Hunter of Mysterious Creature-Chapter 472 - 83: Crimson Spore

"This attempt..." Yuri gave a wry smile, "Actually, we've done it long ago."

"Oh? How did it turn out?"

"The strains do not kill each other; instead, they fuse, evolve together, and eventually turn into a completely new strain adapted to the 'new seedbed,'" Yuri said.

"In this regard, they are better than humans," Sun Hang commented.

"According to our years of observation, the crimson spores do not possess self-awareness. They do this probably out of survival instinct..." Yuri said.

"I think it might be that the 'new seedbed' provides too much nourishment," Sun Hang added, "If the nourishment were seriously insufficient, would they kill each other and fight for limited resources? For example, letting a few kilogram-heavy strain parasitize a little finger?"

"We've conducted similar experiments. The result is that the weaker strains willingly sacrifice themselves to let the strongest strain occupy the survival space exclusively," Yuri stated, "Even strains with extremely different forms follow this rule... They give the impression of being a whole, a whole that decides individual actions based on a hive mind."

"So it's all instinct, huh?" Sun Hang said.

"Yes."

"In that case, it seems it doesn't matter which strain is consumed... then let's go with number seventeen."

...

...

The containment room prepared for consuming the crimson spores is much simpler than for the previous two anomalies—the crimson spores, though deadly, spread in a way similar to ordinary viruses. Just ensuring the containment room is completely sealed is enough; there's no need even to maintain a low temperature.

The metal cylinder containing seedbed number seventeen was transported in front of Sun Hang, and as the lid was opened, a chill gushed out from inside the cylinder.

"The container is currently being warmed up. During this process, the dormant crimson spores might wake up anytime," Yuri, standing on the other side of the observation window, reminded.

Minus seventy, minus sixty, minus fifty...

The thermometer beside was constantly ticking, while Sun Hang kept his eyes on seedbed number seventeen, carefully observing its changes.

When the temperature rose to minus fifteen degrees, there was suddenly an extremely low, slow heartbeat heard from within the chest cavity of the seedbed—though the heartbeat was slow and the pulsation very weak... but that heart, which lay dormant in the cold for years, indeed began to beat gently.

Sun Hang glanced at the electrocardiogram with his peripheral vision—the equipment meant for monitoring vital signs showed one connected to Sun Hang and the other connected to seedbed number seventeen.

At this point, on the screen of the device connected to seedbed number seventeen, the straight line of the electrocardiogram suddenly bore a slight tremor, and then the straight line started to become a jagged curve, with the amplitude undulating more and more.

"Reviving a human heart in a frozen state shouldn't be this simple, right?" Sun Hang asked.

"It's the effect of the crimson spores. They may kill the host quickly, but to draw enough nutrients to strengthen themselves, they also maximize the activation of the host's life potential."

"Still, an anomalous entity of contradiction," Sun Hang muttered, "Reviving him only to kill him... that's utterly pointless."

Just as the vital signs of seedbed number seventeen climbed to normal human levels, they then started to plummet—the seedbed's body began to convulse violently, the skin dissolved, large chunks of muscle fell off the bones, and a large amount of foul-smelling white foam started to spout from the mouth.

Like being burned, many blood blisters swelled up on seedbed number seventeen, stacking upon each other quickly until they formed something like foam, wrapping the entire seedbed.

"Those aren't blood blisters," Yuri reminded, "That's the strain body of the crimson spores... Honestly, this bubble-like strain is being observed for the first time. We've never seen it before."

"Have I hit the jackpot?" Sun Hang smiled.

"Not sure... The shape of the strain doesn't directly correlate with the capabilities of the anomaly... From the memetic fragments, there hasn't been significant variation between the number seventeen strain and the original strain," Yuri sped up his speech, "Seedbed number seventeen is about to go to waste... The strain has entered its maturation phase, and soon these blood blisters will burst, dispersing the spores into the air. If you intend to consume it, now is the best time."

Without needing more words from Yuri, several hundred mycelia extended from Sun Hang's body. After a brief moment of pause, they shot forward, piercing through the crimson foam and into the body of "seedbed number seventeen."

In the next second, the multitude of blood blisters deflated rapidly... Before the researchers surrounding could react, there remained nothing of seedbed number seventeen but shallow red human bones.

"Burp." Sun Hang let out a satisfied belch, retracting the mycelia also stained with crimson, and stood up.

"Con... consumption complete?" Yuri was taken aback and subconsciously asked.

"The memetic reaction of strain number seventeen has vanished!" a researcher finally awakened from their daze and said, "As for the VIP's meme... no change at all?"

"No change at all?" Yuri looked at Sun Hang, "Could the devouring have failed?"