056. BETA (Beta-Tier)
After awakening new Omega Energy, Li Aozi's gene sequence trembled, his metabolism accelerated, and he could visibly see the veins bulging on his blood vessels, shedding dead skin.
[Warning: Gene sequence unstable!]
[You have experienced a benign mutation, gene fragments are integrating...]
[Your superior genetic traits have emerged, please choose a direction from the following mutation options]
Li Aozi glanced at the mutation traits. His luck had clearly run out, and there was no perfect mutation option available, so he decisively used a perfect reset opportunity to reselect.
[Reset complete]
[Presenting to you, flawless genetic engineering:]
A—[Gene Integration Superbrain Bio-Armor]: Your genes have taken an excellent direction for integration. Now, your mind is no longer just the computer of your genes. You can control your body temperature, and your physical body will become a bio-armor driven by your consciousness.
Each of your bodies will be considered as 'bio-armor' equipment, capable of enhancement and modification through gene fragment transplantation and adjustments.
Choosing to retain this trait, your genes will no longer prioritize reproduction and life continuation. Instead, combat, intelligence, and evolutionary mutation options will increase, but the occurrence of reproductive mutation directions will decrease.
B—[Gene Screening • Chosen Prophet Sage]: Screens for genes that enhance memory, learning, and imagination, significantly increasing intelligence. Your ability to learn skills and knowledge will no longer have tier or level restrictions. All knowledge will come to you, and you only need to accept it.
Choosing to retain this trait, your [Charisma] attribute will convert to [Intelligence], greatly enhancing your learning ability. However, you will inevitably suffer from depression, with a 90% increased risk of suicide during severe depression.
C—[Gene Recombination • Eternal Flame]: Your consciousness and genes have reached an agreement. To spread your bloodline across the world, you can perform individual cell division reproduction. By removing parts of your genes, you can create another offspring with independent consciousness who will inherit the ancestor genes you specify and can continue reproducing.
Choosing to retain this trait, all your cells will have the ability to divide, but the occurrence of non-reproductive mutation directions will greatly decrease. Additionally, the rate of deformity in offspring will increase by 20%.
————————————
When Li Aozi saw option A, he chose it without hesitation.
It wasn't that options B and C were bad, but A was simply too good.
[Superbrain Bio-Armor] was the most suitable mutation direction for both the [Starfall Master] and [Luminous Master] paths, bar none.
In the [Domination]-series professions, [Starfall Master] and [Luminous Master] are two paths with diametrically opposed studies on consciousness and the body.
[Starfall Master] adheres to subjective materialism—my subjective will, as long as it is strong enough, can distort the objective world. My will can overcome, and even become, the new physical law.
[Luminous Master] adheres to subjective idealism—the objective world is merely what my subjective will believes exists. The mind triumphs over matter, and the world is a holographic projection of my mind.
[Starfall Master] believes that will is absolute. After experiencing enough memories and social status, the will naturally elevates to the level of self-dominance.
[Luminous Master] believes that will is free, and even without the world, the will would independently exist.
However, regardless of the path, both believe in one thing: the human will relies on the body but must transcend the body.
The principle is simple: both paths consider genes to be selfish drivers, controlling the body as a mech, while consciousness is the computer of the mech.
Genes, will, and body—these three form a trinity that sustains life's motion and progress.
But within this process lies a fatal problem.
Is the driver's primary goal to use the mech to defeat enemies and the natural environment? Or to explore, accumulate experience, and acquire a more powerful computer system?
No, because piloting the mech and acquiring a more powerful computer are just results of the driver's actions.
The driver just wants to survive.
In other words: Genes only consider the body and consciousness as means to pass on their sequence, and nothing else matters.
Many people often feel that life seems meaningless—they were right.
In nature, the vast majority of life is successful as long as it reproduces offspring and can then die in peace.
For genes, life itself is meaningless. In this regard, paramecia and dragons are no different; their existence is solely for reproduction.
It is the will that seeks to dominate life to fulfill the desires of individual will that brings meaning.
Therefore, for the [Starfall Master] and [Luminous Master] who possess a strong desire for domination, only by making the driver submit to the computer's control can the mech be freed from the fate of reproduction, becoming a more efficient, powerful tool to realize the will's power.
Bio-armorization of the body might sound complicated at first, but in reality, Professor Abyss's many avatars are the best interpretation.
This might sound like the ambition of a cosmic supervillain—but in fact, Li Aozi believes that the desire of the [Domination] series is not direct control but using the means they deem appropriate to understand and transform the world.
This isn't domination, it's love.
By liberating oneself from the shackles of genes and the body, the will is elevated to a powerful dimension. No longer bound by time and life, they can truly love the world and its people.
Li Aozi was deeply moved and felt he was about to shed tears.
[Gene integration complete]
[Your shell 'Li Aozi' has been bio-armored]
[Specialty • Flesh Affinity—Triggered]
[You can now freely disable your pain and sensory systems.]
[You can cultivate new bio-armor bodies through gene transplantation or transfer your consciousness into other beings.]
His body rapidly became encased in a layer of red-black crystals, and through [True Sight], he saw the name of this crystal for the first time:
'Heinz Crystal'
[You can spend experience to adjust and modify the bio-armor body. The first modification is free. Do you want to begin the initial adjustment?]
"In that case..." Li Aozi pondered, combining what he had learned from Assistant Physician Anna's "Doctorate-level • Basic Pharmacology" and his knowledge of biology, he began adjusting his body to the best of his ability.
The red-black Heinz Crystal pierced through his blood vessels, enveloping Li Aozi completely like an egg-shaped incubation pod, beginning a comprehensive overhaul of his body's imperfections.
First, he corrected his human retina, which had grown backward, and efficiently constructed blood supply channels, allowing him to freely regulate eye pressure and the lens, eliminating the possibility of myopia.
Photoreceptor cells were realigned, causing retinal shadows to instantly disappear. The brain power previously used to render and process shadows was immediately freed up, allowing the spare brain space to process various information, boosting Li Aozi's [Intelligence] attribute to 7 points.
The human recurrent laryngeal nerve, which takes a long detour around the heart's aorta before reaching the lower jaw, was directly and decisively pulled from the artery and properly shortened back.
"This is still not enough."
Li Aozi thought for a moment and continued his modifications.
The problem of varicose veins caused by long-term gravitational pressure from bipedal walking was also fixed, and the exposed reproductive organs could now be concealed to prevent them from being struck by enemies.
The kidneys, prone to crystal formation and kidney stones, were dramatically strengthened and restructured.
The trachea and esophagus were separated, so choking would no longer occur.
The appendix, which had little significance before, was reactivated as a digestive support system storing a large number of beneficial bacteria.
Endocrine hormones could be freely regulated like a throttle. Adrenaline would be secreted when explosive power was needed, dopamine would be suppressed for calmness, and large amounts of dopamine and endorphins would be released for happiness.
This body would no longer suffer from addiction to any drugs; it would become the finest bio-armor.
Finally, Li Aozi modified his brain.
The human brain's left and right hemispheres, once disconnected by cutting the corpus callosum, could no longer unify their understanding and control of things.
His brainpower had already been liberated, and the nervous system fully optimized. Now, it no longer needed compartmentalization.
[Bio-armor body, adjustment complete]
[Your attributes have changed]
Strength—16
Agility—15
Constitution—20
Charisma—77 [Actual Benefit: 100.1]
Intelligence—7
[Advancement task complete]
[Individual ascension in progress...]
[Under the influence of your will, genes are beginning to aggregate]
[They attract, understand, and devour each other—eventually merging into one]
Li Aozi's body slowly floated into the air. He didn't use gravity; it was the world itself gently lifting him.
His extraordinary [Charisma] made the world embrace him, love him, and offer him good things without question.
The red-black crystal slowly dissolved, merging with his flesh and blood texture, and under the world's loving embrace, it gently imprinted into his skin.
Li Aozi's body quietly activated the Dominator Form.
His muscles no longer twisted violently but grew and proliferated naturally. The exoskeleton armor was covered with exquisite red-black crystals, his body slowly elongated, and pale bone plates covered his body, enhancing its aesthetic appeal. His skin was no longer slick and sticky but hardened, appearing as if it had been scorched.
His hair was also encased in crystals, and on his previously unremarkable head, bone spurs slowly grew, forming a crown-like structure resembling thorns.
[Ascension complete]
[Your lifespan +80 natural years.]
[Tier effect: Any attack or attribute judgment from a target below your tier will be considered only 80% effective. When you attack or judge the attributes of a target below your tier, it will be considered 200% effective. (Beta-Tier)]
[Dominator Form has evolved]
[In Dominator Form, your Omega Energy benefits increase by 20%, you gain 30% additional health, and your movement speed increases by 80%.]
[Specialty • Flesh Affinity—Triggered]
[When in Dominator Form, bio-armor weapons will also merge into Dominator Form as skill extensions.]
[You can now integrate the limbs and organs of other creatures into your body to grant Dominator Form more biological traits.]
Finally, he had advanced to Beta-Tier.
The bio-armor specialties needed for [Mutant] were now mastered, and from here, as long as he focused on creating bio-armor, he could enhance his combat power.
Li Aozi didn't even have time to catch his breath before he immediately opened the task panel.
[Side Quest "Roar of Freedom" has met the settlement conditions]
[Reward settlement]:
A. "Children of the Volcano"—You must completely overthrow the comprador group of Grant, help the Grantian people reclaim power, and rebuild the republic.
Current progress: Republican government stability—77.7% (meeting settlement standards)
Reward: 1.2 million experience points
B. "Buried in the Blue"—The greatest obstacle to the rebels is the ruler of the old world. Defeat the Grand Duke of the Principality of Grant.
Current progress: Gamos Luvenchi Grant (1/1)
Reward: Random reward (based on task evaluation, the higher the evaluation, the better the final reward)
Task rating calculation in progress...
No teammates died in this mission (√)
The public witnessed your final kill (√)
Damage output accounted for 80% (√)
Calculation complete, this mission rating is: Outstanding.
[Would you like to open the random reward?]
[Reward issued]
[You have acquired the skill—[Aura of Benevolence]]
---------------------------------
A big thank you to [Kill Jason] for joining my Patreon! Your support means a lot to me.