area51novel Chapter 104. The Temptation of Immortality Factors
Chapter 104. The Temptation of Immortality Factors
Chapter 104. The Temptation of Immortality Factors
In the Stark Tower laboratory, Stark observes something under a microscope, occasionally letting out sounds of doubt and amazement.
"Oh, incredible. Compared to humans, this Thor truly deserves to be called a god."
"Whether it's cell regeneration speed, metabolic efficiency, or energy resistance and conversion rate, they far surpass humans. It's quite reasonable for them to call themselves gods."
"and-"
Stark quickly walked to another machine and examined the detected gene sequences.
"Furthermore, they are able to conceal and seal certain gene fragments using an energy method that is currently undecipherable by technology."
It conceals its most essential nature, revealing only a facade identical to that of humans.
"This shows that they have a great understanding of humans and manipulate energy in an extremely sophisticated way. It's hard to imagine that in mythology they are described as fighting with cold weapons."
"With this level of energy control, one can become even more powerful through the fusion of divine power and technology."
Ji Yuan, who was listening to Stark speak, smiled and said, "They are only keen on close combat. In fact, Asgard uses a high technology that is completely different from Earth's technology. It is a fusion of divine power and technology, and the mutual promotion of magic and technology. It is not the cold weapons that look like."
Stark suddenly understood; this made perfect sense. He had said that such precise control over energy would greatly advance technology; it turned out to be a technological advancement in another direction.
Come to think of it, my current tech tree is gradually going a bit off track, combining a mystical approach with a technological one, much like Asgardian technology.
The energy of light is truly amazing. Some theoretical bottlenecks can miraculously be resolved under the influence of the energy of light. It can only be said that it is the power of the gods, which is simply unreasonable.
"By the way, why did you ask me to study this blood? You don't seem interested in genetic technology," Stark said curiously, setting the blood sample aside.
Ji Yuan smiled mysteriously, "Do you remember our plan to eliminate Hydra?"
Stark nodded: "Remember, upload all Hydra information to the network. We'll take out the most powerful group within the country, and locate and eliminate the rest through their own Insight program."
"But what does this have to do with the arrival of this alien? They're actually delaying the operation. To be honest, I was ready to send out my super robot to blow their heads off."
"A bunch of parasites that harm human development and hinder the progress of human civilization, they are disgusting."
After saying that, Stark showed an expression of extreme disgust.
Ji Yuan narrowed his eyes: "As the saying goes, you have to cast a long line to catch a big fish. Since you've put in so much effort, wouldn't it be a waste to only catch one big fish?"
"Hydra is just the biggest one in the Shadow World. Besides it, there are other slightly smaller big fish. Since we're going to do it, let's catch them all together to avoid trouble later."
"Those who didn't take the bait will slowly die in the shadow of shrinkage."
"You mean to use Thor as bait, no, you mean his blood and genes as bait." Stark instantly understood what he meant.
This alien god-like super gene is a deadly poison to those forces that want to rule the world and research super soldiers.
Even if they knew it was a trap, they would still send out most of their forces to try and seize it. What's more, they didn't know it was a trap, and all of this was done in secret.
But Stark's mind raced, and he realized something was amiss. "But what's so attractive about Thor's blood now? The genetic fragments have been obscured; they can't decipher them at all."
"Hey, don't be in such a hurry." Ji Yuan revealed a mysterious smile. "What do you think Hydra and similar entities desire most?"
"Power? Strength? Conquering everything?" Stark uttered a few words in bewilderment.
"No," Ji Yuan shook his head, "It's immortality."
"Wouldn't it be more painful to have the power to rule everything, but not enough life to experience it?"
"Immortality?" Stark murmured the word slowly. Indeed, throughout history, countless people have explored the mysteries of immortality, and many have been willing to pay any price for it.
If this Thor's blood contained the gene for immortality, it would indeed have an unimaginable allure.
Are Asgardians long-lived?
Stark asked, noting that he couldn't see anything related to longevity in the genes he had seen.
Ji Yuan smiled and said something that shocked Stark: "You should know that the average lifespan of Asgardians is five thousand years. Do you think they live long lives?"
"Oh, shit!" Stark's expression brightened, and he couldn't help but swear.
Five thousand years old—what does that even mean? An ordinary Asgardian could witness the rise and fall of human history. Compared to that, humans are far inferior.
"Is that hidden gene the gene for longevity?"
If there were no side effects, Stark would also like to extend his and Pepper's lifespan by just a little bit.
"There is no such thing as an immortality gene. That hidden gene is actually a manifestation of sealed divine power. Asgards are long-lived because their cells are similar to an energy structure."
Ji Yuan poured cold water on Stark's enthusiasm.
"If a balance is achieved between cells and energy, theoretically they could live forever."
"Hiss~" Stark gasped instead, which meant that the Asgardians were actually a kind of half-energy life form, no wonder they were so powerful.
However, he was not disappointed that he did not have the gene for immortality. After all, the meaning of life lies in breadth rather than length, at least that's what he thought.
"Then how will you attract them? Powerful genes alone are probably not enough to make them mobilize in full force."
Ji Yuan smiled without saying a word, and pointed to the blood sample: "You extract the genes from it, and I will make genuine changes to it, and it will become a true longevity gene, oh no, it should be called an immortality factor."
"And then?" Ji Yuan raised an eyebrow at Stark, giving him a knowing look.
"Oh—" Starkla drawled, almost forgetting how high the doctor's magical skills were; deceiving people was a piece of cake for him.
"Wait a minute? You said you can make real changes? The kind that are truly effective?" He found the key point.
"What, you think I, a messenger of a god, can't even do this much?"
"Well, no, it's just that I feel your magic is a bit—how should I put it, a bit beyond common sense?"
Stark had always had a feeling that Ji Yuan's variety of magic was absurd, as if it didn't depend on what magic he could cast, but rather on what magic he wanted to use.
If I had to describe it in four words, it would be more like a superpower that makes your wishes come true.
"What?" Ji Yuan looked at Stark mischievously. "You want immortality, huh? If you please me, I can let you live until the universe is destroyed."
The thought of how he had to fawn over everyone except Pepper sent shivers down Stark's spine. He said arrogantly, "Immortality would only diminish my wisdom. Creating infinite greatness within a finite time is the meaning of my existence."
Ji Yuan shrugged. In fact, every time Stark wore Jarvis, the amplification of light energy meant that his lifespan had already exceeded the limits of humanity.
"Whether they live forever or not is not important. Right now, let's cooperate with Steve, release the news and some immortality factors, and let them come out on their own."
The two men smiled at each other, much like two old fishermen.
Soon, a shocking message spread within those capable organizations.
The alien prince's race has an extremely long lifespan, averaging five thousand years, and it is rumored that the prince's blood contains an immortality factor that can grant immortality.
Of course, it's just a video leaked from S.H.I.E.L.D., which doesn't mean much.
Who knows if that alien prince was colluding with S.H.I.E.L.D. to commit fraud, just to lure these people out?
However, some people don't think that way, and those are naturally the Hydra.
In a dimly lit room, Alexander Pierce watched the video recording on the device with a strange expression, seemingly lost in thought.
Thor's words in the video were not fabricated, and the person asking the questions was one of their own, so there was no possibility of fabrication.
"But-""
He glanced at his waiting subordinates: "Did they detect the immortality factor in Thor's blood sample?"
The subordinate bowed respectfully and said, "Sir, a segment of the gene in that blood sample has been obscured by a technology far beyond our current capabilities."
We cannot be certain whether that is the immortality factor.
"Then who exactly spread the rumor that the prince's blood can be used to extract immortality factors?" Pierce's face darkened, suspecting that someone was deliberately sabotaging them.
It's important to understand that the base in New Mexico is mostly staffed by our own people, especially our valuable researchers. An attack on it could result in heavy casualties.
It's uncertain whether Captain America alone can protect them; we'd need to send some super soldiers, but that would not only expose our strength but also raise the question of whether it's a trap.
But who would deliberately target S.H.I.E.L.D.?
Just as the subordinate was wondering what to say, a message popped up on the device in front of Pierce.
The message was completely destroyed after only ten seconds, but a few lines of text naturally wouldn't last long.
The moment Pierce saw the words, his pupils dilated instantly, and the corners of his mouth turned up in a wild grin.
He sighed inwardly, "So that's how it is. I didn't expect that the timing of my blood draw was wrong, and that even our Captain America had ulterior motives."
He gave Stark a sample of blood, unbelievable, but—did he sense something?
Pierce looked at his subordinates and said seriously, "Send all available genetic warriors to New Mexico. We're not the only ones who know this news there. Disguise the battle as a free-for-all between several factions, just like before."
His subordinates responded and withdrew.
Loud, unrestrained laughter echoed from inside the room.