"Hmm?"
"That… ahem…"
Seeing Jack cast a questioning gaze at him, Armored Gorilla quickly cleared his throat. His previous cold, emotionless mechanical voice was gone—replaced by a deep male voice that was slightly fawning and nervous.
"Apologies, sir! I might have spoken too loudly just now. Actually…" He swallowed. "…I'm here to welcome you. Please don't misunderstand!!"
Jack: ?
Dr. Genus & Clones: ???
Indeed—people laugh when they're speechless.
"Yare, yare…"
Jack chuckled as he lowered his fist. His gaze was teasing.
"So you can speak properly, huh?"
Armored Gorilla responded with a forced smile. "I was just trying to act cool… and my identity is a biologically modified combat robot…"
"Is that so? Then why are you so skilled at this surrender posture?"
"Ah… this…"
Jack looked the embarrassed Armored Gorilla up and down. "So—your brain is completely mechanized as well?"
"Yes." Armored Gorilla lowered his head to show his empty skull. "But because there's an intelligent chip as a replacement, it's actually no different from a normal organism."
Good heavens. They've even achieved mechanical ascension.
Sure enough—anything absurd could happen in this world. Dr. Genus's value as an early-stage villain was still increasing.
"Alright. Since you said you're here to welcome me…"
Jack recalled his thoughts. He raised his hand and patted Armored Gorilla's hard alloy shoulder—leaving a few clear palm prints.
"Having a few more welcome ceremonies like the one just now shouldn't be a problem, should it?"
"Of course, no pro— Huh?"
Armored Gorilla blinked. Seeing that Jack wasn't joking, he immediately broke out in a cold sweat.
House of Evolution – Underground Base Control Room
The atmosphere was so oppressive it was almost solidified.
On the main screen, a clear live feed showed Armored Gorilla bowing and scraping—leading Jack deeper into the base.
*BANG! *
Clone 17 slammed his fist heavily onto the control panel. His handsome face twisted with pain as he clutched his throbbing fist.
"Armored Gorilla! That traitor!!"
A Demon-level combat power—cultivated with vast resources and effort—actually chose to surrender directly?
Beside him, Clone 16 calmly pushed up his glasses. "Is there a possibility that what he did actually bought us more time?"
"…Uh?"
Just then, another clone exclaimed in surprise: "Received an encrypted communication from Armored Gorilla."
As he operated, a dialogue box popped up on the large screen. Armored Gorilla's avatar appeared, followed by a message—
[I have successfully infiltrated the target's side! While preserving our forces, I will seize the opportunity to find the enemy's weakness and await the chance for a counterattack!]
Enduring humiliation… preserving our forces…?
How dare he say that!
Dr. Genus's mouth twitched. This bastard gorilla—does he think putting on such an act can whitewash the fact that he surrendered?
But the next moment, he and many speechless clones suddenly realized that this approach seemed…
…not entirely unreasonable.
On the screen, the House of Evolution's second-strongest combatant—the arrogant lion-shaped Monster Beast King—emerged from the passage with Mosquito Girl.
The two sides met. Exchanged only a couple of words.
Then Beast King roared and unleashed his killing move—Lion Slash: Torrential Rain! His blurred claws instantly unleashed countless dazzling slashes, cutting the sturdy alloy floor into countless fragments.
But the very next second, a simple fist advanced head-on.
And exploded him with a single punch.
Blood and mangled flesh instantly stained the monitor screen. Mosquito Girl—who had been drooling at Jack—froze in mid-air. Silent as a cicada.
"This guy said he could take me down with just a flick of his nail." Jack looked at the dumbfounded Monster girl. His gaze was benevolent. "But it seems he can't."
He tilted his head.
"How about it? Do you want to try too?"
!!!
His calm gaze was like the tip of an iceberg floating on the surface—containing such immense pressure that the poor Mosquito Girl dared not move, fearing that the terrifying fist would land on her in the next second.
According to Dr. Genus's calculations, if she could absorb a large amount of fresh blood, she could awaken an even stronger Bloodthirsty Form. But that was merely a conjecture. And besides…
Looking at Beast King's fresh blood flowing all over the floor, Mosquito Girl felt that even if her strength increased several times—she might not be a match for this terrifying human.
"Um, sir…" Armored Gorilla stepped forward, rubbing his hands. "That guy who died was just acting on his own. My colleague actually has no ill will toward you—just like me!"
He gestured nervously.
"Misunderstanding! It's all a misunderstanding! If you want to pass the time, I can take you to the base's armory. As for her…"
He snapped at Mosquito Girl.
"Hey! What are you standing there for? Hurry up and pour tea for this esteemed adult!"
"Eh… me?"
Mosquito Girl blinked. She saw Jack's mouth curve in a smile—noncommittal. Then she raised her arm, which was connected to sharp claws, and complained: "But look at my body structure—do I look like I can serve tea and water?"
Armored Gorilla's mouth twitched. He lowered his voice.
"There are plenty of spare organs in the cultivation tanks. Can't you just find human limbs cultivated with your genes and replace them?"
Mosquito Girl pouted. Her small face was full of unwillingness.
"Ah, but that would hurt a lot, wouldn't it?"
"Compared to being killed directly?" Armored Gorilla's voice was flat. "It's just a little pain. And it'll be quick."
"Eeek! Ah~~~"
With two tearing sounds, Armored Gorilla forcibly ripped off Mosquito Girl's arms and lower legs and tossed them aside. Mosquito Girl let out an enchanting shriek of pain, then turned her head to glare at him angrily.
"Ow! What—are—you—doing~~"
(ԾдԾ)
"Alright, alright." He waved a hand. "Hurry up and go."
"Got it!"
This simple conversation revealed a glimpse of the House of Evolution's technological prowess.
Replacing organs and limbs would typically be considered major surgery. But in the eyes of the House of Evolution's Monsters? It was a simple repair—something done in minutes.
Watching Mosquito Girl fly away in a flash, Armored Gorilla wiped his sweat helplessly.
Such a simple choice, yet it took so much effort. These combat-type modified humans really are missing a screw in their heads.
After finally coaxing that thick-headed guy away, he remembered Jack beside him. With a jolt, he turned around, his face full of embarrassment.
"I'm truly sorry. You must be laughing at me!"
"It's nothing." Jack curiously tapped Armored Gorilla's alloy armor. A teasing note entered his voice. "I didn't realize you were quite capable, huh?"
"Ah…"