BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM

Chapter 1333: The New Serum (1)

In the depths of Mur’s jungle, hidden from prying eyes, the blackguards’ laboratory continued its operation, still clinging to the research that could shift the balance of power in their favor and achieve their centuries-old goal.

This was the first time the Blackguards faced a crisis like this, especially because it was an existential one.

Erik wiped them out from the Mannard continent and was on his way to do the same on Mur. If things were as when they last heard of him, it wouldn’t take much before he did that.

The blackguards were training in earnest, making new neural links each day and progressing in their research.

The problem was that Erik was likely doing the same. At that point, this whole situation was going to depend on who would get the most results in that short amount of time.

Inside the lab, the scientists moved without pause, checking data and monitoring equipment. They were preparing for a demonstration, a test.

The environment buzzed, as everyone was eager to show the first division commander the fruits of their labor.

Vania approached the central testing area. Dr. Mercer, the lead scientist, stood beside a holographic display, checking the last calculations before the test began.

“Dr. Mercer, I trust everything is in order?” Vania asked.

Lena nodded, adjusting her glasses. “Yes, Commander. The serum is ready for testing. We completed the final stabilization phase yesterday.”

The two walked together toward the exit, leaving the busy central laboratory behind them. Outside, the jungle air hit them. Armed guards held a perimeter, their eyes looking through the foliage for any sign of thaids or other threats.

“I want to hear the specifics,” Vania said as they walked. “What exactly are we looking at with this version of the serum?”

Dr. Mercer consulted her tablet. “We incorporated four elemental powers into the serum’s matrix. Fire, water, earth, and air. The base compound allows for stable integration without overwhelming the subject’s nervous system.”

Vania stopped walking and turned to face the scientist. “Four powers? That’s less than what we discussed.”

“Yes, Commander, but with guaranteed stability,” Dr. Mercer said. “We decided a successful test with fewer powers would be more valuable than risking another failure. The integration protocols we developed should allow for complete control over all four elements without the psychosis issues we encountered in previous versions.”

The commander acknowledged this with a nod. “What about the acceleration?” That’s what they called their project to increase the speed of neural link creation.

“Has that feature been added?”

“Yes,” Dr. Mercer said. “In fact, we didn’t just add it; we also improved it. Based on our laboratory tests, the acceleration factor increased to approximately thirty times the normal rate.”

This caught Vania’s attention. “Thirty times? You said twenty-five in our last meeting.”

Dr. Mercer smiled. “We made some adjustments to the neuro-stimulant compound. The results topped our expectations.”

They reached a clearing still inside the base’s guarded perimeter. There were four soldiers who stood at attention.

These men and women were volunteers. They would either get four additional powers or turn into monsters. Dr. Mercer assured them everything would work fine, but they were still afraid.

Several other scientists approached the test subjects, carrying some syringes containing a brown liquid.

“Let’s go on,” Vania said.

The scientists administered the serum to each soldier. The effects were immediate. The men’s skin glowed.

They gasped, eyes widening as the serum spread through their bodies. It wasn’t just that. Everyone, not only the soldiers, could feel the massive amounts of mana that were churning through their bodies.

It was a direct effect of the serum, but to be more precise, it was because of the acceleration.

“What is happening?” Vania asked, watching the soldiers.

“The serum is affecting their brain crystals, and this is leading to the formation of the neural links. It’s essentially a way to rewire their ability to channel mana while providing access to the elemental powers we put into the serum.”

After several minutes, the soldiers stabilized as the glow faded from their bodies. They stood taller, invigorated by the serum’s effects.

“Gentlemen,” Vania focused on them, “show us your abilities. One at a time.”

The first soldier stepped forward, extended his hand, and concentrated. A swirling ball of fire formed above his palm, growing from the size of a marble to that of a basketball.

“Excellent,” Dr. Mercer said, making notes on her tablet. “No sign of mana leakage or instability.”

The second soldier showed water manipulation, pulling moisture from the air and compressing it into a powerful jet that cut through a log placed thirty meters away.

The third soldier stomped his foot, and the earth responded to his command. The ground before him rose, forming sharp lances of stone that shot upward at different angles.

The fourth soldier completed the demonstration by creating wind blades that sliced through earth debris.

Of course, all the soldiers could use all the elements. It was just that; they were showing one each, since the serum was the same.

Dr. Mercer watched with undisguised pride. “As you can see, Commander, the power integration is complete. They have full access to four elemental abilities, with no apparent mental degradation or loss of control.”

“And the acceleration?” Vania asked.

“We can test that immediately,” Dr. Mercer said. She turned to the soldiers. “Gentlemen.” She looked at them, and they nodded.

The soldiers closed their eyes to focus. Within an hour, each showed signs of forming one more neural link through changes in their mana aura.

The process was more straightforward since they used it to create a neural link for one of their new powers—having just one neural link made everything even easier. Still, the “acceleration,” as they called it, worked wonders.

“Remarkable,” Vania said. “Under normal circumstances, even our most talented soldiers would require months to achieve this.”

Dr. Mercer nodded. “The serum enhances neural plasticity while reducing the resistance between synaptic connections. Essentially, it creates a superhighway for mana flow.”

The soldiers continued their demonstration, showing increased power with each new neural link they formed. By the end of the hour, each one of them was done.

“The serum works exactly as intended,” Dr. Mercer said as they walked back toward the laboratory. “With this version, we can immediately enhance our forces with multiple elemental powers and speed up their training. The earth’s controlling power will also help us establish defenses and hide the base.”

Vania seemed pleased, but not entirely satisfied. “What about the eight-power version you mentioned in your reports? What’s the status on that?”

Dr. Mercer’s expression became more guarded. “We’re making progress, but there are still significant problems that we must take care of. The eight-power serum is still causing behavioral problems in our test subjects.”

“Explain.”

“The higher concentration of mana creates a cascade effect in the limbic system,” Dr. Mercer said.

“To put it simply, the more powers we add, the more the brain becomes overstimulated. This process leads to aggression, impulsivity, and eventually, a complete breakdown of rational thought.”