Chapter 90: Alpha

Chapter 90: Alpha

Before Chu Qing were rows of data.

Someone called out to her, but she ignored them, having been fixated on this particular entry for quite some time.

If she understood correctly, the experimental waste discarded in Zone 103 nineteen years ago belonged to the Alpha series of test subjects.

Currently, Yongsheng Pharmaceutical's cutting-edge technology is bio-mechanical integration, combining biological organisms with system machinery.

This technology was shared freely with the Federation at an early stage, which led to the creation of many androids after the Great Radiation, when the population drastically decreased. Yongsheng Pharmaceutical's technology filled the void left by the loss of a large workforce in the Federation.

However, what was shared with the Federation was the early mature technology, the first phase of research.

Most of the Federation's androids are not much different from ordinary humans; at most, their genes have been altered to make them more loyal and less likely to betray humanity.

They are, at best, expendable.

What intrigued Chu Qing back then was the fusion of pollutants and mechanical systems. Some pollutants can naturally contaminate machines and systems, making this concept theoretically feasible.

They also created some artificial mutants, achieving some experimental results, marking the second phase of the experiments.

Chu Qing is currently working on this.

But their more advanced concept involves integrating mechanical systems with Super S-class pollutants.

To Chu Qing's knowledge, Yongsheng Pharmaceutical possesses three Super S-class pollutants, while the one here is only S-class.

Obtaining Super S-class pollutants is extremely difficult. Human cities do not breed such high-level pollutants; they require significant resources and the sacrifice of many lives to successfully capture them outside the walls.

Even after capturing them, they cannot be utilized effectively. These are forces that inspire fear, powers that should not be glimpsed by mortals.

Most of the time, they are buried deep underground, as even a glance can cause one to tremble, let alone conducting experiments with them.

The most crucial aspect of the Alpha series experiments is the integration of Super S-class pollutants and systems.

Systems are not unfamiliar to many people.

Home computers, civilian auxiliary brains, all undergo system upgrades to enhance the functionality of technological products. Every year, the Federation updates its payment systems to meet user needs.

But humans do not need systems; machines and computers do.

How complex is this concept? Pollutants represent chaos and disorder, while systems symbolize precision and order.

When humans use systems, they can maximize the precise regulation of pollutants' capabilities, potentially even reverse-engineering the systems themselves.

If successful, systems could be installed in future humans as naturally as chips.

Successful installation would allow the use of Super S-class pollutants' power, granting the ability to strip and consume other pollution sources, truly purifying the world.

They could even expand their armies, reclaiming polluted lands by installing these systems in enough people. This is no longer a pipe dream.

A very beautiful experimental concept, almost like a savior.

Yongsheng Pharmaceutical must have made considerable progress in the experiments back then, otherwise, they wouldn't have held recruitment presentations at their school. Their slogan back then was: "The Hope of Future Humanity."

Savior, the hope of future humanity—such beautiful words.

Chu Qing, still a student at the time, went mad over this concept, dreaming of entering the Alpha laboratory during her student days.

Chu Qing only knew the experimental concept; she did not participate in the original experiments. By the time she joined Yongsheng Pharmaceutical, the experiments had already been shut down.

The Alpha series experiments were declared a failure.

Experimental failures are common; they proposed the concept, but putting it into practice might take generations of effort.

From Chu Qing's current research results, any part cut from an S-class pollutant exhibits extreme aggressiveness, making it difficult to integrate with other materials.

The experimental mice, the experimental subjects, and the higher-level pollutants were all consumed.

There is always only one path: consumption.

Chu Qing's current findings are no different, let alone with Super S-class pollutants.

Even if they succeeded by chance and overcame this challenge, a greater problem awaits the researchers.

The experimental subjects are endowed with excessive power but lack a powerful consciousness to match.

In other words, the researchers created a powerful vessel without a powerful soul.

An android requires both a body and a soul to function.

Natural souls are bestowed by nature, while artificial souls are given by researchers.

They may have tried directly inputting memories, but artificially inputted memories will always have flaws because the experimental subjects are very intelligent and can easily detect these flaws.

Once the experimental subjects realize they are fake, they will collapse.

Mental breakdowns are an unavoidable hurdle.

Many of the experimental subjects under Chu Qing's supervision choose to commit suicide the moment they realize they are manufactured.

Consciousness collapse, rationality disintegration—they die brain-dead.

They prefer death to living in a polluted world, being used by others, because they are too smart to understand what their survival entails.

Death is the best outcome.

And the system itself, a fusion of pollutants and technology, can overwhelm and consume humans if not controlled.

The consequences of being consumed by the contaminants are terrifying. They once experienced a severe experimental accident, which led to the destruction of an entire base.

Failure in experiments was almost an inevitable outcome, with too many challenges to overcome. Despite Yongsheng Pharmaceutical investing its most advanced technology and substantial funds, they did not succeed.

Chu Qing also came to understand this and stopped obsessing over it, shifting her research direction.

But now, Zhu Ning's appearance signifies that the experiment has succeeded.

She was once transported to the 103 Area landfill, yet she survived. Why? How did she manage it?

Why didn't she break down?

...

In the basement safe room of the Venerable Queen Shop.

Lin Xiaofeng stood frozen in place.

She had never felt such fear before, an inexplicable terror. She hadn't encountered any evil person or monster.

She just stared at a door, feeling as if she would go mad from fear.

Lin Xiaofeng wanted to leave, but she couldn't, truly couldn't. A deep sense of helplessness enveloped her, even preventing her from crying.

She wanted to call out Zhu Ning's name, but her lips trembled, unable to produce a sound.

The door to Zhu Ning's bedroom was tightly shut, with black ooze seeping through the cracks, exuding a desperate and lifeless aura.

That door seemed like an eye, staring directly at Lin Xiaofeng.

Bang—

The main door was suddenly opened, and Lin Xiaofeng felt herself lifted into a warm embrace.

Song Zhizhang pushed open the door.

Fortunately, when Lin Xiaofeng got out of bed, she was wearing fluffy slippers, which didn't disappear, allowing Song Zhizhang to see where she was. The two had developed a good rapport over the past few days.

A transparent form of Lin Xiaofeng was accurately picked up by Song Zhizhang, leaving the young girl stiff and unable to recover.

Song Zhizhang could feel the pressure and fear, even hesitating to look at Zhu Ning's door.

An overwhelming pressure suddenly descended, making it difficult for Song Zhizhang to move, despite his preparation. His back felt as if pierced by countless needles, and he hadn't even glanced at the door; he had just entered.

Is this Zhu Ning's power?

What is she doing?

Song Zhizhang, who had seen much, had witnessed people suddenly collapsing into contaminants and others undergoing metamorphosis, but none were like Zhu Ning.

Her demeanor seemed less about metamorphosis and more like summoning some dark deity.

Song Zhizhang clenched his teeth, a sweet, metallic taste spreading in his mouth, which helped clear his mind.

He finally remembered his purpose, taking a difficult step forward and carrying Lin Xiaofeng out.

He had never felt this path so long, though it was only a few steps, it seemed endless. If Zhu Ning lost control, both Lin Xiaofeng and Song Zhizhang would die here.

Click—

As they stepped out, a metal door suddenly dropped, sealing off the interior with a loud thud.

The safe room's defense mechanism activated, turning it into a fully enclosed space.

The metal door fell, but it couldn't stop the trembling fear; they still shivered uncontrollably even after escaping.

Song Zhizhang sat down against the metal door with Lin Xiaofeng in his arms, unable to imagine what Zhu Ning was doing.

...

Zhu Ning was trapped in the safe room.

She looked at her hands.

A pair of new eyes observed the world, like a newborn touching a human hand for the first time.

She recalled some memories, perhaps those of the original host, or perhaps her own.

Someone had once grabbed her, pulling her out of the garbage pile.

Those were rough hands, palms scarred and calloused, reeking of garbage.

Her memory held the shouts, "She's alive!"

The cries echoed from one end to the other, and on that day, someone among the defective items in the garbage mountain responded to the call.

"Hey—what's alive?"

Liu Sheng shouted excitedly, "She's alive!"

He repeated these three words from start to finish, without context, just three words: she's alive.

Such stories often occur outside delivery rooms, where a normal newborn arrives, surrounded by family.

She would receive the warmest blessings, so fresh, with all the love of the family poured into her.

Even the most heinous person would feel a moment of pity for a newborn.

Here is the landfill; Zhu Ning is merely a failed experiment, one that should be rotting in a pile of garbage.

But now, countless defective units' cries seem to welcome Zhu Ning's arrival.

Liu Sheng and Old Yang hold her tightly, and she can feel their warm hearts.

She had never thought that her appearance would become a beacon of hope for some.

She had never thought that just by existing, she could give people strength.

She had never thought that these people didn't care whether Zhu Ning was powerful or not; they only wanted to live.

As long as she lived.

They saved her.

The researchers in the lab wouldn't understand; in their eyes, there are only data and parameters, human emotions cannot be quantified.

Cold data has erased the possibility of human existence.

They wouldn't understand why Su Qingqing, created as a domestic android, could break free from genetic constraints.

They wouldn't understand why an office worker, simply because they missed the last train, could be crushed into waste.

They wouldn't understand why Lin Xiaofeng could reverse pollution and become invisible.

They wouldn't understand why their experimental subjects would be saved by defective units.

They are overly arrogant, believing themselves to be gods who can decide everyone's fate.

From the moment the test subjects are created, they will inevitably deviate from the creator's expectations, because they are alive.

At that moment, it doesn't matter whether Zhu Ning's memories are real or fake.

It doesn't matter whether Zhu Yao exists.

It doesn't matter whether the zombie world is real or not.

It doesn't matter why she exists, or whether she is an experimental subject.

What matters is that she is alive, and her very existence proves everything.

Zhu Ning opens her eyes, and streams of data flow wildly within them.

She looks directly at the mutants in front of her, these things that once flowed from her body, surging towards the ceiling, the viscous liquid now falling.

The black slime itself pulsates, but now it is strangely stiff.

Though the perspective is from above, filled with indescribable mysterious horror and the power to destroy everything, when Zhu Ning's gaze meets theirs, it seems like they are on equal footing.

No, they are being looked down upon by Zhu Ning.

Her posture is one of looking up, but her eyes are looking down.

She refuses to accept her fate, just as countless defective units refuse to do so.

She can't distinguish between truth and falsehood, unsure if her world is real.

So, let her be a little selfish, a little narcissistic, making herself the center of the universe.

Let her rewrite her world, where everything revolves around her.

What benefits her is true, so Zhu Yao is true, and the strong heart Zhu Yao gave her is true.

What benefits her is true, so her breakthrough to win the national championship is true, standing on the podium is true.

What benefits her is true, so her rescue from the landfill is true.

Old Yang is true, and Liu Sheng is true.

Reality cannot be proven, but neither can falsehood.

Destroying reality is easy, but destroying lies requires hundreds of times more effort.

This is unfair.

If it's false, then let it be false. If Zhu Ning believes it is true, then it is true.

She is an experimental subject, with a system in her brain that might, as Gao Yingcheng described, gnaw at her brain until it completely consumes her.

But that is just a tool, like how you can control yourself not to be consumed by a puppy at home.

She will tame it.

If she can't do it now, she will do it later. She will tame it.

Zhu Ning stands up.

She was hugging her knees, curled up on the bed, a vulnerable and easily hurt posture. Now she stands up.

She isn't wearing protective gear or any battle attire; she doesn't have a weapon in her hand.

She is wearing a blue long-sleeved autumn pajama set, which she bought on sale for fifty new coins.

Her hair is disheveled, messy, and from any angle, she looks like an ordinary girl who has just woken up.

But now she stands up, standing beneath the black slime, surrounded by writhing pollutants, looking straight at them.

This is her contaminated area; she is the master here.

Zhu Ning once bestowed strength upon Lin Xiaofeng, and now that strength was being passed back to her.

Only then did she realize what Lin Xiaofeng had faced that day, rising from the ruins of despair to declare herself the master here.

It was no easy feat for a ten-year-old girl.

When Fang Ying asked her during her first day on the job, "Are you afraid of corpses? Are you afraid of monsters?"

Entering all contaminated areas required forcing oneself not to be afraid; as long as you were fearless, mental contamination could not affect you.

She had been destroyed, but she could rise again.

Just like how she had fallen before, been called worthless, yet still managed to stand up.

Zhu Ning stood up, and she simply stood there.

The black slime in front of her began to move, as if they had seen something even more terrifying than themselves, and they tried to scatter and flee.

But it was too late.