Fantasy Game: Infinite City

Chapter 600 Transformation

"In short, this is all I know about Bastinburg. It's a strange place, and very dangerous."

As Christina shared her memories of Bastion, Han Zu used the contractor's equipment to calculate in real time, trying to find Bastion's exact location using these scattered clues. However, information was too scarce, and the contractor's equipment was unable to locate it. To reach Bastion, he could only rely on Christina's teleportation ability.

But as she had said before, the danger in Bastionburg seemed to be far from over, and Christina was very reluctant to go there now. So although Han Zu was very interested in Bastionburg, for the sake of the other information Christina had, Han Zu still went along with Christina's idea.

"By the way, do you remember Gloria?"

"Remember, what happened?"

"I think you two should meet. If you tell her about your experience, you should have something in common."

"I can do it."

During their conversation with Christina, Han Zu also transmitted the base's surveillance footage to Gloria and shared his thoughts with her via the contractor's equipment communication module. Surprisingly, Gloria had no objection to Christina and considered her a potential ally.

After their conversation, Han Zu took Christina via the base's teleportation platform to Gloria's location. That was where Gloria was helping Han Zu train his troops, a military base over which the contractors had given Gloria full authority. Located in the northwest corner of the contractors' headquarters, Han Zu had been surprised when he first learned of this news, demonstrating the strength and reliability of their alliance. After all, if it weren't for absolute trust, even if the contractors had an overwhelming advantage in military strength, they would never allow Gloria to train troops in the heart of their headquarters.

"How much are you going to tell her?"

"You decide the scale yourself, as long as the contractors don't mind."

After meeting Gloria, the two had a brief conversation. Gloria asked Han Zu how much Christina could understand. Han Zu completely gave Gloria the power. She had already proven her loyalty. Han Zu was still very confident in her.

"Don't worry, I'm self-aware. Even if I'm curious, I won't ask too many questions. I'm not stupid. I finally managed to escape from the Feidenan family, and I won't give up my hard-earned safety."

Christina waved her hand. After hearing the conversation, she immediately made her stance clear. Unless Han Zu nodded, she wouldn't ask any questions, no matter how curious she was. After all, having spent so much time in the Feidenan family's environment, Christina understood the importance of discretion. She was also very experienced in dealing with Han Zu. She knew that before gaining his trust, even the slightest step over the line could lead to catastrophic consequences.

Although Christina was still unaware of the existence of the contractor, seeing the army conducting combat training in the distance and the exceptionally advanced facilities surrounding them, she immediately concluded that regardless of the identities of Han Zu's allies, their power undoubtedly surpassed that of the Ferdinand family. While the relationship between allies didn't need to be completely equal, it couldn't be too far apart. This also indirectly demonstrated that Han Zu's power had reached a level of strength that she herself might not be able to comprehend.

"Then I'll leave this place to you, Gloria. You two can catch up."

"Won't you stay a while?"

"No, I'm very relieved to leave this place to you. Besides, I'm going to Bastinburg soon, so I need to make some preparations."

"Okay, if you need any help, feel free to contact me."

After bidding farewell to Christina and Gloria, Han Zu returned to his base and retrieved the second container he had found in the secret laboratory. He had previously suspected that this container and the one currently being studied by γ4 might be related. Since he had some time now, perhaps he could study this second container and see what it meant.

Based on the intelligence he got in the secret research institute, Han Zu learned that the liquid-like substance in the container would cause anyone who came into contact with it to die immediately after a short period of time. Although Han Zu did not allow this to happen to him, for the sake of safety and to allow γ4 to obtain more research data, Han Zu did not study the second container alone this time, but took it directly to find γ4.

After the meeting, Han Zu shared the intelligence he had obtained. γ4, fortunately, had no work or other tasks at the moment, so he had plenty of time. So, the two immediately began researching the second container. To their surprise, this research went exceptionally smoothly. In just a few hours, they had uncovered a considerable amount about the second container and the liquid inside.

"How about it?"

"The analysis results are in. Although the second container and the first container are different in shape and size, and the materials are also very different, you guessed correctly, Han Zu, the manufacturing process of these two containers is very similar. The difference in similarity is negligible. We can conclude that the two containers were built by the same group of builders."

"Does this mean they were created by the same person?"

"That's right, and we've also achieved some research results regarding the contents inside."

"Have you figured out what this ingredient is?"

"That's a shame. We still haven't been able to analyze the composition of this liquid-like substance, nor have we figured out what it is specifically. However, in the past few hours of experiments, we have figured out the function of this liquid-like substance: transformation."

"Transform? What does that mean?"

According to the research results provided by γ4, the contents of the second container are indeed not liquid, but a strange substance that is very similar to the liquid state. According to detailed research, this content has a certain uniqueness. The contractors did not find any similar substances in their own database, and they were also unable to determine their source.

However, during one biological experiment, the contractor's researchers discovered a reaction between this substance and living organisms. Once this liquid-like substance enters an organism, it appears to possess intelligence, first spreading to all vital organs, then rapidly throughout the body. Then, they connect with each other, fusing within the organism to form a bacterial web. Once this liquid-like substance has fully integrated, a violent reaction occurs. Any living organism that comes into contact with it undergoes a violent and irreversible transformation.

"Because the transformation process is so intense, and the animals we use for biological experiments can't survive such a violent transformation, we haven't observed any successful experimental subjects. However, based on real-time monitoring data and actual conditions, we've discovered that some of the stronger experimental subjects, before they died from vital organ failure, have developed unexpected characteristics, as well as certain enhancements in areas nearing completion of transformation. By the way, do you remember the pseudo-goat?"

The pseudo-goat is a species of hunter creature. Han Zu had previously battled them during his first encounter with Team Xin. They resemble ordinary goats in appearance, but are enormous, reaching the size of a full-grown rhino. Their heads, including their horns, lack a mouth, and are composed entirely of a metallic material. Two large chasms flank their bodies, filled with angular, tapered teeth. They are a tough, tank-like unit of the hunter biome, serving a similar purpose to stranglers. Han Zu's memories of these tough, sturdy hunter creatures, which proved difficult to defeat, remain vivid.

"Remember, the hunter creature? It's a tough, thick-skinned creature. What's wrong?"

"This time, there's a biological experiment involving the contents of the second container. The target of the experiment is the pseudo-goat. I remember you fought against a hunter creature before?"

"Yes, there are these things inside. These guys don't have long-range attack methods and can only rely on their thick skin and flesh to charge around. Although they are very resistant to attacks, they don't have much intelligence. As long as there are not too many of them, they can still be easily dealt with. As for now, I think as long as there are no special cases, these things should be easy to deal with."

"Based on biological experiments on the pseudo-goats and their payloads, we've discovered that before the pseudo-goats succumb to complete transformation and die, their bodies and abilities undergo dramatic changes. You should see this for yourself."

Gamma 4 said as he transferred a video of the experiment to Han Zu's contractor equipment.

"Abilities? These tough guys, apart from their physical fitness, I don't remember having any abilities..."

Han Zu was obviously confused about γ4's statement. Indeed, pseudo-goats were not easy to deal with, but they would always use their physical advantages to attack through the most primitive methods such as collisions. Due to the uniqueness of their biological structure, these things could not retain too much energy in their bodies, so naturally there was no question of their abilities.

However, when Han Zu saw the scene in the biological laboratory, he immediately became serious.

The pseudo-goat in the laboratory in the picture has undergone tremendous changes. Its body has expanded by more than twice, and many large and small tumors have grown in the huge cracks on both sides of its body. These tumors are like bubble wrap, and each small protrusion keeps breaking, and then bursting out energy that should not exist in the pseudo-goat, making the pseudo-goat like a huge disco ball fixed to the ground, constantly spraying chaotic energy beams around.

"Are you sure this thing is a fake goat???"

"That's right. Although this experimental target only survived for a dozen minutes, during that time, its body suddenly developed energy storage areas. Perhaps they can't be called organs, but at least they shouldn't appear on a pseudo-goat. Furthermore, from the time the pseudo-goat began to transform until its death, its intelligence also increased dramatically. The original pseudo-goat basically only acted on instinct, but this pseudo-goat's brain capacity increased dramatically in a short period of time, even reaching the level of ordinary intelligent life, that is, the intelligence of primates."

"Becoming a monkey??"

"That's how much brain capacity it has. And look at these beams, which appear to be randomly ejected, but they're actually controlled by the pseudo-goat. They were fired purposefully by the pseudo-goat, perhaps to destroy the restraints and try to break free. But perhaps it wasn't used to this ability and couldn't fully familiarize itself with and control them, or perhaps it couldn't withstand the incomplete transformation process. In any case, it eventually died in the laboratory."

According to γ4, Han Zu quickly figured out why these containers caused other personnel and experimental subjects who came into contact with them to die suddenly when they were in the secret research institute.

"So, those people or other creatures that died suddenly after coming into contact with the contents of this container died because they couldn't withstand the intense transformation it brought about?"

"According to the data, that's the case... I understand your expression. You don't want to try it, do you?"

γ4 saw the eager look on Han Zu's face. Based on the way Han Zu handled the previous container, γ4 immediately guessed what he wanted to do.

"I must remind you, we haven't yet found a successful test subject that can survive the transformation, so I suggest you reconsider. There's more than one way to improve your strength. Furthermore, your very existence is inherently strange. Perhaps this thing won't improve you at all, but may even have a negative impact on you."

"Although this thing is very dangerous, sometimes being simple and rough isn't a bad thing. I don't think I'll die suddenly given my physical condition. Besides, your researchers also hope to find a successful experimental target, right?"

"The successful outcome of this payload is indeed beneficial to our data collection. However, based on the data analysis, we believe that the importance of this payload is definitely not as important as your importance to us. Since we are allies, we must still inform you of the drawbacks of this approach. And speaking solely, I personally do not recommend that you proceed with the conversion. It involves too many uncertainties and is very dangerous. But..."

"If I insist on doing this, you can't stop me, right?"

γ4 nodded and said nothing more. Han Zu knew that data, and thus knowledge, was extremely important to the contractors. He also understood the conflicting views of γ4 and the researchers nearby. On the one hand, they were genuinely interested in the contents of the container, but at the same time, they didn't want to be harmed or even killed. After all, the contractors were counting on him to fulfill the agreement.

However, if Han Zu himself brought up this matter, no one would be able to say anything. After all, allies still have a great deal of autonomy in their requests.

"I was going to try this originally, but I just asked you to help me with the research."

"...Thank you, Han Zu."

"It's a small matter. Besides, I'm definitely not going to die."

Han Zu tapped γ4's metal body with his fingers. He seemed to see the change in expression on his head, which was also made of metal. At his own request, Han Zu entered another clean laboratory. Under the observation of a group of contractors and γ4, the container was also sent into the laboratory where Han Zu was.

"Close all the doors, seal off any places that can be sealed off, I've already told you."

"be careful."

Giving a thumbs-up to γ4 behind the observation wall, Han Zu completely opened the container, exposing the liquid-like contents inside to the air.

"Come on fuck."

Han Zu suddenly inserted his hands into the container and absorbed them completely into his body in an instant. Then he sat on the open container, waiting for the transformation to begin. He could feel the containers spreading rapidly in his body, but they had no reaction yet. Perhaps it would take some time before he could feel it.

"This thing is more than I thought..."

Suddenly, a violent transformation began abruptly, and Han Zu was caught off guard and slipped off the container.

"Fuck! I'm getting excited!"