"It appears that you, too, possess an innate talent for awakening," Professor Chen began, still fixated on Su Chen's abilities and the enigmatic dark energy artifacts. Despite their intermittent communication, Professor Chen couldn't resist delving into the subject further. "But I must inquire, is your ability to create dark energy somehow connected to your talent?"
Su Chen remained silent, leaving Professor Chen to speculate on the correlation between his talent and the creation of dark energy. Realizing that Su Chen had yet to reveal the true nature of his unique abilities, Professor Chen paused and adopted a more matter-of-fact tone. "First and foremost, regrettably, I possess limited knowledge regarding the origin of these monsters. However, from what I've gathered, the blood-red fissures tearing through the sky represent a form of spatial distortion, likely resulting from wormhole ruptures."
"As for the creatures themselves, based on my research, they appear to belong to a distinct civilization known as the Cthulhu. These beings, whether the black-scaled monstrosities or the elongated specters, most likely serve as their lower-level minions. The skeletal apparition we encountered could potentially be a higher-ranking favored one—a being that guides and orchestrates the attacks, ambushes, and sacrifices of the monsters. If we were to capture it... perhaps..."
"Ah... my apologies, I misspoke once more," Professor Chen interjected. "My area of expertise lies in dark energy and the spatial disturbances caused by its influence. However, this field has not gained much traction in mainstream academia due to its intangible nature. Dark energy and dark matter can only be indirectly studied through methods such as gravitational lensing."
"I have been able to gather more information because, during the cataclysm, we utilized our laboratory's equipment to successfully ensnare one of the elongated apparitions. This allowed us to extract crucial data and insights."
Su Chen was taken aback. "You managed to capture one of those elongated apparitions?"
"Yes," Professor Chen replied wryly. "Ordinarily, our group of scientific researchers would be mere fodder for these specters. However, fortunately, we had access to an array of dark energy monitoring and testing equipment within our laboratory. Leveraging our limited understanding of dark energy, we devised a means to trap the elongated apparition that had breached our facility."
Hearing this, Su Chen couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration. Who said scholars were rendered useless in times of disaster?
Undeterred, Professor Chen continued, "Yet, the thought patterns of the elongated apparition are erratic and nonsensical. Strangely enough, it possesses the ability to comprehend our speech and even communicate in a manner we can understand. However, due to its deranged thinking, its words often lack coherence and logical structure."
"We have ascertained that they hail from a distant corner of the cosmos, holding fervent reverence for a mighty deity. Perhaps you are familiar with the mythology surrounding the Cthulhu lineage—the relationship between the favored ones and their gods mirrors that of Cthulhu and its followers. Their corrupted, deranged, and grotesque appearance aligns perfectly with the disciples of Cthulhu. This information, I assure you, is unequivocally accurate."
"This understanding had led me to the realization: that the events unfolding at the Cloud City store were, indeed, a sacrificial ritual," Professor Chen stated emphatically.
"However, there is much that remains unknown to me. I cannot fathom their motives or comprehend why they are assaulting us in such a manner—invading our world," Su Chen admitted, unable to provide an answer. Fortunately, Professor Chen did not expect a response. Lost in his ceaseless ruminations, he swiftly shifted the conversation.
"Nevertheless, this situation may not be entirely unfavorable. Remarkably, the appearance of these creatures has brought about profound positive changes in certain individuals—those who possess extraordinary gifts," Professor Chen explained.
"I am uncertain of your familiarity with dark energy. It is a mysterious force, an ethereal energy that propels the universe forward. However, due to its inability to reflect or emit light, perceiving, understanding, and harnessing it prove exceedingly challenging. It is an omnipresent reality, accounting for a staggering 85% of the total mass of all matter in the universe and 26.8% of its total mass and energy. One could say that dark energy constitutes the very fabric of the cosmos," he elucidated.
"Yet, its enigmatic nature renders it imperceptible and elusive to us humans. It is akin to an immense underground reservoir of precious minerals. We are aware of its existence, seemingly boundless and infinite, yet invisible and bereft of our understanding of its practical application," Professor Chen continued.
"However, with the arrival of the elongated apparitions and the monstrous entities, this status quo has been shattered. You may not be aware of it yet, but the reason these elongated apparitions and black-scaled creatures prove exceptionally difficult to vanquish lies in their inherent connection to dark energy. They are infused with copious amounts of this mystical energy, which imbues them with immense power and vitality," he revealed.
Su Chen listened attentively, although he knew deep within that he absorbed their energy essence on a daily basis. Nevertheless, he nodded, feigning complete ignorance.
"While we remain ignorant of the underlying cause of this phenomenon, the arrival of these creatures has had an unknown impact on humanity and the Earth's environment. It is my belief that this may signal the awakening of new sensory abilities within certain individuals, granting them the capacity to perceive and even manipulate dark energy. These individuals possess extraordinary gifts," Professor Chen explained.
"In fact, the first recorded instance of such gifted individuals predates the cataclysm itself. It involved a seasoned veteran in his seventies who, unscathed, halted an SUV in its tracks with his bare hands. We have since referred to his ability as 'Rotten Wood'," Professor Chen revealed.
Indeed, that man was undeniably gifted.
Su Chen's visage contorted with a mixture of confusion and disbelief. Who had ever claimed that those dubious online health product promotions were anything but deceptive? However, Professor Chen seemed oblivious to his inner turmoil, forging ahead with his discourse.
"Mr. Su, you too possess an extraordinary gift," Professor Chen asserted. "I believe you must have noticed that gifted individuals differ greatly from their fictional counterparts in movies and novels. Each gifted person possesses unique abilities, distinct from one another. Some emit radiant light, while others undergo grotesque mutations akin to savage beasts like Mr. Lin. There are even those who possess telepathic prowess, capable of delving into the recesses of others' minds like a living radar... The variety of talents is truly astounding, which is why we refer to them as 'gifted'."
"Each individual possesses a distinct ability, akin to an innate talent," Professor Chen continued. "However, our preliminary research indicates that human talents, despite their inherent connection to dark energy, possess limited perception of its true nature. They can merely utilize it, rather than fully comprehend its workings and applications. When talents employ their abilities, only a fraction of the dark energy actually comes into play."
"The black-scaled monsters and elongated apparitions, on the other hand, possess a unique advantage. They possess the innate ability to seamlessly and efficiently harness the omnipresent dark energy that permeates space," he explained, emphasizing the disparity between human talents and these creatures.
"Consequently, the utilization of dark energy by human talents remains abysmally low. Many of them possess the capability to vanquish elongated apparitions, but their inability to wield dark energy with precision and efficiency renders their strength ineffectual. They become mere victims, slaughtered relentlessly... It is akin to the distinction between primitive iron smelting and modern iron production. Although both processes extract iron from the same material, the quality and quantity of the final product differ vastly," Professor Chen elaborated.
"Of course, my team and I are actively researching this theory. Mr. Su, I wonder if you would be interested in joining our endeavor? As an exceptionally gifted individual with a unique talent, your participation could lead to groundbreaking discoveries. Together, we may uncover the key to mastering dark energy correctly and unleashing its full potential. Your strength could be enhanced in ways unimaginable! Moreover, we would have the opportunity to stand at the forefront of human advancement!" Professor Chen's excitement grew palpable as he gazed expectantly at Su Chen.
However, as Su Chen absorbed Professor Chen's words, his expression grew increasingly perplexed. His abilities stemmed from the Anowal ring and its mystical transformation process. Wasn't the energy he absorbed and utilized directly pure dark energy? Furthermore, after the ring's tempering and the fusion with his body, his abilities had reached an advanced level. Weren't these the efficient utilization methods Professor Chen spoke of?
Doubts crept into Su Chen's mind. Could it be that unknowingly, he had already surpassed the initial stages? While others remained entangled in the first level of understanding, he found himself grappling with the complexities of the second level...
Staring at Professor Chen, who brimmed with anticipation, Su Chen found himself at a loss for words. He had already transcended the rudimentary aspects Professor Chen wished to explore. What he truly needed to investigate were the underlying principles and the feasibility of further advancement. It seemed that Professor Chen's ideas and plans deviated significantly from his own.
Caught in this quandary, Su Chen's inner turmoil intensified, and his peculiar expression deepened.