110: A treacherous plot is hidden within the potion; a mutated behemoth wreaks havoc on Australia.

Chapter One Hundred and Thirteen: A Poisonous Scheme Hidden in the Potion, Giant Beasts Mutate and Breach Australia

The underground research and development center of the East Sea Barrier Base had now become a battlefield where humanity and conspiracy intertwined.

Zhu Long was placed inside a specially made transparent isolation chamber, surrounded by the energy monitoring aura of the red alert system. Every movement and every breath was recorded in real-time. Through the glass, he directed the researchers' operations, his voice calm yet hiding a calculated scheme: "The Energy Neutralizing Enzyme needs to be synthesized in a low-temperature environment of minus 120 degrees Celsius. When adding three milliliters of the Doomsday Seed extract, it must be stirred at a constant speed, otherwise the molecular structure will be destroyed."

The American Old Professor stared at the molecular simulation on the screen, his brow furrowed slightly. "According to this ratio, the stability of the neutralizing enzyme can only be maintained for seventy-two hours. It will lose its effect once it exceeds that time limit. Moreover, there seems to be a deviation in its compatibility with Anti-Resonance Energy."

"That is a normal phenomenon." A faint, imperceptible curve tugged at the corner of Zhu Long's mouth. "The energy cores of the God Devourers are constantly evolving. The potion must maintain this 'dynamic instability' to keep up with their mutation speed. Seventy-two hours is enough; you only need to use it within this timeframe to pierce the Crimson Crystals on the God Devourers' skulls."

Lin Zhou stood outside the isolation chamber, his gaze as sharp as a blade, staring fixedly at Zhu Long's every move. The red alert system's monitoring data showed that Zhu Long's heart rate and brain waves were within normal ranges, but he felt something was off—Zhu Long was being too cooperative, even proactively revealing many behavioral habits of the God Devourers. This was a complete turnaround from his previous attitude of resisting to the end.

"Research Team, perform a simulation test on the potion," Lin Zhou suddenly ordered. "Use God Devourer gene fragments for an in-vitro reaction to verify stability and compatibility."

A flash of panic flickered through Zhu Long's eyes for a moment, but it was quickly masked. "Does Commander Lin not trust me? Very well, only after testing will you be able to rest easy."

The simulation test was quickly launched. The supercomputer constructed a model of the God Devourer's energy core and injected the synthesized Core-Inhibiting Potion into the simulated environment. Initially, the potion indeed showed a powerful neutralizing effect, and the energy of the Crimson Crystal in the model decayed rapidly; however, seventy-two hours later, a bizarre scene occurred—the decaying energy suddenly rebounded, the crystal's volume doubled, and the energy fluctuations became even more violent than the initial state.

"How can this be?" The Research Team Leader's face changed drastically. "The potion didn't just fail; it became an energy catalyst!"

Inside the isolation chamber, Zhu Long could no longer hide it and began to laugh maniacally. "Hahaha! Lin Zhou, did you really think I would help you? Within the molecular chain of the Energy Neutralizing Enzyme, I hid 'proliferation gene fragment'! It will inhibit the energy core initially, but once the time limit is passed, it will stimulate the crystal to proliferate wildly, allowing the God Devourers to evolve even more powerful strength!"

Lin Zhou's face instantly turned so dark it looked like it could drip ink. He slammed a fist into the glass of the isolation chamber. "You're looking for death!"

"Death? I should have died long ago!" Zhu Long roared, his eyes full of madness. "But I'm going to drag you all down with me! The God Devourers in Australia have already devoured the juvenile specimens and the pseudo-broodmother energy blocks. They are currently in a critical period of evolution. Once they finish absorbing the proliferation effects of the potion, they will break through Australia, sweep through Southeast Asia, and finally tear all of you to pieces!"

Just then, the emergency alarm in the command center suddenly blared, interrupting Zhu Long's roar.

"Commander! A super-strong energy reaction has appeared in the direction of Australia! The God Devourers... have evolved!" The Intelligence Staff Officer's voice was filled with despair. "Their body size has skyrocketed to fifty meters, their scales have evolved an energy-reflecting layer, and the Crimson Crystals on their skulls have split into multiple cores. Furthermore... they are crossing the Indian Ocean and approaching Southeast Asia! It is estimated they will reach the Indochina Peninsula in three days!"

On the holographic sand table, five red dots, several times larger than before, were crossing the Indian Ocean at an astonishing speed. The energy fields around them had distorted into dark purple vortices; wherever they passed, marine life was instantly devoured, and even the seawater was evaporated into steam.

"Three days..." Lin Zhou clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. The ten-day buffer period they had originally secured had been compressed to three days by Zhu Long's poisonous scheme. Moreover, the existing Core-Inhibiting Potion was not only ineffective but would actually accelerate the God Devourers' evolution. Humanity had fallen into a desperate situation once again.

"Take him down and keep him under strict guard!" Lin Zhou ordered coldly. The soldiers immediately opened the isolation chamber and dragged out the maniacally laughing Zhu Long.

Inside the research center, the atmosphere reached a peak of solemnity. The American scientists and the Dawn City Research Team looked at each other, their faces full of exhaustion and anxiety.

"What do we do now? The potion formula has been tampered with, and we don't have time to re-develop it!" the Old Professor's voice was hoarse.

Lin Zhou took a deep breath, his gaze gradually becoming firm. "Even if there's no time, we must seize it! Since Zhu Long could design the proliferation gene fragment, there must be a way to crack them. Have the interrogation team increase their intensity. Even if they have to use the most extreme methods, they must force the solution out of his mouth!"

He turned to look at the Research Team. "At the same time, initiate the backup plan. Combine the Railguns with Anti-Resonance Bombs to develop 'Dual-Effect Anti-Core Bombs.' Abandon potion assistance and use pure firepower to pierce the God Devourers' multiple cores directly! With American Railgun technology combined with the magnetic storm energy of the red alert, we must produce a weapon capable of destroying the evolved God Devourers within three days!"

"In addition, notify Bear Country and the remaining survivor bases in Southeast Asia," Lin Zhou ordered into the communicator. "The God Devourers are about to reach the Indochina Peninsula. Have them evacuate to the China Southwest Defense Line immediately. Meanwhile, the Far East United Defense Line is to deploy half of the Apocalypse Tank Divisions and mecha formations to reinforce the Southwest and construct the final defensive barrier!"

The orders were transmitted rapidly, and all of Dawn City entered a wartime state once again. The lights of the research center stayed on all night as scientists raced against time to optimize the design of the Dual-Effect Anti-Core Bombs. In the interrogation room, Zhu Long's roars intertwined with the hum of instruments as a fierce battle for information concerning human survival played out. At the southwest border, the tracks of apocalypse tanks ground over the mountainous terrain, Railgun positions were quickly set up, and soldiers stood with determined eyes, prepared to face an unprecedentedly brutal battle.

On the Indian Ocean, the evolved God Devourers were still racing forward. Their Crimson Crystals flashed with an eerie light, and their sharp claws struck the surface of the sea, kicking up giant waves sufficient to submerge islands.