"Marvelous, absolutely marvelous! I still underestimated this Kabane Virus. It is definitely not a naturally formed virus; it was artificially developed!"
Inside the No.0001 Stargate World base.
Dr. Fritz, in a specially constructed research room for the Biochemical Research Institute, excitedly observed the Kabane, whose hands, feet, and neck were shackled with Seastone and injected with a potent sedative. The blue light emanating from its heart cast an eerie glow on his face.
They had already conducted experiments.
This Kabane, referred to as the 'Core,' could indeed attract ordinary Kabanes around it, which would then attach to its body surface.
Once attached, the ordinary Kabanes would lose their own will, completely becoming part of the 'Core's' body. Subsequent Kabanes, even if separated by other Kabanes in between, would still produce the same effect as if they were attached to the 'Core's' surface, meaning they would also lose consciousness. Then, it was a process of continuous growth.
Interestingly, when the Kabanes attached to its 'body' were damaged, the 'Core' would feel pain and anger.
It was as if the outer layer of Kabanes had truly become its skin and muscles. Moreover, it could secrete a black mucus to completely fuse the surface Kabanes together, giving them a hardness comparable to rock.
"Using mental waves filled with negative emotions to attract other Kabanes, then suppressing their will with stronger mental waves, completely controlling their bodies and manipulating them at will..."
As he muttered to himself, Dr. Fritz's brain was working at high speed.
"No, no, if it were just pure suppression, it shouldn't have such strong mental power. Could it be a temporary absorption, amplifying the 'Core's' mental power through this method, thus having stronger mental power to attract more Kabanes?"
"In other words, the greatest value of this 'Core' Kabane is not the elimination of the human body's self-protection mechanism, nor those miscellaneous minor functions, but the ability to absorb and strengthen the power of the 'heart.' However, the absorbed 'heart' components are mixed with too many extreme negative emotions, easily causing people to completely succumb to fear and cruelty."
He referred to it as 'temporary absorption' because once the Kabanes attached to the 'Core' were forcibly separated, their consciousness would immediately recover, turning them back into Living Dead with independent consciousness and bloodlust.
This was enough to prove that the 'Core' did not completely digest the absorbed consciousness or mental power!
"Director, it's feeding time."
At this moment, two researchers carried a white box over together.
"Oh, it's time for it to eat? Hurry, hurry, don't let it starve. This little thing has a much bigger appetite than ordinary Kabanes!"
Dr. Fritz straightened up, quickly walked out of the cell specially emptied to detain it, and then stood behind the glass wall to continue observing the situation inside.
"Alright."
Upon receiving the response, one of the researchers opened the box lid, revealing freshly collected blood. Because the temperature was somewhat high, he wore insulated gloves to avoid burning his hands.
This blood was not ordinary human blood, but the high-temperature blood within the Kabane, which is why it was still emitting a bright 'flame-like' glow.
Who would have thought that this Blue-Light 'Core' Kabane actually fed on the blood of its fellow Kabane?
The process of foraging involved finding a group of people, then using the Kabane on its 'body' to turn them into new Kabane, which it would then attach to its 'inside' or 'outside'. It would then slowly absorb the blood nutrients from their bodies using the black mucus it secreted.
However, it wouldn't drain them all at once. Instead, it would choose the stronger Kabane with more blood to absorb. For those with less blood, it would use its control over every inch of its 'muscles' to push them to the surface, turning them into frontline warriors to devour human blood.
For this experiment, they had deliberately found a large open space outside the base last night, bringing all the ordinary Kabane before it to attach, and then conducting a series of tests.
Although the number of Kabane was limited, making this 'Black Smoke' only a miniature version, it was still sufficient for observation and experimentation.
After the tests, the newly appointed Army Vice Admiral, Crocodile, personally intervened, using Sandstorm to separate and recover it once again.
After this troublesome effort, the Biochemical Research Institute finally gained a basic understanding of the 'Black Smoke' formed by this 'Core'! "Alright, let's go!"
The two researchers ignored the strong smell of blood that wafted out as the lid was opened, quickly exiting the room and tightly closing the steel door.
In the next moment, the nose of the Blue-Light Kabane, which had been in a deep slumber, twitched instinctively, and its eyes suddenly opened, revealing azure blue pupils and pitch-black irises.
"Grrr~~"
It looked at the steaming, fiery red blood in the white container, its expression turning fierce and crazed. However, no matter how much it struggled, the Seastone shackles remained unmoving.
After multiple failed attempts, it finally remembered another one of its abilities.
[Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!]
In the next moment, black mucus shot out from its arms, legs, and heart, accurately hitting the container several meters away. It then contracted, pulling the container closer, and shot out more mucus to immerse itself in the boiling blood.
The long, black, strip-like mucus wriggled like a straw, sending the blood into its body! "It's beautiful. Every time I see this, it feels so beautiful. This is truly a masterpiece in the field of biochemistry," Dr. Fritz said, feeling immensely happy.
"I should give it a name, yes, a name. How can a masterpiece not have a name? Let me think... What about 'Blue Heart'?"
Although he didn't turn his head, merely pressing against the glass wall and staring, the two researchers beside him knew he was asking them. They exchanged a helpless glance.
"That's a good name, Director."
"Good, then from now on, we'll call it Blue Heart!" Dr. Fritz was very satisfied with the name, softly saying, "Next, I want to see if we can awaken its consciousness."
This statement left the researchers stunned, as the director of the Biochemical Research Institute continued to ponder and speak.
"Since we already know that its consciousness is filled with extreme negative emotions such as fear, cruelty, and bloodlust, we just need to address that. However, this goes beyond the scope of biochemistry. I need to submit a report to the higher-ups and see if they can come up with a solution."
"Additionally, I need a test subject with a strong will, preferably one who has mastered Haki, but whose combat power isn't too high. We need to see if, after injecting 'Blue Heart's' blood into their body, they can use Haki to resist the invasion of negative emotions and successfully control the power of the virus within them."