The Thunderbeast, as the first experimental product of virus programming, had proven that the Extremis Virus's ability to reconstruct living flesh was indeed remarkable. However, relying solely on this single heavy-type creature would not be enough for Marcus's undead army to gain a decisive advantage in the upcoming war against the U.S. military. He needed more — a full range of evolved zombie units that could coordinate and complement one another in battle. Naturally, the heavy responsibility of developing these new breeds once again fell on Alex's shoulders.
"Don't worry, Master," Alex said confidently. "I've already designed the structural templates for the next series of Extremis zombies. The air force and naval units are next in line — soon we'll have a fully integrated army for land, sea, and air operations."
That was precisely why Marcus trusted him. Alex often understood what needed to be done without requiring further instruction — a rare talent for internal and technical affairs. Even more conveniently, Alex held a degree in genetics, and his mastery of biological architecture was so advanced that even Tony Stark would have to admit defeat in that field.
"You've worked hard," Marcus said simply.
After parting ways with Alex, who immediately returned to his virus programming research, Marcus turned his attention to the most valuable reward from this operation — a new feature unlocked after his evolution into the Virus Core: the Pathogen Gene Enhancement System.
---
[Pathogen Gene Enhancement System (LV1)]
[Transmission Effect Exchange List]
[Skill Effect Exchange List]
[Symptom Effect Exchange List]
[Remaining DNA Enhancement Points: 11]
---
DNA Enhancement Points? So that was the system's internal currency. But why did he already have eleven?
The question was quickly answered by a system notification echoing in his mind:
[For every Mutant Infected created, the host receives 1 DNA Enhancement Point. Mutant Infected can be produced by allowing large zombie groups to evolve slowly through infection (humans with strong willpower have a higher chance of mutation), or by directly infecting and transforming superhumans or supervillains in the Marvel world. Proceed with caution.]
So that was it. He currently had seven Mutant Infected evolved from ordinary zombies in Queens, plus four created by directly transforming superpowered individuals — Hawkeye, the Winter Soldier, Tony Stark, and Killian — totaling eleven.
From this, Marcus deduced that the system provided two distinct methods of acquiring DNA points:
The "Cultivation Path", focused on mass infection and gradual evolution of the general population; and The "Predatory Path", based on hunting and converting superpowered beings.
Each had its pros and cons, but in the Marvel world — filled with enhanced humans and gods alike — the predatory approach was clearly more efficient.
Now, it was time to see what could be purchased with those points. Marcus opened the first category — the Transmission Effect Exchange List.
---
[Transmission Effect Exchange List]
Airborne Transmission LV1: Slightly enhances the pathogen's survival and infection capacity in the air. The spread radius of the zombie virus extends up to 50 kilometers. Non-zombified carriers can spread infection via sneezing.
Cost: 10 DNA Points
Waterborne Transmission LV1: Increases the pathogen's survivability and infection rate in water sources. The virus can now remain infectious even when diluted 100,000 times, and zombie fluids retain infectivity at up to 100x dilution.
Cost: 10 DNA Points
Cold-Blooded Transmission LV1: Improves infection efficiency among cold-blooded animals. Mutation time is reduced to a few hours, and the infected become highly aggressive toward all lifeforms.
Cost: 10 DNA Points
Warm-Blooded Transmission LV1: Enhances infection capacity in warm-blooded animals (excluding humans). Mutation occurs within hours, and the infected display a strong predatory instinct.
Cost: 10 DNA Points
---
No wonder Marcus had always felt the zombie virus's infection rate was unusually weak — the system had been holding back, waiting for him to evolve into the Virus Proginitor before allowing him to customize its spread patterns.
He studied the options carefully.
Airborne Transmission sounded convenient, but the real-world effect was limited.
Waterborne Transmission was incredibly efficient, though its intercontinental reach might be restricted.
Cold-Blooded Transmission could exploit insects and reptiles — vast in number and difficult to defend against.
Warm-Blooded Transmission mainly affected birds and mammals, fewer in number but strategically valuable, especially given birds' long-distance travel.
Each option was undeniably powerful. Unfortunately, none were immediately necessary. At the moment, Marcus's greatest challenge wasn't spreading the virus — it was surviving the impending U.S. military assault, especially if they managed to locate him through the professor's telepathic abilities.
He would postpone transmission upgrades until the crisis was over.
---
Next, Marcus opened the second list.
[Skill Effect Exchange List]
Current Skill: Mutant Infected Mental Link
DNA Points required to unlock next skill: 50
Indeed, every zombie under his command was connected through the Mutant Infected Mental Link, the very ability that made him the master of the virus. Without it, his entire control network would collapse. The first skill alone was already extraordinary — the next one must be on an entirely different level.
Unfortunately, fifty points was far beyond his current capacity. He'd have to shelve that idea for now.
---
Finally, Marcus checked the third category — Symptom Effects.
Just from the name, he already had a feeling this was exactly what he needed right now.
---
[Symptom Effect Exchange List]
Bone Spikes LV1: Grants all standard zombies protruding bone spikes, enhancing their melee attack power.
Cost: 10 DNA Points
Bone Shell LV1: Grants all standard zombies external bone armor, improving their physical defense.
Cost: 10 DNA Points
Accelerated Metabolism LV1: Increases zombies' healing rate and allows regeneration of severed limbs during battle.
Cost: 10 DNA Points
Adrenal Surge LV1: Boosts running speed, stamina, and attack frequency of all zombies.
Cost: 15 DNA Points
---
Exactly what he needed.
For the zombie virus, the changes that occur after infection — the physical transformations and mutations — were the symptoms. This list clearly existed to enhance the collective combat power of his horde.
Ordinary zombies without any symptom upgrades were weak — fragile enough that even untrained civilians with crude weapons could kill them. But if he unlocked even one of these traits, each zombie would become exponentially harder to deal with.
And if he managed to unlock all of them?
Then there would be only one conclusion—
The Zombie Legion would rise.
__
T/N:
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