Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

Chapter 592: Origin of Berserk Humans II

CH592 Origin of Berserk Humans II

***

Alex pondered briefly before replying,

”One of the base materials used to create the mutagen that granted the original Combat Warriors their cultivation potential was derived from the mutated genes of a Class Six Berserk Beast.”

”I know from my own experiments tinkering with beast genomes that the mutagens produced by Berserk Beasts —going by the details described in your scrolls characterising the change in nature of beast genes after their contamination and subsequent conversion into Berserk Beasts— are inheritable through progeny.”

Alex paused for a moment.

Then he shifted his train of thought.

”First of all, I must admit that my knowledge of the subject is limited. At best, I am working from what little I was able to comprehend from the knowledge contained in the scrolls here.”

”But here is my deduction.”

”Your method introduced the existence of a genetic factor which, according to your theory, is responsible for the existence of cultivation talent.”

”It would explain why two parents with cultivation talent have a higher chance of producing offspring with cultivation talent as well.”

”In simple terms, there is a greater probability that the cultivation gene will be inherited by such offspring because there are simply more cultivation genes present within the pool of inheritable genes.”

”Based on your research using various beasts, you deduced that beasts must possess a higher production rate of these genes than humans. That would explain why beasts display cultivation talent far more frequently than humans do.”

”So you proposed extracting these genes from certain beasts and implanting them into humans who lacked cultivation talent.”

”However, you discovered that simply consuming beast blood was unable to transfer this talent — at least not efficiently or reliably. So you began attempting to identify and extract the specific genes responsible.”

”But during your research, you discovered that these genes were embedded too deeply within the genetic structure of the test subjects.

”The methods available to extract them would degrade the genetic structure before the extraction could be completed.”

Alex looked directly at the expressionless old man before continuing.

”That was... until Berserk Beasts began appearing.”

”You must have obtained a sample from a high-level Berserk Beast.”

”From that sample, you discovered that the berserk corruption within them had altered their genetic structure in a unique way.

”The corruption forced their genetic code into a constant state of mutation, continuously reshaping itself under the influence of the berserk property.”

”This mutation must have degraded the genetic structure to the point where it became easier to obtain the required gene sequence from the beast’s complete genetic pool.”

”However, because the gene pool had already been contaminated by the berserk property —the very factor that made the extraction possible in the first place— it would have been impossible to obtain the desired genetic material without also bringing along some of the corrupted sequences.”

Alex paused briefly, pondering the implications of his own reasoning before continuing to voice his thoughts aloud.

”Due to the unavoidable presence of the corrupted material, it would be impossible for the produced Combat Warriors not to carry that corrupted sequence somewhere within their genetic pool.”

”From what I have read, it seems that during your era Berserk Humans did not yet exist.”

”It was only after the proliferation of Combat Warriors —and later their descendants, who inherited this cursed cultivation talent— that Berserk Humans began to appear.”

”As such, there can only be one logical conclusion...”

Alex’s thoughtful expression gradually shifted into one of certainty as he looked directly at the expressionless old man.

”The berserk property did not originally affect humans— only beasts.”

”However, once beast genes were introduced into humans to create Combat Warriors, the human genetic pool became exposed to the possibility of contamination.”

”All Combat Warriors —and all their descendants who inherited anything from their genetic lineage— now carry a latent risk of berserk contamination.”

”The more they are exposed to the berserk property, the more likely it becomes that the dormant corrupted sequence within their genetic code will activate.”

”And when that happens... it triggers the transformation that gives rise to the Berserk Humans we see today.”

After presenting his conclusion, Alex waited for some form of reaction from the Heavenly Venerable.

However, the old man remained completely expressionless.

’Did I miss something?’

The lack of response made Alex pause.

He quickly retraced the logic of his deduction.

Then suddenly—

Alex’s eyes flashed as realisation dawned upon him.

’Us!’ he exclaimed inwardly.

’My platoon members who are not natives of this plane also showed signs of berserk contamination.’

’If my deduction about the contamination is correct... that shouldn’t have happened.’

’So either my deduction is wrong... or...’

Alex looked back at the old man in horror.

”The berserk property has adapted to human genes?” His voice quaked.

”Go on,” the Heavenly Venerable urged unexpectedly.

Almost subconsciously, Alex continued.

”The berserk property must have adapted to human genes.”

”This probably traces back to the contaminated genetic material circulating within the gene pool of many humans on this plane.”

”By coming into contact with these contaminated genetic sequences, over time the berserk property must have adapted until it could affect all humans and humanoids, regardless of whether they originally possessed the contaminated genetic material or not.”

’In other words... this could grow beyond just a threat to Verdantis.’

’If it spreads to other planes and worlds...’

Alex shivered unconsciously.

”It seems you now understand the threat we faced— and why we sacrificed everything to bring it down.”

”And also why, should you choose to bear the burden of the Legatee, you must do everything within your power to stop it.”

After saying this, the Heavenly Venerable turned away and walked back toward the window.

”Finish reading the remaining scrolls.”

”Surely you understand now why knowledge is so important.”

”One person’s folly can have consequences that spread across an entire civilisation... even threaten the existence of an entire race within the universe.”

”But by the same token, so too can the power of one person’s intellect.”

Alex’s expression grew more solemn than ever as he returned to the shelves and continued reading through the remaining scrolls.

Eventually, after an indeterminate amount of time, he finally finished reading every scroll and parchment within the hall.

With that, the first half of the trial was complete.

Alex walked over to the Heavenly Venerable to report his progress.

Surprisingly, the Heavenly Venerable simply said,

”You have passed the trial.”

Alex was stunned.

”I thought there was a second half to the trial,” he replied.

”The second half of the trial was to see whether you could make use of the information and knowledge contained within the scrolls.”

”And you have already done so successfully,” the Heavenly Venerable replied.

’Deducing the history and origin of the Berserk Humans?’

Realisation dawned upon Alex.

”Thank you for passing on your knowledge to me. I will ensure it reaches the hands of those who can make the best use of it, and that it is not used for the wrong purposes,” Alex vowed.

”The knowledge is now in your head. Do with it what you will.”

”Whether you use it for good or evil is entirely your choice. It no longer has anything to do with me— someone who is already dead and has long since turned to dust,” the Heavenly Venerable replied dismissively.

”Off you go.”

With a casual wave of his hand, a spatial gate opened and engulfed Alex.

”I have played my role to the very end. It is now up to you to decide whether you will shoulder the burden of your generation, just as my companions and I once shouldered ours.”

”Do not make that decision lightly.”

Just before he was teleported out of the trial space, the Heavenly Venerable’s final advice —or perhaps warning— echoed in Alex’s ears.

’I won’t,’ Alex replied inwardly as he was transported away.

Moments later, he found himself standing once again before the Physique Stele.

Standing beside the stele was the mysterious old man who guarded the Stele Mountain.

Alex glanced around but did not see any of his companions.

”You have been inside the trial for quite some time now. The others have already set off to find things to occupy themselves with,” the mysterious old man explained.

”That’s good,” Alex nodded.

”Indeed,” the old man replied with a nod of his own.

”Come. Since you have completed all Seven Trials of the Heaven and the Earth, you are now qualified to attempt the Divergent Trial of the Heavens.”

With a wave of his hand, a previously hidden path suddenly appeared, winding further up the mountain.

He led Alex along the path until they arrived before a final stele— smaller and seemingly less significant than the others.

”The Stele of Heavenly Secrets... your final trial,” the old man said.

”You may begin.”

Alex nodded and stepped forward.

Behind him, the old man looked on solemnly.

’The divergent trial of the Heavens... The darkest trial- the one that will reveal your truest nature.

’You who possesses the strongest potential to become the Legatee of the Heavens and the Earth, let the heavens peer into your heart in the darkest moments.’

Alex sat down before the stele and sent his Spiritual Force into it.

And thus, the final stele trial began.

***