The evolution of technology is a continuous process of refinement and simplification. Complex and intricate machines eventually evolve into tools that even a novice can operate. The machine before Lingsha was a prime example: a conspicuous power button that, after a few minutes of startup, displayed a straightforward user interface.
Perhaps because her identity had already been verified at the entrance, the machine didn't reconfirm whether she was human. Lingsha began using it smoothly.
As expected of a laboratory, the primary data stored here were experimental logs. The first log was titled: "Treatment for Genetic Collapse 01."
Lingsha lightly tapped the display with her index finger and scrolled down. Thousands of densely packed logs, numbered from 1 to over 3,000, testified to the extensive duration of the researchers' work. Strangely, after the 3,962nd experiment, the log title abruptly changed to: "Attempt 01: Perfect Isolation of Self from External Environment."
Intrigued, Lingsha opened this log. The very first sentence made her frown deeply:
[We've succeeded! We've successfully developed a method to treat genetic collapse! The mysteries of humanity, the secrets of the genome, are now laid bare before us!]
[But we've also failed. Even with this, we can't truly stop Death. It only allows us to advance to the 'next stage.' No, I must change my research approach. There's still time... there has to be!]
After this, the log devolved into rambling conjectures, filled with unfamiliar terms. It wasn't due to Lingsha's lack of knowledge; rather, she surmised from the context that these were likely the unique names of plants and animals native to this world.
She closed the log and scrolled down to the very end, reaching the 2,199th entry. Unlike the others, this was a video file.
When she opened it, a middle-aged man appeared on screen, his eyes ringed with dark circles, his hair a disheveled mess like a bird's nest, and his face drawn with exhaustion. He announced, "Regarding our experiment on perfect isolation from the external world, we've succeeded. By using this method, we can partially shield ourselves from the influence of Death."
"Let me explain this in detail. In 2045, the Heavenly Flaw appeared, bringing with it a memetic virus called 'Death.' It exists everywhere in this world, inevitably driving all of humanity toward extinction. Its initial symptoms resemble common illnesses like colds and fevers, which can even be 'cured.' However, more severe conditions soon follow. Each time a patient recovers, an even worse ailment awaits them in the future."
"Eventually, even after replacing all failing organs with new ones or completely repairing the dissolved genes of patients, they still die from causes beyond our understanding—diseases originating from realms of medicine we haven't even begun to explore."
"If this continues, humanity will undoubtedly perish long before our medical advancements can catch up."
Lingsha could imagine the speaker's despair. After countless hours and over three thousand experiments, they finally perfected a genetic cure, only to face an entirely new category of incurable diseases immediately afterward.
The video continued, and the middle-aged man explained, "So, we shifted our focus to studying Death itself. We discovered that not all humans fell ill simultaneously. Instead, the more densely populated an area, the higher the infection rate. Therefore, if we could concentrate the world's ordinary people into a few designated zones, they would constantly fall ill. By tirelessly treating them, we could buy ourselves enough time."
"We established seven specialized laboratories in remote locations across the globe. Before the vast majority of humanity succumbed to Death, the elite scientists in these facilities would remain untouched by it!"
"This is the Third Laboratory, and we succeeded." A rare smile flickered across the man's face. "We devised a method to completely isolate humanity from the outside world, allowing us to ignore Death's corrosive influence and survive."
"Though incredibly costly and with severe limitations—it can only accommodate around thirty people—we... we succeeded."
"But... did it really succeed?" Ikezawa muttered beside Lingsha, pursing his lips. "Then why isn't there a single living soul left in this laboratory?"
"Exactly!" Li nodded emphatically.
Ikezawa and Li had already gathered around Lingsha as soon as she started watching the video. But after hearing Li's comment, Ikezawa couldn't help but glance at the Beast-Eared Girl in confusion. "You understood that?!"
"Not at all," Li replied matter-of-factly, wagging her tail. "I didn't understand a single word that little person in the box was saying~"
There was no need for metaphors. It was like showing an interstellar film to a caveman—of course she wouldn't understand it!
Even so, because Lingsha and Ikezawa were watching the video, Li stood beside them, her gaze fixed on the screen. The scene reminded Lingsha of an elderly person sitting on the sofa watching TV, with their dog lying beside them, keeping them company.
Did the dog understand the TV show? Of course not. But the dog wasn't really watching TV; it was keeping its master company while they watched. The point was the companionship, not the viewing.
After this brief interlude, the video continued. The middle-aged scientist stepped back, revealing a group of researchers in white lab coats standing behind him. They chimed in, "Though the costs were astronomical, we still succeeded, didn't we?!"
"There are only twenty or thirty people in our laboratory. This device is enough to keep us alive!"
The middle-aged man nodded. "Yes, enough for everyone in this laboratory to survive. That's why... I've already sent it to the Seventh Laboratory."
The moment he finished speaking, Lingsha noticed the faces of almost everyone present change, except for the middle-aged scientist. One of them grabbed him by the collar. "Do you even realize what you've done?!"
"Of course I do." Throughout the exchange, the scientist's tone remained calm. "Our research, this 'Path of Escape,' has reached its end. We might survive, but we can't save humanity."
"The civilians in the settlements are nearly all dead. The Seven Laboratories will be next. If anyone can save humanity now, it's the people of the Seventh Laboratory..."
"They must survive..."