The Creatures that We Are

Meanwhile, underground secret laboratory, Feiyang District.

Precision machines hummed steadily in the brightly lit room, blinking as they monitored various parameters. Dr. Jia, wearing a sleeping robe decorated with pink strawberry prints, wandered among them munching a half-eaten cucumber, attending to tasks throughout the laboratory.

A fat gray parrot with a round head and stubby tail perched on his shoulder, repeatedly trying to steal his cucumber. "Stupid thing, eating everything will only give you stomach problems!" Dr. Jia snapped.

"Not scared! Not scared! Not scared!" the parrot declared boldly.

In the laboratory's resting area, six figures occupied the sofas: Sir Jiang—who'd abandoned his mask since being exposed as a pride monster—Elder Qin You, Protector Liao Liao, Ting Ting, Cold Cicada, 0618, and Void.

Sir Jiang had suffered a serious blow at Gao Yang’s hands in Ni Nation and lost the buff from the Time-Space Rune Circuit, thus weakening substantially and no longer qualifying as a good frontline fighter. Because of that, he was assigned to guard Dr. Jia instead.

Newly promoted Elder Qin You now headed the intelligence department. An hour before the battle began, he’d led her team—Liao Liao, Ting Ting, Cold Cicada, plus temporary additions 0618 and Void—quietly to Dr. Jia's secret laboratory on Qilin's orders.

Member 0618's gender remained an enigma. Standing 1.75 meters tall and appearing no older than thirty, they possessed completely androgynous features and voice.

Their long, silky black hair complemented careful makeup, while they favored expertly tailored casual suits like a fashion model. Their Talent, Golden Ratio—Support-type, number 170—operated uniquely.

They could perceive the golden ratio lines in any lifeform's energy pathways. Attacks targeting these lines gained tremendous advantages, from doubled damage to becoming lethal. Similarly, healing and support effects were amplified when applied along these lines.

Two days ago, 0618 comprehended Dimensional Storage.

True to its name, this Talent created a subspace for storage, which was essentially a portable dimensional pocket.

The space came with limitations: only inanimate objects could be stored long-term. Higher lifeforms, including the Talent user, risked being assimilated with prolonged exposure to the space.

Dr. Jia had resisted relocating to the Ocean River Union's underground base for two reasons.

First, he despised moving. Second, several of his experiments required constant monitoring.

0618's Dimensional Storage solved both problems—the entire laboratory could be transported intact, experiments uninterrupted.

Yet Dr. Jia still invented excuses to avoid a move.

The Ocean River Union had exhausted its patience. They dispatched Qin You to implement Plan B: having Void force a Contract on Dr. Jia stipulating that if captured by other organizations, he must refuse to help them or face immediate death.

Should Dr. Jia reject Plan B, Qin You would execute Plan C: permanent elimination.

Qin You had entered the laboratory with clear intent, but Dr. Jia's swift agreement to 0618's Dimensional Storage solution caught him off guard.

As the Genius, Dr. Jia recognized he couldn't stall any longer once Qin You arrived. The outcome of the civil war meant nothing to him—neither justice nor evil concerned him. His sole focus remained his research and uncovering the Mist World's truth.

Since awakening Genius, this had been his singular pursuit. All other studies were mere diversions.

Having depleted the Divine Scion's vital energy and blood, Dr. Jia had been anticipating Gao Yang's arrival for fresh research materials.

His reluctance to relocate stemmed from this—he'd be easier to find here than at the Union's base.

Now, with time running out and Qilin losing control, Dr. Jia chose survival. As long as he lived, possibilities remained.

Dr. Jia was finishing the final compilation and machine calibration. After that, they could start moving.

Sir Jiang and Qin You sat quietly on one sofa, while 0618 and Void occupied opposite ends of another, maintaining a conspicuous distance as if inhabiting separate realms.

Void lounged, scrolling through dance videos of young, attractive women. "I admit you make me crazy with love..."

0618's delicate features twisted with contempt—they perpetually regarded others as beneath them.

Liao Liao, Ting Ting, and Cold Cicada shared the third sofa.

Ting Ting checked her phone repeatedly, anxiety mounting over the Qingyang Bridge battle where her two close colleagues fought.

Liao Liao struggled to find comforting words, knowing any reassurance would ring hollow. Her own position in intelligence stemmed from fear of death. It was a deliberate choice to avoid danger.

She'd already decided: if enemies attacked the lab, she'd fight only with favorable odds; otherwise, she'd surrender. Loyalty, principles, duty—none mattered. She just wanted to live. And if possible, she would like to survive without killing people.

Seeking distraction, Ting Ting turned to Cold Cicada. "I only learned recently that tiao was the same as chan, meaning cicada."

Cold Cicada nodded, his youthful face carrying a kind but lazy expression.

"Uncle Cicada, what's the meaning of your name?" Ting Ting asked, blinking curiously.

Cold Cicada's eyes narrowed with amusement. "Nothing. Just made it up."

"That can't be true." Ting Ting wasn't convinced. "Mine is a random name. Yours clearly means something."

"I know what it means," Liao Liao interjected.

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