Meanwhile, in Columbia, at the Umbrella Corporation's Ecological Dome.
As a tech company founded only a few months ago, Umbrella Corporation was undeniably deformed yet massive. This ecological dome once built immortal glory as part of Rhine Lab, with countless high-tech products born within. But under a kind of magic, a kind of charm, they abandoned their principles. Handing over this ecological dome with a long history to Umbrella Corporation. Of course, this was not a smooth affair.
The bullet holes and bloodstains in the corridors, the Rhine Lab LOGO torn by giant claws, the abnormally lush vegetation around, and the shattered dome skylight were all sufficient proof that Rhine Lab's conservatives did not resist during this transfer of power. But it was meaningless.
Because they faced immortality. Moreover, immortality that had already shown certain results.
When corpses began to stand up and walk again, anyone with some sense knew that the tide of this era had begun.
"Supervisor Delta, the final protective measures of the ecological dome have been breached; we have completely grasped this Rhine Lab's Nest of Life."
"Well done. How is the capture of Rhine Lab's high-level personnel progressing?"
"Professor Theseus committed suicide in his office; Professor Glenn and Supervisor Mayer decided to join Umbrella Corporation. Supervisor Saria and some project department heads have already fled, with most routes taken being secret routes. In the southern city-states, bio-warfare units have even begun attacking us. Their primordial disease catalysis technology seems to be approaching the mature stage. But some people in the Columbian government departments are still very interested in these plans. They don't simply believe the Lazarus File can solve all problems. So our captures and actions also face many difficulties."
"That's because they are too foolish and short-sighted."
The supervisor, wearing sunglasses and black gloves, stood with hands behind his back at the highest point of the dome, looking indifferently at the forest below.
"The Lazarus File, our light. The dead revive, the living are immortal. This is the panacea that can fundamentally solve all diseases and suffering. We have already shown them the initial power, the key to glimpse behind the curtain. But if they cannot see, then there's nothing more to say."
"You are right, Supervisor."
Looking at the supervisor overlooking the ecological dome, the staff member lowered his head to show his humility, simultaneously concealing his envy.
The Lazarus File, its demonic nature far exceeded what was revealed. With the appearance of artificially compiled immortal cells, countless projects previously impossible were launched one after another. What did this mean? It meant people had begun to preliminarily grasp the most mysterious power of genes.
All project supervisors at Umbrella Corporation had matching virus modification technology; they transformed their own bodies into the perfect forms spoken of in legends. Facing Originium infection, their bodies could even automatically identify abnormal organs, then expel or absorb them. The staff member once had the fortune to witness Supervisor Alpha unleashing her own abilities against the stubbornly resisting Rhine Lab remnants. That was truly a mighty force that seemed to tear heaven and earth apart.
An entire city block was crystallized into salt; all resistors turned into pillars of white salt. The shock, roars, helplessness—all were branded onto their faces. Who could have imagined this was technology displayed in just three months? No one could imagine, so no one could resist this mighty force. It allowed biology to formally break free from its original shackles, becoming a force that could contend for dominance in this world. And Umbrella Corporation was more advanced, more vibrant; how could the decadent and stubborn Rhine Lab resist this Catastrophe-like power? Even those fragmented Columbian cities couldn't. No one could.
Unless… those mysterious Lazarus Files once again produced some unbelievable creations. If it could produce terrifying things like the immortality virus, who dared guarantee that the Titan project preserved within Raythean Industries was a simple product? Construction industrial machinery? How could it be?
"How are the preparations for the Golia facility?"
Glancing at the Rhine Lab LOGO where he once stayed and dedicated his spirit and life, Supervisor Delta turned his head to look at the staff member. The staff member immediately lowered his head and said:
"Final inspections are underway. The fusion of the Originium device and the regeneration virus is very good, and there's also the control device provided by Raythean Industries; very good results have been achieved in the first three experiments. However, we still don't know how Originium and the immortality virus interact. They seem like diametrically opposed enemies, constantly fighting within the body; often, imbalance in deployment leads to large explosions. Professor Springs has issued a warning, combat time should not exceed three hours."
"Three hours? That's acceptable."
Supervisor Delta rubbed his wrist and continued asking:
"Any reaction from Rhine Lab headquarters? What are their views on their defeat?"
"A recorded message from Supervisor Saria has been released. She claims everything Umbrella Corporation does is destruction of the existing order, an unforgivable mortal sin."
"…Hmph, order. If order becomes an obstacle to advancement, then temporary order will also be abandoned. The order of slavery was also order; should we still uphold backward slavery? As a Columbian, forgetting even the most basic things. You really aren't a qualified supervisor, Saria."
But no matter, I will let you watch all of this.
Listening to the staff member's report, Supervisor Delta smiled, tossed a dim ball of flesh down into the dome, then turned and left.
And not long after, the ball of flesh that fell to the ground pulsed like a heart, extending tentacles towards the surroundings. Intense mutation and unstable changes made the ball of flesh instinctively absorb excess organisms and plants within the ecological dome; lacking intelligence, it could only hunt rampantly within the ecological dome.
The ball of flesh would continuously regenerate and reproduce at a mutated speed, devouring the cells of other organisms and plants for energy storage and conversion. Until the rated limit was reached, cell division hit the upper threshold, this strange creature would self-disintegrate and die. And what Umbrella left behind would be a complete biological nutrient pool, a natural petri dish. Even machinery was saved. Nothing could be better than this. And this was just one ordinary application of Umbrella Corporation's technology.
"Advancement leads to victory; it has always been so, ancient and modern."
"…You are correct."
'Advancement leads to victory.'
Glancing at the ball of flesh already crawling and devouring within the dome, the staff member made up his mind and followed Supervisor Delta out of the room.