Chapter 989 Beast and Civilization (1/2)
Whoosh.
Luminous threads abruptly shot out from inside Tank's body in the sealed medical room, tearing the old man's patient gown and wrapped around him. Surprised but stifled exclamations echoed amongst the healers and observers, with the former ready to wear their decontamination suits to see what was going on, whereas the latter keyed in numbers on communications spells and hurriedly inform their superiors.
”Are those threads a combination of flesh and energy? It's engulfed Tank!
”His vigor is rising exponentially—heavens, is that really evolution and not a sickness?!”
”Hurry, inform the elders!”
Soon, including the now-quarantined members of Tank's former party, many of the old man's acquaintances were visiting the cocoon, chewing their lips apprehensively. Iron Wall, who appeared dazed over the last few days, reached out as if wanting to touch the luminous yet sacred cocoon of energy but pulled back in fear that she would disturb Tank's 'evolution'.
”Do your best, leader—if this is evolution, you have to surpass it!”
Inwardly encouraging Tank, the lady clenched her fist, her gaze filled with nervousness and expectation.
However, every person had not noticed that veins of invisible threads were also spreading in the atmosphere, as hungry tentacles on the hunt aimed at them.
Ascension requires energy.
Excess energy was perhaps unnecessary for special, talented bodies since they could rely on their fine adaptability to accomplish physical alterations, henceforth becoming a new and young Ultimate Entity… however, most lifeforms without Extraordinary disposition would have needed profound energies to alter their living essence.
In that case, the most primitive method for life to obtain energy was by eating. If they could not absorb sufficient energy in a certain period, they would have been devoured by their own bodies even if evolution was successful, left as dried bones devoid of even soul.
As for food sources…were they not right in front of him? There was even an individual whose superpowers were developing—it could simply eat them all. It needed no companions nor existences that were close to what it was.
Sharp tentacles filled with solvent shot out rapidly at the girl in the white dress, her eyes closed as she played and who was also nearest to the cocoon. Though she was Iron Wall and could conjure a superpower shield that could block anything, she could die instantly if she had been neither alert nor using her powers.
No one reacted in time, nor did they feel alarmed. Even if they were rather puzzled with their friend and former superior, none of the individuals who rushed here at once sensed the dark enmity.
Therefore, the thread pierced Iron Wall's shoulder.
And then…remained motionless.
”Lead—leader?!”
Feeling no pain even if the silver thread binding the cocoon to herself was all too obvious, Iron Wall was not concerned with herself. Instead, she exclaimed in shock with the oddity occurring in the old man.
”What's going on?! This silver thread…”
But soon, Iron Wall and the other now-cautious visitors and healers realized that the silver light was not the cocoon's, but another radiance emanating from inside it.
It was a hand—or a very normal 'glove'.
***
Inside the cocoon—muddleheaded, Tank was suddenly jolted awake. He clenched his right hand—there was a single glove embedded with a silver gem.
It was a glove called Legacy that the God of Steel left for every Ultrahuman in the world, and now, the silver gem shone as the Giant God, who sensed it from, afar transmitted information. Using a certain measure, he wrestled against the root of the plague and suppressed the mutation into an Ultimate Entity, cutting short the Death of the New.
And that conflict revived Tank's self.
Within the cocoon, the old man's darkened gaze brightened instantly.
”Ah…were those really my thoughts?!”
Using his own perspective and heart to experience his change and apathy, the old man shuddered as he edged, feeling his impatient and cold treatment towards all kindness and goodwill. He sensed how callous he was, and how he had found human connection cheap and unnecessary…he feared not change but that weakness in his spirit, to be so easily bent and brainwashed.
The silver thread slowly pulled out, leaving a little splash of blood on Iron Wall's shoulder. Several Ultrahumans hence charged forward, using their ability to control air to isolate Tank from the others, with Iron Wall being vaguely separated as well. There were calls for Soul Puppets, voices of Ultrahumans on the attack—everyone was now cautious with Tank, who had clearly changed.
And that was when the silver luminous cocoon began to move, prompting fiercer debating—the healers and observers had been arguing at the top of their lungs if they should be healing the cocoon or destroying it, but before they could find an answer, the cocoon had gently parted and revealed what really happened inside.
”Bleurgh…”
”What—what is that?!”
”Uh… Hmmm. That's…”