Celestial Human Diagram

The fortress was quite large, so a military SUV was assigned to transport them. Once the three were inside, Counselor Pei leaned back and relaxed.

He said, "There will be a brief orientation session here, mainly to inform you of the dangers and important points concerning the Merging Zone. After the session and a period of adjustment, you’ll be formally assigned your mission.

Oh, and two other people—the team members assigned to you, Mr. Chen—will be attending the session as well.

Mr. Chen, would you prefer to eat first or head straight to the session?"

Chen Chuan said, "It’s getting late. Let’s go to the session first. We shouldn’t keep them waiting."

Meanwhile, in a public lounge, a male and a female Fighter were waiting. The man was in his early twenties, with sharp, chiseled features and an air of confidence and nonchalance. The top button of his uniform was undone and his sleeves were rolled up, effectively turning his uniform into casual wear.

The woman was eighteen or nineteen, with an oval face, a delicate nose, ruby-red lips, and slender, willow-like brows. Though she had a face that perfectly matched classical standards of beauty, the thick, dark hair beneath her cap was perfectly neat. She sat with her back ramrod straight, radiating a sharp, martial aura.

Just then, a message came through on their Realm Tokens, informing them that the captain assigned by their superiors had entered the garrison. The man grumbled, "This captain of ours sure is full of himself, making us wait all this time."

They had arrived at five in the morning, but since the captain wasn’t here, nothing could proceed. So, they’d been stuck waiting, unable to go anywhere.

The door was pushed open and an orderly saluted them. "Officers," he said, "Director Chen has gone to the screening room. Please head over."

"Finally."

The man stretched his arms and legs to loosen up before slowly getting to his feet. In contrast, the woman rose without a word and immediately followed the orderly.

He muttered, "What’s with the serious act?" He cracked his neck and followed them.

They reached the entrance of the screening room around the same time as Chen Chuan. Both of them were slightly taken aback when they saw him.

They had assumed that a First Level Executor would be at least in their late twenties or early thirties—a mature, experienced officer.

But Chen Chuan didn’t even look like he was twenty.

The man thought, ’Isn’t this motherfucker just here to pad his resume? I can’t stand people like this. They’re tolerable as teammates, but as a leader? They’re just setting us up to fail.’

But annoyed or not, the situation was still unclear. The guy was his superior, after all, so he couldn’t be openly disrespectful. He slowly raised a hand in a lazy salute.

The woman, in contrast, gave Chen Chuan a perfectly standard salute.

Chen Chuan returned their salutes. He noticed the male subordinate’s scrutinizing gaze, a clear sign of distrust. But he paid it no mind. ’Third Limit Fighters are an individualistic bunch,’ he thought. ’Since they don’t know me, I can’t expect them to be overly welcoming from the get-go.’

’In fact, the ones who are friendly to everyone are usually slick and harder to lead. I’d rather have subordinates who are blunt and straightforward. At least they won’t try to pull any fast ones.’

’Of course, it’s always best to work with people you know.’

But that wasn’t an option for him. People who came up through the state system liked to use their old classmates and acquaintances once they reached a certain rank. But he had advanced too quickly. None of his peers had reached his level; even his upperclassmen couldn’t compare. The people he interacted with on a daily basis were his instructors, so he had no choice but to rely on the higher-ups’ assignments.

’Once I become an Execution Captain, though, I’ll have the authority to pick my own team.’

After the brief introduction at the door, the three of them entered the screening room. It looked large enough to hold twenty or thirty people, with a wide screen at the front.

After the three of them found their seats, footsteps echoed as a young woman in black-rimmed glasses walked in. She wore a white lab coat and had a rather delicate and pretty face.

The only thing was, she was short. At first glance, she looked like a child who had just walked in. When outsiders saw her deadpan expression, it was hard to take her seriously; in fact, it was almost comical.

The woman bowed and introduced herself. "Good day, Executioners. My name is Tian Yu, and I’ll be your instructor for this orientation session."

After her introduction, she continued, "First, a quick notice. The garrison’s Domain resources are limited and must be prioritized for communications. Other functions are disabled unless absolutely necessary. As a result, I can only use this old-fashioned projection method for the briefing."

She adjusted her glasses. "Let’s begin."

The lights in the room dimmed, leaving only the glowing projection screen at the front.

Tian Yu picked up a pointer and said gravely, "This is the first time for all three of you in the Merging Land. After arriving here, the very first thing you need to watch is your own brain. Be careful that it doesn’t start acting up."

The male subordinate spoke up from his seat. "Are you worried we’re going to lose our minds?"

Tian Yu looked at him and said sternly, "Executioner Yuan Qiuyuan, while I am speaking, please raise your hand if you have a question." But her small stature and forced serious expression still failed to be intimidating.

Seeing that the room had fallen silent, she pointed her pointer at the screen. An image appeared, showing numerous people who had died grisly deaths. Without exception, the top halves of their heads were missing, revealing an empty cavity inside.

Chen Chuan stared at the image, a strange sense of déjà vu washing over him.

The image changed, replaced by something different. Strange appendages, like limbs or tentacles, were sprouting from a person’s facial orifices, and the face was stretched into a wide, eerie grin.

It looked human on the surface, but it was clearly no longer what it once was.

Yuan Qiuyuan raised an eyebrow.

After displaying a dozen more images, Tian Yu finally said, "The reason these people ended up like this is because they suffered some kind of infection. Their brains came to life on their own and crawled out. So, when I said your brain can start ’acting up,’ I wasn’t using a figure of speech. It can literally act up."

She said earnestly, "A person is a single entity, but at the same time, they are not. The human body is composed of multiple systems and organs, each with its own functional and structural independence. If you don’t constantly pay attention to them, if you neglect them for too long, they can develop a will of their own."

Yuan Qiuyuan muttered under his breath, "This sounds ridiculous. What is this, a plot from some kids’ cartoon?"

Tian Yu tapped her pointer. "I am absolutely not joking!"

She warned, "Don’t think you’re an exception just because you’re a Fighter. Fighters may be more resistant, but when a problem does occur, it’s never a small one. Every single person you saw in those pictures was a Fighter."

Yuan Qiuyuan raised his hand.

Tian Yu said, "Executioner Yuan Qiuyuan, what is your question?"

Yuan Qiuyuan crossed his arms, leaned back in his chair, and said, "I’m guessing none of them were Third Limit Fighters, were they?"

"That’s correct."

"Well, there you have it." Yuan Qiuyuan spread his hands open and tapped his own head. "I can keep my own brain in line."

Tian Yu looked at him seriously. "Executioner Yuan Qiuyuan, even though there were no Third Limit Fighters in those pictures, it doesn’t mean they can’t be infected. It’s just far more insidious. To put it bluntly..." She glanced at the three of them. "It’s possible someone in this very room has already been compromised."

"What’s that supposed to mean?"

"That is what I am about to explain. If you would listen patiently, Executioner Yuan Qiuyuan, you wouldn’t have to ask."

Tian Yu raised her pointer, and the image on the screen changed to show a brain-like object covered in numerous tentacles.

"The brains of Third Limit Fighters are highly Mutated, and they tend to possess immense Spiritual Power, so they can usually keep themselves in check. But that doesn’t mean they never lose control. When they do, it manifests differently. In most cases..."

She pointed her pointer at the bizarre brain on the screen. "Even if it gains its own consciousness, it will stay put. But the person is no longer the same person.

They are more cunning and intelligent, not driven by pure instinct. They observe their surroundings, perfectly mimicking the original host’s appearance, habits, and every little mannerism. Even those who knew the person well would have a hard time telling the difference.

But there’s another possibility: it doesn’t even know it has changed." At this, she pushed up her glasses and looked at her audience. "It might even still believe it’s a normal human being."

Yuan Qiuyuan clicked his tongue.

The female subordinate then raised her hand.

Tian Yu looked over. "Executioner Qin Qingque, do you have a question?"

Qin Qingque asked earnestly, "Instructor Tian, if someone like that is among us, how are we supposed to identify them?"

"Good question. We have a metric for assessing this: the ’Activation Index.’

The Activity Index is scaled from zero to one hundred. Anything over thirty is considered the warning stage. Above sixty is the danger stage, and above ninety is the metamorphosis stage. One hundred signifies the completion stage."

She paused, then said gravely, "At that point, it’s irreversible."

She walked to the side and turned on the lights. Then, using her Realm Token, she sent a notification. Three orderlies entered, walked over to Chen Chuan and his team, and handed each of them a metal case.

Tian Yu said, "These are ’Active Lines.’ By connecting this to your Realm Token, you can see your Activity Index in real-time."

The three of them opened the cases. Inside, each contained what looked like a coiled, jade-colored tendril, which was quite beautiful. The moment one of them reached for it, the object stirred. One end spontaneously coiled around their wrist, while the other connected to their Realm Token.

Chen Chuan tested it. The line felt incredibly durable, yet didn’t hinder his movements at all. Once it was connected, a single green number appeared on his Realm Token.

Zero.

Tian Yu explained, "The ’Active Line’ constantly senses the active changes in your body. The number will be green during the normal stage, yellow during the warning stage, and red during the danger stage.

Squad members can choose to share their readings with each other. I strongly recommend you do so. That way, even if you fail to notice a change in yourself, your teammates can spot the problem in time.

Oh, and I forgot to mention something. Once the brain of a Third Limit Fighter undergoes Activation, the body is no longer its most important component. Under certain conditions, it might even switch to a new host.

The closest teammate is the most convenient choice. It will kill its teammate, enter the body, devour the brain, and take up residence inside the now-empty skull.

Yuan Qiuyuan grimaced. "How disgusting."

Tian Yu said, "That’s why you must monitor your own Activation Index, as well as your teammates’. If it gets too high, you need to find a way to bring it down.

Third Limit Fighters can usually do this through sheer spiritual suppression, but the effect is mediocre at best. We have specialists here who will teach you a more effective Breathing Technique designed specifically to counteract Activation.

Since you’ll be operating in the field and might not have time for this after intense combat, there is also special medication that can provide temporary suppression."

She stressed, "But do your best not to become reliant on the medication. Because once you adapt to it, the Activated part of you might adapt as well."

At that, Qin Qingque raised her hand again. Once permitted, she asked, "Instructor Tian, I have one more question. Is the brain the only part that can be Activated?"

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