The eccentric doctor never makes a misdiagnosis!

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Besides Sigrid, who was always with Fran in her sword form, Shitia and Detricia were also by Fran's side. As for Sister Heda and Vivian... these two belonged to the Hunters and were currently commanding the Funeral Court's purging forces.

"Ms. Shitia, do you have any understanding of how these living beings are formed?"

At this moment, Sisidia was gently stroking the arm of the living skeleton on the dissection table, feeling the spiritual veins and the distortion of bones and flesh within its body.

"Ah."

After nodding slightly, she shared her judgment.

"Whether noble or not, Heir cannot produce offspring through mating with humans. They can only create degraded composites containing characteristics of both through bio-alchemy... but these are merely crude mixtures, unable even to maintain their own stability."

"Although this living skeleton is human, its Heil characteristics are stable and natural. If there are no accidents, it can even be inherited through blood ties."

Clearly, conventional secret arts, rituals, and even alchemy would be insufficient to achieve the level of research results that the Star Abyss Society has achieved.

It can be inferred from this that the people who listen to the tides must have dabbled in some taboo knowledge related to divinity.

"According to my guess, the reason why these living corpses can integrate the characteristics of Heir almost perfectly should be that they used some kind of flesh and blood technique that was reverse-analyzed from the remains of the Abyss... and the Heir traits obtained from this are in a latent state and need some kind of 'medium' to trigger their activation."

Detrick, standing to the side, swallowed hard, her throat trembling slightly, with a hint of worry in her eyes.

Although she had begun to get used to being taken to dangerous places by Ms. Vivian, this was the Tide Listener's top-secret laboratory.

Even for the High Priest Ravenfeather, the Star Abyss Society was an indisputable death zone.

Human specimens, monstrous creatures from the abyss soaked in unknown agents, failed or successful experimental subjects, and the lingering, pungent smell of flesh in the air... Compared to a so-called "research facility," this place is more like a torture chamber used to torment criminals.

"Flesh and blood techniques derived from the remains of fallen gods..."

Fran lightly touched his lower lip, as if deep in thought.

Based on her current observations and understanding of the Star Abyss Society, the Listening Tide people's depth of study in the field of esoteric rituals is significantly lower than that of the White Cup Order.

The reason they were able to so harmoniously integrate the biological characteristics of Hail into human genetic information was probably due to some kind of forbidden knowledge contained in the corpses of Yuanjing.

"Fine, since we have living test subjects right now, let's take them apart and see what's going on."

As they spoke, Fran II had already taken out the Spirit Bone Willow Leaf Knife from Sui Jiu's medicine box and began dissecting the four living corpses naturally and smoothly. The three of them had ventured deep into the most secret heart of the Star Abyss Society, but they didn't need to worry about being discovered by the Listening Tide People for the time being.

They are currently overwhelmed by the sudden appearance of the Funeral Home's purge forces and are probably urgently redeploying manpower, making it difficult to maintain patrols of the internal laboratories.

The razor-sharp blade, sharp enough to reflect a person's image, swiftly and precisely sliced ​​through the living skeleton's skin, pierced its body walls, removed the bone plates, and completely exposed its internal organs. The entire process was so effortless it was almost effortless, completed in mere breaths.

Looking at the scene before her, Detricka pursed her lips, feeling a strange dryness in her throat.

Although the young raider had witnessed far too many bloody and cruel acts in the dark alleys of Foy Harbor, the way Ms. Vivian dissected the corpse still sent a chill down her spine.

Exquisite, beautiful, and delicate, each drop of the blade is like the sculpting of a work of art.

Detrica's instincts trembled at the sight of the bloodshed, but her nature as a six-eyed raven snatcher gave her a feeling of excitement, even a daze, and intoxication.

After a thorough examination, both inside and out, her calm, amber eyes brightened with pleasure, and a slight smile curved her lips. This meant she had obtained one of the answers she had been hoping for.

After sewing the dissected remains back together with a curved needle, she slowly removed her blood-stained rubber gloves, revealing a satisfied expression.

"interesting."

"Um, Ms. Vivian, did you find anything?"

Detrica asked the question cautiously.

"Indeed."

Fran nodded slightly, acknowledging this.

"I had some suspicions about the biotechnology used by the Star Abyss Society, and the internal structure of this living corpse confirms them. Hmm... where should I begin to explain?"

She tilted her head slightly, seemingly troubled by the situation. But looking at Shisitia and Detricka, whose eyes held a certain expectation, the doctor finally decided to explain in detail from the beginning, like a medical professor addressing a young student.

"In fact, humans and the Heirs share some similarities in terms of 'origins'."

"In the Dust Order Era or even earlier, the ancestors of humankind may have also come from the Abyss. During the embryonic stage, humans develop a 'gill arch' structure similar to that of fish, located near the vestibular sinus below the ear. Of course, this feature gradually disappears during development and transforms into physiological structures such as the jaw, lips, and cheeks."

"As an ancient deity born from the deepest darkness, the spirit contained in the corpse of the Abyss Well is enough to connect and blend some biological characteristics of humans and Heir based on this shallow origin in the sea... to create a genetically stable 'new species'."

At this point, Fran let out a soft sigh of relief.

"Of course, since He was already a dead corpse from the very beginning of the Listening Tide people's faith, this 'fusion' must have some undeniable flaws, the most obvious of which is the 'living corpse' of the living."

-

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soup!

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Chapter 188 Banyan Tree, Living Corpse, Old Friend

"The origin of humankind..."

Upon hearing Fran's words, even Xitia, a noblewoman of Heil, frowned slightly and fell into deep thought.

She has existed for over a thousand years, but a thousand years is but a fleeting moment compared to the millions of years of the "origin" question, far too insignificant and brief. Even the ancient Heil Manuscripts cannot trace such a long period of time.

Detrika, however, was quite concerned about certain things that Ms. Vivian said.

Do humans develop gill arches similar to those of fish during the embryonic stage? In other words, could we and marine life share a common origin? Such a bold hypothesis, yet her demeanor and tone were so confident and composed, as if stating a fact…

If such remarks were made in public, they would likely be considered absurd and heretical.

As for why Ms. Vivian knew about the development of human embryos… Detrick didn’t want to know, and tacitly refrained from asking. She feared the answer would be beyond her comprehension.

"What I find particularly interesting is that the process of becoming a living corpse in these humans who were used as experimental subjects is reversible. In other words, with certain post-treatment, even these highly 'living corpse' individuals can still be restored."

As Bie spoke, Fran blinked her eyes lightly.

Although she didn't mind giving a live demonstration, both drug preparation and surgical preparation would take a lot of time, and it seemed somewhat inappropriate at the moment.

4. "Even with such severe distortion, can it be restored?"

As she gazed at the grotesque living corpse that had been disassembled and sewn back together on the dissection table, Detrica's eyes twitched slightly.

She had no doubt about the truth of what Ms. Vivian said, but it was indeed quite horrifying. In this plunderer's common sense, humans who had turned into living corpses were probably no different from evil offspring, both having completely degenerated into irredeemable and pathetic filth.

"It is theoretically feasible."

Deflam nodded slightly, confirming this.

"However, there are more pressing matters now... Now that we're inside the Star Abyss Society, it would be best to try to locate the remains of the Abyss Well and Melvis first. After all, that's where Gormouth's 'ailment' lies."

-

At this very moment, the Funeral Court's purging forces, along with the Exterminators, broke through the Star Abyss Society's outer defenses and swept into the research institute's inner corridors with almost overwhelming force.

Gunshots rang out, blades flashed erratically, footsteps were chaotic and noisy, and cries of grief were intermittent.

Blood plasma, minced meat, and scattered metal shrapnel clanged together.

The hunters, clad in black leather robes, dispersed into several tactical squads and marched rapidly in silence.

Anyone who dares to stand in their way will be met with a fierce barrage of secret techniques and firearms the moment they reveal themselves.

"The level of resistance is around level three, the patrol density is much lower than expected, and the team's advance speed exceeds the original plan by one-third."

Haida was at the forefront of the mopping-up operation, observing and assessing the situation on the ground and the casualties on both sides.

The nun had initially prepared for a direct assault, but Dr. Fran used the Fog of the Door to bypass the outer defenses and deploy the entire purge force inside the Star Abyss Academy's research facility. As a result, the Listeners were dragged into indoor combat almost without warning.

Furthermore, the area where the two sides exchanged fire was within their most prized research area.

Judging from the current situation, it's likely that the remaining forces of the Star Abyss Society capable of resistance will be completely crushed within three hours. However, the Tidecallers, who have occupied Gormouth for a millennium, shouldn't be so easily defeated…

They likely still have other contingency plans in reserve, and we must not become complacent because of the smooth progress in the short term.

Currently, Haida is temporarily in charge of the cleanup force, so she must be responsible for the lives of every hunter and even every exterminator. Having already entered the blood and fire of war, casualties are inevitable, but they must not be squandered recklessly.

Soldiers' lives are a quantifiable currency, bargaining chip, or resource. As a commander, all you can do is use their value efficiently, minimize losses, and maximize gains.

This means "making the best use of resources".

Such a description may seem somewhat harsh, but the laws of war never change because of moral criticism.

At this moment, Haida was constantly analyzing the regional situation and planning the deployment of battlefield personnel. Every now and then, her instructions would ring out through the communication device. This nun was quite adept at this, but compared to taking on this role... she actually preferred to personally engage the enemy on the front lines.

"It seems like this is the first time since the chaos in the North that we've ventured deep into the heart of a foreign land to carry out a purge. The intense gunfire and the strong smell of blood... it's something to reminisce about."

Hei Rong sighed with a smile, his words and expression conveying a palpable sense of satisfaction.

Hunters who rise to the rank of supervisor at the Funeral Court are mostly tainted with a deep-seated, intense obsession. Environments that would send shivers down the spines of ordinary people, instilling a profound fear in them, feel like a return to their cherished homeland.

Steel, bloodshed, fire—everything was so sweet and delightful.

"boom!"

As Black Banyan pulled the trigger of his shotgun, a Tide Listener, who was chanting prayers in the shadows, was struck squarely in the head by a steel-core bullet. A nauseating, thick, reddish-white slurry exploded, scattering in all directions as sticky liquid.

"Is this all the stuff they have? Have all the high priests of the Star Abyss Society gone on family outings?"

Before he could finish speaking, Bartley's reminder suddenly rang out from the side.

"Be careful! 856〉]si√｀【贰jiAO流〔群:”

Unbeknownst to them, a layer of barely perceptible fleshy tentacles had quietly taken root beneath the Black Banyan's feet.

At this moment, they suddenly came to life under the infusion of spirituality, dancing wildly and enveloping the young funeral director, leaving only his head above his neck and some of his limbs exposed.

The second type of mid-level secret technique is called "Soul-Sucking Sunflower," and the practitioner is extremely skilled in using the ritual.

Bartley immediately drew his chainsaw sword, "Sharktooth," seemingly intending to sever the writhing Spirit-Sucking Sunflowers and help Black Banyan escape. However, he did not act immediately, but instead cautiously observed his surroundings.

At this moment, Hei Rong also made a tactical gesture, indicating that there was no need to worry about him.

Rather than recklessly attempting a rescue, the hunters preferred to prioritize pinpointing the hidden caster. Besides, if that old geezer Blackie could be taken down by a second-class secret technique, then he'd have wasted his life...

Suddenly, a stone spear inscribed with unknown prayers struck Black Banyan directly on the forehead; it seemed to be some kind of relic imbued with spiritual energy. It was tough, sharp, and appeared to possess a degree of controllability.

The attack completely shattered Black Banyan's forehead bone, revealing a hideous gap.

"At the three o'clock position, hidden under the medicine station."

Judging by the trajectory of the javelin, Bartley instantly pinpointed the attacker's location. A dim, greyish-red flame erupted from his body, and he leaped towards the enemy's hiding place like a black panther.

"Damn it, this hunter really didn't do anything to rescue his comrades from beginning to end... What 'paranoid'? They're a bunch of heartless war lunatics!"

The Listener, who was wielding the [Soul-Sucking Sunflower], was startled by Bartley's rapid approach and cursed through gritted teeth. He had indeed considered the possibility that another hunter might abandon his comrade, but he had not expected the fellow to be so decisive.

Furthermore, the hunter's decision was made and completed in the blink of an eye. Upon realizing that his teammate Si was restrained, he seemed to have already decided to use him as "bait" to lure him into making a move.

"Instruction: Recall."

Despite the haste, the Listener calmly raised his hand, intending to be the first to return the relic, the javelin, to his own hands.

Just then, Hei Rong's arm, which had been hanging down, suddenly rose and gripped the rock spear that had shattered his head. Although his wrist was pale and slender, like that of a child of ten years old, it was extremely strong.

The spear tried several times to break free, but struggled and failed to escape its control.

"The pain sensation has been weakened... I thought that having my brain crushed would be very painful, much more painful than being shot through the shoulder in Loretown."

Black Banyan let out a long sigh, revealing the scar on his forehead.

The sharp point of the spear pierced his skull, but what was revealed was not blood and phlegm, but rapidly spreading ancient banyan branches. Emerald green shoots and milky white tendrils intertwined, like fabric being sewn together, and within moments the gap was filled.

Meanwhile, the [Soul-Sucking Sunflowers] that had been wrapped around the black banyan tree had quietly withered and fallen off like dried corpses.

"It seems that these little marine creatures' tricks to steal life are far inferior to the 'Death Banyan'."

At the same time, Bartley had arrived before the Tide Listener, his chainsaw whirring as it spun rapidly, cleaving the man in two with a single strike from top to bottom. Bone fragments flew as the body slid limply to either side.

"To be honest, I was really startled when I saw your skull being blown off. I thought to myself, 'You didn't use this as bait to get yourself killed, did you? That would be a really lowly death. I'll definitely laugh at you when I read your eulogy at your funeral.'"

Having dealt with the threat of the nine enemies before him, Bartley II looked at Black Banyan III with slight surprise.

Although he knew that the Black Banyan had been corrupted by his own relic, the Banyan of Death, to the point that it had become a kind of living relic, the fact that its head could be restored so easily after being shattered was truly horrifying.

"Tch, don't worry, I'll be the one reading your eulogy."

Hei Rong curled his lip and then made a sarcastic remark.

In fact, he did not expect that the Tide Listener would directly use the relic to launch an attack. Although his body had undergone some kind of mutation due to the massive life force of the Banyan Tree of Death, the shock to his head still made him feel dizzy for a moment.

As the interior of the Star Abyss Academy's research institute continued to fall, the Listeners' counterattacks grew increasingly hysterical. Finally, at a certain moment, the metallic clang of countless shackles being unlocked echoed through the corridors.

"Ho..."

They no longer cared about the loss of experimental subjects and began to saturate various areas with living remains.

Back at the deepest part of the research facility, Franco's amber eyes flickered slightly, as if he had already sensed the restless atmosphere permeating the air.