https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-651-The-Base-Researcher-with-the-Wrong-Number/12852522/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-653-The-Pocket-Watch-Embedded-in-Flesh/12852542/
Chapter 652: Omega-Class Aberration · Taotie
Chapter 652: Omega-Class Aberration · Taotie
The slightly distorted pocket watch gradually calmed down, and they arrived two months in the past. From a distance, they could see a large number of massive and terrifying synthetic beasts fiercely attacking a huge sand dune. In addition, the synthetic beasts created by the biological template were fading away into spots.
Moreover, it wasn't just one that was disappearing; it was an entire series.
"Omega-Class Aberration · Taotie!" Sun Zhen immediately recognized the massive dune. It housed the entity known as Taotie.
Its name sounded fierce, but in reality, it was an abnormal human.
"This explains everything. The concepts of those corpses were eaten by Taotie, which can be considered a form of burial," Sun Zhen said, his tone somewhat mixed.
Despite its fierce-sounding name, Taotie was actually an aberration allied with their World Defenders organization. Its actions were aimed at preventing the synthetic beasts created by the biological template from spreading.
However, while Taotie, as its name suggests, could eat anything, it could also overeat, especially when consuming the concepts of synthetic beasts rather than the beasts themselves. Directly eating the concept of synthetic beasts to prevent the biological template from creating more was too difficult and would likely kill Taotie.
Therefore, the only option was to use a strategic approach, which is why the synthetic beasts that Qin Muye and Sun Zhen saw later were numerous but of very few types.
This was mainly because the biological template's many synthetic beast models had been consumed by Taotie, leaving only a few remaining.
"Let's go and meet Taotie," Sun Zhen said, leading Qin Muye toward the massive dune after the biological template had been handled.
Currently, the dune was quite safe. There was no need to worry about Taotie eating them. Generally, Taotie would not eat unless given an order. Clearly, a researcher from the base had asked Taotie to help deal with the biological template, but the attempt ultimately failed.
Taotie's combat ability could not be described as low; it could be said to be nonexistent. Apart from eating, it had few other abilities.
On the way, Sun Zhen briefly introduced Taotie's situation to Qin Muye. While he didn't know the specific details, he had a general idea.
Due to Taotie's special nature, it was not placed in the Dragon Vein but in the real world.
Sun Zhen hadn't expected to find Taotie in this base. If his base had reacted faster, he could have gained a strong ally when establishing the shelter. However, it was also possible that Taotie might have been killed directly by the Cloud Whale.
The two entered the massive dune, which turned out to be a large anomalous space. The environment wasn't pleasant, resembling a cave with numerous sharp and large stalactites and stalagmites regularly distributed around, forming a cage-like circular area.
Taotie was surprised to see Sun Zhen and Qin Muye. It didn't recognize Sun Zhen but recognized the Special Task Force uniform he was wearing.
When Qin Muye first saw Taotie, he found it somewhat strange. It looked like a large canine, with eyes on its head and two conical, bow-shaped horns. Its snout was long and restrained, covered in fluffy, snow-white fur. At first, he thought it was a fox-like creature, but upon closer inspection, he noticed red, leaf-like spots resembling eyes on its forelegs and armpits.
"Did you contain the biological template?" Taotie naturally knew because it had eaten to no avail. This indicated that all data from the biological template had been cleared, meaning the various synthetic beast models had disappeared due to the loss of the biological template's database.
"Yes, it has been successfully contained. I belong to the—" Sun Zhen began to introduce himself and then continued, "Omega-Class Aberration · Taotie, I want to know what exactly happened here?"
"The situation is a bit complicated. I was always inside the base, but the Dragon Vein had issues, which you must have seen. Some functions were inoperable, and the biological template was shaken loose during the Dragon Vein's tremors, causing various containment failures."
"What exactly happened?"
The bone restraints on Taotie's body, made from its mother's blood and bones, seemed to contract due to its agitated state.
To say Taotie was a pitiable being: the chains restraining its hands and feet were made from its mother's blood and bones, the restraints on its mouth were made from its father's bones and teeth, and the cave confining it was built from the flesh of the one it loved.
This was also what Sun Zhen had mentioned. Otherwise, Qin Muye wouldn't have known. In his eyes, Taotie was like a smaller version of the Original Dragon, one being a guardian deity created by the nation, and the other a devouring monster built by a family.
Taotie had existed for a long time. During his time of hardship, it was still the tribal era, and the Human Emperor had not yet appeared.
Before being contained by the World Defenders organization, he was used as a tool by ambitious individuals to devour the poverty, illness, or decline of a nation, and the thoughts of people—things that were invisible.
It was only later, when the World Defenders organization, adhering to a policy of both strength and gentleness, implemented a lenient plan that Taotie was able to live a better life.
For Taotie, the World Defenders organization was his home, which is why he fought so fiercely against the biological template. He didn't just fight for a day or two; it was nearly a month before the base fell, and he left, likely taking the cave to another World Defenders base.
After all, he truly couldn't withstand the endless formation of synthetic beast models by the biological template. If the base hadn't fallen, he could have held on, but with the base destroyed and the people dead, he had no reason to persist.
"Unclear, but the base I'm from should still be fine. If you head north, you should be able to find it." Sun Zhen knew little, as frontline combat personnel, despite their high salaries and status, were not privy to much information. They were either training or on duty, so they generally knew little about anomalous entities or certain secrets.
He knew little not because the World Defenders organization was hiding things from him, but because he didn't have the time to gain a more comprehensive understanding. He only knew the basics.
For example, what he knew about Taotie was enough.
"Do you think you can eat the clan extermination mark left by the Cloud Whale?" Sun Zhen asked.
Upon realizing it was Taotie, he had this idea. It was an unexpected bonus. If it were another anomalous entity, there would have been no way to handle it.
But Taotie was different. He could eat not only tangible objects but also intangible ones.
"You exterminated the Cloud Whale clan, which is wrong. Why didn't you suffer any backlash?" Taotie, though unable to show expressions, was clearly shocked.
"It wasn't a full extermination. It was just a small accident. The Cloud Whale might still have one left," Sun Zhen said, somewhat helplessly.
Hearing this, Taotie was speechless. One left was no different from total extermination.
However, Taotie didn't say much more. The reason was simple: it involved relationships. He and the World Defenders organization were a family, and he wasn't close to the Cloud Whale. While the death of the Cloud Whale shocked him, he knew that in most cases, the Special Task Force wouldn't use lethal force unless necessary.
So, without a doubt, the mistake wasn't on their side but on the Cloud Whale's.
"No problem, but I will report this to the supervisor. You should remember to file a report," Taotie said, his bone collar slightly expanding. He opened and closed his mouth, seemingly swallowing something.
"Alright, let's go back. We'll pick up the people from the base and leave together."
After handling the matter, Taotie naturally wanted to evacuate, as it was too dangerous. However, he appreciated that someone had come to rescue them, even if there were only two. He guessed that something might have happened on their way or during the containment of the biological template.
So, he didn't plan to ask questions but intended to return with them.
"We have other tasks. You should go back first," Sun Zhen naturally refused. Why return to the base? They had to return to the original location and wait for the time-rewinding pocket watch to cool down before going back to the past.
There was only one month left. They needed to go back half a month to prevent everything from happening. Another half a month was for safety, otherwise, solving the issue on the same day it happened would be impossible.
(End of Chapter)
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