2011-5-13 1:00 PM
——
On the Ubidaya Snow Mountain Road, Lu Shangjin, clad in snow camouflage, wiped down the Mosin-Nagant sniper rifle cradled in his arms from behind a high-ground cover. The rifle, painted in matching snow camouflage, blended seamlessly with the mottled snow and rocks.
He tapped his earpiece. “Yanyan.”
From the earpiece came the faint sounds of climbing. Yan Yi responded, “I’m here.”
Lu Shangjin sent the data of several criminals, transmitted to his watch, to Yan Yi. “One of them is an M2-differentiated (Medium 2, second-stage differentiation) electric eel alpha. Most of the wolf-pack alphas are J1-differentiated (Junior 1, first-stage differentiation). I’ll take care of the electric eel.”
Alpha and omega gland cells have a chance to awaken under certain pheromone stimuli. Once awakened, genes express traits of animals, plants, insects, or other life forms. Further stimulation promotes cellular differentiation, expressing more abilities.
Lu Shangjin’s gland type is Peregrine Falcon M2 (second-stage differentiated), granting the abilities “Extreme Vision” at J1 and “Target Tracking” at M2.
The electric eel’s J1 differentiation gives “Absolute Insulation,” and M2 provides “High-Voltage Discharge.”
Regardless of alpha or omega, the chance for J1 differentiation is 10%, and M2 is only 1%. For omegas, differentiation depends on alpha pheromone stimulation, making J1 extremely rare. Differentiated omegas are gentle, smaller, and inherently responsible for reproduction, easily influenced by alphas. As such, top-tier omegas are scarce.
Alphas are more common; awakened traits often express as predatory birds, beasts, or poisonous plants, with strong offensive capability and large, sturdy physiques—key contributors in many fields.
“A vehicle’s coming,” came Yan Yi’s calm voice.
“The professor’s in the car. Get her out, then we leave. Be careful.” Lu Shangjin steadied the sniper rifle, spotting a tall, handsome figure in white snow in the distance.
Two GTRs roared up the road, engines dragging clouds of snow, accelerating from 0–100 km/h in 2.7 seconds. Hitting a moving target at that speed required extreme focus.
The scent of daffodils wafted through the air. Lu Shangjin released M2 differentiated pheromones, activating “Target Tracking.”
The sniper’s crosshairs clung to the electric eel alpha in the passenger seat. The rifle subtly adjusted for the car’s high-speed trajectory, maintaining perfect accuracy.
Suddenly, a snow-white figure appeared in the road: a lop-eared rabbit omega in white camouflage armor, wielding dual high-rate-of-fire portable UZIs. Light gray hair whipped in the snowy wind, the high-altitude sun glinting off him like a finely sculpted Roman Valkyrie—violent yet exquisite.
Yan Yi flipped the UZIs back into his holsters as the GTRs reached him, pressing against the hood.
The screech of braking nearly dislodged snow from the mountaintop. Two wolf alphas were thrown from the car windows.
The vehicles, top-speed GTRs, were stopped by a single small rabbit.
Yan Yi gently lifted a beta female professor who had fallen unconscious from the first crash, holding her in one arm.
The second GTR crashed down, blood spilling from its windows. Yan Yi paused and glanced back.
The electric eel alpha passenger leveled an AK47 at him, raising an eyebrow. “Omega? Put the gun down.”
About ten more wolf alphas surrounded him, rifles aimed.
Yan Yi set the professor down, tossing his UZIs to the floor and kicking them toward the electric eel alpha.
The alpha deliberately closed the distance—if he had teammates, they would hesitate to shoot for fear of hitting him. The overwhelming alpha pheromones pressed down, unlike normal J1-stage alphas; a fragile rabbit omega could not withstand this. He should be trembling, ready to collapse at a touch, begging for mercy.
Yan Yi remained unmoved. Opening his neck-protection plate, a soft, sweet caramel scent spread. An omega releasing suppressive pheromones—amusing.
The J1 wolf alpha behind paled, tail tucked, stepping back, amazed to see the trapped small rabbit in the center.
The electric eel alpha fired without hesitation. Years surviving at the edge of danger had sharpened his instincts: if he didn’t shoot now, there would be no second chance.
But Yan Yi’s traits were lop-eared rabbit A3—a top-tier, third-stage differentiated omega.
Bullets exploded from multiple rifles, impacting a single point. The crashed GTR’s fuel tank ignited, thick smoke and flying snow reduced visibility to zero.
For a moment, the electric eel felt a chill behind him.
Yan Yi stood unharmed, holding the unconscious professor, appearing behind the alpha. He smiled softly. “Unauthorized abduction of a base researcher, serious violation of the Joint Biosecurity Act. Lieutenant Yan Yi of the Pacific Biological Differentiation Base, at your service.”
Lop-eared rabbit abilities:
- J1: High-Speed Jumping
- M2: Fluid Morphing
- A3: Teleportation
Before finishing, Yan Yi pressed the UZI against the electric eel’s waist and fired.
Blood erupted from the alpha, who instinctively resisted, pouring all his energy into killing the dangerous rabbit omega, high-voltage electricity bursting from him. A single gunshot, sparks flying.
Lu Shangjin fired his Mosin-Nagant, stepping down from the rocks to Yan Yi’s side.
The electric eel collapsed, a burnt bullet hole on his forehead.
Yan Yi stood frozen, left arm scorched slightly by residual electricity.
Lu Shangjin hurried over, grasping Yan Yi’s wrist, pulling him close, heart pounding, pressing against the burn. “Does it hurt? There’s medicine in the car.”
“Why couldn’t you dodge?” Lu Shangjin asked, tense.
Yan Yi sighed, relaxed. “His pheromones were highly compatible with mine—probably over 90%. Like a web, it bound me, I couldn’t move.”
Lu Shangjin’s expression darkened.
Supporting his injured arm, Yan Yi lifted his face and kissed Lu Shangjin’s lips. “I won’t be swayed. I love you, Jin-ge.”
They returned with the unconscious professor. Before leaving, Lu Shangjin used the UZI on the electric eel’s corpse, hitting the neck gland, half the rounds striking the target.
At twenty, Lu Shangjin seemed incredibly cool, even more captivating than the high compatibility itself.
Yan Yi, like a playful toy rabbit, bounced close to Lu Shangjin, returning to clean up and soak in a hot shower, then nestling in his arms until dawn.
He believed he could love him forever, immune to temptation.
On his ring finger, he had tattooed “everlasting love” in tiny English letters, hidden beneath his wedding band—a personal secret, a token of faith and discipline.
——
The dimly lit ICU had a single bedside lamp.
Yan Yi touched the still-sore gland, noticing the gauze covering it. He opened his eyes, the overhead lights off, the air thick with disinfectant.
Amid the smell was a familiar scent—Lu Shangjin’s.
He sniffed, confirming it, delighted.
Later, touching his gland, he felt nothing. Perhaps the high-compatibility drug didn’t exist—he’d been foolish again.
The hospital door opened quietly, Lu Shangjin standing there, their eyes meeting.
“Jin… sir.” Yan Yi hesitated, reflexively picking a rose from the daily flower vase, intending to offer it.
Lu Shangjin placed a lunchbox on the bedside table. “The assistant bought it.”
Yan Yi, still pale, carefully picked it up: a bowl of shrimp-and-pork dumplings, steaming and aromatic.
Grateful, he ate slowly, savoring each bite. He preferred shepherd’s purse or carrot fillings, but anything made by Lu Shangjin was perfect.
Gradually, tears fell into the soup.
Lu Shangjin sat beside him, stroking his hair.
Yan Yi nestled into his arms, holding him tightly, sniffling. “I think the medicine worked. Have the lab results come back? Are we more compatible today…?”
“It’s fine.” Lu Shangjin released calming pheromones, stroking his hair. “Don’t experiment with random drugs. The dosage wasn’t fatal. I found a gland type with 97% compatibility—recently tested. If you truly want to give up your rare gland, I’ll arrange the surgery.”
Yan Yi’s eyes lit up, ears perking. “I want to! I want to!”
Lu Shangjin frowned slightly. “It’s a cream-scented hamster gland. High compatibility improves success, but failure is still possible.”
Yan Yi buried his head in Lu Shangjin’s chest, pleading: “Please… let me try… even if it fails…”
Even if it failed, Lu Shangjin’s love wouldn’t diminish.
If it succeeded, it would be a leap from hell to heaven.
Lu Shangjin hoped to love Yan Yi again. Despite fading feelings, he still wished to restore their past closeness.
If it failed? Then… forget it.
The surgery was scheduled for next month.