Chapter 119: Genetic experiment confirmed
The rhythmic creaking of the carriage wheels broke the silence of the night.
Creak... creak...
As I held the reins, part of my attention remained on the dark road, while the other was focused on the Biochip, which continued organizing all the information gathered during our expedition.
Behind me, I heard a faint groan.
I turned my head slightly.
Viscount Probel had finally opened his eyes.
His breathing was still labored, but it was far better than when I had pulled him out of that cave.
— I... I’m still alive...?
His voice was hoarse, almost unrecognizable.
He blinked several times as he stared at the star-filled sky above the carriage.
I watched his gaze slowly drift down to his own chest.
The bandages were still clean.
The ointments I had applied were still doing their job.
With great difficulty, he placed a hand over his chest.
— Who...
— Who saved me...?
Before I could answer, Lurdot leaned into his field of vision.
— Lord Viscount!
The old man smiled with relief.
— You’re finally awake!
He waved a hand in front of Probel’s eyes.
— Do you recognize me?
Probel took a deep breath.
— Was it... you...?
— How are... the others...?
Lurdot’s smile faded.
He slowly lowered his head.
— No...
His voice grew heavy.
— It wasn’t me.
Then he discreetly pointed toward me as I continued driving the carriage.
— It was George.
I kept my eyes on the road.
There was no need to stop driving.
Lurdot continued.
— The three of us...
— We’re the only survivors.
— After we left the forest, it took us some time to find this carriage...
— Then we traveled without stopping.
Probel slowly closed his eyes.
His expression hardened.
— Everyone...
— Died...?
No one answered immediately.
That alone was an answer.
I saw two tears silently run down the man’s face.
Even though he was a Great Knight...
Even though he was the lord of that city...
At that moment...
He was simply a man who had lost everyone he had sworn to protect.
I continued driving the carriage for a few more seconds.
Then I pulled a small green bottle from my belt.
Without looking back, I tossed it behind me.
— Catch.
Lurdot caught the potion in midair.
— A regenerative potion.
— It should speed up his recovery.
Lurdot removed the cork and helped Probel drink it.
A few seconds later...
The Viscount’s face regained some of its color.
His breathing became steadier.
He slowly clenched his fist.
The vitality of a Great Knight truly was astonishing.
After some time...
Probel turned his head toward me.
— George...
— You saved my life.
— I’ll never forget that.
I glanced at him over my shoulder.
— I only did what was necessary.
He shook his head.
— No.
— When we return...
— I will reward you properly.
I smiled faintly.
The moment had finally come.
— In that case...
— I want every Red Leaf stored in the castle.
Probel was clearly taken aback.
Then...
He let out a quiet laugh.
— I thought you’d ask for gold...
— Or magic crystals.
— I don’t need them.
Nothing was more important than increasing my Mana.
Probel nodded without hesitation.
— Consider it done.
— Every last one of them will be yours.
At last...
A genuine smile appeared on my face.
The journey continued.
Several days later...
The walls of the City of Distant Wind finally appeared on the horizon.
Even at night, numerous torches illuminated the gates.
The guards quickly recognized the Viscount.
The moment they saw the condition he was in...
The color completely drained from their faces.
.
.
.
.
The news spread through the city like wildfire.
The reconnaissance party had been completely wiped out.
Viscount Probel...
The Great Knight who upheld all authority throughout the region...
Had returned gravely wounded.
The entire city was thrown into an uproar.
Over the following days, I heard countless rumors.
Some merchants immediately began hiding their merchandise.
Small criminal factions resurfaced.
Old enemies of the castle began moving in the shadows once again.
Without Probel at the height of his strength...
The political balance of the region was slowly beginning to crumble.
While everyone else was busy discussing conspiracies...
I did the exact opposite.
I locked myself away in my laboratory.
I declined every invitation sent from the castle.
None of that mattered.
There was only one thing occupying my mind.
That serpent.
.
.
.
.
Beneath the bright glow of the alchemical lamps, I stood before an experiment table.
Upon it...
A Petri dish.
At the center of the glass rested a small fragment of reddish tissue taken from the spinal cord of the King-Level Brown Serpent. After Lurdot collected his share, I decided to take a small sample as well.
The flesh pulsed slowly.
As though it were still alive.
Tiny microscopic tendrils continuously sprouted from its surface.
I carefully picked up a pipette.
Inside it...
A highly corrosive yellow solution developed specifically for separating biological components.
I let a single drop fall.
Sssssss...
The flesh immediately began to dissolve.
Its outer layers disappeared.
Proteins broke apart.
The tissues degenerated.
Until all that remained was a thick, dark-red liquid mixed with a golden sheen.
My eyes lit up.
Finally...
I had succeeded in purifying that enormous serpent’s blood essence.
I observed the liquid like an alchemist admiring a masterpiece.
I immediately ordered,
— Biochip.
— Perform a complete genetic analysis.
[Beep!]
[Initiating molecular-scale genetic analysis...]
[Separating magical DNA strands...]
[Gene sequencing in progress...]
Thousands of symbols streamed rapidly across my vision.
My Biochip divided each strand into smaller structures.
Proteins.
Chromosomes.
Everything was dismantled layer by layer.
[Comparing with biological database...]
[Known species of the Kingdom of Urna...]
Numerous three-dimensional images appeared before my eyes.
The Biochip overlaid one creature onto another.
Erased them.
Reconstructed them.
Corrected them.
Until finally...
The blue lines stabilized.
[Beep!]
[Analysis complete.]
[Base species identified.]
[Common Giant Cobra.]
[Genetic compatibility: 99.9%.]
[Blood essence compatible with original specimen.]
[Artificial modifications detected.]
[Unknown genetic sequences inserted.]
[Artificial genes found: 17.]
[Natural genes preserved: 99.9%.]
[Artificial genes responsible for:]
[Accelerated growth.]
[Parasitic capability.]
[Absorption of plant life energy.]
[Biological control of infected organisms.]
[Extreme enhancement of cellular regeneration.]
[Evolution into higher intelligence during adulthood.]
[Activation of humanoid metamorphosis at the final stage.]
[Conclusion: Specimen produced through genetic remodeling conducted via biological alchemy and advanced arcane engineering.]
[Probability of artificial origin: 99.98%.]
I slowly crossed my arms.
So it was exactly as I had suspected.
That entire creature...
Had been completely reconstructed.
That serpent had never been a naturally occurring species.
I looked once more at the Biochip’s projections.
Some mage...
Had deliberately designed it.
And that could only mean one thing.
Somewhere within that forest...
An ancient laboratory still existed.
Perhaps abandoned.
Perhaps untouched.
Perhaps filled with research capable of completely transforming my understanding of biological alchemy.
But first...
Before searching for that place...
I needed to become stronger.
My Mana was still insufficient.
Until I reached the resistance limit of the modified potion I had created...
Entering the laboratory of a mage capable of creating monsters of that caliber would be little more than a death sentence.
And I had absolutely no intention of dying because of my curiosity.
...
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