Chapter 743.2: Alpha Protozoan
Chapter 743.2: Alpha Protozoan
After the brief discussion concluded, the clinical analysis report was finally delivered from the laboratory. Hyrja handed the report to Chu Guang, who had been waiting outside the lab, and summarized its contents in terms he could understand.
"... To summarize, we now know that the Alpha Protozoan possesses extremely high penetrative capabilities and is capable of altering the genetic material of those it infects. According to our calculations, an individual needs at least 20 constitution points to be completely immune to infection."
"20 constitution?" Standing beside Chu Guang, Yang Kai frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Rather than answering directly, Hyrja looked toward Chu Guang, silently asking whether she should reveal the information.
There wasn't really any reason to keep it secret and Chu Guang explained, "It's the New Alliance's physical evaluation metric. We use 5 as the baseline value for all bodily functions. 20 constitution roughly translates to four times the baseline metabolic rate and immune system efficiency... Though it's not a particularly rigorous measurement. It's mainly for reference."
Still, only 20 constitution points is enough to completely negate the effects of the Alpha Protozoan... Honestly, its offensive capability is rather underwhelming.
Furthermore, mutants obviously possessed constitution well above 20. Their physical attributes generally started somewhere around LV20 or LV30, so they remained unaffected even while living in an environment saturated with Alpha Protozoans.
However, Blood Peak was still full of mutant variants possessing astonishing combat prowess and regenerative abilities. Most likely, the Torch Church had discovered another method to stabilize their evolution.
Perhaps something like forcing them to chug a big bowl of broth steeped with Alpha Protozoans.
After hearing Chu Guang's explanation, Yang Kai roughly understood what 20 constitution points represented and nodded thoughtfully. "I see."
Most members of Alpha Mobile Task Force were ordinary humans. As far as he knew, while they had received various cybernetic implants, no one had bothered to further enhance their immune systems.
Realizing that, his expression subtly changed.
Good grief... Isn’t this a complete hard counter?!
Unaware of what Yang Kai was thinking, Hyrja continued after seeing neither man had further questions. "In addition, regarding the Alpha Protozoan's origin, we believe it was produced by a mutated Hive. At present, we're unable to determine whether its actions are directed by the Hive's collective consciousness... Personally, however, I believe they're more like spores, spreading unconsciously without being governed by any unified intelligence at the macroscopic level."
After a brief pause, she continued, "For the sake of convenience, we're planning to designate the suspected Hive inside Blood Peak as the Alpha Hive and merge research on it with the Alpha Protozoan project."
"That's up to you. Whatever makes your research easier," Chu Guang said with a nod, without consulting the Academy. He immediately asked the question that concerned him most. "How contagious is this thing? Is there any risk of it spreading?"
"You don't need to worry about that for now. They're not true viruses and can't replicate themselves like viruses do. You can think of them as the warheads mounted on the spore missile." Feeling that the analogy wasn't precise enough, Hyrja paused before adding, "Of course, that's assuming no new mutations occur. The Hive itself is capable of evolving, not to mention that there's a group of lunatics actively helping it."
Hearing the comparison between missiles and warheads, Chu Guang immediately understood the distinction between Alpha Protozoans and spores.
As expected, technical reports really did require specialists to interpret them.
He couldn’t help but continued to ask, "What about treatment?"
Hyrja's expression turned solemn. "If the infection is mild, the patient's immune system can eliminate the Alpha Protozoans after they're removed from the contaminated area. However, once the immune system has been overwhelmed and the majority of the body's stem cells have been compromised, the infection becomes irreversible. At that stage, visible mutations begin appearing throughout the body. Cells containing the original DNA become the errors that need to be eliminated, while the mutated cells carrying Alpha Protozoan genetic material become the new normal... That's the simplest way to understand it."
"So..." Yang Kai looked through the door behind her with a complicated expression. "They're beyond saving?"
"Not exactly." Hyrja hesitated slightly. She glanced at the Academy researcher, then at Chu Guang, before continuing after thinking for some time. "Based on our analysis, Little Feather's biological prosthetics are capable of fighting poison with poison. Theoretically, as long as the host still retains even a tiny number of original cells, it can use them as a template to create mimetic replicas that replace the diseased tissues. However, the mimetic body still differs significantly from the original body... So before using this treatment, we will need the patient's consent."
Furthermore, Little Feather's biological prosthetics were currently only being used on a limited scale within Shelter 404.
Partly, it was to monitor for side effects. On the other hand, it was to control risks and avoid widespread public controversy.
Whether they should be used outside the residents of Shelter 404 still required approval from their administrator, Chu Guang.
Understanding the question in Hyrja's eyes, Chu Guang considered it briefly before speaking. "I have no objections. However, Little Feather's biological prosthetics are still experimental. Anyone who chooses to receive them must personally accept all resulting consequences."
Even before the Mutant Slime Mold Research Committee had been established, its founding members had already begun limited data sharing on Mutant Slime Mold research.
Since the relevant findings had been made public, the Academy was already familiar with Little Feather's unique characteristics. Otherwise, they would never have allowed such a massive Hive to exist unchecked. There was therefore no issue of leaking secrets.
After all, the harmless treatment methods for slime molds formed the very foundation upon which the Mutant Slime Mold Research Committee had been established, as well as the reason its headquarters had been located in Clearspring City.
Presented with Chu Guang's proposal, Yang Kai only pondered it briefly before agreeing without hesitation. "... We have no objections. As long as it helps us capture the Alpha Hive on Blood Peak, feel free to proceed."
Making such a decision carried no psychological burden for him. At the end of the day, the survivors under the Scientific Committee existed solely as tools raised by the Academy to achieve its goals.
The Academy had never tried to hide that fact.
Likewise, the survivors who joined Alpha Mobile Task Force had long since accepted their own fate. Knowing they would never become researchers, they had made what they considered the most rational decision. Long ago, they voluntarily erased the portion of their brains associated with self-identity, sacrificing themselves to become sub-units belonging to the massive collective known as Alpha Mobile Task Force in exchange for a more dignified standard of living for themselves and their families.
It was nothing more than a transaction with clearly marked prices. Once they became members of Alpha Mobile Task Force, their bodies no longer belonged to themselves. Their superiors' will became their own. Even if they died like worker bees, they would harbor no resentment. At most, biological instinct would make them fear death in their final moments, but they would never hesitate or complain.
Whatever it was, Hyrja knew nothing about the Academy's internal affairs.
Yang Kai's decisive approval made her hesitate slightly. From her perspective, the patients and their families should at least be consulted.
Still, after seeing Chu Guang nod, she said nothing further. After all, it was also the outcome she had hoped for, and it might not necessarily be a bad thing for those participating in the experiment...
Watching Hyrja return to the isolation ward, Chu Guang turned toward Yang Kai. "You heard her. Conditions on Blood Peak are going to be especially troublesome for your Alpha Mobile Task Force. I doubt constitution is one of your primary selection criteria when recruiting operators."
Yang Kai's brow twitched and he coughed awkwardly before replying, "That's not difficult to solve. We can simply replace the individual protection system with a fully sealed life-support system. As long as they don't breathe outside air, that... Alpha Protozoan won't be able to penetrate."
"You mean giving everyone oxygen tanks?" Chu Guang asked with a strange expression. "Wouldn't that be rather cumbersome?"
Besides, such equipment couldn't simply be conjured up on the front lines overnight. Transporting it from the rear would take time, and if the Academy hadn't already developed such equipment, they'd first have to solve the problems of research, development, and production.
Chu Guang's original intention had been to assign the assault on Blood Peak to someone else.
Whether it was the New Alliance or the Army, either force would be better suited than forcing Alpha Mobile Task Force to fight under both severe terrain disadvantages and an enemy perfectly adapted to the environment.
However, Yang Kai had absolutely no intention of giving up. If he backed down at that moment, it would amount to admitting the Academy's inadequacy.
Even if their allies understood their circumstances, it wouldn't change the fact that the Academy's prestige within the Mutant Slime Mold Research Committee would suffer.
According to what he knew, the Chief Technology Officer placed tremendous importance on the committee, perhaps even more than on Shelter 0 itself.
In other words, it wasn't an issue that could simply be glossed over. Rather than withdrawing, he would much rather let Alpha Mobile Task Force try again. After all, those people weren't his students. He didn't even know their names. If they ultimately failed after giving everything they had, that would simply prove they lacked the necessary ability. No one could blame him for that.
After weighing everything carefully, Yang Kai suddenly looked up and uttered a sentence that even caught Chu Guang by surprise. "... If every member were implanted with those biological prosthetics, wouldn't they become immune to Alpha Protozoan infection altogether?"
"Theoretically... I don't know." Chu Guang stared at him in astonishment, as though looking at a madman.
Even though players could resurrect, he had never encouraged them all to install tentacles or similar biological prosthetics, since they certainly weren't free of side effects. For example, healed wounds would eventually become Little Feather's sub-units.
Yet Yang Kai clearly didn't care.
"Then let's give it a try!" Turning his gaze toward the tightly sealed isolation ward, Yang Kai spoke with an indifferent expression, almost as if trying to convince himself. "After all... they don't have anything left to lose."