NOVEL NEXT 070. Weak Retreat
- Weak Retreat
Although people think that having some Qi and mastering superpowers qualifies as an extraordinary person.
In reality, according to player research, the true mark of becoming extraordinary is when the main attribute surpasses Beta level (β), reaching over 40 points.
This is a qualitative change in individual power, more like a leap in biological hierarchy.
Especially with the appearance of the specialty 【Transcendent Physique】, worldly force seems laughable to a Beta-level.
Without sufficient numbers and technological advantage, mortals can hardly harm a Beta-level strongman.
Li Aozi's state was somewhat awkward. He hadn't truly stepped into Beta level, nor even reached the threshold of Alpha level.
He merely specialized in adding points, combined with the growth specialty 【Perpetual Love Hunt】, pushing his main attribute into the transcendent realm.
His strong 【Charisma】 naturally greatly amplified his Arcane power, consuming Arcane energy even slower than it recovered.
Boom!
Under forty times gravity, "Cannibal" kneeled on the ground without surprise. Her massive body, including the composite armor, already weighed over a ton.
At forty times gravity, every inch of her body bore a weight of 40 tons.
Pfft—
The Cannibal's lungs were instantly compressed, spat out from her mouth, and fell to the ground, covered with a layer of frost by the cold wind.
The sudden change in gravity also increased the air pressure. Under forty times gravity, the pressure difference alone burst many of her blood vessels, and her entire skeletal structure was almost instantly crushed and broken.
Her armor instantly lost its stability under this terrifying gravity. As armor designed to withstand artillery and explosions, it didn't have such terrifying tensile strength, and the weight crushed itself.
However, compared to the metal deformation, the carbon fiber materials at the joints collapsed first. Heavy composite armor pieces fell off the Cannibal's body as neatly as a molting lobster.
The Cannibal's cervical vertebra was snapped, hanging like a deflated ball on her chest. The tough skin didn't break, making her appearance even more grotesque.
【-489！】
At this moment, all the mimetic health of the 【Biochemist】 was emptied, and even the real health was greatly damaged.
Li Aozi's body also fell instantly. He adjusted the gravity in time, landing steadily.
He was trembling all over. The gravity pressure instantly drained all his Arcane energy. Though it quickly recovered, the momentary void pain from the genetic cellular level almost knocked him out.
"Huff... Hah..."
Li Aozi gritted his teeth, drenched in cold sweat. He always forgot that he was no longer a player and couldn't shield this pain. Yet, when it came to action, he subconsciously preferred this desperate tactic.
Because the effect was just too good.
"Huff—Ugh!"
As Li Aozi panted and moaned, the Cannibal's broken body, now like a candle in the wind, seemed that with just a breath, this noble Beta-level strongman could be sent away.
Being crushed by one's own body was not a pleasant experience.
The advantage of Gravity Arcane lay in this: regardless of level difference, as long as the target was heavy and large enough, a few times gravity could crush them.
But this was undoubtedly a double-edged sword, like connecting a toy car to high voltage.
Li Aozi's eyes were red and black, constantly oozing blood.
His body couldn't withstand such strong genetic load, but fortunately, 【Charisma】 mainly led to excessive Arcane power. If it were any other attribute too high, even moving might be an issue.
Li Aozi cautiously observed the Cannibal. The chain spear pierced her chest, and he held a flying knife. Such a weapon wasn't enough to kill her.
Agent Yavanna had run out of bullets, and Nimotin had lost mobility.
These two were unreliable.
Even so, the Cannibal's body was rapidly regenerating, with countless tendrils and appendages extending from the severed flesh. Her wounds were quickly healing, and new red, hideous bones were forming at the severed limb.
In reality, the Cannibal's terrifying regeneration ability meant it was almost impossible to eliminate her without high-temperature weapons like thermobaric bombs.
He didn't dare to go up and finish her off—she was a 【Biochemist】; a single genetic-level attack could end Li Aozi.
Early-stage 【Biochemists】, with a skill like 【Mutant Virology】, could cause irreversible damage to 【Mutants】.
For players, at worst, they could reset by suicide. Li Aozi had no such option.
He could only watch as she slowly dismantled her armor, revealing fortress-like solid muscles, her cyanotic skin glistening with metallic sheen.
She raised her claws, and only then did people notice these scythe-like, sharp claws weren't equipment but grew from her wrists, covered with thick chitin exoskeleton. Upon closer inspection, one could see electric organ patterns.
A red-black protrusion, resembling an egg, was visible in her sunken chest, with a gel-like texture. Veins entwined around this core, pulsing with her breaths.
This seemed like a heart-like organ. The chain Li Aozi threw pierced her chest, just a hair's breadth from the red-black protrusion.
As her body healed, she unceremoniously yanked the chain out of her chest, tossing it aside.
"Heh, Li Aozi... you didn't disappoint me."
The Cannibal, or rather, the Professor.
She no longer bothered to disguise her neutral voice, laughing heartily:
"Your ability, the Escha Virus gave you Arcane power. This power can even harm a Beta-level body, fantastic, simply fantastic! This isn't some magical power; it's the triumph of great science!"
Her newly formed body became noticeably thinner, her abdominal and chest muscles completely sunken. Her three-meter height now looked like a tall shadow, making her more terrifying.
Li Aozi glanced at her health bar: 605/605.
All mimetic health was shattered, reducing her durability. But her regeneration was terrifying, and this body seemed not to have a dying concept.
Even with health bottoming out, she wouldn't die instantly but would stubbornly regenerate back to full health.
However, it was only 605 health points.
Meanwhile, Li Aozi's health was as high as 77 points.
He didn't plan to move until his Arcane power was fully restored. He had to keep stalling.
"Only one more challenge to complete the side quest... 12 minutes left. Then I'll gain another main attribute point."
Li Aozi wanted to minimize the gap between them... but even so, he couldn't kill her.
No one could, not with a two-tier difference.
From the start, the emergency mission required him to "drive off" the opponent.
So, Li Aozi decided to change tactics.
Stall.
Stall for another 12 minutes, and gain another attribute point in 【Charisma】, bringing the total to 55.9. Then, maybe, he might have a chance to drive her off.
If his attribute were lower, the mission might have been to "escape the Cannibal's pursuit."
But now, even the condition to drive her off seemed extremely difficult.
The Professor seemed to realize the gap between them, raising her hands and speaking gently:
"My Level 5 infectee, how did you recognize me?"
"I guessed."
Li Aozi held the flying knife, maintaining composure. His 【Charisma】 made his act convincing. To others, he still appeared mysterious and powerful.
"Guessed? Hmm, hehe..."
The Professor tapped her chin, laughing:
"You don't look like you guessed—you wear the Scavenger outfit and defeated Nordri. Entering Abyss Humanitarian was premeditated and investigated, right?"
Li Aozi didn't deny it. With her high 【Intelligence】, lying was pointless. No matter what he said, it would be seen through by such a high-intelligence individual.
"Let me guess, you're from the Four Kingdoms, exiled to the outer territories for some reason, becoming a Scavenger. But you're not ignorant of the Escha Virus. On the contrary, after being infected, you investigated Abyss Humanitarian, wanting to join to treat your disease."
The Professor tapped her shoulder, speaking with interest:
"However, you didn't expect to lose control and go mad during infiltration—as a Level 5 infectee, you awakened Arcane power the day you entered Abyss Humanitarian."
"I saw it with my own eyes, Li Aozi. Your body's indicators don't lie. Initially, we thought the genetic flaws in you were caused by the medicine we administered—but now it seems it's entirely because you possess such highly dangerous Arcane power."
"That's Omega-level Arcane power, right? Unfortunately, it's not a power humans can bear. Omega-level Arcane power, known as divine retribution, directly causes severe genetic damage, like direct exposure to highly enriched uranium chain reactions."
"You want to use Abyss Humanitarian's scientific technology to treat your genetic leakage problem. That's why you agreed to Anna and my request to stay here."
The Professor paced slowly, speculating wantonly, while Li Aozi's expression remained indifferent, which only confirmed her thoughts.
Yavanna and Nimotin exchanged glances, completely clueless about what was happening and why Li Aozi and the Cannibal suddenly started chatting amidst the battle.
"Captain, what is Abyss Humanitarian..." Yavanna asked quietly.
"It's the future!"
Even though her voice was low, the Professor still heard it and said loudly:
"Abyss Humanitarian was founded to continue humanity. I am the past, the present, and even the future!"
Nimotin opened her mouth, then said to Yavanna helplessly:
"A bunch of lunatics."
"Scientists, those who attempt to glimpse the truth through human perspective, are all lunatics."
The Professor didn't care and looked at Li Aozi:
"As for reputation—Li Aozi, how much do you know about me?"
"I don't know."
Li Aozi understood what the other party was planning.
Like him, she was stalling.
The Professor didn't know that Zhu Baiya had already been severely injured. She still wanted to buy time for him to finish loading the babies and move away.
The Professor didn't want to keep entangling with him. She knew Li Aozi's capabilities; the previous attack wasn't enough to completely kill her.
As long as she couldn't be killed, with the Biochemist's self-healing ability, Li Aozi could never defeat her.
Li Aozi's special Arcane power was too risky to keep fighting against.
Not to mention the series of aerial maneuvers just now; as a scientist not skilled in combat, she couldn't necessarily reach him. Under that terrifying gravitational pressure, she could be forced to kneel at any moment.
It was better to reveal her identity directly, delay time, and divert attention.
Li Aozi recognizing her identity and pointing it out—her plan was mostly exposed.
She didn't know Li Aozi had an information panel, so she instinctively thought of this result.
But this was acceptable.
"As you see, I am the Professor."
The Cannibal said indifferently:
"No name, no code, I am the will of Abyss Humanitarian."