Chapter 147 – Brain and Nerve Laboratory (2)
“I wondered why they kept it so tightly wrapped.”
The basement of the laboratory was reminiscent of a field hospital. Medical beds were scattered everywhere, and there were desiccated corpses on them.
[Zero carbon dioxide emissions.]
The heads of the lying corpses were all different sizes. I’m not just talking about soybeans and cow beans.
It was so strangely swollen that it reminded me of the aliens in the movies. The thing in front of me resembles a cone head.
[It’s human technology.]
A robot brought a handwritten research log.
[Subject: Byunghyun Ahn. Cerebral hemorrhage death. Reduce Compound B dosage by 12%.]
“Compound B?”
[It’s an abbreviation for Brain.]
On the other side is a head that resembles a Mars invasion alien. These soybeans are wrinkled like two halves in cold water.
There are also corpses whose eyeballs are half protruding because they cannot support their overly enlarged brains. There are also many other types of heads.
[This is good enough.]
“…”
I always feel this, but Artemis is a woman.
[I assumed a more terrible experiment than this. You know how bad this country was right before its destruction, right?]
Bang!
Occasionally, a few walkers who appear to be employees appear, but that’s it. None of the test subjects with enlarged brains mutated into infectious agents.
“Honestly, I was very worried when I walked in here.”
[What is it?]
“The variant that was accelerating, as well as the limb colony seen in Genoplan, are strongly influenced by the host body. “I wondered what kind of monster would emerge if it were an entity with a mutated brain.”
Artemis smiled as if he knew what she was thinking.
[Are you worried that I might be using supernatural powers?”
“Well, that’s right.”
[Look closely at the body on the operating table.]
I did as she said.
[Open your mouth.]
“…!”
When I stuck the muzzle into the mouth, I saw grotesquely long, sharp, deviant teeth.
“This is…”
[That’s right.]
Other robots also opened the mouths of nearby test subjects. Everyone’s teeth and lower teeth are in abnormal condition.
Because of the swollen head, the twist of the lower crown was less prominent.
“Were they all infected?”
[Okay. Although everyone died during the mutation.]
Artemis pointed to the nose of a corpse. There was something black and rotten flowing down from there.
“It doesn’t seem to be blood.”
This is not the first time I have seen abandoned corpses while wandering around the battlefield. This is something different. It’s squishy, but it’s mixed with small tissue and the colors are subtly different…
“A brain?”
[That’s right. The original brain became very unstable due to human technology, but the secondary mutation occurred due to infection, so the brain could not survive.]
A robot handed me an old folder. Patient management log.
[Can you see that the brain temperature of each test subject was measured? There are also cases where the brain is cooked due to excessive heat. A cerebral hemorrhage may occur, a tumor may explode instead of the brain, and there are countless side effects.]
“So all the mutants died? It doesn’t matter how twisted your limbs are, but if your brain is even slightly distorted, it’s over. In some ways, it’s not strange.”
When I opened one of the doors and entered, there were robots confronting many walkers.
Thud! Thud! Boom!
This is the tempered glass I saw on the first floor of Zinoplan.
A squad of robots pointing guns and dozens of walkers struggling behind the glass. Mutants can also be seen among them.
“US military?”
Although it was a small number, there were a few people wearing US military uniforms.
Clap!
The resolver spit out strong acid in this direction, but it was blocked by the tempered glass and flowed out.
Although it is a very strong, chemical-resistant material, white smoke rises and the surface melts slightly.
“I think I’ll have to pass by there later because of its location.”
[That’s right.]
I grabbed my gun and headed to the edge.
[What are you trying to do?]
“Feed me something delicious.”
The gun was pointed at the virtual part of the tempered glass, the part connected to the wall.
No matter how strong the material is, it is not strong enough to withstand a 12.7 mm bullet.
Tatang!
With a light recoil, two holes were created and a crack spread about 30 cm around them.
He took out a military knife and inserted it into the gap, expanding it as if scraping it. In this way, a mouse hole was created.
The robots that had been waiting in the background arrived with a new biochemical weapon. It is an autonomous weapon similar to a rat.
When I hit it into a hole, it dug itself into it like a live rat. There are a total of 4.
“Keeeeek-!”
The walkers immediately noticed and rushed in, but it is not easy to catch a small, fast-running rat that runs across the floor.
Puhwaaaaak!
Even that couldn’t be seen properly as light green gas started spewing out from the ejection port of the rat’s tail.
Like a hippopotamus marking its territory, its tail was spinning and spraying gas in a spiral. In an instant, green gas fills the room.
“Keheeeeek-!”
“Keluk-! “Kellook-!”
After a few seconds, their cries turned into coughing sounds coming from hell.
Boom!
A walker behind the glass wall hit her in the face with all its might.
Blood foam leaks out from the horribly bloodshot eyes, nose, and mouth.
“How about spicy?”
The guy didn’t respond and tried to headbutt him once more.
Beans.
However, the second headbutt contains little force. I sat down with my face pressed against the glass wall.
After a while, four rats returned through the hole they entered.
There is no one standing in the room across from me. All they did was lie down and wriggle.
The rats climbed up the robot’s legs and landed on the palm.
When the robots took out a green ampoule and placed it on the rat’s back, the rat returned to its original storage compartment on the waist.
I was speechless at this absurd efficiency.
I’ve already experienced it in a mock battle simulation, but seeing it used in real life feels different.
“Is this enough to change the paradigm of indoor tactics? “In a confined area, it would be more effective than deploying a company-sized army.”
[Because one insignificant rat can bring down an army of 10,000 people and an empire of a million people. There is no need to kill them all one by one with swords, arrows, and catapults.]
It’s refreshing to see the infectious agents being cleaned out, but it’s also confusing. It was because I felt like I was being replaced by the flow of the times.
“It’s a bit bittersweet on behalf of the old-fashioned military.”
He picked up the iron pipe rolling at his feet and shaped it into a ribbon. The iron bent and tore, and pieces of iron fell out. It’s incredible power that even I can’t believe.
“Even though I have become this much stronger, I feel like my place on the battlefield is disappearing more and more.”
I spun the finished product around in front of my eyes and threw it back. There is a loud metallic sound as it hits the ground.
[Old-fashioned soldier? You?]
We walked down the dark passage heading to the research building.
Because the lead scouting unit and assault unit attacked first, there was no danger reaching me.
Ta-ta-tang!
“Keeeeek-!”
Sporadic battle noises can be heard everywhere.
[I don’t think you realize how much technology and resources went into your body? Imagine going back to the past 5 years ago while maintaining your current body. Just by showing off your body here and there, you’ll have enough money to build a shelter, right?]
“That’s not what I meant.”
[Know. It’s like that knowingly. Because it’s frustrating.]
Bang!
The door on the right, 20 meters ahead, seemed to burst open. From there, a robot that had become one with the Reaper flew out.
After rolling a few laps, it was Ripper who took the mount position.
Poop!
Immediately, the robot’s punch exploded into Reaper’s face. A lot of broken teeth fell on the floor.
It was such a powerful punch that Reaper laughed for about a second, and during that time, the surrounding robots opened fire and turned him into a rag.
[Did you see it? No matter how good your specs are, if you fail on site, you will end up in a situation like that someday.]
The robot stood up and ran into the door it had jumped out of.
Just before disappearing, his last appearance was catching a combat rifle thrown by another robot inside the door.
[Giving you a strong body does not mean that you should use it on the battlefield.]
I just listened quietly. It would not be a wise decision to refute her at a time like this.
[In chess, the king moves and charges just because he has the queen’s mobility? That’s something a fool would do. If necessary, we will fight, but that is not an option.]
“Okay, okay. Rest assured, I will work hard to protect your life from behind. “I will act the same way as the superior I despised the most during my time on active duty.”
[That’s it!]
I said it sarcastically, but Artemis seemed to find that a satisfactory answer. We kept moving forward.
Boom!
This time, a dazzling light exploded 15 meters to the left of the front. It looks like a flashbang was set off.
With a loud gunshot, windows were broken and dozens of holes were made in doors and walls.
Cheolpudeok.
A walker staggered out through the open door and collapsed, blood spurting from her entire body.
He’s lying down in the hallway, probably not breathing yet, and glaring at us with his characteristic resentment-filled eyes.
“Kkieee…”
Before I could cry to the end, I was grabbed by the ankle by a robot hand that protruded from the door and dragged away.
Bang!
After a gunshot rang out, it became quiet.
Boom!
Two drones the size of soccer balls fly from behind.
This drone was developed for indoor operations and has protectors surrounding its wings, allowing it to maintain flight status even if it crashes into a wall or ceiling. The drones entered the vents in the ceiling.
We consistently overpowered the enemies and smoothly reached our target research building.
The walkers inside rushed towards it, but it quickly turned into a beehive and collapsed.
“It’s the American military again. Plus researchers.”
Judging from their clothing and overall appearance, they were a mix of soldiers and researchers dispatched from the U.S. Military.
“It smells bad.”
[It smells suspicious.]
Our hearts were in sync. Although the expressions were different.
[Remember when we went on an expedition to Terracorp?]
“A mechanical infection that infiltrated the helicopter?”
[Okay. It looks like there’s something special that needs to be kept confidential. So much so that the U.S. Military airlifted it in and studied it.]
Suspicion continued to grow.
“It’s Posta.”
One of the walkers killed at the entrance to the research building was wearing a uniform with four shining stars.
I squatted down and grabbed his head. The face is grotesquely distorted, but recognizable.
“I never thought we would meet again like this.”
[Do you know someone?]
I nodded.
“Deputy Commander of the ROK-US Combined Forces Command.”
He politely let go of her hand and turned the body over.
“We’ve had conversations a few times. I have only once received direct orders and performed a mission. “I had to stick around with the U.S. Military for a long time.”
There was no useful information on the cell phone found in his arms. He only found one voice message to the president.
『Mr. President. We apologize if the message we previously delivered was offensive. However, ‘Send Korea’s best brain scientists without asking questions.’ Please understand that this is the most relaxed expression of the order I received from the Combined Forces Command. I know you will be very offended by this rude request. However, in a war situation, your Excellency has no right to refuse this. I take full responsibility for this kidnapping and mobilization of civilians. The success or failure of this terrible war depends on it. Please understand the importance of the research and give us your full support.』
– Sent by General Kim Seong-jin, Deputy Commander of the ROK-US Combined Forces Command.
“What on earth is here?”
There were no survivors left to answer my questions.
* * *
I entered the research building.
Robots are transporting the corpses of walkers killed inside to the outside, and in front are two glass tubes containing giant brains.
“I see this again.”
Meanwhile, Artemis accessed the control computer.
“How long does it take to copy data?”
[3 minutes is enough.]
In the meantime, she wandered around and looked around. There were various types of brains in her research building.
Judging from the size, some are artificially produced, while others appear to have been taken from the human body.
[The brains of infected individuals were also removed and studied.]
“What should I do with all that stuff?”
[According to the records, it seems like they were trying to find out what principles the infected think and move based on, and what stimuli they preferentially respond to and avoid in combat situations.]
While she was copying her data, she slowly walked around her lab and looked at the infected organisms in her glass tubes.
In some cases, only the brain was floating, in some cases, the spinal cord and vertebrae were preserved, and in others, the entire body was floated to observe the electrical flow from the brain to the nerves of the limbs.
[If you look at the list, Walkers are the most common, followed by Reapers and Lampremothers. I guess these are the most…]
Artemis stopped her words.
[Oh…]
I also stopped walking.
“Oh my god.”
We froze in front of a glass pavilion.
