Chapter 45: Brain-in-a-Vat

Things from that place?

Gao Gong thought of that failed scientific exploration and furrowed his brows.

"What is it?"

Huang Yuanli shook her head in pain.

"I can sense its existence; it’s huge and also in pain, like a soulless being, a ghost without a shell."

"You were able to contact me through it just now, weren’t you?" Gao Gong’s heart stirred, and he asked.

"Yes, I found the professor. At first, the professor did not reject me but gave me a cup of coffee. After that, I kept experiencing hallucinations. However, these hallucinations were intermittent before, so I didn’t take them seriously."

"After our rebellion failed and I was whipped, the hallucinations became more and more severe. When I completely lost consciousness, I discovered that I seemed to have become a part of it."

"I can ’see’ many things that I couldn’t see before: the thoughts of the Electronic Bees, the moods of the Mechanical Dogs, and even the thoughts of this forest. It is also angry and in pain."

Gao Gong didn’t speak but glanced at the system panel.

Mind Communication (Mechanical) (Beginner): A superpower capable of sensing the human mind, and able to sense more than just the ’human mind.’

"It seems the professor gave you some sort of ’Super Sensing Medicine,’ and fortunately, you’ve awakened; in the Radiation Zone, mechanical Mind Communication is a very useful ability."

Huang Yuanli was stunned: "Super Sensing Medicine, what’s that? Wait, you mean I have Mind Communication?"

"That’s right, but not everyone who takes the ’Super Sensing Medicine’ can awaken. This drug enhances experiences beyond your five senses; during this process, your genes may develop some kind of antibody due to this experience, and the nature of this antibody determines the nature of your superpower."

"Of course, most ’Super Sensing Medicines’ are not safe. The possibility of drug-induced sudden death is far greater than awakening a superpower; you should thank that ’thing,’ according to my guess, it helped you share some of the pressure."

Huang Yuanli was stunned for a long time and then suddenly became furious: "The professor actually intended to kill me! I knew people with glasses couldn’t be trusted!"

Gao Gong ignored him, retraced his steps, found the original entrance, climbed back up the straight ladder, and both of their pupils expanded almost simultaneously.

In the once-empty Cable Tribe, a strange white brain fluid covered everything, slowly wriggling along the ceilings, walls, and tree holes. Thick nerve fibers pierced through the brain fluid, taking root and sprouting.

Even though Gao Gong had removed the ’amplifier,’ he still felt a strong noise rolling in from all directions.

"Ah!"

Huang Yuanli suddenly covered her ears, her eyes red, in extreme pain.

"Deep breaths, deep breaths, learn to control your ability, try to accept it, operate it, don’t resist it, remember, it’s part of you!"

Under Gao Gong’s guidance, Huang Yuanli’s face gradually calmed down, and a kind of deep luster flashed through her blinking eyes.

Gao Gong breathed a sigh of relief. The superhuman civilization is a larger branch within the Carbon-Based Civilization, but on the Mechanical Split Star, it is very niche. If Huang Yuanli can’t control her ability, it will become very troublesome.

Looking at the ’brain fluid’ covering his feet, Gao Gong suddenly drew the ’Red Unicorn’ and severed the pink nerve bundles within.

The panel also showed the other party’s information.

Brain-in-a-Vat!

Gao Gong didn’t expect it to be this thing; he thought it was at most some kind of pre-war bionic machine.

This thing is at least level 40, and it’s a semi-bio-information monster, extremely difficult to kill.

Especially since its spiritual attack has ’True Damage,’ ignoring all defenses. If hit by its AOE, Gao Gong estimates he couldn’t withstand two blows.

Gao Gong looked around and saw that not only the Cable Tribe but all the mutated giant trees in sight began secreting artificial protein, which is the raw material for the ’brain fluid.’

’Damn, isn’t Professor Han trying to load the entire Cable Tribe into the Brain-in-a-Vat? Clearly watched too much EVA.’

But it is obvious that this Brain-in-a-Vat is still in a developmental state, and the previous series of hallucinations were all the result of Huang Yuanli’s operations in her dreams.

"I, I ’see’ it," Huang Yuanli gritted her teeth and said, "The professor is contacting this thing. He wants to absorb it, but it is resisting, and the professor is also in pain."

Gao Gong took a deep breath, turned his head, and saw a large amount of ’brain fluid’ drilling into the sewers.

The reproduction speed of this thing is astonishing.

"Let’s go, stop it, you lead the way!"

Gao Gong grabbed Huang Yuanli, and her finger pointed toward the mountain path.

"In the Great Elder’s Temple, the professor’s laboratory is also in that direction."

Gao Gong rushed along the mountain path, and at the same time, the system panel made a ’ding’ sound.

Difficulty: Difficult

Mission Briefing: Professor Han foresaw the coming of the Beast Tide, but he has no means to restrain it. In despair, he chooses the most extreme method, releasing the sealed scientific product. He wants to absorb it and transform into the dominator of consciousness.

Mission Objectives: Kill Professor Han/ Kill Brain-in-a-Vat/ Rescue Professor Han

Mission reward: Experience +4500, Cable Tribe favor +500, clues about Bionic Technology

Gao Gong’s spirits lifted, it really is ’Bionic Technology’. It’s essential to know that a Professional Knowledge Chain contains at least 8 to 10 Full Level pieces of Professional Knowledge.

Moreover, in future Biological Transformations, if Gao Gong wants to maintain his Human Form, it will also require the help of ’Bionic Technology’.

However, they hadn’t run far when the ground shook, and in their eyes, the earth cracked open and skyscrapers rose, the dim yellow Radiation Atmosphere was replaced by a clear blue sky. Above them, Magnetic Suspension cars flew on tracks, while on the ground, lively small animals hopped around, and ordinary people strolled, chatted, or sat on benches enjoying the sun.

"What is this?" Huang Yuanli muttered.

"This is a city from the Old Civilization Era, it’s also a memory inside Professor Han’s brain. We’ve been pulled into Professor Han’s brain."

Gao Gong shook his head and said, "I guess what Professor Han intends is to let you all live here."

"We, living people, living inside his brain?" Huang Yuanli said stunned.

"Yeah," Gao Gong shrugged, "It’s much better than harsh reality, a brilliant idea, right?"

Huang Yuanli glanced around at the beautiful surroundings, then took a deep breath, the fragrance of flowers and plants entered her nose, instantly refreshing her mind.

She suddenly looked up and cursed:

"Brilliant, my ass!"

"I refuse to become a part of this old man!"

"Use your ability to Sensing, there should be some kind of connection between you and this Brain-in-a-Vat."

Gao Gong squinted and said, "If I guess correctly, in Professor Han’s plan, you’re the second option."

"If he fails, you’ll be the next vessel."

"That old madman!"

Huang Yuanli gritted her teeth, extended a hand to Sensing the feeling from her dreams, that hazy yet transparent and clean feeling emerged once more.

Gao Gong surveyed the surroundings, only to see countless flesh and blood pouring out from the skyscrapers, covering and then sinking back in.

Everyone ’froze’ in place, and the next moment, everyone started melting like burning candles.

Huang Yuanli closed her eyes tightly and walked in one direction, Gao Gong gripped the hilt of his knife, following closely behind.

However, as they walked, Huang Yuanli disappeared, and Gao Gong found himself on a simulation battlefield for training.

"Sorry, I’m not a professional, the experimental base only has a VR room for relaxation, I’m not sure if the simulation is accurate."

A young man in a white lab coat appeared beside Gao Gong at some point, smiling awkwardly.

"It’s very accurate, it’s exactly like the Security Corps training base."

Tapping lightly on the rubber track with his toe, Gao Gong turned his head to look at the young version of ’Professor Han’.

"You deliberately separated me and Huang Yuanli, your condition doesn’t seem too good, Professor."

Professor Han nodded, "The base has been closed for almost fifty years. I thought that thing had ’crashed’, the integration shouldn’t be too difficult, but I didn’t expect it to still be alive, and with such a strong ’appetite’."

Gao Gong said with interest, "So, you and it are in a state of mutual devouring now."

Professor Han said, "Yes, I’ve made some arrangements, but this advantage is continuously being consumed."

"Luckily, Lili successfully awakened, the only chance now is for me to perish together with it, then allow Lili to become the new ’brain carrier’."

Gao Gong looked up at the closed ceiling, "Do you think she will agree?"

In the sky, Huang Yuanli stepped on clouds, excitingly said: "Look, we’re in the sky."

Huang Yuanli turned around, but found out that Gao Gong disappeared at some point, replaced by an elderly man on the brink of death.

Her expression became complex instantly.

"Lili," Professor Han had a slight smile, looking down said: "Look how beautiful the city beneath us is."

"No matter how beautiful, it’s fake," Huang Yuanli coldly replied, "I don’t want to become part of someone else’s brain, nor do I want anyone to become part of mine."

"You’re right, actually, I don’t want to either," Professor Han nodded in agreement.

"What do we do now?"

Professor Han lowered his head, and the two returned to Scavenger City in a flash.

In the city before them, a Mechanical Beast war of tens of thousands in scale was erupting within the city.

Countless red lanterns floated in the air, the red meat carpet spread madly, engulfing buildings, viaducts, and highways, diving into various Mechanical Bio-Beasts.

In front of them, explosion sounds, Radiation Energy, and High-Temperature Smoke, like a continuously exploding Small Nuclear Bomb, emanated terrifying power.

Under its power, mature Metal Nests were destroyed, leveled to the ground.

Huang Yuanli stared dumbstruck at the scene.

She recognized this monster!