The process of severing one's own flesh is excruciating.
As the immense energy is extracted from the energy crystal by the mechanical device, a red high-energy laser shoots from the tip of the mechanical arm.
Kai'Sa clenches her teeth, her breathing rapid, beads of cold sweat the size of beans sliding down her slender neck, uncovered by the carapace, yet she endures the pain without a sound.
This pain is not just the agony of cutting off a piece of "flesh," but also the carapace sensing the threat, contracting sharply, reminding her of the sharp pain like needles.
Kai'Sa clenches one hand into a fist, intentionally grabbing the raised metal armor on Li Lin's wrist with the other to avoid hurting him.
If the powered armor hadn't been upgraded this morning, the rare first-generation battle armor would have likely lost dozens or even hundreds of health points.
As the laser sizzles, a pungent smell of chitin dissolves into the air.
For Kai'Sa, just a few seconds felt like decades.
When there was a crisp sound like metal colliding, Victor stopped the laser emitted from the mechanical arm. "Li Lin, the Shimmer Potion!"
He quickly reminded.
"Hurry, drink this!" Li Lin, who was already prepared, reached the glass bottle with the cork removed to Kai'Sa's tearful lips and helped her drink it quickly.
With the strange taste of the purple potion that slightly burned her esophagus, Kai'Sa frowned.
She could feel the potion being quickly absorbed by the injured carapace as soon as it reached her stomach.
The living skin was no longer tightly gripping her flesh, and instead, within two or three seconds, a numbness and warm current swept through her body.
"How do you feel?" Li Lin asked worriedly.
"It still hurts a bit, but it's not a big problem," Kai'Sa shook her head.
Victor and Heimerdinger also hurried forward to check on her condition.
Even for Void skin, the Shimmer Potion was equally effective.
Coupled with the two different magical pendants she wore around her neck, just a few seconds later, most of Kai'Sa's leg injuries had healed.
"You are really a brave girl!" Heimerdinger praised sincerely in Shuriman, "This kind of pain, if not anesthetized, I can't bear it at all."
Kai'Sa's face was pale, and she squeezed out a faint smile, "You flatter me... in the Void, this kind of pain is nothing."
After confirming that Kai'Sa was fine, Victor sealed the still-active carapace with closed equipment.
Then, Heimerdinger took the container from Victor and shook it in front of him, "Hmm~~ its existence is very strange, even after separating from the symbiotic host, it still has activity."
"Its activity is weakening, and it will die completely in a few hours," Li Lin glanced at the Data Mind, reminding.
"Professor, I think we should put it in the nutrient solution, just like the ZAC-1 sample."
The ZAC-1 sample was the code for the cell tissue Zac gave to the academy.
Before Li Lin and Jayce went to Shurima, they handed over the Zac cells they had to Victor for cultivation to maintain their activity.
"That's a good idea," Heimerdinger nodded, "We can't let this poor child suffer any more pain. We should only use this piece of Void carapace as research material."
Li Lin helped Kai'Sa, who was almost completely healed, sit up from the workbench and translated their conversation word for word to her.
Then, Kai'Sa organized her words slightly, "Professor, my carapace can evolve or mutate by devouring enough energy, so you have to be careful."
"Before, I just cut off a small piece of carapace from a Voidling, and now it has spread all over my body... I think you should take some emergency measures."
Hearing her words, Heimerdinger lowered his furry face, gently stroking his beard lost in thought.
After a few seconds, he looked up at Victor, "Go test it first, Victor, and see how much energy it needs at minimum to maintain its activity. Let's just go with the minimum."
As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly remembered something and continued, "Oh yes, I almost forgot, find someone to bring my newly designed MK-3 high-precision turret and lock onto this carapace."
Victor was stunned for a moment.
He couldn't understand Shuriman, so naturally, he didn't understand Heimerdinger's meaning, "Professor?"
"We can't guard it every moment, Victor, this is just a precaution," Heimerdinger explained seriously, "If it mutates, it must be destroyed as soon as possible."
Upon receiving the materials for Kai'Sa's armor, Viktor and Heimerdinger immediately began their research, knowing it would take some time to analyze and yield preliminary results.
Later, Li Lin meticulously examined Kai'Sa once again using his Data Mind, confirming once more that she was indeed unharmed.
Of course, amidst Kai'Sa's situation, he also remembered the other tasks planned for the day.
Originally, the issue with the Infinite Armor's flight capabilities intrigued him, but Viktor's creation of the final version of the Shimmer elixir, combined with the Zac cells, piqued Li Lin's interest once more.
Now equipped with 28 skill points, he could potentially unlock skills from at least 9 different individual enhancement branches.
Among them, genetic enhancement was his priority, speculating that with the core skill "Glorious Evolution" and Zac's cells, he could unlock new blueprints.
However, before delving into this, Li Lin needed to ensure Kai'Sa was settled.
Money talks.
Lady Cassandra's hired tutor had arrived early that day and was temporarily staying at Kiramman's house.
Kai'Sa could attend classes whenever she found the time.
Not only did the tutor teach languages, but also etiquette, basic knowledge, and common sense, making her quite knowledgeable.
After discussing with Kai'Sa, Li Lin decided to first show her around Piltover's streets to experience its culture before attending classes in the afternoon.
During this break, he could also arrange to install a batch of new cutting-edge scientific equipment in his workshop, then create a device to add skill points and unlock individual enhancement technologies.
With the next few days' plans quickly devised, Li Lin left the laboratory with Kai'Sa.
Just as they reached the school gate, a somewhat familiar hoarse voice caught their attention. "Excuse me... Are you Mr. Li Lin?"
Li Lin turned around, recognizing a familiar face wearing the Academy professor's uniform. "Professor Zidelo?"
Months ago, on the eve of Caitlyn's coming-of-age ceremony, they had visited the micro-Rune site exhibition of Valentina Zidelo at the Unknowable Square and had a brief chat with her.
At the time, Caitlyn felt Valentina was unwise to publicly promote her inventions and asked Li Lin to have Heimerdinger's people protect her.
Before leaving Piltover for Shurima, Li Lin had done just that, even visiting Valentina again to remind her not to be too outspoken.
At the time, she hadn't taken it seriously, but now...
"You look... so worn out?" Li Lin frowned as Valentina, bowing her head, approached, her collar raised to hide her face, looking like a poor laborer from the southern district.
"Mr. Li Lin... You were right... I should have listened to you..." Valentina seemed nervous and mentally unstable.
As per the original timeline, Valentina's Incognium Runeterra was still incomplete when she mysteriously disappeared, with no one knowing where she had gone.
Li Lin was well aware that her invention had touched some influential figures, or perhaps some desperate individuals.
Now, with Valentina's invention almost halfway complete, trouble was sure to come knocking.
Even with the heightened security measures taken by the Academy following the notorious Twin City attack, and Heimerdinger's specific instructions, she was still facing personal threats.
Li Lin opened his face mask. "Tell me slowly, what happened? I'll do my best to help you."
Valentina took a step forward, clutching his armored arm. "Recently... I've received many death threat letters... They... They want me to stop my research on the Incognium Runeterra..."
"I've reported this to the Academy... I've even contacted the authorities! But... But the Academy has sent guards and law enforcers to protect me, and they... they can't find any trace of that person!"
"That person?"
"Yes!" Valentina's voice quivered, her eyes filled with tears. "Every day, it would sneak into my room while I slept, threatening me in my ear..."
Li Lin was even more puzzled.
Apart from Twitch, who could turn semi-transparent using "Alchemical Translucent Powder," and Camille, who only assassinated those threatening the Ferros family or the stability of the Twin Cities...
He couldn't think of anyone else who could bypass guards and law enforcers, enter Valentina's room, and threaten her without killing her.
Valentina's invention hadn't reached that level, so who could possibly achieve such a feat?
Li Lin carefully observed Valentina, noticing that her mental state was almost on the verge of collapse, sensing something amiss.
Then, he chose to activate his Data Mind, and Valentina's personal status appeared on the system panel.
[Name: Valentina Zidelo]
[Personal Status: Extreme fatigue, mental tension (half-collapsed), delusional... ]
Delusional?
Li Lin was momentarily stunned, carefully examining this status.
[Mental Confusion Potion: An alchemical concoction that affects the mind, inducing hallucinations. Overdosing can cause permanent mental damage and a high probability of insanity.]
After a few seconds, Li Lin snapped out of it, his brown-black pupils locking onto Valentina's bloodshot eyes.
"Is there a possibility... that someone hasn't invaded your bedroom and threatened you, but rather, you've been drugged?"
(End of the Chapter)
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