Professor Lizard was on North Brother Island. The island's strongest combat asset, Hulk—who would normally be needed to suppress Professor Lizard—didn't have to engage for now.
He was responsible for guarding Norman Osborn.
Dr. Otto was in charge of analyzing the comprehensive data on Professor Lizard's various parameters sent by the micro-sensors.
Professor Morbius, based on the real-time data feedback from Dr. Otto, would determine the proportions of the serum to prepare.
The serum itself was not a cure.
The scientists had long understood Professor Lizard's problem—there was an issue with Connors's own genes, and at this stage, it was impossible to repair Connors's genes through medication alone.
The serum Professor Morbius was now creating was similar to the gamma inhibitor used on gamma monsters. It was specifically developed based on Professor Connors's regenerative serum—something that could be called a "repellent."
As for Batman himself, while the other scientists' work hadn't encountered any obstacles or difficulties for the moment, his job was to make close contact with Professor Lizard—provided Hulk wasn't engaged in battle with Professor Lizard.
"Be careful."
One of Dr. Otto's mechanical tentacles handed over an air-filtration mask perfectly adapted to Batman's cowl. "Stay safe," he said.
From the data analysis, the pheromones from Professor Connors and the odors and bodily fluids produced by his molting were harmless to the human body.
But data was just data in the end. As a scientist, Dr. Otto would never blindly trust data.
Batman, by habit, always prepared for the worst-case scenario. Therefore, even if Dr. Otto hadn't offered the air-filtration mask, Batman would have asked for one himself.
"I will," Batman responded in a low voice. "Morbius, how much longer?"
"Three—" Professor Morbius began.
Batman's brow furrowed slightly. He knew that creating a "repellent" on-site based on data that could perfectly work on Professor Lizard in his current state was no small feat.
Even if Batman himself did it, it would probably take him some time to complete.
Since the "repellent" wasn't ready yet, Batman decided not to wait any longer and to head directly to North Brother Island.
He could return to pick up the serum after observing Professor Lizard up close.
Batman's thoughts raced. His eyes didn't even glance at Professor Morbius as he lifted his foot to walk out of the laboratory.
But then he heard Professor Morbius continue: "Two, one. Done."
Batman turned his head to see Professor Morbius draw less than ten milliliters of green liquid into a metal syringe, then toss it toward him.
"Thanks." Batman caught the syringe in one hand and addressed Professor Morbius.
Now everything was ready. Batman strode quickly out of the laboratory. He didn't even head to the shore of South Brother Island but instead jumped directly from the laboratory doorway.
With a muffled thud and a whooshing sound, Batman leaped high into the air, then spread his cape and glided toward North Brother Island.
In the core area of North Brother Island—on the unfinished foundation of Parker Manor.
A few nights ago, Norman Osborn had heard strange hissing sounds in the darkness. He didn't know what it was, but Batman and the scientists on South Brother Island knew clearly that it was Professor Lizard's breathing.
But Professor Lizard was now lying here motionless, breathing only once every few minutes, his heartbeat slowed to an extreme.
Creak, creak...
His breathing was faint, but the Arkham suit showed that Professor Lizard's vital signs weren't weak—rather, some kind of change was occurring within his body, accompanied by subtle sounds of bone and muscle growth.
Amid these faint sounds, the dark green scales and vicious bone spurs on Professor Lizard's body were gradually turning gray-black, losing their luster and separating from the underlying muscle.
This was the "molting" Dr. Otto had mentioned.
Batman manually activated the scanning mode of the Arkham suit. His eyes glowed white as he saw clearly the true appearance of Professor Lizard beneath the shedding keratinized layer.
"Spine extending, thoracic structure changing, internal organs shifting, new organ appearing in upper jaw—vomeronasal organ. Brain activity intense, body temperature continuing to drop, gradually approaching ambient temperature..."
A series of analyses more direct than Dr. Otto's pure data appeared in Batman's mind:
"Newly formed scales highly keratinized, skeletal structure transforming toward that of a reptile rather than the previous upright-walking humanoid lizard form.
"Body size slightly smaller than before. Previous upright height reached four meters, body length close to eight meters.
"New body measurements: current height three meters, body length five point seven meters."
Batman didn't rashly disturb Professor Lizard's molting process, nor did he immediately inject the "repellent" that Professor Morbius had rapidly prepared into him.
From analyzing his appearance, bone and organ distribution, muscle layout, and scale thickness, Professor Lizard's condition was naturally not optimistic.
But even Batman had no way of determining, while Professor Lizard hadn't yet awakened, whether his consciousness remained lucid, or whether the persona that would emerge when he opened his eyes would be Connors or a pure beast.
—If only the Mobius Chair were still available, Batman would have been able to know.
One minute, two minutes.
As time passed, Professor Lizard's body size remained unchanged. Only the newly formed scales began turning dark green and growing increasingly hard.
At the same time, starting from the bridge of his nose, two rows of fine, saw-toothed scales stood upright, extending all the way to the back of his head. These scales grew increasingly vicious and sharp.
When they extended to his shoulders, these saw-toothed scales had completely transformed into vicious protruding bone spurs. Two irregular rows of bone spurs extended all the way to his tail, converging at the tail tip.
Much later, dawn broke.
When the first rays of sunlight penetrated the forest of North Brother Island and fell upon Professor Lizard, his closed eyelids suddenly opened, and a primitive ferocity flashed through his golden vertical pupils.
Rip, tear!
Professor Lizard began to move, breaking free from the dead skin that had shed but still wrapped around him, tearing it apart, twisting his tail as he crawled out of his old shell.
"Emergency Protocol C! Kill me if necessary!"
The moment Professor Lizard stood before Batman in his new, vicious form, his mouth immediately let out a hoarse, hissing roar as he shouted urgently.
As his words fell, Professor Lizard dropped to all fours and roared with his head raised.
Crack!
His tail coiled, tearing up a large chunk of the sturdy Parker Manor foundation and hurling it at Batman.
"Batman, listen—my current condition is as follows!"
As Professor Lizard attacked, he continued roaring:
"I've completely transformed toward a reptilian form, skeletal structure—"
Batman dodged the foundation chunk swept up by Professor Lizard's tail and said:
"All physical characteristics have been recorded, Professor."
"Good!" Professor Lizard hissed. He stood up in a hunched posture, his height matching Batman's estimate—just over three meters tall, just over five meters long.
Shing! The hunched Professor Lizard's two front claws extended gleaming sharp talons. As he launched an attack at Batman, he said urgently:
"My mental state is as follows: I believe you've invaded my territory, and I'm angry and attacking because of it!
"My body is continuously secreting lizard serum to suppress the prefrontal cortex while my brain is restructuring neural pathways...
"Save me, Batman! My brain is trying to make me believe I'm a beast, not Curt Connors!"
Batman's voice was low and powerful:
"I will save you, Professor Connors. Trust me."
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