No matter what they thought, they would never believe that the monster in the video was a Black Sea Bream!
"He Xingzhou, what kind of joke is this? It's not April Fool's Day today!" Dong Chen was already a bit angry, he had been tolerant of He Xingzhou's attitude, but had it been any other student joking with him like this, he would have started criticizing and educating them on the spot!
"Alright, stop fooling around," Zhang Boyan said. "Go do whatever you're supposed to do!"
"Professors, I really didn't mean to cause trouble," He Xingzhou continued to emphasize, "This mutant creature is currently in a biology laboratory in the university bio lab building. I can take you to see it, and if I'm lying, I have no complaints even if the school expels me!"
Seeing that He Xingzhou was speaking earnestly, both professors were puzzled. He Xingzhou was no ordinary student; he was a genius, daring in both thought and action.
Although he was quite lively usually, he wouldn't dare to play a prank on his teachers, not with his future at stake!
"Are you sure?" Dong Chen asked again.
"I'm sure!" He Xingzhou said, "Two members of the Mutation Research Team are still there guarding it!"
"Dean, I request that a few more professors from the Biology Department come with us for an inspection! Besides the mutant creatures, I've also written a 'Genetics Research Report on the Insect Race' that I hope to submit to the National Security Bureau!"
As a key national university, the Beijing University of Science and Technology had many big names in the biology field among its professors, who definitely had knowledge and research on mutant creatures.
Among them were even Academicians of the national academies. If he could gain their recognition, He Xingzhou's report would be even more persuasive!
The two professors exchanged glances. Zhang Boyan stood up and said, "Alright, let's go and see what this is all about."
"There's no need to call for the professors from the Biology Department just yet, let's go have a look first," Dong Chen said.
He Xingzhou led the way; the Biology Laboratory Building was not far from here, and soon, he had brought the two professors to the lab building.
Even at this moment, they still didn't quite believe it. If not for He Xingzhou's stake in his own reputation, they definitely wouldn't have come.
At the entrance of the laboratory, they saw a female student with a rather pale face, standing guard at the door.
"Professors, this is the place," He Xingzhou said, then he asked Jiang Chan, "Nothing unexpected happened, right?"
Jiang Chan whispered, "That creature is vicious; it gets agitated at the sight of us."
She warned Dong Chen and Zhang Boyan, "Professors, you must be mentally prepared. The creature has a strong aggression towards humans. Don't let it scare you!"
"I've even witnessed a nuclear explosion, how could I be frightened by it?" Zhang Boyan said with a laugh, "I must see this, what kind of trick are you playing here!"
With that, he went straight into the laboratory.
Inside the laboratory, Wu Rui was guarding the place.
It turns out that the cage of Black Sea Bream No.2 was covered with a black cloth. Zhang Boyan asked, "So it's here?"
"Yes," Wu Rui nodded, "Professor, this creature goes crazy as soon as it sees a person, you should keep your distance."
"Uncover it!" Dong Chen also entered.
Wu Rui looked at the cage and nodded slightly. He didn't dare to pull with his hands, instead using a long pole to lift the black cloth.
Dong Chen and Zhang Boyan focused all their attention on the cage. The moment the black cloth fell, they saw a ferocious shadow charge towards the cage, emitting a deep, hoarse roar, full of rage and savagery!
Dong Chen took a startle, stepping back twice, while Zhang Boyan was also somewhat shocked. If it weren't for their mental preparation, they might have been scared into having a heart attack!
In the cage, there was the very same monster that He Xingzhou had previously shown in the video!
Seeing it in person was completely different from seeing it on a cellphone. They could see the sharp bone spikes on its back, the mouthful of serrated teeth, a pair of blood-red eyes; they heard its roars, saw its collisions, smelled a stench of sea brine mixed with blood!
This direct confrontation felt terrible, like facing a wild tiger. Even though it was locked in the cage, one still had a psychological fear!
Zhang Boyan exclaimed in horror, "There's actually such a creature!"
Although he was a professor in physics, as a top scholar over sixty years old, he also had a considerable understanding of biology.
He had never known that there was such a creature in the world, combining the characteristics of sea fish and mammalian carnivores, yet it wasn't any known amphibian!
"How can the school have this kind of thing? How on earth did you bring it here?" Dong Chen asked, still shaken.
He Xingzhou explained: "This is the Black Sea Bream No.2, which, after stimulation by nuclear radiation, has undergone significant mutation. In fact, Black Sea Bream No.1 and No.3 have mutated as well, just not as quickly as this one."
"We have recorded its appearance every day."
He Xingzhou opened the computer, allowing the two to view the experimental records. They had taken pictures every day and had also preserved biological material samples like blood and scales.
The two of them carefully reviewed the records, their expressions gradually becoming serious as they saw that the creature was indeed initially a mutated black sea bream with a body length of only 200 millimeters!
After several weeks of mutation, it had turned into its current form.
He Xingzhou said, "According to my research, there is a gene in these mutant creatures that I call the 'Insect Race gene.' This gene is like a gene virus or can be called a parasitic gene."
"When subject to certain external conditions or when internal conditions are ripe, it will come to the forefront, control the body of the living being, and evolve into an 'Insect Race' monster. I've detailed the experimental processes and results in my paper and constructed a preliminary evolutionary model for the Insect Race genes."
"This gene is not only present in this mutated black sea bream. According to our research, other mutant creatures also have this Insect Race gene!"
"In theory, once they mutate into Insect Race monsters, their physiological structures will be completely overturned, even reshaped. They would show strong combativeness, their brain capacity would expand rapidly, and they may possess higher intelligence. Moreover, these monsters have very hard scales that can withstand fire and even resist bullets. There are many special abilities I haven't yet detected."
"Professors, think about it, what would happen if a large number of these Insect Race monsters appeared in the world?"
After He Xingzhou finished speaking, the faces of the two had drastically changed. Regardless of whether He Xingzhou's speculation was accurate, the situation at hand indeed made them aware of the crisis.
Zhang Boyan immediately asked, "Does this gene affect humans? Do they carry viruses? Can they infect humans?"
He Xingzhou shook his head and said, "We have not found viruses yet. Some mutant creatures might carry viruses. Professors, rest assured, the laboratory has been cleaned and checked, and no viruses have been detected."
Dong Chen took a deep breath and said, "If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would never have believed it!"
"But now the living example is right before my eyes, I cannot help but believe!"
"This matter is indeed very serious! We must take action immediately!"