal entry. The handwriting was incredibly sloppy, a clear sign of how excited Triss must have been at the time.

“I’m starting to get a little interested in this project. The serum from Base Two is highly unusual. After injection, the subject’s brain undergoes certain changes. An MRI revealed that new sections seem to be forming in his brain. Beyond that, they’re beginning to show signs of Superpowers, which proves this drug can indeed awaken them. Interesting. Using brainwashed Superpower Users to hunt other Superpower Users… now that’s truly amusing.”

The fourth entry.

“I was wrong. I’ve discovered this project is far too interesting. Some of the newly awakened Superpower Users were taken away. When they returned, their offspring could reliably be born as Superpower Users as well. This means that later-stage Superpowers are a stable, heritable trait. Even if they reproduce with humans who have no Superpowers, their children will be born as Superpower Users. Humanity is finally about to usher in a new evolution. I can’t wait to see the new evolutionary forms.”

The fifth entry.

“I’m certain the people at Base Two are hiding many things from me, and that they’ve discovered something even the higher-ups don’t know about.

I’ve divided the test subjects here into Phase One, Phase Two, and Phase Three. Phase One subjects are ordinary people who have just started receiving injections of the serum. Phase Two subjects have been receiving injections for several days. Phase Three subjects are those who have been sent to Base Two and then returned.

Phase Two subjects already possess weak Superpowers. Phase Three subjects can use their Superpowers skillfully and are far more obedient and compliant. Their physical conditioning has also improved dramatically.

However, the Phase Three subjects are extremely unstable.

If they are made to train with firearms, their eyes grow larger. To better adapt to sniping, their two eyes will slowly fuse into a single eye in the center of their face.

Useless organs atrophy while useful ones become more and more efficient. They seem to be constantly adapting to their lives here, becoming something entirely different.

I desperately want to know their secret, but I’ve discovered I’m being watched.

They’ve cut off my network access, are observing me in secret, and are preventing me from approaching anyone.

Heh. It doesn’t matter.

I already know what to do.”

The sixth journal entry.

“I’ve entered Phase Two myself. Numerous Superpowers are beginning to awaken, and my senses are growing sharper. I had already stashed away a good amount of the serum. I’ve injected it, and it’s slowly awakening a host of abilities within me. It’s time to make the people at Base Two pay the price. My Superpower will be my ultimate trump card. I won’t reveal it to anyone.”

The seventh journal entry.

“Revenge was a success. It was even more boring than I imagined.

Perhaps because it was over too quickly?

But today, I saw the Angel.

I fought my way into Base Two. I slaughtered the person in charge. I saw the being that provides the serum—that colossal Angel.

I heard her speaking to me. She said she is a new life form created by the Demon God and the Demon God’s servant, Kael, to expand the Demon God’s influence here.

Her bodily fluids can enhance the human brain, and the Heart-devouring Worms within her can consume a human’s brain and cause it to evolve.

And Superpowers are the product of this enhanced brain. Some people are naturally suited to be hosts, while most can be parasitized after being modified.

I was so deeply moved when I learned the truth.

The Angel is perfect. She is exactly like the angels of the Old Testament—a being sent by a god to save humanity and guide us to the correct path.

The Heart-devouring Worm is His gift. Humanity should accept the existence of the Heart-devouring Worm, coexist with it, and ultimately welcome a new world.

Humans will evolve according to their own aptitudes. Our brain is not an important organ, but a dispensable one.

Let the Heart-devouring Worm replace it. We will all be granted evolution.

I desperately wanted to be parasitized, but Lord Angel refused with a smile.

Is it because my Superpower isn’t strong enough, or my brain isn’t suitable?

No matter. I will prove myself.

I swear it, Lord Angel.”