Starting from Prototype to Immortality

Chapter 19: Evolving Again

Chang Wei appeared to be completely suppressed by Alex. The seemingly endless tentacles constantly wore down Chang Wei's corrosive acid, attempting to outlast him in a battle of attrition.

Meanwhile, the hard, blacklight virus coating of the black coffin began to be consumed under the relentless assault of the tentacles. It was akin to the saying, "Dripping water wears through stone, and a rope saws through wood."

However, Chang Wei soon launched a counterattack.

"Crackle!"

Dazzling light and sparks erupted from Chang Wei's body. High-voltage electricity instantly paralyzed Alex's entire body. Even the countless tentacles froze under the uncontrollable electric currents.

"This... is electricity???"

Alex had lost count of how many times he had been shocked, but each time, his astonishment grew. The electric current unleashed by Chang Wei was unimaginably powerful. The tentacles near him were reduced to ashes by the heat effect, while the others were carbonized, the damage spreading relentlessly.

Under such a domineering electric assault, Alex, unable to move, felt even more despair than when facing the corrosive acid earlier. At least then, he could still fight back.

"What a pity, Alex. I still have several abilities I haven't used yet. But it seems your journey ends here. Welcome to the top of the planet's food chain."

Unhindered, Chang Wei approached Alex, whose body had been charred into a blackened husk, struggling faintly within. Chang Wei extended his five fingers, lengthening them to pierce into Alex's body. His highly efficient absorption organs grew smaller but exponentially more powerful.

Alex's memories flowed into Chang Wei like a rushing torrent, along with his physical form.

"You have gained 100 Gene Points!"

"You have gained 100 Gene Points!"

"You have gained 100 Gene Points!"

...

The system notifications were as overwhelming as when he absorbed Elizabeth Greene. Chang Wei could feel his super blacklight virus becoming further perfected and evolving once again.

Although Alex seemed to be completely overpowered in strength and ability, he had his merits. That was precisely why Chang Wei refused to spare him—he was in pursuit of perfection and ultimate power.

"Excellent. Now, onto this world..."

Chang Wei reabsorbed the black coffin into his body, ensuring nothing was left behind that might enable Alex's resurrection.

---

Meanwhile, General Randall, the highest commander of Blackwatch, decided to escape by helicopter after witnessing the vast regions of devastation and decay. His final plan was to cleanse Manhattan Island with a nuclear strike since he had no remaining trump cards to play.

The strongest super-soldiers, including Captain Robert, had perished. Over half of the Marines and Blackwatch soldiers had been lost, and the situation on Manhattan Island had spiraled out of control.

Even though Dr. Raymond McMullen had developed Bloodtox—a virus specifically targeting the blacklight virus—it was ineffective. The super blacklight viral organisms dominating Manhattan had evolved beyond recognition, rendering Bloodtox useless.

The cities beyond the bridges had also fallen. The rapid spread of Anubis and the Four-Armed Hunters was unstoppable.

But the nightmare wasn't over.

"I need to act quickly."

Chang Wei's focus had shifted away from Blackwatch's nuclear strike. The destruction of Manhattan Island and his subordinates stationed there was of little concern. As a walking apocalypse, he could spread the virus wherever he went. Moreover, he now had a more pressing target—Pariah.

Pariah, originally named Jason Greene, was the child born to Elizabeth Greene after she was infected with the blacklight virus during pregnancy.

"Pariah may be the only thing capable of stopping Mercer and Greene. Although I cannot fully comprehend what Pariah is, I can speculate that he might represent the perfect embodiment of non-coding genomes—a glimpse of the ultimate evolutionary goal of life on Earth."

—Dr. Raymond McMullen

Pariah was the codename given to Elizabeth Greene's son by Blackwatch. This child was considered the perfect creation of the blacklight virus.

His existence was deemed fundamentally different from that of Elizabeth Greene, Alex Mercer, or James Heller.

Elizabeth Greene's transformation resulted from an imperfect release of non-coding genome areas, while Mercer's transformation was artificially induced.

Blackwatch scientists theorized that Pariah was the result of a perfect natural release, embodying Earth's ultimate life form.

As the primary subject of the Crusade Project, Pariah was imprisoned for 34 years. During his captivity, he mysteriously killed five people, though it was unclear whether they died from antisocial behavior or viral infection.

Pariah had no apparent physical defects, and tests with 14 viral strains from Greene yielded negative results.

Alex Mercer and Pariah shared many similarities. While Mercer's existence was the result of an artificial release of non-coding genome areas, Pariah represented a flawless natural release.

Thus, Dr. Raymond McMullen believed that a meeting between Mercer and Pariah would lead to catastrophic consequences.