"Arthur."
"Sir, I'm here." The AI's voice shifted seamlessly from feminine to masculine. As it responded, the room's lighting subtly brightened, like eyelids fluttering open.
Hong Fei had already deleted the long-legged avatar. Arthur, the fastest gun in the West, a quick-draw legend—that avatar Big Head designed was better suited for him to use as a puppet. Besides, an AI didn't need a physical body to project its image or existence.
"Arthur," Hong Fei began, "do you have full smart access to the castle?"
"Not yet, but I can make it happen if you need it."
"Do it."
A second later, Arthur replied, "Sir, it's done."
"That was fast."
"Thank you."
Hong Fei paused, then extended his hand, releasing a pulse of Dragon Power. "Can you detect its presence?"
A beam of blue light descended from the ceiling, enveloping his palm. After a ten-second scan, Arthur said, "Yes, it's a very peculiar type of energy."
Hong Fei nodded, slipping on the bracelet Big Head had crafted. "Can you sense its state inside my body?"
Arthur hesitated briefly. "No, but that's likely a hardware limitation. With a complete monitoring pod, we could attempt it."
"Good."
Hong Fei turned toward the balcony, launched into the sky, and soared toward the Sky Base. Moments later, he arrived at Big Head's private laboratory.
This was Hong Fei's first time stepping into Big Head's workspace, and the sight left him with more than a few surprises.
Big Head's IQ had skyrocketed after his mutation. In terms of intelligence alone, he was undoubtedly at the pinnacle of Earth's pyramid. His quirk post-mutation was an insatiable appetite for learning—only by constantly absorbing knowledge could he keep his massive head from feeling hollow and his mind fulfilled.
As a result, Big Head's expertise was wildly eclectic. Given time, he could master any field to an extraordinary degree. His laboratory was vast, divided into numerous modular zones, reflecting the sheer breadth of his scientific pursuits.
What stood out most was the absence of any human employees. The entire lab was run by automated mechanical equipment. The ceiling was a maze of intricate rails, with countless mechanical arms hanging ready to move to their designated positions.
Walking deeper into the lab, Hong Fei passed through sections dedicated to various functions: one filled with chemical instruments, another welding armor, a third simulating a vacuum environment, and yet another overflowing with exotic plants.
But the most striking were the glass enclosures housing animals. These creatures were the size of grown men, their fur predominantly green in various shades. Their appearances were ferocious, bearing no resemblance to Earth's fauna, and their temperaments were violently aggressive.
Spotting Hong Fei through the glass, they hurled themselves against their enclosures repeatedly, heedless of the bruises and blood they sustained. Only when a pale green mist was injected from the ceiling did they gradually calm down. Once they lay still, their bodies began to shrink, eventually transforming into forms Hong Fei recognized—little white mice and rabbits.
Hong Fei shook his head slowly. The entire lab exuded an aura of villainy so thick it bordered on terrifying.
He continued inward, passing through a metal door to find Big Head engrossed in his work. The moment he noticed Hong Fei, Big Head dropped the documents in his hands and rushed forward with palpable eagerness.
"Boss, what are your orders?"
"Arthur, explain it to him."
Arthur quickly relayed Hong Fei's request. Big Head listened intently, then fell into deep thought. After a moment, he said, "That's not a problem. If you need long-term monitoring, I'd recommend contacting Dr. Cho directly. We could try to transplant this component set directly into your nano armor, which would make it more convenient for your use at any time."
"Good idea."
Hong Fei flew back to the castle and brought Dr. Helen Cho up to the sky. Then, the three of them plus the AI began to discuss, while the automated equipment in Big Head's lab started working.
Shortly after, Hong Fei followed Dr. Helen Cho's instructions to take off his shirt, allowing her to use a set of equipment containing various wires to connect to him via patches. The equipment began to operate, and Hong Fei felt a faint energy slowly permeating his body. At the same time, he let the Dragon Power fill his body.
A short while later, Arthur spoke: "It is very faint, but it can be detected."
Hong Fei raised an eyebrow: "Then make your energy stronger."
"That might damage your body."
"You might have a misunderstanding about the strength of my body. Just do it, don't worry."
"Very well, Sir, but I would still like to remind you..."
"No need, just listen."
"Very well."
Immediately, Hong Fei felt the intensity of the energy permeating his body increase abruptly, but this amount of energy had absolutely no effect on him.
Arthur: "Sir, your body is powerful beyond my comprehension."
Hong Fei said calmly: "Then improve your comprehension."
"Very well, Sir. I recommend using electric current to perform a deeper level of stimulus response; this can make the initial detection results more accurate." Arthur suddenly offered his own suggestion.
"Proceed."
"Very well. Counting down: three, two, one."
As the last second of the count ended, the patches connected to his body suddenly crackled and burst out with visible currents. The electric ions even connected with impurities in the air, pulling out flashes of white light.
Outside the window, Dr. Helen Cho pressed her hands against the glass, a hint of worry showing in her eyes. Big Head, seeing this scene from the side, couldn't help but step forward to comfort her: "Dr. Cho, rest assured. The Boss's body is extremely powerful; this level of current cannot affect him at all."
The facts were indeed just so. Even though electric light flickered on his skin, Hong Fei's expression remained as usual. Not a single muscle on his body twitched during the electric shock, which was enough to prove that Hong Fei's control over his own body had surpassed the limits of basic instinct.
The current lasted for several minutes before gradually weakening.
Arthur: "Sir, I have detected energy consistent with the characteristics and values from before. However, it seems there is another type of energy in your body that is relatively weaker than that one."
Hong Fei nodded slightly; that must be "Qi." Thinking for a moment, he began to restrain his Dragon Power while saying: "Pay attention to its fluctuations now."
Afterward, Hong Fei stayed at the Sky Base. During this time, Dr. Helen Cho also temporarily left her Regeneration Cradle project and, together with Big Head, worked with Arthur to continuously improve and upgrade the matching software and hardware according to Hong Fei's needs.
Until half a month later.
Hong Fei put on his brand-new nano armor. Unlike before, this time his nano armor was equipped with a HUD display. The screen did not have the numerous icons and data displays like other armor. On the right side was a scrolling Earth pattern with red dots flashing on the sphere, and below it was a map of his own location.
This was relying on someone else's satellites to do his own work. Big Head was indeed a master hacker; Arthur was even more proficient in this area under his creation.
On the left side of the screen, a very unique piece of data was displayed.
Fusion Rate: 7.8%
The Dragon Power Fusion Rate was more of an estimate than an exact measurement, but it gave Hong Fei a tangible benchmark. Arthur existed as artificial intelligence—a technological construct bound by physical laws. Dragon Power operated on different principles entirely.
This energy could manifest physically, yet it wasn't constrained by conventional reality. The dimensional gateway existed within Hong Fei's consciousness, beyond the reach of any AI monitoring system. No scientific instrument could detect that spiritual portal directly.
At best, Arthur could analyze brainwave patterns and correlate them with energy fluctuations in Hong Fei's body. Moreover, the fusion process involved more than physical compatibility—the crucial factor was soul resonance. This made any precise fusion percentage impossible.
The number served only as a guidepost, helping Hong Fei refine his methods and track progress toward optimal integration. Still, the initial reading came as a shock. Now that he understood the path forward, disappointment had no place here.
If anything, the low starting point highlighted Dragon Power's vast potential. Every percentage gained would yield exponential returns. The thought brought a satisfied smile as Hong Fei retracted his armor.
"This will work. I appreciate everyone's efforts."
"Just doing my job, boss." Big Head bowed slightly. "Serving you is an honor."
Dr. Helen Cho pressed her lips together. "The scans are complete, but your physiology isn't remotely human anymore."
"Humanity isn't defined by biology alone." Hong Fei's voice took on an unexpected philosophical edge. "It resides in the soul—the mind. Don't you agree, Big Head?"
"Absolutely correct, boss." The scientist straightened his lab coat. "My cellular structure shows less resemblance to humans than chimpanzees do, yet I remain human where it counts."
"Remember those words." Hong Fei's gaze sharpened. "The Hulk serum's volatility is unmatched. Keep your test subjects contained—they could spawn a global catastrophe within weeks."
"You have my word, boss. Nothing leaves the lab without your express order."
"And you'll never receive that order. This isn't Washington." A firm pat on Big Head's shoulder punctuated the statement before Hong Fei led Dr. Cho back toward the castle. Behind them, Big Head's thoughtful expression hinted at deeper understanding.
From the castle ramparts, Hong Fei watched Blackwater Town's constant evolution. "Construction should finish by year's end, yes?"
"Likely so," Helen confirmed.
"Once complete, everyone can relocate there. We'll acquire horses for—" He cut himself short. "No, Big Head would probably mutate them all. Still, leisure rides around town would be pleasant. We'll invite Arthur along."
Helen blinked. "An AI... on horseback?"
"Not in its current form." Hong Fei gazed at the distant horizon. "But in the future, he should be able to have a body, a body under his complete control."