Colonial Suit

Annihilation?

Blood瞳 didn't know what this program represented, but it wasn't the first time he'd heard the name. He remembered the last time he was eroded by wild cells, the Core had tried to initiate annihilation.

In fact, this was the Core's last resort against enhanced cells.

Throughout the countless years of the Kroder civilization, enhanced cells had always been the foundation of their conquest. However, even the Kroder people felt a deep-seated fear of these demon-like cells. They couldn't live without enhanced cells, yet they feared losing control of them. So they tried everything possible to ensure their safety.

The annihilation program was one of their trump cards.

This was a program that used the inherent defects of enhanced cells to cause their natural death. Once annihilation was initiated, the enhanced cells would accelerate their metabolism a hundredfold within a thousandth of a second. And based on their already fast metabolism, the only result of acceleration was the natural death of the enhanced cells.

However, the annihilation program was not absolutely safe. Especially for enhanced cells that had already merged with the host, the annihilation program killed not only the enhanced cells but also the host itself. Historically, countless Kroder warriors had died because of annihilation. Therefore, in any of the Core's first-sequence programs, annihilation was the final bottom line.

No one could have imagined why the Core would initiate annihilation the moment it awakened, but one thing was certain: the nascent consciousness was no match for the Core.

In an instant, Blood瞳 felt a violent palpitation in his body, and almost all the enhanced cells trembled. This was fear of a natural enemy, so much so that he couldn't control it. And the nascent consciousness also transmitted a wave of fearful thoughts. It was genuine fear, even causing it to desperately try to break free from its confrontation with Blood瞳.

His eyes lit up, and the familiar scene of the room reappeared before Blood瞳. But he couldn't help but feel his legs weaken, and he sat down on the nearby seat.

The most dangerous moment had passed. With the awakening of the Core, the rioting enhanced cells would no longer pose any threat to him.

Only then did Blood瞳 realize that he was covered in cold sweat, and the blood that had spurted out stained his entire body. This showed how critical the situation had been just now. Somewhere in his body, the foreign consciousness was still constantly emitting thoughts of fear and begging for mercy, like a small animal howling before death.

For some reason, Blood瞳 suddenly felt a little pity for it at this moment.

Perhaps it was a threat to him, but it was also fighting for survival. To this foreign consciousness, it was just a newborn infant, about to die before it had even seen the world. But Blood瞳 really couldn't keep it, because it was too dangerous.

No, wait! Many enhanced cells had already replaced his organ functions. If the Core initiated annihilation, what would happen to them?

The thought flashed through his mind, and Blood瞳 couldn't help but shout. “Core, wait!”

“Host request confirmed, annihilation program paused,” the Core's cold voice replied. Then it fell silent.

But even so, the nascent consciousness didn't dare to make the slightest move. It just huddled in a corner of Blood瞳's body.

Feeling its fear and panic, Blood瞳 revealed a wry smile. “Core, if annihilation is initiated, what will happen to my body?”

“Scanning… Based on the enhanced cells already being integrated with the host's body, initiating annihilation will also harm the host itself. Preliminary assessment: host survival probability is 41%.”

Only 41%? Blood瞳's heart twitched, and he finally sighed. “Stop annihilation then, if you can still control them.”

“Host request confirmed, deep scan initiated…”

“Scan complete, enhanced cell management rights taken over, neural network rebuilt, all units synchronized. Energy pool construction successful. Preliminary assessment: probability of continued control is 98%, approximately 2% of enhanced cells still have a risk of losing control. But the threat is within acceptable limits.”

That 2% of cells is the nascent consciousness, right? Blood瞳 immediately understood. But the 98% control was still beyond Blood瞳's expectations. He hadn't expected the Core to be even more powerful this time after waking up. It was able to obtain 98% control even under such dire circumstances. Did this mean it had also evolved?

Thinking that the Core had fallen asleep shortly after obtaining the new unit, Blood瞳 seemed to understand something.

“Can I use it?”

“If you need to, you can.” This time, the Core was silent for a long time before answering. Finally, it added, “But I cannot guarantee your safety.”

“No, you already have.” Blood瞳 took a deep breath. He once again gathered his thoughts.

This time, he established contact with the foreign consciousness, and then issued an order to it.

Strangely enough, the foreign consciousness, which had been fierce and dangerous just now, was now as docile as a child, obediently following Blood瞳's orders. It slowly left its original position and moved bit by bit into Blood瞳's left arm. During this process, Blood瞳 only felt a faint coolness. A faint red flame appeared on his left hand.

This was the foreign consciousness's battle aura. But it couldn't fully control it yet, so it involuntarily released it.

It could be seen that although this foreign consciousness had just been born, it had grown in a very short time. Throughout the entire migration process, it remained cautious, afraid of arousing Blood瞳's killing intent.

After the Core's suppression, it now controlled very few enhanced cells. So it easily migrated to Blood瞳's left arm. As it completely integrated into Blood瞳's flesh and blood, Blood瞳 only felt his left hand sink, and control returned to his own hands.

This nascent consciousness had even thought of this.

Blood瞳 was surprised by the intelligence of the nascent consciousness. Giving up control was equivalent to stripping away its last layer of protection. It was like the losing side in the animal kingdom lying on its back and exposing its belly, signifying its complete submission. Although Blood瞳 didn't know if it had any other means, this alone was commendable.

It should be known that it was a new consciousness that had only been born for half an hour. Such a growth rate surprised even Blood瞳.

However… Blood瞳 moved his wrist, feeling that the red battle aura was actually under his control, and smiled slightly. In this case, the benefits he obtained were too great.

An enhanced consciousness lurking in his left hand. A terrifying cell cluster with a battle aura. Didn't this mean he possessed two battle auras at the same time?

Perhaps in the countless years of records of the universe mercenaries, there had never been such a warrior.

“You really are a little devil.” Blood瞳 looked at his left hand and said. “Then how about calling you Devil's Left Hand?”

The consciousness in his left hand remained silent, and after a long while, a faint response came. It seemed to have recognized the name.

Feeling its still lingering fear and unease, Blood瞳 thought for a moment and comforted it. “You don't need to be afraid. If you are honest, the Core will not annihilate you. I think you, being smart, should know what to do.”

The left hand throbbed, obviously frightened by Blood瞳 mentioning the Core again, but it calmed down in an instant. It even faintly conveyed a sense of flattery. It was like a pet acting coquettishly, making Blood瞳 laugh and cry.

If he hadn't experienced it personally, Blood瞳 would have found it hard to believe that this was the fiercely aggressive enhanced consciousness from just now. Had it already adapted to its new identity in just a few minutes?

This terrifying adaptability was truly frightening.

Of course, Blood瞳 wouldn't let his guard down because of its submission. However, after experiencing these changes, he breathed a sigh of relief. He then began to check his physical condition.

He didn't know until he checked, but he was shocked by the sight.

The state of his entire body was surprisingly good. Not only were the injuries caused by the battle with the enhanced cells repaired, but even the overloaded damage from using his abilities continuously before was also repaired one by one. All his organs and cells were bursting with amazing vitality. Apart from his disheveled appearance, he couldn't feel anything unusual.

Blood瞳 tentatively moved his body, only to feel an endless stream of power erupting from within. It was as if a volcano was hidden inside. The strength of its eruption even made him change color.

“Is this still my body!?”

Blood瞳 looked at his body in surprise, his heart surging.

Of course, he was very familiar with his body, because this was also one of the instincts of a beast. But Blood瞳 had never thought that one day his body would be so strong, so… domineering…

That's right, domineering, because Blood瞳 couldn't find any other word to describe it.

Although his appearance was still so thin, every inch of muscle, every bone, every nerve, and even every cell contained explosive power. Blood瞳 had no doubt that even if he was stark naked, he could definitely tear down a suit of armor with his bare hands. A casual punch could penetrate dozens of centimeters of alloy steel plates. And this wasn't the most important thing, the most important thing was that as he moved, he actually felt an urge to vent from the bottom of his heart. It was as if his power was endless, vast as the sea.

If a mountain stood before him, he would collapse it, if a river blocked his feet, he would flatten it!

This was no longer the realm of a 'human'. This was clearly…

“The first step of evolution.”

The Core's indifferent voice echoed in Blood瞳's mind, answering his question.

“The results of the scan are out. The degree of integration between the host and the enhanced cells exceeds level three, and has reached the critical value for preliminary evolution. From now on, the host will officially enter the evolution stage.”

“Then what I did before wasn't considered evolution?” Blood瞳 took a deep breath. He asked with some doubt.

“That was just preparation.” The Core replied mercilessly. “You only met the conditions for evolution after this integration. But I need to remind you that this period will be very difficult.”

“How difficult?” Blood瞳 was still doubtful. Just then, a tyrannical thought crossed time, crossed space. Like a net, it enveloped the entire room.

In just an instant, Blood瞳's face changed drastically, and a chilling light flashed in his eyes.

“Comet-class!!”