Chapter 108: A Wave of Prosperity

Kools seemed to remain in a state of profound shock, unable to recover from how thoroughly and swiftly Ye Hai had subdued him. For the Shesha Cult, which had dominated the Ironwood Forest black market for over a decade, this was an unprecedented experience. Since the cult had unified the Ironwood Forest, they had certainly encountered formidable outsiders before, but without exception, all had been easily suppressed. The Holy Crusade under the High Priest rarely even had a chance to intervene; the peripheral missionaries alone were usually enough to sweep away any resistance. Although groups like the Dusa Resistance existed, in Kools's eyes, those sewer rats were beneath notice.

Receiving the High Priest’s orders to come here had been framed as a mission to spread the faith, but in essence, it was an act of subjugation. Kools and his nine fellow missionaries possessed the strength of Stage 6 mutants. To the average survivor, a single Stage 6 mutant represented a force of destruction, let alone a dozen such individuals. Consequently, before arriving at the Corpse Collector camp, Kools and his team had never once imagined such a dismal outcome.

From the moment Archbishop Zela manifested his "divine" presence, to Ye Hai entering his G3 form, and finally to the silent moment when Lister implanted nanites into everyone’s brains—rendering their lives no longer their own—Kools had been left slumped on the ground, mind reeling. Ye Hai could even hear him muttering incessantly, pleading for salvation from the Shesha god.

Yet, having witnessed the power these missionaries displayed, Ye Hai was equally shocked. He was certain these individuals were undeniably human. The means by which they obtained such immense strength did not alter their human characteristics. This ability was, surprisingly, similar to his own zombification. In all his years, Ye Hai had never seen humans achieve what the Shesha Cult had. Moreover, according to Kools, these missionaries were merely "failures" who hadn't fully passed through the "Sanctum of Miracles," yet they had already reached the strength of Stage 6 mutants. How powerful would the true Shesha Holy Crusaders be? Stage 7? Or perhaps the even more terrifying Stage 8?

This extraordinary ability to enhance the physical body reminded Ye Hai of Donald’s summary of the ARMY series. While they lacked the potent contagiousness of the ART series, they possessed the ability to push biological flesh to its absolute limit. Combined with the snake totem worshiped by the Shesha Cult, Ye Hai suddenly felt a chill.

"I’ve finally gotten away from the ART-2 and 3 series," he thought, "only to stumble right into the territory of ARMY-3? If my guess is correct, this Shesha Cult is likely a tool created by ARMY-3 to rule over humanity. These insidious, cold-blooded animals actually thought to use religion to control mankind. For intelligent mutants capable of wielding psionic powers, manifesting a few 'miracles' from time to time would be child's play. Humans who survived before the zombie virus outbreak might remain skeptical due to their education, but the younger generation born after the outbreak will likely view ARMY-3 as a god to be worshiped and revered. These brainwashed, ignorant youths are the most terrifying assets of the Shesha Cult."

"Fortunately, we arrived here as winter approaches," Ye Hai mused. "Even though these sentient experimental subjects have become incredibly powerful, in many cases, their original animalistic traits haven't been completely erased. The temperature has already dropped below freezing; surely those serpents have entered hibernation by now. The Sanctum of Miracles is likely their hibernation nest. I must find the secret experimental base of the Kalan Genetic Biology Company before spring, then take everything inside and get far away from here."

Having resolved this, Ye Hai crouched before Kools and pierced the man’s chest with his claw to extract a drop of his heart's blood. He then called upon the system. "System, analyze the viral composition in this blood. Determine if it can be used as a blueprint to modify the T-virus genetic serum or to create a new genetic enhancement serum."

Since discovering the system’s analytical capabilities, Ye Hai had made significant breakthroughs in the cultivation of genetic enhancement serums. Now, he was deeply intrigued by the power the Shesha Cult had displayed. Upon receiving his command, the system responded promptly:

"Analysis complete. This virus uses potent toxicity to suppress the activity of the zombie virus, allowing the human body to be injected without being converted into a mutant. However, every time this virus is activated, the released toxicity drastically reduces the user's lifespan. Based on calculations, each activation costs at least ten to fifteen years of life."

Ye Hai was stunned. So, this immense power came with such a horrific side effect! Naturally, those cold-blooded serpents had no good intentions. The so-called "divine power" was merely using humans as disposable tools.

Ye Hai asked again, "Can the properties of this virus be integrated into our existing technology?"

The system replied, "Yes. If this virus is extracted and injected into the NE-α parasites, using the parasite as a medium will not only effectively suppress the damage the T-virus within the parasite inflicts on the human body—lowering the implantation requirement for second-generation parasites to the constitution of a Stage 2 mutant—but it will also allow the host to possess the powerful regenerative capabilities of the T-virus, while simultaneously gaining the high defense and strength characteristics of the zombie virus! By using the parasite as a vessel to bear the side effects, the host's lifespan will not be diminished. However, after the ability is used three times, the parasite will die. Furthermore, while the parasite can significantly enhance the mutant's abilities after taking control, it will turn both the parasite and the mutant into one-time consumables."

Ye Hai was astonished by the system's words. This was an unexpected windfall. Lowering the implantation standard for NE-α parasites to that of a Stage 2 mutant meant that in just one month, everyone under his command could acquire the capability for Stage 6 zombification, while retaining the dual characteristics of the T-virus and the zombie virus. Even the parasite's original regenerative abilities remained unaffected. At that point, he would command a force of nearly four thousand Stage 6 super-genetic warriors. And as long as their parasites weren't killed, they would possess the ability to regenerate indefinitely. Coupled with the dozens of high-level mutants he had controlled along the way... the Shesha Holy Crusaders? Were they even a threat anymore?

Thinking of this, Ye Hai suddenly found the old "milk-delivering" Kools quite adorable. He couldn't help but give the man a friendly pat on the shoulder, a wide, beaming smile spreading across his face.