The few remaining external hidden camera feeds were retrieved and projected onto the main screen.
The next second, the control room fell into a dead silence.
All the clones, including Dr. Genus himself, stared blankly at the scene on the screen as if frozen, their eyes filled with disbelief.
The research institute building, originally eight stories high, serving as a trap and disguise, had actually… completely vanished!
No, more accurately, it had been completely erased from the surface by an unimaginable act of violence!
Only the foundation structure, made with special materials, remained standing, along with the heavy alloy emergency gate leading to the underground base.
In the magnified, high-definition footage, a tall young man, incredibly handsome, dressed in an indigo-blue shirt and ivory-white casual trousers, bent down.
His long, strong fingers easily gripped the gap of the alloy gate, which was strong enough to withstand heavy artillery bombardment, and then… RIIIIIIP—!
Amidst the teeth-grinding sound of twisting metal, that indestructible steel gate was forcibly torn open with a twisted gash, as if it were made of paper!
The next moment, the tall young man suddenly turned his head, smiled at one of the hidden cameras transmitting the footage, and then, as if returning home, walked briskly into the deep, dark passage leading to the underground base!
Dr. Genus & numerous clones: "…" × N
In this terrifying, across-the-screen gaze, the Genus clones felt a chill run from the soles of their feet straight to their heads, their backs instantly drenched in cold sweat!
"This… this this this…" Clone No. 42's controller dropped to the ground with a "clatter," his mouth wide enough to fit an egg.
His carefully prepared traps and mechanisms had been completely nullified, directly undermined!
"How did he even discover the hidden cameras?!"
"The enemy's energy signature is extremely terrifying… completely off the charts!"
The clone responsible for data analysis spoke with a trembling voice, the red bar graph representing energy readings on the virtual screen having already maxed out.
"Is it an S-Class Hero from the Hero Association? No, there's no matching individual in the database!"
"Could it be some hidden official organization?"
The clones started to panic, discussing animatedly, and fear permeated the air.
Dr. Genus was also drenched in sweat, but he took a deep breath and slammed his hand onto the control panel.
With a loud "bang," he forcibly silenced everyone.
"Quiet, all of you!" He adjusted his glasses, his eyes gleaming with the calm and madness characteristic of a high-intelligence villain.
"It is now confirmed that the enemy's strength is unprecedentedly powerful; conventional methods are no longer sufficient to deal with them!"
"Immediately activate Emergency Protocol No. 2! Gather all cyborg combatants within the base, awaken the cyborg units undergoing debugging, and buy me time at all costs!"
"What?!" Clone No. 71, responsible for cyborg management, cried out in alarm.
"Doctor, the current cyborg units are merely prototypes; they are not as mature and controllable as the combatants! The risk of them going out of control is extremely high…"
"Say no more. In the face of death, no risk matters anymore…" Dr. Genus sighed, his voice uncharacteristically trembling.
"And… I have decided to deploy our last trump card!"
He paused, then said, word by word—
"Prepare to go to the bottom prison and release the ultimate biological weapon…"
"Asura Kabuto!"
"…What?!!!!!!!" × N
At these words, the clones all turned pale, and the control room immediately erupted into chaos!
"No! Doctor!"
"That guy is completely uncontrollable! If he's released, we'll all die!"
"It's too risky… it's practically seeking death!!"
"You must think this through!!"
"…"
At the mention of that name, the clones' faces were filled with terror and despair.
That was their greatest masterpiece, into which they had poured countless efforts, and also their most terrifying failure!
"Do… you have a better solution?!"
Dr. Genus's faint words hung in the air, and the scene fell into a dead silence.
"No. 22, No. 31, you two, execute the order!"
The two named clones looked ashen, taking a deep breath to compose themselves.
They exchanged glances, seeing the same despair in each other's eyes.
However, they still silently turned and left.
On the path to pursuing evolution and truth, someone always has to make a sacrifice, and this time, it was probably their turn!
…
…
Han Sen strolled through the spacious and brightly lit underground passage.
The alloy floor and walls gleamed like mirrors, and the air lacked the perennial stench of blood and decay found in the Monster Association's lair.
"Tsk tsk tsk, both are underground bases, but the House of Evolution's hygiene conditions are simply on another dimension compared to the Monster Association's."
Han Sen clicked his tongue, giving his sharp assessment without reservation.
(Psykos: "…")
His steps were unhurried, and he exuded a sense of calm and relaxation.
However, the Dr. Genus clones observing the enemy's movements through the surveillance cameras were drenched in sweat, feeling as though their every secret had been thoroughly seen through by this tall, handsome young man!
Just as Han Sen turned a corner and an elevator platform entrance appeared ahead.
"BOOM—!"
The alloy wall on the left suddenly exploded, sending debris and metal fragments flying!
"Die, intruder!!"
A Monster resembling a mole suddenly burst through the wall, its claws like ten gleaming daggers, whistling sharply as they aimed directly for Han Sen's face!!
"Die by the incomparably sharp claws of my Lord Earth Dragon… URGH AHHH AHHH—!!!"
Han Sen retracted his smoking fist, and a sneaky mole's head dropped to the ground, rolling far away, its frozen expression filled with bewilderment.
[Killed Tiger-level Monster 'Earth Dragon', gained Origin Points × 96!]
"Oh my… I didn't expect this guy, who looks so unassuming, to actually be a peak Tiger-level combatant," Han Sen commented cheerfully as nearly one Monster Cell's worth of Origin Points arrived.
"Appearing so suddenly, you really did give me a fright!"
The unseeing Earth Dragon: "…"
Before he finished speaking, dozens, even hundreds, of cyborg Monsters of various forms surged out from the broken hole!
Some resembled enlarged insects, some were mutated beasts, and others looked like Radiation Fish that had come ashore.
Their eyes glowed with a not-so-intelligent, bloodthirsty red light as they roared and charged towards Han Sen!
Seeing this, Han Sen was not surprised but rather pleased: "Oh? A mass-produced cyborg Monster unit?"
In the original work, the named Monsters that appeared from the House of Evolution could be counted on one hand.
However, with Dr. Genus's decades of deep cultivation in the field of biological genetics, it was impossible for him to have produced only those few finished products.
A glint flashed in Han Sen's eyes.
He completely disregarded the army of cyborg Monsters charging at him, his gaze suddenly turning to a certain spot on the wall where he felt a strong sense of being watched.
"Not enough, completely not enough! Give me billions more!!"
Dr. Genus clones behind the monitors: "…"
-----------------------------
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